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Poll: Can you replicate Apple's reported "Bold 9700 antenna issues" on your device? I can't...

by Kevin Michaluk on 16 Jul 2010 04:35 PM
258
 
 Apple Propaganda

* Update: Well, after a few thousand quick votes it seems some 86% of us BlackBerry Bold 9700 users think El Jobso's evidence is a big pile of BS. As for the 14% who think it may hold water, well, I'm sure some of those must be legit... but the numbers speak for themselves. Sorry Steve - it seems you became part of the media you like to beat up on with this one... making a story where one doesn't actually exist. *

If you're on the internet today anywhere near a tech website, you've probably heard and/or seen posts surrounding Apple's iPhone 4 press conference that focused on the hoopla surrounding the device's apparent antenna issues (check out TiPb.com's full coverage). According to Apple, well, there are none. Phones aren't perfect. And furthermore, the BlackBerry Bold 9700 they tested out apparently had antenna issues of its own too.

Apple's test? Go to an area where you have full bars while holding the phone gingerly, then change that loose grip to a bit more of a death grip. They show off a video where the Bold 9700's signal basically drops to one bar, until the death grip is released (click the image above to jump over to Apple.com and watch the whole video). 

Since seeing the press conference, I've been trying to duplicate their results and I simply cannot do it. My Bold 9700's antenna kicks ass from what I can tell (disclaimer: I'm not on AT&T, but rather Rogers, so maybe Rogers kick a bit of ass too for signal coverage). I either get no drop in coverage, or after realllllly covering up the phone i see a temporary drop of a couple of bars, but only for a second or two, and then the bars come back up to basically full. RIM has been building radios for a lonnnng time. I'm guessing it senses the sudden drop in signal strength and automatically ramps up the power to increase it to full bars again. I'm no engineer though, so I hope somebody smarter than me comes forward to shed more light on this (hopefully RIM does).

In the meantime, if you have a BlackBerry Bold 9700, put it to the test. Can you duplicate Apple's results? Or are you seeing what I'm seeing... no issues at all. Cast your vote and sound off in the comments. I'm sure this isn't the last we've heard of the new smartphone antenna debate.

Filed Under: News & Rumors; Tags: Apple, iPhone 4
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258 Comments

Posted by chiratsu Friday, Jul 16, 2010 574 days ago

is full of shit!

 
 
Posted by don_poky Friday, Jul 16, 2010 574 days ago

Apple discriminating all Smartphone users WTF! - http://ou.gd/21j

 
 
Posted by devGOD Friday, Jul 16, 2010 574 days ago

i can duplicate that problem with tmobile. i went from full bars and dropped two bars gripping it exactly like the phone. so apple/jobs is right it does happen on any phone, its just not as drastic as the iphone. so everyone should calm down, just cause a bb was shown as an example to something that happens to just about all phones

 
 
Posted by yoga.flame Friday, Jul 16, 2010 574 days ago

Since I don't use an iPhone or AT&T I couldn't really care less, but on my Bold 9650 this doesn't happen.

 
 
Posted by jrfischbach Friday, Jul 16, 2010 574 days ago

I had the same thing happen on my tmo 8900, went from 4 bars to 1 bar. When I removed my hand it went back to 4 bars. So I am sure it is an issue with many phones.

 
 
Posted by sk8er_tor Friday, Jul 16, 2010 574 days ago

I have an 8900 with Rogers and I don't experience any loss of bars no matter how I hold the phone. Same with my 9700 on Rogers. There's a reason why Steve Jobs did not show this live. It's because it can't be replicated like the problem with the iPhone. Also, a phone may drop a bar or two but there's a difference between dropping bars and dopping a call.

 
 
Posted by thistinyfeeling Saturday, Jul 17, 2010 573 days ago

i have a tmo 8900 and i tried it multiple times and i lost 1 bar once... definitely not anything more.

