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Consumer Reports Can't Recommend iPhone 4
jbezorg was one among many readers to send word that Consumer Reports has concluded that they cannot recommend the iPhone 4. (They still enthusiastically recommend the 3G S.) "It's official. Consumer Reports' engineers have just completed testing the iPhone 4, and have confirmed that there is a problem with its reception. When your finger or hand touches a spot on the phone's lower left side — an easy thing, especially for lefties — the signal can significantly degrade enough to cause you to lose your connection altogether if you're in an area with a weak signal. Due to this problem, we can't recommend the iPhone 4. ... Our findings call into question the recent claim by Apple that the iPhone 4's signal-strength issues were largely an optical illusion caused by faulty software that 'mistakenly displays 2 more bars than it should for a given signal strength.'" The comments on the article don't display any of the vitriol the Apple faithful have been known to unleash upon anyone daring to question the Cupertino way. Perhaps they are moderated.
Does anyone really trust Consumer Report's opinion on technology? I thought they were known for automobile testing and that was about it?
There's no -1 for "I don't get it."
Sure, the iPhone 4 reception issues are a bug. However, they are also a bug whose fix is a $7 phone case you were probably going to buy anyway (not from Apple of course). Apple should really just start including those bumpers as part of the phone package itself for free to nix the bad press.
All in all though, the iPhone has more apps, a better camera (according to reviewers), a slimmer form factor and a higher resolution screen than the competition. And the only real competition out there are Droid devices (though as a side-note their advertizing creeps me out, with all the people turning into robots eyeball-first).
Anyway, I'm posting this on an iPhone 4 in a $7 case and my reception is consistently good (though honestly probably slightly worse than my previous cell bought in 1999 or something on Verizon). I also should say though that unlike my old phone actual phone calls is probably like only the 5th most frequent thing I use the phone for after web use, radio, email and ebooks (Stanza app rocks).
My old cell phone could hold 50 text messages MAX. My new phone can post on Slashdot. I have no serious complaints.
Big apple, new Yorik, undig it, something's unrotting in Edenmark.
For all the bitching, moaning, hand wringing, and naval gazing, this is not nearly the problem it's being made out to be.
The signal issues don't matter in strong coverage areas (most metropolitan areas, where most of the population lives).
iPhone cases are a massive business (prior to iPhone 4) for a reason: nearly every iPhone user immediately buys an iPhone case.
Most iPhone 4 devices are still within the return period. Don't like it? Return and/or cancel out and go get yourself something else. Don't wait!
As for me, I had full-body cases *and* a Zagg InvisibleShield at the ready *before* my iPhone 4 arrived. This is no different from what I did years ago when I was upgrading between Palm versions. Who spends $$$ on a phone only to use it naked? Certainly not me. What it comes down to, people: if you don't like it, vote with your feet. Stop the tribal back-and-forth and just get what suits you.
As for me, I'm sticking with the 4. Its battery life is years ahead of the 3Gs, and its screen resolution is massively improved. I haven't yet had a single dropped call despite living in NYC, which many here suggest is a horrible coverage area. I just don't see why everyone is so agitated over this; it seems sophomoric and ridiculous.
I'll repeat in case anybody missed it: if you don't like your iPhone 4, hurry and return it before the return period is up and get an Android device! And those of you who are super mad at Apple, so mad that you've never owned any of their products and never will: be very careful not to buy this one either, since you likely won't like it!
STOP . AMERICA . NOW
I'm not mad about anything, I think CR is just out of their league reviewing smart phones. Can they test this one thing, well yes, you got me there. I think they are competent enough to test that. I guess when I need finger touch antenna attenuation testing I've found my source.