Apple launches Antennagate website demonstrating industry-wide deathgrip problem
Doth it protest too much?
Keen to prove it's not just the iPhone 4 that suffers from attenuation issues when held in a particular way, Apple has roll out a dedicated page on its website to demonstrate the issue.
"The opposite of amplification, attenuation happens whenever a signal is obstructed," the site explains.
"All antennas - including television, radio, GPS, and cellular antennas - can experience attenuation. And with most antennas, the density and composition of the human hand can cause attenuation to a greater degree than some other materials.
Deathgrip demonstration"On a mobile phone, signal loss typically occurs when your hand attenuates the most sensitive part of the antenna. In the photos and videos below, we demonstrate how different grips cause attenuation on many popular smartphones - including iPhone 4 and iPhone 3."
The site details video tests carried out by Apple on iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS, BlackBerry Bold 9700, HTC Droid Eris and Samsung Omnia II, showing the loss of signal when held in a certain way in areas with weak signal.
You can also see video footage of the 'Antennagate - there's no Antennagate' press conference, and find out more about Apple's $100 million antenna design and test labs, and the iOS 4.0.1 software update that fixes the display of signal strength.
[source: Apple]
