Poll: iPhone 4 problems thread

What problems are you having with your iPhone 4? (multiple options are allowed)

  • None

    Votes: 98 30.8%

  • Display (generally this is the yellow splodges)

    Votes: 37 11.6%

  • Antenna (poor signals when holding the phone in a certain place)

    Votes: 193 60.7%

  • Other (specify)

    Votes: 38 11.9%
  • Total voters
    318
God this phones actually unuseable. I can't believe I spent £500 for this to lose connection if I forget to not put my hand in a certain place.
 
WeOwnTheSky said:
If they'd said 'coming in July' when this was announced what do you think they would be able to do with the 600,000 odd iPhones they had produced ready for this date and which they've sold so far (I think that's the figure touted) - they would have been preparing for today's launch for months. There is now a three week delay to the next batch so any fix wouldn't have a) happened to the initial batch or b) been available until the next batch (three weeks away).

If my calculations are correct (!) (and having an guestimated average purchase price for each phone around £300) that first batch had a value of £180,000,000 - nothing to sniff at!

* those calculations are just an estimate, don't quote me. Just to put it in perspective. It's probably much more....and then you have the contracts!
Click to expand...

They wouldn't bin them altogether though, they could have..

  1. Fixed with inhouse testing & software patch prior to launch
  2. Tweaked the design of the antennae, perhaps added one to the rear casing itself

I know what you are saying, but it would have been more beneficial to them to delay the launch and quarantine the 600,000 handsets until a fix was found than to have the PR mess and deal with mass recalls.
 
i am so happy that i pre ordered it and it will arrive for 15-17

i hope it will be new batch with fixed problems
 
EVH said:
They wouldn't bin them altogether though, they could have..

  1. Fixed with inhouse testing & software patch prior to launch
  2. Tweaked the design of the antennae, perhaps added one to the rear casing itself

I know what you are saying, but it would have been more beneficial to them to delay the launch and quarantine the 600,000 handsets until a fix was found than to have the PR mess and deal with mass recalls.
Click to expand...

Fixed/patched 600,000 boxed and (probably) shipped iPhones? How? They are ready days, if not weeks, before a worldwide launch - think about the logistics of it all. Not feasible IMO. :)

Same applies to the antenna tweak: all too late I think.
 
Besides, companies only tend to recall product when there is a health and safety issue.

i.e. - Phone charger blowing up, Cars braking system not working, food with bits of glass in it.

They do it on the grounds than any lawsuits from it will be in the millions for personal injury, EACH (then times that by potential number of claimants).

This is a broken/bad design fault, and it appears it doesn't happen to everyone so they are willing to chance it. The cost to them will be limited to the value of the phone, i.e. £500/£600, not millions each.

On paper, from an accountants point of view, it would seem it is cheaper to risk selling it (make a mint on launch day), add in a botched up Bumper as a solution and sell that at £25 each (make more money on that), and if the customer comes back, replace it.
 
My post from the iPhone 4 thread -

I've been reading about this signal issue for quite a while now.

As was suggested a few pages back there is a chance that the radio firmware (the software that controls the antenna among other things) is somehow detecting your hand bridging the gap, and from that, adjusts the signal in some way.

Something like this would be the best case scenario as it could be rectified easily with a software update.

There is absolutely no way in hell any of you should 'accept' the fact you can improve the situation by using a bumper, or be happy that you don't use your phone in your left hand. (Take a step back and think about this for a minute if you are of that frame of mind)

I am also quite surprised we still haven't had any official word from Apple on this?

On the flip side, it would appear the iPhone 4 is not alone with this issue, my HTC Desire drops a bar or two when you pick it up(difficult to tell though as it has a weak signal anyway due to where I live) , as does the 3G and 3GS. Its just not been quite as potent as it is now.

However, there is a difference between losing a bar or two, and losing 4/5 bars and your signal altogether!
Click to expand...

I'm hoping its the firmware issue so that when they get stock in I can get one ordered, though I am apprehensive giving money to Apple after they've cocked up this badly, and I fully expect them to sort it out. :)
 
WeOwnTheSky said:
Fixed/patched 600,000 boxed and (probably) shipped iPhones? How? They are ready days, if not weeks, before a worldwide launch - think about the logistics of it all. Not feasible IMO. :)

Same applies to the antenna tweak: all too late I think.
Click to expand...

Providing the stock hadn't been sold, they simply get it returned.

I'm not saying they'd get the full 600,000 returned, but even if they got back half it reduces the complaint / reject margins.

Adding a fork to the antenna cable, to attach an additional anchor the rear casing (like the iPhone 3G/3GS) would be possible, and probably the easiest solution but I can't see it happening now.
 
