Apple fails to fix Iphone 4 antenna for Verizon

I have the iPhone 3Gs and just did the "hug of death" and low and behold my phone wouldn't reload the page via wifi lol, does this mean there is a design flore in this phone too :)
I've been researching about the iPhone 4 signal problem and then realized that I don't hold my phone in a tight grip. None of my mates with the iPhone 4 have reported any problems with it. My only qualm with the iPhone that I wish Apple would sort out is the fact that I live in the UK, and yet with the auto text correction switched on automatically corrects the English way of spelling to the American way. For example from colour to color lol.

Larry...why would we take anything you write seriously, when the subject of your article is misspelled? It's iPhone, Lars, not Iphone. If you can't even get that right (or is it write?), your article(?) losses what little credence it already had.

You can grip your 80's AM valve radio tightly in the palm of one hand? It works on multiple frequency ranges between 800MHz and 2.1GHz (that's microwaves in the 14 to 37cm bands for the old-fashioned)?

Many other manufacturers sell mobile phones that suffer from reduced signals depending on how you grip them. Google's Nexus One, Samsung's Galaxy S and Nokia's N97 for example all show the effect to greater or lesser degrees. Providing you can work around the issue without major problems (be that as simple as NOT holding the phones in the way that causes the signal drop, or fitting a free case - Apple will still give you a free bumper case if you are having problems) then it's not a serious flaw and shouldn't be treated with hysteria.

How f-ing hard is it to put an antenna at the top of the device and on the inside?
When I first heard of the iPhone 4 prior to it being released, I knew issues would arise from the current design.

You'd notice interference while you listen to an analogue radio when you simply touch the antenna so why on earth did Apple come up with such a lame idea to put the antenna on the outside, and at the bottom?

Key phrases used by often paid-for) Appleshills:

"Worthless article"
"ANTENNA ISSUES OH MY"
"Pointless"
"fanbois? really?"
"Let's get real"
"Outstanding REception"

Particularly the last comment "I am not sure how you are holding the phone..." (like, as shown in the VIDEO).

Consumers deserve, if they pay absolute top-dollar for a shiny new smartphone, to get one that they can hold how they like. If someone is clutching their phone making a 911 call, the last thing they want to think about is "am I holding it right?". This just further demonstrates Apple's disregard of customer's rights (and can impact their or other's safety if trying to reach emergency services).

It also makes you wonder what the SAR rating is to a person's hand (or face, or whatever touches the exposed antenna). Inverse square law, anyone?

Thank you for contacting me. The I-Phone suffers from what we used to call
Mr. Resistor in electronics class.
Human body has different resistances, when dry, resistance is about a
100.000 ohms. When wet because of sweat or water, resistance is only 1,000
ohms. It varies according to the individual and their diet. Drink a bottle
of Gator Aide and it changes your electrolyte level, but that’s not the
answer.
Because of the I-Phone antenna configuration, when a person holds the
I-Phone, they change the impedance of the antenna and diminish the I-Phones
ability as a transceiver. Now since the ohmic value in a human being is
variable from hour to hour and day to day, some persons with dry hands will
claim the I-Phone works fine while others like myself have more moister in
their hands and it does not work well. So, the answer now that you have read
my blurb, is to insulate the I-Phone from the human skin. I did this by
purchasing a malleable rubber boot/cover from Radio Shack. Voila! Radio
Shack sells several versions from $10-$45. I purchased the cheapest one and
it works great! My office is in the basement and I have unlimited ATT
service and use the I-phone quite a bit for business and I have to run
upstairs just to take calls. Now, all of my business associates say that my
phone has a clear signal like a land line and want to know how I did it
since they all have I-Phones too. I used to blame ATT for poor coverage
because of the poor signal strength almost anywhere except in a big city. I
travel all over the world for business and depend on my phone a lot and can
attest that I get better signal strength in all of the places where I was
ready to skip my I-Phone like a rock on the water. Additionally, I have
advanced electronic signal analyzers that show with out a doubt that the
signal strength improves greatly when I use the boot when compared to
holding it without it in my hand.

