Motorola Droid X Fires At Apple iPhone 4 in New Ad

Newspaper ad for Motorola Droid X, digging at Apple iPhone 4 antenna problems

Apple has brought on another load of drama onto itself after seriously mishandling the iPhone 4 antenna issue – partly by posting the Motorola Droid X on their antennagate webpage showing wireless reception problems similar to the iPhone 4. Now, Motorola is firing back at Apple and the iPhone 4 with its new full-page Droid X ad. After drawing attention to certain devices from certain manufacturers, Apple has pretty much proven that the “death grip” affects almost all other phones. The only problem is that most users had to hold their phones very awkwardly in order to recreate the problem. At any rate, this caused those manufacturers to become belligerent towards Apple and they have all retaliated against the Cupertino, CA.-based company.

Motorola was the latest manufacturer to be drawn into the mess when Apple updated its collection of videos showing competing smartphones suffering from signal strength attenuation after being gripped in a certain way. Unhappy with this, as it should be, Motorola has mustered up some snarky remarks about the iPhone 4 in its latest ad. “No Jacket Required,” it says as the Droid X features are highlighted with a bright, smiling face on the display.

But the Droid maker isn’t the first to strike back at the iPhone 4 this way. Nokia was the first by saying, “Hold it any way you want,” in a blog post it published last month. Other manufacturers weren’t so playful and expressed outright disdain for being dragged into what should have been a self-contained shitstorm. RIM said that pulling BlackBerry, a notoriously solid handset when it comes to cellular signals, was totally unacceptable. HTC also gave an unofficial response and said that only a very small fraction of its Eris users, 0.16% in fact, complained about the baby of the Droid family.

It’s hard to blame any of the manufacturers that have become infuriated with Apple and the iPhone 4 drama. Before “Antennagate” and the “death grip,” the issue of attenuated signal strength due to interruption by a human hand was, well, never really an issue. Instead of handling the problem on their own, Steve Jobs basically got up on stage and said, “See? We’re not the only ones that have this problem!” It’s true, Steve, but you’re the only ones who were dramatically affected by it and you handled it in such a piss poor manner. The consolation prize of free bumpers and cases didn’t really thrill too many people, either.

What say you, reader? Is Motorola’s latest Droid X ad justified, given Apple’s stance on their antenna problems? Sound off in the comments!

Oh, and don’t forget to check out our full Verizon Motorola Droid X review here. Also, check out our Superphone Shootout to see how the Apple iPhone 4 stacks up against the Motorola Droid X and the hottest superphones of 2010 here.
REVIEW: Verizon Motorola Droid X – Is this the Droid you’re looking for?
SHOOTOUT: IntoMobile’s Summer Superphone Shootout – Galaxy S, Droid Incredible, iPhone 4, EVO 4G

[Via: Android Central]

About The Author

Marc Flores

Marc has been a mobile fanatic for the better part of a decade and has had more devices pass through his hands than he would care to count. Originally from Los Angeles and briefly in San Francisco, Marc now lives in Brooklyn where, unlike Will Park, he longs for simpler times and simpler technology. All the while, he writes about gadgets and wireless technology as he tinkers, hacks and ultimately breaks most of his gadgets in the process. Marc has written about the mobile industry for Boy Genius Report, MobileCrunch, Laptop Magazine and has had his work appear in the Wall Street Journal, Gizmodo, CrunchGear and more.

Rinky

Droid is Droid. iPhone 4 is iPhone 4! No comparison. Who's gonna be the next iPhone "killer"?
Apple Ego

First off, I've been an Apple fan for the longest time. Until now.

Those Apple videos are embarrassing to watch. They go out of their way to find a certain & awkward grip in order to simulate any type of signal loss. With the iPhone, the problem occurs when you hold it NORMALLY.

I've gone through two iPhone 4's and have returned them both for the same reason; dropped calls.

I've also switched to Verizon now to a Droid X. Not a single dropped call & the phone is remarkably better to use then I had ever assumed.