I can replicate this consistently and also show it with a 5p coin placed over the gap in the bottom left corner. Have also tested with speedtests. 1200kbps download with me not 'bridging' the gap and 100kbps or less with my finger crossing the gap. Also reduces from 5bars of 3G to 1/2 bars on Edge or even GPRS (is that the one where the symbol is an 'o'?)

In summary - not impressed that it significantly affects the performance of my £500 phone when I pick it up and hold it in a certain (quite normal) way.

EDIT: typos
 
WeOwnTheSky said:
If they'd said 'coming in July' when this was announced what do you think they would be able to do with the 600,000 odd iPhones they had produced ready for this date and which they've sold so far (I think that's the figure touted) - they would have been preparing for today's launch for months. There is now a three week delay to the next batch so any fix wouldn't have a) happened to the initial batch or b) been available until the next batch (three weeks away).

If my calculations are correct (!) (and having an guestimated average purchase price for each phone around £300) that first batch had a value of £180,000,000 - nothing to sniff at!

* those calculations are just an estimate, don't quote me. Just to put it in perspective. It's probably much more....and then you have the contracts!
Click to expand...

Yes, but if it is a hardware issue, then it requires a fix for all future manufactured units, if they can't do that, the whole thing will have to redesigned. In which case, if the problem is a hardware issue and they agree to replace the units already sold, then they still have a load of stock, that will need to be modified/replaced. Yes its a lot of money, but Apple is also a big company with a lot of money who could absorb such a mistake.

You say look at yourself...

Well OK, I'll look at myself.
I've had a 3G for two years, would like to upgrade to a 4. No way am I touching one now until this issue has been fully resolved and explained. If they had sorted it out before release, I would have likely bought one straight away.
 
I think you have to bear in mind that most people don't read tech forums like this and probably won't notice the issue. Could you say for sure that you would have, especially if you are using a bumper or other case?

I'd be amazed if Apple did a recall. I think they will do a straight swap out for people who complain in their stores but keep it quiet.
 
ok iphone experts i want to know my iphone will arrive on 15 july

will it be already fixed or i have to recall ?
 
IndieSchmindie said:
I think you have to bear in mind that most people don't read tech forums like this and probably won't notice the issue. Could you say for sure that you would have, especially if you are using a bumper or other case?

I'd be amazed if Apple did a recall. I think they will do a straight swap out for people who complain in their stores but keep it quiet.
Click to expand...

They will, I'm fairly sure it will be one of the news headlines tomorrow and in the papers and so forth, then people will be able to test it, and get upset.
 
IndieSchmindie said:
I think you have to bear in mind that most people don't read tech forums like this and probably won't notice the issue. Could you say for sure that you would have, especially if you are using a bumper or other case?

I'd be amazed if Apple did a recall. I think they will do a straight swap out for people who complain in their stores but keep it quiet.
Click to expand...

Won't notice?

So the number 1 read story on the BBC today is everybody not noticing?
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/8759590.stm

You can be certain the newspapers will jump on it tomorrow also.
 
Nexus said:
Won't notice?

So the number 1 read story on the BBC today is everybody not noticing?
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/8759590.stm

You can be certain the newspapers will jump on it tomorrow also.
Click to expand...

We'll see. Not everyone reads these media outlets.

Put it this way, if 50% of people end up taking it back (Being incredibly generous there), it's going to only cost them half the money of doing a recall.

I think the other guy on here had it right. They will only do a full recall on something with means they could be sued for a lot of money as it would harm people. Peoples phones not working is only going to cost them the same as the value of the phone. They'll just replace as people see fit to return.
 
IndieSchmindie said:
We'll see. Not everyone reads these media outlets.

Put it this way, if 50% of people end up taking it back (Being incredibly generous there), it's going to only cost them half the money of doing a recall.
Click to expand...

I bet it will be in all the papers tomorrow including the Metro as well.

If it makes it on BBC news, then enough people will know and people talk.
 
By the way, I think it would be the moral thing to do a recall. I just don't think Apple will because it would cost so much more than just replacing phones as people take them in and complain.

Has anyone booked a Genius appointment to test the water yet?
 
IndieSchmindie said:
I think you have to bear in mind that most people don't read tech forums like this and probably won't notice the issue. Could you say for sure that you would have, especially if you are using a bumper or other case?

I'd be amazed if Apple did a recall. I think they will do a straight swap out for people who complain in their stores but keep it quiet.
Click to expand...

Well it's enough to hit the BBC website and if it turns out to be widespread (which is appears to be) no doubt it will hit all the major news networks. Let's be honest though, many of the 1st dayers are very keen Apple fans and will have in depth knowledge about the capabilities of the new iPhone. The vast majority are going to read or hear about this fault. I just hope Apple don't stick their head in the sand though and deny the problem, perhaps it's one of the new features that Steve didn't get round to explaining? ;)

As someone said earlier a Hitler parody will certainly be on the way. He is going to be particularly annoyed with this.
 
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