It's the Spot, Not the Death Grip, That's the Problem!

Finally, CNN Fortune has published an article noting that Apple PR has managed to change the iPhone 4's 'spot' into a death grip that all phones suffer from.

At the Apple (AAPL) press event on Friday, somehow, right in front of a crowd of journalists (depicted at the end of the Taiwanese video below), the 'finger spot' that cut signal somehow turned into a more universal 'death grip' which also cuts signal but in just about every mobile device ever made.


It's been an infuriating process to watch. The iPhone suffers signal loss when you grip it tightly and block the antenna. Every phone does. This is not a problem worth mentioning.

The real issue is that if you use your finger to lightly bridge the two antennas that are separated at the bottom left of the iPhone 4, you will lose signal. This is what all the fuss should be about. As we've mentioned before - this is what is fixed by wrap, a bandaid, duck tape, or a case. Not the death grip. Somehow Apple managed to get through an entire press conference and Q&A period without addressing this issue and even turning it into a different one.

After the press conference, HTC, Nokia, Samsung and RIM all issued statements saying their phones weren't affected by the death grip.

Of course it affects your phones! When you squeeze a bunch of electronics and antennas together and surround them with a handful of signal-blocking water, you will lose signal. Like Steve Jobs said, "every device ever made has that same issue. That is just physics."


This played into Apple's plan perfectly. Everyone with a HTC, Nokia, Samsung, and Blackberry can easily pick up their devices and simulate the death grip.

But, the death grip was never the issue that made the iPhone 4 unique. The issue was with the 'finger spot.' The unique design of the external antennas makes it so that bridging them with flesh cuts the signal.

Fortune is in awe of Apple's PR capabilities and rightly so. Let's just hope Apple has secretly been applying an electrically insulating coating on the sides. Otherwise get yourself awrapforthat, an invisibleSHIELD, or a free bumper.