Apple Says iPhone 4 Patch Won't Fix Antenna Problem
An upcoming firmware patch to address what Apple is calling a miscalculation in the iPhone 4's signal-strength formula won't solve connection problems resulting from its innovative antenna design, the computer giant admits. When problems first surfaced, Apple had said it was shocked by the math error.
"The iPhone 4 has been the most successful product launch in Apple's history," Apple said in an open letter. "It has been judged by reviewers around the world to be the best smartphone ever, and users have told us that they love it. So we were surprised when we read reports of reception problems, and we immediately began investigating them."
Bar Problems
While noting that every cellular phone, from previous iPhone models to the Android-powered Droid and Research In Motion's BlackBerry devices, loses signal strength depending on how they are held, Apple conceded that the iPhone 4's signal drops more than the usual amount. It blamed this on an incorrect formula that displayed the signal strength too high.
"Users observing a drop of several bars when they grip their iPhone in a certain way are most likely in an area with very weak signal strength, but they don't know it because we are erroneously displaying four or five bars," Apple said. "Their big drop in bars is because their high bars were never real in the first place."
Apple said the problem will be resolved with an update using a formula recommended by AT&T, the exclusive U.S. carrier for the iPhone. The update will be available for all versions of the iPhone.
But this week Apple conceded in some e-mails that the problem apparently resulting from skin contact with the stainless-steel antenna that wraps vertically around the iPhone 4 will remain. The company has advised customers to "avoid gripping it in the lower left corner in a way that covers both sides of the black strip in the metal band, or simply use one of many available cases."
Videos mocking this flaw are being posted on the Internet, with one highlighting Apple CEO Steve Jobs' presentation of the iPhone 4 last month in which he cited the antenna design as "really cool engineering" that has "never been done before." Numerous promotional videos for the iPhone show users gripping the device by its sides with fingers touching both sides of the antenna.
Window for Returns Closing
Apple has already sold close to two million iPhone 4s. As the 30-day window for returns approaches for many users, the company will soon see how much of a problem it has on its hands.
"There are a lot of moving pieces here that have to be reconciled," said IDC analyst Ramon Llamas. "The way in which people are holding it, the signal strength, what is the true bar status. The question for users is how important is it for you to have appropriate user strength and to make phone calls?"
But Llamas says Apple's brand is still strong enough to overcome the bad PR, especially in light of AT&T's decision to be flexible on upgrading iPhones before the expiration of existing wireless plans. "As far as I see, demand still goes unabated. Let's face it, the popular branding of Apple makes this a very sought-after device. Short of the devices doing bodily harm to people, I think they will just be confident that Apple and AT&T will fix the problem."
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"The iPhone 4 has been the most successful product launch in Apple's history," Apple said in an open letter. "It has been judged by reviewers around the world to be the best smartphone ever, and users have told us that they love it. So we were surprised when we read reports of reception problems, and we immediately began investigating them."
Bar Problems
While noting that every cellular phone, from previous iPhone models to the Android-powered Droid and Research In Motion's BlackBerry devices, loses signal strength depending on how they are held, Apple conceded that the iPhone 4's signal drops more than the usual amount. It blamed this on an incorrect formula that displayed the signal strength too high.
"Users observing a drop of several bars when they grip their iPhone in a certain way are most likely in an area with very weak signal strength, but they don't know it because we are erroneously displaying four or five bars," Apple said. "Their big drop in bars is because their high bars were never real in the first place."
Apple said the problem will be resolved with an update using a formula recommended by AT&T, the exclusive U.S. carrier for the iPhone. The update will be available for all versions of the iPhone.
But this week Apple conceded in some e-mails that the problem apparently resulting from skin contact with the stainless-steel antenna that wraps vertically around the iPhone 4 will remain. The company has advised customers to "avoid gripping it in the lower left corner in a way that covers both sides of the black strip in the metal band, or simply use one of many available cases."
Videos mocking this flaw are being posted on the Internet, with one highlighting Apple CEO Steve Jobs' presentation of the iPhone 4 last month in which he cited the antenna design as "really cool engineering" that has "never been done before." Numerous promotional videos for the iPhone show users gripping the device by its sides with fingers touching both sides of the antenna.
Window for Returns Closing
Apple has already sold close to two million iPhone 4s. As the 30-day window for returns approaches for many users, the company will soon see how much of a problem it has on its hands.
"There are a lot of moving pieces here that have to be reconciled," said IDC analyst Ramon Llamas. "The way in which people are holding it, the signal strength, what is the true bar status. The question for users is how important is it for you to have appropriate user strength and to make phone calls?"
But Llamas says Apple's brand is still strong enough to overcome the bad PR, especially in light of AT&T's decision to be flexible on upgrading iPhones before the expiration of existing wireless plans. "As far as I see, demand still goes unabated. Let's face it, the popular branding of Apple makes this a very sought-after device. Short of the devices doing bodily harm to people, I think they will just be confident that Apple and AT&T will fix the problem."
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