The Apple iPhone Thread (4 Viewers)

[3C's]

All around a pretty sad display,

By both of you. Shutup!

 

[sho nuff]

I'd break my contract to get on Verizon. I love the iPhone but AT&T sucks moose ####.

Yes, AT&T is weak in some areas, but you'd be a fool if you don't think AT&T is scrambling to improve their network so they don't lose a ton of subscibers if this happens.I work in telecom, my job involves getting these wireless companies on air, and I'm involved with a large percentage of their new site constrictions and upgrades, and I can assure you AT&T has been very busy all over the country.

How long have they been working at this though?And Verizon is already there and working to make theirs even better.If this thing would launch in January (highly doubtful), no way the perception of ATT would change enough to keep people off of Verizon (those that did not upgrade to the i4 yet.

 

[Harry Manback]

I'd break my contract to get on Verizon. I love the iPhone but AT&T sucks moose ####.

Yes, AT&T is weak in some areas, but you'd be a fool if you don't think AT&T is scrambling to improve their network so they don't lose a ton of subscibers if this happens.I work in telecom, my job involves getting these wireless companies on air, and I'm involved with a large percentage of their new site constrictions and upgrades, and I can assure you AT&T has been very busy all over the country.

How long have they been working at this though?And Verizon is already there and working to make theirs even better.If this thing would launch in January (highly doubtful), no way the perception of ATT would change enough to keep people off of Verizon (those that did not upgrade to the i4 yet.

Let's be honest, every company is working constantly on improving, from my own antecdotal experience, AT&T has fine coverage and it has only improved since I signed on. AT&T has a bad rep, and a lot of it is undeserved. I don't expect them to be able to repair their rep in 6 months, but like I've said I also don't expect a mass exodus from verizon to AT&T instantly either.

 

[gmbacm]

Oh that's right, you kept your mouth shut. Why don't you try it again?

Looks like we have a new sheriff in town.

 

[The Noid]

AT&T's issue is that their "bad" spots happen to be in a few major places (like NYC.) That creates a vocal minority that gives it a bad rap. But their % of bad coverage areas is probably no different than all of the other major carriers.

For me, Verizon and Sprint (which I have had personally) and T-Mobile (which I have had for work) are horrible in my area, but AT&T has been head and shoulders above them for as long as I've had it.

 

[Harry Manback]

AT&T's issue is that their "bad" spots happen to be in a few major places (like NYC.) That creates a vocal minority that gives it a bad rap. But their % of bad coverage areas is probably no different than all of the other major carriers. For me, Verizon and Sprint (which I have had personally) and T-Mobile (which I have had for work) are horrible in my area, but AT&T has been head and shoulders above them for as long as I've had it.

Exactly, they just so happen to havenpoor coverage in areas like NYC/LA, also home to some of the loudest most obnoxious people on the planent so it's no surprise they whine louder (rightfully so, it's embarrassing that they'd allow themslves to have weak spots in such HUGE markets.They've been working (along with verizon) on the LTE stuff for months, not sure exactly when it started however, but it typically takes 6 months to a year for these sites to go on air fully.Bottom line is that competition is good for th consumer, if verizon gets the iPhone everyone wins. Att will be forced to improve themselves to try and win more customers and verizon finally gets the iPhone.It will be interesting to see how verizon would handle the increases usage, and if they suffer some of the same issues AT&T had.

 

[3C's]

AT&T's issue is that their "bad" spots happen to be in a few major places (like NYC.) That creates a vocal minority that gives it a bad rap. But their % of bad coverage areas is probably no different than all of the other major carriers. For me, Verizon and Sprint (which I have had personally) and T-Mobile (which I have had for work) are horrible in my area, but AT&T has been head and shoulders above them for as long as I've had it.

We (work) do a lot of travel through the state (VA). AT&T works fine in the metro areas and near the interstates. There are many areas where there just isn't any coverage. Verizon has way better coverage. One guy, love his iPhone, carries a cheap Verizon phone so he can make and receive calls in the areas AT&T doesn't work.At least here, it's not a vocal minority and it is a deserved "bad rap"

 

[sho nuff]

I'd break my contract to get on Verizon. I love the iPhone but AT&T sucks moose ####.

