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Apple has released the first iPhone firmware update since iOS 4 was launched not even a month ago. The operating system officially went public on June 21 and has shipped on millions of iPhone 4 devices since then. iOS 4.0.1 is a minor update with changes to the cellular signal bars.

Apple promised the update after the company discovered an error in the way that signal bars were representing signal strength in areas with poor reception. Apparently the iPhone was making the signal appear stronger than it actually was at the lower end of the scale.

Dev-Team member planetbeing has demonstrated the first unlocked US-purchased iPhone 4 in the world. With a custom-cut Rogers SIM card and some coding magic, his iPhone dialed Rogers customer service and displayed the Rogers carrier logo on the home screen.

MuscleNerd and planetbeing are working simultaneously on two different unlock solutions, and plan to release the best one when the time is right. Apparently the software needs work even though the end result is functional. Dev-Team may wait until Apple releases iOS 4.1 before making the iPhone 4 unlock public.

Apple has launched the first beta version of iOS 4.1 to developers along with the updated SDK, which means it won't be long until the firmware is released to the general public. Several changes and improvements are included in the new version of iOS 4, although reports have indicated the operating system does not correct antenna reception issues.

The calculation method for displaying bars of cellular signal strength has been revised, and the bar graphics themselves are enlarged. Apple previously announced that the formula they used to convert signal strength to bars was misleading, tacking on extra bars in areas of weak reception. iPhone modem firmware is updated from 01.59.00 to 02.07.01 in the new operating system.

The independent and nonprofit magazine Consumer Reports sent some mixed signals after testing the iPhone 4. Reception issues resulting from touching the lower left corner of the device have been verified in Consumer Reports' labs. First the bad news. The magazine said it "can't recommend" the iPhone 4 due to the problem, which they cited as a design flaw in the external antenna.

When held so that a gap between the two antennas is covered the signal drops up to 20dB, which Consumer Reports explains is "enough to drop a call." Reception problems were improved with the addition of non-conductive tape to the affected corner of the iPhone 4, which prevents the metal from coming in contact with the user's hand.

Now that Apple's iAd mobile advertising solution has launched, some may be curious just how Apple intends to target customers with ads geared towards their personal tastes. Turns out that Apple will leverage data collected from 150 million iTunes users to help determine where to place ads.

The apps you download, how long you use them, and which ones you delete delete are all known by Apple, as are any other purchases you make on iTunes. The company does not share this data with advertisers directly, but instead allows advertisers to select from different targeting options based on user preferences. Apple has already sold $60 million in mobile ads for its iAd system.