Experts Explain iPhone 4 Antenna Problem

CWmike writes "Reports of call and data signal strength problems in the new iPhone 4 have a basis in fact, a hardware expert said Thursday. Later in the day, Apple acknowledged that holding the iPhone 4 may result in a diminished signal that could make it difficult to make and maintain calls or retain a data connection. 'Gripping any phone will result in some attenuation of its antenna performance with certain places being worse than others depending on the placement of the antennas. This is a fact of life for every wireless phone,' Apple said in a statement issued to several media outlets, including PC Magazine, which had run tests earlier Thursday. 'If you ever experience this on your iPhone 4, 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.' Scores of new iPhone owners confirmed the reception problem in a string of more than 360 messages posted to a thread on Apple's iPhone 4 support forum." A blog post from an antenna design company explains that the reception problems are probably the direct result of phone design adapting to FCC requirements.

Comments

Cue the fanbois

[plover]

Next thing you know, holding a cell phone with the thumb and forefinger by the top right corner will become the fashionable way for any of the cognoscenti to hold their phones. Those of us who cradle them in the old fashioned way will be "not of the Body of Jobs", and mocked and ostracized.

Re:Cue the fanbois

[Anonymous Coward]

Sorry, but there is only one correct way to hold a phone

Re:Cue the fanbois

[Anonymous Coward]

Are you sure?

Re:Cue the fanbois

[Idbar]

Apple will also be releasing this new accessory.

Re:Cue the fanbois

[NotQuiteReal]

THEY FIRST told me I HAD to use iTunes, and AT&T,
and I didn't speak up because I wanted to be Cool.

THEN THEY told me I couldn't change the battery,
and I didn't speak up because I buy a new one every year.

THEN THEY told me I had to hold the phone with my pinkie extended,
and I didn't speak up because I don't mind looking gay.

THEN THEY CAME for more of my money
and by that time there was none left to buy more crap.

Apologies to Niemöller.

Re:Cue the fanbois

[hobo sapiens]

That's not phone. Thats P H O N E, as in Please Hold On Narrow End.

Simply ...

[randyzoch]

1) Stand on one leg, preferably facing the cell tower. 2) Use your other leg to form a crude counterpoise for the iPhone4's various antennas. Also, experiments in dry/low-humidity regions which lead to dry/chapped hands may also contribute to your success making and holding a call. What other company could get away with producing a product like this and succeed?

Uh... Huh...

[MightyMartian]

"For best results, levitate one inch from your ears."

So its really the iPod4?

[phonewebcam]

Worse reception than the iPhone3 - check.
Still tied to the worst US carrier - check.

But hey, facetime is so awesome it overcomes all this...

Realtime video calls which exceed the definition of the human retina? - cheC&&^& >>>>>CARRIER LOST

Re:in addition

[Hurricane78]

Geeks generally don’t buy Apple products. They buy a Linux phone from an obscure company that is also barely usable as a phone, but at least completely hackable.
Hipsters and valley girls buy Apple products. Oh, and those people that drive Priuses. ^^

Re:"Just avoid holding it that way"

[asdf7890]

Another reddit poster showed the true way to hold an iPhone: http://i.imgur.com/h9UDd.png

Re:Cases

[yakumo.unr]

So, what they're saying is, all phones suffer from this, apart from any phone that has the aerial behind an insulating layer, such as a plastic case.

Off topic, we're the only phone with the external metalwork acting as the aerial, isn't that awesome.

Don't forget all phones suffer this defect, so it's not a design defect, no really.

Re:The cure is in the case

[cynyr]

1) buy some broccolii from the store
2) remove and dry off the rubber band
3) place rubberband on iPhone
4) ???
5) PROFIT!(and save like $27, and get some iron)