I wonder if Apple really did know about this. My understanding was, if someone took the phone out of the "secret area" they had to have a special case on it that made it look like it was a 3GS iPhone (just like the one in on the "found iPhone"). I wonder if those special cases didn't have the same effect as the bumpers they're selling now, thereby skewing Apple's real world tests.

I iPhone is an awesome device, but it's always been a shitty phone.

As a Mac user I am riveted to this whole development. It's like seeing your daddy drunk for the first time or seeing him berated by a police officer for the first time- it shatters the illusion of infallibility he once had.

I'm also incredibly curious to see what Apple's eventual fix will be for this problem. As someone who drools openly at the iPhone 4 I really want to see Apple come out of this with their dignity intact and an elegant solution in hand. Whether that be a recall and redistribution to fix the problem or simply providing every iPhone 4 user with a free Bumper (much the same way Nintendo now gives away a free Wiimote Condom with every Wiimote you buy).

One thing is for sure. They need to do something. And something FAST. They have a nearly perfect reputation to uphold (one that is already tarnished by this amazingly obvious short-sight) or else they will find their edge completely taken away from them and their market share will suffer greatly because of it. And not because of a single product- but what the implications of that product's flaws and their method of handling it bring with it.

Have you talked to anyone who actually owns one and has been using it? Or are you just reprinting Gawker's press releases?

@4, who can justify that kind of frivolous expense?

The thing that boggles my mind - at this point, the phones can be returned for a full refund. If your phone sucks, you can get a different phone, or use your old one. Be money ahead.

Or you can take a razor blade to a livestrong bracelet (perfect size for an iphone bumper), or get some decals that cover your antenna. It's not a bad choice if the rest of the phone actually doesn't suck and you don't want to return it for your money back.

(I've used one, but don't own one. Early adopters always suffer. We know this.)

A class action, at a point when most people are well within time limits to return the phone is just ambulance chasing by lawyers.

@6 Yeah, you can return the phone- unless you had your iPhone engraved at apple.com, in which case you can't return it. If you don't have it engraved, you still have to return it within 14 days- and even then, they still charge a 10% restocking fee (So upwards of $60) if the iPhone has been taken out of the package.

Not exactly the best policy for an obviously defective product.

@7, nah, it's a routine threat in hopes they'll cough up a fix. Apple is some litigious mofos as well, make no mistake; no need to fear they won't be able to think what to do.

I have the new iPhone4 and while I have been able to create this problem on my phone, I HAD to create the problem on my phone. It's not something that has happened during regular use. When I tried and succeeded recreating this, I only lost a bar or two (doesn't effect wi-fi, just the cell network) which is really no different than AT&T's crap service.

It is also important to note that this will happen on devices that have an antennae when they touch bare skin. It's electric! Boogie, woogie, woogie!

Also, aside from one strange e-mail from AT&T, I received my new phone from FedEx on launch day with no problems. I didn't have any "nightmares" that are being blown out of proportion (by Gizmodo).

Any good engineer will tell you that antenna design is a bit of a black art. There are no absolute rules of what makes one antenna work better than another.

So while it is probably true that this phone's antenna isn't optimal, I doubt Apple knew about the problem until thousands of them started hitting the streets.

I think the Bumpers should be free. It was weird enough when they pulled all competing third-party phone covers/cases from their stores... now they want people to pony up an additional thirty bones for what will essentially deliver peace of mind? Sure they little rubber jim-hat dilutes some of the elegance of the design, but jeez, don't most people buy a case for it anyhow?

Wait, what was "tone deaf" about the iMac in 1998? Apple sold a lot of them, turned technology into a fashion accessory, and established its dominance over tech style. Their success with the iMac is what made them think they could move into consumer electronics and introduce the iPod, and then the iPhone.

@12 That's true, but its incredibly disingenuous to pretend like there isn't a problem ("Sorry, you're holding it wrong!") and having Applecare deny any problems (http://bit.ly/ar78OR) all while hiring more antenna designers the day it all goes public to try and fix this non-existent problem. (http://bit.ly/d2PS4x)

I'm frankly insulted that Apple's "solution" is to make customers buy an overpriced piece of rubber for $30 just to fix their defect.

You fools who upgrade your phones for the sake of status deserve it. What was wrong with your iPhone 3?

What an immense amount of waste (and environmental impact) for the sake of stupid consumerism.

Cut a whole in your douchey friend's Livestrong band and put it around your phone. Cheaper and more colors.

http://www.lifehacker.com.au/2010/06/use…

The flip side of Consumer Cult status -- sure, they'll buy anything you show them without any consideration, but they sue you when you make a mistake or two.

@16 now I'm fiscally and environmentally irresponsible because I wanted the new Apple phone? Please. Honey, green isn't your color.

@16 You win Slog for the day!!

Sorry, Cato but Surly @19 wins this one.

