iPhone 4 problems on launch day: Yellow screen blotches, bad reception

The first wave of iPhone 4 officially went on sale today and they
are flying off store shelves. But some of that first-day fun is being
spoiled by reports from frontline customers of issues with the brand
new smartphone, including display discoloration and cell reception problems.

Users are reporting diminished or lost reception when they touch the stainless
steel band around the iPhone 4's middle. This band doubles as the main
structural element and the smartphone's antenna.

As evidenced in multiple videos posted to YouTube, when the iPhone 4 is gripped
in such a way that skin touches this band, the signal strength bars appearing in the
upper left corner of the screen drop within seconds.

Reception Perception

The new iPhone is configured to opt for the highest quality signal with the least
interference available from a nearby cell phone tower rather than just the strongest
signal, Wired reports. The signal strength bar does not reflect the quality aspect, so
even if the bar drops to one or zero a call in theory should not be dropped.

Multiple reports say Apple is aware of this perceptual bug

and plans to have a fix out
shortly for it, though no official announcement has been made.

Rumors are swirling of a hardware

fix involving plastic overlays to prevent skin contact
with the steel band, and others say the reception issue is bogus and that Apple just
needs to put in place a software fix so the bars "look" higher than they actually are.

Not-So-Mellow Yellow

The other most prominent problem generating reports is yellow spots or lines on the
iPhone 4's supposedly super high-quality "retina display" screen. The spots can appear
in corners and the thin bands have shown up toward the tops and bottoms of customers'
screens.

According to reports from users online, people who have called in to Apple about the
saffron streaks and spots have been told to swap out their device for a new one next
week.

Engadget has pointed out a post on AppleInsider that said the yellow discolorations
may fade within a couple days, and are a result of a bonding agent drying. Given that
Apple has been rushing to fill orders, some iPhones may be fresh off factory assembly
lines and the agent has not had time to evaporate properly.

Despite these multiple reports of reception and color snafus, tech critics have heaped
praise on the iPhone 4. Apple has sold hundreds of thousands already and has had to
delay online orders as well as a white version of the phone.