Top Apple iPhone 4 Press Conference Predictions

Is there really a problem with the iPhone 4 antenna? Apple is about to answer this question Friday, at a hastily announced press conference at its Cupertino campus. Meanwhile, millions of iPhone 4 customers (and tech pundits) are playing the guessing game running up to Friday's event. What does Apple have to say about the antenna issue and what will it do - if anything?

First off, a quick recap: evidence to date is not helping Apple. From users, to tech media, and the independent Consumer Reports said that something is wrong. Some iPhone 4 owners have complained of being stuck in iPhone 4 hell saddled with multiple iPhone 4 problems. Steve Jobs is now being directly implicated in iPhone 4 antenna-gate and Sen. Charles Schumer (D-New York) has penned a letter asking Jobs to personally solve the problem. Schumer is calling Apple's current software fix "insufficient."

So what could Apple do to solve the problem? Here are some educated guesses tech pundits have put forward ahead of tomorrow's event:

The iPhone Is Selling Very Well

The first thing we are going to hear tomorrow is probably how well the iPhone 4 is selling. 1.7 million devices in the first three days, so expect at least two million iPhone 4s sold to date.

Acknowledge The Problem

"Apple will undoubtedly acknowledge that holding the iPhone 4 does affect the signal. But they'll note once again that this is true of all cellphones," predicts TechCrunch's MG Siegler. Apple said all smartphones experience signal drops when held in a certain way (some call it the 'death grip'), and reports say that many now have better reception with the iPhone 4 than they did with previous iterations of the device.

Bumper Cases Won't Make The Cut

If Apple's solution to the iPhone 4 antenna woes will be to give away $29-worth bumper cases to all customers, it would cost the company over $51 million just to cover the initial batch of 1.7 million iPhone 4's sold in the first three days of availability (figure at market value, as Bumper Cases are said to cost Apple $1).

The iPhone 4, when used with one of Apple's bumper cases (which surround the sides of the phone) fixes the antenna issue, Consumer Reports confirmed. However, MacObserver notes that the bumper cases would be incompatible with the iPhone 4 dock, and also won't fit in third-party cases, thus not an ideal solution.

iOS 4.1 Is Just Software Fix

Another road Apple could take is to flaunt the iOS 4.0.1, which addresses the way signal bars are displayed in the top-left corner of all iPhones. Those pinning their hopes that the OS update would fix the antenna issue will be disappointed to hear that the first reports indicate iOS 4.0.1 does not fix the 'death grip'.

A Recall Would Be Too Costly

Apple would lose even more money if it will have to recall all iPhone 4s sold to date. One analyst estimated that this would cost the company around $1.5 billion, a sum that would increase by $200 million per each ongoing week of sales. Another analyst quoted by Reuters said she expects Apple to quickly move past this issue, as a recall is not on the table.

Non-conductive Coating Over Antenna

One of the most probable scenarios is that Apple is already rolling off the assembly lines in China a new iPhone 4 batch that has a special non-conductive coating over the metal band around the phone, which in theory would solve the ‘death grip' issues.

Steve Cheneyis over at TechCrunch argues that Apple and its suppliers have the skills to make quick modification to apply the extra coating layer. MacObserver also notes that Apple could set up a free exchange program for those who wish to swap their device with an iPhone 4 with the new coating.

Boom! One More Thing

"Sounds crazy, I know, but I think something big, or at least biggish, is going down tomorrow," writes Darin Fireball's John Gruber. He has a hunch that Apple will come up with something special in addition to a resolution to the iPhone 4 antenna problem.

How do you think Apple will solve the iPhone 4 antenna issue? Sound off with your predictions in the comments.

[via PC World]

Get a Free iPhone 4! Yes, that is correct! Why pay for one when CNN, BBC, NBC, and other news sites have proven this system LEGIT. Get it the simple way .... straight to your doorstep! Not interested? Then maybe get a Free PS3!

Top Apple iPhone 4 Press Conference Predictions

Is there really a problem with the iPhone 4 antenna? Apple is about to answer this question Friday, at a hastily announced press conference at its Cupertino campus. Meanwhile, millions of iPhone 4 customers (and tech pundits) are playing the guessing game running up to Friday's event. What does Apple have to say about the antenna issue and what will it do - if anything?

