Overview of Apple iPhone 4 - Features of Apple's New iPhone

Highs: FaceTime video chatting, High resolution Retina 960 x 640 pixel 3.5-inch display, 5-megapixel camera with LED flash; HD video recorder, 16GB or 32 GB built-in memory, Long battery life
Lows: Sharp edges, Less memory than 3G S; no 64GB version, Greenish screen tone, No HDMI out, Orange hue on indoor photos, No external camera shutter button

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Highs: FaceTime video chatting, High resolution Retina 960 x 640 pixel 3.5-inch display, 5-megapixel camera with LED flash; HD video recorder, 16GB or 32 GB built-in memory, Long battery life

Lows: Sharp edges, Less memory than 3G S; no 64GB version, Greenish screen tone, No HDMI out, Orange hue on indoor photos, No external camera shutter button

We review Apple's latest iPhone 4 to see if it can live up to the massive hype and overcome some reported launch issues.

Introduction

The Apple iPhone is no longer the Superman of the cellphone world, despite all the hoopla, lines and glitz. Every carrier now has (or will have) at least one comparable Android superphone, such as Sprint’s EVO 4G, T-Mobile’s Google Nexus, the upcoming Droid X from Verizon on July 15, and Samsung’s Galaxy S from either AT&T or T-Mobile later this summer. Plus, the iPhone 4 also has to compete with the lower-priced 3G S, which also can run the new-and-improved multi-tasking iOS 4 operating system.

The question really isn’t whether the iPhone is a cool, new phone – it is. Its video chatting FaceTime is fascinating and fun, the Retina high-resolution screen is a salve to squinters, its 5-megapixel camera is exceptional. But the iPhone 4 also suffers from a couple of niggling issues which, now that you have plenty of superphone choices, make it less than it could have been.

Design and Layout

Apple touts the iPhone 4 as being the thinnest smartphone ever. This is misleading. The iPhone 4 is actually thicker around the edges than the tapered 3G S, so it feels thicker. And its glass rear is slipperier than the plastic 3G S.

The iPhone 4 is a smidgen smaller all around than the 3G S and the same weight, but thanks to the metal band around the perimeter and the glass front and back, it feels more solid. It’s also squarer than the tapered 3G S, which means form-fitting skins won’t fit (they’ll be too small), and the upper frame by the earpiece has a sharper edge, which means a naked iPhone 4 held tight to your ear will feel sharp and uncomfortable.

The iPhone 4’s controls and jacks remain in the same place, but the volume controls and home key require a firmer touch, which eliminates accidental presses.

Retina Display

Everyone will be talking about FaceTime, but the iPhone 4’s Retina screen that will be the longest-pleasing improvement.

The iPhone 4’s Retina 960 x 640 pixel screen leans to the greener end of the color spectrum compared to the 3G S’s cooler blue hue, most noticeable on white background Web pages, on faces, and on clear blue skies. But those extra pixels make a world of difference in illuminating tiny details and creating sharper edges in images and video. More importantly, the iPhone 4’s screen has deeper blacks (noticeable when comparing the iPhone 4 and the S when in sleep); colors pop in both tone and in contrast like never before.

But all of a sudden, the iPhone’s 3.5-inch screen seems small in the expanding world of 4-inch and larger superphone screens.

iTunes Integration

As it does for photos, the latest version of iTunes gives you the choice of down converting all higher bit-rated AAC and MP3 files to 128 Kbps AAC for use on your iPhone. We were able to save nearly 4GB of space by doing this, with no real loss of headphone sound quality.

Sound Quality

We could discern no qualitative improvement from the 3G S, but the speaker did pump out a bit more volume during FaceTime conversations. In a quiet room, we didn’t even have to go much beyond three quarters of maximum volume.

Apple Advice To Avoid iPhone Flaw for iPhone 4 Issues

Apple has released official advice for iPhone 4 owners to overcome the problem of the device losing signal when held by the lower left corner.

Steve Jobs responded to a query about the problem from one owner by saying: "Just avoid holding it in that way." The official advice is to "avoid gripping it in the lower left corner in a way that covers both sides of the black strip in the metal band".

