Apple: iPhone 4 reception problem is a software issue, fix coming in 'a few weeks'
By Thomas Ricker 
posted July 2nd 2010 8:32AM
posted July 2nd 2010 8:32AM
Sure, the odd way Apple calculates bars has been noted before, but what's troubling is that this is the second time Apple has blamed signal strength / reception issues on software and it doesn't fully explain calls dropping and data degradation when the iPhone 4 is held in a very particular (but common) way. It's also worth noting that Apple in no way admits to an antenna design flaw. Read the full press release after the break.Upon investigation, we were stunned to find that the formula we use to calculate how many bars of signal strength to display is totally wrong. Our formula, in many instances, mistakenly displays 2 more bars than it should for a given signal strength. For example, we sometimes display 4 bars when we should be displaying as few as 2 bars. Users observing a drop of several bars when they grip their iPhone in a certain way are most likely in an area with very weak signal strength, but they don't know it because we are erroneously displaying 4 or 5 bars. Their big drop in bars is because their high bars were never real in the first place.
To fix this, we are adopting AT&T's recently recommended formula for calculating how many bars to display for a given signal strength. The real signal strength remains the same, but the iPhone's bars will report it far more accurately, providing users a much better indication of the reception they will get in a given area. We are also making bars 1, 2 and 3 a bit taller so they will be easier to see.
We will issue a free software update within a few weeks that incorporates the corrected formula. Since this mistake has been present since the original iPhone, this software update will also be available for the iPhone 3GS and iPhone 3G.
Letter from Apple Regarding iPhone 4
Dear iPhone 4 Users,
The iPhone 4 has been the most successful product launch in Apple's history. It has been judged by reviewers around the world to be the best smartphone ever, and users have told us that they love it. So we were surprised when we read reports of reception problems, and we immediately began investigating them. Here is what we have learned.
To start with, gripping almost any mobile phone in certain ways will reduce its reception by 1 or more bars. This is true of iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS, as well as many Droid, Nokia and RIM phones. But some users have reported that iPhone 4 can drop 4 or 5 bars when tightly held in a way which covers the black strip in the lower left corner of the metal band. This is a far bigger drop than normal, and as a result some have accused the iPhone 4 of having a faulty antenna design.
At the same time, we continue to read articles and receive hundreds of emails from users saying that iPhone 4 reception is better than the iPhone 3GS. They are delighted. This matches our own experience and testing. What can explain all of this?
We have discovered the cause of this dramatic drop in bars, and it is both simple and surprising.
Upon investigation, we were stunned to find that the formula we use to calculate how many bars of signal strength to display is totally wrong. Our formula, in many instances, mistakenly displays 2 more bars than it should for a given signal strength. For example, we sometimes display 4 bars when we should be displaying as few as 2 bars. Users observing a drop of several bars when they grip their iPhone in a certain way are most likely in an area with very weak signal strength, but they don't know it because we are erroneously displaying 4 or 5 bars. Their big drop in bars is because their high bars were never real in the first place.
To fix this, we are adopting AT&T's recently recommended formula for calculating how many bars to display for a given signal strength. The real signal strength remains the same, but the iPhone's bars will report it far more accurately, providing users a much better indication of the reception they will get in a given area. We are also making bars 1, 2 and 3 a bit taller so they will be easier to see.
We will issue a free software update within a few weeks that incorporates the corrected formula. Since this mistake has been present since the original iPhone, this software update will also be available for the iPhone 3GS and iPhone 3G.
We have gone back to our labs and retested everything, and the results are the same- the iPhone 4's wireless performance is the best we have ever shipped. For the vast majority of users who have not been troubled by this issue, this software update will only make your bars more accurate. For those who have had concerns, we apologize for any anxiety we may have caused.
As a reminder, if you are not fully satisfied, you can return your undamaged iPhone to any Apple Retail Store or the online Apple Store within 30 days of purchase for a full refund.
We hope you love the iPhone 4 as much as we do.
Thank you for your patience and support.
Apple
Dear iPhone 4 Users,
The iPhone 4 has been the most successful product launch in Apple's history. It has been judged by reviewers around the world to be the best smartphone ever, and users have told us that they love it. So we were surprised when we read reports of reception problems, and we immediately began investigating them. Here is what we have learned.
To start with, gripping almost any mobile phone in certain ways will reduce its reception by 1 or more bars. This is true of iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS, as well as many Droid, Nokia and RIM phones. But some users have reported that iPhone 4 can drop 4 or 5 bars when tightly held in a way which covers the black strip in the lower left corner of the metal band. This is a far bigger drop than normal, and as a result some have accused the iPhone 4 of having a faulty antenna design.
