Reports of the iPhone 4's antenna "death grip" reception problems have populated the Web since the device was released. And Consumer Reports has followed the Web's lead, noting problems with the iPhone 4 and then recommending users attach a "bumper" case.
It's been a PR nightmare of sorts for Apple, but all things considered, it could be a lot worse. After all, people seem to still be buying the iPhone 4 by the boatload, in spite of non-responses from the company, like Steve Jobs' "you're holding it wrong" advice.
That said, this week's blog post from Consumer Reports seems to have knocked the company for a loop. The magazine's statement that it "can't recommend" the phone set off another avalanche of negative publicity, culminating with Apple's announcement of a Friday press conference last night.
On Tuesday, the magazine issued another damning post titled, "Why Apple—and not its customers—should fix the iPhone 4." In it, Consumer Reports chided the company for, "putting the onus on consumers and skirting Apple's obligation to offer a product that works consistently and reliably out of the box." Buying a case and holding the phone differently aren't real solutions, it explained.
The magazine's latest followup, however, could possibly be regarded as a ray of good—or certainly less-than-terrible—news. Consumer Reports tested Apple' bumper case to see if it could verify reports that it would alleviate the aforementioned "death grip" problems. The bumper, it turns out, got a pretty good reception, after all.
"We put the accessory to the test in our labs and confirmed that it does remedy the issue," writes Consumer Reports' Paul Reynolds. "With the Bumper fitted, we repeated the test procedure, placing a finger on the Bumper at the point at which it covers the gap below. The result was a negligible drop in signal strength—so slight that it would not have any effect, in our judgment."
Apple loves citing the press during its media events, so odds seem pretty good that the company will indeed highlight this latest piece. Ultimately, however, the magazine still puts the responsibility on Apple.
"These options all put the onus on consumers to solve or pay for a fix," writes Reynolds. "We're still calling on Apple to provide an acceptable free solution to the iPhone 4's signal-loss problem.