Alternatively, said Apple, customers could buy a case to shield the antenna.The iPhone 4 went on sale on 24 June, with hundreds of people queuing outside Apple's flagship store in central London for the launch.

Many new owners reported that signal strength dropped when the phone was held.

In a statement, Apple said: "Gripping any mobile phone will result in some attenuation of its antenna performance, with certain places being worse than others depending on the placement of the antennas."

Steve Jobs issued his response in a message responding to an e-mail from the Ars Technica news site. Mr Jobs wrote that "All phones have sensitive areas".The problem is thought to be particularly acute for left-handed owners who naturally touch the phone in the sensitive area.

The casing of Apple's latest phone is made of stainless steel, which also serves as its antenna.Apple sells a rubber "bumper" that shields the sensitive area as do many other firms.Richard Warner, one of the first to buy an iPhone 4, contacted BBC News, saying that he thought the phone was "useless in its current state".

"Apple have created a phone that has an antenna on the bottom left-hand side of the phone."

"This means that when you hold it in your left hand, the signal bars slowly fade until there is no signal," he wrote.

'Complaints'

A number of videos have been posted on video sharing site YouTube complaining about the reception issue.

One video had an American user running a speed test, with hands on and hands free.

In it, the user 'awington' says that, while holding the phone "it won't even run the test when I am holding the phone... once I let go, it makes a connection and runs the test."Hold it a second time, and the upload test will not start."

Social networking site Twitter was full of chatter, with numerous tweets on the reception problems.The issue might stem from the way the integrated antenna is constructed. One section provides mobile reception, while another is for wi-fi.

Some users have speculated that touching the bottom of the phone bridges this gap, affecting signal strength.

When Steve Jobs introduced the iPhone 4 at Apple Worldwide Developers Conference, he described the integrated antenna as "really cool engineering".

Play Slickest Games on Your iPhone 4

The iPhone 4 has arrived! After a morning of waiting, pacing and coffee-drinking, we finally get to test some highly anticipated games that shine on the iPhone 4. Apple’s newest device features a gyroscope for more movement control, as well as a new retina display for high-resolution graphics.

Here are some great games released or newly updated for the iPhone 4.
Retina Pleasure

FarmVille is making a big splash with its iPhone game, after initially becoming a global sensation on Facebook. On the iPhone 4, the $4.99 game from Zynga feels a little more interactive, with improved touch-screen control. The big selling point here is the high-resolution display, which actually does a good job of drawing you into the game.

Enigmo 2 also released a version for the iPhone 4, with its beautiful graphics made a little crisper. The $2.99 game takes you through several puzzle levels, each with their own set of challenges for manipulating time and space to save water streams and laser beams in containers. There’s no gyroscope action on this game, but that’s a good thing.

The Tiger Woods PGA Tour game from EA has iPhone support, but little in the way of multi-axis support. The game’s graphics and play still pack a punch, looking pretty sleek on the iPhone 4. At $2.99 I’ll be fighting to keep this well-designed game away from my HTC-using boyfriend.

Flight Control from Firemint was already a great graphic game for the small screen, but improvements on the iPhone 4 make everything a little cooler. The crazy gameplay for the 99-cent app seem pretty slick on the new device.
Gyroscope & action

Real Racing is another Firemint game that received an iPhone 4 update today, with a bit of gyroscope thrown in for good measure. The $4.99 game may be one of the better ways to try out the iPhone 4’s multi-axis support. Already maxing out the phone’s accelerometer, the added range of motion makes for some pretty bumpy gameplay.

For a point-and-shoot game, Eliminate: GunRange may be more your style. Get dizzyingly familiar with the new axis controls as you focus in on your target before blowing them away. All from the shooter’s perspective, this 99-cent game has done well for its first dedicated iPhone release.

While Zen Bound 2 doesn't have a new update yet for the iPhone 4, it sure looks great on the new device. You can imagine the level of wrist action involved in solving the complex, 3D puzzles with added gyroscope support for the $7.99 game. Equally as impressive are the beautiful graphics on the new display, making it a perfect fit for the iPhone 4.

Steve Jobs Said that People are Holding Their iPhone 4 Wrong

Apple chief executive Steve Jobs responded to an Engadget reader with much the same advice.

