Strange, one might even think the only purpose of this mail is to spread alarm and despondency about Apple's trustworthiness and discourage people from buying iPhone 4. Why? Well, Coryphaeus's post is dated July 7, whereas a week before Steve Jobs had made a public statement about the need to avoid gripping the iPhone in a particular place on the metal rim, where the antenna was situated, which was itself the admission that it was not a software problem alone. Indeed, since cellphones dropped external antennas for aesthetic reasons and pocket comfort, you have to be careful how you grip most such phones nowadays.
CNET's own Marguerite Reardon mentions all this as early as July 2nd as you can see here: http://news.cnet.com/8301-30686_3-20009564-266.html
Her conclusion is that the iPhone 4 seems to be actually better than previous iPhones and many rivals at picking up and retaining calls when general reception is weak. Just so long as you don't place your hand tightly over where the antenna is situated.
I quote that conclusion for those too lazy to click:
"Some testing of the iPhone 4 even suggests that the new antenna has actually improved reception of the device over previous versions of the device. The Web site AnandTech tested the iPhone 4 and the Google Android Nexus One as they were held in different positions: gripping it tightly, holding it with an open palm, resting it on a table, and so on.
What the testers found is that each of the phones exhibited some attenuation when in different positions. But it appears the iPhone was more sensitive and signal strength varied more than other phones when held in different positions.
What's interesting about the results of these tests is that the iPhone 4 actually performed better in low-signal situations than either the Nexus One or the iPhone 3GS. But connectivity is affected when the phone is held in different positions.
"I can honestly say that I've never held onto so many calls and data simultaneously on 1 bar at -113 dBm as I have with the iPhone 4, so it's readily apparent that the new baseband hardware is much more sensitive compared to what was in the 3GS," AnandTech says in its blog. "The difference is that reception is massively better on the iPhone 4 in actual use."
So what does this mean for iPhone 4 customers? Steve Jobs original advice still stands. Just hold the phone differently. The software upgrade won't likely fix the problem. But not covering up the antenna will."
Marguerite Reardon has been a CNET News reporter since 2004, covering cell phone services, broadband, citywide Wi-Fi, the Net neutrality debate, as well as the ongoing consolidation of the phone companies.
It?s been like pulling teeth, and it took journalists mailing AppleCare rather than Apple?s notoriously tight-lipped and selectively-responding public relations department, but we have our answer. That iPhone 4 software update will do nothing to fix the reception problems?it is a hardware issue.
http://www.pcworld.com/article/200660/apple_admits_iphone_4_reception_woes_are_hardware_related.html?tk=rss_news

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