Switched On: Of guiltlessness and giveaways
By Ross Rubin 
posted July 24th 2010 7:00PM
posted July 24th 2010 7:00PM
Each week Ross Rubin contributes Switched On, a column about consumer technology.
Beyond an opportunity for a lucky few to visit the surreal and sophisticated wireless testing labs buried deep within the Apple campus, the Steve Jobs "Antennagate" press conference had few surprises in terms of using a tool at Apple's disposal -- its own Bumpers (augmented by those of third parties) -- to address a vulnerability of the iPhone 4 antenna design. The difference between the iPhone 4 and other devices is the clear marking of the spot at which physical contact causes the signal to degrade. Optimists could consider this a visual reminder to avoid contact while pessimists could see a constant reminder of imperfection. Regardless, at its press conference, Apple added – and continues to add -- visual verification of its assertion that multiple handsets (or at least smartphones) can fall victim to a strategic grasp.
Beyond that, the only muted revelation of the day was that AT&T is reporting that the iPhone 4 is monitoring dropped calls on the iPhone 4 at a rate ever so slightly above that of the 3GS. However, the 3GS did not have a reputation for being particularly tenacious at holding on to a call. Indeed, were it not for all the heat the previous iPhone took at AT&T, perhaps Apple would not have had to push for so radical an antenna redesign. Therefore, it would have been interesting to know how the iPhone 4 compared to the AT&T smartphone average (skewed as it is to iPhones anyway), especially given the earlier Apple demonstration of how other smartphones can suffer from attenuation.
In noting that the iPhone 3GS's similarity to the iPhone 3G enabled more consumers to leave their store with a case, Steve Jobs offered a plausible explanation for the iPhone 4's nominally worse track record at AT&T (even though the 3GS's antenna was not as exposed as the iPhone 4's). Apple's display of its extensive testing facilities may have allayed concerns that it does not do enough to test the performance of its devices. However, if the company were to announce its new handsets far in advance of shipping them, third parties -- and perhaps Apple itself -- would have had more time to build up volumes of iPhone cases. Regardless, Jobs' hypothesis served as a good segue to the case giveaway.
Ultimately, despite Apple's minimalist Bumper design and implication of Consumer Reports' blessing of supplying cases, the case giveaway represents a compromise for those who would like to have their cake and eat it, too -- enjoying the iPhone's naked industrial design while achieving the best possible signal quality. The notion of a recall given the low incidence of complaints and the lack of a safety concern was absurd, as was redesigning the handset on such short notice, although Apple will clearly gain takeaways from this experience for the next iPhone.
The antenna problem simply lacks a perfect solution. Apple displayed good faith while acknowledging and explaining the thorny reality and tradeoffs inherent in handset design, tradeoffs acknowledged even in Nokia's response. It has also left open the refund opportunity for those for whom the free case isn't a satisfying enough gesture. However -- as trends have indicated to this point -- few customers will likely avail themselves of that ultimate recourse.
Ross Rubin is executive director of industry analysis for consumer technology at market research and analysis firm The NPD Group. Views expressed in Switched On are his own.
Beyond that, the only muted revelation of the day was that AT&T is reporting that the iPhone 4 is monitoring dropped calls on the iPhone 4 at a rate ever so slightly above that of the 3GS. However, the 3GS did not have a reputation for being particularly tenacious at holding on to a call. Indeed, were it not for all the heat the previous iPhone took at AT&T, perhaps Apple would not have had to push for so radical an antenna redesign. Therefore, it would have been interesting to know how the iPhone 4 compared to the AT&T smartphone average (skewed as it is to iPhones anyway), especially given the earlier Apple demonstration of how other smartphones can suffer from attenuation.
In noting that the iPhone 3GS's similarity to the iPhone 3G enabled more consumers to leave their store with a case, Steve Jobs offered a plausible explanation for the iPhone 4's nominally worse track record at AT&T (even though the 3GS's antenna was not as exposed as the iPhone 4's). Apple's display of its extensive testing facilities may have allayed concerns that it does not do enough to test the performance of its devices. However, if the company were to announce its new handsets far in advance of shipping them, third parties -- and perhaps Apple itself -- would have had more time to build up volumes of iPhone cases. Regardless, Jobs' hypothesis served as a good segue to the case giveaway.
