@spielnicht It's part of Apple's masterminded plan to ensure all iPhone users are right handed. Steve says left handed individuals should make the switch.
@Marko - Iphone 5 will be great once they iron out all the screen, scratches, antenna and other issues! It seems like iphone 3GS was version 1.3, and iphone 4 is version 2.0 beta!
Wonder what happened, maybe Ives and Jobs are right handed? I suppose they will have to figure out a software compensate.
Personally, I am concerned I will get shocks, not from some paranoia about mobiles. I already experience it if it's charging and I'm calling or on long calls I can feel the tingling. I reckon I might face issues with the whole antenna thing
Simply explaination: Apple designers are right-brained and hold the phone left-handed - just mock-ups. The engineers are left-brained, test it in their right hand - no problems.
Or you know what. It'll be another wiimote story and Apple will send bumpers to everyone who has an iPhone4 and make em standard kit.
Then the haters will all hate, saying 'that thin iPhone looks awful thick with that bumper"
And the fanbois will be like "yeah but I can throw it against a wall"
And finally some idiot will say "yeah, well I use my HTC as a chock behind the car tyre when I'm changing the oil"
And just when none of us give a crap anymore we'll read an article about a class action to which half will roll their eyes and the other half will predict Apple going bankrupt.
ps: anyone remember an article last year maybe about a small startup that made a bumper for an iPhone that hardened fro the energy of an impact? I wonder if Apple nabbed it.
"Some iPhone 4 models see signals drop to 0 when held left-handed" 1. some? you mean someone reported that he does not have that problem? 2. you need to hold it in left hand or just holding one finger on that left side means that you drop calls?
@Cy Starkman dont know about you but id be pissed if i had to cover up my phone because they cant make it right XD i cant imagine this has a software fix, as its, ya know, hardware problems... but yeah, i actually feel bad for the foolish people who brought apples first batch of products, they always seem to be like testers or something XD
@spielnicht I can see the fanboys defending this Issue to death, because this is an issue, a pretty bad one. Fanboys: oh yea its not bad!! You can just not the touch the antenna and/or buy a case for it!! Me: =S but I don't like a case, and I'm right/left handed(depending where antenna is at) fanboys: omg some people can never be satisfied with something so magical
@plbelanger That makes little sense since us with right hands are more prone to use the phone holding it with the left hand, thus experiencing the problem. A lot of people seem to be misunderstanding this.
@Marko - "My iphone looks great, shame I have to look like a dork holding it with the with two fingers, upside down, whilst balancing on one leg and jumping up and down to get signal"
I think it's great idea that the radio antenna are a part of the chassis, however exposing the antenna as part of the case seems a bit poor from an engineering standpoint, though a cool feature.
As noticed in the video, joining the two circuits causes signal disruption. Additionally, shocks to the outer casing could damage the internal circuitry (eg. large static shocks -- circuit boards ship in those silver/pink bags for a reason!).
By insulating the 'antenna' with a radio transparent outer-layer, you would effectively remove these risks, whilst maintaining great performance. Of course, you would loose the whole marketing angle that 'my case doubles as an antenna so suck it' factor. :p
A better idea yet would be to implement a relatively wide 'fractal antenna' on the case back, or under the TFT, for each of the radios which would take *less* internal room to implement, and potentially boost performance greatly. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fractal_antenna
I'm surprised that this tech which has been known about for a long time has yet to find its way into mainstream electronics. Go figure.
True enough. I agree that not everyone wants to have one on their iPhone, and I've only seen the pictures of them on the white iPhone (which does look fugly) but I plan to get an Orange one regardless once the Black iPhones are released in Canada.
I also certainly agree on the fact that we shouldn't be forced to use one. The problem shouldn't exist in the first place, and nobody should be forced to pay $30 for a piece of $0.08 rubber/plastic.
It happens while using your Right Hand too unless you have tiny hands. If your palm rests on the bottom part then the bars go down regardless of which hand you use.
