Motorola takes gloves off with new 'No Jacket Required' ad

I find it interesting that several people have now said that Apple is more known for its software than its hardware. The reality is precisely the opposite. Yes, their computers are using standard part, but the iPod is uniquely designed, the iPad is unmatched, even the iPhone's screen is unmatched.

They do excellent software, true, but they are a hardware company (as in how they make their money) and always have been. So praise Motorola for their communication expertise, but let's not rewrite history and pretend Apple is primarily a software company.

It's amazing to see the various attacks against Apple develop through innuendo. Evidently the word being spread now is that Apple is just good at software, and people are believing it without thinking about how false that is.

If Apple gives aways "bumpers" it is because they agree that there is an issue with the way you could hold the unit, possibly rendering it useless as a communication device, Motorola is praised around the world for its communication expertise, Apple is Known for its software expertise, not for its hardware, now using a standard intel PC as macbooks.... Thanks but i will side with motorola over apple anyday on communication.

Some excellent points are being made about the science behind what is happening. And yes, the problem Apple has with the iPhone 4 is uniquely identified with the design of the iPhone 4.

But this is NOT a disaster for Apple. You know how you can tell this? Apple can't make the phone fast enough. As many as they make, people buy. And the satisfaction index of purchasers are higher than any other phone. The return rate is lower. Some disaster.

So while this is a real problem, it's not a prevalent problem. Most people do not suffer from it. This is not a disaster in any logical sense of the word.

Great TWO anntennas...more radiation for us all! No need to worry about the future of the world, we're all going to die young from these devices anyway! A plot here? Hmmmm....

Quite the fun battle ro watch unfold. Apple is the champ of marketing directly against a competitor! "I'm a Mac". That being said, Mitirial has three issues to contend with:

1. Supply shortages. Apple's first mover advantage has allowed it to "prep" it's supply chain.

2. HTC - is selling some classy phones and are going full out in China.

3. Emerging perceptions of Android market security issues . This one will take greater form with time.

But for now, Verizon and Motirola are showing brilliance in marketing.

If the most important thing about your phone, and the thing you promote most is "no jacket required", you have a problem. Motorola Co-CEO Sanjay Jha said that in comparison to Apple, "I think Android is innovating at a faster pace." It's sad that Motorola wasn't innovating also but have to depend upon a third party for their innovations.

Apple is lying. This is not an industry problem. Not all phones have this issue. Let me explain. There are two things here:
1.- Signal Strength degradation due to shadowing or higher pathloss. This is just physics and propagation theory. Any electromagnetic signal will exhibit signal strength degradation due to propagation attenuation, fading, diffraction, shadowing, etc.
The signal can degrade due to the user driving next to a building that blocks the line of sight, or a truck passing by, or just by placing the hand on the antenna therefore creating a shadowing effect.
In basic link budget calculations, Hand or Head effect is between 3 to 10 dB, depending on the frequency band among other factors. A good phone will have about 3 to 10 dB signal attenuation when compared in Free space vs. Phantom head + Hand chamber testing. All phones will exhibit this phenomenon….but this is not the problem that iPhone4 has….and Apple is trying to convince people it is.

2.- Signal degradation due to antenna detuning: Human tissue has dielectric effects. As a result, when touching a radiating element, the human tissue can change the impedance and therefore create a detuning effect, which will effectively degrade the signal. In the case of iPhone4, chamber testing with WCDMA PCS band, the degradation is about 30 dB…that is 1024 times of signal degradation. A good phone will have no more than 12 dB maximum in order to pass standard carriers performance specs.
This is the problem that iPHONE4 has….nobody else has 30 dB attenuation issue….so people, please understand there is a real problem on the iPHONE4, and Apple wants to confuse the consumer and make them believe this is an industry problem….NOT TRUE.

For example, the DROIDX has some kind of Receive Diversity design with dual antennas. If the main antenna is shadowed by the hand, the secondary path will take over the baseband and the overall performance will remain.

