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Steve Jobs on iPhone 4 Signal Issue: 'There are no reception issues'

macrumors.com

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Re: Steve Jobs on iPhone 4 Signal Issue: 'There are no reception issues'

#11

Post by mattparcher »

I don’t want to get my hopes up, but:

One report[1] even claimed an iOS update as early as Monday might be able to relieve the issue due to a lag in the iPhone 4's ability to switch between frequencies causing the loss in signal.

(Even as most reports seem to indicate a complete disruption of service, rather than a simple “lag”.)

[1] http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/10/06/25/death_grip_hys... (To be a taken with a grain of salt, as should anything at AppleInsider that is uncorroborated.)

Re: Steve Jobs on iPhone 4 Signal Issue: 'There are no reception issues'

#12

Post by buro9 »

Isn't there an app for that?

As in... has no-one created an app showing a real-time scrolling graph of reception level and an accurate (or as accurate as possible) number of the current reception level... perhaps with an overlay of the number of visible towers and strength?

Because if they did, then not only could it be proved by the layman but if the problem existed then the layman can visually see the effect and visually gain feedback on their techniques to find a better way to hold the phone.

If this doesn't exist, it sounds like a great cash-in app for right now. I'll take 2.5% of revenue for the idea.

Re: Steve Jobs on iPhone 4 Signal Issue: 'There are no reception issues'

#13

Post by Andys »

buro9 wrote: post #12

Isn't there an app for that? As in... has no-one created an app showing a real-time scrolling graph of reception level and an accurate (or as accurate as possible) number of the current reception level... perhaps with an overlay of the number of visible towers and strength? Because if they did, then not only could it be proved by the layman but if the problem existed then the layman can visually see the effect and vi…

I have a great little app for my Android G1 that shows your location on a google map (GPS) as well as the location of the cell tower you're connected to. I suspect Apple don't provide an API for this sort of stuff..

Re: Steve Jobs on iPhone 4 Signal Issue: 'There are no reception issues'

#14

Post by gojomo »

On my 3gs in central SF, the 'bars' indicator is already almost useless... it can show 4 or 5 bars, and I'm still unable to initiate calls, receive calls, or hold a clear call. It's so untrustworthy that in my more paranoid moments I wonder if some prior software update included a 'inflate the bar count' change.

This talk of fixing iPhone4 issues with an OS update makes me wonder the same thing. Maybe they'll just smooth/inflate the bars display.

Re: Steve Jobs on iPhone 4 Signal Issue: 'There are no reception issues'

#16

Post by waterlesscloud »

Andys wrote: post #13
buro9 wrote: post #12

Isn't there an app for that? As in... has no-one created an app showing a real-time scrolling graph of reception level and an accurate (or as accurate as possible) number of the current reception level... perhaps with an overlay of the number of visible towers and strength? Because if they did, then not only could it be proved by the layman but if the problem existed then the layman can visually see the effect and vi…

I have a great little app for my Android G1 that shows your location on a google map (GPS) as well as the location of the cell tower you're connected to. I suspect Apple don't provide an API for this sort of stuff..

What is that app named? I want it!

Re: Steve Jobs on iPhone 4 Signal Issue: 'There are no reception issues'

#17

Post by moe »

zweben wrote: post #4
ajg1977 wrote: post #3

I'm 90% sure it's coincidence, but the fact that Apple decided to release their first iPhone bumper/case, and in iOS4 removed the field test mode that showed numeric signal strength, does make me wonder. It's going to be interesting to see how this all turns out, but I'm disappointed in many of the news sites who are now badging it as an issue with displayed strength. I have an iPhone 4, live in an area with good sig…

I think the release of the bumper case is much more likely because the iPhone now has twice as many glass surfaces, and those glass surfaces are not guarded from direct impact by a metal bezel like on the previous iPhones. If Apple expected reception problems before release they could've just bumped back the release date.

those glass surfaces are not guarded from direct impact by a metal bezel

Sure. Because the previous iPhones were built like tanks and... oh, wait. They weren't either.

To me those two "coincidences" look more like exercises in damage control as the RMA flood kicks in.

Re: Steve Jobs on iPhone 4 Signal Issue: 'There are no reception issues'

#18

Post by steverb »

awolf wrote: post #7

I'm finding the external antenna's advantage may out-weigh its drawbacks. Hands mess with cell phone reception. Every phone has an optimal way to be held so as to minimize this effect. The difference with the iPhone 4 is that the optimal holding method is clear. If my signal is fine then I can cup the phone as normal but if I'm in a low signal situation I can give my phone the death grip to avoid touching the steel.

It's not a bug, it's a feature?

Re: Steve Jobs on iPhone 4 Signal Issue: 'There are no reception issues'

#19

Post by leviathant »

tumult wrote: post #8

Mine works fine. I don't know. People will look for problems in anything. I liked it better when we were complaining about actual problems, like Apple telling programmers what language they're allowed to 'originally write' in when developing for their platform.

Oh, your works fine? In that case, everyone else who has an anecdote about theirs not working fine doesn't really matter. Because if yours works fine, it must not be a problem.

I'm not sure why everyone is complaining about this BP oil spill, I don't see any oil washing up on the beaches near me in the northeast, so it can't be THAT big of a problem, right?

Re: Steve Jobs on iPhone 4 Signal Issue: 'There are no reception issues'

#20

Post by [deleted] »

leviathant wrote: post #19
tumult wrote: post #8

Mine works fine. I don't know. People will look for problems in anything. I liked it better when we were complaining about actual problems, like Apple telling programmers what language they're allowed to 'originally write' in when developing for their platform.

Oh, your works fine? In that case, everyone else who has an anecdote about theirs not working fine doesn't really matter. Because if yours works fine, it must not be a problem. I'm not sure why everyone is complaining about this BP oil spill, I don't see any oil washing up on the beaches near me in the northeast, so it can't be THAT big of a problem, right?

[deleted]
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