IPhone 3G S plagued by sound issues (confirmed).

I just did a little testing and am curious if my results are the same. I think the sounds that people are talking about fall into two (2) separate categories (at least on my phone)

1. After I text , and while recording video I distinctly here the 'tone' for a few seconds before the the speaker is turned off.

2. After I unlock the phone I hear 'speaker noise' for a few seconds before the speaker is shut off when the volume is turned all the way up. (sounds like static = white noise = hiss... however you like to describe it)

'speaker noise' is the background noise you will hear in any amplified system when you turn the volume way up. Sometimes referred to as 'hiss'. Cheaper amps produce more of this noise, more expensive systems tend to produce less. Now, I am not accusing Apple of using cheap amplification components.

So I am thinking that while the 'tone' issue may be fixable, I am not sure the 'hiss' has a fix.

I have it too. I've found it in several places:

Upon locking -- lasts 5 seconds.
Upon sending a text -- lasts until I start typing another text.
Upon deleting a character in a note -- lasts until I quit the Notes app (I gave up at 45 seconds).

Also having the same problem -- only upon locking though.

I am not sure if this is accurate, but I heard that in your iPhone serial #, the far left 3 digits refer to the factory where it was made, and the next two digits (4 and 5) from the left are the build week. So a serial # starting with 88925 was built during week 25 of this year at a location that can be told from 889 (or some part of 889)

Not sure what the NS and NR mean, but they are pretty common in all the serial #'s. Maybe the middle 4 digits (to the left of NR/NS) are the unique identifier....just a guess. Trying to figure out any commonalities here!

I've got the same issue on a 32GB black 3G S. Hoping this is a .01 fixable glitch - because this is the only issue I have with the iPhone.

I don't hear nuttin'.

isnt this likely related to voice commands?
does problem stop if voice commands are turned off?

I have both the lock whine and the video whine but I can hear when I put the speaker next to my ear.

Black 32gb
serial 3NR
model MB717LL/A

So far it seems like a significant number of the 3GS's have this issue. Trying to get one replaced in the hope that the new one won't have the issue is a crapshoot.

I think no matter what, those of us who are suffering with this issue are going to have to live with it for a short while at least, and then one of two things will happens

1. Apple identifies and fixes a software bug which is the cause of this, and everyone is happy when the upgrade

2. This is truly a hardware issue. Apple will solve it sooner or later and a little while, all the new phones will no longer have the issue. This is the point when you go to the Apple Store and get it replaced. If it is a hardware issue, Apple will probably be able to identify the range of serial numbers affected (these things are usually the result of borderline bad components during periods of manufacturing runs).

I think it is super unlikely Apple does nothing.
Unlike perceptions of screen warmth or button "mushiness" this whine is clearly quantifiable, detectable, and reproducible. Apple will have to address it.

In the mean time, in the near future, I doubt Apple Support or Apple Geniuses will have any more then anecdotal evidence and suggestions along the line of crapshot phone replacements or worthless restores -- but, and this is IMPORTANT -- please keep posting and complaining. Our complaints are our votes, so it is worth the time to post here and call Apple.

Then we gotta wait for the mothership 🙂

I have done some playing around with mine and I have noticed a few different times when I hear the whine occur on my iPhone (32 black).

It occurs when:
1. I lock the phone
2. Type something (keyboard clicks)
3. Record Video
4. Play Music

It could be happening at other times. However, it does not make a whine when I unlock the phone, and if I repeatedly play/pause music. This leads me to believe that it is a software problem, and hopefully Apple will patch it soon.

I can hear it occasIonally when locking or unlocking the phone or when playing recorded video from the photos app (but I haven't been able to hear it after recording video, or playing video from any other app).

My dog seems none the wiser though so at least it's not bugging her! 🙂

I found something else out! It's not really of any help, because it is more annoying than the whine, but if you turn on voiceover, hey presto! no more whine!

Therefore, it is for sure a software bug.

I, of course, have the same issues with my 3GS. One thing to wonder about is...from a practical standpoint, does the high pitched tone being emitting drain the iPhone's battery?

Just to add to the list. I also have this problem on my 32GB black 3G S in the UK. It's not too bad, but I can definitely hear it clearly for a few seconds after locking the screen.

T

I am on my second 3G S. Both phones have the high pitch sound upon sound file play. I can also hear it in a video that was shot from the first phone and played on the second.