At the special iPhone 4 conference yesterday, Apple’s CEO Steve Jobs showed videos of RIM’s BlackBerry Bold 9700, HTC’s Droid Eric, Samsung’s Omnia II lose signal strength when they're gripped in a certain way.
Apple also published new pages on its website, where it is trying to educate users about smartphone antenna performance and their weak spots.
At the press conference, Steve Jobs explained that they’ve got to the heart of the problem, and that is smartphone have weak spots, which was a challenge not just for Apple but also for the entire mobile industry.
Not surprisingly, this hasn’t gone down too well with Apple’s competitors. RIM, Nokia, HTC and Motorola have fired back at Apple for drawing them into the antenna issue.
Mike Lazaridis and Jim Balsillie, RIM’s co-CEOs issued the following statement:
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. RIM is a global leader in antenna design and has been successfully designing industry-leading wireless data products with efficient and effective radio performance for over 20 years. During that time, RIM has avoided designs like the one Apple used in the iPhone 4 and instead has used innovative designs which reduce the risk for dropped calls, especially in areas of lower coverage. One thing is for certain, RIM’s customers don’t need to use a case for their BlackBerry smartphone to maintain proper connectivity. Apple clearly made certain design decisions and it should take responsibility for these decisions rather than trying to draw RIM and others into a situation that relates specifically to Apple.
Nokia issued the following statement pointing out that it prioritizes antenna performance over physical design:
"Antenna design is a complex subject and has been a core competence at Nokia for decades, across hundreds of phone models. Nokia was the pioneer in internal antennas; the Nokia 8810, launched in 1998, was the first commercial phone with this feature.
Nokia has invested thousands of man hours in studying human behavior, including how people hold their phones for calls, music playing, web browsing and so on. As you would expect from a company focused on connecting people, we prioritize antenna performance over physical design if they are ever in conflict.
In general, antenna performance of a mobile device/phone may be affected with a tight grip, depending on how the device is held. That's why Nokia designs our phones to ensure acceptable performance in all real life cases, for example when the phone is held in either hand. Nokia has invested thousands of man hours in studying how people hold their phones and allows for this in designs, for example by having antennas both at the top and bottom of the phone and by careful selection of materials and their use in the mechanical design."
HTC hasn’t responded with an official comment but Eric Lin, global head of PR at HTC revealed that they had very few complaints about signal or antenna problems on the HTC Droid Eris.
"Approximately .016% of customers, we have had very few complaints about signal or antenna problems on the Eris."
Sanjay Jha, co-CEO of Motorola said in a statement:
"It is common knowledge in the industry that antennas on the outside of products have known issues, and despite the fact that they lead to smaller phones we have avoided them because consumers don't like being told how to hold the phone.
While the whole industry has to deal with phones being held in different ways, it is disingenuous to suggest that all phones perform equally. In our own testing we have found that Droid X performs much better than iPhone4 when held by consumers."
We expect Samsung to respond as well as Apple had demoed Samsung Omania II drop signal strength when it is gripped in a certain way. We don’t think this will be the last we’ve heard from Apple’s competitors.
But one thing is clear, due to the iPhone 4 reception saga any smartphone that is released going forward will be closely scrutinized for antenna issues.
[via CrackBerry, Engadget, WSJ, CNBC]
Oh, the drama. Watch Hollywood make of movie out of all this. Just fix the damn phone already… please.
Ugh these pussies need to stop their catfight and let it be (1)
its the blackberry 9700 not 8700
Jobby boy just can't tell the truth or own up to mistakes.
What a pathetic excuse for a human…
I totally agree with Motorola, Samsung, Nokia, and RIM. I own an iPhone 4, but for the new comer (Apple in this case) to try and put down companies that in some cases have been in the phone market for decades longer than Apple is completely outrageous. Albeit, some of these companies phones may decrease their reception when held a certain way, but not a single one of my Blackberries, Motorola's, Samsung's, or Nokia's ever did anything like my iPhone 4. And yes, for you fan boys, I have owned at least one of each of those phones, and don't get me wrong I am going to keep my iPhone 4, but that does not give Apple the right to try and degrade other companies product lines. This will be the last iPhone I purchase.
