The iOS 4.1 beta just hit the iPhone Developer Center and we’re looking to see what has changed. Is there a hidden software fix for the iPhone 4 reception issue? (Spoiler: Yes, possibly. But it’s not what you think.) More »
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Yesterday, a reader claimed that—after exchanging his iPhone 4—he couldn’t reproduce the sharp signal drop caused by the antenna problem. Since then, we’ve received 14 similar stories. However, other people haven’t seen any improvement in their replacement units. More »
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I try not to take sides on these little skirmishes between Mac and PC. In matters of taste, there is no dispute. And I’m fine with a little railing on both sides — to a point. But when Microsoft’s COO decides to tease Apple, saying “It looks like the iPhone 4 might be their Vista, and I’m okay with that,” I have to step in. This kind of attitude seems a bit out-of-place from a company that just had to retire a years-in-development project that they spent a billion on — due to rumored triple-digit sales.
I’ll tell you what, Microsoft. I’m going to give you this one. The criticism is deserved, after all — the iPhone 4 may in fact be Apple’s Vista in a way. But you don’t get to say that. Because if you do, someone might point out that Microsoft has never put out a single product that has so completely fascinated the consumer world as the iPhone. And chances are you never will. It’s better to have a Vista of an iPhone than to never have an iPhone to begin with.
Check out the rest: MobileCrunch
The folks at ColorWare have been making gadgets look prettier for some time, but in the case of the iPhone 4 they might be taking it a step further: They’re trying to confirm it, but their process might include death-grip-proofing. More »
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Found under: Apple, iPhone, iPhone 4, Fire, Faulty, Burn, USB,
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We’ve received only one report, so take it with a hill of salt: A Gizmodo reader claims that, after Apple replaced his iPhone 4, he couldn’t reproduce the sharp loss of signal. He says that the hardware seems slightly different: More »
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Apple’s iPhone 4 has the highest resolution for a smartphone and offers an easy method for wireless video calling, but it’s failing for some in a basic phone function — voice calling. The situation is causing outrage around the web and on Twitter: depending on who you ask, the innovative stainless-steel frame that doubles as an antenna is either the best or the worst feature. Apple claims the antenna offers the best reception ever, yet Consumer Reports testing confirms what many consumers are finding out firsthand: touching two specific parts of the frame simultaneously causes signal degradation.
Surprisingly, Apple isn’t handling this public relations challenge very well. Apple CEO, Steve Jobs, reportedly emailed a complaining customer saying, “Just avoid holding it that way.” And just prior to a holiday weekend — possibly in an attempt to bury attention — the company issued a press release pushing much of the blame on U.S. carrier partner AT&T (t). Apple claims that all iPhones have been incorrectly overstating signal strength and that a software fix will address the problem soon. Clearly, the software update will fix the visual problem, but it’s highly unlikely that the antenna problem will be affected.
At this point, the negative press shows no signs of abating over the iPhone 4 antenna issue and, for that reason, the fastest and simplest solution should be considered — Apple should simply offer a free bumper to every iPhone 4 customer. While Apple would lose out on the $29 sales of such items — and the high profit margin they likely involve — the company could negate the bad press and make things right with its customers. And the fact that Apple never made iPhone cases or bumpers before isn’t lost on me. I have to wonder when Apple actually realized the potential antenna issue.
Regardless of when the problem was determined, the peace offering of a bumper is far less damaging in the long term and is a better way to handle the situation than allegedly deleting mentions of the Consumer Reports findings in Apple support discussions or recalling the phone as some have suggested. For a company that’s built upon brand loyalty, Apple simply can’t afford to not offer free iPhone 4 bumpers.
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Before we continue, a quick recap of the terms:
Jailbroken: Modified to be able to install third-party applications not approved by Apple, generally via an alternative App Store.
Unlocked: Able to run on GSM networks other than the one it was originally sold for. In the case of US iPhones, that means an unlocked AT&T iPhone could run on T-Mobile (sans 3G) or any of the GSM carriers in Canada.
The iPhone 4 is now both of those.
While some people are still doubting the legitimacy of the infamous-but-now-retired Geohot’s unlock claims, let there be no doubts here: long-time jailbreak icon MuscleNerd and the ridiculously clever planetbeing have claimed a successful unlock, stifling haters with a shot of the handset running Cydia (one of the aforementioned alternative App Stores) while connected to Bell Canada.
As these things usually go, the hack isn’t ready for public consumption quite yet. So when will it be? Who knows. There’s no ETA beyond “eventually”. If past trends are any indication, they’re likely waiting until after Apple sends out the first software update in hopes that their loopholes go unpatched.
Check out the rest: MobileCrunch
Apple has deleted at least six support forums’ threads on Consumer Reports’ iPhone 4 antenna problem test. The messages discussed the publication’s findings: Consumer Reports can’t recommend the iPhone because they found out the design flaw could affect all users. More »
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We don’t know if your iPhone 4′s battery life will really be doubled by the Exolife battery case, but at least we know that the case is slim, light, and will give your gadget a bit of a power boost. More »
IPhone – Handhelds – Smartphones – Batteries – BatteryCase
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