Yes, AT&T is weak in some areas, but you'd be a fool if you don't think AT&T is scrambling to improve their network so they don't lose a ton of subscibers if this happens.I work in telecom, my job involves getting these wireless companies on air, and I'm involved with a large percentage of their new site constrictions and upgrades, and I can assure you AT&T has been very busy all over the country.

How long have they been working at this though?And Verizon is already there and working to make theirs even better.If this thing would launch in January (highly doubtful), no way the perception of ATT would change enough to keep people off of Verizon (those that did not upgrade to the i4 yet.

Let's be honest, every company is working constantly on improving, from my own antecdotal experience, AT&T has fine coverage and it has only improved since I signed on. AT&T has a bad rep, and a lot of it is undeserved. I don't expect them to be able to repair their rep in 6 months, but like I've said I also don't expect a mass exodus from verizon to AT&T instantly either.

Not with 1.7+million just upgrading.Though, if the rumors are true and Verizon is rolling out LTE and then an iPhone...there will be a rather large exodus from all carriers.

 

[Harry Manback]

I'd break my contract to get on Verizon. I love the iPhone but AT&T sucks moose ####.

Yes, AT&T is weak in some areas, but you'd be a fool if you don't think AT&T is scrambling to improve their network so they don't lose a ton of subscibers if this happens.I work in telecom, my job involves getting these wireless companies on air, and I'm involved with a large percentage of their new site constrictions and upgrades, and I can assure you AT&T has been very busy all over the country.

How long have they been working at this though?And Verizon is already there and working to make theirs even better.If this thing would launch in January (highly doubtful), no way the perception of ATT would change enough to keep people off of Verizon (those that did not upgrade to the i4 yet.

Let's be honest, every company is working constantly on improving, from my own antecdotal experience, AT&T has fine coverage and it has only improved since I signed on. AT&T has a bad rep, and a lot of it is undeserved. I don't expect them to be able to repair their rep in 6 months, but like I've said I also don't expect a mass exodus from verizon to AT&T instantly either.

Not with 1.7+million just upgrading.Though, if the rumors are true and Verizon is rolling out LTE and then an iPhone...there will be a rather large exodus from all carriers.

And if that mass exodus happens prepare for verizons network to implode and suffer the same issues AT&T did.

 

[culdeus]

Well god help me. I'm getting one of these things now. It makes sense as I have parts in this phone. Had one of the super early versions but had to give it up for work blackberry. Never bothered to swap back, but will be now.

 

[sho nuff]

And if that mass exodus happens prepare for verizons network to implode and suffer the same issues AT&T did.

Again, ATTs network had issues before the iPhone even came out by many accounts, and its not as if Verizon is starved for customers on their network now.

 

[Harry Manback]

And if that mass exodus happens prepare for verizons network to implode and suffer the same issues AT&T did.

Again, ATTs network had issues before the iPhone even came out by many accounts, and its not as if Verizon is starved for customers on their network now.

What on earth does that have to do with verizons network beig put under more stress with the addition of more smartphone users???

 

[sho nuff]

And if that mass exodus happens prepare for verizons network to implode and suffer the same issues AT&T did.

Again, ATTs network had issues before the iPhone even came out by many accounts, and its not as if Verizon is starved for customers on their network now.

What on earth does that have to do with verizons network beig put under more stress with the addition of more smartphone users???

Im sure it will have some more stress...I don't think it will make it implode or suffer the same issues that ATT did as they are not having the issues currently like ATT already was prior to the iPhone.

 

[culdeus]

And if that mass exodus happens prepare for verizons network to implode and suffer the same issues AT&T did.

Again, ATTs network had issues before the iPhone even came out by many accounts, and its not as if Verizon is starved for customers on their network now.

What on earth does that have to do with verizons network beig put under more stress with the addition of more smartphone users???

Im sure it will have some more stress...I don't think it will make it implode or suffer the same issues that ATT did as they are not having the issues currently like ATT already was prior to the iPhone.

