Apple squeezes the reception out of Nokia N97 mini

21 July, 2010
Apple seem keen to prove other smartphones have the same reception attenuation as the iPhone 4. And they are getting back with a video of Nokia N97 mini that suffers from the same grip of death as the iPhone...

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  • Guy
  • C}v
  • 21 Jul 2010

Anonymous, 21 Jul 2010The truth hurts huh? Are you sobbing that the ip4 is not t... moreAll phones have attenuation. This is a fact.

"Too bad others can't have external antennas after they criticized the ip4."

Why would they want to? Then you have de-tuning issues. If any part of your palm or hand covers the external antenna, and that area isn't coated or covered, they act as conductors and end up de-tuning it. From there the reception of the antenna can drop more than -20dB, which makes you lose bars significantly and soon drop calls.

A post from a blog on the matter:

"According to physics, microwaves are absorbed by water. This is why your microwave oven works. If you put something dry in the oven, it will not heat up, because there is no water to absorb the energy.

This means that if you cover an antenna with your hand, you will be able to attenuate the signal. ALL PHONES EXPERIENCE THIS.

BUT.... Apple has an additional problem.

The issue with the iPhone is that IN ADDITION to attenuating the signal, you are able to de-tune the antenna. By coupling the two antennas with your finger, you change its radiating properties, and make it lose something like 24dB (99.5%) of its power. So, before you add any actual attenuation from your hand, you're only looking at 0.5% of your power escaping the phone."

    • d
    • deep space bar
    • q}@
    • 21 Jul 2010

    Anonymous, 21 Jul 2010The truth hurts huh? Are you sobbing that the ip4 is not t... moretwo phones that i know that have the external antenna or antenna booster

    nokia 6500 slide
    http://www.gsmarena.com/nokia_6500_slide-1996.php

    LG shine series

    apple does fail cause nokia and LG didn't hype the phone as a external antenna

      • b
      • bricked
      • mXQ
      • 21 Jul 2010

      It's Microsoft all over again. They had a large presence in the PC software industry, and were hated for it. Apple had a period where it was deemed "cool", and now people are lashing out at it, even though there are millions of satisfied customers owning iphone 4's, Macbooks and ipads.

        • ?
        • Anonymous
        • 3xJ
        • 21 Jul 2010

        Apple is just trying to divert their iphone4 design failure and trying to put blame on other manufacturers shoulder.. what cheap idea APPLE! grow up! i have used both n97 n n97 mini never had such an issue, Apple might have screwed up this device to create this idiotic video!!

          • ?
          • Anonymous
          • FJR
          • 21 Jul 2010

          Aseem, 21 Jul 2010Steve Jobs is a loser....instead of agreeing to the point t... moreIt's because the media don't make a big deal on other phone's attenuation issues.  And others don't have aggressive haters like the iphone does.  This is a common problem with phones.  Why do you think none of them denied Apple's statement that all phones have weak spots?  You're just mad that Apple striked back by exposing the truth.

            • f
            • fin
            • nmN
            • 21 Jul 2010

            So why dont people in apple grow up...just admit that ur antenna is at the wrong place.

              • ?
              • Anonymous
              • FJR
              • 21 Jul 2010

              [deleted post]The truth hurts huh? Are you sobbing that the ip4 is not the only phone with attenuation issues?

              What's worse for the others is. The ip4's antenna design seems to actually offer a lot of benefits. When Apple finds a way to remedy that weak spot, it would pretty much be the only phone with no weak spot, and its antenna would be an innovation. Too bad others can't have external antennas after they criticized the ip4.

                • A
                • Aseem
                • utR
                • 21 Jul 2010

                Steve Jobs is a loser....instead of agreeing to the point that there is a problem with iphone 4....he is crying like a baby nd dragging other companies into controversy. None other phne except for iphone 4 has ever reported reception issues while holding them. Many people have used Nokia N97 mini as well as BLACKBERRY BOLD 9700 and they have never reported any problem..Behave like a man steve...Stop acting like a loser.

                  • ?
                  • Anonymous
                  • KFP
                  • 21 Jul 2010

                  Anonymous, 21 Jul 2010Oh please. Consumer Reports FAILED big time. They heard r... moreDont need to cry, Steve Jobs reputation is questionable not consumer report's.

