GPS on the iPhone 4

Apple's Map + Compass
http://www.apple.com/iphone/features/maps-compass.html

iPhone 4 shares the same Broadcom BCM4750 chip as the iPad
http://www.broadcom.com/products/GPS/GPS-Silicon-Solutions/BCM4750

Download PDF

http://www.datasheetpro.com/download/pdfserv.datasheetpro.net/Broadcom/4750-PB01-R.pdf

Actual performance reports are hard to come by as of this
posting.

Somebody is happy
http://twitter.com/devth/statuses/16943439609

"GPS accuracy on iPhone 4 is way better than my old 3G:
http://rnkpr.com/a702qj compared to http://rnkpr.com/a6wo0u
9:46 AM Jun 24th via Twitter for iPhone

On the antenna issue:

Story in PC World:

http://www.pcworld.com/article/200453/antenna_expert_apple_is_right_iphone_4_signal_woes_overblown.html?tk=hp_blg

Source they cite is amusing, but low tech:

http://www.antennasys.com/antennasys-blog/

One of the comments on the PC World story refers to this site, which
is higher tech:

http://www.anandtech.com/show/3794/the-iphone-4-review/2

"The fact of the matter is that either the most sensitive region of
the antenna should have an insulative coating, or everyone should use
a case. For a company that uses style heavily as a selling point, the
latter isn't an option. And the former would require an unprecedented
admission of fault on Apple's part. . . .

At the end of the day, Apple should add an insulative coating to the
stainless steel band, or subsidize bumper cases. It's that simple."

On 7/5/10 8:03 AM, Ed M. wrote:
http://www.pcworld.com/article/200453/antenna_expert_apple_is_right_iphone_4_signal_woes_overblown.html?tk=hp_blg

I agree, Apple should add an insulating coating. There will still
be some capacitance coupling to hands. I don't know if that can be
sensed and corrected. I would like to think that the engineering
team considered all the possibilities.

On 7/5/10 9:35 AM, Sam Wormley wrote:
http://www.pcworld.com/article/200453/antenna_expert_apple_is_right_iphone_4_signal_woes_overblown.html?tk=hp_blg


Apple antenna issue a 'physics problem,' not a software
problem
http://news.cnet.com/8301-31021_3-20009328-260.html

"Brian Klug and Anand Shimpi at tech blog Anandtech have conducted their
own hands-on experiments comparing different smartphones and their
reception when the antennas are covered. They sum up their findings this
way: "At the end of the day, Apple should add an insulative coating to
the stainless steel band, or subsidize bumper cases. It's that simple."

'It happens in most phones, as Apple said in its only official statement
on the matter last week. But those other phones do not have the antenna
built directly into the phone's case, and that doesn't mean the problem
can be avoided, Klug and Shimpi conclude.

"There's nothing Apple nor anyone else can do to get around physics,
plain and simple. It's something which demonstrably affects every
phone's cellular reception."'

On 7/5/10 10:56 PM, Sam Wormley wrote:
http://www.pcworld.com/article/200453/antenna_expert_apple_is_right_iphone_4_signal_woes_overblown.html?tk=hp_blg


Consumer Product Rating of iPhone 4

http://www.macrumors.com/2010/07/12/aside-from-signal-issue-consumer-reports-rates-iphone-4-highest-amongst-all-smartphones/

that they simply could not recommend the iPhone 4 due to the widely reported
signal issues related to touching the lower-left corner of the device. This
single issue alone has prevented them from fully recommending the iPhone 4.
However, their formal testing otherwise revealed that the iPhone 4 ranked the
highest amongst all smartphones in their testing.
rivals, the iPhone 3Gs and the HTC Evo 4G.
navigation, Web browsing, multimedia and battery life categories, “Very Good”
in phoning and messaging and “Good” in voice quality.
the highest score of 76/100. The signal issue described is that holding the
lower-left corner of the iPhone 4 can reduce cell phone signal and affect calls
in areas with lower reception. The issue depends on your local coverage and can
be alleviated with a phone case.