What must me happening here is that the Bars indicator is only taking the measurement from the main antenna only and not from the diversity branch. But in reality, the RX power levels do not degrade….and as a result the call does not drop.

So in conclusion, Apple is trying to drag other vendors like Nokia and Motorola into Apple's antenna gate disaster. I believe this is very childish….

It's no surprise that Apple, a software centric organization let a glitchy design go to market, RF engineering is hard. Most of Apples RF work is outsourced to Foxcon who also does the verification testing…..

Motorola wrote the book on RF engineering. Say what you will about past Moto software, their hardware is second to none. Ask any telecomm network engineer about quality; they'll tell you Motorola hardware is the best.

Android and its ecosystem is easily equivalent to the iPhone's so future competition will be in the hardware space.

As a communication engineer i would like to say that Apple's explanations are quite dishonest. Here is why. Picture the quality of the radio environment of the phone in terms of your position relative to a steep cliff. If you are near the cliff (i.e. already have poor signal strength) then any small perturbation can push you over. This will happen to any phone: any weird way of holding the phone may attenuate the signal enough to drop calls or data packets.
But if you are FAR from the cliff, then IN A WELL DESIGNED RADIO small perturbations like holding the phone in various ways will not be able to push you over causing dropped calls. Most phones are indeed well-designed in this way. But the Apple iPhone IS NOT. It will drop calls in GOOD signal strength conditions if you hold it in a way that shorts out the antennae. This is bad design.
Apple is trying to fudge this simple point by making unfair comparisons of "near the cliff" and "far from the cliff" scenarios in various phones.

Bottom line is that the iPhone radio (specifically antennae) is badly designed, while in most most other phones they are okay. Apple should humbly accept this fact (every body makes mistakes!)and fix the problem in later devices, instead of slinging mud at other phone makers. Guys, RF engineers in other companies are not fools, they have considered putting the antennae wrapped outside the device and rejected the idea exactly because of these concerns!

Agreed, the issue with the iPhone 4 is caused by unique circumstances. That is what I meant by saying "all phones DO have this issue in *one way or another*" The particular death grip that affects a phone can vary from phone to phone. On the iPhone 4, it's by touching that spot with your fingers. On other phones it's some other way.

But there's nothing dishonest in what Steve Jobs said. All phones, thanks to physics, have an issue one way or the other. It's only the incredible popularity of the iPhone that turned this into a huge story. If no one had reported this and explained to everyone in close detail exactly how to replicate the problem, I'd be surprised if more than 1% or 2% of iPhone users would have ever noticed.

But this is Apple, and Apple really is held to a different standard than other manufacturers. Everything gets blown out of proportion with Apple in recent years.

You should put a jacket on it MOTOROLA, it being the most unattractive phone on the market, and then more people may think about purchasing one. Also, nice "open" platform you got going on. RIDICULOUS!

Edit: Weintraub: I think what people are pointing out is that every phone has a death grip issue. But only the iphone loses signal when flesh touches that bottom area.

Apple was honest:

1. The 'holding it wrong' comment was stupid, but to the point as to what was causing the issue.

2. They DID find a software bug they then fixed.

3. All phones DO have this issue in one way or another (as their user manuals admit).

Nothing dishonest in any of that. So yes, they should have responded sooner, but it's hard to imagine the media would blow this up so hard when it is a known issue on all phones. Once Apple realized they were being held to a double standard, it was time to fight back.

You would have fought back too if you were facing a misleading propaganda war against you.

Its Obabma's fault

apple shuold have come out right away and admitted they had an issue. first it was 'you're holding it wrong'. then it was a software issue that's been missed since the 1st iphone. then it was a press conference to say, we have a small issue, we've been working on a fix for 20 something odd days. we love our customers so much everybody gets a free case. oh by the way, all phones have this issue. then call them out one by one. why does apple need to be so arrogant when they are so dominant? some honesty and no finger-pointing would have been the right way to handle this.

