Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

iPhone 4 gets a $1 alternative to pricey Bumpers
Engadget ^ | 7/1/10 | Vlad Savov

Posted on 07/01/2010 2:20:04 PM PDT by dangerdoc

If you ask us, Apple should be giving away free bumpers, lollipops, and anything else it can think of to keep its otherwise loyal followers from revolting. But the Great Bitten One isn't doing any one of those things, and most of us are stuck either having to pony up $30 for the official salvation from self-inflicted signal harm or looking out to the grey markets. Entering this morose situation with a bit of ingenuity is Oliver Nelson, who alerts us to the fact that rubber wristbands of the sort your favorite cyclist wears are apparently an almost perfect fit when stretched around the 4's antennae. He advises that a 1.125-inch long by 0.125-inch wide incision (into the unstretched band) is necessary to keep the 30-pin port and speakers open, but otherwise it seems like a pretty effortless and dirt cheap way to avoid all this drama.


TOPICS: Computers/Internet
KEYWORDS: ilovebillgates; iwanthim; iwanthimbad; microsoftfanboys

1 posted on 07/01/2010 2:20:05 PM PDT by dangerdoc
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: dangerdoc
I saw this last night:

iPhone 4 video embodies new-tech aesthetic

You're going to wrap your embodiment of a new-tech aesthetic in a cheezy rubber band?

2 posted on 07/01/2010 2:30:43 PM PDT by tacticalogic ("Oh bother!" said Pooh, as he chambered his last round.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: dangerdoc

Other than comfort, what problem are these bands supposed to solve?


3 posted on 07/01/2010 2:47:46 PM PDT by Paradox (Socialism - trickle up poverty.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Paradox

“Other than comfort, what problem are these bands supposed to solve?”

With the band people won’t have to worry about holding the phone the wrong way.


4 posted on 07/01/2010 2:57:46 PM PDT by driftdiver (I could eat it raw, but why do that when I have a fire.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: Paradox

The phone has an external antenna which is supposed to improve the signal unless you touch it which actually dampens the signal.

The band is an insulator which keeps you from dampening the signal.


5 posted on 07/01/2010 3:05:12 PM PDT by dangerdoc
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: dangerdoc

But, the shape and the look of iPhone are part of its appeal. Now, they’re telling us to cover the phone? Isn’t it like putting burkha or hijab on a woman?


6 posted on 07/01/2010 3:14:19 PM PDT by paudio (Mr. 0bama, focus on Gulf, not Golf.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Swordmaker

ping


7 posted on 07/03/2010 5:25:39 AM PDT by dangerdoc
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: dangerdoc

Hey, Doc, thanks for the link. American ingenuity at it’s best.


8 posted on 07/03/2010 12:49:21 PM PDT by Swordmaker (Remember, the proper pronunciation of IE is AAAAIIIIIEEEEEEE!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: dangerdoc

Sorry. I want a hot pink bumper. Not a rubber band!


9 posted on 07/03/2010 12:54:17 PM PDT by Yaelle
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ~Kim4VRWC's~; 1234; 50mm; Abundy; Action-America; acoulterfan; AFreeBird; Airwinger; Aliska; ...
Endgadget has come up with an economic antenna shield for the iPhone4 - $1 — PING!


IPhone4 Antenna Ping!

If you want on or off the Mac Ping List, Freepmail me.

10 posted on 07/03/2010 12:54:52 PM PDT by Swordmaker (Remember, the proper pronunciation of IE is AAAAIIIIIEEEEEEE!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: dangerdoc

Apple handing out “free rubbers” with it’s iPhone.... might not be a sound PR move.


11 posted on 07/03/2010 1:23:05 PM PDT by Gator113
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: paudio
But, the shape and the look of iPhone are part of its appeal. Now, they’re telling us to cover the phone? Isn’t it like putting burkha or hijab on a woman?

I don't think I've seen three iPhones in the wild that didn't have some kind of case over them. Most people use them for drop and scratch protection.

12 posted on 07/03/2010 1:23:31 PM PDT by Richard Kimball (We're all criminals. They just haven't figured out what some of us have done yet.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: Gator113
I'd find a better name, but you're right.

A lot of the people who make the after market cases might object.

13 posted on 07/03/2010 1:24:52 PM PDT by Richard Kimball (We're all criminals. They just haven't figured out what some of us have done yet.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: dangerdoc
I think I'll skip the iphone 4 and just wait for them to release a model that does NOT suck with respect to the antenna problem.

Droid X looks better and better each day.

14 posted on 07/03/2010 1:27:11 PM PDT by Centurion2000 (If I don't like you, it's most likely your culture or your ideology that pissed me off.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: tacticalogic

I prefer duct tape.


15 posted on 07/03/2010 1:27:46 PM PDT by Cyber Liberty (Build a man a fire; he'll be warm for a night. Set a man on fire; he'll be warm the rest of his life)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Centurion2000
Droid X looks better and better each day.

Better still. But I'm biased.

16 posted on 07/03/2010 1:29:58 PM PDT by Cyber Liberty (Build a man a fire; he'll be warm for a night. Set a man on fire; he'll be warm the rest of his life)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: paudio
" Isn’t it like putting burkha or hijab on a woman?"

More like a Bikini -- or a "monokini"... '-}

17 posted on 07/03/2010 1:35:25 PM PDT by TXnMA ("Allah": Satan's current alias...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: dangerdoc

I ordered a new 4 from Radio Shack that will be in any time in the next few days...today I am hearing from Twitter conversations that the reason the problem exists in some phones and not others is a bad production run on initial shipments...one that left a protective coating off the metal band and a bridge piece missing.
Word is that Apple will be offering to repair or replace those phones once “an official solution is arrived at”.


18 posted on 07/03/2010 2:01:19 PM PDT by Niteflyr ("The number one goal in life is to parent yourself" Carl Jung)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Niteflyr
More info here
19 posted on 07/03/2010 2:06:47 PM PDT by Niteflyr ("The number one goal in life is to parent yourself" Carl Jung)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson