Usually when Apple releases a minor new version of its iOS operating system for the iPhone and iPod touch, the release is noticed by the tech community and Apple fans. But today's rollout of iOS 4.0.1 is a much bigger deal, thanks to the controversy surrounding the iPhone 4's "death grip" issue.
Apple previously blamed the iPhone 4's antenna issues on software, and the new update takes care of that: the iOS 4.0.1 update only lists one fix: "Improves the formula to determine how many bars of signal strength to display."
The update makes the signal bars in the top left corner of the iPhone screen slightly bigger, so it is easier to tell what your reception is. Initial testing showed that the iPhone 4's signal fluctuated more than it had previously, which supposedly shows a more accurate representation of AT&T service.
This "fix" coincides with Apple's claim that the "death grip" problem was one related to software instead of hardware. Independent testing by antenna consultant Spencer Webb of AntennaSys confirmed that the iPhone 4's problem was in fact a hardware one. Apple will be holding a press conference Friday to likely address the antenna problem. iOS 4.0.1 can be downloaded in iTunes and is compatible with the iPhone 3G, iPhone 3GS, and iPhone 4.