Apple speaks up: iPhone 4 reception woes result of faulty signal meter algorithm — stretches back to 2007.

So far, Apple and Commander-in-Chief, Steve Jobs, have publicly denied and acknowledged iPhone 4 reception issues in confusing statements made over the last couple of weeks. But the confusion is supposedly cleared up as Apple has come forward with an “official” announcement regarding the matter:

Upon investigation, we were stunned to find that the formula we use to calculate how many bars of signal strength to display is totally wrong. Our formula, in many instances, mistakenly displays 2 more bars than it should for a given signal strength. For example, we sometimes display 4 bars when we should be displaying as few as 2 bars. Users observing a drop of several bars when they grip their iPhone in a certain way are most likely in an area with very weak signal strength, but they don’t know it because we are erroneously displaying 4 or 5 bars. Their big drop in bars is because their high bars were never real in the first place.

To fix this, we are adopting AT&T’s recently recommended formula for calculating how many bars to display for a given signal strength. The real signal strength remains the same, but the iPhone’s bars will report it far more accurately, providing users a much better indication of the reception they will get in a given area. We are also making bars 1, 2 and 3 a bit taller so they will be easier to see.

We will issue a free software update within a few weeks that incorporates the corrected formula. Since this mistake has been present since the original iPhone, this software update will also be available for the iPhone 3GS and iPhone 3G.

It’s pretty shocking that a company as tightly run as Apple has let this seemingly nagging issue run rampant for a full three years. I don’t see how someone on either Apple or AT&T’s payroll didn’t figure out this signal algorithm was flaky. Still not answered however is what is causing the call drops and reduced data throughput when “held the wrong way”. It could in fact be related to the incorrectly identified signal bars that Apple stated. Signal attenuation problems, however, weren’t addressed. That isn’t something a software patch for “faulty signal bars” can fix.

Looks like we’ll know soon enough. Apple is releasing an update for all iPhone’s to address the faulty signal bar algorithm within the next couple of weeks. Stay tuned…

“Racist” HP webcam gets the Consumer Reports test treatment.

A couple of days ago the online world went up in a tizzy because of two Walmart employees who pointed out an inherent and embarrassing flaw in HP’s webcam software. The problem if you don’t recall was that Desi, the black employee, was getting tracked by the auto-adjusting webcam while “White Wonda” was.

I never implied that HP was deliberately being racist. Hell, come on folks. The algorithm is based off of contrast. What is bad however is that HP somehow didn’t take the time to double and triple check this approach. Naturally, any dark image needs more foreground light to see details.

Anywho, Consumer Reports went ahead and tested the troubled webcam for themselves and came away with basically the same conclusion as the “webcam video heard ’round the world” — HP needs to go back to the drawing board with their algorithms or they need to include an LED or two to help compensate. Blinding assuming everyone has a bright, lightly colored shinning face just won’t cut it anymore.

Card counting a favored hobby. Better rethink that strategy.

My feelings on card counting are rather positive. Positive because going into a casino, the odds are so monumentally against you, it almost makes more sense to simply open your wallet and tip it upside down leaving all of your cash/plastic on the floor because that’s essentially what happens to most. If someone can figure out a legal way to tip the odds in favor of the little guy looking for a buck, then why not?

First, if you didn’t know, card counting is the simple act of a person keeping track of the cards in the dealers hands and if they are for/against the players odds. When the player has higher odds, he bets higher. When he has lower odds he keeps his money close. Apparently this is either working to well or casino’s are simply getting greedy as UK researchers have developed an algorithm that can actually track the card counter. If the camera suspects a card counter, the system flags him and alerts security whom then come and give you a not so pleasant visit. Even more impressive, if the suspected card counter tries to throw off the system by betting high on unfavorable hands, it will call his bluff. I chuckle a bit as I can just imagine how humorous it would be to have a majority of casino goes labeled card counters simply because they got lucky or the software isn’t quite up to snuff.

Card carting while not illegal does come with some pretty significant punishment depending on what casino you’re at and the mood of the individual coming to end your streak. Punishments can range from a simple relocation to a new table (thereby starting fresh and giving the casino the upper hand once again), all the way to a near beating, kicked out of the casino, and banned to return for life. Extreme? Yes. Casino’s don’t like card counters. They lose money on them. As with any capitalist based nation/business needs money to survive, I can understand their frustration. But taking such extreme measures giving off such an “asshole” image seems rather futile. It will only cause more to pick up the art. Or at least I think. Agree?

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