With media attention focusing on iPhone 4’s lack of signal for lefties, it looks like the folks at Cupertino have decided to confess their iSin and acknowledge the problem lies with (wait for it) the software.
[S]ome users have reported that iPhone 4 can drop 4 or 5 bars when tightly held in a way which covers the black strip in the lower left corner of the metal band. This is a far bigger drop than normal, and as a result some have accused the iPhone 4 of having a faulty antenna design. […]
Upon investigation, we were stunned to find that the formula we use to calculate how many bars of signal strength to display is totally wrong. Our formula, in many instances, mistakenly displays 2 more bars than it should for a given signal strength. For example, we sometimes display 4 bars when we should be displaying as few as 2 bars. Users observing a drop of several bars when they grip their iPhone in a certain way are most likely in an area with very weak signal strength, but they don’t know it because we are erroneously displaying 4 or 5 bars. Their big drop in bars is because their high bars were never real in the first place. (Apple Press Release)
Despite evidence showing that the problem is hardware related, Apple has chosen to throw its software team under the bus (which is Yankee speak for blaming someone else for your mistake).
The fact that Apple is seeking antenna experts to join the iRanks strongly hints that the company is attempting to fix this issue before next years iPhone 4G rolls out.
Although Apple will “update” their software to make it appear that the error lies more with the network rather than their faulty iDesign, Cupertino might want to seriously consider giving away free bumpers in order to improve their wounded brand.
While people will continue to buy iPhone 4’s en mass, the fact that this issue is still dominating the headlines (as even non geeks are familiar with the “lefty dead zone”) means that Apple may lose its status as a premium computer company who makes products that “just work.”
(via ReadWriteWeb)
Originally posted on July 2, 2010 @ 3:28 pm