iPhone 4 Reports

The latest iPhone has officially launched and reports are coming in on how the device is performing. Overall, it is a welcome improvement over the 3GS version it replaces, though there are a few issues. Some should be fixable via firmware updates. Others though may have to wait until the next production batch has been made.Of the reports I've seen, call quality is better and dropped calls are down some. The odd thing is, the iPhone 4 is more likely to report just one or even zero bars of coverage even though the network is fine. AT&T worked with Apple to make the iPhone better on the existing network. It does this by looking at various available frequencies and making your connection on the best one at a given moment. It favors the signal quality over the strength. The software that reads this data and reports it to you in bars may be due a software update according to Boy Genius Report.

It is still early and there is no official word from Apple, but for now, pay less attention to the low bar indicator. If your connection goes through just fine, assume the software is glitching.

In a seemingly related issue, Engadget has reported that their iPhone, as well as many of their readers, are having dropped call issues holding the phone with their left hand. This sounds more like a hardware issue than a software issue, Your left palm is bridging the two antenna that make up the silver frame. One is for the WiFi, Bluetooth and GPS radios while the other is for the 3G cellular radio. They meet in the bottom left corner.

Some users are reporting a yellow hue near the lower right corner of the screen. Engadget has some pictures of this. This appears to be less serious as the yellow spots seem to disappear in a few days. The glue used to bond the glass is causing this and as you use the device, the heat will vaporize the remaining residue.

Finally, if you want a good overall review, Walt Mossbert at the Wall Street Journal has written his usual comprehensive device review, which can basically be summed up as "iPhone 4 good, AT&T bad."

"The most important downside of the iPhone 4 is that, in the U.S., it's shackled to AT&T, which not only still operates a network that has trouble connecting and maintaining calls in many cities, but now has abandoned unlimited, flat-rate data plans. Apple needs a second network."

Not really too surprising is it?