@iSmug wasn't the point of the new iPhone to be thinner? putting a case on it just so you can use it as a phone seems to defeat the whole "OMG my phone is thin" thing.
Now that we've thrown 'em off the trail, use the form below to get in touch with the people at Engadget. Please fill in all of the required fields because they're required.
HA!
@spielnicht Please no fanboy war today ;(
@spielnicht
Anyone else slowly begin to clap at that image? Clever clever.
@spielnicht
omfg that picture hahahahahahahahahahahahha.
Now I remember why Engadget is my favorite tech site, I was starting to forget in the last month or so.
@spielnicht It's part of Apple's masterminded plan to ensure all iPhone users are right handed. Steve says left handed individuals should make the switch.
@spielnicht
At Jimmy Fallon they said the signal was better. hi. a tiny lie.
@spielnicht
This is not cool. But I don't really hold my phone like that, all shoved into my palm...?
@tomvb
lol, its to be expected, a hyped up expensive product drops calls just from holding it XD
@spielnicht
i'm certainly no lover of Apple but that comment is just childish...
^^
@spielnicht
I guess left handed people are not allowed to work at Apple?
@spielnicht
And they laughed at me when I asked if they had any left-handed phones.
@spielnicht
I love Apple, but come on!!
@MrJimlad - Now we know why no one has used this system of external antennas before! It does not work (:
@Marko - Iphone 5 will be great once they iron out all the screen, scratches, antenna and other issues! It seems like iphone 3GS was version 1.3, and iphone 4 is version 2.0 beta!
@spielnicht
It's ok, you can buy a piece of rubber (that cost 0.1$ to manufacture) for $29 and rectify the proglem.
@spielnicht
dont panic guys some well placed ducktape will solve this problem....
@illmatic
That is one great picture.
Wonder what happened, maybe Ives and Jobs are right handed? I suppose they will have to figure out a software compensate.
Personally, I am concerned I will get shocks, not from some paranoia about mobiles. I already experience it if it's charging and I'm calling or on long calls I can feel the tingling. I reckon I might face issues with the whole antenna thing
@MrJimlad
Mr Jimlad?
@stoney1973
fo Stoney :p
@plbelanger
actually I'm left handed and I hold my iPhone with my right hand so I can use my left hand to manipulate the touchscreen.
@spielnicht
Simply explaination: Apple designers are right-brained and hold the phone left-handed - just mock-ups. The engineers are left-brained, test it in their right hand - no problems.
Oops.
can i laughing now ?
HAAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAAHHAAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAH
@spielnicht
Or you know what. It'll be another wiimote story and Apple will send bumpers to everyone who has an iPhone4 and make em standard kit.
Then the haters will all hate, saying 'that thin iPhone looks awful thick with that bumper"
And the fanbois will be like "yeah but I can throw it against a wall"
And finally some idiot will say "yeah, well I use my HTC as a chock behind the car tyre when I'm changing the oil"
And just when none of us give a crap anymore we'll read an article about a class action to which half will roll their eyes and the other half will predict Apple going bankrupt.
ps: anyone remember an article last year maybe about a small startup that made a bumper for an iPhone that hardened fro the energy of an impact? I wonder if Apple nabbed it.
I LOL'd big time at the picture, everyone in the office stared. Great job, Engadget!
I'm sure Apple will release a quick fix for everybody in the coming days: Simply get one of the colored bumpers when they are released!
@spielnicht
I take it everyone at Apple is right handed then...
@tomvb
Come on, it was just enough to put a smile on all those waiting in line :-)
@spielnicht
Where's BrokklynsFinest now?
@spielnicht
"Some iPhone 4 models see signals drop to 0 when held left-handed"
1. some? you mean someone reported that he does not have that problem?
2. you need to hold it in left hand or just holding one finger on that left side means that you drop calls?
@spielnicht
how long before the apple fanboys blame at&t, since apple can do no wrong?
