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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).
"All of it," replies Steve.
"Good use," replies Steve.
SJW: Someone who has run out of real oppression, and has to fake it.
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.
Alexander Peter Kristopeit bought his basement from his mommy for one dollar.
AppleInsider article by Daniel Eran Dilger.
Oh dear.
The information I saw stated that they change the antenna priority from 'strongest signal' to 'most reliable', whatever that means. This change was introduced in iOS4. The same issues have also been reported in iPhone 3G and 3GS, which would seem to reinforce the idea that this may be software related. Although having the antenna's outside the case may exaggerate the issue, it does not appear to be the primary factor.
iPhone 3G: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tsfgAXmK0b4
iPhone 3GS: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x9ztRup6cLs
General YouTube results:
http://www.youtube.com/results?searc...gnal+ios4&aq=f
Additionally, here is the link that I first found reporting the antenna priority change:
http://www.electronista.com/articles...rly.next.week/
It will be interesting to see how Apple handles this. I recall they had similar issues with frequencies on the first generation iPhone.
If the issue was strictly related to the external antenna's, we wouldn't be seeing this issue pop up once 3G and 3GS users upgraded to iOS4.
The phone is not in charge of decisions at that level, sorry.
:)
That's like each a commuter on a train deciding when the train will leave the station....
Loads are governed by the cell network hardware. Some phones are in cars, moving thru rapidly and they may leapfrog...some are still and they may get priority. For those networks that 'breathe' (expand and contract based on load), it would be especially hazardous if the devices could negotiate which cell on their own....not going to happen
It will boost the transmit power so high that the user will feel a little tingle of an electric shock if the antenna is shorted by this obvious inappropriate use of this godly device.
In related news, apple fanboys have chopped of their thumbs as it is obviously a flaw in human design.
Religious leaders were heard blaming god for designing man in his faulty image while evolutionist think that humans will eventually evolve so that this antenna problem mitigates itself.
Easy... You get the icon to always display 3-5 bars. Then everyone can go back to blaming AT&T's network for dropped calls, as usual...