Alex Zaharov-Reutt
Tuesday, 20 July 2010 23:45
Your IT -
Mobility
Page 1 of 2
Apple’s emergency press conference has come and gone, and after casing things out, Apple says all smartphones have the same antenna problems – but why don’t most other smartphones need a case, when the iPhone 4 now effectively comes with a free case for best-case use?
iPhone 4 users reporting reception problems with their iPhone 4s are either head cases or have a case when it comes to needing a case to solve the iPhone 4 antenna death-grip issue.
The case that iPhone 4 users needed a case was oft-recommended before Apple came to the rescue with the free “bumper” case, which isn’t really a case as cases are traditionally known but sort of a strip case that goes around the edge of the smartphone, covering the exposed antenna from any skin-to-case touch.
Apple seems to be saying it’s a “just-in-case”, especially seeing as none of the Apple executives on stage were sporting the free bumper cases on their iPhone 4 models when asked during the press conference, but has also pointed the finger of blame at other smartphone models such as RIM’s BlackBerry Bold 9700, HTC’s Droid Eris, and Samsung’s Omnia II.
Its demo showed other smartphones having the same issue when their antennas were covered by a hand, and in one sense, it’s true.
After all, mobile and cell phone manuals have for years advised against touching the antenna area, and even the original iPhone 2G had articles written about it showing that when the black antenna area of that first iPhone was gripped, EDGE speeds would slow to about half what they should be, something that always prompted me never to hold the iPhone in that way - the original iPhone taught me to "hold different".
When Apple announced that its new antenna was on the outside, I instantly wondered what effect this might have on actually using the phone, although I never imagined it would turn into the AntennaGate fiasco, presuming at first glance that Apple would have seen such a problem coming.
Apple’s competitors have predictably been outraged at being named and shamed in Apple’s iPhone 4 AntennaGate press conference, with HTC’s CFO telling the
Wall Street Journal that reception problems weren’t common and that Apple “apparently didn't give operators enough time to test the phone."
As has been publicised, RIM’s co-chief executives Mike Lazaridis and Jim Balsillie said that: "Apple's attempt to draw RIM into Apple's self-made debacle is unacceptable. Apple's claims about RIM products appear to be deliberate attempts to distort the public's understanding of an antenna design issue and to deflect attention from Apple's difficult situation”, and that “One thing is for certain, RIM's customers don't need to use a case for their BlackBerry to maintain proper connectivity."
Nokia stepped in with a statement saying: "We prioritise antenna performance over physical design if they are ever in conflict”, while Motorola said its own tests showed the iPhone 4 did have antenna attenuation issues.
Continued on page two, where you’ll see a “brand new” iPhone case that might bring a nostalgic smile to your dial -
please read on!
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