@spielnicht so let me get this straight..
when you hold the iPhone 4 it loses a bar
when you set the iPhone 4 down it gets lost in a bar..
interesting..
@Cy Starkman
dont know about you but id be pissed if i had to cover up my phone because they cant make it right XD
i cant imagine this has a software fix, as its, ya know, hardware problems...
but yeah, i actually feel bad for the foolish people who brought apples first batch of products, they always seem to be like testers or something XD
@MrJimlad
I think your choice of words here are incorrect. Say what you want to say, but I'm sorry "childish" just doesn't make any sense. Seriously.
@spielnicht I can see the fanboys defending this Issue to death, because this is an issue, a pretty bad one.
Fanboys: oh yea its not bad!! You can just not the touch the antenna and/or buy a case for it!!
Me: =S but I don't like a case, and I'm right/left handed(depending where antenna is at)
fanboys: omg some people can never be satisfied with something so magical
@plbelanger
That makes little sense since us with right hands are more prone to use the phone holding it with the left hand, thus experiencing the problem. A lot of people seem to be misunderstanding this.
i see apple giving a free(and mandatory) bumper with the purchase of an iPhone 4 in the near future!
@iSmug
"It's ok, you can buy a piece of rubber (that cost 0.1$ to manufacture) for $29 and rectify the problem."
quote of the year. imagine how many people will buy it because apple makes it, so the rubber must be magical
@Marko - "My iphone looks great, shame I have to look like a dork holding it with the with two fingers, upside down, whilst balancing on one leg and jumping up and down to get signal"
@spielnicht think they will sell more Bumpers now :)
@shiggypoo
You shouldn't have to and they make the phone look fugly.
@Marko But.... at least it works! o_O
@spielnicht
If you're holding it left-handed you blew it.
@Duke
I'm right handed. It feels WRONG taking a call with my left hand...
@spielnicht
I think it's great idea that the radio antenna are a part of the chassis, however exposing the antenna as part of the case seems a bit poor from an engineering standpoint, though a cool feature.
As noticed in the video, joining the two circuits causes signal disruption. Additionally, shocks to the outer casing could damage the internal circuitry (eg. large static shocks -- circuit boards ship in those silver/pink bags for a reason!).
By insulating the 'antenna' with a radio transparent outer-layer, you would effectively remove these risks, whilst maintaining great performance. Of course, you would loose the whole marketing angle that 'my case doubles as an antenna so suck it' factor. :p
A better idea yet would be to implement a relatively wide 'fractal antenna' on the case back, or under the TFT, for each of the radios which would take *less* internal room to implement, and potentially boost performance greatly. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fractal_antenna
I'm surprised that this tech which has been known about for a long time has yet to find its way into mainstream electronics. Go figure.
@spielnicht
I wonder if bridging the antennas at other points may have caused the wi-fi issues at the keynote?
@Cy Starkman yes i remember them, they dropped it off a 2nd or 3rd floor balcony onto rocks and concrete and it was fine
And people thought a lifted screen was an issue ?
VERY unfortunate news, especially to see it hit the blogs/presses on launch day.
Perhaps Apple can laminate the metal during the manufacturing process.
Alternatively, an invisible shield my prevent skin/metal contact. Although, people typically skin the face of the phone, not the edges :)
@DougieBear
True enough. I agree that not everyone wants to have one on their iPhone, and I've only seen the pictures of them on the white iPhone (which does look fugly) but I plan to get an Orange one regardless once the Black iPhones are released in Canada.
I also certainly agree on the fact that we shouldn't be forced to use one. The problem shouldn't exist in the first place, and nobody should be forced to pay $30 for a piece of $0.08 rubber/plastic.
@plbelanger
It happens while using your Right Hand too unless you have tiny hands. If your palm rests on the bottom part then the bars go down regardless of which hand you use.
@iSmug wasn't the point of the new iPhone to be thinner? putting a case on it just so you can use it as a phone seems to defeat the whole "OMG my phone is thin" thing.