"I love my new iPhone 4 (nice work) but when I put my hand on the steel bands I lose all reception," an emailer with an Arizona State University account emailed to Jobs. "It appears to be a common issue. Any plans to fix this?"

Jobs' response: "Just avoid holding it in that way."

The question, at this point, is whether or not a drop in the signal indicator on the iPhone 4 indicates a reduced ability to place and receive calls, and maintain a data connection at the same throughput as on a table or using a different grip. As one of my sources, Spencer Webb of AntennaSys, points out in a comprehensive blog post Friday, the performance of the antenna will undoubtedly suffer.

"The antenna structure for the cell phone is still down at the bottom (I won't address the WiFi nor GPS antennas in this blog entry)," Webb writes. "The iPhone 4 has two symmetrical slots in the stainless frame. If you short these slots, or cover them with your hand, the antenna performance will suffer (see this video I found on YouTube). There is no way around this, it's a design compromise that is forced by the requirements of the FCC, AT&T, Apple's marketing department and Apple's industrial designers, to name a few."

Webb's solution? "I already know how to do the Vulcan Antenna Grip on the iPhone, and I am wearing out my current model," he writes. "And sometimes an antenna that's not great, but good enough, is good enough."

PCMag's Sascha Segan also refers to the iPhone 4 as the best iPhone ever. "It's not the best phone-calling phone, but we've gone well beyond the era when everyone bought handheld, networked computers primarily for making long voice calls," he writes in his review (which due to a caching problem, may point back to our preview of the iPhone 4).

"If you're looking for salvation from dropped calls, the iPhone 4 isn't it," Segan adds. "In extremely weak signal conditions in our lab and our basement, the iPhone 3GS actually connected slightly more calls successfully than the iPhone 4 did—about one in ten additional calls went through. The iPhone 4 gave a truer picture of signal strength than the 3GS did, though; its 'bar' meter is quicker to respond to changes in RF than the 3GS is."

So, our tests conclude that phone connectivity is slightly better, in areas of strong signal -- something AT&T hasn't been well-known for. Is this the phone for you? Hard to say. But at least the caveats are a little better known.

iPhone 4 Critical Issues and Complaints Are increasing

Several early iPhone 4 customers have discovered critical issues with the phone’s display and reception that could pose major problems for Apple’s newest mobile device.

Multiple Apple- and gadget-focused websites are receiving reports that the iPhone’s much-discussed “Retina Display” is susceptible to a yellow discoloration, either as a thin line of yellow or as a circular tint.

That’s not the only problem: There are now countless videos online that show how holding the new iPhone by its sides can decrease reception quality.

We’ve received a growing number of tips about these complaints, as well.

Message board threads on Macrumors are buzzing with negative reviews of the discolored iPhone 4 screens. Here’s an excerpt from a community member:

“Just synced up my iPhone 4 and noticed that, on screens with a white background (i.e., Settings.), there is a decidedly yellow spot on the lower left corner of my screen. It appears circular (about the size of a pencil eraser) but when you rotate the phone sideways, it’s more visible as running across the bottom edge of the screen a ways.”

Gizmodo is also getting a flood of complaints and currently counts more than 27 cases of Retina displays demonstrating the yellow tint problem. Apple has dealt with this problem before with its 27-inch iMacs. It’s unclear what is the cause of the issue at the moment, nor is it known how widespread the problem is.

The second problem affects reception. As Gizmodo reports, dozens of iPhone 4 owners are finding that their reception drops dramatically if they hold the phone by its metal sides in two places. The metal bands of the iPhone 4 also act as antennas for the device.

There are now dozens of videos and tests demonstrating that the iPhone 4 loses bars, call quality and download speed when held by its sides. In some cases, the iPhone 4 completely loses reception. Again, it’s unclear just how widespread this issue is. Our guess is that it’s a hardware problem, which means a lot of iPhones could be affected.

Issues are to be expected when new devices go to mass market, but Apple’s devices don’t usually have problems as critical as these. These flaws likely will frustrate a lot of users and could even force Apple to replace or recall phones, depending on the root cause of these problems.

