Reception Articles on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog

iPhone 4 reception issues? A network reset might help

by Mel Martin (Jul 6th, 2010)

I know this sounds like a bit of Voodoo, but it's worth a try. If you've upgraded to the new iPhone 4 and have restored your old software, you may see what appears to be a signal drop-off. Let's stay away from the whole iPhone 4 "death grip" controversy; that aside, no matter what you do, you're not ...

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

by Mel Martin (Jul 3rd, 2010)

Most of the news about the iPhone 4 has been negative, particularly about the reception and 'grip of death' that causes the phone to lose signal and sometimes drop calls. Apple has famously responded to all the bad press, and perhaps has dug an even deeper hole for itself in terms of PR. All ...

Apple issues official word on iPhone 4 reception: it's the bars, man

by Michael Rose (Jul 2nd, 2010)

If you didn't see the thorough reports from AnandTech and Richard Gaywood on the behavior of the iPhone 4 in low-signal areas, one of the conclusions they came to is that 'bars are bogus.' The behavior of the signal indicators on the phone is wildly shifted toward the optimistic, with over half ...

Make your own iPhone 4 case from a souvenir bracelet

by Dave Caolo (Jul 1st, 2010)

If your touch is like a Vulcan Nerve Pinch to the iPhone 4's wireless signal, you've got three choices: hold it differently, spend US $30 on a Bumper, or take a pair of scissors to a Livestrong bracelet. The iPhone Guru discovered that the bracelets fit perfectly around the body of the iPhone 4. ...

BGR posts AppleCare reception troubleshooter for iPhone 4

by TJ Luoma (Jun 30th, 2010)

As Erica demonstrates in the video above, for some iPhone 4 users it's not that hard to show how the phone's reception is affected by holding it 'wrong.' BoyGeniusReport has a copy of what they claim is AppleCare's internal troubleshooting procedure for iPhone 4, which boils down to "the iPhone ...

TUAW Brain Trust: iPhone 4 phone calls

by Erica Sadun (Jun 29th, 2010)

I have been having problems making calls on my iPhone 4. Whether at home or on the road, my signal strength is simply awful. The only place that I seem to get five bars is the Apple Store itself. I visited the Genius Bar there tonight after Mike urged me to report my signal issues. So, I did. I ...

The science behind the iPhone 4's antennas

by Mike Schramm (Jun 25th, 2010)

The iPhone 4's outer ring of antennas has been earning some grief lately as some owners have found that reception can change even based on where your hand is placed. Even Steve has weighed in on this issue via his itchy email finger. Spencer Webb of AntennaSys (an "antenna design" firm) knows the ...

Double Stevemails on iPhone 4 reception: "Just don't hold it that way"

by Michael Rose (Jun 24th, 2010)

With so much to do -- counting profits, making FaceTime prank calls to Woz, rubbing hands together and laughing manically -- it's hard to believe that El Steve is taking time out of his very busy day to answer his mail. Yet answer it he does, if our two most recent tipsters are on the level. Both ...

Confirmed: iPhone 4 gives fewer bars for lefties

by Victor Agreda, Jr. (Jun 24th, 2010)

The video speaks for itself. I held the iPhone 4 in my left hand, and when my skin comes into contact with the antenna, I lost two bars in a few seconds. My hand didn't change position, but I lifted up my hand to remove contact and those bars returned. I haven't tried this in a way that would ...

iPhone 4 cell reception suffers when picked up?

by Victor Agreda, Jr. (Jun 23rd, 2010)

Could this be the reason Apple is selling those rubber bumpers? Check out the video above and watch the iPhone 4's reception bars visibly drop. A magic trick? No, apparently skin and antennas are not BFF's. In fact, reception drops once your hands cover the metal bits of the iPhone 4. Metal bits ...

SNL: Google phone to challenge iPhone by "making calls"

by Michael Grothaus (Dec 20th, 2009)

Saturday Night Live's 'Weekend Update' with Seth Meyers joined the fray of people who were sick of AT&T's poor network reception: "It was reported this week that Google would soon launch its own cellphone as a challenge to the iPhone. Also a challenge to the iPhone? Making phone calls." ...

AT&T offers app so you can report crappy service. Huh?

by Mel Martin (Dec 7th, 2009)

In one of life's supreme ironies, AT&T today posted an iPhone app that allows you to report substandard service. That's right folks. Got a dropped call? No reception? AT&T Marks the Spot [iTunes link] is designed to get that info to your favorite cell company so they can act on it. Let's ...

Using Skype to battle cell phone dead zones

by Sang Tang (Sep 30th, 2009)

Is the cell coverage in your area not up to par? Whether you happen to have steel walls or live where there are no cell phone towers or trees cleverly disguised as cell phone towers, some of us must deal with the reality that, while we own arguably the most innovative gadget in recent years in the ...

Wired iPhone reception survey results

by Mike Schramm (Aug 25th, 2008)

Wired has published the results of the iPhone reception survey they were running, and clearly Antarctica needs way more coverage. But they also pulled a lot of useful data out of places where people actually live, and it probably doesn't surprise you. 3G performance is slow almost all over, ...