More iPhone 4 Problems
I have been talking a lot lately about all the various glitches that have been appearing in Apple’s iPhone 4 since its release. Between the screen yellowing, reception issues and some reports of swapped buttons (read all about it here), the new iPhone 4 sure has not seemed to be able to catch a break. Things get more interesting for the iOS 4 powered smart phone however. The Inquirer.nethas reported that some of the units have defective proximity sensors. Add this to the fact that Microsoft Exchange Calendar does not seem to be syncing properly for users who upgrade to iOS 4, and you have some angry customers.
What exactly does the proximity sensor do? It is the magical little bit of electrical engineering that turns off the iPhone’s screen when a call is in progress and the device nears your head. While this is supposed to prevent your ears from touching buttons on the phone’s screen, some users have started complaining that it just does not work properly on their new phones. A thread has popped up already on Apple’s support forum here, but no fix is available yet. Of course that assumes that a fix is possible and these simply are not defective units.
A poster on Apple’s support forum summed up the problem nicely:
“I’m having an issue with the Proximity Sensor not properly detecting when i’m holding my phone to my ear. I can confirm that the iPhone sensor is working by covering it with my finger, but when held to my face, the screen blinks as if it cannot decide to disable the screen or enable it. It results on me hanging up, putting calls on mute, and dialing numbers accidentally while i’m on the phone. This occurs on 90% of my calls.”
Ouch. Well how about the Microsoft Exchange synch problems? A differnent thread on Apple’s support site is up on that too:
“I just upgraded to iOS4 – I connect my iPhone to an Exchange server – mail and contacts work great – my calendar seems to show the right account info but the calendar is totally blank. Nothing on it at all. I even removed it and added it back and its still all blank.”
So what gives Apple? Are these new problems that have come to light due to glitch hardware, corrupted sync information that iOS 4 cannot seem to handle or just poor coding?
If you are having problems with your iPhone 4’s proximity sensor or having trouble synchronizing with Exchange after updating to iOS 4, let me know.
Tags: apple iphone 4, ios, iOS 4, iPhone
I have had exactly the same proximity sensor problems and have been waiting for someone else to notice. My phone repeatedly makes new calls to others WHILE I’m on the phone with another call. Beyond irritating. It also has other strange issues. I’m convinced this will all come out soon and will get fixed, but it is frustrating right now!
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Yes. I put someone on hold or mute them daily. Quite annoying!
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Apple has put out and inferior product, end of story. It is one problem after another with this phone. The folks over at Motorola and Verizon must have big smiles on their faces with the pending launch of the Droid X.
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I as well are having a number of issues. The proximity sensor is definitely a big one. Every phone call I make it is either hanging up, muting or dialing someone else number in the middle of a call. I also had trouble getting a phonecall through while traveling. It kept saying the call failed. I had to turn the phone off and then back on, and finally it decided to work again. Also I am use to using AT&T gps app. Well I couldn’t find a gps signal several times with the iPhone. Very inconvenient epspecially because I didn’t k ow where I was going. Liked it until I realized the sensor sucked and I had to travel.
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Non-issue. Simply avoid using the phone.
Thanks Mr. Jobs! Thanks for the phone made of magical fairy dust and ground-up unicorn horns! PIECE. OF. CRAP.
FAIL
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Tom, both my wife and I have the same problem with our phones. However, we have found that if we wait about a minute it will start responding again. So far I haven’t been able to toe it to anything specific. And i don’t have the issue 100% of the time.
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So much for “it just works” statement.
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Simply amazing. You know I think that Apple is facing all of these issues because they rushed to make the iPhone 4. Android more than likely caused this. However, Steve needs to give an official statement and soon. Until then we can only speculate.
Any how theres this article at getyourgadgetsgoing.com called “iPhone 4 Is In But The Problems Are Out: Complete Overview”
Check it out for the complete listing of iPhone 4 issues and one that you may yet have heard of but still might be experiencing.
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so angry I can’t type, I meant SYNC.
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Exchange server won’t sink… GRRRRR! I really love the new phone, but this problem needs to be solved soon!
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I am having the proximity sensor issue as well, but has anyone else cracked their screen yet? I don’t have an armband around my iphone yet because it was on back order and hasn’t arrived yet. On Sunday, just 55 hours after enabling the phone, I dropped it 12″ onto a carpeted floor and the front screen spider webbed.
I’m extremely disappointed with both AT&T as well as Apple customer service. AT&T has told me that I need to pay $600 to replace the phone, but when I called Apple they said that they could replace my screen for $199. Didn’t Apple claim that they chemically engineered this glass to be 30 times stronger than plastic? If so, how did this happen?
In my opinion, it is a poor design or a defective unit, but I’ve had no help by either AT&T or Apple. Like “Mo” said above, I still have 25 days left to return the phone – even though I’ll have to shell out way too much $$, I’m strongly considering it.
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My iphone “went black” also – I was almost in tears thinking my kids did something to it. It wouldnt turn on – even though it was charged. I saw on the Apple support that this is happening lots. Pressing the home/power button together worked but some say it happens often and they have had to replace their phones.
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Yep yep yep
I sometimes dont get calls ???? the signal drops when I hold the phone like a gorilla and yes if you hold the phone to your face as NORMAL while making calls it dose go onto mute or call other numbers and even goes to loudspeaker..
I still love it but I have 10 days left to get my money back and I am getting to the point of saying yes this has been released too early
Steve fix it or else!!!
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my new iphone goes black….and then stays black when I am making a call….then it stays black, and the no matter what I do, the screen stays black…..then when it comes on for what ever reason, it is locked, and ask me to slide the sliding arrow to unlock it…when I slide my finger over the arrow, nothing happens…it just stays locked…..then I have to re-boot the whole phone to get to to respond to my commands….So far, although I have not been an iphone user previously, it has been a COMPLETE pain in the ass….I am at the moment…not a fan of this device…..it has been more trouble to simply make a call, then ever before…..Any suggestions please? Tom L….
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