Another Sensor Issue.

It seems that the more things change, the more they stay the same.   I had another sensor issue recently, this time on my iPhone 6.   However, before taking my phone back to Apple to get it fixed, I went back to one of my own articles.  Yes, in 2011 I sat down and penned an article that my iPhone light sensor issue was resolved and its cause was through no fault of Apple's but a third party cover that was turning the phone on and off.

Last week I changed my Screen cover.  I have been using Zagg covers for a while now and I dropped my phone a few months ago on concrete and cracked the Zagg glass cover.   It was supposed to be a free replacement with a $10 installation fee.  Of course, the store didn't carry it.  So they presented me with a new cover, the latest and greatest Zagg Invisible Shield Glass Luxe Screen Protector - HD.  This was supposed to be better than my present cover because it covered the entire glass and was a 2nd generation product.   This meant that instead of having a wide cutout for the sensors, this product was well positioned to round the highly sensitive areas in question.   Mmmgh, where have I heard this one before?   (Visit my 2011 blog post:  my-iphone-sensor-issue-solved.html )


The ubiquitous early covers:

 

So of course I decided to upgrade and pick up the beautiful new screen protector that covered all of the glass, because it was just much better than the one from a year ago.   The shop owner took about 10 minutes to flawlessly place this on my phone.   I was happy and tested out the phone in the store of course.  It was flawless and my phone looked like new again.

The following day I began to notice that I could not get the phone to come out of what appeared to be night time mode.  Although the color changed, it was still dark.  I blamed watching a movie on the phone, turning up the brightness to about 90% for the problem.  I thought my phone was finished.  I then went to the settings and turned off the automatic settings.  However the brightness never came back.

I then remembered having this problem before and remembered that it didn't start until after I replaced the screen protector.  Could it be?  Deja vu?   Before running to Apple, now 5 days within the warranty period, I took it back to the store and pointed out to the shop owner that I thought that the light sensor was being covered by the protector.  She did not think so and tried to convince me otherwise by showing me her own phone.  However that was her mistake.  I showed her that despite the both of us having the same protector, I could see the entire sensor on her phone, yet I could not on mine.  She relented and replaced it with an identical model, this time shifting the sensor part to the left.  Again, it appeared flawless and guess what?  It solved the problem.  I was happy to have this replaced and very happy that the store owner listened to me. 



The latest and greastest Zagg Invisible Shield Glass Luxe Screen Protector - HD

So, if you decide to pick up the latest and greatest Zagg Invisible Shield Glass Luxe Screen Protector - HD with its incredible form fitting design, make sure that you test it before taking it home.  Shut off your automatic light sensor in settings.  If the phone remains dim or dark then you may have a sensor problem.   Remember the light sensor is just to the left of the ear speaker.  The larger of the 3 circles.   The last time this happened it took me weeks to resolve the issue, this time only 2 days.  Hope this helps.


LDD.

The Belkin Verve Folio Cover....Surprising Findings

So, a few days ago I finally received my Belkin Verve Folio from Europe.  It is a nice little cover.  It is thicker than I imagined and the blue accents make for a nice and elegant holder.  The phone fits nicely into the "pocket" and feels very secure.  I actually think that the phone could be dropped on the floor and it would be very well protected by this case. 

The first surprise that I got, and something that I think needs to be clarified, is that I ordered the Belkin Verve Folio version 2, but received version 1 of the device.  You may recall the difference between the two versions in my previous post.  I expected the worst response from this and was prepared to send it back, but after trying out the device for a few days, I am going to keep it.

The biggest issue of course is the sensor issue.  I am happy to report that this is a NON ISSUE with this version of the Verve Folio !   I am very surprised given the fact that the para-sensor setup is very similar to the SENA cases that I reviewed previously.  The latter had many problems with the sensor - showing a blank screen during phone calls.  What is more surprising is the fact that the Verve Folio case is thicker than the Sena Case  around the sensor area and it still does not affect the phone.  I have tried it out in over 10 different lighting scenarios that failed the Sena Hamilton, but there were no outages with the Belkin case.

Something that I really love about this case is the way in which the cover drops down in the back to reveal the camera.  The camera does not have to peer through a hole in the case/cover, it is fully exposed.  What this means is that if you use flash photography with the iPhone, the cover does not get in the way.  The pictures are not washed up due to "tunnel vision."  It is also not obscured by the cover which is nice.  With the weird blue tint of the inner case, you can actually do some interesting photography, such as placing the cover in such a way as to bounce the light upwards and even focus the flash a little more.  Very unique, very nice.

Although I miss the belt clip, I can live without it.  In conclusion, to say that I am very surprised is an understatement.  I was expecting the worse when I first saw the packaging and read the reviews from several sites.  But I have not had the problems that these people have had.  Additionally, although I was looking at a few different cases, I am probably going to stay with this case for a while, hopefully for the life of the phone.  The case is very nice and using my Wife Indicator, it's a winner.  So, it's two thumbs up on the ORIGINAL Belkin Verve Folio case.

