GuruClark
Computer repair technician, blogger, iPhone lover.
Posts by GuruClark
This Week In iPhone 7.18-7.24
Jul 25th
All in all, a fairly quiet week for Apple news. Apple’s case program goes live, those wanting an iPhone 4 in white will likely never get it (cause they’ll buckle and get the black one first!) and Apple throws a new phone or two into their antenna page deal. This of course made other manufactures pretty heated, but Apple doesn’t seem to care very much.
As usual, the links are available after the break.
iPhone 4 free case program goes live, requires iPhone app
White iPhone Delayed until the end of 2010
Apple adds the Motorola Droid X to their list of antenna attenuations
I told’ya it wasn’t a very big week!
iPhone 4 Case Program Site is Live
Jul 23rd
… and you select your case using an application. Really, there’s an app for that. Apple’s terms and conditions are available on the site, including eligibility and what to do if you’ve already paid for one. I personally don’t have the antenna problem on my iPhone, and don’t want to case its beauty, but I’ll take the free one - just in case I change my mind later. Download the app and get yours today, the download link is available on Apple’s page.
UPDATE: I’ve started going through the process now. They have about eight cases available, not just Apple’s Bumpers. The app also has a bit of info and photos of how it looks on each handset. It appears that the photos are only renders, which would imply that the cases aren’t even real yet. Shipping time on all of them is three to five weeks. In entirety, the process takes about one minute. Your iTunes ID has your shipping info, so it’s simply a matter of logging in, selecting your case, and confirming.
Apple iPhone 4 Case Program
This Week In iPhone 4.11-4.17
Jul 18th
As always, an Apple press event completely shuts down the internet and suffocates all other news. For the most part, it seems that all the news surrounds Apple’s supposed “Anntenna-gate” situation. All this antenna talk has swiftly become a headache for everyone, I suspect that it will be completely forgotten. As for Apple bringing other manufacturers into this, I think it’s a good idea. After Apple posted examples of other phones experiencing the death grip, I have since tried it on other devices and seen it work exactly as described, just like it does on the iPhone. Personally, I believe this is all hype and is only a big deal because the iPhone is a high profile device - no one cares if a Bold has the same “problem” cause no one that matters uses one. Well, that may be a bit of an over-reaching statement, but the point stands, Blackberries and Droids alike lose signal when held. Just seems like everyone who is complaining, doesn’t even own an iPhone 4 and has no place to speak up in the first place. Anyway, here’s the week contained in links.
Free Bumpers for all
Apple Engineer warned Jobs about the antenna design
iOS 4.0.1 now shows how crappy AT&T is (correctly), but doesn’t fix the antenna
Apple’s official antenna page (my blog on it)
Apple’s Antenna-gate press conference video
Did Apple Deliver Today?
Jul 16th
Sound off in the comments with your thoughts and ideas on today’s conference regarding Apple’s response to the antenna problem. How do you think Apple should have realistically handled the situation? Did they satisfy your qualms? I’d like to hear from iPhone 4 owners in particular - everyone else seems to be entirely non-objective on the matter (although I’d still like to hear what you have to say). My personal opinion may be a bit unique. I wholly support the idea of a full refund with no restocking fee for anyone that doesn’t want the phone. However, I think the free case is overkill and really shows that Apple wants to bend over backwards. I actually don’t believe that there is a hardware flaw or design flaw.
The phone is, as Apple designed it, attenuation and all. While everyone may not agree with it, it’s not a mistake. Same way sidetalking on the N-Gage is, way back when. Not a mistake, not a flaw - as designed. The free case but no redesign suggests to me that Apple agrees with me, but wants to avoid explaining themselves and just get people to shut up. This is more than acceptable. Complainers get a free case, or a refund. Those that don’t want to use the phone any more don’t have to and are welcome to leave. Anyone that still wants to “endure” the “hardship” of using an iPhone 4 must really think the phone is something special.
Anyway, leave a comment with your thoughts. Thanks.
I feel like most people will fall into the following categories of responses:
- A free case, or full refund both solves the problem for those that want to stay and/or grants freedom for those that aren’t happy and want to find a different phone.
- I’m more or less satisfied, but I would have rather had a hardware redesign.
- I’m pissed that Apple isn’t going to completely redesign the handset and instead is just going to cover it with a semi-literal bandage.
- I’m too much of an Apple hater/lover to give a non-biased opinion.
Picture from Hijinks Ensue
Apple Posts Antenna Attenuation Info Page
Jul 16th
Ooh, the heat is on. Along with being apologetic to iPhone 4 owners, Apple also doubles back with a “see, it happens to everyone” info page. While the news isn’t, news, so to speak, it does highlight the problem with holding any kind of phone. The reason it’s such a big deal now is likely do to the high profile nature of an iPhone and extremely targeted location it occurs at.
Apple demonstrates this by showing signal loss on various phones, including: the Samsung Omnia II, HTC Droid Eris, BlackBerry Bold 9700 and the iPhone 3GS. Apple also goes into some pretty surprising details about their antenna testing lab (the pictures are incredible). I think the attempt on Apple’s part is certainly worth noting, but ultimately won’t stop people from complaining that there exists a flaw in the design of the iPhone 4…, despite it being a physics issue that no one has conclusively solved.
