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Consumer Report To Steve Jobs: You Lie!

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Alas, how the mighty have fallen! Despite Apple’s claims that the antenna issue was nothing more than a software glitch, it looks like Consumer Report is siding with “our lying eyes” and declaring that iPhone 4 has a serious design flaw that hinders its ability to be used as a mobile phone.

When your finger or hand touches a spot on the phone’s lower left side—an easy thing, especially for lefties—the signal can significantly degrade enough to cause you to lose your connection altogether if you’re in an area with a weak signal. Due to this problem, we can’t recommend the iPhone 4. […]

Our findings call into question the recent claim by Apple that the iPhone 4’s signal-strength issues were largely an optical illusion caused by faulty software that “mistakenly displays 2 more bars than it should for a given signal strength.”

The tests also indicate that AT&T’s network might not be the primary suspect in the iPhone 4’s much-reported signal woes. (Consumer Reports)

Once news of this broke, Apple’s stock took a nose dive, losing about $9 billion as rumors or recalls started echoing the blogosphere.

But what was devastating about this report was not the fact that Consumer Report confirmed what people were already saying about the iPhone 4, but rather their solution to the problem (as you can view in this video below). [Read more…]

Originally posted on July 13, 2010 @ 5:55 pm

Will Apple Give Out Free iPhone 4 Bumpers Tomorrow?

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Despite their glorious iDevice being second to none, it looks like Apple will be holding a press conference tomorrow (at 10 AM PDT) in order to address the antennae issue in an attempt to salvage their brand after Consumer Reports gave the iPhone 4 the kiss of death.

The only questions that remain are “what will Apple say? And can I have a free bumper with that?”

Apple on Wednesday invited select press to a special press conference to be held this Friday in California.

Apple would only say that the press conference would be regarding the iPhone 4. No other information was available when I spoke with them tonight. (The Loop) [Read more…]

Originally posted on July 15, 2010 @ 2:10 pm

RIM Accuses Steve Jobs Of Lying About Blackberry’s Signal Woes

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RIM isn’t too thrilled with Apple’s latest press conference in which Steve Jobs was able to “duplicate” antennategate upon a respective Blackberry device.

RIM’s co-CEO’s Mike Lazaridis and Jim Balsillie decided to issue a joint statement which accuses Steve Jobs of lying about Blackberry’s signal woes (at least when compared to the iPhone 4).

Apple’s attempt to draw RIM into Apple’s self-made debacle is unacceptable. Apple’s claims about RIM products appear to be deliberate attempts to distort the public’s understanding of an antenna design issue and to deflect attention from Apple’s difficult situation. RIM is a global leader in antenna design and has been successfully designing industry-leading wireless data products with efficient and effective radio performance for over 20 years. During that time, RIM has avoided designs like the one Apple used in the iPhone 4 and instead has used innovative designs which reduce the risk for dropped calls, especially in areas of lower coverage.

One thing is for certain, RIM’s customers don’t need to use a case for their BlackBerry® smartphone to maintain proper connectivity. Apple clearly made certain design decisions and it should take responsibility for these decisions rather than trying to draw RIM and others into a situation that relates specifically to Apple. (Inside Blackberry) [Read more…]

Originally posted on July 19, 2010 @ 9:01 am

Will The New iPod Touch Have A Front Facing Camera?

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It’s that time again when geeks, humans and hybrids (aka journalists covering tech news) make the latest predictions on Apple’s newest gadgets.

Now that the iPhone 4 has proven its worth to the world, the geek-o-sphere is once again in hyper mode speculating about the iPod Touch embracing Face Time.

Major UK retailer, John Lewis, believes that there’ll be a substantial refresh of the iPod Touch this coming September 2010. Speaking at the company’s Christmas look-ahead event in London, Rob Hennessey, buyer audio and telecomms, outlined the major features that the device is likely to carry, based on information given to him from suppliers.

The main new add-ons will be an improved 5-megapixel camera with a flash, that can shoot HD video, the adoption of the same sort of accelerometer and gyroscope found in the iPhone 4, and FaceTime calling over Wi-Fi. (Pocket-lint) [Read more…]

Originally posted on July 8, 2010 @ 3:26 pm

Apple Is Looking For A Few Good Antenna Engineers?

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Now that the dust has settled and it’s confirmed that the  iPhone 4 does in fact hate left handed people, it looks like the boys and girls at Cupertino are seeking out a few good engineers in an attempt to remedy the signal issue.

The only question that remains is whether Apple is seeking them to fix the ever so popular iPhone 4 or in order to keep this issue from reappearing in iPhone 4G (as that is what it will probably be called in 2011). [Read more…]

Originally posted on June 30, 2010 @ 1:08 pm