Syber News

The iPhone 4's antenna problems are seemingly obvious to many consumers, although Apple CEO Steve Jobs recently said "There are no reception issues. Stay tuned." Is it then, a coincidence that Apple posted 3 new positions for "antenna engineers" on its jobs site on June 23rd, the same day that the antenna issues started flooding in?

It could be. While enGadget noticed the three iPad/iPhone antenna engineer positions posted on June 23rd, they somehow omitted the one that showed up below it when we did a search on "antenna engineer" at Apple's jobs site, ourselves (see above). That opening was posted in January. Still, does that make the other postings a coincidence? You be the judge.

The iPhone 4's antenna issues seem to be exacerbated by its external antenna system. Particularly when held in the left hand, with skin bridging the gap between two antennas (shown), users have seen not just dropped signal strength, but data transfer stoppages and even dropped calls.

Apple's official statement has been that all phones exhibit this issue when held in the hand. That is true, in fact, and can be shown by testing, but there have never been complaints about dropped calls because of holding a device.

Antenna experts have weighed in on the issue, including one who warned two weeks before the iPhone 4's launch that the antenna system would be problematic. At this point, many believe that a fix would not be possible via software.

Meanwhile, Apple's leaked "talking points" for its CS representatives make it clear they are sticking by their guns, and no bumpers, which seem to eliminate the issue (as would any case) will be given away free.

Maybe if they'd filled that January opening for an antenna engineer none of this would be happening. Readers, chime in.