Apple's case giveaway represents a compromise for those who would like to have their cake and eat it, too. |
Ultimately, despite Apple's minimalist Bumper design and implication of Consumer Reports' blessing of supplying cases, the case giveaway represents a compromise for those who would like to have their cake and eat it, too -- enjoying the iPhone's naked industrial design while achieving the best possible signal quality. The notion of a recall given the low incidence of complaints and the lack of a safety concern was absurd, as was redesigning the handset on such short notice, although Apple will clearly gain takeaways from this experience for the next iPhone.
The antenna problem simply lacks a perfect solution. Apple displayed good faith while acknowledging and explaining the thorny reality and tradeoffs inherent in handset design, tradeoffs acknowledged even in Nokia's response. It has also left open the refund opportunity for those for whom the free case isn't a satisfying enough gesture. However -- as trends have indicated to this point -- few customers will likely avail themselves of that ultimate recourse.
Ross Rubin is executive director of industry analysis for consumer technology at market research and analysis firm The NPD Group. Views expressed in Switched On are his own.
@Hans
And one dropped call every 20 days instead of one every 33 days is huge increase.
Percentages, absolute numbers... it doesn't matter. The increase is HUGE and Apple screwed up.
Of course, if you're a 'regular consumer', you'll just blame the network. Who would think that Apple makes faulty phones...
@maati Is it one more dropped call even if you have a case and/or avoid touching the danger spot? Its possible the iPhone 4 drops far fewer calls when put in a case. But obviously that's difficult to ascertain. I'll take that tradeoff any day... Better overall reception with a weakness vs worse average reception... Those that don't want to should return it.
@maati
Well, he doesn't it that one but there is something weird about these. If it was really the antenna it would drop the call or become broken, not fade in and out like that.
Mine certainly doesn't do that. You can make it drop calls if you are in areas of really weak signal (where the 3GS wouldn't have got a signal in the first place) but fading. nope. Either those are faked or there is some other issue related to mics or proximity sensors.
@maati '
You're incredibly bad at math, maati.
You're comparing ratios in a non-nonsensical way. You only think the difference is huge because you've created a non-sense number.
Let' me give you a simple example.
Let's say person A and person B take a math test. A gets a score of 99 out of 100. B gets a score of 98 out of 100.
A missed 1 point, B missed 2 points. Taken a sophomoric way, you might say B did 100% worse. Or maybe B did twice as bad. Or even more twisted, A got the second lowest score.
In reality, both scores are pretty darn good. The ratio between scores isn't meaningful at all.
But you're probably unfamiliar with such scores, as you keep trying to take a ratio of ratios and pass it as a meaningful number.
@maati
One dropped call in 20 days instead of one dropped call in 33 days is not "a huge increase".
We're talking a dropped call, not a homicide. Dropped calls of that frequency aren't going to be noticed or tracked except by the most anal-retentive among us.
Do you really think one dropped call per month would put a phone in the "unusable" category? Get a grip.
@Echo91
Yes Thank u for reposting this.
Maati, u know I copied and pasted this right? Used it to destroy a long debate me and another blind iPhone 4 follower had....
The debate abruptly ended when I posted this.. Then sales, billion dollars figures starting coming out the woodworks from other users
lol
The debate wasnt about sales....it was about the distortion campaign Apple is doing right now.
Its not about bashing Apple. Its about helping current and potential iPhone 4 users...
How u gonna be mad at someone for trying to help u?
@maati One dropped call every 20days? I'll take it!
Ugh at the beginning i thought it was alright, then it was bad, but now its old news..Apple tried to make the phone slicker by using this antenna solution.There are reception problems. Get a case. as if you already dont for all the previous iphones you've had.