Kudos to Motorola for a great ad. Apple's ego seems to be ahead of its logic.
techperker

This Motorola Ad is going to feed the global media with more ammunition against Apple's iPhone 4's antenna design flaw! This is not a peaceful year for Apple at all. The Android Army, the media, politicians, celebrities, disgruntled iPhone 4 owners, and Consumer Reports is on a mission to continue to damage the iPhone 4's reputation.
Jesus

Rinky is right, iPhone 4 is iPhone 4, just like Vista was Vista… a Big F'up… maybe iPhone 5 apple.. .maybe iPhone 5
Jordan

" Apple has pretty much proven that the “death grip” affects almost all other phones."
I really don't think that's fair statement. There's a significant different between the iPhone 4 and "almost all other phones."
iPhone 4-Antenna=Frame
Almost all other phones-Antenna is behind cover, keeping it moderately safe from interference.
That's a HUGE difference between the two. So frankly, I don't think Apple proved a darn thing. Sure, they may have convinced the average consumer that it's not really an issue, but the fact of the matter is, it's a design flaw no other phone suffers from.
Joe

So the EVO is a better device. Any comments about the service provider? Verizon > Sprint when it comes to national/city/rural coverage, correct?
Shadex582

I agree with Rinky about no Comparison really. If you like droid get a droid, I love my Droid X. If you like the Iphone get and Iphone 4, Face to Face looks cool. However, I do think it was childish for Jobs to start pointing fingers at other companies, regardless if it's true. Personally I would have found it more respectfull just to apologize for any issues it may have raised and give consumers the bumper… it reminded me a lot of a younger sibling pointing fingers to try and get out of trouble. Any company that takes a route resembling that of a 'tattle tale" deserves a bit of turn around.
jsn

Is the iphone4 a purposely built flaw to get Apple out of a certain exclusivity contract with AT&T, and maybe get to a better service provider?
With rumors flying that Verizon will release anew version of the iphone in Jan11 wouldn't that leave plenty of time to get things together?
Maybe
Jason Thomas

If the Droid X, BB Curve and Droid Eris has the same problems as the iphone 4, why isnt any one else complaining about it? The only people (besides the .16% of the Droid Eris) claiming that these devices has antenna problems…is Apple! Hmmm..sounds a bit fishy to me, especially since my Droid X hasnt dropped one call since I got it on the 15th. Now in no way is the Droid X a perfect phone, because it had customers that complained about screen issues, but those were handled professionally. The Droid X may have its issues, but antennagate is not one of them. SORRY APPLE! Blame your design flaw, not other companies for your short comings..
Alex

The best logical comment so far!
ScottF

But why would Apple risk losing a serious amount of customers by just wanting to switch carriers? I understand if the reception isn't the best, but it isn't worth losing maybe hundreds of thousands of customers just to switch.
Adam

I need to stick with at&t for an upgrade because Ican't wait till december when my contract is up because the phones we have now are a wreck……So my question is which phone should i go with the Iphone or Samsung Captivate?
Patrick

Hey Joe, Hands down Verizon. Better service, better reception, better everything. I've had all service's and there's no comparison. By the way, Droid X rocks
Phil

I just defected from AT&T and my Iphone of 2 years, to Big Red and a Droid X. I must say the call quality of the new phone is much clearer than I ever got with my Iphone on AT&T. I don't know if it's the phone or the carrier that is making the difference. I have tried the "death grip" on the Droid X with no success in weaking it's signal. I think Apple just doesn't like the taste of sour apples.

Adam, go with a Droid X. AT&T will prorate your contract.
Carlos A Rosario

Is about time moto to fire out since my 1st. moto ( about more or less 15 years before), congratulation
Bobby

One word adam. SWITCH. You will be glad you did. Anyway. I believe all service providers, either Verizon, T-Mobile, Sprint or AT&T, will have their version of Samsung Galaxy S, if that's what you're waiting for.
Charbz

I am so glad to see that logic is prevailing in this comments section… Very rare when it comes to apple related topics…
Zee

"Apple has pretty much proven that the “death grip” affects almost all other phones. The only problem is that most users had to hold their phones very awkwardly in order to recreate the problem."
<<When you quote someone, please quote the full statement>>
Wheeler~

My son has the new EVO4 and except for battery life……..iPhone4 doesn't stack up! It's a great phone!
brody.

quick, off_topic question: the phone in the picture is in a call, yet its on 3G. I dunno about anyone else but my original droid doesn’t do that. they really had to fake that?