There's a bit of revisionist history here. Their EDGE network was actually pretty solid.

 

[sho nuff]

And if that mass exodus happens prepare for verizons network to implode and suffer the same issues AT&T did.

Again, ATTs network had issues before the iPhone even came out by many accounts, and its not as if Verizon is starved for customers on their network now.

What on earth does that have to do with verizons network beig put under more stress with the addition of more smartphone users???

Im sure it will have some more stress...I don't think it will make it implode or suffer the same issues that ATT did as they are not having the issues currently like ATT already was prior to the iPhone.

There's a bit of revisionist history here. Their EDGE network was actually pretty solid.

Just saying I have read more than once that they were having some issues prior to the iPhone and that made it worse.

 

[Balance]

I'd break my contract to get on Verizon. I love the iPhone but AT&T sucks moose ####.

Yes, AT&T is weak in some areas, but you'd be a fool if you don't think AT&T is scrambling to improve their network so they don't lose a ton of subscibers if this happens.I work in telecom, my job involves getting these wireless companies on air, and I'm involved with a large percentage of their new site constrictions and upgrades, and I can assure you AT&T has been very busy all over the country.

Ah, it really is personal for you. Explains everything.

 

[Harry Manback]

I'd break my contract to get on Verizon. I love the iPhone but AT&T sucks moose ####.

Yes, AT&T is weak in some areas, but you'd be a fool if you don't think AT&T is scrambling to improve their network so they don't lose a ton of subscibers if this happens.I work in telecom, my job involves getting these wireless companies on air, and I'm involved with a large percentage of their new site constrictions and upgrades, and I can assure you AT&T has been very busy all over the country.

Ah, it really is personal for you. Explains everything.

LOLI work with every wireless carrier, half of which you've likely never heard of.

Why don't you stick with what your goodnat, you know,'talking about how you could take a professional boxer in a fight.

 

[[icon]]

My buddy has an iPhone but he keeps a Cricket phone on him for when he needs to actually make phone calls.

True Story

FINLESS SHTICK:

WIRED ------------------------X--- TIRED

RIP

 

[LokiKx]

Apple hiring antenna engineers

 

[phrozen]

My buddy has an iPhone but he keeps a Cricket phone on him for when he needs to actually make phone calls.

True Story

FINLESS SHTICK:

WIRED ------------------------X--- TIRED

RIP

it was a good run

 

[3C's]

My buddy has an iPhone but he keeps a Cricket phone on him for when he needs to actually make phone calls.

True Story

FINLESS SHTICK:

WIRED ------------------------X--- TIRED

RIP

it was a good run

 

[CrossEyed]

I'd break my contract to get on Verizon. I love the iPhone but AT&T sucks moose ####.

Yes, AT&T is weak in some areas, but you'd be a fool if you don't think AT&T is scrambling to improve their network so they don't lose a ton of subscibers if this happens.I work in telecom, my job involves getting these wireless companies on air, and I'm involved with a large percentage of their new site constrictions and upgrades, and I can assure you AT&T has been very busy all over the country.

How long have they been working at this though?And Verizon is already there and working to make theirs even better.

If this thing would launch in January (highly doubtful), no way the perception of ATT would change enough to keep people off of Verizon (those that did not upgrade to the i4 yet.

Let's be honest, every company is working constantly on improving, from my own antecdotal experience, AT&T has fine coverage and it has only improved since I signed on. AT&T has a bad rep, and a lot of it is undeserved. I don't expect them to be able to repair their rep in 6 months, but like I've said I also don't expect a mass exodus from verizon to AT&T instantly either.

Not with 1.7+million just upgrading.Though, if the rumors are true and Verizon is rolling out LTE and then an iPhone...there will be a rather large exodus from all carriers.

Sprint already has 4G. Why would you leave them early if you are already a customer?

 

[sho nuff]

Sprint already has 4G. Why would you leave them early if you are already a customer?

Possible LTE iPhone on what is considered a better network?I could see it.I just ordered my EVO to stay on Sprint because ATT is not the greatest around my house or in my office.But had Verizon had LTE and the iPhone now, I would have jumped.Still almost jumped for a non-4g Droid X.But decided to stay with Sprint.