First off, a quick recap: evidence to date is not helping Apple. From users, to tech media, and the independent Consumer Reports said that something is wrong. Some iPhone 4 owners have complained of being stuck in iPhone 4 hell saddled with multiple iPhone 4 problems. Steve Jobs is now being directly implicated in iPhone 4 antenna-gate and Sen. Charles Schumer (D-New York) has penned a letter asking Jobs to personally solve the problem. Schumer is calling Apple's current software fix "insufficient."

So what could Apple do to solve the problem? Here are some educated guesses tech pundits have put forward ahead of tomorrow's event:

The iPhone Is Selling Very Well

The first thing we are going to hear tomorrow is probably how well the iPhone 4 is selling. 1.7 million devices in the first three days, so expect at least two million iPhone 4s sold to date.

Acknowledge The Problem

"Apple will undoubtedly acknowledge that holding the iPhone 4 does affect the signal. But they'll note once again that this is true of all cellphones," predicts TechCrunch's MG Siegler. Apple said all smartphones experience signal drops when held in a certain way (some call it the 'death grip'), and reports say that many now have better reception with the iPhone 4 than they did with previous iterations of the device.

Bumper Cases Won't Make The Cut

If Apple's solution to the iPhone 4 antenna woes will be to give away $29-worth bumper cases to all customers, it would cost the company over $51 million just to cover the initial batch of 1.7 million iPhone 4's sold in the first three days of availability (figure at market value, as Bumper Cases are said to cost Apple $1).

The iPhone 4, when used with one of Apple's bumper cases (which surround the sides of the phone) fixes the antenna issue, Consumer Reports confirmed. However, MacObserver notes that the bumper cases would be incompatible with the iPhone 4 dock, and also won't fit in third-party cases, thus not an ideal solution.

iOS 4.1 Is Just Software Fix

Another road Apple could take is to flaunt the iOS 4.0.1, which addresses the way signal bars are displayed in the top-left corner of all iPhones. Those pinning their hopes that the OS update would fix the antenna issue will be disappointed to hear that the first reports indicate iOS 4.0.1 does not fix the 'death grip'.

A Recall Would Be Too Costly

Apple would lose even more money if it will have to recall all iPhone 4s sold to date. One analyst estimated that this would cost the company around $1.5 billion, a sum that would increase by $200 million per each ongoing week of sales. Another analyst quoted by Reuters said she expects Apple to quickly move past this issue, as a recall is not on the table.

Non-conductive Coating Over Antenna

One of the most probable scenarios is that Apple is already rolling off the assembly lines in China a new iPhone 4 batch that has a special non-conductive coating over the metal band around the phone, which in theory would solve the ‘death grip' issues.

Steve Cheneyis over at TechCrunch argues that Apple and its suppliers have the skills to make quick modification to apply the extra coating layer. MacObserver also notes that Apple could set up a free exchange program for those who wish to swap their device with an iPhone 4 with the new coating.

Boom! One More Thing

"Sounds crazy, I know, but I think something big, or at least biggish, is going down tomorrow," writes Darin Fireball's John Gruber. He has a hunch that Apple will come up with something special in addition to a resolution to the iPhone 4 antenna problem.

How do you think Apple will solve the iPhone 4 antenna issue? Sound off with your predictions in the comments.

[via PC World]

Get a Free iPhone 4! Yes, that is correct! Why pay for one when CNN, BBC, NBC, and other news sites have proven this system LEGIT. Get it the simple way .... straight to your doorstep! Not interested? Then maybe get a Free PS3!

iPhone case fixes reception problem - Consumer Reports

Consumer Reports said on Wednesday its tests confirmed that putting Apple Inc's new iPhone into a case fixes the reception problems that some users have experienced.The influential publication said using a Bumper -- a $29 frame-like cover sold by Apple -- prevents a drop in signal strength that occurs when the iPhone 4 is held in a certain way.The finding confirmed what bloggers and others said about using a case with the iPhone, which went on sale last month and became Apple's fastest-selling product ever."The Bumper solves the signal-strength problem," Paul Reynolds of Consumer Reports said in a blog posting."So does a piece of duct tape, as we reported earlier, or just being careful how you hold the phone. But these options all put the onus on consumers to solve or pay for a fix. We're still calling on Apple to provide an acceptable free solution to the iPhone 4's signal-loss problem."Consumer Reports generated headlines on Monday when it said it could not recommend the iPhone 4 to buyers due to reception issues.

