Comments on: Mapping the iPhone 3G's dead zones

By: Hermosa Beach, CA

Hermosa Beach, CA — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 05:08:05 +0000

http://www.3GDeadZones.com already has 100,000+ complaints in the database.

By: Raymond, Round Rock, TX

Raymond, Round Rock, TX — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 21:01:46 +0000

3G is definitely a hype. I have been using a Samsung 3G phone from AT&T for a while and recently bought new iPhone 3G after waiting for it for months. The phone is good for beginning to intermediate PDA users. It lacks the features the other Sony, Nokia, Samsung phones have it for years in their PDAs. It wouldn't hurt Apple to add more features and AT&T to be flexible and change with the current times. Apple shouldn't have gone with only one carrier in the United States. They did so they don't have to worry about competing with other products in the market.

By: Scott, Minneapolis MN

Scott, Minneapolis MN — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 13:46:47 +0000

I am a longtime T-mobile customer (since they were Voicestream). When AT&T tried to roll out competing GSM service here in MN, they failed horribly. It took years before their system was anything compared to T-mo's.

I wouldn't buy a 3g iPhone until I can find an unlocked one to run on T-mo's towers.

By: diane ny,ny

diane ny,ny — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 13:22:54 +0000

i love my iphone but definitely agree the 3G service is overhyped and underwhelming, and I don't see a dramatic difference between it and EDGE. My phone is extremely pokey in accessing web pages and emails, nothing remotely close to the demonstrations on apple's site or the commercials. Because I have a history of poor reception, dropped calls and iffy coverage with ATT, and only positive experiences with Apple, I think the problem is obvious.

By: Michael Vacaville, California

Michael Vacaville, California — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 22:07:17 +0000

Mine works just fine. Frankly, it's so superior to anything else that I'm enthralled with it.

I have had a couple of dropped calls. OMG. Pressing redial is such an arduous task…

By: Kathy, Des Moines, IA

Kathy, Des Moines, IA — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 16:05:40 +0000

I will wait for the Dell Phone…it will be cheaper and better. I am tired of over priced Apple.

By: Will - Phoenix

Will - Phoenix — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 19:16:21 +0000

It is Apple's fault. They could have chosen to sell through another wireless provider with ubiquitous 3G coverage.

By: Sacto Joe, Sacramento, CA

Sacto Joe, Sacramento, CA — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 15:12:06 +0000

Here's another thought: These 3G phones that people here are comparing to the Apple: What kind of web page are they delivering? Anything like the size and resolution of the Apple?

No? Well, you can't just go off of "bars" – you need to see exactly how many bits of info are being transferred.

That's the only true test!

By: Eric, Cincinnati OH

Eric, Cincinnati OH — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 13:19:07 +0000

If Steve Jobs was more about testing his products then he would be able to stop this, but he is riding a wave of profits and doesn't want to let up for nobody. The funny thing here is that this product is all Apple's and no one else is to blame at all. No driver issues on this mishap. Maybe its the $1 a week the factory workers get paid that is bringing the quality down? Apple seems to go the opposite directions of advance for the sake of pulling in the cash and competing with Microsoft. If its a hardware problem its gonna be not so easy to fix from any update. RECALL maybe or they may just centrally shutdown the 3G functionality like they can do with the apps they don't want you using. Please save us big brother Apple, you're our only hope.

By: Doug, Mtn. View, CA

Doug, Mtn. View, CA — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 06:51:27 +0000

There's no doubt, at least in my mind, that this entire 3G issue, be it hardware or software, is Steve Jobs' worst nightmare. His entire business model is based on controlling both the hardware and software. It has worked with Macs and iPods, but with iPhones, we have a new leg on the stool — The Network. And Steve Jobs can't control it. Don't think he is unaware of this limitation — he most assuredly is. If he had his way, he would set up his own network. However, even his $20 billion cash hoard isn't enough to buy him the network he wants and needs around the globe. Hence, he's stuck with using what he can get from AT&T. It must be KILLING him!

There are problems in all areas of the design, and I'd be anyone a coke that Jobs has all sides working feverishly to clean up the product. We will never know, at least from him, what those problems are. He never airs his dirty laundry. But once his guys have found the major bugs, you can bet there will be some relief to this issue.

Let's not forget how the Leopard rollout went. 10.5.0 and .1 were pretty ugly. 10.5.1 was released a mere 3 weeks after the initial release. Three months passed until we got 10.5.2, which finally got things right, by and large. I am willing to wager that we will see something similar from Apple, and that 2.0.3 will be a major improvement for everyone (finally!)

But until that day comes, all you guys are doing is driving yourself nuts biting your own tails. You can bet your last dollar that Jobs is keenly aware of your collective angst, even though he stays sequestered (as he always does).

I know very little about phones, but this much I do know: they are so massively complex that the simpleton discussions we see on blog pages like this are SO naive. The few millions of lines of code, the infinite possibilities of instruction branches, in conjunction with an infinitely variable radio signal. I don't know how anyone can get a handle on the task. Most parts of the code are working as they should, but oh those lines that don't! Now all they have to do is weed through the few million haystacks and find the needles. It's so simple, right?

I'd hate to be an Apple iPhone engineer at this time. The daily beating must be merciless.

ex ped: Smart comment. Thanks.