Dear iPhone 4 Users,
The iPhone 4 has been the most successful product launch in Apple's history. It has been judged by reviewers around the world to be the best smartphone ever, and users have told us that they love it. So we were surprised when we read reports of reception problems, and we immediately began investigating them. Here is what we have learned.
To start with, gripping almost any mobile phone in certain ways will reduce its reception by 1 or more bars. This is true of iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS, as well as many Droid, Nokia and RIM phones. But some users have reported that iPhone 4 can drop 4 or 5 bars when tightly held in a way which covers the black strip in the lower left corner of the metal band. This is a far bigger drop than normal, and as a result some have accused the iPhone 4 of having a faulty antenna design.
At the same time, we continue to read articles and receive hundreds of emails from users saying that iPhone 4 reception is better than the iPhone 3GS. They are delighted. This matches our own experience and testing. What can explain all of this?
We have discovered the cause of this dramatic drop in bars, and it is both simple and surprising.
Upon investigation, we were stunned to find that the formula we use to calculate how many bars of signal strength to display is totally wrong. Our formula, in many instances, mistakenly displays 2 more bars than it should for a given signal strength. For example, we sometimes display 4 bars when we should be displaying as few as 2 bars. Users observing a drop of several bars when they grip their iPhone in a certain way are most likely in an area with very weak signal strength, but they don't know it because we are erroneously displaying 4 or 5 bars. Their big drop in bars is because their high bars were never real in the first place.
To fix this, we are adopting AT&T's recently recommended formula for calculating how many bars to display for a given signal strength. The real signal strength remains the same, but the iPhone's bars will report it far more accurately, providing users a much better indication of the reception they will get in a given area. We are also making bars 1, 2 and 3 a bit taller so they will be easier to see.
We will issue a free software update within a few weeks that incorporates the corrected formula. Since this mistake has been present since the original iPhone, this software update will also be available for the iPhone 3GS and iPhone 3G.
We have gone back to our labs and retested everything, and the results are the same- the iPhone 4's wireless performance is the best we have ever shipped. For the vast majority of users who have not been troubled by this issue, this software update will only make your bars more accurate. For those who have had concerns, we apologize for any anxiety we may have caused.
As a reminder, if you are not fully satisfied, you can return your undamaged iPhone to any Apple Retail Store or the online Apple Store within 30 days of purchase for a full refund.
We hope you love the iPhone 4 as much as we do.
Thank you for your patience and support.
Apple
via engadget
Will this really fix the problems or not ? will simply displaying the results of the signal strength in a different way actually work ? possibly if the software references the signal bars and then shuts down the data speeds for downloading and cause quality degradation of the voice call, only time will tell.
We await the tests of iPhone 4 signal testers like this one.
cex
UK's Best Cashback Site
Monday
Thursday
Apple #iPhone 4 Drops Signal.
Now we know why apple released their own protective bumper for the iPhone. Its because they forgot anybody was going to be holding the new iPhone 4 to make a call.
Simple really don't know why I did not see this problem earlier.
So basically you have an insulated material say a nice shine glass composite case then you put a metal ring around the edge of the phone and then segregate that ring, then you wire up that ring to the rf antenna of your phone.
Result great signal as the antenna is open to the air and nothing to restrict it.
Now here is the problem, add a human being to the equation, they hold the phone toughing the glass casing and the metal surround, no problem with the glass but when the antenna comes into contact with the skin the signal is effectively earthed out and the reception on the phone drops and in a lot of occasions the signal disappears completely.
Some unfortunate iPhone 4 users have demonstrated the problem by simply resting a metal object across the gap on the bottom left of the phone.
Big problem, remember the problems Steve had demonstrating the phone on wifi at WWDC, may be this earthing problem had an effect there too. ?
So it looks like apple brought out the silly little bumper because they knew about this fault, and lets face it, its an embarrassing fault for apple.
Some fixes are tape or of course the apple bumper.
Check here for a full listing of what Gizmodo found.
I liked this one, i was thinking the exact same thing.
Simple really don't know why I did not see this problem earlier.
So basically you have an insulated material say a nice shine glass composite case then you put a metal ring around the edge of the phone and then segregate that ring, then you wire up that ring to the rf antenna of your phone.
Result great signal as the antenna is open to the air and nothing to restrict it.
Now here is the problem, add a human being to the equation, they hold the phone toughing the glass casing and the metal surround, no problem with the glass but when the antenna comes into contact with the skin the signal is effectively earthed out and the reception on the phone drops and in a lot of occasions the signal disappears completely.
