As we all get excited about Apple's latest products one of which (the iPad 2) is heavily rumoured to be released in a few hours, the university of Bristol are happy to remind us about last year's biggest tech fluff up.
According to research by academics at the University's Centre for Communications Research, the death grip problem is widespread and it's damn real.
What’s more interesting (and damaging) is that they found that adding a bumper or plastic case to the phone has little or no effect.
“Antenna position and user grip on smartphones may lead to obstruction of radio signal paths and antenna detuning,” says Mark Beach, professor of radio systems engineering in the Department of Electrical & Electronic Engineering.
"Research looking at the automated re-tuning of the antenna elements to maintain high efficiency when holding smartphones or similar devices to enhance connection reliability with wireless networks is ongoing within the CCR” he said.
People may not care about the antenna issue any more especially with the iPhone 5 on its way, but if the problem is so serious and so widespread who's to say it won't happen again? There's obviously no trusting Apple engineers who have not only messed up the antennae but flogged of bumper cases as a useless fix.
Source: TGdaily
One thought on “Bumper Cases Are Useless In Fixing iPhone Grip Of Death”
It’s not true the bumper has little to no effect – I have a iphone 4 and a bumper just like the one in your pic. Trying it just now I have 3 bars if I keep my hands away, it drops to 1 bar putting my palm around the lower left corner without the bumper and to 2 bars with the bumper.
Without the bumper I used to drop calls if I held it there, with the bumper that has never happened.
You don’t really need university research – just borrow an iphone and play with it.
In defense of apple, probably most phones signal will drop a bit if you cup your hand over the aerial.