Details on the Verizon iPhone antenna death grip fix

by Justin Horn on Jan 13th, 2011 @ 5:16 pm

AntennaSys believes the new Verizon iPhone utilizes a new design to avoid the old, “non-existent”, I have no bars when I hold the phone in my left hand issue.

Spencer Webb from AntennaSys:

The SIM slot is gone, since it’s not a GSM phone.  That frees up a bunch of real estate on the PC Board.  Did Apple move the WiFi antenna (and probably also the GPS antenna) to the PC Board, under the rear glass?  I think so.

In their FCC filing, Apple describes the WiFi antenna as a “PIFA”.  This stands for Planar Inverted-F Antenna.  I would never describe the “frame” antenna using those terms.  So, this seems to support the theory.

Spencer also believes that with the extra space on the antenna band, from moving the WiFi and GPS antenna to the board, the band could now support two GSM antennas, to utilize ”antenna diversity”.

From the Wiki on antenna diversity:

Any one of several wireless diversity schemes that use two or more antennas to improve the quality and reliability of a wireless link.

This would allow the phone to switch between the two antennas, depending on which one has a stronger signal…the side that isn’t touching your greasy palms.

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Antenna Issue, iPhone 4, Speculation, Verizon

No magic hardware fix coming, Apple to continue providing free bumpers after September 30th?

by Justin Horn on Sep 10th, 2010 @ 5:57 pm

Today Apple reiterated the iPhone 4 case program was coming to an end:

We now know that the iPhone 4 antenna attenuation issue is even smaller than we originally thought. A small percentage of iPhone 4 users need a case, and we want to continue providing them a Bumper case for free. For everyone else, we are discontinuing the free case program on all iPhone 4s sold after September 30, 2010. We are also returning to our normal returns policy for all iPhone 4s sold after September 30. Users experiencing antenna issues should call AppleCare to request a free Bumper case.

The “iPhone 4 case program” which allows iPhone 4 owners, through the use of a special iPhone app,  to order a free bumper or third party case is clearly coming to an end September 30th. Although the program is ending, if I’m reading that last line correctly, users that purchase an iPhone 4 after September 30th will still be able to request a free bumper to fix their antenna issues by calling AppleCare.  The previous policy, posted by Boy Genius, was quite different:

We ARE NOT appeasing customers with free bumpers – DON’T promise a free bumper to customers.

I assume Apple has changed their policy as a cheap way to keep the story from flaring up again. I admit, it seems the majority of users don’t notice the issue, but for the group of post September 30th iPhone 4 buyers that do, Apple can keep them quiet with a free bumper.

I always doubted Apple would fix the iPhone 4 antenna issue with a production line tweak. Even if they could, can you imagine the backlash from all the iPhone 4 owners that have the issue? Giving away a free case to “help general mobile phone attenuation issues” is one thing, but  for Apple to fix the issue would be admitting there was one.

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Antenna Issue, iPhone 4, iPhone 4 free case program

Here are all the cases available in iPhone 4 free case program

by Justin Horn on Jul 23rd, 2010 @ 9:39 am

The iPhone 4 case program just went live and here are the lucky third party companies that got in: Incase, Belkin, Griffin, and Speck.

Here is the full list of cases available:

  1. Apple Black Bumper
  2. Incase Snap Case – Smoke
  3. Incase Snap Case – Clear
  4. Belkin Shield Micra – Clear
  5. Griffin Motif – Diamonds/Smoke
  6. Griffin Reveal Etch – Black/Black Graphite
  7. Speck Fitted Case – Black Tartan
  8. Speck PixelSkin HD – Black

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Antenna Issue, iPhone 4, iPhone 4 free case program, iPhone Accessories

iPhone 4 free case program goes live

by Justin Horn on Jul 23rd, 2010 @ 9:18 am

Apple has put up the new page on their website for the bumper refund / free case program: http://www.apple.com/iphone/case-program/

Don’t have a case yet
Basically if you don’t have a case, you’ll need to download the free case app [iTunes].

Bought one already, with credit card
You should see a refund in the next couple days.

Bought one already, with cash or gift card
You’ll need to head over to the Apple store with your receipt.

(via BGR)

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Antenna Issue, iPhone 4

Another iPhone 4 banned promo video: The Antenna

by Justin Horn on Jul 19th, 2010 @ 6:23 pm

Another great video by these guys.

Check out the other banned iPhone 4 promo video they produced before this one.

(via 9to5Mac)

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Antenna Issue, Humor, iPhone 4

From Tiger Woods to antenna gate, NMA’s latest animated cartoon

by Justin Horn on Jul 19th, 2010 @ 12:24 am

Got to love Taiwan’s NMA News…maybe not the best quality videos, but definitely some of the funniest! In this episode they cover the dropping bars, Jason Chen’s house being searched, and Consumer Reports.

You’ll also remember these other great videos NMA News has created:

Tiger Woods:

Jay Leno vs Conan:

(via @moylan)

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Antenna Issue, Apple vs ?, iPhone 4

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