 
 
Posted by gbeebe Friday, Jul 16, 2010 574 days ago

So if it happens to all phones, why is it such a big deal with the iPhone4?

When the 9700 first came out, I never saw a negative review saying that if you hold the phone in the wrong position, the signal drops.

So while there may be certain cases where signal drops on a Blackberry, but I've never heard of a 'correct way' to hold it.

 
 
Posted by kram941 Saturday, Jul 17, 2010 573 days ago

Because no other phone is on the same level as the iPhone.

 
 
Posted by sf18443 Saturday, Jul 17, 2010 573 days ago

If you are referring to the level of engineering FAIL then I have to agree with you.

 
 
Posted by hostsite Saturday, Jul 17, 2010 573 days ago

Yeah, I totally agree there. I went from a BB to an iphone, back to the BB and not even going to try the new ios4. I was one of the very first to get an iphone when it came out and I had to swap it out 3 times. Blackberry for life!

 
 
Posted by biohaz Sunday, Jul 18, 2010 572 days ago

My wife and I always used BB's to communicate, but when iphone 3g came she wanted it. So she went ahead and bought it not even 3 months into it. She went back to Blackberry.

 
 
Posted by gbeebe Monday, Jul 19, 2010 572 days ago

And that's what it comes down to, the lack of effort from Apple to really do thorough testing and make sure their phone can do advanced stuff - as well as the everyday basics.

I, myself, started on Blackberry, switched to the iPhone when it first came out, and then switched back to Blackberry.

When the 3G came out, I gave Apple another shot and bought one. Like the first time, I switched back to Blackberry and have not even considered going back.

Next on my upgrade agenda: Blackberry 9800

 
 
Posted by bradfordjohnson Friday, Jul 16, 2010 574 days ago

I have a 9700 on AT&T in Lexington, KY. I never have a single problem with coverage, full 3G all of the time. My girlfriend has an iPhone on AT&T, Dad has a 9000 on AT&T and boss has an Incredible (previously a Storm) on Verizon. The only person I EVER experience dropped calls with is my girlfriend...and I think it's safe to say it's all because of her iPhone. When these drops happen, my 9700 is still connected to the call while hers says "call failed" or whatever message the iPhone gives her.

 
 
Posted by anonymousguy Friday, Jul 16, 2010 574 days ago

my exact reaction when I first read about it.

 
 
Posted by cycling56 Friday, Jul 16, 2010 574 days ago

Grow UP!

 
 
Posted by joe361 Friday, Jul 16, 2010 574 days ago

If I cover the bottom my signal goes from -70 dBm to -81 dBm. That's with a case installed.

 
 
Posted by MgGuGu Friday, Jul 16, 2010 574 days ago

No, I can't get the death grip working on my bb9700. It's naked; dun have any cases btw.

 
 
Posted by webmastir Friday, Jul 16, 2010 574 days ago

that's cause you're doing it wrong!!! gosh!

 
 
Posted by BBThemes Friday, Jul 16, 2010 574 days ago

i cant even get the bars on an iPhone4 to drop let alone a BB 9700
i blame the network, jobs shouldnt = say `it happens to all phones` when thats just BS. no ammount of marketing spin can save apple from the state of a network.

 
 
Posted by jcastilloalonso Friday, Jul 16, 2010 574 days ago

Same here, my signal does not drop, if I cover all I can with both hands, the signal drops 1-2 bars and then after 2 seconds go up again to five and stay there. When I remove my hand the signal stays there.

 
 
Posted by jcarty Friday, Jul 16, 2010 574 days ago

I haven't tested it on a Bold but I can certainly say this does NOT happen on my Storm2 on Verizon.

I've tried covering the whole phone and one bar may drop but as you said, it goes right back up to 5.

No case here either.

 
 
Posted by Imayam Friday, Jul 16, 2010 574 days ago

Same here. I dont have a BOLD, ut i do have an 8900, and no thanks to Apple igniting the spark for me attempting to "death grip" my phone in 100 different ways, I have found a way to go from my normal 3-4 bars to 5!!

