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    The Latest iPhone Problem Apple Has Yet to Fix: Audiogate

    By Rebecca Greenfield | The Atlantic Wire – Wed, Jan 4, 2012
    The Latest iPhone Problem Apple Has Yet to Fix: Audiogate

    Though Apple got around to fixing its battery drain issues, the iPhone maker has yet to address the phone's audio-mute problem, dubbed "audiogate." According to a 111-page Apple forum discussion, plenty of iPhone 4 and 4S users have had reverse-mute problems with calls, reporting getting no outbound audio when making calls. The forums have come up with some temporary fixes. But no official word from Apple. And, unlike the battery problem, the latest iOS update won't even try to fix this problem, says GigaOm's Darrell Etherington. But perhaps with Apple launching the phone in China and 21 other countries, as more people complain of the issue, Apple will get on it. 

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    The Problem

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    When making calls, iPhone owners complain of no audio for about one out of every ten calls. It's like backwards mute -- the person on the other end can hear everything just fine, but the iPhone user hears nothing. "Call shows the timer counting as if the call is progressing but absolutely no ring back and cannot hear the party on the other end when they answer," explains The AMDman on Apple's Support Community forum. The mute function works the other way around. And is generally intentional -- unless the caller bumps it with their cheek. This happens as soon as the person makes the call, for no reason: no mute button involved. The problem cropped up when the iPhone 4S first came out. But there are forum complaints dating to as late as today. 

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    The Fixes

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    Without an official word from Apple, users have come up with DIY fixes for the issue.

    RELATED: And the iPhone 4S Battery Drain Phenomenon Continues


    • Use a headset. Many reported the problem only happens when making calls directly into the phone. Even Etherington said he only experienced the issue when he didn't plug in his attachment. 
    • Press the speakerphone button. This is in the same family as the on-off trick. For some, putting the call on speaker and then off of speaker makes it all better. But not always. 
    • Get a new phone. Or 4. Some users have reported that carriers are giving new phones, hoping a hardware swap will do the trick. Sometimes it works. For others it took multiple phones.  
    • Stop using Siri.  Some guess it has something to do with Siri, saying it happens less often with Siri turned off. 
    • Use Siri. Another fix suggests making the call through Siri and doing a full phone restore.

    None of these sound all too appealing. After thousands of posts, forum posters are hoping Apple will notice and issue an official fix. From just one angry iPhone user: 

     I just wanted to add my post so the number of replies to this issue gets big enough for Apple to take notice. I spent an hour on the line with AT&T Tech Support today during which time the audio failed several times. They told me to return the phone for exchange, but I agree with everyone that it seems to be a software issue, so I'll probably just wait for the fix. The new phone would likely behave the same way. At least toggling the speaker on and off always works to fix it for the current call, so I have a workaround until Apple fixes the problem, which I hope is soon.

     

    18 comments

    • Yahoo User
      Yahoo User  •  Atlanta, Georgia  •  4 mths ago
      What battery drain fix???? I got a 4 and soon as I downloaded iOS 5.0.1 the phone immediately started having battery life issues. Today I charged fully at 10am EST and here is is just past 3pm and I got 36% battery left and have barely touched the phone today. I got every single thing possible turned off on the phone but still my battery life since the software up date has gone to a rotten apple in a handbag.
      • Rick Gregory
        Rick Gregory 4 mths ago
        I've heard the same complaints from other 4 users. The 4s is my first iPhone, so I can't speak to the drainage problem, I can only say I get a FULL day's use out of my 4s' battery, which is probably what I'm most impressed with. I had an Android that would be in the red by 1 PM (granted, I use my phone a LOT for GPS, email, internet, etc.), and with my 4s I go to bed and it still has 30-40% battery life left, after a full day of use.
      • JamesB
        JamesB 4 mths ago
        This kind of battery drain is not normal. Go make an appointment at a Apple Store and have someone look at it. They usually replace defective iPhones on the spot.
    • G
      G  •  4 mths ago
      I had this exact problem, affecting about 25% of my outgoing calls. I did an exchange directly through Apple, got a new iPhone 4S, and in the last month, the problem has never once recurred.

