antennagate

A last echo of iPhone 'antennagate' -- $15 checks

The clamor that surrounded Apple's iPhone "antennagate" episode has long since subsided, but there's now a faint echo to be heard.

Some iPhone owners in the last day or so have received a $15 check that was the result of Apple's February 2012 settlement of a class action lawsuit over problems with the iPhone 4 antenna, according to reports at 9to5Mac and the TUAW blog.

When the iPhone 4 debuted in June 2010, an uproar quickly ensued from a very vocal array of users who complained of dropped calls and poor reception, and who put … Read more

iPhone 5 may need third antenna for simultaneous voice-data

The ghost of Apple's iPhone 4 "antennagate" looks to be haunting the iPhone 5.

The reason simultaneous voice and data capability on 4G LTE isn't possible on Sprint and Verizon simply seems to be the new device's hardware.

CNET reported earlier today that the iPhone 5 models for both Verizon and Sprint don't support data-use and voice simultaneously while on 4G LTE networks -- meaning that if users make a voice call, they'll also need to be on Wi-Fi to pull data inside their apps, including the Safari Web browser. AT&T … Read more

iPhone 4 Antennagate site goes live, lets you collect $15

Apple iPhone 4 owners can collect a cash settlement or free bumper for their smartphone's antenna troubles. Just don't expect to be blown away by the windfall.

A Web page, aptly named iPhone4settlement.com, has gone live, allowing iPhone 4 customers burned by the device's antenna problems to collect their $15 settlement. According to the site, iPhone 4 owners have between now and August 28 to file their claim for the cash.

The site's claim form, which can be mailed or filed electronically, requests basic contact information. The settlement also requests that users print out their … Read more

Apple applies for antenna technology patent

It has been over a year since the iPhone 4 Antennagate debacle filled the pages of most tech blogs. In that time, everyone from random people on the street to Consumer Reports criticized the iPhone antenna issues, problems that a new patent application from Apple seeks to solve.

Sniffed out by Patently Apple, this application for a window that acts as an antenna may end up being one of the more important filings you'll see this year. In a nutshell, Apple is developing a composite that contains foam cells and could house the iPhone's (or other iDevice's) … Read more

Consumer Reports reignites 'Antennagate,' cites Apple's Verizon iPhone 4 issues

Renewing an issue that just does not seem to want to die, Consumer Reports says Apple's Verizon iPhone 4 suffers from the same "death grip" antenna issues as the original device, released last summer amid widespread controversy.

The Verizon iPhone 4 has a problem that could cause the phone to drop calls, or be unable to place calls, in weak signal conditions, Consumer Reports engineers have found in lab tests.

The "death grip" occurs when users hold the iPhone in a way that covers the antenna band, located on the bottom of the left side of the phone. As with the AT&T version of the iPhone 4, any case (or cottage industry "band-aid" product) would alleviate the problem, which is caused by the conductivity of human skin interfering with the cell phone signal.

Consumer Reports tested the new Verizon iPhone 4, along with several other popular Verizon smartphones.… Read more

Apple to end free iPhone 4 case offer Sept. 30

If you have an iPhone 4 and haven't ordered your free case yet, you should soon.

In less than three weeks Apple will end the offer because the antenna signal loss issue related to the iPhone 4's design isn't as big a problem as the company initially thought, according to an update to Apple's Web site Friday.

A posting to the page for the iPhone 4 case says:

We now know that the iPhone 4 antenna attenuation issue is even smaller than we originally thought. A small percentage of iPhone 4 users need a case, and … Read more

iPhone 4 sales hurt more by carriers than antennas

Though "antennagate" may have persuaded some people to avoid the iPhone 4, the device's lack of Verizon access is putting a larger damper on sales, according to Piper Jaffray.

Among 258 cell phone users surveyed by the investment firm, 177 people (or 69 percent) said they were aware of the antenna issue affecting the iPhone 4. Of those, 20 percent said this issue impacted their decision of whether or not to purchase the iPhone 4.

Though this means a smaller percentage of all the users surveyed were turned off by the antenna problem, Piper Jaffray believes the issue has affected sales. Under a worst-case scenario, the firm is estimating that sales lost due to "antennagate" could cost Apple around 11 cents a share in earnings for its fourth quarter ending September.

Piper Jaffray expects Apple will update its customers about the antenna issue at the end of September. It doesn't think Apple will modify the design of the iPhone 4 but instead may extend the free case offer or reveal further results of its own testing.… Read more

Digital City 93: iPhone 4 lines still long; back-to-school tech picks; BioShock Infinite props

This week, Scott stands in a very long line at the Apple store for an iPhone 4; Dan previews some possible fixes for NYC's terrible Taxi TV screens; and we reveal everyone's back-to-school tech picks.

Two video games have us buzzing right now. It's Madden season, so Scott (dressed in full Jet regalia) and Joey debate the merits of this year's $60 roster update; then we check out the trailer for BioShock Infinite, and show off some cool props from the game we managed to get our hands on (you can also check them out in the gallery below).

Digital City 92: Slingbox outages; high-tech subway woes; and a Nintendo-loving gorilla

This week we freak out about Slingbox outages that have hit users around the country (fortunately, the problem seems mostly solved at this point). Then, we check out the two big tech firm ousters of the past week: Apple's head iPhone guy and HP's CEO, inspiring a quick peek at HP's high-profile Envy 14 laptop.

Dan goes over some recent NYC subway nightmares, and how the MTA's high-tech makeover isn't moving very quickly; and finally, we show off some candid shots of a gorilla that got his paws on some poor zoo visitor's Nintendo DSi XL.

Digital City 91: Android surges; how to avoid eBay scams; and gamers fight back

This week, we examine the 800-plus percent surge in year-over-year Android phone sales (complete with another open-market versus walled garden debate); and also check out which new cities are getting WiMax.

Dan recounts his harrowing experience trying to sell an old iPod Touch on eBay, and goes over the telltale signs you're about to get scammed. Then, we check out some amazing video footage of gamers at an Internet cafe fighting back against a gang of muggers--those Warcraft guys sure can take a punch.

Finally, we've got a cool custom-printed Digital City/Playstation 3 shirt to give away. … Read more