Apple Toolbox

Although the iOS 4.0.1 update was ostensibly designed only to “improve the formula to determine how many bars of signal strength to display” and address other minor bugs, a number of users have reported significantly degraded actual signal strength (not just fewer bars, which may occur with the same signal under iOS 4.0.1) and increased [...]

Apple currently offers eight different cases, including its own bumper, through it’s free iPhone 4 case program. But which one should you choose? Here’s a quick rundown of descriptions and reviews for each case: Apple iPhone 4 Bumper Description: A simple, rubber band that snaps around the edge of the iPhone. Apple’s description states “made [...]

Apple has begun its program to deliver free cases to iPhone 4 users affected by a signal attenuation issue in which the device partially or entirely loses signal when it is gripped on the sides near the bottom of the device, where the small seams (black bars) are. Requests are being handled through an iPhone app, which [...]

Although most readers have reported that iOS 4.0.1 simply modifies the display of signal bars (as intended), some have reported an increase in the incidence of dropped calls, particularly on iPhone 3G and iPhone 3GS models. While the new update includes a modem software update (which theoretically could result in a change in actual signal [...]

The backlash to Apple’s “Letter Regarding iPhone 4″–in which the company addresses dramatic drops in the number of bars displayed on the device when a small sliver separating the external antenna is bridged by a finger or hand–has been swift. Rebuttal posts to Apple’s Discussion boards include: BryC: “This is whats called the Jedi Mind [...]

Although most users have reported faster 3G data throughput from the iPhone 4 relative to the iPhone 3G and iPhone 3GS, some users report dramatically slower speeds in locations where their previous iPhones delivered normal speed. In some cases, the phone displays the message “Could not activate cellular data network” despite full signal (all bars). Apple [...]

Wi-Fi issues, including dropped connections and forgotten passwords, sudden cessation of data throughput, inability to reconnect to networks after sleep, and weak signals and slow transfer continue to affect iPad owners. We’ve outlined a number of potential solution for these problems in our iPad Wi-Fi troubleshooting guide, but Apple now promises a fix in a future [...]