PC Pro and other sites are reporting a class action lawsuit against Apple over the antenne.

Apple on iPhone 4 reception signal strength display issue only software update coming.

http://www.macrumors.com/2010/07/02/app ... te-coming/

Not sure what to make of this? Does this mean the signal will be less when they "fix" it?

I wonder if the update will actually improve the signal, or just indicate that it has.

Big haven't some people been able to get their phones to disconnect?

If it was just an error in displaying the signal, it shouldn't result in the phone losing a connection?

I was thinking this.

I haven't actually had a call disconnect on me as the problem doesn't affect me as I naturally hold the phone without touching the affected area.

I was thinking though, if the phone has no connection to the internet it won't even try to connect. Maybe the fact that the signal algorithm tells the phone that there is no signal makes the phone "think" it has no signal and drop the call? Rather than losing the call because the signal goes. (If that makes sense)

::edit:: I have had text messages fail to send though. Although again it doesn't even try to send it because there is "no signal".

A rather odd statement from Apple on the signal problems...
iPhone 4 signal fault leaves Apple 'stunned'

...being the BBC, it's hardly a balanced view - but if true it means their software "fix" involves simply lowering the number of bars on the display so it more accurately displays the signal strength. So, in other words, I took from that they're not going the actually fix the root of the problem, but simply lower the number of bars - bit odd if you ask me.

Also, they say you can get a refund within 30 days if you're not happy with it, but all they'll say is this promised software fix is going to be released "within weeks" - what if that's beyond the 30 days that you bought it - by the time you know whether the fix has worked or not, you might be outside of the 30 days.

It still appears that it's a fundamental design flaw to me.

EDIT: Didn't see that Fogmeister's link above says basically the same as the BBC article!

OK, just tested it out.

I rang my work (land line) phone and, once connected, held my phone in the "wrong way".

After 31 seconds the called dropped with the screen message "Call Failed".

I now have a 3bar 3G signal.

Again, not sure if the call actually failed or if the phone dropped the call because it thought it had no signal because the algorithm is wrong?!

Will be interested to see if this "fix" actually fixes anything.

Hmm - it seems crazy that the device would deliberately drop a call because yhe software detected low signal.

Every other phone seems to hang on as the line goes fuzzy and cuts in/out.

Yes, but does that happen because the phone's perceived signal mirrors the actual signal? Is the nokia etc... Dropping the call because it thinks the signal is too weak and, in that case it happens to be right?

I thought this came up a few days ago where Jobs told a customer "don't hold it that way then".

I think you're about 4 or 5 updates behind the current news with that one.

Ah, still fundamentally the 'hold it the right way' problems just more intricate now?

Fair enough like, but 31 seconds is actually a pretty long time. Plenty long enough to realise you've got your hand on the 'wrong' bit and move it. In fact (for me at least) that's a pretty long time without changing grip even if I don't remember but then I am a fidget. It's a fault alright, albeit software or hardware we don't know. Have you had a call fail when you weren't proving to someone it loses signal if you hold it in a certain way?

As I say, it is a fault but I think we have to be reasonable in our assessment of the severity of the fault. If it's a fault that affects it day to day, all the time, that's a much bigger deal that a fault that affects it only when you generate specific conditions.

Jon

I would have thought the severity of the fault would bear some relation to the cost of the product. Expensive piece of kit to have a fault on.

If that was true, how come ANANDTECH were able to measure the actual signal drop rather than just the bars on the display? Plus they pointed out a simple design change that would have prevented the issue in the first place.