14 DAY TRIAL // A “reliable” source is telling Greek web site iPhoneHellas that Apple is gearing up to release its antenna fix in advance of a press event scheduled to go down tomorrow with a focus on iPhone 4 matters. Softpedia predicted this week that Apple would ramp up the development of its promised software update, mostly due to the increasingly bad PR surrounding its next-generation smartphone.
Apple mentioned the software update on July 2, when the company issued an official statement regarding the iPhone 4. At the time, claims of bad cellular reception issues had already reached an upsetting level. Now, the situation Apple is in can be considered critical. This is likely the main reason Apple urgently called up select publications to come down to Cupertino and listen to its version of the story.
Negative reports surrounding the iPhone 4 antenna issues culminated this week with Consumer Reports’ review of the device, which included professional-grade tests of the phone’s ability to provide a strong cellular signal. The nonprofit organization admitted that Apple’s iPhone 4 was an overall impressive device, but said it could not recommend buying it, after testing the phone’s wireless capabilities in an isolated environment. Consumer Reports specifically said Apple’s phone had reception issues.
However, in response to Consumer Reports’ negative review of the iPhone 4, electromagnetic engineer Bob Egan provided a number of interesting observations on his blog, where he claimed “Consumer reports ‘RF’ engineers should know better than to think they can run an engineering grade test for an issue like this in a shielded room.” After making various other points, he claimed that the magazine’s study was flawed, and unreliable.
As mentioned above, Softpedia predicted this week that Apple could not tolerate any more reports taking stabs at its iPhone 4, therefore would rush the development of its promised software update. Now, according to a report by iPhoneHellas, iOS 4.0.1 is said to be launching as soon as today.
While it would satisfy our ego to know we were accurate, there’s a good chance Apple may not release the fix today. With the scheduled press event some 30 hours away, Apple does not have enough time to digest customer feedback, following the release of the firmware update. Any sort of unexpected behavior will only amplify existing concerns related to its smartphone, making it impossible to build a solid case at tomorrow’s press conference.