@Painblade What percentage of iPhone(of previous generation) users use a case? If the percentage is small then it makes sense for Apple to recall and redesign this shit. If the percentage of iPhone users using a case is big, then all the criticism by non-iPhone users in here is kinda redundant :-(
@nazmul
Apple claimed in their press conference that 80% of people left Apple Stores with a case for the 3GS. I don't think Apple would lie (dangerous in terms of investors and an unnecessary piece of information to make up) but that seems an incredibly high number to me - much more than I would have thought. I and most people I know must have been in the minority I guess.
Also, if you're buying a $200 smartphone (that's actually worth more) I sure as hell hope you get some type of case to protect it.
On another note, is Apple still using that same material on the back of the iPhones or did they finally move away from that?
@nazmul Redundant and silly... The case market for iphones is huge, obviously a large # of people are buying them. They also let you add some uniqueness to a popular product (and make it easier to grip, etc). I still maintain most similar phones come with an ugly plastic case that you just don't happen to be able to remove if you want ;)
@Painblade
Actually, I don't think Apple's intent was to make the phone "slicker".
I think there may be an interesting story here about why Apple chose this design.
I don't think it was for space or style, but to get out from under some of Nokia's patents on internal patch antennas.
I'm just wondering if Apple had keep the same design as the iPhone 3GS for the iPhone 4, how much more iPhone 4 it would have sold by now?
@gpmoo7
None as they have sold every one they have made and have a backlog of about 150,000 units at the moment according to the Applestore stock system.
@Gusty That's my point. They didn't have issues manufacturing the 3GS so they wouldn't have issues manufacturing the "3GS-like" iPhone 4.
Between the unavailability of the white iPhone 4 and the antenna-debacle, people are going to start thinking.
Another though: if Apple have made two models of the iPhone 4. One with the antenna "issue" and one like the 3GS, how much iPhone 4 with antenna "issue" they would have sold?
Since Apple don't gave their customers the choice, it's hard for them to choose the best one. If they want an iPhone with a decent display, they have to buy the iPhone 4 ... the black iPhone 4.
@gpmoo7 The one without the antenna "issue" would be unable to get the better reception that the iphone 4 has over the 3GS :).
@darksharpie I didn't know that the iPhone 4 had a better reception that the 3GS.
I thought that the reception issue with the 3GS was only a problem is US because of AT&T crappy network
I've never heard of iPhone reception issues in other countries...
With all the press oohing and aaaaahing over apple's "amazing" RF test facilities, who is asking the question - how the hell do they make phones with among the worst reception out there?
(And no it isn't all AT&T's fault, despite what Apple apologists want to think - my 3GS is consistently a lot worse than my wife's Nokia N95 in various European countries on different networks.)
oh - and my 3GS is in a Belkin case. The N95 is naked.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ctc96mXTjx0&feature=youtube_gdata
@jrox
Wow, the bars drop to zero, then one comes back...while he's still holding it....
Thats an amazing antenna in the Nexus One...
Honestly who cares anymore? Old news, affecting a slim minority (assuming Apple's numbers were correct). Let's talk about something else now.
Engadget never asks a probing question about the i-phone unless they already know the answer.
And how come is it that once an apple product get replaced its like all of a sudden all of the previous editions issues are ok to talk about.. lol its funny. Ive heard them rip on the 3GS more since the iphone 4 release saying some of the same things that people would comment on and engadget would have side stories to defend.
I think this baby has all the answers to Apple's iPhone 4 problems http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F5d93QyeDNk&hd=1
This needs to stop!! Can we not make a deal where Android fanbois and iPhone fanboys will comment only on articles that relate to their beloved phone? This article relates to iPhone antenna. Nobody is forcing anyone to buy one. The iHaters will never buy an iPhone. Fine... that is great. Be happy with what you have and stop trying to tell me what to do and what to believe.
I am sick and tired of.... "oh you are so stupid because you like something different than I do". I hope something horrible happens to all the haters who hate me because I like something different.
@JojoMojo
Can I ask u a question. Whats wrong with being an informed consumer?
Is that so wrong? When did learning something u may not have known, just learning something period..... ever become a bad thing?
Knowledge isnt power? They taught me that in elementary, junior high and high school.
@JojoMojo
Sorry, Crapple endorsed this ("fanboy war" if you so whish) when they started to drag other phones into it by incorrectly stating that these phones hade the same serious design fault as the iPhone.
Oh, I am neither a Apple nor a Android person.
@jroc74 There is absolutely nothing wrong in being an informed consumer. But you sound like one of those religious zealots .... "my God is the true God. Your God sucks. If only you knew more about my God you would see the light." Maybe in your opinion I am being ignorant and my God sucks. But I am happy with my God. Don't try to change me. Don't try to educate me.
I am not telling you to convert to my religion.... but you are telling me what to believe in. Don't proselytize me. Don't call me a sheep because I believe in a different religion. You pick yours and I will pick mine. Have a nice day.
@DarkJedi I am not talking about "crApple" (such a smart pun btw!). I am talking about fanboys that are constantly calling me ignorant. Call Apple whatever the heck you want. It is your prerogative. What I am trying to emphasize here is don't call me stupid because I choose something different. Everyone doesn't have to like the same thing. I don't like the derogatory comments that seem to be coming from the iHaters. I am happy with my iPhone... mind your own business and stop telling me my phone sucks.
@JojoMojo
Amazing.....all i can say is please read maati' very informative post.
No matter what anyone says Apple is trying to distort the truth. The problem with the iPhone 4 isnt just holding it a certain way.
The decibels drop is significant because of the design. If u in an area where the decibel rang is -90 to -95 theres a very good chance u sill notice the problem with the iPhone 4.
@jroc74
And I never said dont buy it, or get rid of it.....
The issue that many clearly cant grasp is Apple is not telling the truth about the problem with their phone with this Death Grip" campaign.
@maati
great comments and source-listing. usually, everyone's just typing out of their a##.
It's funny how it always defaults to the "if you don't like it, return it" situation that Apple has presented. I'd be willing to bet that most customers will either never hear about this, and the one's that will are too dedicated to their iPhone or Apple as a whole, or too proud to actually go and return it and replace it with another phone, even if the problems are crippling.
@kenny goo Yes because iPhone owners are such brainwashed scum of the earth zombies. They are uneducated, uninformed, stupid and smelly. They will buy anything crApple comes up with. How dare they like something you don't like! I hope they die a horrible death.
Apple behaved like a total ass! The Antennagate was just another scheme created by APPL to divert the attention on to other phone manufacturers. I can't believe such a big company could behave so childish!
@techtroll facts will never sway someone like you, that's for sure. Apple shows facts, then companies come out swinging saying, "no, not us!" and then others on the internet start putting videos on youtube demonstrating that Blackberry's and a ton of other phones have the same exact signal drop issue, just like Apple demonstrated, and on more phones then Apple demonstrated, when held in the "sweet spot" (or the opposite of that, I suppose). And Blackberry, et. al. users say, "but I can't get this to happen!", or, "Ok, I can, but it hasn't been a problem in practice", and folks like you come out not-swinging, and say "See, it isn't really a problem on that phone, unlike the iPhone 4." When they show the iPhone 4 doing that, and then iPhone 4 users say that they can't reproduce it, or that they can, but in practice it hasn't been an issue, folks like you come out swinging saying that we've all been duped and have "drunk the coolaid", and, yes, we do have a problem with our phone regardless of what we say. Facts aren't as fun as hysteria, I suppose. Oh well.
Well, I just received my fresh new iPhone 4 and I can’t reproduce the attenuation issue, even with my hand full of moisture...
Even stranger is that I can lose 1 bar just by moving around...
So I’m happy to not have the issue (in fact call quality is a little better for me than with my previous iPhone 3GS) but may be Apple silently fix the hardware issue ??
Note that I’m in europe thus no ATT maybe this is part of the problem...
Just a quickie: How to choose the bumper color?