The iPhone flip Case - A Major Issue for 3 Companies at least

So, after my sensor problems with my current case in question, I began my quest to look for a new case for my iPhone 4.  I looked at a lot of candy shell cases, but in the end, I really wanted a flip case.  I was used to the flip case and I still feel that it provides a great deal of safety and privacy for the phone.  I am particularly interested in the so-called all-in-one cases which look very professional. These cases have a slot for 1 or 2 credit cards and a brief note or two.

The Sena Hampton Flip

I visited the Apple Store a few days ago to go over the Sena case issue that I had found and then to see if the issue was resolved with a new Sena case - one made specifically for the iPhone 4.  Unfortunately, I have to report that the issue remains the same with the new Sena Hampton Flip case, which is a beautiful all-in-one.  After installing my phone in the case, I ran into the same issue with the sensor that I had with 3G Sena case.   That particular Apple Store sent back the only Hampton flip that they had left.  It was an issue!

I then looked at other cases and found that many had design changes that kept the top part of the case away from the sensor, but others had the same design as the Hampton.  However, during my research, I found a case that I thought might fit my needs.  It is called the Belkin Verve Folio.  It is an all-in-one flip that has a unique flap that does not cover the camera, thus creating stellar pictures without the "tunnel" glare that you can sometimes find when a case is too deep.   It also has a small recess in the cover for holding cards.  Well, something interesting showed up when I did a Google search for the product.  There are apparently two versions of the same product available.  One that looks like the Hampton and another that has a completely redesigned top half.  I believe that this redesign is a tip of the hat to the sensor issue that exists with many of these cases.  See the difference for yourself between the two versions.

The Belkin Verve Version 1

This is the Belkin Verve Folio that appears to have been reviewed in Amazon and in a few video reviews.  All reviews but one do not mention a sensor issue.  However, the top part of the iPhone is very similar to the Sena Hampton cover, which causes the Black Screen issue when making or receiving a call.

The one negative review was found on the AT&T sales website.   In black and white, the issue that has plagued me for 5 months, brought up again in a very small blurb by one reviewer:

(Quote Verbatim):
"the screen dissapear and turn black for few seconds when receiving call. The top leather cover the sensors"

The Belkin Verve Version 2?

This is the same Belkin Verve Folio that appears to be version 2.  Notice the different cut out at the top of the screen.  Is there a difference between this model and the first that has sensor issues similar to those that plagued the Sena Hampton?

So how does the new version of this device match up with the Sena Hampton or the original Belkin Verve?   (Sidenote:  There is some question as to why the down volume switch on the first model is covered by the case while the up volume remains open.  I personally think that this was probably done because the case was originally made for the iPhone 3GS and ported over to the iPhone 4).  The newer model appears to be better, somewhat more refined.  It is this model that I  purchased a week ago and I will give a review as to whether the device encounters the same sensor issue as its predecessor.  

One interesting finding though is the fact that neither version of the Verve is available on the U.S. website of Belkin.  Is it possible that this sensor issue was more major than anyone cared to talk about?   The Verve is only available in Europe and that is where I am getting it from.  

So, I thought that I had finished detailing this topic, until voila - another set of unhappy customers, this time over at Case-mate, where they make some of the finest ceramic iPhone 4 cases, but where they also seem to be having a problem with the flip leather cases.   There is a beautiful leather case, another all-in-one solution called unoriginally, The iPhone 4 Flip Wallet Case. This thing is absolutely gorgeous, but alas, the comments on the web page leave a lot to be desired:

The Casemate iPhone 4 Flip Wallet Case

This, taken verbatim from http://www.case-mate.com/iPhone-4-Cases/Case-Mate-iPhone-4-Flip-Wallet-Case.asp

Problem with proximity sensor

Great case, well made, looks good for business, solid, good wallet for 2 cards or 1 card and a note. Basic error on design. The front surround is too deep. The proximity sensor catches it and the phones screen turns on and off at the most awkward times. Im putting up with it at the moment, but not sure it will be on my phone for much longer. I wouldn't buy this version. Id wait fro Casemate to make the front surrond shallower.

And another: 

Makes the phone unusable!!!!! Waiting for my refund!!!!!!!!

So I am a big fan of credit card slot cases. I was looking for a good leather case that could be used as a wallet. When I got this case I really liked how it looked. Then after using it for a day I noticed a major design flaw. Because this cause comes down close to the ear hole and front facing camera, it covers the proximity sensor to the point where the screen will remain off when you are on a call and it will not turn back on regardless if you have the phone away from your face or even when the call has ended. To turn the screen back on you must remove the phone from the case to expose the proximity sensor. So every time I got a call this happened. So in my honest opinion this case makes the phone unusable/disabled. I am currently waiting for casemate to refund me. It cost me over $5 to ship it back to them so I basically wasted money on this case. Hopefully casemate has good customer service and they refund me ASAP.

