It has been quite a while since the whole iPhone death grip saga, which was aptly named Antennagate, and it is almost forgotten about by iPhone 4 users. This issue, which caused significant controversy at the time, involved the iPhone 4 losing signal strength when held in a certain way. Apple eventually addressed the issue by offering free cases to affected users and making design changes in subsequent models.
However, other smartphones have come under criticism recently for having a similar issue. One of those is the new Windows Phone 7 smartphone from HTC, the HD7. This device has been reported to experience signal loss when held in a specific manner, reminiscent of the Antennagate issue.
HTC has now released a statement, which you can see below, and they seem to follow a similar line that Apple did when they had problems earlier in the year.
Quality in industrial design is of key importance to HTC. To ensure the best possible signal strength, antennas are placed in the area least likely to be covered by a person’s face or hands while the phone is in use. However, it is inevitable that a phone’s signal strength will weaken a little when covered in its entirety by a user’s palm or fingers. We test all of our phones extensively and are confident that under normal circumstances reception strength and performance will be more than sufficient for the operation of the phone when network coverage is also adequate.
Understanding the Death Grip Issue
The “death grip” issue is not unique to any single manufacturer or model. It is a phenomenon that occurs when the human hand interferes with the phone’s antenna, leading to a drop in signal strength. This can happen with any phone, depending on how it is held and where the antenna is located. The problem is exacerbated in areas with weak network coverage, where even a small reduction in signal strength can lead to dropped calls or slow data speeds.
In the case of the HTC HD7, users have reported that holding the phone in a certain way can cause a noticeable drop in signal strength. This has led to frustration among some users, who feel that the phone should be able to maintain a strong signal regardless of how it is held. However, as HTC’s statement points out, it is difficult to design a phone that is completely immune to this issue.
Comparing Responses from Manufacturers
When Apple faced the Antennagate issue, they initially downplayed the problem, suggesting that users were holding the phone incorrectly. This response was met with criticism, and Apple eventually offered free cases to affected users and made design changes in subsequent models. HTC’s response to the HD7 issue is more measured, acknowledging that signal strength can be affected by how the phone is held but emphasizing that their phones are designed to perform well under normal circumstances.
It is worth noting that other manufacturers have also faced similar issues. For example, Samsung’s Galaxy S series has been reported to experience signal loss when held in certain ways. In each case, the manufacturer has had to balance acknowledging the issue with reassuring customers that their phones are designed to perform well under normal use.
If you own an HTC HD7 and have had similar problems, let us know in the comments below, as we would be interested to find out how many HD7 users are having these problems. Sharing your experiences can help other users understand the issue and may prompt manufacturers to take further action to address it.
via BGR
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