Goddamn, the Apple/iPhone haters are a dense gang of cretins.

Let's start with reasons for upgrading: 1) better battery life (SUBSTANTIALLY so), 2) better camera (eliminates the need for carrying a point-and-shoot), 3) hi-def video, 4) twice as fast a processor, 5) twice as much RAM.

If you actually, you know, OWNED one, you might understand why people upgrade them. I guess then you'd have to give up your goofy faux-luddite hipster aesthetic and shave the mustache.

As @10 pointed out, you have to deliberately cause this to happen, and I haven't had a single problem since getting it a week ago. Also, as for who has a whole whopping $200 laying around, people with jobs?

If you want to know everything you could possibly want to - Anandtech has your info:
http://www.anandtech.com/show/3794/the-i…

They even hack the thing to get accurate signal-strength readings (in decibels, not "bars").

Man I have had an iPhone since a few months after they came out and I waited in line for 45 minutes to buy the iPhone4 the day they came out (tip: show up at 9pm) but I am honestly considering taking it back within 30 days because of the signal issues and going back to my 3GS that is collecting dust on the shelf (and would be on craigslist eventually).

I have said, "I don't see why they even bother to make other phones after the iPhone, you can't do any better" on more than one occasion, but these signal issues are real and, while the iPhone4 is pretty sexy overall and I'd miss it, taking the phone back to the Apple Store is being seriously considered. I love it but miss having a good telephone to make phone calls with.

Constant, you are a totally blind, herd-following tech idiot. There is no "mess" except inside the brains of hysterical, wildly overheated tech bloggers who are falling - yet again! - for a well-organized smear campaign. The latest e-mail quote attributed to Steve Jobs about "Retire, relax..." WAS SENT BY THE COMPLAINER TO JOBS and has already been corrected by BGR. If you're one of the few of the 1.7 million purchasers so far having problems with your new iPhone 4, RETURN IT WITHIN THE 30-DAY PERIOD!

More beautiful examples of why bloggers are not "journalists".

@24 you have 14 days TOTAL to return it, not 30.

Just FYI.

In recent polls of actual iPad purchasers, 99 percent were very satisfied about their iPad.

iPhone4 users a tad bit less so, but that's cause they realized it was still bound to AT&T and they should have waited for the Verizon iPhone4, which will have these annoying antenna issues fixed ...

@25 for the You're Not The Intended CONSUMER, Tech Geeks win!

Cause you're not. Period. Go whine somewhere else.

@26 you sure you haven't been reading too many internets?

i just called the local apple store i bought it from and they said very clearly "30 days from purchase date for full refund"

@29 Oh, sorry. For everything else it's 14 days.

Apple says Steve Jobs emails on iPhone 4…

"The incident highlights an emerging trend where blog sites quickly publish alleged email conversations with Apple's chief executive under "exclusive" headlines designed to attract attention, with little or no effort made to either verify or or qualify the emails as potentially fake."

Paul Constant, Stupid Fucking Credulous Hack of the Day

I hate to be that guy, but if you're worked up over a $200 piece of electronics not working perfectly, perhaps you shouldn't have spent $200? There's plenty of cheap ass Motorola phones out there. I mean, it won't do nearly as much as an iPhone does, despite your bitching about how much Apple fucked you, but at least you didn't spend half a paycheck.

Paul, what exactly was tone deaf about the iMac? Those blue boxes made Steve Jobs a shit ton of money.

Can't you just surround it with crinkly tinfoil like my Uncle Jester's TV rabbit-ears?

Or, since Vibram FiveFingers are emphatically not needed for the FEET, besnuggle your iPhone and lay those 5 floppy licorice toes up against your ear to really set the wags' tongues a-gagging.

I was one of the foolish 3GS'ers to upgrade and have had nothing but problems since. Slower service, funky picture colors and clarity, email not working and enough SIM card weirdness that I had to go that frat-house-smelling Apple store. Tons of very unhappy people. And, tons of people waiting in line to get an iPad and plenty of others getting on the waiting list for their sold-out 4's.
Lesson learned: Don't upgrade until they've got the kinds worked out. Love my iPhone. Hate that arrogant mother-f#@*(%! Steve Jobs...

^^^^^^^^

that kind of comment justifies anyone saying "it's just a phone, bro"

return it if you don't like it

Apple sells sexy...and sexy is often not highly functional. It's like high-heeled shoes. Super sexy, but not very practical. Or tight jeans. Or eyeliner. Or did I mention the high heels? Hmmm...must be friday...

now I'm fiscally and environmentally irresponsible because I wanted the new Apple phone

Yes. From a utilitarian perspective, absolutely nobody needs this device. Or many, many others, for that matter.

@22

What the fuck world are you living in? It's the faux-hipster assholes who are Apple's target audience.

"Cretins," indeed.

Hahaha iPhones are not worth it to care about, me and Steve Jobs agree on something!