                    • ?
                    • Anonymous
                    • L3A
                    • 21 Jul 2010

                    apple = liar and unethical company
                    steve jobs = stupid angry kid
                    this really piss me off....

                      • e
                      • elsergio
                      • 9Fj
                      • 21 Jul 2010

                      Im sad about this cus I was expecting a lower price on the 3GS with the iPhone 4 coming out. But now I think this aint going to happen.
                      Im getting a 3GS no matter what though.

                        • ?
                        • Anonymous
                        • tVq
                        • 21 Jul 2010

                        steve job is like a boy crying and claiming that his brother is oso doing the same when he was caught stealing money by his mommy....

                          • J
                          • J
                          • k6x
                          • 21 Jul 2010

                          Haha - come on do people really believe that this is a common issue with all phones??? The issue with the iphone 4 is REAL and affects real people. The sensitivity to decreasing signal strength is much higher and quicker than other phones. Other phones do not even notice beacuse they have theirs under control with proper design.

                          Apple - just come on already take responsibility for such a design flaw - have some integrity!

                            • d
                            • deep space bar
                            • q}@
                            • 21 Jul 2010

                            the apple vs nokia just gets worse and apple keeps taking cheap shots

                            and now they are bringing more enemies to the field

                            and taking cheap shots at them

                            but after this i really wanna see what nokia will do to apple cause for a fact it's not gonna be pretty at all

                              • ?
                              • Anonymous
                              • YQq
                              • 21 Jul 2010

                              ALonZo, 21 Jul 2010Yeah Apple have gone about this strangely. But massive site... moreApple is the one who overdo it by doing some unnecessary immature act to draw bad attention to itself.

                              GSMArena just merely doing what they do as a mobile phone website.
                              Isn't this what apple want all the mobile website and forum to publish when they put up this kind of low IQ videos or whatever you call it?

                              If GSMArena do not do it, then it is not worth for us to visit at all.

                              So if there is someone to blame, blame apple the one who created the chaos for themselves and not the one who help them to publish the news.

                                • i
                                • iphone fan
                                • tVq
                                • 21 Jul 2010

                                as a iphone fan....after watching the video i finally realize there is something in the world that is better looking than the iphone....
                                and oopss its has even better spec than my iphone....i will surely buy this n97 mini....thanks to steve job for dedicating such a cool video and introduce me the n97mini....

                                  • J
                                  • J
                                  • k6x
                                  • 21 Jul 2010

                                  does apple think we are stupid? If there is no issue why are they desparately trying to fix it?

                                  The whole point is that apple designed it poorly and the dropped call issue is affecting real users under real situations. These poor simulations are just laboratory tests that affect pretty much no one. Just look at the N97 mini test - wow he is really squeezing that phone like a vice!

                                    • ?
                                    • Anonymous
                                    • FJR
                                    • 21 Jul 2010

                                    Anonymous, 21 Jul 2010not tothe extent that the iphone4 has this issue.If you lis... moreOh please. Consumer Reports FAILED big time. They heard rumors about the death grip prior to their review, and they singled out ip4 as well w/out checking whether other phones may have the same issue. Turns out that is is a common issue among all phones. And what's up with Consumer Reports sarcasm advising a duct rape. Haven't they heard of cases? Bye bye Consumer Reports. Your reputation is questionable.

                                      • N
                                      • NO1 Environmentalist
                                      • tVq
                                      • 21 Jul 2010

                                      I hope apple can invent a organic to make their iphone and even their plastic cases should be replace by some organic material so that it wont pollute the earth.....
                                      I just buried my iphone in my courtyard...how nice is it if i can fertilize my land at the same time i buried my iphone?it could be just perfect....actually i dont want to pollute my courtyard with it but still iphone deserve nothing better than that...

                                      and as we all know apple is just rubbish but they has just break their selling record recently....

                                      AS A PART OF THE EARTH I URGE ALL OF YOU STOP BUYING IPHONE,SAVE THE PLANET BY STOP CREATING RUBBISH,SAVE THE PLANET....STOP BUYING IPHONE....THINK FOR YOUR GRANDCHILDREN AND STOP BUYING IPHONE....

                                        • J
                                        • James
                                        • k6x
                                        • 21 Jul 2010

                                        If he gripped the ipohneb as tight as the n97 mini - the iphone would break.