Engadget reports that the new antenna designed to improve signal strength is located in the left corner of the device and contact to that area - again, with the antenna meant to improve call quality - is what's causing the dropped calls.

@dag - THE IRONY, IT BURNS.

If this is true I find it amazing that apple were so stupid. I holed a phone with my left hand, this is a big deal. I really wanted one of these but not if it's going to drop calls all the time.

>> ^Kevlar:

Engadget reports that the new antenna designed to improve signal strength is located in the left corner of the device and contact to that area - again, with the antenna meant to improve call quality - is what's causing the dropped calls.

Not exactly, there are 2 antennas in that metal band, 1 on the left edge, and the other one wraps the other 3 sides. The lower left corner is where the gap between them is, and people are bridging the gap with the conductivity of their skin. Definitely a huge design flaw, and probably why Apple was ready with those "bumper" cases. "Oh, we've got a fix for that.... that'll be $30. You're welcome, sucker."

Also, I keep seeing people say like you did in the video description that apple hates left handed people. I'd say if anything this means they hate right handed. As a right handed person I usually hold the phone in my left hand since I had just used my right hand to dial. Plus this leaves my right hand open to write something down or use the computer.

Little late for me.. I just bought one and I am left handed!! The bumpers take care of this problem so maybe they could give them away like nintendo did with the wii motes.

>> ^EmptyFriend:

>> ^Kevlar:
Engadget reports that the new antenna designed to improve signal strength is located in the left corner of the device and contact to that area - again, with the antenna meant to improve call quality - is what's causing the dropped calls.
Not exactly, there are 2 antennas in that metal band, 1 on the left edge, and the other one wraps the other 3 sides. The lower left corner is where the gap between them is, and people are bridging the gap with the conductivity of their skin. Definitely a huge design flaw, and probably why Apple was ready with those "bumper" cases. "Oh, we've got a fix for that.... that'll be $30. You're welcome, sucker."
Also, I keep seeing people say like you did in the video description that apple hates left handed people. I'd say if anything this means they hate right handed. As a right handed person I usually hold the phone in my left hand since I had just used my right hand to dial. Plus this leaves my right hand open to write something down or use the computer.


Aw, man, I thought I read you saying you hate seeing people like me saying Apple hates people of a certain handedness. I was going to make some kind of sweet Hate Recursion commentary, but then I realized I just can't read.

>> ^Kevlar:

Aw, man, I thought I read you saying you hate seeing people like me saying Apple hates people of a certain handedness. I was going to make some kind of sweet Hate Recursion commentary, but then I realized I just can't read.

Yeah I probably could have used more punctuation...

Like logix said, if this turns out to be a really big issue, I bet Apple will give out bumpers, or at least drastically reduce the price of them. $30 is a little ridiculous. I saw packs of 2 ipod touch cases at Best Buy for $10. And they were from a real brand (Belkin), and came with a screen protector....

Sell them? Dude, even if steve jobs turned up at my front door, brought me one personally and said "i'll only charge you a penny," i'd spit at his feet.

I can barely believe the level of fail that this has reached, and the only solution is "buy an accessory?!"

If i'd got one, i'd be so pissed you wouldn't believe it.

Comment hidden because you are ignoring dag.(show it anyway)

I blame Gizmodo.

Even if the iPhone 3GS and iPhone 4 are right next to each other and they use the same provider the reception on iPhone 4 is obviously shit compared to the 3GS so isn't there a bigger problem with the antenna than just the left corner bug?

Can't wait for Windows Phone series 7 That, will probably be my first taste of a touchscreen phone.

[redacted]

Yes it is a big deal. It would be a big deal if it was a $1 phone, it's awful design and a shoddy product, from a company who does nothing but tout their superior design. It's an amazingly bad mistake for a very expensive phone.

If you look at my past comments, it will be no secret I love Apple. But this quite frankly is just too much and you can't possibly defend it.

Apple fucked up.
>> ^Mcboinkens:

Is this really that big of a deal? If you buy any sort of case for the phone this is not an issue. It would be idiotic not to buy a case for a 200 dollar phone anyway, especially with the back cover being glass inseat of plastic now.

Anything they can do, Droid can do better. Droid can do anything better than them.

"it just works."

No it doesn't.

[redacted]

Yes, I do know someone, myself. I had no intention of putting a case around the beautiful aesthetics of this phone. It is hardly "stupidity" to know you can care for a phone, my 3G has been uncased since I purchased it and there is not a single scratch on it.

My comment on a $1 price point, was merely trying to state that the price is not the issue, it is the attitude and behaviour of the manufacture.

Apple was well aware of the issues with phone antenas, as evident in their press release and knowing that every tiny piece of this phone would have gone through stringent approval processes. The location of the antena is no mistake and that makes it an issue. Apple's disregard for making what appears to be an intentional mistake (oxymoron but I'm not sure how to describe it) is what I believe is pissing people off. It is what is pissing me off anyway.

I can entirely agree that sensationalist stories are blowing it way way out and I will regret calling it "shoddy" as it is still one of the best phones ever made but I don't believe that excuses Apple or their "buy a case" solution, it is a level of arrogance that is even surprising out of Apple.

>> ^Mcboinkens:

>> ^yellowc:
Yes it is a big deal. It would be a big deal if it was a $1 phone, it's awful design and a shoddy product, from a company who does nothing but tout their superior design. It's an amazingly bad mistake for a very expensive phone.
If you look at my past comments, it will be no secret I love Apple. But this quite frankly is just too much and you can't possibly defend it.
Apple fucked up.
>> ^Mcboinkens:
Is this really that big of a deal? If you buy any sort of case for the phone this is not an issue. It would be idiotic not to buy a case for a 200 dollar phone anyway, especially with the back cover being glass inseat of plastic now.



You just restated my point. Do you know anyone that WON'T be buying some kind of case for a phone this expensive? If you do, they probably deserve to be smacked with their stupidity. I am not defending the design, it is obviously flawed and needs to be corrected. But seriously, it does not to be blown out of proportion like some people have. I don't even own any Apple products except my iPod, so I am fairly balanced on my opinion.
Also, your point about a $1 phone is invalid. A $1 phone would obciously have mistakes like this that would not make it a big deal. This one problem by no means makes the new iPhone an awful design and shoddy product. They crammed so much new technology into an even sleeker design.

[redacted]