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Issue with Proximity Sensor during calls - Continued.

This thread is a continuation of Issue with Proximity Sensor during calls which was getting too long and causing some browsers to time out. The old thread has been locked and the last post links to this thread.

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Posted on Jul 14, 2010 6:16 AM

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1,684 replies

Aug 17, 2010 4:26 PM in response to Oso Grande

And this isn't a conjectural pithy comment?

Oso Grande wrote:
If I was having a problem with my phone, returned it, and it continued--I'd either return it for a refund or see what "I" am doing to potentially cause it. In the last few pages, I've seen nothing of the sort but a lot of meandering filled with conjectural pithy comments.

As an anecdote, I'm not having any problems with my iP4 proximity sensor nor is anyone else that I know who owns an iP4. _I've only replicated this issue if I hold the phone almost diagonally to my ear, or almost barely over my ear._ That said, after reading some of the brazen comments, I'm guessing this is an issue but not with the iPhone 4 itself. I also got a big kick out of those who already returned the phone but somehow haven't been able to let go, and move on with their lives.

Returning a phone over and over thinking you will get a new result every time can only mean one thing....

*Definition of OCD*

_Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)_ is an illness that causes unwanted, recurrent thoughts and/or behaviors that are distressing to the affected individual. Obsessions are recurrent and persistent thoughts, impulses, or images that are usually intrusive or inappropriate and tend to cause significant anxiety. Examples of obsessions include fear of contamination, _need for exactness_, preoccupation with religion, or _excessive feelings of responsibility_. Compulsions are repetitive behaviors or mental rituals. Some examples of compulsions are handwashing, ordering, checking, praying, counting, repeating words or phrases to oneself, and following rules rigidly. An individual with OCD will often perform these compulsive acts with the hope of preventing or diminishing his obsessions.

*How do I know if I have OCD?*

People who have OCD find themselves becoming overwhelmed by their obsessions and compulsions. Individuals with OCD may spend as much as an hour or more on any given ritual, e.g. washing hands or checking locks. Their time-consuming rituals or obsessions often reach a level of severity that significantly interferes with their ability to function normally. Hygiene, work, and social activities may all be adversly affected as the person feels the need to spend more and more time on their rituals.

Screening tests offer a means of assessing whether you have a profile similar to that of an individual with OCD. However, a consultation with a psychiatrist, behavioral therapist, or other mental health professionals will often provide you with a more definitive diagnosis.

+Courtesy of [NIMH| http://intramural.nimh.nih.gov/lcs/studies-what.html]+

Jul 27, 2010 5:24 PM in response to Nubz N.

I think I discovered the reason behind the sensor issue: I was talking on my iPhone 4 in front of a mirror and I noticed that everytime the sensor is pointing at my ear canal the screen turns on. taking into account that the sensor distance sensitivity in the iPhone 4 is set at about 3/4 of an inch (as other people reported), and the ear canal is about 1.5-2 inches long, every time the sensor points inside the ear canal, it thinks that it's away from the ear and the screen turns on.

Now why doesn't the iPhone 3Gs have the same problem? for 2 reasons:
1- the location of the sensor in the 3GS is on the side of the earpiece not straight above it, and therefore when the ear piece is in front of the ear canal the sensor is against the ear, whereas in the i4 it is so close to the earpiece that it point into the canal.
2- the sensor distance sensitivity is set higher in the 3Gs about 1.5-2 inches

Furthermore, why not everyone has a problem with the sensor? well different people have different ear anatomy and shape.

so in short there are 2 problem with the iPhone 4's sensor:
1-the location very close above the earpiece (this cannot be fixed until a new design comes out)
2- the sensor distance sensitivity is too low (this hopefully could be fixed by a software update)

Jul 14, 2010 6:35 AM in response to Nubz N.

My wife had this issue, and then we switched her case to a more plain silicone one (with just a lip around the front-sides)...she is now have less proximity sensor issues than either the previous case or even using it caseless (which is a little baffling to me).

In any case, there is no question that the sensitivity has changed on this. I was wondering if they could make better use of the gyro in the software to validate that prox sensor is properly activated. I'm surprised they don't make more use of this, since that could certainly tell you if the phone has been raised or turned.

Jul 14, 2010 6:40 AM in response to DoggydaddyX

WTH!?!? part of my post was erased! I simply said that a letter was sent to a law firm that was investigating the issues that the iPhone was having to determine if anything is there to take the next step ( I didnt use " next step ". I used class action ^$&# ) I guess you cant say that......
Looks like I woke up in the 80's in Moscow




"Well i sent out letter to all the addresses you guys provided...thanks.

I gave up alot of alternative option for the almost $700 for 2 iPhone 4. ANd trust me for me, thats ALOT of money and not to have it work with no solution from Apple is too much for me to accept
<Edited by Host> "

Jul 14, 2010 7:02 AM in response to facehangup

A sceptic would say a new post was started because the last one received too many replies and too many views which was finally being picked up by the press (who seemed to have concerned themselves more with the death grip problem to begin with).

