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iOS Update May Tackle iPhone 4's Antenna Problems
DJRumpy was one of several readers to point out rumors that Apple will soon be deploying an update to iOS 4 to combat the iPhone 4 antenna problems we discussed last week. This could be good news for users of the 1.7 million iPhone 4s purchased during the first three days of its release. (And no, Daily Mail, Steve didn't announce a recall, though there's speculation that this problem could be a boon for Android.) An anonymous reader notes an analysis of a teardown of the phone, which found that its parts collectively cost about $188, with the most expensive part — the LCD screen — costing $28.50 by itself. In other Apple news, Germany has demanded that the company "immediately make clear" what data it collects from customers, and what use it makes of that data (perhaps spurred by Google's Wi-Fi sniffing debacle).
How a software update will fix an human-caused short circuit.
"All of it," replies Steve.
"Good use," replies Steve.
SJW: Someone who has run out of real oppression, and has to fake it.
All phones have sensitive areas," Jobs wrote. "Just avoid holding it in this way."
Now the iPhone won't have a sensitive area? Huh?
This space for rent.
I know modern radio platforms have a lot of software flexibility, but the limited knowledge of antennas I've picked up from messing with long-range WiFi and my ham radio experiments tells me this is not something that can be patched out with an OS upgrade.
That is unless the OS upgrade comes with a coupon for a free rubber bumper thingy...
I used to get high on life, but I developed a tolerance. Now I need something stronger.
AppleInsider article by Daniel Eran Dilger.
Oh dear.
Irrespective of the possibility of fixing the issue in software (on which subject I expect there will be no shortage of ill-informed opining here), Dilger's not what you'd call a trustworthy source.
I call name collision. Please refer to the iPhone/iPad operating system as something other than IOS because Cisco used it first.
We are all glad that you noticed so quickly. However, the name of the iPhone and iPad operating system _is_ iOS and Apple is paying Cisco license fees for the use of the name. So since Cisco agrees with Apple's use of the name, I think that settles the matter. And all of this was known weeks ago :-(
Names for the fix may vary. I call the fix "Nexus One". You might call it "Evo 4G", or any number of other names. Regardless of what you call it, I'm sure it will work equally well!
BeauHD. Worst editor since kdawson.
Do these people still not know how cellphones are priced? A 8GB iPhone 3GS is about $530, and prices for the iPhone 4 are expected to be $600 to $700. The $199 price quoted in TFA is only after you agree to a ~$2000 contract.
Except that iOS 4 has caused similar issues with the 3GS models.
The fix is expected to address a issue in iOS 4 related to radio frequency calibration of the baseband. Readers who saw the original forum discussions say that the issue is believed to occur when switching frequencies; because the lag is allegedly not calibrated correctly, it results in the device reporting "no service" rather than switching to the frequency with the best signal to noise ratio.
iOS 4 introduced some enhancements to how the baseband selects which frequencies to use, so it makes sense that the error may have crept into those changes. Additionally, this explains why iOS 4 has also caused similar problems for iPhone 3GS users.
This is the same thing they said about the EDGE/3G wobble in the Nexus One.
The "update" didn't change a fucking thing.
Android needs a task manager but doesn't come with one.
False. Android doesn't need a task manager: the OS suspends tasks when they become unused (leaving them in memory but not using any CPU), and kills them when it needs to reclaim their memory. Task managers are for people with OCD and people who are confused about how Android's multitasking works.
The most popular Android task manager doesn't show which apps are consuming the battery most.
Android 2.x has that built in: Settings | About phone | Battery use
Visual IRC: Fast. Powerful. Free.
Apple licensed the name from Cisco. There's no legal problem.
If you do, do you experience the antenna shorting signal drop to zero issue? I'm curious, because 99% of the messages I see about this issue, on all forums, are from people talking about the problem, but who do not make any mention of actually have an iPhone 4 nor even of knowing anyone who has the problem. Now, maybe in fact everyone who has an iPhone 4 has this issue, but I am having a hell of a time trying to figure that out. And I'm trying to figure that out because I've got an iPhone 4 on order and I'd like to know if I should keep it. Android fans declaring, definitively, perhaps spurred on by the speculation of a specialist who doesn't have an iPhone 4 either, that the iPhone 4 has a fatal flaw does not tell me one way or the other. iPhone 3GS, 3G and iPhone owners saying that the iPhone 4 has a fatal flaw tells me nothing. The only people I want to hear from are genuine iPhone 4 users. So... do you have the issue?
