Apple is set to hold a Friday press conference about the iPhone 4, but what will the company actually announce? In an informal poll conducted on Twtpoll, the majority believed that Apple will either discuss how iOS 4.0.1 solves the bar issue or provide all customers with the plastic bumpers that alleviate the "death grip" issue.
Of the 233 Web users polled, about 39 percent were in the "bumpers for everyone" bandwagon. After the iPhone 4 made its debut, some users noticed that holding the phone in a certain way killed its connectivity; a phenomenon confirmed in the PCMag Labs. At the time, Apple said that gripping any phone will "result in some attenuation of its antenna performance." Putting a plastic bumper on the phone solves the problem, but those bumpers will set you back $29.
Another 35 percent believed that Apple will discuss the recently released iOS 4.0.1 update and how it solves the "bar issue." Earlier this month, Apple said that reported reception problems with the iPhone 4 are actually caused by an error in the way the phone displays bars of signal strength. On Thursday, Apple released iOS 4.0.1, which the company said "improves the formula to determine how many bars of signal strength to display."
So will Friday's event simply be an overview of how iOS 4.0.1 solves everyone's problems? Time will tell. Another rumor is that Apple will announce a recall of the iPhone 4, and about 7 percent are in that camp. Another 4 percent said Apple will issue a rebate; one person thought Apple might issue a $100 store credit.
Another 6 percent thought Apple would go all out and announce all of the above.
What else? Respondents suggested that Apple might announce the availability of the white iPhone 4 and ignore reception issues entirely, introduce a new iPhone "accessory" that alleviates reception problems, or take the time to assure everyone that there's no problem whatsoever.
There were also the usual pleas for additional carriers, while someone joked that Apple might introduce "Apple-branded duct tape" to fix the "death grip" issue.
What do you think will happen? Give us your thoughts on PCMag's Twtpoll. Apple's press conference is set to happen at 10am Pacific time. News editor Mark Hachman is attending and will be live-blogging from Cupertino.
UPDATE: And the winner is: free bumpers for everyone! Well, almost. Apple said it will provide free bumpers or cases for iPhone 4 buyers until September 30, and that applies to people who have already purchased the phone. Apple has now sold three million iPhone 4's, though, and doesn't have that many bumpers, so it will provide users with a choice between a bumper and a third-party case. More details will be available shortly.