So, I AM NOT ALONE!  This seems to be a long standing problem with other manufacturers.  Perhaps the iPhone 4 cannot use a flip case due to significant issues with its sensor.  This is obviously not only a problem with SENA or BELKIN as now a third company, CASE-MATE seems to have the same issue.  Belkin has apparently withdrawn its name, at least in the U.S. from advertising flip cases.  Now that I know that the problem is found with 3 different companies' flip covers, it is probably time to do some reflection as to whether I should actually purchase a flip cover at all for my phone, which I have no plans on changing for at least another 2 years.  I would hate to purchase the OTTER.   But it is looking as though this may be the path of least resistance.  I am still awaiting the European version of Belkin's Verve and I will give a review on that as soon as I get it.   I think that if this does not solve the sensor issue, then I may need to come up with a prototype of my own....:). 



Addendum: 

Just for the record, I want all of you to know that Sena, Belkin and Case-Mate make some of the best iPhone covers and cases.  Personally, I think that I wouldn't hesitate to purchase a case from any of them.  They all make quality products so please do not take my comments above to mean that you should not buy a case from any of the 3 companies listed above.  Just be a little weary of the flip cases on the iPhone 4 from any company.   But feel free to go and see for yourself the quality workmanship that you can find and the great selections from these companies.  I have listed their websites below.  Believe me, my comments are no reflection of the extraordinary work that these people put into their products.

Sena Cases   http://www.senacases.com/
Belkin Cases  http://www.belkin.com/
Case-Mate Cases   http://www.case-mate.com/

My iPhone Sensor Issue SOLVED !!!!

YES FOLKS!  I've finally solved the iPhone "blink on, blink off" sensor issue!  After months of tinkering and meandering with thoughts of software vs. hardware issues (see previous posts 1 and 2 ), it turns out that the blinking issue has nothing to do with Apple.  At least not in this case.

To recap, the issue at hand is the appearance of a blank black screen during a phone call.  This would make it nearly impossible to press the virtual speaker button or hit the vitrual keypad during phone calls.  Over time, I felt that this was a software issue after playing around with mockups created with my Arduino electronics kit at home and listening to Steve Jobs give an interview last summer, prompting me to write about this in a previous post.  I then thought that if the various updates of iOS 4.0 to the present 4.3 couldn't resolve the issue, then it may have been a bad batch of iPhones, relegating this to being a hardware issue.

Now I am not saying that this is the solution for everyone, because it may not be, but I began to notice some strange things as to when the "blackouts" would occur with the phone.  It almost never happened in a darkened room, only in broad daylight or a well lit room.  But the only thing that I could muster from all of that was that it was a sensor issue.  If I kept the "Home" button pressed it would keep the screen on, but that would also do some other unpredictable things.  If I covered the sensor it would do the obvious - create a blank screen.

In retrospect not much had changed in my usage habits from my iPhone 3G to my iPhone 4.  I became a creature of habit, spending a hefty sum of $45 for a leather Sena case for my iPhone 3G.  It was a perfect case that had a very nice clip that would hitch on to my belt with its attachment.  It was a flip case made of soft leather.   I did not want to get rid of it, so when the iPhone 4 came out, I was saddened to see that it would not fit perfectly.  But I found that if I added an old Driver's license and a workout club card in the back, the iPhone 4 fit perfectly in place.  The sensor was wide open, the ear piece was also wide open.  Everything was perfect.  Or so I thought !

I never used the phone out of the case.  As I said, I became a creature of habit.  I was always thinking about donating the phone or reselling the phone later to somewhere such as http://www.gazelle.com   and I wanted the phone to be in pristine shape when it came time to do so.  So when I visited the Apple store 3 weeks ago, after upgrading the software twice, I approached the Genius Bar expecting nothing but the company line or a test of the phone and the possibility of a new phone replacement.  The Genius Bar employee looked at my phone and asked me to try a phone call to see if it would happen again.  Since the Apple Store is brightly lit, the flaw would be easy to reproduce.  Like clockwork, I made a phone call and the screen went black.  He then asked the simplest question, "Have you ever tried using your phone outside of that case?"  Your kidding right?  Come on!  No Way!  I looked at him with chagrin, and of course I had to say "No!" I then proceeded to take the phone out of the secure leather case and dialed 611.  No vanishing screen.  A perfect phone.  Refusing to believe that this was the case, I then proceeded to make no less than a dozen calls without the case.  My naked iPhone streaked across the airwaves with ne'er a blip on its screen.   I thanked the Genius Bar employee a thousand times, but I have to admit that I had a tough time looking him in the face.  I was really ashamed of the fact that I thought that I could cheaply just switch out my old iPhone with a new one and not have any problems.  I even blogged about the issue vociferously.  I WAS WRONG !!!!

I am now in the process of looking for a new case, but I have made phone calls with my phone in all sorts of lighting conditions and the problem of the sensor has not reoccurred.  What is interesting to note in hindsight is the fact that the lighting had a lot to do with this issue.  As my Genius Bar employee hypothesized, the issue at hand was that the black leather, which was not fully adhered to the phone at the top was casting a shadow over the sensor and the sensor was reading this as skin contact or a darkening of the light and hence it would trigger the screen to go blank.   What a welcome solution.

So there you have it.  In this case at least, using a non-sanctioned iPhone 4 case can lead to sensor problems.  I hope you enjoyed reading my quest for a solution to this problem.  If you have any other suggestions please feel free to post in the comments.