 

[Colts Win]

I lost it when he says " it F###ing prints money. lol

 

[Lehigh98]

Sprint already has 4G. Why would you leave them early if you are already a customer?

Isn't it fake 4G though?

 

[The Commish]

Sprint already has 4G. Why would you leave them early if you are already a customer?

Isn't it fake 4G though?

I don't know of a device made that fits legit 4G standards of 100 Mbps.

 

[ConstruxBoy]

I'd break my contract to get on Verizon. I love the iPhone but AT&T sucks moose ####.

Yes, AT&T is weak in some areas, but you'd be a fool if you don't think AT&T is scrambling to improve their network so they don't lose a ton of subscibers if this happens.I work in telecom, my job involves getting these wireless companies on air, and I'm involved with a large percentage of their new site constrictions and upgrades, and I can assure you AT&T has been very busy all over the country.

I'm sure they have. But it's funny how my AT&T service was a lot better before Cingular came along. Now as I understand it, the FCC made AT&T use Cingular eqpt in certain states as part of the merger. And you can tell that they used Cingular's in NC and SC because the coverage went to hell. So I know they are improving, but if Verizon comes out with the iPhone and I hear that their coverage is good in NC and SC, I'm gone.

 

[California]

http://www.anandtech.com/show/3794/the-iphone-4-review/1

A great in depth review. Their explanation on the antenna issue on page 2 is outstanding.

 

[sho nuff]

http://www.androidcentral.com/motorola-dro...-it-any-way-you

If that ad is true, I don't care who you are, that is funny.

 

[CrossEyed]

http://www.androidcentral.com/motorola-dro...-it-any-way-you

If that ad is true, I don't care who you are, that is funny.

 

[CrossEyed]

Sprint already has 4G. Why would you leave them early if you are already a customer?

Possible LTE iPhone on what is considered a better network?I could see it.I just ordered my EVO to stay on Sprint because ATT is not the greatest around my house or in my office.But had Verizon had LTE and the iPhone now, I would have jumped.Still almost jumped for a non-4g Droid X.But decided to stay with Sprint.

So what is the penalty for leaving in 6 months? Would it be worth paying it?

 

[sho nuff]

Sprint already has 4G. Why would you leave them early if you are already a customer?

Possible LTE iPhone on what is considered a better network?I could see it.I just ordered my EVO to stay on Sprint because ATT is not the greatest around my house or in my office.But had Verizon had LTE and the iPhone now, I would have jumped.Still almost jumped for a non-4g Droid X.But decided to stay with Sprint.

So what is the penalty for leaving in 6 months? Would it be worth paying it?

Not sure, I won't likely pay it.I doubt anything is up and running til about 2012 and my contract will be up in July then.

 

[CrossEyed]

Sprint already has 4G. Why would you leave them early if you are already a customer?

Possible LTE iPhone on what is considered a better network?I could see it.I just ordered my EVO to stay on Sprint because ATT is not the greatest around my house or in my office.But had Verizon had LTE and the iPhone now, I would have jumped.Still almost jumped for a non-4g Droid X.But decided to stay with Sprint.

So what is the penalty for leaving in 6 months? Would it be worth paying it?

Not sure, I won't likely pay it.I doubt anything is up and running til about 2012 and my contract will be up in July then.

Right, which was my original point. I don't think you'll have a mass exodus to Verizon after the other carriers locked up customers into 2 year contracts with their other smart phones. Especially AT&T customers. I think if you re-upped with them and bought the iPhone 4 you aren't going anywhere for 2 years.

 

[Ned]

Sprint already has 4G. Why would you leave them early if you are already a customer?

Possible LTE iPhone on what is considered a better network?I could see it.I just ordered my EVO to stay on Sprint because ATT is not the greatest around my house or in my office.But had Verizon had LTE and the iPhone now, I would have jumped.Still almost jumped for a non-4g Droid X.But decided to stay with Sprint.

So what is the penalty for leaving in 6 months? Would it be worth paying it?

