When we
first exposed the iPhone 4 to the world, many of you were skeptical about its authenticity. Frankly, so were we,
initially anyway. A device with black seams disrupting its otherwise clean lines just couldn't be from Apple, a company notorious for its obsessive design aesthetic. Well, now that the iPhone 4 is official, Steve took a moment to explain that the stainless steel band is actually an integral part of the iPhone's antenna system -- one part dedicated to Bluetooth, WiFi, and GPS; the other larger half to UMTS and GSM. Something that, according to Steve, has never been done before in a phone. We'll have to wait a bit before we know whether this "brilliant engineering" translates into fewer dropped calls for frustrated AT&T customers. But it's hard to imagine that Apple would take the time to show its antennas to developers if there wasn't a downstream reward for consumers. Remember, Steve
did say last week that things "
should be getting a lot better soon" on AT&T. Click through to hear Apple's loyal software developers ooh and aah over the iPhone's really cool ability to convert electromagnetic radiation into electrical current, and back. Amazing.
posted June 8th 2010 8:36AM
@painfull2006
Well said. I used to read engadget multiple times a day, but now I hardly even go on it once a day. Engadget has really gone down the tube. Ill just go to maximumpc. At least they can keep it real.
At last,an antenna !
@kiwi32
But, will it keep it from dropping calls?
@kiwi32
a MAGICAL antenna
@JFH
Isn't dropped calls a problem with AT&T's overloaded network? Why would hardware help? It's flawless on O2 in the UK, never had an issue since the 3G and now 3GS.
@potretr
that crap is becoming like the overused rock vs iphone.
@Almo .. Same. I also took a big working holiday and went through most of Europe, Asia and North Africa. Never once had a dropped call.
Sounds like ATT just can't get their act together.
This is just Apple admitting that their iPhones were at least partially at fault for bad call quality on the 3G and 3GS. My iPhone edge has never dropped a call, but there was a new design change along with the 3G radio in the iPhone that presumably caused problems ... along with software issues that kept dropping and reestablishing the 3G network connection instead of just pinging once every 120 seconds to prevent a timeout.
AT&T attempted to compensate for this by moving the 3G band from 1900MHz to the Edge 850 MHz band shortly after the 3G iPhone was released. This screwed me, because now my signal on my iPhone edge is terrible indoors.
But anyway, if you put all of the pieces together, it seems logical to me that there were antenna issues on the 3G and 3GS. I don't expect there to be absolutely no dropped calls on this new iPhone 4, but I suspect that they did not change the antenna design for absolutely no reason. I have also noticed that my iPhone has the worst range on my WiFi network of all of my devices.
"Something that, according to Steve, has never been done before in a phone."
lol, according to Steve, nothing has ever been done before until Apple does it.
Next we have the wooden iWheel, it's rounder than before with better rollability and fewer punctures. This has never been done before. Yours for $15K
@JFH
If you're in New York, it sure won't keep you from dropping calls.
The problem ISN'T that I get "no bars", it's that the damn thing WILL SAY I have full 3G coverage, and then be about as useful as a brick:
- "Call Failed" when trying to place a call
- Dropped calls when someone calls you
- "Safari couldn't open the web page because it could not connect to the internet" or other "Check internet connection" errors when in Safari
- SMS messages will look like they're going to send, and then they fail as the progress bar nears completion
USELESS! JUST USELESS! It's not an issue with reception for me. I get "bars" pretty much everywhere I go, but even 3 years after the iPhone was unleashed on NYC, I still can't use the damn thing to save my life. It's not an antenna problem - it's a BACKHAUL or a THROUGHPUT issue, and though we keep hearing they're "working on it", I haven't witnessed this!
So yeah, on my lunch break today I will be purchasing an Evo. So long, AT&T. Rot in Hell.
@kiwi32
surely lining the antenna all the way around the phone is likely to get it damaged, i mean, one plus of the old iphone was it was all useless metal on the outside, so any damage didnt matter at all
but surely after a few drops and bangs this will be bad news?
@HoldenMccrotch .. That's why Apple has the list of cases which protect the edges. That being said it is a piece of metal so dents won't cause any problems.
@xsx Blame Jobs for his excessive use of flowery phrases to inappropriately describe their products. Its bound to haunt them.
There is nothing magical about any of their product. Maybe if you show it to some native tribes in borneo...
@kiwi32
This may very well be revolutionary. In effect the user will be the antenna.
@crawdad689
Sorry to say, but I really doubt this is AT&T's fault! I am on t-mobile in the Netherlands (which has a really strong network per se) and I have the EXACT same problems as you do!
