AfterDawn: News

Motorola fights back against Apple with Droid X ad

Apple, trying to deflect some of the bad press from their iPhone 4 'antennagate' debacle has posted videos over the past weeks showing how other smartphones also lose cell reception when held in the "death grip."

The most notable video shows the new Motorola Droid X losing reception within seconds after being gripped tightly.



Beginning tomorrow, Motorola is striking back at the controversial videos, by placing a full page ad in newspapers mocking the iPhone 4's need for a case to avoid reception issues.

Reads the ad in full: "At Motorola, we believe a customer shouldn’t have to dress up their phone for it to work properly. That’s why the DROID X comes with a dual antenna design. The kind that allows you to hold the phone any way you like to make crystal clear calls without a bulky phone jacket. For us it’s just one of those things that comes as a given when you’ve been making mobile phones for over 30 years."



Written by: Andre Yoskowitz @ 28 Jul 2010 23:11

• Previous article

• Firefox 4 now in second beta

• Next article

• UK court rules R4 carts for DS illegal

• 9 comments

• Notcow

  Someone in google headquarters saw apple's video and raged.
  
  "don't screw with google"

  29.7.2010 03:35 #1

• KillerBug

  I really think that apple's videos were staged. There are a lot of things you can do off-camera that will make the signal drop...and it is hard to believe that they were able to block both antennas with one hand, even when that hand is wrapped around the phone in a way that you couldn't use the phone.

  29.7.2010 04:07 #2

• Josipher

  Originally posted by KillerBug: I really think that apple's videos were staged. There are a lot of things you can do off-camera that will make the signal drop...and it is hard to believe that they were able to block both antennas with one hand, even when that hand is wrapped around the phone in a way that you couldn't use the phone. couldnt agree more. there could simply be a guy with a frequency jammer standing far away from the phone and gradually getting closer away from the cameras point of view,making it seem as if the signal loss is caused by the death grip

  29.7.2010 05:22 #3

• mystic

  what I liked better was that apple sent out a patch that didn't fix anything just made your Iphone4 look as if you had signal ... what a joke and oh yes you must have some bling (free case) for your phone to work better now everyone who shelled out like 400 feel soooooo much better... get us a little more credit... the issue with their product is it was rushed to market after the 1st one was lost and sold to gizzmo... all phones are like drugs and maybe the phone company's can learn from drug dealers ... give the new drug away at first hook the masses ( on your new phone) then make them pay for the use of it( service) now there's a market plan its worked better then just say no ever did.. ask the us government they lost the drug war ... maybe apple should give out the next round of I phones and just sell their i tunes and apple store stuff and be happy people all over the world would want one.... and then if it gets jail-broken it wont work on the service or i tunes or apple store ( now that would be control)... just a thought ( hey Apple can you hear us)
  

  29.7.2010 09:28 #4

• Mysttic

  Yea i wonder what the full results of that software update was now that Mystic mentioned it. Cause frankly I am curious to see how many people kept a bar but lost calls or network connection still.
  
  Aside from that this ad is amusing.

  29.7.2010 11:39 #5

• KillerBug

  Gawd...people need to stop saying they rushed this thing to market, causing the problem. They knew about the problem before they ever made the first prototype, how can you blame a rush?

  29.7.2010 12:21 #6

• gnovak1

  Apple is crying like a baby.

  29.7.2010 12:56 #7

• AndroidOS

  You go Motorola!

  29.7.2010 21:33 #8

• cart0181

  Originally posted by mystic: maybe apple should give out the next round of I phones and just sell their i tunes and apple store stuff and be happy people all over the world would want one.... and then if it gets jail-broken it wont work on the service or i tunes or apple store ( now that would be control)... just a thought ( hey Apple can you hear us) That would only encourage people to pirate, as it has for the Android. See this article: link
  
  

  29.7.2010 22:16 #9