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Apple has worked out the reason for the iPhone 4 reception problems, and admitted it has been “totally wrong”. But the explanation, in an open letter on the Apple Web site, isn’t quite what we were expecting.
Users quickly noticed that covering the seam on the left of the phone’s stainless steel antenna caused signal strength to drop four or five bars. But Apple has worked out that it’s not the antenna that’s at fault — it’s the little icon that displays signal strength.
Apparently, the formula used to calculate signal strength can erroneously display two extra bars. According to Apple, covering the antenna seam doesn’t chop off your signal; instead it simply causes the phone to inexplicably display the signal accurately.
Got that? There is no problem with the hardware, it was a faulty icon all along! Next, FIFA will explain that England’s disallowed goal wasn’t caused by a lack of technological support for referees, but in fact goal lines have been painted in the wrong place for the last hundred years.
The issue has affected all previous versions of the iPhone, which explains a lot. To solve the problem, Apple has adopted a new formula devised by the chaps at AT&T, who we believe are experts on weak signal. A software update in a few weeks will use the new fomula and also make the icon easier to read.
Apple previously advised iPhone owners suffering from the problem to, like, stop holding it like that. Or buy a case, like these, or these. We suggest you whip up one of our famous CNET UK iPhone 4 Super-Reception Carry Sticks.
