The Apple iPhone 4 can lose signals when it’s held a certain way but this also happens with other devices, a new web page from Apple says.
Hot off the heels of its press conference this morning, Apple’s new web page aims to explain how holding various devices can impact the quality of your signal strength.
The opposite of amplification, attenuation happens whenever a signal is obstructed. All antennas — including television, radio, GPS, and cellular antennas — can experience attenuation. And with most antennas, the density and composition of the human hand can cause attenuation to a greater degree than some other materials. On a mobile phone, signal loss typically occurs when your hand attenuates the most sensitive part of the antenna.
The company shows how this “Death Grip” can impact the signal on the Apple iPhone 4, which is nothing new to IntoMobile readers. Apple also shows this process happening on other smartphones like the BlackBerry Bold 9700, Droid Eris, Samsung Omnia II and the iPhone 3GS.
Apple insists this is being overblown by the media, as it said less than 1% of iPhone 4 users have complained about the antenna to AppleCare. Nevertheless, it is giving users free bumper cases throughout September and it will even refund users who have already purchased one.
Apple has a point about antenna reception but you have to wonder why this has never been a major problem until the iPhone 4. You could argue that it’s always been there but the ferver around the iPhone 4 has amplified it but there are indications that it’s something more than that.
We’ve heard multiple stories claiming Apple knew about this potential problem but pushed forward anyways because it liked the new design. Additionally, it is mighty suspicious that it introduced its first case with the Apple iPhone 4 – a case that just so happens to solve this antenna issue.
How say you, readers?
[Via Apple]