New reports on Monday suggest Apple is reconsidering the antenna design that debuted on the iPhone 4 in favor of a new design when the iPhone 5 ships later this year.
[ad#Google Adsense 300×250 in story]The new design will use the Apple logo on the back of the iPhone to send and receive cell and Wi-Fi signals, according to AppleInsider. The company is also said to abandon the glass back on the iPhone in favor of an aluminum back.
It is difficulties in painting the glass back that has reportedly caused delays in getting the white iPhone to market.
The metal frame around the iPhone will also be gone when the iPhone 5 debuts, according to the report. The newly designed frame is where cell, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth signals transmit on the iPhone 4.
It’s not a big surprise that Apple would rethink the design of the antenna on the iPhone. Since it was released last year, the iPhone has been plagued with problems and criticisms from consumers about the so-called “death grip” that could bring the device’s cell signal to zero.
Apple held a press conference to set the record straight on the antenna issues and even offered free bumpers for iPhone 4 customers,but the problem continued to follow them.
Unless something REALLY changes in pocket computer+phone technology, this means I will be keeping the iPhone 4 until my fingers wear holes in the Gorilla Glass. I LOVE this design.
Funny, I was thinking the same thing Can4spam; I absolutely adore the iPhone 4 design.
I hope the iPhone 5 keeps the flatness.
And yet, I still prefer the rounded 3G/3GS design. The iPhone 4 design is fine too. I just hope the exterior dimensions don’t grow. I don’t want anything larger (like the HTC Evo) in my pocket.
The antenna “issue” has proven over time be complete nonsense. Sure, the iPhone 4, just like any other phone can be made to demonstrate some signal attenuation when held in an unnatural way. That said, I routinely get a better signal from the iPhone 4 than I do from either an iPhone 3Gs or Blackberry Curve on the same network. From my experience, the iPhone 4 antenna design is superior to anything else I’ve seen out there. It would be a shame to abandon this design because of the rumblings of a few who simply don’t know better. Clearly, “antennagate” has not impacted Apple’s sales in any negative way. I’m not opposed to change, but only if the change is for an even better design. I just hope this isn’t a “knee jerk” reaction to the vocal minority in the press.
Plagued? Come on now, certainly the owners of the iPhone 4 haven’t been plagued with any significant problems.
The only ones that are plagued are the various media outlets who want to focus on the rare instance of problems.
So, what’s the iPhone 4 customer return rate compared to the nearest non-Apple competitor? Hmmm?
Speculation: iPhone 5 will continue to use the iPhone 4 shell, as seen by the odd Boy Genius Report where a model of the (supposed) Verizon iPhone 4 had a sim card slot. Theory: iPhone 5. The video was pulled with a cease-and-desist. It was a very unique model, with Verizon’s antenna band structure, but a SIM card slot as well.
Speculation: This rumor is also true. Apple is working on a new iPhone with an iPod touch-like body…because this is actually going to be the low-cost iPhone all the other rumors are talking about, with aluminum instead of glass and steel. In essence, the lower cost iPod touch design…with a phone.
I would think it would go without saying that Apple will reconsider the antenna design and do at least some changes to it. Apple isn’t about to sit still.
But I think time has shown the death grip is sheer stupidity; I’d be surprised if Apple made major moves based on consumer stupidity. Apple will change out the antenna only if they can find something actually better, as opposed to something that satisfies Gizmodo and Consumer Reports as “better.”
“Unless something REALLY changes in pocket computer+phone technology”
and of course it will…
No, REALLY changes. I stayed with a S.E. T-39 from ’99 to 2008 because nothing really beat it. The iPhone was the first land shift for me. I bit into the 4 because it had FaceTime and was gorgeous. I don’t see any need filled on the horizon that is in phone form.
I love the iPhone 4 design otherwise I would not have bought one. But the death grip is definitely far from stupid. I live in the London btw. Ive spent about £40 on cases just to overcome the issue. It’s fine in an area with full 3G or or you have full bars but it’s when you go to an area with not so good signal that it becomes an issue.
Some body say white iPhone 4 will come in April? This news is ture???