iPhone 4 defenders debunk reception, 'grip of death' issues

Everyone keeps missing the fact that this whole "story" was broken by Gizmodo, who has an ax to grind with Apple, and it makes for great press fodder for everyone to jump on the "I found a chink in the iPhone armor" bandwagon.

This is all just PR B.S. The phone works fine. I wrote a blog with more detail about this issue too:

http://blog.401consulting.com/2010/07/the-truth-about-iphone-4-reception-issues/

I know this will test your common sence people,but do you know why verizon has the best service and will have the best iphone..It's the network that has a lot of cell sites on uncle sam's land for national security.ma bell and uncle sleep in the same bed.and they will and must have the best cell service for the security of this country..and that is the rest of the story.so those of you that have good service with att I'm glad for you but the rest you should know that att is a sub standard network,sorry but the proof is in the records of cell sites and their location.

I just got my iPhone 4 and everything is working perfectly, I can't get it to drop calls or lose bars with the bottom left grip and I am getting 5 bar 3G at a family members house where I used to be lucky to get a connection via the edge network and quite often ended up off network.

Hopefully it continues to work well as I use it more, so far I have to say it is a vast improvement over the 3Gs!

I'm using the phone in Mexico and I have never experienced dropped calls nor slow data rates, no matter how I hold my phone (I use tethering to measure rates more precisely).

In previous iPhones (3G and 3GS, I have never owned the original iPhone) it was the same: not a dropped call or slow data.

I think it's AT&T's fault US iPhone owners are experiencing these problems. :

I hope that the people that are defending Apple either work for them or hold shares in the company. If you don't, get a life. People are having real problems with their new phone. They don't need to deal with it and they don't need to change the way they grip their phones. Apple needs to fix the problem and thats it.

I used to work for Apple by the way. You guys are freaking sad. Apologizing for a multi billion dollar company. Worse yet are the people that are having problems with the phone and are keeping it. It serves you right to have a crap phone if you are willing to change the way you hold your phone or buy a case to make up for crappy design decisions by a company like Apple.

Most of the news about the iPhone 4 has been negative because you bloggers can't stop bitching about it, goshdarnit. :P

All the commentators in any forum anywhere that suggest the answer to the "death grip" problem is to get a case (sometimes with "get a life" appended) need to rethink.
- this assumes there is a hardware problem and that has to be a risky assumption. 1. There is a chance that the iPhone 4 has the best reception of any iPhone yet and 2. If there really is a hardware issue then a case, tape, varnish, are all just band-aid solutions.

- one commentator above asserts, him rarely seeing owners of expensive phones sans-case so "...shut it and buy a case": It may be true that many people always buy casings for their expensive trinkets. However I am sure I am not alone in being the kind of person who loves the feel of his iPhone naked in his hand. I also strip the plastic covers off leather seats (new sofa, car, etc) to enjoy the feel while its still got that new feel to it.

My thinking is that its a brainless kind of anal that somehow sees value in preserving the "new" look and feel of something (by definition denying one's self the daily enjoyment of it with a wrapper or case or other prophylactic) with what end? That the second owner, when the thing is discarded or sold, gets that privilege!

No - When I buy something new I want to enjoy it myself. Not deny myself and give that joy to someone else. Thus "Get a case" is NOT a solution to any problem for people like me.

For those in the habit of denying themselves the pleasures of newness, preferring to preserve it for those who come after them - good for you.

I agree that the negative press about the iPhone is totally overblown -- it's all about grabbing eyeballs. But Consumer Reports is not trustworthy either. The last time I bought their top recommended vehicle, it turned out to be the biggest piece of junk I've ever owned in my life and suffered constant problems. I thought maybe I had just gotten a lemon, but a number of friends (also influenced by Consumer Reports) had the same terrible experiences with the same model vehicle. So like everything else, do your own research as much as possible and don't rely too heavily on any single source, regardless of how "venerable" they might be.

redd5,Adam, etc.

You guys are kidding, right? Just avoid touching that spot. Is there some particular reason you think Apple should be given a pass to make that sort of mistake with a wireless device? I am a loyal Apple user because I like their products, but I'm not irrationally loyal. If Apple, or any cell phone manufacturer for that matter, screws up there should be consequences. Apple's products are usually great because for the most part they ship great products without serious flaws. I am sorry, but a cell phone that cannot be held naturally is a FLAWED product. And after investing in three previous models (and consequently having invested money and time into apps that are now integrated in my life), I expected their fourth phone to be improved (and indeed it is in many ways), but not so flawed that I must handle it differently or be forced to use their very conveniently designed bumpers. Pull back and look at the situation objectively. Why did Apple release a case simultaneously with the iPhone 4 that covers up much of its intrinsic design? It's not exactly like Apple is it? Loyalty is usually a positive trait so long as you don't allow it to affect your ability to reason. Loyalty and naivety don't make a very attractive mix.

so wait, when I am in an area with extremely poor service area, and I then cup the iPhone in my hands with what is known as a "death grip", which covers the most sensitive parts of the antenna.... then my signal drops?