Antennagate the Because we Can't Let it Go Edition

First it aint over...  Antennagate is guaranteed to be in the news at least thru September when they either announce more free cases OR as Steve said in the briefing  Who knows maybe we will have figured out something better by then.

I thought it made sense to apply a little critical though (ok very little)  to Antennagate the press conference.  

What is interesting  about the drop call rate is that according to Anand Lal Shimpi from Anandtech (on TWIT Sunday iTunes link) the iPhone 4 really does have a measurably more sensitive antenna and will hold onto a call in weaker areas better than previous iPhones but then he went onto explain that that in their testing the iPhone4  did have more dropped calls in stronger signal areas where the iPhone 3GS did not.  Are you fascinated yet  I mean this is scintillating stuff!  OK so what you say is the point. 

Add the fact that Steve Made clear in his presentation that they actually do not know why the drop rates are higher than the 3GS.

What if the antenna is in fact performing exactly as designed and the drops have nothing to do with the antenna?   ( I know but you can put your finger on the thing and the bars drop forget about the frickin bars for a minute)

As one possibility not because I think this is the solution but just as an example... What if the issue is something different about the way the software controls the radio in medium signal areas (ostensibly to improve battery life) that is buggy or needs tweaking?

Other stuff

It also seemed very clear to me that Consumer reports sucker punched Apple.  They effectively outlined the problem, and posed what they thought was solution.  Apple came out and provided the solution Consumer reports telegraphed would make them happy and BLAM not good enough.  

Why just AT&T returns?  I mean why not Apples?  look no black hats here just a weird omission.

I have seen it other places but the whole 1 out of a hundred thing was intentionally designed to minimize the size of the issue.  based on all the numbers I have seen none of which may be right the droped call difference is somewhere between 10 and 50% worse than the iPhone 3gs.  Try this.... Only one more out of a hundred flights crash  ( you get the point)

Look this is a real issue but it is not the reason not to buy the phone.  Apple looks standoffish they (Steve) says stupid things but over time when confronted with issues with their products Apple has  the right thing

Look for my semi annual where is my dividend rant coming soon to this blog...

Antennagate: The pre presser briefing

Ben Vested

Only a few people know what apple will announce at tomorrows press conference. Every news outlet in the country will be covering the pressed as the biggest story of the day...

Did anyone notice BP stopped the oil today on day 90 (maybe)

This silly season frenzy is fun ( maybe not so much for the few at the center of this), a welcome diversion from the real news that is so serious and depressing. There are also a huge number of stakeholders in the outcome. The two to three million of us that already have the phone-4 the 80 million of us that have older iPhones. The stockholders, press/blogosphere.

Friday afternoon coverage will be wall to wall.

The facts have been well covered so I will not repeat them here. For my part I think that there is a perceptible reception issue with the new phone. That said, I have used mine daily since launch day I find it delightful to use with significantly better coverage and sound quality than the previous phone.

The real issue is that it is an issue. At every opportunity since the stunning 1.6 million unit launch weekend. Apple has stepped on it's collective wiener. (Hold Different?)
Apple is going to have 60 billion dollars in revenue this year they are second only to Exxon in US market cap. They are no longer the little guy they are no longer "The Rest Of Us".

I do not know what he announcement will be. I do expect it will be definitive and final. It is fun watching everyone try to guess. Who knew RF engineering could be cool?

Here are a couple of great links to articles summarizing the events of the last three weeks.
Anantech
A little geeky but very clear follow up on the actual issue and performance. Link

Arrington
He famously does not use an iPhone. Interesting take Link