For now, we’re in wait-and-see mode as the phone permeates the market. We’ll keep you updated on any other critical issues that we discover.

Update: There have been new developments regarding both the discoloration issue and the reception issue. According to Engadget and others, the yellow time sometimes goes after a day or two. Heat seems to affect the discoloration, and it may be due to a bonding agent known as Organofunctional Silane Z-6011, which Apple may be using to bond the iPhone 4’s glass together. If it’s not fully dry (say, due to a rapid pace of production), it could possibly cause discoloration.

The reception issue is real, though, but the question is whether it’s a software or a hardware bug. Boy Genius Report seems to think the issue is a software problem because some iPhone 4s can still make calls, despite displaying zero bars. Putting a bumper or cover on your phone though seems to solve the issue.

Hands on with the iPhone 4: why apple calling it 'the best device in its class'

Apple calls it the "the biggest leap forward since the original iPhone," Walter S. Mossberg from The Wall Street Journal says it's "the best device in its class" and consumers are giving the device a nod (many without even setting hands on it), racking up more than 600,000 preorders in one day and depleting retail stores of their entire iPhone 4 inventory.

But what makes this new device stand out from the saturated market of high-powered, feature-rich smartphones? What are the issues you should be aware of before purchasing the device? Relaxnews goes hands on with the iPhone 4 to find out.

The first thing that makes the iPhone 4 stand out from the pack is its striking industrial design: the phone comes encased in a chemically-strengthened glass and is finished with a stainless steel band that wraps around the outside. The new design replaces the iPhone 3Gs's plastic-y feel and makes the device feel solid and well-constructed.

The stainless steel band doubles as an antenna for the device, which is now known to cause problems in the reception when the device is held in a certain way. This can be rectified by moving your hand or purchasing a cover for the device says Apple.

Aside from the design, the most noticeable upgrade is the new Retina display (the boost in speed and extended battery life come in a close second and third). While handsets like the Droid X and HTC Evo 4G might wow you with the size of the screen, multiple tests show that the iPhone's 3.5 inch, 960x640 pixel display is leaps and bounds ahead of the competition.

As Cult of Mac writes in their iPhone 4 vs Evo 4G screen test article, the iPhone 4's display "is the new standard for smartphone displays. Sadly, though, this means your brand new iPad is going to look this muddy once you get an iPhone 4 in your hands too."

Some consumers have reported seeing a "yellow discoloration, either as a thin line of yellow or as a circular tint" on their display. The problem is thought to be caused by a bonding agent used in the manufacturing process and has, in many cases disappeared after a day.

The new 5 megapixel (MP) camera and addition of an LED flash make it possible for you leave your point-and-shoot digital camera at home. Images taken with the phone appear clear and crisp on the screen and when printed on photo paper. iPhone 4's camera, however, doesn't compare to the 12 MP camera found on Nokia's flagship smartphone, the N8, or even the majority of 8MP cameras seen on many new smartphones on the market today.

iPhone 4 may, however, have compact camcorder makers worried. For example, both the iPhone 4 and the Flip Ultra HD are very compact and provide users with 720p (high definition) video at 30 frames per second, but the iPhone 4 also provides users with touch to focus, more storage, onboard editing with iMovie (an app that will set you back $4.99) and a large range of additional video-centric apps.

Another feature Apple is very proud of is FaceTime. While the concept of video chat is not new, Apple makes it so simple to use that consumers will opt to use FaceTime over competing video chat applications such as Fring.

The ability to easily switch between cameras on the iPhone 4, seamless contact integration, and lack of user set up/configuration required make the whole experience much more engaging.

The Retina display, processor upgrade, HD video recording, video chat, iOS 4 and the phone's new sleek industrial design means that (despite known flaws) the iPhone 4 is the smartphone all the others will have to beat. Here's to the next wave of "iPhone 4 killers."

Want to know how the device compares to the Flip, N8, Droid X and Nexus One? Check out the side-by-side comparisons below.

