Apple doesn't leave it's buyers in the lurch!

Question

Level 1

19 points

Apple doesn't leave it's buyers in the lurch!

From a thread that was just deleted, probably because it exceeded 100K in size.

My iPhone 4 works with no antenna problems, as long as I have it in a case. I bought a Body Glive case yesterday, and everything had been great ever sense. Before that the antenna problem was quite bad.

Be patient: Apple will do the right thing.
In the mean time, get a 29.00 iPhone 4 case from a local AT&T Store.
Or, online for $22.

Also, appreciate that based on their history,
Apple will make it right.

No, I do not work for Apple, AT&T, or Body Glove.

But, putting the iPhone 4 changed everything!
Works 100% now in last 28 hours since buying the case here in the Pittsburgh area.

Just trying to help!

Alan

iPhone 4, 32Gig, iOS 4

Posted on Jun 30, 2010 7:46 PM

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Answer 1

2Face

Level 1

14 points

Jun 30, 2010 7:52 PM in response to alanpgh

I'm using a ifrogz super thin case - the one with the slats in the side - even as thin as it is I have no issues with the antenna with the case on.

I bought 4 iphone 4s. 3 of them (my wife and kids' phones) do not have the "antenna issue". Mine, however, is virtually identical to all the you-tube videos you've seen. Grab it in the death grip and watch the bars reduce. Put it in the case, however, and no issue at all.

I had 3 iPhone 3gs and now 4 iPhone 4s. Love them all and this issue to me is overblown. I'm sure it will get fixed but there is no way I'd use this phone without some sort of case, however, thin anyway.

The battery issues is more puzzling though. I'm getting about middling battery life - not terrible by any means - but not 38 hours like Mossberg and others reported.

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Answer 2

rrahimi

Level 3

615 points

Jun 30, 2010 8:08 PM in response to alanpgh

Avoid holding it that way, try like this:

http://i.imgur.com/h9UDd.png

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Answer 3

alanpgh Author

Level 1

19 points

Jun 30, 2010 8:17 PM in response to rrahimi

Moral of the story:
Get an inexpensive case until Apple comes up with a solid fix.

As far as your battery life question:
My experience is iPhone 4 battery lasts longer than 3GS but not as long as expected. Part of the reason may be if you are running a GPS location app in the background or music, such as Pandora or a podcast, etc.

Good Luck!

Please keep the helpful and positive comments coming!

Thanks,
Alan

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Answer 4

USBSlave

Level 1

10 points

Jun 30, 2010 8:19 PM in response to alanpgh

So what about when a case doesn't improve your data situation and it still drops like crazy. Should I continue praising Apple then?

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Answer 5

deggie

Level 10

167,177 points

Jun 30, 2010 8:29 PM in response to USBSlave

No, you should make a Genius Bar appointment at your nearest Apple Store and have them look at it. You may have a broken antenna.

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Answer 6

Jun 30, 2010 8:30 PM in response to alanpgh

I appreciate and respect your post, alanpgh, but as a person who has been buying (and evangelizing) Apple products since the Apple //e in 1982, would someone please explain to me why I should be paying my own money to buy a case to remedy a significant product design problem?

To me - and with all respect to Apple - this should have been caught during the alpha prototyping phase. Apple needs to fix this.

No disrepect intended to anyone on this forum or to you, but seriously... I dont' see any reason why I should be expected to spend even $1 to fix a design flaw in the iPhone 4.

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Answer 7

USBSlave

Level 1

10 points

Jun 30, 2010 8:34 PM in response to deggie

Oh well I appreciate the suggestion however I have been through two iPhone 4s and three sims and the issues continue...

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Answer 8

Jun 30, 2010 8:44 PM in response to alanpgh

So are you telling me to go buy a $30 case and then Apple will make it right by...coming out with a free fix for the phone?

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Answer 9

alanpgh Author

Level 1

19 points

Jun 30, 2010 8:53 PM in response to Tom Beardmore

Tom,

I appreciate your thoughtful post.
You make a number of very good points.

I am an Electrical Engineer with some RF experience.
This definitely should have been caught in the Alpha/Beta testing process.
No excuse for this not being caught.
And, an engineer would understand that basic RF (Radio Frequency) design practice (Engineering 101) would not want your hand to touch the antennas to ground them out or ad a link between the two antennas.
In this case, the testing was likely done using cases, so the problem was inadvertently masked.

My guess is that all Apple can do here is to find a fix and learn from this experience so it does not happen again.

My sense is that they will find sine sort of fix working a week or less. This is a guess based on experience.

In the meantime, for me (and I'm only speaking for myself) $29.00 is a small price to pay for a case that allows me to have a working version of one of the most revolutionary electronic devices ever made.

This is only a hiccup along the way.
I believe Apple will make it right!

By the way, in the meantime, people can do one of following:
Buy a case.
Use a Popsicle stick, as someone suggested in another thread.
Go back to using your old phone until the problem is resolved.

More thoughtful comments will be appreciated!

Alan

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Answer 10

alanpgh Author

Level 1

19 points

Jun 30, 2010 8:59 PM in response to treyprice04

Yes, I am willing to spend $30. for a case to have a few additional weeks of reliable operation until there is a fix.
Cost of case is small compared to the annual cost of cell phone service.
And, in the end, I have a nice case which I would probably buy at some point anyway. I've had a case on my last two phones.

Alan

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Answer 11

daddave2

Level 1

129 points

Jun 30, 2010 9:13 PM in response to alanpgh

And the case is very sexy too!

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Answer 12

rrahimi

Level 3

615 points

Jul 1, 2010 8:36 AM in response to USBSlave

How many more iPhones do you want to go through? It's by design and the solution is to "Hold Differently!"

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Answer 13

teach5

Level 1

111 points

Jul 1, 2010 8:52 AM in response to alanpgh

Yes, Apple does leave its buyers in the lurch and customer service both over the phone and at the store are awful. Apple has really gone downhill since I bought my first computer from them.

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Answer 14

alanpgh Author

Level 1

19 points

Jul 1, 2010 9:28 AM in response to rrahimi

I do not have to hold it differently as long as it is in the sleek iPhone 4 case I bought 2 days ago.

Apple has never let me down. Customer service is very good.
AT&T and Microsoft offense have poor customer service.

Let's see what happens here in the next few weeks.

My philosophy is to be patient right now and to use my 100% working and wonderful new iPhone 4.

Please send any comments and suggestions, but please be constructive!

Thanks,
Alan

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Answer 15

teach5

Level 1

111 points

Jul 1, 2010 9:47 AM in response to alanpgh

Glad they have been wonderful to you. It has not been the case for me. I have been patient and kind in my inquiries and have not been treated well. Last year, when I went to genius appointment for a problem with 3Gs, the genius asked my name and immediately went and got a manager who came out and told me that I was being too pickey and the genius did not have to help me. I had returned my 3Gs before, because of a vividly yellow screen. He then proceeded to call me a liar and told me they had bent over backwards to help me. I was insulted. None of what he was ranting about was true. Over the phone, they act as though you are bothering them with your inquiry. But I am glad they are nice to some people.

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