Not sure, I won't likely pay it.I doubt anything is up and running til about 2012 and my contract will be up in July then.

Right, which was my original point. I don't think you'll have a mass exodus to Verizon after the other carriers locked up customers into 2 year contracts with their other smart phones. Especially AT&T customers. I think if you re-upped with them and bought the iPhone 4 you aren't going anywhere for 2 years.

$350 - ($10 * every fulfilled month in contract)

 

[sho nuff]

Right, which was my original point. I don't think you'll have a mass exodus to Verizon after the other carriers locked up customers into 2 year contracts with their other smart phones. Especially AT&T customers. I think if you re-upped with them and bought the iPhone 4 you aren't going anywhere for 2 years.

But there will be those who did not upgrade.And there will be those who have not upgraded with Sprint or Tmobile.And there will be those who just want a VZ iPhone and don't care to pay for it.I don't think it will be a total mass exodus...but anyone thinking a VZW iPhone would not kill on release is kidding themselves.

 

[Harry Manback]

http://www.anandtech.com/show/3794/the-iphone-4-review/1

A great in depth review. Their explanation on the antenna issue on page 2 is outstanding.

Wow. Thank you for sharing that.Excellent, excellent article, makes me feel MUCH better about getting the IP4.

 

[Harry Manback]

Right, which was my original point. I don't think you'll have a mass exodus to Verizon after the other carriers locked up customers into 2 year contracts with their other smart phones. Especially AT&T customers. I think if you re-upped with them and bought the iPhone 4 you aren't going anywhere for 2 years.

But there will be those who did not upgrade.And there will be those who have not upgraded with Sprint or Tmobile.And there will be those who just want a VZ iPhone and don't care to pay for it.I don't think it will be a total mass exodus...but anyone thinking a VZW iPhone would not kill on release is kidding themselves.

I never said it wouldn't do well, I said I'd be shocked if it sold more than 1.7m in 3 days.I'm certainly capable of being wrong and will happily accept my fate if I'm proven wrong.I just think verizon has too many other good smartphone options, whereas this is really it for att. That's all.

 

[Sammy3469]

Apple just put out a press release saying the formula they uuse to calculate bar strength has been wrong from inception and that is the reason for the "antennae issue". Basically they've been overstating signal strength all along. Not sure if that's a good or a bad thing.

 

[sho nuff]

Apple just put out a press release saying the formula they uuse to calculate bar strength has been wrong from inception and that is the reason for the "antennae issue". Basically they've been overstating signal strength all along. Not sure if that's a good or a bad thing.

How does that account for dropped calls and noticeable differences in speed on speed tests?

 

[CGRdrJoe]

just got an email that my iphones are ready for pick up. The wife is going to go get them today, can't wait to get home tomorrow.

I'm sticking with AT&T, in the end roll over minutes are just too damn valuable.

 

[Wooderson]

Apple just put out a press release saying the formula they uuse to calculate bar strength has been wrong from inception and that is the reason for the "antennae issue". Basically they've been overstating signal strength all along. Not sure if that's a good or a bad thing.

http://www.apple.com/pr/library/2010/07/02appleletter.html

No way they think people are going to buy this for an excuse. Do they?

No the phone doesn't have a problem it's just you have crappy reception.

Reminds me of the quote in Office Space " we FIXED the problem"

 

[Memphis Foundry]

"Upon investigation, we were stunned to find that the formula we use to calculate how many bars of signal strength to display is totally wrong. Our formula, in many instances, mistakenly displays 2 more bars than it should for a given signal strength. For example, we sometimes display 4 bars when we should be displaying as few as 2 bars. Users observing a drop of several bars when they grip their iPhone in a certain way are most likely in an area with very weak signal strength, but they don’t know it because we are erroneously displaying 4 or 5 bars. Their big drop in bars is because their high bars were never real in the first place."

Link

Stunned, I tell you...

The statement rings true but doesn't seem sincere. I don't doubt that Apple has overstated the reception of the phone since the 3G came out, but I'm not sure that I buy that it was an accident. It seems more like an intentional move to help stave off criticism of the phone and AT&T's network. There's no way to prove that, it's just a gut call.