Have a quick read: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gel_bracelet#Urban_legend
It'll be interesting to see something like that comes back.
I obviously have no numbers, but one wonders how many of the dropped calls on the iPhone 4 were actually due to the proximity sensor, which is by far the more significant issue, if you can even call the antenna "problem" an issue in the first place. The antenna design is certainly an issue for people that don't have an iPhone 4, it would seem, but for those of us with one, is the antenna an issue? For me the iPhone 4 has gotten a signal in more places and maintains a much more reliable signal in more places, so the antenna design is not only not an issue, it is a substantial benefit. Not that such facts will change the minds of those so determined. Yes, I can make the signal drop, but if the signal is better to begin with, and if I'm getting a signal in places I didn't use to get one at all, then I fail to see how the antenna design is flawed. Anyway, I presume that the proximity sensor can be adjusted with a firmware update, and in any case my iPhone 4 has yet to show any signs of the proximity sensor issue, which is not to say that it isn't there, only that I have yet to experience it. Other's clearly have, and I know of people who have said that they had it disconnect calls on them.
I wish that Engadget would just stop posting the same thing again and again...
Good day to all,
I would like you to know that I'm super happy as I have super fast connection provided by TMOBILE now. I used speedtest.net in my best spec. (hardware) SAMSUNG VIBRANT (rooted to FROYO - can beat IPHONE 4 in all aspects - ONLY that I will give design department to APPLE) and I got 6.5mbps then 2.6 uploads with LATENCY of 55ms in Houston then when I tethered it in my netbook then use again the speedtest.net I got this http://www.speedtest.net/result/853126141.png ( 25.84 MBPS down - 1.54 MBPS up )
Its mind blowing, then my latency_ping test are ALWAYS between 45ms-75ms in my location-shadow creek ranch in pearland (a bit outside of downtown Houston) then 80ms-150ms in other locations.
I did the test between 9:30am-10:00am even many people starting to use the service as my CLEAR internet if that time of usage will be horrible.
I have CLEAR now in the house that I'm paying for $40/month (I bought the modem) no leasing fee, just $40/month. That internet of mine hit the highest was 16mbps in early in the morning between (2am-5am) but before or after that time I will hit only 3-6mbps download then 800-900kbps upload unlike Tmobile who has 1mbps-3mbps upload.
I'm always travelling around Texas & I found out that Austin,Houston,Dallas & San Antonio has the highest download speed to compare to any cities when I compare in Westcoast & Eastcoast cities.
Then if ever they will make more fiber optic backhaul, they can minimize the latency problems others have now. I used to have that problem in my location but now its GONE.
I'm not the kind of person wasting time to bash any company but now I will because I was with AT&T and they are full of lies company as I had my iphone 3gs & my wife & we never seen more than 2mbps connection the whole of Texas or whenever I am in California or New York.
All PEOPLE WHO WILL SAY THEY SEE 3MBPS OR BEYOND (its not real), THEY ARE AT&T PEOPLE OR JUST ANYBODY WHO WANTS TO DEFEND AT&T EVEN AT&T DOESN'T CARE FOR THEM. Still there latency is HORRIBLE ALSO.
Mine is real experience with my wife... I work in IT company & I always use the one that I think is not just cool & good looking but I can tweak & use the heck of it whatever it can offer unlike iphone that YOU can just unlocked & jailbreak (like what i do) but android & windows can be hack & put lots of fast & best ROM that apple iphone cant do.
Our iphones is now an mp3 player in our cars, wants some pictures? Then my wife using the EVO as her company pay for her monthly bill then she just bought the EVO from Sprint. Its a sweet phone but the speed is not consistent & theres time it will be switching a lot of times from 4g to 3g.
But still wayyyyy better than verizon & AT&T. Take note, only Tmobile & Sprint didn't have the cap now they will just throttle you if your beyond 10gb but no more paying overages (Tmobile all speed then sprint in 4g mode-no throttling).
