Owners of the new iPhone 3GS have been reporting sporadic issues with the device since its release on June 19. One of the problems noted is that the device tends to overheat. Apple recently recognized the issue by publishing a warning on its iPhone support pages, but it claims "operator error" is the real culprit.This issue has been getting more visibility over the last week or so, with reports flooding in from across the Web. Users all over are saying their iPhone's tend to overheat on occasion, with the experience confirmed by people around the world.

Earlier this week, my colleague Antone Gonsalves quoted an iPhone user, who said, "I have a black 32GB 3GS and recently I experienced overheating when I was using GPS. Every time I use GPS it somehow overheats, however mild it may be. But in a region where 3G is out of reach and the phone switches to Edge, the overheating is unbearable. You must shut down the phone."

The problem appears to affect iPhones with white cases more than the black cases, and some users have even reported discoloration of their iPhone's casing.

Now, Apple is admitting that there appears to be a problem, though it lays the blame at the feet of end users. Is Apple really claiming operator error on this one?

On the iPhone support page, it details how iPhone users can keep their iPhones at good operating temperatures. Things that might make the iPhone overheat include:

• Leaving the device in a car on a hot day.
• Leaving it in direct sunlight for extended amounts of time.
• Using certain applications in hot conditions or direct sunlight for long periods of time, such as GPS tracking in a car on a sunny day or listening to music while in direct sunlight.

In other words, Apple is saying "It ain't our fault you like to use your iPhone outside." For real? It's summer! The original iPhone didn't have these problems. Why does the iPhone 3GS?