Those could have been my words, 100%, thats why I'm not sure that this is mainly an issue of the iPhone. It would really suck for AT&T to get all the blame if this was the case!
Slow network could be AT&T, but all those dropped calls, Safari not opening websites... in my opinion clearly the hardware, as I have the same issues!
@Bahumbug
Duh it's not literally magic. Do you actually think Steve Jobs means it has pixie dust in it? Honestly!
@Jimbob: I get that he overuses this phrase, but do you have an example of this particular innovation being done before? I honestly don't. I've seen some cool fractal antenna tech to make it easier to bury antennae inside a phone, but this is new to me.
@Almo Sure? I only made a few calls while i owned one but it dropped at least 3 times, and it's signal was terrible, compared to my sony ericsson. In the uk we don't talk as much, we're more likely to text, so it may be less noticable.
Also don't voice calls operate over a different spectrum than the 3G data? so the increased 3G wouldn't impact the calls too much? I'm not sure about that though.
i wonder if sticking a tiny piece of metal between the bands would screw up the signal. they must have them separated for a reason.
@Jimbob You sound like you know what you're talking about. How about enlightening us with some prior examples on top of entertaining us with your humour, iWisearse?
@JFH I was always under the impression that the issue was the cellular chipset and not the antenna.
The only thing that's going to improve the iPhone's call reception is going to Verizon.
@crawdad689
I hear sprint is worse, and that keeps me from getting an evo.
@kiwi32 - Finally an admission that it was "the phone and not the network stupid" hence the constant chuckles from the guy to the left with a $50 dollar Samsung having no such network troubles. So FRACK OFF Verizon with that crap psuedo 3G CDMA/EVDO bondo network, and hurry up with that LTE roll out already. Sayin...
@crawdad689
I feel your pain.
Not to be a jerk, but if your phone is that horribly unreliable...why are you still using 3 years later as you say?
@Frankenstein Black
"Hand Cancer from unshielded antennae, only on the iPhone"
@kiwi32 Didn't seem to help with WiFi connection yesterday during the presentation! The 3GS at least loaded the page albeit slowly.
@maveric101
Or if your hands are wet and they make contact with both antennas.
Considering all the weird grounding issues the Droid Incredible seems to be having I wont to know what will happen when you put the phone on a metal surface or in a situation where it gets feedback from improper grounding like in a car using a car charger.
@Almo Partially yes. However, it also has something to do with iPhone's antenna performance.
In UK and countries such as Korea, the network coverage is so dense that even a phone with mediocre antenna performance can work without many issue. Here, in the States, however, call drop is also dependent on phone's antenna performance. If you look at the 3G connectivity issue with Nexus One (knowing its antenna performance ^^), drop call is not only on the network issue
@TWiz Could depend on what part of the country you're in, but Sprint is MUCH better than AT&T. Sprint roams on Verizon towers for free. The plans are cheaper on Sprint too. That's why there is an Evo in my pocket.
@crawdad689
I really don't understand where all of this hatred comes from. Yes, it sounds like your experience is legitimately problematic. But, "rot in hell?" Seriously?
Do you really beleive that AT&T isn't the least bit concerned about these issues? That they're just greedy little cigar-smoking bald men, twiddling their thumbs while they watch their minions counting billions of dollars? I know that seems to be the popular opinion around these parts, but come on.
The reality is, AT&T puts the most money back into their network of any of the US carriers. Has that been enough to make up lost ground in your area? Doesn't sound like it. So, you're doing the right thing...go somewhere that's going to service your needs better. But creating this personal vendetta isn't helping anything.
@kiwi32 seriously - why do people have to clap?
that gave me shivers
@potretr
MY antenna is magical! thihi
@TWiz Sprint IS worse! At least here in Tampa Bay, FL they are. I switched to AT&T most 2 years ago bc sprint was sooo bad, I even forked over $200 for an early term with them bc I coulnt stand it. I've also been in San Francisco, Hampton Roads VA, and before that Indianapolis; all of them over the last 5 years. I laugh at those ppl that bitch and gripe about AT&T and iPhone like it the worstthing to ever happen. Any cell company would be likely to have the same problems as AT&T when you have the iPhone on their network and it's users utilizing 3g allllll day long! I welcome the ppl that leave AT&T in "protest" to go to another network with phones that are always trying to trump and don't, bc all your doing is freeing up more network for the rest of us happy iphoners!
@kiwi32
Apple invented internal antennas!11one
@kiwi32 I don't think it will solve the issue. Every att 3g phone I've ever had dropped calls frequently. I did notice my 3gs dropped more calls then my att nexus so maybe this desighn could finally make att realize their network is balls.