Its just a phone. People calm down! People are dying and being murdered around the globe and you all are arguing about a phone?

Typical fan boy comments (on both sides) predictably appear without reason or logic behind them.

Why do Apple fans jump on stories and comments? Because the stories and/or comments contain untruths that are known by the Apple fans. So they correct the record and, sure enough, the anti-Apple fan boys cannot respond except to say, "Why do Apple fans get so defensive?"

All fans of all gears stand up for their side. And yes, Android phones have gotten very good. You can make some fine choices if you go the Droid direction. They have "death grip" spots too (all phones do, as seen in their user manuals), but that's physics.

This is a good ad by Motorola. Instead of pointing out what Droid X lacks that iPhones have, they pick on one perceived weakness of iPhones that Droids also have but the media isn't talking much about it. It's all perception. Fools the ignorant.

I still have yet to be able to loose a signal on my iPhone. So not worried...side
Not motorola forgets anyone would rather have an amazing phone that drops calls .5% of the time or a crappy moterola phone that doesn't drop calls ever.

Funny how apple who is new to the phone business takes the market while moterola has been in cell phones for decades and still can't lead the way.

Hahaha..what a mad slap on Steve Job's face and Apple!

If your iPhone 4 works fine. It doesn't matter. Even Apple thinks their iPhone 4 requires a jacket or needs to be held a certain way without one. Consumer Reports also thinks the iPhone 4 requires a jacket but even with one advises millions of their subscribers not to think of even buying the iPhone 4.

Apple should really recall the iPhone 4 or suffer the humility of all the free bumper covers or pacifiers to keep babies from crying. I'm sure the rest of the Android Army, Blackberry, and Nokia will also take shots at Apple's big blunder with the iPhone 4's antenna design flaw.

To people who point out Apple's video about Droid where they show it lose signal if you grip it, they need to look closer to the video they are using the hand to cover both antennas look at the fingers placements also they clearly falsely presetting it with one antenna. I do not know why Motorola do not go after Apple to such false and fraudulent presentation of Droid X.

Techtrader10, First of the droid x screen issue was less than 1% and was a hardware failure. Check the IPhones failure rate at launch, you'll see a simular pattern.

Also apple not need to adverise this way? Anyone else remember the I'm a Mac and I'm a PC ads directed towards microsoft? Not to mention that Apple brought this on by posting an obvious faked video about the droidx and signal loss. No one else but apple is able to produce the results they show in their video.

@Walter: Really? Please enlighten us with these so called design problems!

Why do Apple fans get so defensive. I'm a HUGE Apple fan. Have used and loved Apple since the Apple II. Had an iPhone, LOVED it, hated AT&T, especially in my area. Switched to Verizon (awesome) got the Droid Incredible and guess what...It is as good if not better than my iPhone. It just is and next with a software update I'll be able to shoot HD video and see Flash sites (if I want). Does this mean I'm an Apple-hater? No way. Still love all of my other Apple gear but when it comes to phones, Android is currently superior.

So why the fuss? I thought what I had in common with other Apple fans was an appreciation for superior tech and design? These Apple fanatics are so defensive and almost religious in their Apple-love that it is starting to make me embarrassed to ben an Apple fan. I might even take the Apple logo sticker off my car!

Ease up boys and open yourself up to the idea that their might be something better.

I have loved Motorola since the '90s. From the beepers to the walkie talkies, I've been a fan. But nowadays, Apple cannot be touched technologically. Motorola's had its day, and now it's Apple's turn. Motorola still has its place in the market, and Apple is making its mark like Motorola did. It's just one company becoming more popularized than the other. Soon, another company will outsell Apple, and the situation will flip for Apple, with Apple being the one that's complaining.

lmao at you Apple fanboys. Stoop to ad tatics like this? Pot calling the kettle black? PC vs Mac commercials ring a bell?