At the same time, we continue to read articles and receive hundreds of emails from users saying that iPhone 4 reception is better than the iPhone 3GS. They are delighted. This matches our own experience and testing. What can explain all of this?
We have discovered the cause of this dramatic drop in bars, and it is both simple and surprising.
Upon investigation, we were stunned to find that the formula we use to calculate how many bars of signal strength to display is totally wrong. Our formula, in many instances, mistakenly displays 2 more bars than it should for a given signal strength. For example, we sometimes display 4 bars when we should be displaying as few as 2 bars. Users observing a drop of several bars when they grip their iPhone in a certain way are most likely in an area with very weak signal strength, but they don't know it because we are erroneously displaying 4 or 5 bars. Their big drop in bars is because their high bars were never real in the first place.
To fix this, we are adopting AT&T's recently recommended formula for calculating how many bars to display for a given signal strength. The real signal strength remains the same, but the iPhone's bars will report it far more accurately, providing users a much better indication of the reception they will get in a given area. We are also making bars 1, 2 and 3 a bit taller so they will be easier to see.
We will issue a free software update within a few weeks that incorporates the corrected formula. Since this mistake has been present since the original iPhone, this software update will also be available for the iPhone 3GS and iPhone 3G.
We have gone back to our labs and retested everything, and the results are the same- the iPhone 4's wireless performance is the best we have ever shipped. For the vast majority of users who have not been troubled by this issue, this software update will only make your bars more accurate. For those who have had concerns, we apologize for any anxiety we may have caused.
As a reminder, if you are not fully satisfied, you can return your undamaged iPhone to any Apple Retail Store or the online Apple Store within 30 days of purchase for a full refund.
We hope you love the iPhone 4 as much as we do.
Thank you for your patience and support.
Apple
@rmbrown09
For the price of your macbook, I have 4 fully loaded Windows 7 laptops on revolving charge through out the day. What a deal!
It's obviously not a software problem, and sorry to say, but many will fall for this "attempt" to "fix" your phone.
I really wanted a new iPhone, but I think I'll hold out for a N8 on principle. If Toyota can recall 270,000 cars (no typo) to fix an engine issue then Apple should be able to man up, acknowledge the defect and deal with it.
I went to the Apple store today and asked one of the employees why there was a reception problem. She said hold it another way. Its not software.
I've tried and tried to reproduce the signal problem but no dice. No problems whatsoever. I'm on the O2 network in UK.
What a shit show, apple needs to CUT THE BLEEDING. recall all these horribly flawed phones and stop bullshitting.
Read the press release. You only get a full refund if you bought from an Apple Store. AT&T will not waive their 10% restocking fee. I was issued a refund less the restocking fee...and they continue to refuse to credit that back even after several calls to their corporate offices.
1. It is entirely possible to not experience this issue if you live in a high reception area. Ie you get 10 bars and the death grip gets you down to six. You are still above five.
2.While it is definitely a hardware problem now, it WAS possible that it was a software problem having to do with band switching. Hardware is controlled by software you know. They fixed Apollo 13 with software changes too.
3. Just buy a case for 20 bucks and be done with it. I know we all have principles, but its a 2000 dollar investment. 20 bucks isn't going to break you.
4. It a relatively small problem. I mean, a defective screen, bad antennae, or shitty keyboard can't be dealt with short of recall. An easy to bridge antenae needs a case and thats it. Its not the end of the world. But it may be the end of Apples rep for attention to detail.
I thought I'd just chime in to say that I'm not convinced by Apple at all at the moment, this seems more of a cover up than an actual useful fix for us, the customers.
If it's a cover up I think Apple are going to find they take a big hit from this, should be an interesting next month or two.
I was thinking about checking out the EVO before my 4 weeks return is up!
If the letter basically said "Go fck yourself , there is no fix because my balls are bigger than yours" I would have felt better about it.
I like how there are only non-iphone users here...
@GeneralJesh I have an iPhone. But I'm not going to buy an iPhone 4 mostly because of AT&T, but also because I think they are being deceptive about the reception problems inherent in their antenna design. What, anyone who criticizes Apple cannot possibly own one?
Hahaha, 1123 comments. This must be the highest ever for a non-giveaway post.
i never liked that antenna idea anyways
Makes you think if the new formula was done intentionally to show an "improvement" in reception from the previous iphones or do the previous iphones use the same formula for reception. Real shady apple...
You know, I always had this thought that iphone consumers were gullible, but now...