That was such a fail at a low blow by Apple.

 
 
Posted by grreyes24 Friday, Jul 16, 2010 574 days ago

I found that if I hold the 9700 tight with 2 hands and both of my palms in the bottom corners of the phone I will drop coverage all the way down. That isn't the same way Apple said they were able to do it, and I would never hold my phone like this and use it at the same time, but I was able to drop my signal. Nothing like just touching an iPhone 4 though.

 
 
Posted by ibzrg1570 Friday, Jul 16, 2010 574 days ago

I cupped the bottom of my phone in my palm and used my other hand to squeeze the bottom sides and got my signal to drop to 3 bars consistently. When I let go with the other hand it went back to normal. I then tried it again 30 seconds later but I couldn't repeat it. So the problem is exists, but nowhere near the level of the iPhone 4.

 
 
Posted by gbeebe Friday, Jul 16, 2010 574 days ago

Doing this boosted my signal. Go figure lol

 
 
Posted by doolaik Friday, Jul 16, 2010 574 days ago

I've had my phone since Nov and nary a dropped call. Sorry Jobs, but this is complete BS.

 
 
Posted by CrackBerryV79 Friday, Jul 16, 2010 574 days ago

I agree... He's full of shit. Not only can I NOT replicate this, but I put my phone in my pocket, then sat pillows on it for 30 seconds. (Bored) When I pull it back out, it's at 3 3G bars, and promptly jumps back up to 4. (On this particular theme, 4 bars = full coverage)

Just goes to show - and yes, I do own one - the I4 was built as a media and game tool first, phone second.

 
 
Posted by webmastir Friday, Jul 16, 2010 574 days ago

it's any/most bb's

 
 
Posted by CrackBerryV79 Friday, Jul 16, 2010 574 days ago

We're going out and intentionally covering the phone and holding it in a way you NEVER would in normal operation - I also found that my BBs drop coverage if I submerge them in soy sauce. The huge key difference is that the I4 has this issue when users hold the phone in a NORMAL, PHONE-LIKE MANNER. That's just crazy.

 
 
Posted by papped Friday, Jul 16, 2010 574 days ago

Now RIM has to hold a press conference on how the user was using the soy sauce wrong...

 
 
Posted by mdjones21 Friday, Jul 16, 2010 574 days ago

owned.

 
 
Posted by CustomGrain Friday, Jul 16, 2010 574 days ago

Mine stays full 3G. If I squeezed any harder I'd be picking up pieces of my 9700 off the floor. Apple is sofa king red tar did.

 
 
Posted by stevejb Friday, Jul 16, 2010 574 days ago

This is desperate on the part of Apple.....

 
 
Posted by M00k Friday, Jul 16, 2010 574 days ago

I have to really cup the whole thing tightly go get it to drop down at all and even then it goes straight back up.

Anyway, simply holding the phone and having the signal drop and purposely blocking it are two entirely different things...

 
 
Posted by ajtouchstone Friday, Jul 16, 2010 574 days ago

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gwHrELfGN1w

 
 
Posted by pnr2020 Friday, Jul 16, 2010 574 days ago

he is right if you got a low signal hold your phone at top and bottom and it will shoot up hold it normal on sides and it goes to 1 bar on mine if i had a video camera i would record it and show everyone

 
 
Posted by cdf3 Friday, Jul 16, 2010 574 days ago

If I hold the bottom half of the phone tightly and wait 5 - 10 seconds, the bars will drop.

 
 
Posted by CrackBerryV79 Friday, Jul 16, 2010 574 days ago

Would you be doing this?

 
 
Posted by devGOD Friday, Jul 16, 2010 574 days ago

thats a standard grip, it probably happens when not using a case and you never notice it. 1. because people don't over analyze every aspect of a BB as they do a iphone. 2. the drop is not drastic as the iphone. 3.Apple is correct when they say it happens on all phones, and its true they were not lying.

