Apple may be able to fix the iPhone 4’s left-hand reception issues with a software update, according to a new report. Citing a person with direct knowledge of Apple’s plans, the New York Times reports that the unique antenna design of the iPhone 4 has exposed a weakness in the communications software of iOS, specifically in the interaction between specialized communications software and the antenna. According to the source, the software problem has been present in the iOS for a long time, but was only discovered after the iPhone 4 shipped.
The report also claims that the problem could presumably be fixed with a software update, one separate from iOS 4.0.1 that was released yesterday.
Notably, both this report and a separate Wall Street Journal piece claim that Apple will not be launching a recall of iPhone 4 units. Regarding yesterday’s report of Apple engineer Ruben Caballero voicing concerns about the phone’s antenna design early in its development, an Apple spokesperson told the WSJ, “We challenge Bloomberg BusinessWeek to produce anything beyond rumors to back this up.
It’s simply not true.” The latter article also claims that Apple gives its carrier partners much less time to test a new iPhone before release. Both articles follow Apple’s announcement of a press conference to be held at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time today, and an open letter from U.S.
