So if the signal drop is caused by the hand physically blocking antennae...

lol, if anything that is electro conductive comes into contact with the left-hand bottom of the side drains the phone reception

Salesmen selling snake oil.

That is proof of nothing. With tethering the iPhone uses wifi, and wifi isn't affected by how one holds the phone. Besides the iPhone was not downloading anything at the time.

That's stuff to impress the natives, like shiny beads.

It is 2 separate issues.

Think of it this way:

Most have admitted that the bumper or case will almost eliminate the issue of "bridging the gap", but there is still signal attenuation caused by wrapping your hand around the lower portion of the phone.

How can anyone say Apple offered a solution to "one problem" (signal attenuation)that even they admit happens with every smartphone and cannot be solved with current physics. Does that make sense to anyone?

What they offered was a partial solution to 1 of 2 antenna problems, while trying to pass it off as the only problem. That is the part many are upset about.

Whatever happened to "The buck stops here". I'd have actually admired Mr. Jobs if he would have come out and say, *"We admit that we tried a revolutionary "cool" new design, but it just didn't live up to our, and your, expectations. We don't know what we can do about this "cool" new design right now, but will continue to improve your experience."* But no, he came out mocking customers, and compared his product to other smartphones by trying to lump the design problem in with regular attenuation issues, completely denying there is any issue unique to the iPhone 4.

Speaking of "bridging the gap", this all reminds me of my trip to London years ago and taking "the Tube" the first time. The repeated recorded spiels while boarding the trains in the stations were quite prophetic for the times, *"Mind the Gap" "Mind the Gap" "Mind the Gap"*

*Mind The Gap ! ! !*

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ojomTUt0X4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ojomTUt0X4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ix0zuZGgf8Y

thank goodness my pace maker doesn't have this problem and my Surgeon tells me Ohh well your arm is blocking the signal to your heart, stand on your head and it wont happen....this is silly, excuses and comparing it to other phones is more silly, I thought these were the "best" not as good as phones.. please do it the old fashion way .... FIX IT

Yup. This is a design that probably won't be repeated by Apple. They screwed up once, they'd have to be really dumb to make the same mistake again. Of course they made the antenna display 'mistake' three times, so who knows. 😉

wow! so many dumb threads on this topic!
How would you respond if you were Steve Jobs and were running Apple
FACTS:
1)The iPhone 4 has been the most successful product launch in apple's history selling
1.7 million units in a single weekend.
2)When compared to all previous iphone product releases the iPhone 4 has has the highest customer satisfaction rate and lowest return rate 2/3 lower than the 3Gs
3) the demand has so outstripped supply that there is a 3 week backlog
4) A select group of users are unhappy because of reception issues.
Steve answers their call and says if you are not happy you can have a free case or return the phone no questions asked. He also apologized to those few users who have had a bad experience.
Why would he admit their is a major design flaw when the majority of people are not having any problems? So I guess by definition it is not a MAJOR flaw?
He also stated in the press conference that antenna technology is a compromise and they are and will be always looking for better solutions!
Why would you do a product recall when the majority of iPhone users are having no issues?
I know of at least 7 people who bought the new iPhone everyone of those people I know have been blown away by the phone. I am not denying your individual experience may be horrible, but thats why there is a return policy. Can the iPhone 4 be better yes will the next version be better yes!
Every electronic device is full of trade offs. The Android phone may have better reception, however my best friend has one and he can't stop complaining how the battery last about 90min. I thought the last iphone was great but i wasn't happy with the video and camera which now is amazing on the new phone.
My perspective is I weigh the pros and cons. To me where Apple blows everyone out of the water is their operating system and integration with the app store and itunes.
Now Apple has had the most successful product in their history what would you do if you were Steve Jobs? I have never ever seen microsoft hold a press conference to address any flaws in their system.
Do you have any idea how many terribly flawed cell phoned are out there? What happens they are silently no longer produced no press conference. Apple has the decency to address a problem which is affecting such a small number of users for one reason and only one reason: They are trying to please everyone!! I personally can duplicate the bars declining by touching the side of my phone so its real. On the other hand I have not dropped a single call which is mind blowing to me since my last iPhone 3gs dropped calls at least once a day. Also curious can anyone name the ceo of RIM, NOKIA, HTC, Motorola, Samsung? Why do you think you know the name of the CEO for Apple? The reason Steve Jobs really cares about blowing customers away with what new products can do and providing the best user experience on the planet. Do you think any of the CEO's of the formally mentioned companies give a rats &$% about you? Steve Jobs has personally answered my emails including personally facilitating a repair of one of my laptops. I can guarantee you there is no other company that cares and takes care of their users at a higher level than Apple!!!!! That alone is worth the price of admission.