The I-Phone suffers from what we used to call Mr. Resistor in electronics class.
Human body has different resistances, when dry, resistance is about a
100.000 ohms. When wet because of sweat or water, resistance is only 1,000
ohms. It varies according to the individual and their diet. Drink a bottle
of Gator Aide and it changes your electrolyte level, but that’s not the
answer.
Because of the I-Phone antenna configuration, when a person holds the
I-Phone, they change the impedance of the antenna and diminish the I-Phones
ability as a transceiver. Now since the ohmic value in a human being is
variable from hour to hour and day to day, some persons with dry hands will
claim the I-Phone works fine while others like myself have more moister in
their hands and it does not work well. So, the answer now that you have read
my blurb, is to insulate the I-Phone from the human skin. I did this by
purchasing a malleable rubber boot/cover from Radio Shack. Voila! Radio
Shack sells several versions from $10-$45. I purchased the cheapest one and
it works great! My office is in the basement and I have unlimited ATT
service and use the I-phone quite a bit for business and I have to run
upstairs just to take calls. Now, all of my business associates say that my
phone has a clear signal like a land line and want to know how I did it
since they all have I-Phones too. I used to blame ATT for poor coverage
because of the poor signal strength almost anywhere except in a big city. I
travel all over the world for business and depend on my phone a lot and can
attest that I get better signal strength in all of the places where I was
ready to skip my I-Phone like a rock on the water. Additionally, I have
advanced electronic signal analyzers that show with out a doubt that the
signal strength improves greatly when I use the boot when compared to
holding it without it in my hand.

You're just another Stupid Fanboi.

The "stupid" part because you refuse to admit your fanboism. Just like the other fanbois pathetically trying to defend their blind affection, but at least they aren't trying to conceive their ignorance.

My 80's AM valve radio doesn't need a rubber case to work.

Aside that I have an ATT iPhone that does NOT exhibit this problem, if one were to try and make the point that there is a problem with the Verizon phone, they should have COMPARED the ATT and Verizon SIDE BY SIDE, otherwise this is entirely pointless.

Why does Apple not fix the problem and make this all go away? There are fans and there are haters but it has nothing to do with what is a documented flaw in the design. I realize it may cost Apple some money to fix the problem but it is not like they are experiencing losses with the company. It is just another case of corporate greed and consumers being sheep. Why not expect a product with a flaw to be fixed if it is going to be sold? It is due to consumers letting incidents like this happen that allows corporations to continue to fleece customers time after time. When will people get smart and say enough is enough?

I have the new VZ iPhone and I've held it in left hand, right hand, etc and have had No Issues. I think this is just someone trying to get himself a name.

Amazing, an unprecedented amount of lameness and a pathetic example of a loose cannon with a column to write in.

You should really post, I hate Apple or any success story and I love to write editorials rather than unbiased stories.

Simply put, you are the disease that infests the media today.

enough said. Its not like other smart phones face the same exact problem.

I'm not sure how you are holding this phone, but I am having the best reception of any phone I've had in the last 2 years in the Panhandle of Florida. Not only have I not had a dropped call, but I have 2 bars in a place I traditionally don't have any... so I couldn't be happier in the 2.25 days I've had it.

Real journalism is dead.

This is a worthless article. The author should be asked how much he was paid by other rival companies. Being a user, I never faced any problem. My colleagues are scared of buying an Iphone4 because of propaganda like that.....

People are stupid, not for buying the iphone, but for thinking they need to pay $200 for a phone and $90+ per month to have one. I understand we are in the digital age but stop throwing your money away and maybe these services will be reasonably priced. Plus how much will all of you spend on apps/games/muisc etc. Then you buy the newest which is just replaced 6 months later. Then you buy that one too. Stop already, find something else to do with your time.

I own an HTC Incredible and in the owners manual there is a picture of the phone with a dashed box on the lower quarter of the phone; along with a warning not to hold the phone in this area while making calls, or reception will drop. It is unreasonable to hold Apple to higher standards while giving everyone else a pass...