[via Reuters]

Get a Free iPhone 4! Yes, that is correct! Why pay for one when CNN, BBC, NBC, and other news sites have proven this system LEGIT. Get it the simple way .... straight to your doorstep! Not interested? Then maybe get a Free PS3!

iPhone case fixes reception problem - Consumer Reports

Consumer Reports said on Wednesday its tests confirmed that putting Apple Inc's new iPhone into a case fixes the reception problems that some users have experienced.The influential publication said using a Bumper -- a $29 frame-like cover sold by Apple -- prevents a drop in signal strength that occurs when the iPhone 4 is held in a certain way.The finding confirmed what bloggers and others said about using a case with the iPhone, which went on sale last month and became Apple's fastest-selling product ever."The Bumper solves the signal-strength problem," Paul Reynolds of Consumer Reports said in a blog posting."So does a piece of duct tape, as we reported earlier, or just being careful how you hold the phone. But these options all put the onus on consumers to solve or pay for a fix. We're still calling on Apple to provide an acceptable free solution to the iPhone 4's signal-loss problem."Consumer Reports generated headlines on Monday when it said it could not recommend the iPhone 4 to buyers due to reception issues.

[via Reuters]

Get a Free iPhone 4! Yes, that is correct! Why pay for one when CNN, BBC, NBC, and other news sites have proven this system LEGIT. Get it the simple way .... straight to your doorstep! Not interested? Then maybe get a Free PS3!

Free Angelina Jolie iPhone Wallpaper

Get a Free iPhone 4! Yes, that is correct! Why pay for one when CNN, BBC, NBC, and other news sites have proven this system LEGIT. Get it the simple way .... straight to your doorstep! Not interested? Then maybe get a Free PS3!

Free Angelina Jolie iPhone Wallpaper

Get a Free iPhone 4! Yes, that is correct! Why pay for one when CNN, BBC, NBC, and other news sites have proven this system LEGIT. Get it the simple way .... straight to your doorstep! Not interested? Then maybe get a Free PS3!

Apple iPhone 4 Reception Issues Mocked By Nokia

Nokia has a little bit of fun with Apple's iPhone 4

Apple may have sold over 1.7 million iPhone 4's during its initial launch, but that doesn't mean everyone is satisfied. Over the past week, there have been numerous reports popping up regarding reception problems with the iPhone 4 when held left-handed.

Apple CEO Steve Jobs boldly proclaimed "Just avoid holding it that way" in an email when a new iPhone 4 customer inquired about how to resolve the problem.

Nokia is now getting in on the action with a posting on its official blog, Nokia Conversations. Nokia points out that its users have a number of ways of holding their phones, and points out four of the most popular: Thumb and Finger, The Cup, The Balance, and The Four-edge Grip.

The Cup is the method that has been nicknamed the "Death Grip" by owners of the iPhone 4 which is the root of the reception problems. Nokia describes that it is "Popular with smaller devices, and typically comfortable for longer phone calls, the cup basically enables you to cup the phone with your whole hand.

"This might result in much of the phone’s edges being covered and the back of the device sitting snugly in the palm of your hand – but don’t be concerned about this, it won’t impact the device’s performance."

Nokia goes on to stay that these four methods of holding a phone result in no signal degradation, and that "The key function on any Nokia device is its ability to make phone calls. After all, that’s why we know them universally as mobile phones."

Now all of this may seem silly in the grand scheme of things, but Nokia is looking to pour a little gasoline on the iPhone 4 “reception” fire. With Nokia finding itself on the losing end of the high-end smartphone market, it probably needs all the help it can get.

[via Daily Tech]

Get a Free iPhone 4! Yes, that is correct! Why pay for one when CNN, BBC, NBC, and other news sites have proven this system LEGIT. Get it the simple way .... straight to your doorstep! Not interested? Then maybe get a Free PS3!