Apple: “As a reminder, if you are not fully satisfied, you can return your undamaged iPhone to any Apple Retail Store or the online Apple Store within 30 days of purchase for a full refund.”
I chose to share this particular paragraph from the letter because it gets to the point. If you don’t like your iPhone 4 stop your griping and just return it. I’m sure someone, like myself, would love to purchase your bright, shiny, refurbished iPhone for a discounted price. Your loss is my gain.
While this has been a PR nightmare for Apple, they’ll be fine. It’s not like people are going to stop buying iPhones. Who complains the most? People with iPhones. Do they stop buying them? NOPE.
It’s fun to watch the Android crowd talk about how stupid the iPhone crowd is, it really is. But, the iPhone is still the better consumer device. It’s the one everyone can use, including my grandmother. Android is now firmly in second place, and gaining ground, but it has a bit of a battle ahead of it. The competition between Apple and Android OS are great for us, the consumer, it gives us alternatives.
At this point I wouldn’t buy an Android phone but I’m rooting for them. Apple needs *good* competition. And to the griping point, people like to grip. Myself included. But your point is a good one. I’m getting a bit tired of all this antenna news. So there, now I’m griping.
Bob,
According to Apple’s letter ALL phones have this issue, not just the iPhone 4.
Recently I have noticed this issue more with my 3GS, based on how I hold it when I’m texting at work. Set it down, within 5 seconds full bars again. So yeah I agree I just think we didn’t notice it as much. So add a small bumper on there and we get way better reception and 3G speeds than before.
I read an article yesterday that showed 3G speeds were doubled in some tests with the new iPhone 4 on average.
The problem is, this Apple letter neatly sidesteps the point that while other phones are susceptible to signal attenuation when held at the bottom, the iPhone 4 is much more so — especially if you “hold different” because you’re left handed. All the talk of a signal display flaw is a red herring (though true).
That said, it’s a testament to the “fiddly-ness” of Android that this won’t send customers flocking to it.
Robert,
It’s hard to tell what the “truth” of the matter really is. Is it how they display the signal? Is it like this on all phones?
I really don’t know. I haven’t actually used one so it’s hard to say. I’d like to see a side-by-side comparison of actual call quality.
I spoke with Layne the other day and he was coming through loud and clear on his iPhone 4. No connection issues there.