Can Verizon & AT&T can do that? Nope & NEVER because AT&T made the worse decision in lowering the internet usage to 2gb for $25 (Tmobile has $20 for unlimited no cap with super duper fast internet versus 2 mbps by AT&T) then Verizon is thinking now to do that also-per usage internet, as Sprint & Tmobile will go for no capping.
Theres a lot of fanboys especially in APPLE stuff like iphone that has the basic stuff that was available 10 years ago but Steve Jobs will say its magical & revolutionary, he's the no. 1 liar in the world (I have a friend who still working in APPLE) I'm 3 yrs. now here in Texas as I'm from California & worked with IT company near APPLE. But Texas is the best place to make money now (hehe) then cheaper way of living...He said to me (my friend) that Steve Jobs is very good in marketing hype but he's not the real guy who's thinking & making apple stuff to work, he's just the marketing guy of APPLE. Then all of his components are made mostly of ASUS,SAMSUNG & LG (not APPLE as other blindly knows) only software & design are theirs, I can attest to that, so wheres APPLE real component parts - NONE.
They are just a big marketing & design company, if you don't believe go to California (to their main headquarter) see if they building any pieces of material to use for their products - none, most of what they are doing is just software & how to market their product. I was there with my friend & I know what I'm saying. Ask ASUS,SAMSUNG & LG then FOXCONN, they will tell you that no parts are made by APPLE, they will give the design then what materials will use ( APPLE ) then they will wait for delivery and they will use their technology & manpower to build APPLE products ( FOXCONN ).
FANBOYISM towards APPLE is not bad but you should know the reality of what the company you like & love to what they really offer to you & if they lying to you. Even if APPLE will sell ipoop& ibrick, those fanboys will still buy as long it has APPLE logo on it.
Back to Tmobile, they are the company to watch for & they are not like AT&T (they are saying they are the fastest even they have only 7.2mbps then going to 14.4 end of this year) that will make advertising 1st before they will do the action, as TMOBILE ( FASTEST WIRELESS INTERNET COMPANY IN USA NOW - HSPA+ 21MBPS then 42MPBS by 2011) will do the work perfectly before they will announce in a simple way.
Unlike AT&T and APPLE, they love marketing hype like shortage of Iphone in the 1st day as they know how many people will go & get them but they will not release many units to show they don't have unit to sell, believe me or not those iphone & ipad was made already & its millions now in FOXCONN factory but they will release only hundreds thousands then it will show to their system they don't have stock anymore even they have more, for the people to be more excited & feel the APPLE products are so good that people lining up & their hysteria in getting in store or online, thats MARKETING 101, YOU HAVE TO MAKE PEOPLE EXCITE IN YOUR PRODUCTS THEN THEY WILL THINK YOUR PRODUCTS IS SO GOOD THAT PEOPLE NEED TO WAIT FOR LONG TIME.
I hope people will get it now as I want you to be more well aware of what those companies been doing to you, they making you follow them even they are shortchanging you.
I want to share more my ideas, experience & knowledge about all these stuff - just don't go with the hype, test drive it - tweak it & if you feel it has everything u want & its more cheaper - go for it... you can email me at sir1honda@aol.com ( i can give you the best advice in telecommunications & computers stuff if I have enough time to answer)
To all those people bashing each other because you like this or that, think first & I suggest that research in google, buy it, test drive it & tweak it - like me then don't defend what you have that you feel is not giving you the real deal. WE LIVE ONCE NOT TWICE , LIVE TO THE FULLEST ( get the best stuff that you think is appropriate & can make things more easier to you not just LOOKS & BRAND NAME of the products.
Always take care gurls & guys... GOD BLESS YALL...
@sir1honda
yes I actually read....most of this post....j/k
I agree with what u said in there about knowing the real deal about the company, any company.
Nice post.
@jroc74
I'm tired from work (12am when i made that) I'm software engineer working 8am-8pm - 5 times a week.
If I missed some great more points just tell me but ALL what I said is true from my experience.
I'm not bashing any company because I like but because people should know it & they must inform well about these companies.
Thanks & GOD bless you...