...the corporations ability to keep people believing that either they care about their customers, or that the problems aren't really problems.

I'm not sure if the Verizon iPhone 4 has the exact problem as the AT&T version, but the iPhone 4 antenna could be disabled by a single finger at the wrong location. Consumer Reports was able to consistently replicate the substantial drop in signal with a *single finger*.

The fact that some are talking about the "deathgrip" just goes to show how good corporations have become at spinning issues and getting the consumers to actually support a flawed design. Is it an earth shattering problem? No. Is it a bad design? Yes. Could it have been fully resolved by the corporation in questions? Yes.

Why wasn't it solved by the corporation? Because the roughly $.25 each it would take to have rubber bumpers put on all of the phones during manufacturing is taken as profit. They took the risk to try putting it out saving a few million dollars hoping no one would notice. Sometimes it pays off, sometimes it doesn't.

This has absolutely nothing to do with Apple, and everything to do with corporations ability to influence your perceptions. Those defending the flawed design are clearly demonstrating that influence.

DROID

I have to agree with the other posters.. You have your hand wrapped around the entire phone and then you act surprised when it doesn't work.

BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH. Are you serious? Is there a way to not show that you guys are not really that stupid. You risk breaking your phone the way you're gripping it more so than losing signal. Idiots. How can you guys be under a company called INCISIVE Media and report and think like 3 year olds. Atleast you have got the attention that you so dearly required. Mission accomplish.

That video made me laugh. The guy was holding it like he was the Hulk about the crush it. EVERY phone suffers from this to some extent. Plus I have heard reports that this phone IS much better than the AT&T iPhone in regards to antenna. Maybe we should put the phone in a lead box and test it to see if it works???? STOP THE MADNESS!!!!

So as others have said, lets put this waste of time story to rest and focus on important things.

Does the Inquirer actually hire real writers or journalists? Or was this week 'take you child to work week' over there? I got to the term 'fanbois' and realized I may as well be reading the unfounded vitriol the rabid Android fans spew out in the comments section of Engadget when the topic is on Apple. I can't believe I got linked here from Google news. I thought Google news only linked to real news sites? Is this actually some 15 year old's blog? This site is a joke. I am quite surprised the terms 'lol' or 'omg' weren't peppered throughout this so called 'article'

The second you use the term 'fanbois' to describe anyone, it just proves that you yourself are a 'fanboi' from the opposite side.

I can't even remember how many times I have seen an iPhone in real use without a case or bumper. Yes there is a design problem but put a case on the phone as 99.99% of people will and the problem becomes a moot point. This is a pointless article, the problem isn't even newsworthy anymore.

Yeah I guess you're going to hold your poor iPhone like you want to crush it with your giant meaty hands then your reception might suffer a little.

I think the only people more rabid and single-minded than religious extremists from the Middle East who believe so strongly that they'll blow themselves up for their cause are people that either love or hate Apple.

Unfortunately, both of you are easy to spot from your jerky, spastic writing styles, to your convenient ignorance of key facts so you can make your incorrect points.

The bulk of the population, like me, neither loves nor hates Apple. We will buy whatever product is executed well and sold at a fair price. Period.

For me -- someone who has bounced from Palm OS, to Windows phones, to Android phones, to a slew of other-- the iPhone is the first device to actually work correctly and intuitively as both a phone and as an entertainment & business tool.

For me --someone who's been using a cellphone since there were cellphones-- I'm not ignorant enough to believe that I can wrap my whole hand around the phone and have it still work. Duh. External antenna's disappeared in the 90's. Wake up, will you?

Complaining about "antennagate" and the "death grip" is like complaining that you phone doesn't work so well in the shower. Which is another thing that anyone with an ounce of common sense will know.

I have the VZ iPhone and I have not had any issue related to the "death grip". Reception is excellent.
Please put this nonsense to rest.

Who holds a phone like that? Just another way to get publicity for a story that shouldn't exist.

about the customer it would have been fixed. But they know people will buy them anyway so why bother? This why I stay away form Apple and many other tech company's. PROFIT is the only motive.