Smartphone Antenna Performance via Apple
iPhone 4 Conference Wrap-up
Jul 16th
The conference is over, here’s what we got:
- iPhone 4 drops “1 more call per hundred” compared to the 3GS
- 0.55% of complaints were antenna/reception related
- Lots of pseudo-problem admittance and apologies
- Cases DO fix the problem
- Apple will allow a full refund until September 30th if you’re unhappy
- Otherwise, you’ll get your choice of a free case, there will be a selection, not just bumpers. I expect we’ll get more details on this right quick, but right now we don’t have much of anything.
- Apple really wants to make you happy. They are sad when people attack them, Apple insists that if a user is unhappy, Apple is unhappy. PR won’t solve anything.
- Apple loves you. ♥ U
If I get any more info, I’ll be sure to add it.
Holy Android - Modding Kills Droid X’s!
Jul 15th
What a disturbing piece of news. Apparently, one of the crowning achievements in Android ownership is being brutally disabled in the new Droid X. It’s called “eFuse.” If a verification fails, it sends a command to corrupt the freaking boot process - permanently bricking the phone. To fix it? Why, it requires a hardware repair by Motorola. So this means, no special ROMS — heck, maybe sideloaded apps will trigger this thing.
To the average user, this presents no problem. To the geek that wants to trump iPhone people, stay away. Thankfully, the nature of Android means you’ve got options. While it’s too early to be worried, I’d at least be wary of this becoming a trend. While there will likely be an “open” option from x manufacturer, it may not be the best phone on the market if this continues. Assuming this permeates and affects all Android devices - would they still be worth using? Looks like Droid Doesn’t.
via MobileCrunch
Apple Holding iPhone 4 Press Conference on Friday
Jul 14th
Quick bit of news. There’s a conference about the iPhone 4 this Friday, the 16th. The presumption is that Apple will tackle the “death grip” issue once and for all. Maybe they’ll announce the white iPhone 4 as well. This would be appropriate since I just put an order in for the black one after not being able to hold out any longer. We’ll see.
via Engadget
Exclusive: iPhone 4′s Antenna to be Flipped?
Jul 14th
Now before I go into too many details, this report came to me this morning, from an AT&T employee who gave me zero evidence to support this other than his/her claim. This makes me incredibly wary of it’s factual basis. Here’s what I was told: the antenna bands on the iPhone will basically be rotated, clockwise, 180°. This would put the “bottom antenna” on the top of the phone. Now the bridge between the two bands would be on the top right corner of the handset…, similar to where the vibrate switch is but on the other side. Since no one grips their phone on the top half, this would “recitfy” the supposed issue and bring it more in line with other devices that have the same problem. It’s been mentioned that many phones lose signal when the top of the phone is gripped.
We’d see it “within 30 days” and all iPhone 4′s can be replaced with the rotated version, if taken back to the store. This somewhat contradicts earlier reports that the antenna band composition would be changed because of a recall. Still, it makes sense. Signal loss when a phone is touched is real, for every handset. The thing that gets me is that it doesn’t seem to be completely comprehensive. Some people appear to have no trouble at all and that the real fault is AT&T’s network.
Take this report lightly, I’m not totally convinced this person is right, based on how wonky it sounds. It is worth sharing, however, and I’d be delighted if it ended up to be true. I hope everyone gets some resolution on this matter quickly. It’s now become so trite - I can’t stand reading about it anymore.
UPDATE: Are Your Basements Frozen? - Apple Possibly Recalling iPhone 4s
Jul 14th
Oh my goodness! The thing everyone was speculating about but never thought Apple would do might be happening: A voluntary recall! This would imply that the device causes no harm to users (like a government forced one), but that Apple may be admitting to a design flaw that must be fixed. Now keep in mind, it’s a singular report, but this may not be too clear until more reports come in (if any).
According to the claim, the phone was brought in, and was subsequently replaced. On the new unit, the front glass has changed out (since the proximity sensor is now visible and less black) and the antenna bands are “more matte.” Gizmodo followed up and exchanged one of their units and it was the exact same as every other iPhone 4. So, this may all be a hoax. It’d be a good thing for Apple to recall the units, albeit expensive, but very bad to admit failure. They can’t really win either way. If the problem is even that bad to begin with, the media has already spewed their crap on it.
UPDATE: More people are having sending in reports. Oddly only to Gizmodo it seems. To me, it’s looking fishy since Gizmodo has that history with Apple. Read the extra reports.
Read the orignal claim, after the break.
I’ve been following all of the iPhone 4 stuff since I got mine the day before release. I was able to replicate the signal issue. I also had the proximity sensor issue, causing inadvertent mute button pushing. There were a few other software issues I was experiencing so I consulted Apple at the Fifth Avenue store in New York. They replaced my phone. The diagnostic showed that the OS was corrupt and certain utilities were failing. [They claimed that] all phones with a proximity sensor issue were being sent back to Apple for further study.
Well, when I got the new phone it was different. It was different hardware. The black [plastic] bezel isn’t as black on the new one. I couldn’t see the proximity sensor at all on the previous iPhone 4, now I can. The stainless steel band on the new phone is less ‘steel-y’ and more matte. I’ve also tried to replicate the signal drop and failure. While I can’t say for sure that it is entirely fixed, there is certainly huge improvement. I’m guessing they coated the steel with something, took some black out of the bezel and sent them out without saying too much about it. I also think Apple is willing to warranty a phone for any reason except the signal issue.
The guy next to me said that he had to press the home button several times before the phone would come back from stand-by. This happened once. The Apple tech ran the diagnostic, everything was fine. They still replaced his phone. I think they’re doing a ‘silent recall‘.
via Gizmodo
Interact With Us