Apple: No iPhone 4 Recall, but You Can Get a Free Case

There were many rumors circulating the internet a couple of days ago concerning the newly released iPhone 4, including that the phone spontaneously combusts. After a few days of complaints from users, it turns out that the iPhone 4 does a have a problem: a reception problem. This problem has been dubbed the "death grip" , as holding the phone a certain way with a bare hand can muffle the wireless signal.

In an effort to alleviate the woes of iPhone 4 users, Apple has decided to give away free cases. Apple CEO Steve Jobs announced the giveaway on Friday during a conference in which the Apple company denied that the new iPhone has an antenna problem.

Those who are eligible for a free case are the 3 million people who have already purchased the phone and new buyers through September 30. People who have also already purchased the "bumper" cases will receive a full refund.

Phones usually have an antenna on the inside of the body. Apple, in using bits of the antenna outside of the body took a gamble in the name of design. As a result, covering a spot on the lower left edge of the case causes signal to fade out. It is for this reason that Consumer Reports magazine has refused to give the newest Apple product their seal of approval.

In the conference this morning Jobs said the iPhone 4's antenna issue is not a widespread problem, citing that just over five in every thousand have complained to Apple's warranty service.

When the news of the phone's problems first came out Apple claimed it was a software issue that showed users a misleading number of bars. A software update was issued on Thursday.

Analysts have criticized Apple's responses calling them dismissive and arrogant. Consumer Reports painted a different picture stating that the cases were a good first step to fixing the antenna problem.

Sources:
Miami Herald
Yahoo