egadget posted the videos apple made showing reception loss for the iPhone 3GS and 4 and Samsung Omnia II, BlackBerry Bold 9700 and HTC Droid Eris

LINK

Kinda of interesting, but one would assume you put a kungfu grip on any phone and you will lose reception.

Apple strangely didn't show this video where a single finger kills the signal. .........................
Roo: "He doesn't like that."
Me: "Well he was smiling.....until he started screaming."

Yeah, nor did they answer the question when someone asked about it...

Yeah, didn't sound like an answer to me either. I understand what is happening here; your hand disrupts the antenna's shape and that fucks up your signal. For the life of me I can't understand why the engineers didn't foresee this, and why they didn't just add a thin layer of epoxy or plastic to the antenna band on the phone. Now they have to deal with full refunds on returns and giving out free cases to everyone.

Another comment I read pointed out the flawed logic in Apple's numbers. They claimed that calls to AppleCare were low, as were numbers returned. There are 2 very good reasons for this. First, everyone already knew it was a problem, so why even both to call AppleCare? And, rumor was that Apple was coming out with a fix, so why return the phone when there's a fix coming? Also, if it wasn't that big of a deal, Apple probably wouldn't have bothered to hold a press conference, or give free cases/bumpers or complete refunds to everyone... .........................
RIAA Radar

I saw one person think that since apple is so secretive that they didn't throughly field test the phone.  It seems logical but I've been make a conscious effort to see how I hold me phone and everytime right handed or left a finger or my palm ends up right on that spot that causes the problem. 

My guess is they never took the phones to a spot where AT&T has mid-to-poor coverage cause if you have full bars my understanding is you arent gonna drop calls but if you are like three bars or less you will.

Regardless since I hate cases I won't be buying a new iPhone til it is fixed .........................
Roo: "He doesn't like that."
Me: "Well he was smiling.....until he started screaming."

Everyone keeps saying "until it is fixed". The point being, it can't be fixed. The software fix might make it actively drop less calls, but they won't change the hardware, at least not until next year. And you don't need a case or even a bumper; just slap some scotch tape on there and you're good to go. In fact, when there is a full-body ghost armor or invisible shield or whatever protective lining, that'll solve the problem too. .........................
RIAA Radar

I think they are gonna change the hardware.  Well more likely the casing.  That's why they are only offering the free cases til September.

It is a simple fix they might just be applying a plastic epoxy so you can't short the two pieces like you suggested. That could be easily done. Or maybe it is already done but they have to run out the old stock.

So I'll let apple apply some nice looking tape before I consider upgrading to the iPhone 4 .........................
Roo: "He doesn't like that."
Me: "Well he was smiling.....until he started screaming."

It is not just shorting, its loading too. Scotch tape isn't thick enough and you would have to have a bulge of epoxy.

The cleanest solution is the case.

The hardware solution will be to offset the iPod docking port and put the antenna on the bottom, with the GPS/wifi antenna on the top.

That's how I would do it. .........................
"My new conclusion for the time being is lcde either doesn't read what other write or has the memory of a goldfish."
Now I will never forget!

Every time PETA makes a model dress in the nude or with a carrot on their crotch I keep thinking how they treat women like pieces of meat.

Just a quick sound off, but I have had my iPhone FORE for, well since whenever it came out, but I haven't had any problems at all. KungFu grip can cause the signal to degrade by a bar or two not quite kill it, but I have had 0 luck actually killing the signal with only a one finger technique (HELLO LADIES!) That being said I haven't noticed any dropped calls or the like, nor really any change in data speeds. BUT WHO KNOWS!?

I also have no idea what band those antennas on the edge are operating at, could be more specific to an area heavily reliant on 850MHz vs 1900, don't know how well AT&T covers Milwaukee or at what freqz...  The human body isn't the greatest conductor, but a pretty decent dielectric load thing... so their argument holds some small amount of water (get it cuz the human body is a lot of water! BRUNG)...

Like I said I haven't really noticed any significant usage problems. SO BOOM. .........................
You don't have to go to college. This isn't Russia. Is this Russia? This isn't Russia.

I'm sorry the number you have dialed is imaginary. Please rotate your phone 90 degrees and try again.

logan11, you make science interesting AND educational!

.........................
"My new conclusion for the time being is lcde either doesn't read what other write or has the memory of a goldfish."
Now I will never forget!

Every time PETA makes a model dress in the nude or with a carrot on their crotch I keep thinking how they treat women like pieces of meat.

I am loving the fallout of this video. Basically every company has come out with something that says:

"Dear Jobs, we check out products and don't make stupid ass mistakes like this. Take responsibility for your idiocy."

On that note here is Samsungs

.........................
"My new conclusion for the time being is lcde either doesn't read what other write or has the memory of a goldfish."
Now I will never forget!

Every time PETA makes a model dress in the nude or with a carrot on their crotch I keep thinking how they treat women like pieces of meat.

I would assume moving the anntenna would be out of the question until the next version since their manufacturing line is up and running.  It could cost a ton to retool a line to move hardware, but maybe not so much to add an extra step of coating a part with something.  That's why i figured covering the antenna with plastic or epoxy would be simpliest.  they don't gotta put it just there, if they want to make it nice looking they could extend it up the whole side or both sides or all the way around.  I'm sure there is some material that they could use that would minimize thickness.




it is good to know that it might not always be a factor.  are you a righty or lefty?  I held alot of people who were having issues were left handed, since i'm right handed maybe i won't care as much anymore.
.........................
Roo: "He doesn't like that."
Me: "Well he was smiling.....until he started screaming."

I'm a Righty predominately but I always hold my phone to my left ear with left hand. You know... so I can do important shit like Drive, Smoke, Eat My Cheeseburger, and flip off bad drivers. AMERICA, FUCK YEAH. .........................
You don't have to go to college. This isn't Russia. Is this Russia? This isn't Russia.

I'm sorry the number you have dialed is imaginary. Please rotate your phone 90 degrees and try again.

The signal problem is really only supposed to affect those that don't have solid coverage already. I haven't been able to get any of my phones to do it (even the 3GS with it's pitiful antenna), but I also have good reception in my place.

Also, I've seen some videos online where the case didn't help. The fact is, the iPhone's antenna is weak, and the shorting/loading problem isn't helping, or the only issue with reception. .........................
RIAA Radar

Antenna-aid



See what they did there. .........................
"My new conclusion for the time being is lcde either doesn't read what other write or has the memory of a goldfish."
Now I will never forget!

Every time PETA makes a model dress in the nude or with a carrot on their crotch I keep thinking how they treat women like pieces of meat.

Ha hilarious. And that person will probably make a ton of money too. .........................
Roo: "He doesn't like that."
Me: "Well he was smiling.....until he started screaming."