July 2, 2010: Apple opens up about “Antennagate,” issuing a letter that addresses iPhone 4 reception issues publicly for the primary time.
In a letter addressed to iPhone 4 customers, Apple admits to being “stunned once we learn experiences of reception issues, and … instantly started investigating them.” Nevertheless, the corporate’s findings do little to dispel the rising Antennagate controversy.
Apple’s Antennagate letter addresses iPhone 4 controversy
The iPhone 4 was an excellent handset. When it launched in early June 2010, it turned an enormous hit, smashing data for preorders and opening-weekend gross sales. The Antennagate problem reared its head when some prospects reported dropped calls. The glitch occurred when a person held the iPhone 4 of their left hand, with their palm overlaying the handset’s tiny antenna hole.
iPhone 4 reception issues: A software program fault?
Apple design chief Jony Ive’s resolution to take away the earlier iPhone’s plastic antenna band brought about the issue. In its Antennagate letter to prospects, nevertheless, Apple positioned the blame on a software program fault:
“Upon investigation, we have been surprised to search out that the components we use to calculate what number of bars of sign power to show is completely mistaken. Our components, in lots of situations, mistakenly shows 2 extra bars than it ought to for a given sign power. For instance, we typically show 4 bars once we must be displaying as few as 2 bars. Customers observing a drop of a number of bars after they grip their iPhone in a sure method are almost certainly in an space with very weak sign power, however they don’t comprehend it as a result of we’re erroneously displaying 4 or 5 bars. Their massive drop in bars is as a result of their excessive bars have been by no means actual within the first place.”
Apple stated it will repair the issue with a free software program replace that included the corrected components.
“Since this error has been current for the reason that unique iPhone, this software program replace may also be accessible for the iPhone 3GS and iPhone 3G,” Apple stated.
Apple’s Antennagate letter doesn’t finish the matter
Sadly for Apple, that didn’t put the difficulty to relaxation. A number of weeks later, Antennagate hit important mass when revered commerce publication Shopper Stories stated it will not advocate the brand new Apple smartphone.
To calm the media firestorm, Apple CEO Steve Jobs flew again early from a household vacation in Hawaii to stage a press convention. He stood by the iPhone 4 (even taking part in a fan-made track defending it). Nevertheless, he addressed Antennagate actually — and provided prospects free iPhone 4 bumper instances that solved the issue. Future variations of the iPhone additionally corrected the system’s fault.
In the long run, it took till 2012 (and the decision of a class-action lawsuit) for Apple to lastly carry the controversy to an in depth.
Full textual content of Apple’s Antennagate letter
Right here’s the complete textual content of the letter Apple despatched on this present day in 2010:
Expensive iPhone 4 Customers,
The iPhone 4 has been probably the most profitable product launch in Apple’s historical past. It has been judged by reviewers world wide to be one of the best smartphone ever, and customers have instructed us that they like it. So we have been stunned once we learn experiences of reception issues, and we instantly started investigating them. Here’s what now we have realized.
To begin with, gripping nearly any cell phone in sure methods will cut back its reception by 1 or extra bars. That is true of iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS, in addition to many Droid, Nokia and RIM telephones. However some customers have reported that iPhone 4 can drop 4 or 5 bars when tightly held in a method which covers the black strip within the decrease left nook of the metallic band. It is a far larger drop than regular, and in consequence some have accused the iPhone 4 of getting a defective antenna design.
On the similar time, we proceed to learn articles and obtain a whole lot of emails from customers saying that iPhone 4 reception is best than the iPhone 3GS. They’re delighted. This matches our personal expertise and testing. What can clarify all of this?
Now we have found the reason for this dramatic drop in bars, and it’s each easy and shocking.
Upon investigation, we have been surprised to search out that the components we use to calculate what number of bars of sign power to show is completely mistaken. Our components, in lots of situations, mistakenly shows 2 extra bars than it ought to for a given sign power. For instance, we typically show 4 bars once we must be displaying as few as 2 bars. Customers observing a drop of a number of bars after they grip their iPhone in a sure method are almost certainly in an space with very weak sign power, however they don’t comprehend it as a result of we’re erroneously displaying 4 or 5 bars. Their massive drop in bars is as a result of their excessive bars have been by no means actual within the first place.
To repair this, we’re adopting AT&T’s lately really useful components for calculating what number of bars to show for a given sign power. The actual sign power stays the identical, however the iPhone’s bars will report it way more precisely, offering customers a a lot better indication of the reception they’ll get in a given space. We’re additionally making bars 1, 2 and three a bit taller so they are going to be simpler to see.
We are going to problem a free software program replace inside just a few weeks that includes the corrected components. Since this error has been current for the reason that unique iPhone, this software program replace may also be accessible for the iPhone 3GS and iPhone 3G.
Now we have gone again to our labs and retested every little thing, and the outcomes are the identical— the iPhone 4’s wi-fi efficiency is one of the best now we have ever shipped. For the overwhelming majority of customers who haven’t been troubled by this problem, this software program replace will solely make your bars extra correct. For individuals who have had considerations, we apologize for any nervousness we could have brought about.
As a reminder, if you’re not absolutely glad, you possibly can return your undamaged iPhone to any Apple Retail Retailer or the web Apple Retailer inside 30 days of buy for a full refund.
We hope you like the iPhone 4 as a lot as we do.
Thanks to your endurance and help.
Apple
Apple’s first massive controversy
Do you bear in mind Antennagate and the letter Apple despatched to handle the controversy? Had been you an iPhone proprietor on the time? Tell us within the feedback under.
