iPhone 4 gets 'thumbs down' from Consumer Reports

WASHINGTON - Consumer Reports, the influential magazine for product reviews, gave the thumbs down to Apple's new iPhone because of reception problems it said were caused by a design flaw.


Consumer Reports engineers have just completed testing the iPhone 4, and have confirmed that there is a problem with its reception," the magazine said on its website, ConsumerReports.org.

"When your finger or hand touches a spot on the phone's lower left side - an easy thing, especially for lefties - the signal can significantly degrade enough to cause you to lose your connection altogether if you're in an area with a weak signal," it said.

"Due to this problem, we can't recommend the iPhone 4."

Apple earlier this month said that it had used erroneous formulas to calculate signal strength for the iPhone 4 and promised to issue a free software patch to resolve the issue that has already triggered lawsuits.

The California gadget maker denied that reception problems were due to faults in its new antenna system, which is incorporated in the casing.


Consumer Reports rejected Apple's explanation.

"Our findings call into question the recent claim by Apple that the iPhone 4's signal-strength issues were largely an optical illusion caused by faulty software," it said.

Consumer Reports said it had tested three iPhone 4s and other devices, including a previous iPhone model, in the same conditions, but "none of those (other) phones had the signal-loss problems of the iPhone 4."

Consumer Reports said it had found "an affordable solution for suffering iPhone 4 users: Cover the antenna gap with a piece of duct tape or another thick, non-conductive material."

The magazine said the iPhone performed well in other areas.

"It sports the sharpest display and best video camera we've seen on any phone," it said, and "outshines its high-scoring predecessors with improved battery life and such new features as a front-facing camera for video chats."

- AFP

Apple sued over iPhone 4 antenna problems

SAN FRANCISCO - Apple is hiring antenna engineers to work on its iPhone, the latest generation of which has triggered lawsuits from buyers upset because certain grips choke signal strength.

A posting online at jobs.apple.com said the company is looking for experienced engineers "able to design antennas suitable for wireless handheld devices with excellent radiation performance."

Apple's iPhone 4 launched a week ago with blockbuster sales and complaints by some that cupping the smartphones in a way that covers the lower left corner strangles telecom service signal strength.

The iPhone 4 has silver edging designed as part of the antenna system to improve signal strength.

Apple responded to signal strength complaints by telling owners of its latest generation iPhone to be mindful of how they hold the handsets.

The problem could be fixed by moving one's hand or encasing iPhones in rubber "bumper" frames that Apple sells for US$30.

"Gripping any mobile phone will result in some attenuation of its antenna performance, with certain places being worse than others depending on the placement of the antennas," Apple said in a statement.

"This is a fact of life for every wireless phone."

Apple advised users who experience the signal problem to "avoid gripping it in the lower left corner in a way that covers both sides of the black strip in the metal band, or simply use one of many available cases."

By Thursday, reports surfaced of iPhone 4 buyers unsatisfied with Apple's response filing lawsuits in the United States against the iPhone, iPod, iPad, and Macintosh computer maker.

A lawsuit filed in the state of Maryland wants Apple and exclusive US iPhone telecom service provider AT&T to pay for "unlawful and unconscionable conduct" including "fraud, negligence and deceptive trade practices."

California law firm Kershaw, Cutter and Ratinoff used a freshly redesigned website to recruit disenchanted iPhone 4 buyers for a lawsuit against Apple.

"Thousands of people are really unhappy with their new iPhones and Apple's response to the antenna issue," the law firm said in a blog post. "We told our audience we wanted to hear from them and boy did we."

The law firm said it got 1,400 emails in a single day and that 98 percent of the missives "overwhelmingly expressed discontent."

Antenna concerns did not deter the hordes that descended on Apple stores, with the firm reporting that it sold more than 1.7 million of the smartphones in the first three days on the market.

"I think these issues will sort themselves out," Gartner technology analyst Van Baker told AFP this week. "It is a very impressive phone."

Features luring people to the iPhone 4 include high-definition screens and 'FaceTime', which uses a forward facing camera to enable video chat.

The original iPhone launched in 2007 brought smartphones to the masses. Apple has sold more than 50 million of the handsets in the past three years.

But its latest version enters a crowded market full of rivals boasting bigger screens and running on Google's open-source Android operating system, which is more accessible to developers than Apple's tightly guarded system.

Sales of a white iPhone 4 model have been delayed to the second half of July because of unspecified manufacturing difficulties.

The new iPhone will be available in 18 other countries, including New Zealand, in July and 24 more in August.
- AFP

iDon't and Droiddoes

I read this in the news a few days ago about iDon't and about Droiddoes. The video below shows a teaser for Droiddoes - an Android phone from Motorola to be launched by Verizon Wireless in the US. It takes a swipe at all the flaws of the iphone. Enough said.

iPhone Today 1.0b - iPhone Today clone application

MiToNiOeS over at xda-developers has made a very nice iPhone today application for Windows Mobile. It is highly configurable and uses little memory. It has been hailed as THE iPhone today app for Windows Mobile as mentioned in the thread.

Personally it does look nice, have not had the chance to install it yet, might do it with my wife's x610, but as a lot of people has pointed out - why make an iPhone clone? Why don't people just go out & get a freakin' iPhone? I wouldn't for one, because I'm a Windows Mobile fanboy! hahaha

Features:
- Multiples screens (With animates transactions)
- Notification on icons for calls, sms, etc
- Is a Today (No problems when we push the home button, no problems with incoming calls, ...)
- Compatibility with others todays (By example: Date Today and iPhoneToday after), today height configurable
- QVGA, VGA, WVGA... (The user define the icon size and height screen)
- UI for Icons managings
- UI for configuration
- Very low memory
- FAST!

Get it here

Will it Blend? Iphone

Funny clip I found while on youtube. Sure it's been out since 2007, I'm just slow... The answer is... YES!! Couldn't any for HTC/Windows mobile phones/pdas yet. Will there ever be one?

Personally I think the whole concept is just wrong. Why destroy something that is perfectly fine? In these tough economic times? But you gotta admit, it's fun watching an iphone getting blended, isn't it?

Turning your Iphone into Windows Mobile

I've been quite productive in blogging today, eventhough I should be working or studying or finishing off my dictations. But no, I've trawled the net and posted 3 new postings (including this) today!

Gil from mobilespoon.blogspot.com has made this incomplete guide as he calls it if you wanted to make your Iphone look like Windows Mobile. Well not really a GUI change, but more of a 'productivity' change and gives tips on how to turn your Iphone into a productive tool and not just some fancy phone/music player/gaming device.

If you've missed the Iphone review, have a look here

http://mobilespoon.blogspot.com/2009/04/turn-your-iphone-into-windows-mobile.html

Iphone 3G review

I couldn't resist! I saw this today over at xda-developers. Now I'm not an Iphone hater or anything, just hate the fact that the masses feel it's the most awesome thing since sliced bread...