Consumer Reports Just Can't Let It Go...

[Jeff Campbell]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/apple_cans_iphone_case_coverage_consumer_reports_cries/' target='_blank'>http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/arti..._reports_cries/</a><br /><br /></div><p><em>"Apple announced on Friday that it would end its free case program for the iPhone 4 on October 1st, and Consumer Reports has issued a statement condemning the move as unacceptable. The magazine iterated its decision to continue to not recommend the iPhone 4 until Apple issues a permanent fix for what it says are reception issues on the device."</em></p><p><img src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com/resizer/thumbs/size/600/lpt/auto/1278372585.usr105634.jpg" style="border: 1px solid #d2d2bb;" /></p><p>This is ridiculous. In light of several articles about other phones that have similar issues (that don't offer free cases at all, or that would even be fixed by a free case), I find it silly that Consumer Reports is still beating this dead horse. Yes, on certain iPhone 4s ( but not mine or anyone I've talked to that own one) you can see some signal degradation, if you hold the iPhone in such an odd manner as to make it unlikely that it would happen to you. To me this speaks more of a saving face gesture than anything else by Consumer Reports. They have grabbed onto this antenna issue with both hands and now they are stuck defending their position. Consumer Reports has lost credibility in the past for other issues in my opinion, and this further decreases their relevance as an objective source for product reviews.</p>

[DaleReeck]

The iPhone complaints are legitimate. iPhone exhibits this problem worse than other phones due to its antenna being external and Apple denying that its a problem made things worse. They need to keep the program going as long as the iPhone 4 is the current model. Only by "beating a dead horse" will companies take responsibility for their problems. I own many Apple products and I love using them. But I am not going to give them a free pass just because they are Apple. Apple is being treated just like any other company.

[Sven Johannsen]

As I read the announcement, I gathered Apple was continuing the free bumper offer, just not the assortment of third party cases. I got the bumper and my wife opted for a silicon case. I actually wound up with both freebies, since my wife opted for a case more to her liking than any of the free ones. Either works fine, though I think the Apple bumper actually complements the iPhone design more. It certainly doesn't detract from it.

When the bruhaha ensued I actually took my iPhone and several other cell phones I had and played with them, very unscientifically. Virtually every one, from Apple to Samsung to HTC, could be made to loose signal strength, as exhibited by the signal bars, when held in some manner. In real life, I would say that I have not experienced any issue with phone usage, that I could attribute to how I was holding the phone. My iPhone is naked most of the time, regardless of my having two case options. I use a desk cradle and a TomTom car kit often enough that having the phone girdled is inconvenient.

I am actually a EE, and I don't think I would ever design a device with a Tx/Rx antenna that was intended to be touched by the consumer. People do affect the antenna characteristics. Anyone who remembers, or still uses, rabbit ears on a TV can attest to that. Sometimes you can improve reception. Depends on the individual and the frequencies involved. All I can say is that my personal experience says the issue is overblown. There are so many issues that can affect signal strength and call viability, beyond just the antenna, not the least of which is the network, that attributing all of it to the antenna design just seems too easy.

[jgrnt1]

This is a legitimate problem. Sorry, Jeff, holding the phone in an "odd" manner is not required. It is a perfectly natural hand position if, like me, you are left-handed. In fact, I have to hold the phone in an odd manner to avoid signal degradation. In Field Test Mode, I get anywhere from 15 to 30 dBm in signal drop, just by gripping the phone normally. In marginal signal areas, this is enough to kill calls.

I still like my iPhone 4, but Apple needs to own up and provide a permanent fix. They reimbursed the cost of my bumper, but the bumper itself is a problem. I have several peripherals which won't work when the phone is in any type of case. I have a ProClip/Brodit cradle in my car, which only works with the naked phone. I have Apple's own dock, which I use at my desk, and which only works with the naked phone. Either I have to remove the phone from the case every time I get in my car or sit down at my desk, or I have to not use the case. I use a hip holster for my phone and prefer not to use the case anyway. This is not a minor issue for me and the case is a band-aid, not a fix.

[Sven Johannsen]

If in fact the bands around the phone, are the antenna, as has been reported, there is no (easy) fix but a redesign of the phone. You would have to disconnect the bands and provide a new antenna element inside the phone. Sure there are antenna matching technologies that can improve the performance, even allowing the use of an aircraft's skin as an antenna, but I don't believe you are going to retrofit one into an iPhone. I don't see any manufacturer replacing 100% of a product, for a 'defect' that only appears to affect a 'relatively' small percentage of users, unless it is a safety issue. I believe there is the option of returning the phone, with no restocking fee, if you are one that the issue effects significantly. I think I would opt for that if in fact I felt the issue made the phone inconvenient (putting on and taking off cases) or ineffective (dropped calls, etc).

In short, I don't really expect a 'fix' for this, so I would suggest getting used to it, or return the phone. Just my two cents.

[mediathoughter]

The one-sided writing style of this blog entry makes this site lose credibility instead. We, the readers are more sophisticated than that.