Flip Ultra HD Video camera vs iPhone 4: http://www.iclarified.com/entry/index.php?enid=10254

Nokia N8's 12 MP camera vs iPhone 4's 5 MP camera: http://www.finestfones.com/2010/06/iphone-4-vs-nokia-n8-official-sample.html

iPhone 4 vs Droid X: http://www.pcworld.com/article/199844/iphone_4_vs_droid_x_a_headtohead_comparison.html

Round-up of the competitors: http://www.csmonitor.com/Innovation/Horizons/2010/0608/iPhone-4-review-roundup-Apple-versus-the-competition

iPhone 4 vs. EVO 4G vs. Incredible vs. Nexus One: http://www.zdnet.com/blog/apple/comparing-tco-iphone-4-vs-evo-4g-vs-incredible-vs-nexus-one/7317

Consumer reviews: http://gizmodo.com/5570100/the-iphone-4-review-by-you

Fring vs FaceTime: http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-19512_7-20008762-233.html

Engadget's review: http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/22/iphone-4-review/

Walter S. Mossberg's review: http://ptech.allthingsd.com/20100622/apple-iphone4-review/

Known issues, "blemishes" and problems to be aware of:

5 Big Blemishes for the Apple iPhone 4: http://finance.yahoo.com/family-home/article/109896/5-big-blemishes-for-the-apple-iphone-4

Critical iPhone 4 Issues and Complaints Are Mounting: http://mashable.com/2010/06/23/iphone-yellow-screen-tint/

iPhone 4 Problems Start Piling Up: http://www.inquisitr.com/76889/iphone-4-problems/

Hold IPhone 4 Differently to Fix Signal - Announced by Apple

Apple blames iPhone signal loss on users‎
Apple tells iPhone 4 owners to get a grip

June 25 (Bloomberg) -- Apple Inc. responded to complaints about reception on its new iPhone 4 by telling customers they should hold the device differently.

“Gripping any mobile phone will result in some attenuation of its antenna performance, with certain places being worse than others depending on the placement of the antennas,” Apple said today in an e-mailed statement. “If you ever experience this on your iPhone 4, avoid gripping it in the lower left corner in a way that covers both sides of the black strip in the metal band, or simply use one of many available cases.”

Yesterday’s introduction of the iPhone 4 was marred by criticism that signal strength diminishes when users cover the bottom-left corners with their palms. The iPhone, which first debuted in 2007, has become Apple’s top-selling product. It accounted for 40 percent of sales last quarter.

Chief Executive Officer Steve Jobs added a high-definition video camera, multitasking and video calling to the iPhone 4 to fend off competition from phones running Google Inc.’s Android operating system. It also has a stainless-steel band that’s designed to improve network reception.

Customers have posted videos on the Internet demonstrating trouble with the iPhone 4’s new antenna. Users experiencing the problem expressed disappointment with Apple’s response.

‘Really Awful’

“I’m an Apple person going back a long time and have spent a small fortune on Apple stuff over the last few years,” said Patrick Coleman, 58, a senior systems administrator from Rockville, Maryland, who purchased two iPhone 4s. “It’s really awful when Jobs has this kind of attitude.”

Shaw Wu, an analyst at Kaufman Bros. LP in San Francisco, doesn’t expect the antenna problem to lead to a product recall.

“Most users have a case anyway to protect their iPhone,” he said in a report. He recommends buying Apple stock. “In the worst case, Apple provides a discount on the $29 iPhone 4 bumper case or includes one for free with an iPhone 4 purchase. Either way, we do not think this would have a material impact on our forecasts.”

David Carey, vice president of technical intelligence at UBM TechInsights, an Austin, Texas-based company that studies the engineering of electronic devices, said it’s not clear whether the antenna problem can be fixed with a software update or if it’s more structural.

Software Solution?

“There is a point where software can’t dig you out of a hole,” he said. Still, given the phone’s rigorous testing process, “it would strike me as surprising that they would have a permanent problem on their hands,” Carey said.

The antenna matter didn’t stop analysts from increasing their projections. Yair Reiner, an analyst at Oppenheimer & Co., said Apple probably sold 1.5 million iPhone 4s yesterday and said the company’s stock may reach $345 a share.

“Apple continues to capture the attention and catalyze the passions of the American consumer in an unprecedented way,” Reiner said.