Anyway, the Proximity Sensor issue continues to wind me up on a daily basis and continues to be a source of negative advertising for Apple about 30-50 times a day "hi, sorry about that - hung up on you with my iPhone 4" and "sorry, yes I am here, my iPhone 4 muted you so I'll repeat myself" and "whoops, sorry, my iPhone 4 put you on hold" and "sorry mum, didn't mean to conference you in, babe, let me just ditch my mum and we can continue discussing plans for the evening".

Dear Steve Jobs, please would you acknowledge the problem and your proposed rectification?

Jul 14, 2010 7:26 AM in response to team_mclaren

Sorry if this is a repost, but here is another idea for a temporary fix that I haven't seen as of yet.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WEh5JwHkUoY&feature=related

Hopefully, this also means it's a software related issue. I'm beginning to think that most of the problems are from iOS4. A lot of 3Gs were bricked with the update. Mine didn't even get past the backup stage after hours. Those that did update were left with barely functioning phones. Some reports of problems with iOS4 have come out for the 3GSs too, although not as severe.

As far as the antenna issue goes, I did read something that is very logical. I don't remember where I read it, but they said that their business uses iphones, but was in an area with terrible AT&T reception. They got a local signal "booster" at their campus, and never get service below 5 bars. They say they can't replicate the antenna problem there, but they can at home where they get lower bars. They think that Apple has a similar booster on their campus. They also think their field tests of the iphone 4 never showed the issue because they were wrapped in that plastic case that made it look like a 3GS - as confirmed by the lost handset that was sent to Gizmodo. Just a thought.

Jul 14, 2010 7:30 AM in response to team_mclaren

So next week, I am going back to my Apple store to probably end up walking out with Iphone 4 number 3 ! Yet, according to my local store manager / genius bar technician, they "haven't heard of a problem" with the proximity sensor and I'm the first customer to return one with that problem. Yeah right ! .....

If it's as rare as they would have me believe, why have I managed to get TWO with the same fault ?!

Apple still won't tell us the truth about this despite overwhelming evidence !

If phone number 3 still has the problem, I will return the phone and will never buy another Apple product, period.

APPLE - THE SILENCE IS DEAFENING !

Jul 14, 2010 7:50 AM in response to Nubz N.

Here's a curious little thought... the first half of this thread, discussing a problem with the iPhone, was locked at 116 pages, 1689 replies because it was becoming too long and locking browsers. I can understand that completely, however how come the July 14th shipping date thread at 163 pages and 2400 replies is still going?

Just found that curious.

Edit: Never mind, it has now been locked too.

Message was edited by: 51Cards

Jul 14, 2010 7:43 AM in response to 51Cards

51Cards wrote:
Here's a curious little thought... the first half of this thread, discussing a problem with the iPhone, was locked at 116 pages, 1689 replies because it was becoming too long and locking browsers. I can understand that completely, however how come the July 14th shipping date thread at 163 pages and 2400 replies is still going?

Just found that curious.


Wooooooah. Not good.

Jul 14, 2010 7:54 AM in response to Nubz N.

Well, Apple is sending me a new phone, they are aware of the problem and the "engineers" are looking into it.

I specifically asked, "if there is a hardware redesign, would my phone be replaced", and was told likely.

From what I gathered from speaking to two different CS people, Apple knows about this issue and is trying to figure out what the problem is, they just aren't speaking about it publicly. Maybe bad QC from the proximity sensor vendor, hopefully #2 will work. I ordered mine on 6/14 and received it on the 24th, so I'm cutting it close on the 30-Day return, and Apple said they didn't know if AT&T would accept a replacement phone I got from Apple. I wanted it from Apple stocks, in case AT&T has a Warehouse someplace, figured I'd get the newest built phone possible. I have my finger's crossed.

Jul 14, 2010 8:15 AM in response to Alexg1911

I hope Apple releases a software fix or says something publicly soon (like today) or I feel they will be getting a lot of returns. None of these "quick fix" resets are working permanently.

Alexg1911 wrote:
Well, Apple is sending me a new phone, they are aware of the problem and the "engineers" are looking into it.

I specifically asked, "if there is a hardware redesign, would my phone be replaced", and was told likely.

From what I gathered from speaking to two different CS people, Apple knows about this issue and is trying to figure out what the problem is, they just aren't speaking about it publicly. Maybe bad QC from the proximity sensor vendor, hopefully #2 will work. I ordered mine on 6/14 and received it on the 24th, so I'm cutting it close on the 30-Day return, and Apple said they didn't know if AT&T would accept a replacement phone I got from Apple. I wanted it from Apple stocks, in case AT&T has a Warehouse someplace, figured I'd get the newest built phone possible. I have my finger's crossed.

Issue with Proximity Sensor during calls - Continued.

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