But it reminds me of how the 3G used to report itself as being capable of hardware encryption to ActiveSync servers until a few months after the 3GS came out. In September 2009, once the 3GS (which actually did have hardware encryption) had been on the street for a few months, Apple released iOS 3.1 and all those older phones immediately stopped pulling email from Exchange Server 2007. The problem turned out to be that iOS 3 and earlier had been reporting the iPhone 3G as being capable of hardware encryption even though it actually wasn't. But by that time, the iPhone already had a foot in the corporate email door, and there was a clear solution for anyone affected by the problem -- just go buy a 3GS.

Maybe it's just an interesting coincidence, but it strikes me as too clever by half. Calling this a "software issue" makes it too clever by three fourths.

I don't doubt that the iPhone 4 has better reception under optimal conditions than the earlier models, especially when the signal is weak. This article pretty much reaches the same conclusion. But it also shows that the iPhone 4's reception is degraded by contact with human skin to a much greater extent than the 3G's was.

The software fix from Apple will only tune the bars so that they give you a more realistic indication of your true signal strength. Note that Apple in their press release doesn't claim that the phone itself will behave any differently with the new software. That's because any internal mechanisms within the phone's OS to correct for poor reception are based off the true dB readings rather than the number of bars. The phone will behave the same, it just won't mislead you about how good its signal is after the update.

But the end result is that your reception will still drop off markedly if you hold the bare phone in your hand. If you want an across-the-board improvement in reception in the iPhone 4, you're going to need a case or a coating of some sort to cover the antenna.

This is a hardware issue.

 

[phrozen]

Apple just put out a press release saying the formula they uuse to calculate bar strength has been wrong from inception and that is the reason for the "antennae issue". Basically they've been overstating signal strength all along. Not sure if that's a good or a bad thing.

http://www.apple.com/pr/library/2010/07/02appleletter.html

No way they think people are going to buy this for an excuse. Do they?

No the phone doesn't have a problem it's just you have crappy reception.

Reminds me of the quote in Office Space " we FIXED the problem"

Fixed the glitch

 

[The Commish]

Apple just put out a press release saying the formula they uuse to calculate bar strength has been wrong from inception and that is the reason for the "antennae issue". Basically they've been overstating signal strength all along. Not sure if that's a good or a bad thing.

http://www.apple.com/pr/library/2010/07/02appleletter.html

No way they think people are going to buy this for an excuse. Do they?

No the phone doesn't have a problem it's just you have crappy reception.

Reminds me of the quote in Office Space " we FIXED the problem"

You clearly haven't been paying attention to their user base have you?

 

[sho nuff]

And if they are truthful on this that its just they have been showing more bars than they should have...are they just admitting that ATTs whole "more bars in more places" ads were complete and total bull?

 

[CGRdrJoe]

This thread has gone completely off course, those that have the iphone4 how are you liking it? I've got all day to decide whether to send the wife to pick them up or not. I've got a 3g so the phone feels sluggish at this point.

 

[culdeus]

And if they are truthful on this that its just they have been showing more bars than they should have...are they just admitting that ATTs whole "more bars in more places" ads were complete and total bull?

I wouldn't be surprised if they just took the algorithm from ATNT and never bothered to verify it. No idea when mine is coming in. I have little kids so a suit of body armor is a must anyways.

 

[Billy Bats]

at myself for wondering why I'm dropping calls with 4 bars lit out of 5. HAHA there were only supposed to be two lit, that's why!

Is Apple serious?! They sound like some rinky dink startup company.

 

[Harry Manback]

And if they are truthful on this that its just they have been showing more bars than they should have...are they just admitting that ATTs whole "more bars in more places" ads were complete and total bull?

Read the article California linked.It does qn excellent job explaining what's going on, after reading it I ordered my IP4.

 

[Harry Manback]

at myself for wondering why I'm dropping calls with 4 bars lit out of 5. HAHA there were only supposed to be two lit, that's why! Is Apple serious?! They sound like some rinky dink startup company.

You definitely shouldn't be dropping calls with 2 bars...so maybe there's a larger issue...