      If your phone is doing this, send it back and get a new one.
      • Rick Gregory
        Rick Gregory 4 mths ago
        Was the original phone with the call issue a 4 or 4s?
      • G
        G 4 mths ago
        4S. I have a 4 as well, and it never gave me problems.
    • court
      court  •  Conroe, Texas  •  4 mths ago
      #$%$ #$%$ #$%$..go get an android
    • JamesB
      JamesB  •  4 mths ago
      From what I can tell, this is affecting very few iPhone 4S owners. While 111 pages seems like a lot, remember that Apple has sold 10's of millions of these devices already. So 200-300 people complaining might not mean much. All devices have manufacturing problems--especially when mass produced in the quantity that the iPhone is made. It is likely that these problems are just manufacturing defects.
      • C
        C 4 mths ago
        Agreed.
      • Rick Gregory
        Rick Gregory 4 mths ago
        Agreed, James. This is the first I've heard of it. My only regret is that I waited until now to join the iPhone club...I was BB and Droid prior, and don't see myself ever going back if Apple stays ahead of the curve as they've had. Best phone I've ever owned...in fact, it's not even a 'phone', it's an 'aid'.
    • Robert
      Robert  •  4 mths ago
      In other news, after someone said something about iPhone problems by some number of users, every iPhone owner turned off their perfectly working device until someone can tell them it is OK to use again.
    • soltotravels
      soltotravels  •  4 mths ago
      my dumbo ears touch the mute button so many times, come on Apple change the position, same problem with pocket calls, yeah ,yeah, if you make the phone lock immediately ....
    • Infernal Majesty
      Infernal Majesty  •  Omaha, Nebraska  •  4 mths ago
      I have never seen nor heard of this problem, and I have had both the 4 and now the 4S.
    • S
      S  •  4 mths ago
      People use these things to make calls?
    • AlBundy
      AlBundy  •  4 mths ago
      This hasn't happened on my 4s. Of course, no one ever calls me because I'm a pathetic dork loser. Well, mom calls me once a week, but no one else. But there's no mute problem when she does call. Ok, time to go pleasure myself to Princess Leia in the metal bikini again.
    • JR
      JR  •  4 mths ago
      Porn on my phone is awesome!
    • AL2FAST
      AL2FAST  •  4 mths ago
      It just works! ...or not
    • Anthony
      Anthony  •  4 mths ago
      It is annoying. While I don't own one of these myself, I had to borrow a friend's to call someone to pick me up after school. The #$%$ thing didn't work after 7 calls, and at that point we tried putting it on speaker-mode. That is the only thing that would work.
    • Anthony M
      Anthony M  •  Fresno, California  •  4 mths ago
      no problem it is that peoples faces hit mute button on iphone thats all.... i have droid and when you put it up tp face the screen shuts of problem solved iphuckingsuck!
      • Rick Gregory
        Rick Gregory 4 mths ago
        Nice try. You obviously don't have the 4s. I started with a Blackberry, when they were 'the thing', went to Android next because iPhone was only offered on AT&T, now have the iPhone 4s. So, coming from someone who's used all three major OS's, your Android isn't in the same league. Androids (many of them) are decent OS's, but the phones themselves can't compare to the build of an iPhone, and their OS is still behind Apple's technology. None are perfect, but there's a sliding scale. You can still do a lot more with iPhone than any Android.
      • Anthony M
        Anthony M 4 mths ago
        had 4s day it came out and returned it sunday, and my face hit mute button more than once....
    • Joe
      Joe  •  Joliet, Illinois  •  4 mths ago
      I have this with my phone. It was frustrating as heck when it first started happening until I figured out the speakerphone on/off trick. Since then I've also turned off Siri. Siri is an absolute wasted of space in the phone. I wish I could uninstall it. lol.
    • Max Fubar
      Max Fubar  •  Springfield, Virginia  •  4 mths ago
      There's always a worm in them there Apples
    • Lynn
      Lynn  •  4 mths ago
      Nothing never happens on my Droid! Had it 2 years not one problem not even batter issues LOL!! Got the Evo original. And still working without a hiccup and about to add Ice cream sandwich and no problems at all. Droid can do more and better. Iphones has issues everyone of the. Why pay higher when you pay less and get better ! LOL!! Iphones!! And the zombie walkers lose again!
    • Joshua
      Joshua  •  4 mths ago
      Droid
    • Synical1
      Synical1  •  4 mths ago
      I guess the big question now is who will she endorse...
      ...the corporatist Romney
      ...the religious zealot Santorum, or
      ...one of the other candidates?
      • Scott
        Scott 4 mths ago
        dude. wrong article. get with the program with you? this is an article that #$%$ about the iPhone 4s, not your political crap.
      • Synical1
        Synical1 4 mths ago
        Not quite sure what happened here. So, go ahead and thumbs down me all you want :)
      • Rick Gregory
        Rick Gregory 4 mths ago
        I know what happened here...your mother gave birth! :-)
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