Apple fell $1.28 to $267.72 at 1:08 p.m. New York time in Nasdaq Stock Market trading. The shares had gained 28 percent this year before today.

The company said this week it’s delaying the release of white iPhone 4 models until the second half of July because of unexpected manufacturing challenges. Jobs unveiled the phone on June 7.

Android Phones

Apple, based in Cupertino, California, is facing increased competition from Android phone makers, such as HTC Corp., which rely on Google’s operating system. There are some 60 Android- based mobile phones.

In the U.S., a 16-gigabyte model of the iPhone 4 costs $199, and a 32-gigabyte model is priced at $299. AT&T Inc., the exclusive U.S. carrier for the iPhone, said this month it will end unlimited data plans, an effort to manage the surge in demand caused by devices like the iPhone. The carrier has been criticized for dropped calls.

Apple may sell more than 10 million iPhones in the quarter ending in September, said Colin Gillis, an analyst at BGC Partners in New York.

--With assistance from Arik Hesseldahl in New York. Editors: Ville Heiskanen, Tom Giles

To contact the reporter on this story: Adam Satariano in San Francisco at asatariano1@bloomberg.net; Crayton Harrison in New York at tharrison5@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Tom Giles at tgiles5@bloomberg.net; Peter Elstrom at pelstrom@bloomberg.net

Problems of New Apple iPhone 4 - Lost signal and Screen discolouration - 50 user reports

The iPhone 4 has just gone on sale around the world but some early adopters are suffering post-launch hangovers, with problems including reception issues and mysterious stains on the screen.

It appears that holding the phone in a certain way causes reception to drop dramatically, with dozens of owners demonstrating the flaw in YouTube videos. Apple has acknowledged the problem but says it will not be fixed, telling owners to simply hold their phone in a different way.

The iPhone 4 went on sale on Thursday in the US, Britain, France, Germany and Japan, but it is not due to launch in Australia until late next month. Optus, Telstra, Vodafone and 3 have sections on their websites for Australians to register their interest in ordering one.

Evan Wiendczak mobbed by the media after buying the first iPhone 4 at the Apple store on Fifth Avenue in New York. Photo: Bloomberg

The first reviews came out this week and all were glowing, hailing the Apple device as the king of the smartphone market. Many stores have already sold out of the new device.

Lost signal

The reception problem appears to be most serious for left-handed users, as the antenna is located on the left-hand side of the phone. Simply holding the device causes it to gradually lose signal, an issue that several sites, including CNET, have reproduced.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev gets a free iPhone 4 from Apple CEO Steve Jobs. Photo: AP

The issue, demonstrated in over 20 video clips collated by Gizmodo, comes after the white model was delayed until next month due to unspecified manufacturing difficulties.

"It took about a minute for the first bar to drop, and about five seconds to regain each bar of lost signal," wrote CNET's Jessica Dolcourt.

"At one point, our susceptible iPhone 4 lost all five bars of reception and went into searching mode."

A Tokyo man holds up his iPhone 4, clearly happy that Japanese were the first in the world to pick up the device. Photo: AFP

Wired.com also identified the flaw, with one of its readers performing speed tests "that showed a dramatic drop in throughput when holding the iPhone 4 in his hand, from 2Mbps to a measly 12Kbps". Other users have also reported reduced speeds and dropped calls as a result of the issue.

Apple has said in a statement that iPhone 4 owners should "avoid gripping it in the lower left corner in a way that covers both sides of the black strip in the metal band, or simply use one of many available cases".

Screen discolouration

Other blogs, such as Engadget, Gizmodo, and MacRumours, have confirmed dozens of reader reports of a pale yellow bar or spots appearing on the iPhone 4's display. Gizmodo collected over 50 reader reports of the issue.

The screen also appears to scratch more easily than the iPhone 3GS.

Apple CEO Steve Jobs identified the "Retina display" as one of the new phone's key features, saying it is the most advanced and highest resolution (960x640) screen on any smartphone.

The discolouration is reportedly due to the adhesive used to secure components inside the phone and some users have said they fade once the bonding material dries.

Apple tech support are reportedly acknowledging both the reception and discolouration issues and in some cases offering replacement phones. The latter problem has been attributed by support staff as "residue from the manufacturing process".