--- What?
In other Apple news, Germany has demanded that the company "immediately make clear" what data it collects from customers, and what use it makes of that data (perhaps spurred by Google's Wi-Fi sniffing debacle).
While updating my Ipod touch (3gs) last night I noticed in the tos that you can control which apps have access to the service. I think this is a cool idea but I didn't see anything in the new os that allows me that access. It doesn't really matter that much for me as I usually turn location services off till needed but what is Apple pulling here? I'd be very disappointed if that only works with an iphone.
"We are just a war away from Amerikastan. When god vs god the undoing of man." Dave Mustaine
I call name collision. Please refer to the iPhone/iPad operating system as something other than IOS because Cisco used it first.
You're about a month behind. The complaint that's currently fashionable is the antenna issue. In about two weeks it's gonna move on to something else, so try to keep up.
"I like to lick butts!" by MobileTatsu-NJG (#32700246) (Score:5, Informative)
it's only 2k if you count the basic phone plan, but by this point pretty much any consumer buying an iphone is either switching from some other form of cell phone or would probably at least get a basic cell phone if they didn't end up with a smart phone of some kind.
Pretend I want to develop an app that runs on an iPhone 4. Until there's an iPod Touch 4, I have to buy an iPhone 4 to test on an iPhone 4. I am satisfied with my current phone plan at $7 per month from Virgin Mobile USA. So yes, it would cost me over a thousand dollars to switch to an iPhone.
What? Problem with the antenna? A pure hardware problem that will be solved with the next iOS update, i.e. software problem??? Here i am lost, since when we entered the era of quantum phones?
The trick is that software controls the behavior of the hardware. So even if the basic problem remains, a software patch (blasting out more radio power, changing frequencies, whatever) could help reduce the symptoms.
Bow-ties are cool.
I officially nominate you for comment of the story.
Ohnoes! A trademark that's been licensed by Apple from Cisco, and is only known to a few thousand CCIE dweebs around the world is being used by Apple to describe the operating system that's installed on millions of devices used by regular people every day! I'm sure that everybody with an iPhone will immediately assume that when somebody references "iOS" they're talking about a fucking Catalyst, and hilarity will ensue!
And for the record - in my time in IT, it's been overwhelmingly those neckbeards who love Linux and open source who carry around 2 phones, a palm pilot, a small toolkit, quarters for Mountain Dew and Candy from the vending machine, and the latest "Official World of Warcraft" book in a fanny pack. Apple users can fit their iphone in a pocket and be on about their business.
Get stuffed.
The apps ask you when they first want access to Location, which is not really new.
The new thing is when you go to Settings -> General -> Location Services (which might fool you into thinking it only sets Yes/No), where you'll see all apps that use Location Services and you can turn them off and on by hand. A little arrow head next to the app indicates it's used your Location in the last 24 hours. An app won't be in this section without having asked to use Location Services first, but it's really nice to be able to track and revoke Location permissions after the initial ask.
The simulator is part of the Xcode suite, and is provided by Apple - I assume that they ensure it is as close to an actual iPhone/Touch etc as possible.
I'm not saying it's easy or cheap, if you want all the hardware - ideally as a developer you'd have an iPhone 3G, a 3GS and an iPhone 4, and the three different generations of the iPod Touch, which is going to set you back a lot if you want to hardware test on all potential platforms for your apps.
In the grand scheme of things, the startup capital for the Mac, the phone and a developer contract is only part of it - rent, power, food etc are all going to add to it, unless it's not your primary income source. In which case, you will have to justify whether the expense of an actual phone for hardware testing is worth it.
No, it IS a short circuit*.
...
* Ok, I don't think it's really a short.
Is this one of those riddles where you have to figure out which villager is the one who lies every time and which one always tells the truth?