Finally some companies that know and speak the truth. Apple really screwed up by trying to compare their iPhone specific issue to other phones. I hope this bites them hard. Apple is acting like a little kid with the whole "well they do it to" bit. It would be bad enough if this was true and the comparison was legit, but it's not. This is a completely different issue that only affects the iPhone 4. I hope every one of these companies expose Apple's lie. Unfortunately, the Apple fanboys will never believe the truth. It's getting ridiculous on the Apple discussion boards. They are completely brainwashed. No matter how many different ways I and others explain the real issue, these Apple Kool-Aid drinkers still think this is a non-issue and is the same problem that affects all phones. The whole thing is getting really sad. Apple just needs to admit that the iPhone 4 has an antenna design flaw and stop trying to call it something that it isn't.
Thanks for highlighting the error, it has been corrected.
It's the worse of the worst to drag other companies into your mistakes. take it like Toyota, accept it, fix it and move on.
Ok, bad idea roping these guys in..
but have you noticed…stupid ass motorola HAS to advertise. These guys suck beyond belief.
/Rant
ok seriously, what a place to advertise.
shut the fuck up all the other phones freeze htc freezes android freezes nokia same and no internet cause its a int and unlocked phone all iphones are good and way better then any other phone shit quit the bull already what no flash stop being cheap buy a laptop if the shit said comes with dick sucking motion and didnt work a problem too all those company should fucking bow down to apple so what he put them on blast bout time with nokias high ass prices for what a camera fuck out of here he told pple buy bumpers or get free ones if dont like it in 30 days get full refund on phone so dont like it bring it back mines works perfect
Nice post. Toyota didn't exactly fix it willingly until the spotlight was directly on them, though the analogy is relevant because the same spotlight is now directly on Apple.
I bet even if you read this comment yourself you wouldn't understand what you have just said. Grow up. Just because your phone works "perfectly" doesn't mean the issue doesn't exist. If you believe Steve Jobs about signal attenuation on all phones then how bad is that problem for the iPhone 4 which has it's antenna on the outside unlike every other phone which he displayed which have it internally. By that logic the iPhone is the worst offender.
I also agree with all these companies. I interested in seeing the design for the next generation iPhone. If Apple don't stick with the same design then we know that Steve Jobs is full of BS. Buying a case to protect a phone (which I would like to point out the bumper does not) and buying a case so the phone won't lose signal are two different things. All the other manufactures don't need a case for their phones to hold a signal.
What Apple have done by dragging their competitors into their own created mess is just shameful. Who are they to call out companies who have long been making phones since before them? How would they like if Google came out with their own PC OS and called Apple out for a mistake Google made? Whoever finds the conference held Friday as being acceptable needs to open their eyes and just see that Apple is sweeping their own mess under the rug.
"We have gotten to the heart of the problem…" all mobile phones have weak spots"… Honestly? It took them three weeks to come up with this and a 500 mb update to fix a miscalculating formula? And they couldn't even fix the proximity sensors. How long before they release an update for that? And all this coming from the world's biggest tech company. Everyone must find something wrong with this.
dude we need some JB news.
guys is time to go bed nine nineIIIII
What is wrong with this fool. Do u think u r in the jungle with your dirty mouth. Clean it up with Orbit. Jesus Christ I dont think your parents raised u right.Using so much foul language on a public site. Iphonehacks, you guys should really do something about filtering the kinds of comments people write on your site. Its really inappropiate.
Thanks! Well said homie! An iPhone is a iPhone u can depend on.
300.00 for 32gb that's a great price! I have 3 iPhone 4 in my family it works great with bumpers or no bumpers. Love the iPhone. This people here are only to fucking find and unlock programfor the iPhone and yet they fucking are shittting on apple iphone. Like u said don't want it u got 30 days to return I sure be happy to get your iPhone. And resellit on eBay for$ 900.00
I wanna thanks Spirt blackrain and all other developers of this program and code hackers for making our life easier. Thanks you iPhone hacks.
HI
I THINK UP TO 30 DAYS APPLE IS GOING TO TO DO ALL DRAMA SO THAT AFTER 30 DAYS CUSTOMER WONT BE ABLE TO GET REFUND.
AN I WILL REQUEST STEVE JOB TO ADMIT IS MISTAKE
U NEED A LOL POP TAKE IT EASY BE COOL
I bet my ass …The iphone 5 will have a completely redisgned case … No more exposing bezel antenna….when and if that happens then we will known that the 4 was flaw. We will surely see the law of physics then.
steve jobs is an ass–hole about this iphone 4. He knows how to blame. He needs to learn to behave.
THIS
i.e. an epic multicorporational "Oh no you didn't"
apple and steve jobs, suck it up. don't be a little girl about this problem u created.
I thankfully have a iPhone4 that does not show these problems but then im always using it in a case.
