News

The furor over Apple's iPhone 4 antenna design and its impacts on reception when held in the so-called "Death Grip" continue and here are the latest developments. First of all, don't expect AppleCare representatives to replace your iPhone 4 if you're experiencing the issue. Not only this, but Apple employees have been explicitly told not to offer owners free iPhone 4 Bumper cases.

A leaked document posted on BGR instructs Genius Bar employees to troubleshoot the problem, however if the antenna works fine when the iPhone 4 is resting flat on a table, then Apple considers the device to be properly operating. A software fix is not mentioned, and several solutions are to be suggested to the customer.

We've heard all the rumors before, but a critical mass of information is making it evident that the iPhone 4 is destined for Verizon Wireless this coming January. Bloomberg reports from unnamed sources that customers will be able to buy a Verizon-compatible iPhone 4 in six short months.

This follows information from DigiTimes that an order for 10 million CDMA iPhone 4 devices will be fulfilled later this year. CDMA technology is compatible with Verizon's network. News stories about Apple negotiating with Verizon have been floating around for months, if not years.

With the launch of the iPhone 4 tomorrow, prospective buyers and those who have successfully pre-ordered their devices may be looking for protection. Several options exist, and they each come with their own price tag and caveats. AT&T Wireless made news earlier this month when they announced that MobileProtect insurance from Asurion would finally be available for the iPhone.

Unfortunately, the pricing and features of the AT&T iPhone insurance plan just don't compare to alternatives. First of all, MobileProtect costs $11.99 per month and your iPhone must be enrolled within the first 30 days after activation. This puts the insurance total for a two-year contract at a whopping $288. Furthermore, those needing an iPhone 4 replacement will pay a $199 deductible, the same price as a subsidized 16 GB iPhone 4 with a two-year contract.

iPhone 3GS and 3G owners are expecting the iPhone OS 4 release from Apple today. Renamed iOS 4, the new firmware adds 100 new features including multitasking, folders and more. Apple watchers are predicting that the company will make the update available on its servers by 10 am Pacific time (1 pm EDT).

Demand is sure to be high as millions of devices, including the iPod Touch, are eligible to receive the operating system upgrade for free. Users will certainly flood Apple's servers with requests, much like the iPhone 4 pre-order swamped AT&T and Apple. iOS 4 requires iTunes 9.2.