Apple got lots of bad press because of antennagate, when it became apparent that on the iPhone 4 if you touch it at the bottom left of the phone you can get the signal to go way down and, in some instances, even get the signal to go away completely. On my commute there’s a bad cell spot where my calls often drop. So I went there and tried both the iPhone 4 and the new Samsung Captivate (Galaxy S) phones. I was able to get both phones to noticeably go down in signal displayed.
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25 Responses to “Comparing “deathgrip” on iPhone 4 and Samsung “GalaxyS” Captivate”
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mdlindc says:
@Scobleizer Interesting. I was in an area with full signal on both AT&T and Verizon. The iPhone 4 dropped almost immediately. The Droid X stay at full strength–no matter how hard I griped the device or tried to recreate the goofy grip from the Apple video. There are some weak spots here in DC, particularly in Rock Creek Park. I’ll head out and do a test. If I do, I’ll record a video.
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@Scobleizer If iPhone loses signal then Droid X should also lose signal in the weak cell phone zone, Isn’t it? But the above user says that isn’t the case.
Also, a better way to handle criticism is to accept the design mistake and get on with correcting it. Instead, Apple is pointing fingers at other phones. From when did Apple suddenly start following what other phone manufacturers are doing? Also, Jobs original comment that the users are holding the phone in the wrong way is stupid.
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@Scobleizer If iPhone loses signal then Droid X should also lose signal in the weak cell phone zone, Isn’t it? But the above user says that isn’t the case.
Also, a better way to handle criticism is to accept the design mistake and get on with correcting it. Instead, Apple is pointing fingers at other phones. From when did Apple suddenly start following what other phone manufacturers are doing? Also, Jobs original comment that the users are holding the phone in the wrong way is stupid.
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Who here is assuming that Apple isn’t working on getting a better design as we speak? I am a big fan of Android and Apple, I just wish we could get over the Highlander Syndrome of assuming one mobile platform will win. Android and Apple can coexist there’s no reason one platform has to go away for the other to be successful.
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@mdlindc are you stupid? You need to test a phone on the same network. … Or else you could be trying this in a good service area and your not going to see any drop in signal. Man, I can’t believe how silly all this nonsense is. This guy posted a video of 2 phones on the same network… covering the antenna and they both drop bars. People who are not seeing this on their iphone4s or other phones such as the droid x are not cause they are trying this in a good service area.
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@mdlindc because your not actually in a good service area! You can’t compare phones on different networks! F*ck
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@mdlindc are you stupid? You need to test a phone on the same network. … Or else you could be trying this in a good service area and your not going to see any drop in signal. Man, I can’t believe how silly all this nonsense is. This guy posted a video of 2 phones on the same network… covering the antenna and they both drop bars. People who are not seeing this on their iphone4s or other phones such as the droid x are not cause they are trying this in a good service area.
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@petegenti Are you capable of making a point without attacking people? If you’re calling stupidity, you need to start with Apple. Apple is the one that has a video of signals dropping on devices non on the same network.
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@fraydog Likewise. I want both, scratch, ALL to do well. (I’m including Windows Phone 7.) I think we should be mature of enough, however, to criticize a design or company’s response to criticism without being accused of being a fanboy or attacking a platform. Some of the comments, here and elsewhere, are reminiscent of Green Street Hooligans!
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@mdlindc Its stupid because have no idea what they are doing and they are spewing nonsense all over the net. Yes, they did show this happening on different networks. These phones were not all tested in the same location. This “death grip” thing only happens when you are getting a weak signal. You could be getting a 90-100dBs signal and still see 4-5 bars. vs 60-70 dBs which could still show 4-5 bars and won’t drop bars when you grip it. So only compare your 4 with AT&T phones.
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@fraydog Oh…I forgot to add that I do suspect Apple is working (feverishly) on the antenna issue.
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@petegenti Who is they? So are you saying that if I have an iPhone 4 with full bars, the signal loss when held with the “death grip” is not real or accurate? Just so you know, I also had an AT&T Blackberry, and held it all kinds of ways in the same locations I did the iPhone 4 tests. No signal loss.