Bravo !! Motorola !!

Given what defiant Apple and Steve Job did to the others, they totally deserve this AD !!

If Apple wants to be taken seriously with their Droid X "Death Grip" video, they need to provide hard signal strength numbers in dBm. (With that big facility that Apple has to test phones, they surely have the technology to determine signal strength.) All they show is that the bars drop, but there are no numbers to quantify that drop as cell phone manufacturers use different algorithms to show bar levels.

And now you can't even compare Apples to Apples. Last month, the Apple iPhone had a different algorithm for showing bars; and they updated it to a different one this month. The same death grip on the iPhone will have a different effect on the bars from last month to this month, although the dBm signal strength should remain constant.

Now with hard numbers, we can make comparisons. Reporters, please ask for these hard numbers!

Let's get down to something that can be scientifically and constantly reproduced by third parties.

I did not know there are so many Apple Fanboys... Iphone interface is trash ... Woooo.... Guys do u guys even know what a linux is.... if not please don't even bother to comment... and apple sells u piece of trash with a big price tag..... END OF STORY .......

Apple just needs to take out and ad which points out that no matter how you hold the Droid, the resolution sucks compared to the retina display of the iPhone.

What??? The ad say it has an Antenna at the top and the bottom! That means Apples Video of the Droid X is a fake because they covered only the bottom antenna!!!! Besides, those of us with X's already know it was fake, because it is basically impossible for us to get the thing to lose signal. The best I could do myself was a 8 DB drop, and that was pressing it against my body and using both hands to cover the entire phone. Couldn't even drop a bar...damn...

The Droid has so many other design problems that not dropping calls on a better cell network isn't really something to celebrate.

"Dictatorship style of application approval"??

It's merely editorial control. You know, the same thing Fortune writers go through when they submit their articles for editorial approval.

What is happening to rhetoric when people leap to extreme language to describe a very familiar -- and very common -- practice?

Nice bit of advertising by Motorola. However, I wonder what the return rate is for the Droid X is - we know what it is for the iPhone. That, Seth, would be reporting - otherwise this article just cheer leading.

Everyone got to be king in a little while. Remember IBM, Sun Microsystem, Microsoft, Dell, Palm, Blackberry, Motorola Razr, iPhone, ... And everyone makes mistakes. Apple is no exception. It a mistake. Admit it.

If Apple wanted to play this pathetic game, all they would have to do is publish an ad with a picture of a Droid X with wildly flickering screen. Game over.

Thankfully, Apple doesn't need to advertise in this manner, as their phone is kicking butt and taking names. It's sad to see a once dominant player like Motorola having to stoop to tactics like this.

I have a IPhone and like it. But I have to agree with both sides of aisle. All phones have reception issues based on how they are held and body chemistry of the owner. On the other hand Apple should have admitted that there was a issue earlier. In closing I think that there is a place for both operating systems Droid/IOS 4. But if Apple doesn't quit trying to rule the roost with dictatorship style of application approval the Droid is going to prevail.

I like this ad. Reception and call quality is far better in case of DroidX then Iphone4. I have used both phones now.

So out of the 3 million or so iPhones sold, how many returned? May I have a link please?

http://tech.fortune.cnn.com/2010/07/16/did-apple-solve-its-pr-problem/

Maybe if the Iphone didnt have such a tiny ass screen, I might consider getting it.

Apple DID admit there are design issues with the iPhone 4. Didn't you watch what Steve Jobs said when he pointed out that ALL phones have this issue? Quit lying about Apple, you commenters.

Having the antenna on the outside of the iPhone 4 does two things: It improves reception overall; and it allows for death grip issues in ways that other phones do not have in precisely this manner. It's a trade-off. Most people never have any issues with it, but if you are one of the tiny minority who do, get a case (as the vast majority of smart phone owners do anyway).

