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Consumer Reports Can't Recommend iPhone 4

Posted by kdawson on from the waiting-for-four-dot-one dept.

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.

23 of 507 comments (clear)

  1. 11 by ascari · · Score: 5, Funny

    So Apple has taken a play from Spinal Tap's playbook and use knobs that go to 11? The mind boggles.

    1. Re:11 by anethema · · Score: 4, Funny

      No, but the numbers on the knob read 1,2,3,4,10,10,10,10,10,10

      --


      It's easier to fight for one's principles than to live up to them.
  2. A workaround by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Apple engineers found that if you lick the antenna and hold it against a radio tower you get a full four bars. Unfortunately the Apple marketing department has yet to figure out how to spin this fix into a trendy commercial.

    1. Re:A workaround by natehoy · · Score: 3, Funny

      "Caution: Do not attempt this maneuver if the temperature is below 0C/32F!"

      --
      "This post contains words, known to the State of California to cause thought. Wash brain thoroughly after reading."
    2. Re:A workaround by HeronBlademaster · · Score: 4, Funny

      Apple engineers found that if you lick the antenna and hold it against a radio tower you get a full four bars.

      Ironically, "full" is actually five bars.

    3. Re:A workaround by phonewebcam · · Score: 5, Funny

      I'll just wait for the iPhone 5.

    4. Re:A workaround by TubeSteak · · Score: 5, Funny

      Ironically, "full" is actually five bars.

      There... are... four bars!
      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=moX3z2RJAV8

      --
      [Fuck Beta]
      o0t!
    5. Re:A workaround by DoofusOfDeath · · Score: 2, Funny

      Ironically, "full" is actually five bars.

      Oh, please. Four is the new five.

    6. Re:A workaround by commodore64_love · · Score: 2, Funny

      >>>"full" is actually five bars.

      That's it? Jeez. My 5-year-old Nokia has 7 bars. Clearly a superior product. "/engage smug mode" - Kryten

      --
      "I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it." - historian Evelyn Beatrice Hall
    7. Re:A workaround by R.Mo_Robert · · Score: 2, Funny

      Do not eat iPhone 4.

      --
      R.Mo
    8. Re:A workaround by mercurized · · Score: 2, Funny

      "Two Bars ought to be enough for anyone".

    9. Re:A workaround by bronney · · Score: 3, Funny

      This phone is just full bar'ed!!!

  3. Shut up and take my money! by xororand · · Score: 5, Funny

    - Okay, it's 500 dollars, you have no choice of carrier, the battery can't hold the charge and the reception isn't very
    - Shut up and take my money!

  4. apple will fix it by bl8n8r · · Score: 4, Funny

    this is only a temporary problem. I'm sure apple will address the problem as soon as it's engineers have troubleshot the problem thouroghly. For myself in particular, I have not seen this issue and I'm laeft handed. In fact I'm composing this email on my iphone4 at the mom... +++ No Carrier

    --
    boycott slashdot February 10th - 17th check out: altSlashdot.org
  5. Re:With such a simple solution at hand.. by blyloveranger · · Score: 5, Funny

    Nintendo also can't depend on a cult to buy products and make excuses.

    Right, because who's ever heard of an Nintendo Fanboi?

  6. Re:With such a simple solution at hand.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Easy fix. Just a little iTape (tm) in the right place.

  7. Re:Apple by bonch · · Score: 2, Funny

    Microsoft and Linux have the same legions of fanboys. Come on.

  8. Re:Apple by Ihmhi · · Score: 5, Funny

    I'm an Apple fanboy.

    I won't touch a iPhone 4

    UNBELIEVER! BURN THE HERETIC!

    --
    Random Thoughts From A Diseased Mind (Not For Dummies)
  9. Re:Apple by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    Shut up fag!

  10. Re:Apple by Kratisto · · Score: 5, Funny

    Good thing, too. If you touch it, it will drop your calls.

    --
    Conscience is the inner voice which warns us that someone may be looking.
  11. Re:Sure, it's a bug. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    a slimmer form factor

    is that before or after the $7 phone case?

  12. It's just shit! by Hognoxious · · Score: 2, Funny

    Don't hold it in a shit way!

    iShit.

    Shit different.

    --
    Confucius say, "Find worm in apple - bad. Find half a worm - worse."
  13. Obligatory Red October by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    "Negative, we're already at 110 percent on the reactor." ~Engineer
    "Then give me 115 percent." ~Ramius