radman wrote:
wow! so many dumb threads on this topic!
How would you respond if you were Steve Jobs and were running Apple
FACTS:
1)The iPhone 4 has been the most successful product launch in apple's history selling
1.7 million units in a single weekend.
2)When compared to all previous iphone product releases the iPhone 4 has has the highest customer satisfaction rate and lowest return rate 2/3 lower than the 3Gs
3) the demand has so outstripped supply that there is a 3 week backlog
4) A select group of users are unhappy because of reception issues.
Steve answers their call and says if you are not happy you can have a free case or return the phone no questions asked. He also apologized to those few users who have had a bad experience.
Why would he admit their is a major design flaw when the majority of people are not having any problems? So I guess by definition it is not a MAJOR flaw?
He also stated in the press conference that antenna technology is a compromise and they are and will be always looking for better solutions!
Why would you do a product recall when the majority of iPhone users are having no issues?
I know of at least 7 people who bought the new iPhone everyone of those people I know have been blown away by the phone. I am not denying your individual experience may be horrible, but thats why there is a return policy. Can the iPhone 4 be better yes will the next version be better yes!
Every electronic device is full of trade offs. The Android phone may have better reception, however my best friend has one and he can't stop complaining how the battery last about 90min. I thought the last iphone was great but i wasn't happy with the video and camera which now is amazing on the new phone.
My perspective is I weigh the pros and cons. To me where Apple blows everyone out of the water is their operating system and integration with the app store and itunes.
Now Apple has had the most successful product in their history what would you do if you were Steve Jobs? I have never ever seen microsoft hold a press conference to address any flaws in their system.
Do you have any idea how many terribly flawed cell phoned are out there? What happens they are silently no longer produced no press conference. Apple has the decency to address a problem which is affecting such a small number of users for one reason and only one reason: They are trying to please everyone!! I personally can duplicate the bars declining by touching the side of my phone so its real. On the other hand I have not dropped a single call which is mind blowing to me since my last iPhone 3gs dropped calls at least once a day. Also curious can anyone name the ceo of RIM, NOKIA, HTC, Motorola, Samsung? Why do you think you know the name of the CEO for Apple? The reason Steve Jobs really cares about blowing customers away with what new products can do and providing the best user experience on the planet. Do you think any of the CEO's of the formally mentioned companies give a rats &$% about you? Steve Jobs has personally answered my emails including personally facilitating a repair of one of my laptops. I can guarantee you there is no other company that cares and takes care of their users at a higher level than Apple!!!!! That alone is worth the price of admission.

Radman.......This is excellent and right on........

So he holds the iPhone 4, the BlackBerry 9700 and the Samsung Omnia II in pretty much the same way, in left hand. On HTC Drois Eris video he holds it in a similar way except one detail - his forefinger is covering the antenna, which is located at the top of the phone. The iPhone 3GS is being held in his right hand. But that's not the point anyway, totally!

The point is that you only have to touch it gently. It's not about covering the antenna, it's about short cirtuiting the two antennas, WiFi-BT-GPS and UMTS-GSM by touching it! How difficult is it to understand?

Now, they need to show us more videos about: every smartphone drops calls :]

http://ideathgrip.com

Im still waiting on the elusive fix on the 3G Iphone that gets stuck in head phone mode and will not come out of it even with a full restore, blowing air in it and jamming your phone jack in it 20 times with no success. 2 years later I now have an Iphone 4 that appears to be working perfect. Imagine that.....

Oh and the guy in chambers is holding the phone in his right hand, carefully avoiding the "spot" :P

ILMAO..Steve personally answers your Emails !! COOOOOL DUDE.... Sorry you didnt do your home work, even Ford Motor Company has a higher customer satisfaction rating than Apple, check out J.D. Powers before you engage you brain again...