Ok if the software issue was true wouldnt that mean that my 3g next to me have low signal when my 4 signal is low? So why is that when my 4 signal is low due to the antenna being covered my 3g is a constant full bar? Or how about a page on my safari not loading until I lift my finger off the band... I call bs, believe apple if you want to... I wouldnt even trust there "software remedy" because it might just do the opposite of what apple says... I find my phone to be accurate now as far as displaying my signal...
I still think it was faked. It just didn't look like Steve would answer to the guy after he was using such bad tone.
I am surprised that there are so many people who want to look at the signal before making a call - unless it reads no service - which is the case for some.
i just pick the phone and make a call .. and for me Iphone4 has never dropped a single call unless it was a bad signal at the receiving end.
additionally - the death grip did lower my bars - but that never affected any of my call's quality. What all these things have done is that whenever some one stops to think on the receiving end and is silent for few secs, makes me wonder if its bad apple/ATT - which is sad. This media has actually damaged my perception of the device - not the device actually !
also, the worst part - or best part is i cannot replicate the death grip when i am in good reception areas. it just keeps it good.
Last, why cant any one adjust - [considering they have to] we adjusted to so many facts that a Dish has to be outside our house looking the sky and not have anything obstruct it. GPS doesnt work well when you are in cities surrounded by tall buildings or for the fact that a female could get pregnant if you dont wear a condom. Just Wear one, No big deal.
I just find it amusing that heavy media criticism has sometimes bothered me about my actual opinion on the device. I know its my problem - but thats again a fact of life .. live with it !
This is probably the best aesthetically designed phone i ever had. I am bowled over by every single thing !
As steve mentioned - the nation just needs more editors than ever before. We cannot live in the world of Blogs .
This whole "antenna flaw" was just a way for them to sell their overpriced rubber ba... I mean bumpers. Please dont sue me.
there already an update to resolve this issue. see here http://bligus.com/node/22
this prototype already tested :D
I am an aviation RF tech for 28 years. I deal with RF radiation and antenna issues almost every day. Steve Jobs is correct. This is not a big issue given all the positive assets the iPhone 4 offers. Stop whining and let's move on.
@cpavionics
So you don't care if the iPhone cannot function as a phone? I guess your customers don't care whether they can contact air traffic control then. lol.
Hmmm - wonder if the iPhone 5 will have this "really cool engineering" feature?
Maybe three will be a jailbreak for that, recommended codename de4thgr1p :)
I must admit that I am facinated by this issue and can't resist and must make another post as something else has occurred to me. Check me as I am not a degree'ed engineering expert...
- CDMA cellular networks, whether CDMA 2000 or WCDMA (UMTS) rely on very precise power control of the RF signal in both directions.
- IP4 has a very pronounced signal attenuation issue when held in certain ways that are normal to everyday use.
- When in low signal areas, the "hand attenuation" can lead to degraded reception and call drop (as reported by some users). The assumption is that the phone would have been adequately served by the network if the additional hand induced signal attenuation had not interfered with downlink communication (tower to phone).
Will the serving tower try to increase power to the phone in this scenario? Or more broadly stated...Can the pronounced hand attenuation effect (HAE) cause the serving network to behave differently and waste finite resources in an attempt to maintain a connection? Even more broadly, will a large number of IP4 w/ HAE lead to a less efficient network?
Would an operator with the reputation of Verizon, allow a CDMA 2000 IP4, with it's current antenna design, onto the Verizon network?
Is operating an IP4 without case or bumper potentially hazardous to network health?
Another observation...
Apple has done an excellent job obfuscating the antenna design issue with their "bars software fix". This has thrown most media/press off-track by the very carefully crafted press statement that avoids the root issue entirely.
I'm not sure if it's already been thrown out but I think the problem stems from connecting the two antennas on the bottom and left side. I'm assuming the black breaks in the metal mean there are three antennas on the out side. If you touch the metal strip on the left side nothing happens. If you touch the strip on the bottom, nothing happens. However, if you touch both the left and bottom antenna with just your finger that's when you loose signal. It sure seems as though it's when those two antenna's connect is when the problem occurs.
I think that means the only way to solve the problem with software is to shut one antenna off when it detects interference on both. Not sure if that's possible but we'll see.
awesome.
It is not a software issue. I've never encountered a software issue that could be fixed with duct tape. Just look at what the consumer reports people did. They duct taped up the thing and it worked. If windows crashes it can't be fixed by duct taping up the case- because its not a software issues.
http://www.ilogicbomb.com/topic/9/Can+Apple%27s+most+advanced+mobile+phone+make+phone+calls%3F