@kiwi32 You all realize that Apple was shunned by Verizon and other companies they approached and that AT&T was the only company to take a risk with Apple, not to mention absorbing a large amount of the cost of the phone. Neither company expected and obviously AT&T wasn't ready for the amount of iPhones that were sold. Even if Verizon was the company of choice, their bandwidth would be experiencing the same problems AT&T is having. Too much data because of so many iPhones. I think this is Apple's way of addressing some of the issue and AT&T is doing their best to keep up their end. (Wi-Fi hot spots in major cities, lot's of towers under construction, etc...) The real issue here is that AT&T upgraded 3G network will be 4 times faster than Verizon/Sprints 4G networks for at least the next couple of years. So I think you're going to see a change... and according to Steve, by the end of summer.
@Almo well to answer your question the problem with the dropped calls were more about the iphone than att \'s network,if you were att would you knock a device that was very profitable to you and gained market share or take the hit.....i would take thehit ....also many a times I have been with someone with an Iphone and they have weak or no signal and I have a strong signal...so it was always more about the device...than the network
@crawdad689 WHOO!
@crawdad689
i feel your pain i have a 3g and i always get dropped cal at least 12-20 per day, sometimes people call me the phone wont ring and ill even get a voice mail an hour later than it was left for me.
whats sad is that i have gotten so used to paying so much for lackluster service im ok with it now..... now thats not ok
@Drayzthawts
I agree
I think the new styled antenna affected the wifi performance clearly shown new to the tried an tested antenna of the iPhone 3gs.
I like thame phone but that part of the development is going backwards.
@k234
Dude, don't generalize your opinions. I have been using my 3GS here in Canada for the last 1 year and never had any issue with the phone per se.
I find it confusing when almost every first - fifth post on apple articles are negative. If you don't like apple why aren't you using the exclude apple feature? Do you really think your opinion is so important that you must get near the top of an article just to write something negative about apple? Why do engadget commenters feel compelled to say negative things about apple every chance they get? It's ok if you don't like the company, but why even comment? Why even read the articles?
So the iPhone works perfectly everywhere else in the world. But as soon as it's on AT&T in the USA, it's dropped calls all the time. As soon as the AT&T exclusivity ends and the iPhone goes to Verizon or whatever, one thinks AT&T will be finished. Cant run a mobile phone network with no subscribers.
@HoldenMccrotch Not trying to be that guy.....but the old iPhone was made from aluminum and this one is made from stainless steel. Also this one is not covering the entire phone. Aluminum does not conduct near as well as stainless steel.
@Joe007 I live in San Francisco and Sprint service is excellent! Especially on my new EVO. I switched from AT&T to Sprint about two years ago and I have never regretted it. Dropped calls on AT&T were a very common occurrence, even on non-iphone phones; they are an extremely rare occurrence on Sprint. Call quality and coverage are also excellent. I don't know how may times I used my blackberry for internet or maps when friends' iphones weren't getting service. Until I start hearing AT&T coverage has gotten better here, I won't even consider going back, even for a phone as nice as the iphone 4.
@Jimbob I just ROFL'd majorly at your post. So true. The day Steve can come back down to earth will be the day a good Windows Mobile phone will be released.
@Slick yeah lets shield the antenna so that it gets no signal, cancer is the worst
@kiwi32 If you see an antenna, they blew it.
@James Sonne Hrrmm. 850 MHz propagates better than 1900, by definition. Anecdotally, it turned my see-saw iPhone 3G service into 5 constant bars in my basement. I would chalk this up to an agreeable installation of the 850 MHz radio on my home tower in terms of beam-forming, but I've noticed it all over here in Colorado, where every tower is 1900/850. Also, the constant tower pinging is used to open data sessions and close them as quickly as possible, which saves battery life - I'm willing to bet the new iPhone will do this too. In fact, most modern cell phones do this on some level. It requires some very simple re-allocation of data/voice channels to signalling channels. AT&T was just too lazy to do proper traffic engineering, engineering that can actually be done dynamically by software alone at the tower with no human involvement. But they've done it now, after Apple had their telecom guys write a paper on channel distribution to AT&T, which I find hilarious. The call drops experienced now can mainly be attributed to insufficient spectrum per tower - hence the push for HSPA+ and 4G. As for the antennae re-design, many phones wrap their antennae up just inside the frame - to extend this a layer outward to the frame itself is cool, but not some quantum leap in engineering. So, while I'm pretty ambivalent to both parties (AT&T and Apple), I place the blame largely on AT&T's shoulders.