People Experiencing Signal Issues Are Holding Their iPhone Wrong - Steve Jobs

The Internet is now filled with reports on Apple’s iPhone 4 reception issues, in what is somewhat of a design flaw for the new-generation smartphone. However, it’s not something you wouldn’t normally see on a number of different handsets, according to Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO. Responding to emails from concerned customers, Mr. Jobs puts it bluntly: “You're doing it wrong”.

Well, not that bluntly, really. In fact, Steve’s latest emails are quite generous, from a word-count point of view, with the CEO explaining what the deal is with the iPhone 4 antennae. For example, Rory Sinclair wrote a message to the Apple head, saying…

“Hi Steve,

So, um, just got my iPhone 4. Its lovely and all, but this 'bridge the two antennae to kill your reception' thing seems to be a bit serious. If I bridge them with my hand or with a piece of metal the bars slowly drop to 'Searching...' and then 'No Service'.

Its kind of a worry. Is it possible this is a design flaw?

Regards

- Rory Sinclair”

Steve Jobs’ first reply is a typical one: “Nope. Just don't hold it that way.”

Still not satisfied, Rory emails Apple’s chief executive officer yet again: “Actually, its not calls that concern me, but i've just been writing a text and its very natural for me as a right-handed person to hold it that way, with the part of my hand at the base of my thumb covering the point the antennae meet, and it kills the reception each time.

I mean, pretty much as soon as i move my hand it comes back, but its pretty crazy... is this the reason Bumpers exist?”

After receiving an almost identical reply from Jobs ("Just don't hold it that way then"), Rory perseveres: “Well, yeah, thats what i'll do, but you have to admit thats a workaround, yeah? I mean, normally there aren't limits to how you can hold a phone.

I seriously dig the phone, its totally amazing, but I think this is what many would call a design flaw.”

The CEO finally replies with more than just a terse statement, saying “Sure there are - every phone has these areas of sensitivity, depending on the location of the antenna. Some phones even ship with labels warning customers to not cover certain areas with their hands.”

Mr. Jobs’ last reply is finally somewhat more enlightening, although it still doesn’t provide an answer as to whether this is a serious issue with the iPhone 4. In fact, someone actually photographed the Apple CEO during the iPhone 4 demo holding the device exactly how he would describe as bad for signal strength (picture available above).