The reception problems appear to be fixed by buying a rubber "bumper" or protective film to wrap around the phone.

iPhone 4 sells out in many stores

But despite the issues, Apple is expected to sell millions of the device around the world. The company already sold 600,000 in pre-orders in one day and analysts are predicting that launch day sales topped one million.

Hundreds of people queued up outside the Apple store in downtown San Francisco, where one person reportedly sold a premier place in line for $US400 and another swapped a spot for an iPhone 4.

An Apple employee pushed a cart heaped with Krispy Kreme doughnuts, bottled water and coffee for a throng that stretched several city blocks.

In Paris, Senegalese businessman Bassirou Gueye joined some 350 people queuing before the opening of Apple's flagship store in the city, located in the chic underground shopping mall of the Louvre museum.

"I made a special trip to Paris to buy the iPhone 4. I'm interested in its high-tech features," said Gueye, a self-avowed Apple aficionado who already owns half a dozen brand-name devices.

In Germany, there were long queues at Apple stores and phone company Deutsche Telekom complained it did not have enough handsets to meet demand.

"By lunchtime iPhones in the high tens of thousands have already been sold. In Munich we have sold out," said Deutsche Telekom spokesman Dirk Wende.

Some 500 customers waited in line outside Apple's flagship Regent Street store in London when it opened its doors at 7am - far more than those who queued for the launch of the iPad tablet last month.

Japan's eastern time zone put it first in line to sell the phone and hundreds braved sweltering humidity outside Apple's store in the Ginza district to get their hands on the smartphone.

Ryoichi Hoshino was the first to emerge triumphantly clutching the new handset after Apple staff gave a loud countdown ahead of the release.

"I love this design," he enthused. "I'm going to use it to watch movies and use Twitter," he said, referring to the micro-blogging site.

50 reader reports of gizmodo.com

Some iPhone 4 Displays Have Yellow Bands, Spots, Other Problems

There's a problem with the iPhone 4's Retina displays: Some screens have a yellow tint across the surface. 55 cases and counting. In some, it's a yellow band. In others, yellow spots. See the gallery. [Updated with Apple support feedback]

Update 1: More examples of these problems are popping up. I've added them to the gallery.

Update 2: Another reader writes in:

From: Chad
Date: Wed, Jun 23, 2010 at 4:08 PM
Subject: iPhone display
To: "tips@gizmodo.com"

Just got my iphone 4 today and noticed the discoloring on the bottom
and right of the screen. I drove a hour to a apple after being told on
the phone that they would replace it for me today. When I got there
they told me I had to come back tomorrow. Now I have to drive another
hour tomorrow to get a new one. Thanks apple!

Sent from my iPad

Update 3: Another report:

From: Timothy Connors
Date: Wed, Jun 23, 2010 at 4:06 PM
Subject: yellow tint iphone 4
To: tips@gizmodo.com

within an hour of setting it up i noticed the same problem on my handset.
called apple care and the nice lady had me going to an apple store
next week to swap it out
- no second guessing or questions.
soooo i'm assuming this problem has become a bullet point for the call
in's on the early models rushed out today.

i'll sit tight with the pee stain on my screen until the crazies all
get their phones.
maybe i can swap it for a white one then?

cheers,

tim
(nosebleed on gizmodo comments)

Update 4: More reports coming in. One with picture.

From: Joshua Schipmann
Subject: Yellow here too
Date: June 23, 2010 5:17:29 PM EDT
To: Jesus Diaz

Can't get a pic though. Only across the bottom of the screen

Sent from my iPhone

From: Bryan Weiss
Subject: http://gizmodo.com/5571143/some-iphone-4-screens-have-yellow-bands-and-spots
Date: June 23, 2010 5:18:27 PM EDT
To: Jesus Diaz

Hey dude,

Got mine today. Till I saw the post on Giz, I probably wouldn't have noticed it on mine. Might not even be able to see it on the pic, but it is there. Not too bad. And only really tell so far with flashlight on. But yeah, its there.

Bryan

Fourteen people have reported this problem at the time of this update.

Update 5: Another reader sent his account along with an image.