Seth - you are a real tool. You are supposed to be a "reporter" and here you are making editorial comments. The overwhelming majority of iPhone 4 users are having NO PROBLEMS and actually getting better reception than previous models. Why don't you report that? There is no flaw. Just like other phones, Apple recommends you not hold the phone certain ways to prevent a downgrade in reception. That spot is all of 1/16th of an inch. How frik'n hard is that? You are feeding the frenzy through your irresponsible "reporting". The droid in fact has the same issues, week signal when held a certain way, just like the iPhone. There is no other rationalization to be made despite your efforts. The phone does not "need" a jacket. Get a real job.

Let motorola carry on about the iPhone 4. They make a cheap plastic monster of a phone that people are buying only because he iPhone isn't available to them. 10 million iPhone 4's sold in 2010 vs. Maybe 1 or 2 million Droid X's sold. I hope Motorola makes it because competition benefits us all but this is not the phone to beat the iPhone.

Apple calls their new case a bumper. Everyone else calls it a case. Motorola calls it a jacket and you're saying the exposed antenna issue is what requires a jacket?

Good thing you're not easily influenced by advertising, because not even Motorola calls their cases jackets...

Ha ha. Priceless. I like how motorola brags about making phones for 30 years. They have absolutely no IP in the smartphone business. They are just commodity hardware makers hawking droidware... Just like the windows PC makers. There is nothing preventing another HW maker from creating a similar spec'd droid phone. Watch how quickly this spirals into a low margin squeeze race to the bottom.

As for Seth, he's a GOOG cheerleader. The bias is very obvious.

What a bunch of MORONS WORK AT MOTOROLA!!!
The Droid X has the same antenna problems as the iPhone. Who are they trying to fool? Their advertisement is FRAUDULENT. THE DROID X DOESN'T NEED A JACKET, IT NEEDS AN OVERCOAT.

How long till Phil Collins sues Motorola for copyright violation? It's not like they actually came up with an original thought here now, is it?

Droid X still makes me think I need Preparation H

Why do people come on to these comment boards and say "I have had no problems with my XXX Phone"?

Don't you realize that just because you personally haven't had any problems really isn't relevant and/or statistically material?

The whole thing is silly, there is obvoiusly some flaw in the design so lets just move on. If you like the phone keep it and buy a bumper but stop trying to act like there is no problem..

Great ad, I'm sure the apple fanboys will be up in arms. But with the iphone still selling well, why do fanboys keep whinning about the competition?

I have no problems whatsoever with my iPhone -- at all. Why don't you report how many iPhones have been returned for refund?

I believe there are owners affected by this problem just as there are new Droid X owners with defective screens. But the media has blown it way out of proportion.

(Edit Weintraub): We've reported both on iPhone 4 returns and Droid X screen issues/fixes

I'm so impressed by Droid X - the functionality and style. I wonder when Apple is going to realize they are hurting their own credibility by carrying on the way they are.

If motorola has been making phones for thirty years, why didn't they come up with something like the iPhone before Apple? It seems to me that everyone wants to copy Apple and then run their mouth about how they are better.

lets look at the numbers motorola, jacket required or not the iphone outsells the droid.

Glad you pointed out that all phones are affected by the 'death grip' and not the 'death touch' like iPhone is. Apple's design is flawed and instead of admitting it, they continue to point fingers.

"Apple failed to show the Droid X being touched by flesh and dropping bars/calls, however. The fix for that weak spot on the exposed iPhone 4 antenna is a 'bumper', now supplied by Apple for free."

Ahh Well watch the droid x die of death grip here

Not clear if Motorola will give you a jacket to fix it.

Bye Bye Motorola

(Edit Weintraub): As pointed out in the article, the death grip is something that happens to all phones. The exposed antenna issue is unique to iPhone 4 and is what requires a jacket. (I don't believe Apple has fooled many into believing that the jacket prevents death gripping?!)