 
 
Posted by CrackBerryV79 Friday, Jul 16, 2010 574 days ago

Squeezing tightly is never a standard grip. I don't use cases on my BB, and my I4 is case-less as well. This is not an issue "BB fanboys" brought up - it's an issue iPhone users are reporting. I'm not doubting that many phones will drop a bit of coverage when you attempt to squeeze water from them, but merely holding the phone is a comfortable, phone call-making manner should not degrade the reception.

It's clear that the thinking process started and stopped with users playing on the phone like they do the demo phones in the store, i.e. Holding the phone in a landscape view to play on the web, or just playing games, oblivious to the antenna and reception.

 
 
Posted by devGOD Friday, Jul 16, 2010 574 days ago

the examples apple should made since to me. they showed popular phones with bars dropping. if a BB wasn't shown, people would probably start talking about how that would never happen with a BB. When in fact it'll happen with just about any phone where your bare hand touches the antenna area. The demo was just to show it happens, but not as much as an iphone drop but the fact that all phones lose bars. And to me that's a fair demonstration. They were not trying to make RIM or Motorola look bad it was just an example with the popular phones out right now, which is fair in my eyes.

that doesn't excuse apples iphone4 from dropping so much that calls fail, though.

 
 
Posted by sk8er_tor Friday, Jul 16, 2010 574 days ago

No, actually, it's not fair because it's not true. If it was true, he would have shown a live demonstration and not a stupid picture.

 
 
Posted by cycling56 Friday, Jul 16, 2010 574 days ago

Nice Comment.... Remember...they do have a proximity sensor problem that could be the reason for most of the dropped calls and they are working on a fix for that but nobody is taking that into consideration.

 
 
Posted by cmcichon Friday, Jul 16, 2010 574 days ago

All he did was put on a nice presentation and say "everyone's does it, so does ours, so don't blame us!" But of course any other phone they show is going to do it too! Duh! For the 95% of the masses that use apple because its the "cool thing", they are going to take his speech for face value, and hold on to that belief.

For the rest of us, who actually understand that you always need to "mind your sources" (yes, we all learned that in 6th grade for writing reports) you'll look past his bs. It was an innovative idea to put the antenna on the outside, but clearly, they all idea people and not engineers.

Oh well, bring on the duct tape i guess. I'm sticking with my 9550!

 
 
Posted by cycling56 Saturday, Jul 17, 2010 574 days ago

Good stick to your 9550 you weren't going to switch anyway. I have a 9700 and a iPhone4 and couldn't be happier. Both are awesome phones in their own ways.

 
 
Posted by jcagg1271 Friday, Jul 16, 2010 574 days ago

I remember when the LG Shine came out and reviewers tried to say the same thing about losing signal strength when holding the phone, due to the antennae being in the base of the phone. BlackBerrys don't even have the all aluminum housing of that phone (I couldn't accomplish the signal drop on the Shine) so I feel this is a marketing angle and nothing more. If someone wants to send me a bold, I'll be more than happy to try it, as it is...I'm still squeezing the last drops out of my 8310. Mortgage, household bills and married life responsibilities come first. WAAA!

 
 
Posted by jreitz1 Friday, Jul 16, 2010 574 days ago

I just tried giving my BB9700 a good firm grip with 1 and 2 hands and no drop at all on my T-Mobile.

 
 
Posted by cycling56 Saturday, Jul 17, 2010 574 days ago

Take the case off!

 
 
Posted by netposer Friday, Jul 16, 2010 574 days ago

When is RIM going to get off it's ass and attack Apple? It's bad enough they have yet to release OS 6 or any ground breaking devices in close to 2 years. They should at least announce the 9800 or they are going to fall even further behind. What about the Storm 3?

Then they let Apple smash them on stage... WTF?

 
 
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