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@mdlindc Yes, I am comparing with my wifes BB9700 and where I live I avg a 90dB signal (options->Status will show this) and I can make my blackberry drop to 1 bar. Also, how do you dispute this video??? Plan and simple 2 phones on the same network both dropping to 1 bar! The 4 or anyother AT&T phone doesn’t do this in a good service are! EXPLAIN? Maybe samsung didn’t test their captivate… maybe they should offer free cases?? I don’t hear the same drama over the captivate…WHY?
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@petegenti Calm down dude. Where did I dispute this video? I made mention of Apple’s videos–not Robert’s. Please don’t make leaps with my words–particularly when they are right here to see and read. Other phones that have signal problems should receive equal attention. My guess on why the don’t…they are not Apple. People love Apple products…PLUS Apple tends to act beyond reproach in terms of design and quality. I’m not saying it’s fair, but IMHO it’s a “reap what you sow” thing.
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@mdlindc Oh I am calm… I am just tired of hearing all this crap. I have a 4 and it gets a better signal then my old 3G, 9700, bb9000 and nexus one.
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@petegenti Fair enough. I’m glad you’re happy with your iPhone 4! I like my Droid X, but see no need to bash Apple, generally. In fact, I’m an Apple design fan. Are there Android wingnuts trying to run Apple into the ditch? Sure. Are there snobby Apple users who look down their noses at anything not Apple? Definitely. I tend to ignore the hyberbolic stuff, and focus on substantive discussions. I just don’t get why people personalize this so much. It’s JUST a mobile device–not life or death.
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@mdlindc The only reason it bothers me somewhat is that its silly and waste of time and people don’t know anything about RF but continue to speculate and take a opinions as fact. They should be focusing on the real issues with such devices as the proximity sensor doesn’t work properly! I have problems with this.
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@petegenti Again, fair enough. I don’t know a thing about RF. I just, innocently, tested the iPhone, Droid X and Blackberry Bold in different spots around my office. As for the proximity sensor, I’ve hard a lot of people complaining about that, yet you don’t hear much, if anything, about it. I guess it’s not as sensational as “death grip.”
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@Scobleizer
Mmmmmmmm…. However, the whole apple issue[s] seem to have been a sore point in your psyche… so much so that you had to show us, it looks to me that your faith in apple was tested, you had to do your odd test, run the apple script… apple got their way with you Scobleizer = Control = Cult.
Its a bitter pill, you need to take the medicine, bet this antenna setup will not be on the white models…
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Good video!
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I have a Captivate and I have held it every way possible, THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO DEATH GRIP ON THIS PHONE! The calls are crystal clear, the screen is amazing and I could not be happier.
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@Scobleizer
I have to agree with the other dude.
When the iPhone 4 was released, multiple vids and reviews pointed at the reception problem. All stated it was a hardware issue.
What does Apple do? They state it was the software which was giving the problems, because it displayed too many bars. Wait what?
Could it maybe be that they’ve been showing too many bars… on purpose?
if so, how long have they been doing this then? -
@Jordy0190
Second: Why did they give free cases away if the problem was software related?
It’s not because they are kind, as this is the business world.
Now, instead of just taking responsibility and saying that there is a flaw with the iPhone 4’s design, they are trying to make it look like a common issue. I’m sorry Apple, but I’ve never had any phone which went from full bars to zero bars.Although iPhones are really great devices, Apple has to realize they are selling ‘defective’ devices.
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@mdlindc I have an iPhone 3GS and it has the same problem as the iPhone 4 it depends where you are.
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@Scobleizer Robert, Apple’s already admitted that their signal strength indicators were overstating actual signal strength. Your test actually confirmed a suspicion I’ve had that Apple’s software delay’s displaying the signal strength unlike the Samsung which appeared to give real-time updates. Also, we tend to assum that each signal-strength bar means the same thing on each phone. This is definitely not the case and requires monitoring software to validate.