The iPhone 4 antenna attenuation issue will be remembered as one of the biggest avoidable but unforeseen design errors of all time, I think.
"Ooh is that the new iPhone? Do you have antenna problems?"
I say that while I do notice the affect, i've dropped no calls in my apartment with the new model, vs 70% dropped rate on my 3G.
You mean the ones who treat Consumer Reports' recommendations as holy writ?
Most non-techies, I find, will see a tech-oriented friend to guide purchases, and they will learn about it through those means.
IMHO, Apple got burned by two things here: 1) The got carried about by how cool using the Antenna as part of the case would look. 2) Their infamous obsession with secrecy meant that all the test phones were hidden in cases that masked the problem, thereby inadvertently tainting their test results and preventing them from discovering the problem.
I wonder if they could apply a thin laquer or clear plastic coating to the antenna on future iPhone4's to fix the problem?
It's certainly been entertaining following the drama from finding out that it was left in a bar ("Why would Apple let one off campus? Are they mad?") to Steve Jobs explaining the 'revolutionary' new frame as antennae design, to the eventual kerfuffle about bridging the gap and Apple's admission that they display arbitrary bars 'incorrectly'.
They probably should have installed some Faraday cages of varying effectiveness in Infinite Loop methinks.
It should've shown up in an EM simulator before the hardware design was even finalized. The fact that it didn't explains why Apple is just now getting around to hiring some RF engineers.
It's a slightly unfortunate design decision on an otherwise elegantly designed device. It's notable because our expectations are so high - if this was from any company other than Apple it wouldn't get so much press.
But let's put things in perspective, it's not a Ford Pinto, Three Mile Island control panel, Tacoma Narrows Bridge, Hyatt Skywalk, or DC-10. If you don't like it, you return the phone and get your money back. You don't end up six feet under.
EDIT: Wow, Ok I get it. It's a real problem. But I guess I meant to say that it certainly seems like the iPhone will be remembered in a much more positive light.
Well, since cschep hasn't had the issue, it can't possibly be true.
First comment:
> The iPhone 4 antenna attenuation issue will be remembered as one of the biggest avoidable but unforeseen design errors of all time, I think.
The response:
> iPhone 4 owner as of day 1 and I haven't had an issue. I can't imagine that this is true.
What cschep can't imagine to be true is:
That the iPhone 4 will be remembered as one of the biggest avoidable but unforseen design errors of all time.
That said, I think that the post he was replying to is overblown. I don't think everyone will remember the iPhone for having antenna issues. I think that the most outstanding thing the iPhone4 brings to the table is the display, which is awesome and ahead of its time, by just a little bit.
Let's go over this again, just so you understand the downvotes. [EDIT: I appreciate that you removed the bit where you called me and the other upvoters 'geniuses' - I would like to believe that the level of rehtoric on HN is above ad hominem attacks.]
"The iPhone 4 antenna attenuation issue will be remembered as one of the biggest avoidable but unforeseen design errors of all time, I think." This guy thinks that the antenna issue is going to be very memorable. I personally disagree with what he thinks, but it is what he thinks.
"iPhone 4 owner as of day 1 and I haven't had an issue. I can't imagine that this is true." This guy either can't imagine that it's true that the other guy thinks that the antenna issue is going to be very memorable, or he can't believe it's true that the issue he can't reproduce even exists.
He is wrong on both counts. While certainly the original poster can change his mind about how important the antenna issue will be, at the moment he wrote that, is is true that he thought it was huge. At the moment he wrote that, the issue as described by Consumer Reports and now Engadget, exists and is true.