I really do think its so unfair and wrong that Steve has taken te route he has about hte other phones. I do believe him when hes saying that all phones will have a problem with the antenna but what i dont belive is that during normal use it affects users. This problem is only on the iPhone4
Go follow @MuscleNerd @iH8sn0w or @comex, to name a few, on Twitter. The guys are working.
Maybe they'll go retro and use one of those telescoping antennas.
HTC's european Director has responded on Twitter.
http://twitter.com/markmoons/status/18702074270
apple knew about this problem before they released the phone. why do you think they made the bumper. its the first cover for there phone thay have ever made.and why only cover the sides. its to cover the antena.steve jobs is full of yanky crap.
yeah, exactly they thought it will never be this big deal and everyone will spent another $29 on the bumper which they produce for 79Cents, but now, after all this they give it out for free. Every phone has this problem in a certain way but not when you hold it in your hand in a normal way but the iphone is dropping the signal when you make a phone call and you have it in your hand…that's not normal and yes, please all other manufacturers fight back and get this right that apple failed to get this right and perhaps there will be a time in the future that even iphone user will recognize that apple is not god and failures can happen and then you have to fix them – not with a bumper…every BB user would freak out if RIM would tell him, yeah there's a problem but we give you this case…iphone users are even thankful and think that Jobs did the next great thing…So happy iphoning to all of you…
It's def sounds like a blame shift to me. I will wait until they drop the Zack Morris iPhone 5 with the antenna on the top.
" I've got one that can see !!! " +theyliveandwesleep.com+
" TL Reptilian Baby "
+theyliveandwesleep.com+
I’ve been working as an RF Engineer for 5+ years. I test cell phones of all types, no matter how their antenna is designed. I’ve seen them all. I’ve been using different techniques as we are told to. I’m glad someone brought up this issue, because it really is an issue for smartphones, NOT only IPhone, but many others. Data packets from one cell site to another using a tiny phone is another problem, this is an issue with cell sites and not mainly the fault of the antenna. We shall see in about a year.
Such an a$$h0l3. Bought a 3gs, but will never ever buy any Apple shit from this arrogant company.
Dale
Eh eh don't be so cutting. He's a business man, and a human.
You're so right my friend, I'm going to switch to HTC Evo 4G. I also have the iPhone 3Gs and the 3G. I will never ever buy the shitty product of Apple again. Steve Job, you can suck my ass! Egoist, blame on the other's…
Well said? Either this is the same guy reposting because he realized he couldn't even understand what he wrote or they must be related. I've read the post couple times and I still have trouble understanding what he wrote.
Well said, he's fucking rude. Lmao@Orbit
Well said, he's fucking rude. Lmao@Orbit
Well said JimJam, I currently own a 3GS & I don't plan to get Iphone 4 because it is a waste of money to buy faulty product.
wow……
Apple did a wrong thing by pulling other mobile companies into this issue.. It would hav been better if steve jobs had accepted the antenna fault and had stopped shipping iphones on a temporary basis, redesign them by adding some extra coat on the antenna so tht the signal wont go down even if we touch the black line… and replace all iphone 4s with the new coated one… so the problem would hav been solved… Instead he is offering a bumper for the faulty phone. YES FAULTY phone….. i cal it faulty bcos it has got a problem, …
Stood 4hrs in the queue and got a faluty one…
Im a big fan of apple…. got all iphones, and of all iPhone 4 is the best (forget the antenna issue)…
iPhone 4 – It changed everything….
o come on people if u dont like the phone bring it back they'll give u ur money back my iphone 4 works great
do it bitch and stop crying like a pussy no body its stoping u white trash
One thing I notice is that there is a problem with the antenna but only in low coverage areas. When I was in very good coverage holding the death grip did nothing to my signal I even made a call.. Try it out.. All in all I love this phone and I have a case for my double glassed phone anwayz so really not a big dea.
Your a complete moron!
And you must be black trash with a name like "yo".
Lol @ yo
He is indeed a black trash my friend, and gues what, he came out of Steve job's black hole, no wonder he hates us. Stinky black trash.
Toyota didn't and hasn't figured out the issue yet. they enlisted the help of the US government, NSA and MIT, to date I haven't read anything of any conclusive findings. We own a car affected by the accellator recall so we are watchful of the resolution.
Toyota didn't drag any one else but other companies are also watching as they have similar systems in their products
STOP FIGHTING MAN!
THIS IS NOT IRAQI WEBSITE…
YEAH DUDE, HE OUGHT TO ADMIT HE SCREWD UP THIS TIME, IPHONE 4 GOT F–KED UP ANTENNA
A TOTAL DISASTER WITH THIS COMMENTS…