Some unfortunate iPhone 4 users have demonstrated the problem by simply resting a metal object across the gap on the bottom left of the phone.
Big problem, remember the problems Steve had demonstrating the phone on wifi at WWDC, may be this earthing problem had an effect there too. ?
So it looks like apple brought out the silly little bumper because they knew about this fault, and lets face it, its an embarrassing fault for apple.
Some fixes are tape or of course the apple bumper.
Check here for a full listing of what Gizmodo found.
I liked this one, i was thinking the exact same thing.
The iGlove, using this rubber actually improves sensitivity ! :)Tuesday
Apple release new Mac mini, Again ! #apple #mac
Apple released details of the new new Mac mini today, I say new new because they only recently up the spec of the mac mini along with a new mini hdmi port that did not support audio only video.
But if you check apple now you are greeted by a newly designed Mac Mini, its another £100 or so for the new model but has an integrated psu and an hdmi that support audio too !
Wow that was a quick re development apple ! makes me wonder why they even bothered with the interim version, needed to shift some old cases perhaps ?
But if you check apple now you are greeted by a newly designed Mac Mini, its another £100 or so for the new model but has an integrated psu and an hdmi that support audio too !
Wow that was a quick re development apple ! makes me wonder why they even bothered with the interim version, needed to shift some old cases perhaps ?
Saturday
Three Micro SIM for iPad.
Here we have one of Three's new micro SIM cards as advertised for the iPad.
However there is no mention of the iPad on the documentation or SIM card, so this looks like it
could be used with any 3G product, as the SIM card its self is a multi cut out unit that can be used in its three versions.
What ever happend to the micro SIM card saving money by cutting down on the amount of material used in the SIM card its self and also packaging ? Just media spin again i think.
Currently Three offer a £15 per month 5 GB deal, the new iPad deal gives you double the data allowance for the same £15.
We will be issuing a template as taken from the SIM card cut outs so you can chop up or cut and SIM card to be used in the iPad or future iPhone or and other unit that uses the micro SIM card.
We cant realy condone this activity as if you read the small print of SIM cards it says the SIM card will remain the property of the issuing network, so do this at your own risk.
could be used with any 3G product, as the SIM card its self is a multi cut out unit that can be used in its three versions.
What ever happend to the micro SIM card saving money by cutting down on the amount of material used in the SIM card its self and also packaging ? Just media spin again i think.
Currently Three offer a £15 per month 5 GB deal, the new iPad deal gives you double the data allowance for the same £15.
We will be issuing a template as taken from the SIM card cut outs so you can chop up or cut and SIM card to be used in the iPad or future iPhone or and other unit that uses the micro SIM card.
We cant realy condone this activity as if you read the small print of SIM cards it says the SIM card will remain the property of the issuing network, so do this at your own risk.
Update 17/12/2011
After using the template a few times I realised it was not the best way to "modify" a standard SIM card to fit a micro SIM card slot.
I would find I would need to tinker with the SIM after cutting it out to make the fit just right.
I purchased a SIM cutter and now i'm able to punch out a perfectly sized micro SIM card from standard sized SIM card, the one I purchased also included two micro to standard SIM adapters.
here is one from Amazon well worth purchasing, you can now pick what ever SIM card is the best deal on data package regardless of if the network is trying to hold you to ransom just to buy a micro SIM card.
Tuesday
flattr Back ?
Flattr back ? will this work ?
If you flattr me with the button below i will flattr back.
If you flattr me with the button below i will flattr back.
Thursday
New #iPhone will use Micro SIM cards.
According to this youtube video the Next Gen #iPhone will use the A4 processor (same as the iPad), also looks like will use a Micro SIM (again the same as the iPad).
Wednesday
We now have a flattr account have you ?
Flattr is a micro payment system that enables you to see people appreciate your content.
Weather its a blog, video, pictures, music or anything else actually you are putting out there, its a way of sharing out the cake easily with just a click !
Weather its a blog, video, pictures, music or anything else actually you are putting out there, its a way of sharing out the cake easily with just a click !
If you like our post why not show the love ? click on my flattr button.
Friday
How To Convert a SIM to a MicroSIM so you can use with your ipad 3G
How To Convert a SIM to a MicroSIM so you can use with your ipad 3G here's how :-
http://bit.ly/9KUSlp
Maybe you could give it a try with one of our Three HSDPA 3G sims ? check out the store.
Our web store
http://bit.ly/9KUSlp
Maybe you could give it a try with one of our Three HSDPA 3G sims ? check out the store.
Our web store
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