From: Brandon Nason
Subject: Yellow tint display band
Date: June 23, 2010 5:26:19 PM EDT
To: Jesus Diaz

Here is the yellow band on my iPhone. Sometimes it's not as noticeable but after using it for a few minutes my eyes seem to adjust and its glaringly obvious.

Update 6: Four more pictures from another reader who just got his iPhone today:

From: Ajay Roopakalu
Date: Wed, Jun 23, 2010 at 4:39 PM
Subject: iPhone 4 Screen Yellowing?
To: tips@gizmodo.com

Hey Gizmodo!

I just read your article on the yellow banding and just wanted to
confirm that I too am having this problem.

I just received my iPhone 4 today (yay!) and almost everything went
okay, activation took only about ten minutes, no problems with
syncing. However, I noticed some yellowing on a certain part of my
screen. I have included some photos of my phone (yellow circle-ish
mark near "Restrictions" on two of them.. it's more obvious in real
life). Is this a common issue?

Thanks.

Ajay

Update 7: More spots from a new case.

From: Evan Andrae
Subject: iPhone 4 Yellow Spots
Date: June 23, 2010 5:50:05 PM EDT
To: Jesus Diaz

Hello,

My iPhone arrived today with two yellow spots at the bottom left. I've been in contact with Apple...they don't seem to have any answers for the issue yet. On a side note, my service goes from full bars to one or two without cause. Ahh, the adventures of buying an Apple device on day one.

Evan

Update 8: One more case and one more picture.

From: Alex Bates
Subject: http://gizmodo.com/5571143/some-iphone-4-screens-have-yellow-bands-and-spots
Date: June 23, 2010 5:52:43 PM EDT
To: Jesus Diaz

We have another (so sad!!!).

Update 9: Received new cases and some new photos from readers Tovi Stigger, Dan Paliotta, Johny Hernandez, Santhosh Krishnamurthy, William Duncanson, John Howarth, Scott Story, and Tim Della Maggiore, all with the same problem. This puts the total numbers of cases so far in 27.

Update 10: Another reader with troubles:

From: Jonathan B.
Date: June 23, 2010 7:41:48 PM EDT
To: Jesus Diaz
Subject: iPhone 4 Yellow Tint Problems

I'm still waiting for my iPhone 4's activation but I looked and I can see five spots on my screen that's been yellowed.

Update 11: Gizmodo reader Chandler tried to fix the problem:

I saw where there are reported cases of this issue. Mine has it too. I was able to temporarily fix it by putting the iPhone over an air vent, and putting the top of the box over it to direct airflow to the iPhone. It went away for about 5 minutes. Then slowly but surely came back. Apple will be replacing mine soon. But that rules out the fact of it being the LCD itself. I just thought I would share that. Glad I'm not the only one with this problem.

Update 12: Reader Andre sent us a picture and described his dismay:

I was shocked to find this many dead pixels. This was fresh out of the box. It looks like a constellation.

Update 13: More troubles:

From: Nikki L.
Date: June 23, 2010 8:03:57 PM EDT
To: "jesus@gizmodo.com"
Subject: iPhone 4 Yellow Tint Problems

I have a discoloration about the size of a dime. I guess I'm fortunate compared to other people. Now I have to debate when to go in to get a replacement.

Update 14: Another picture and complaint came from Mark:

Yellow spots at bottom right and slightly to right of left edge at bottom.

Update 15: More issues:

From: Jason P.
Date: June 23, 2010 9:12:00 PM EDT
To: jesus@gizmodo.com
Subject: iPhone 4 yellow display issue.

I too have yellow spots as referenced on your post at gizmodo.com. Mine appear in both the lower left and right corners. I only noticed the left corner at first, then I loaded up the graphic you put in the post and noticed the second one in the lower right. Going to call Apple Care and see what they have to say.

Update 16: We're starting to see more photos coming in again.

Update 17: This morning the inbox was loaded with more yellow tint problems accounts and images.

From: Alex Kennedy
Subject: My screen is half yellow!
Date: June 24, 2010 10:17:26 AM EDT
To: Jesus Diaz

Half my damn screen is yellow! My buddy Lue Lynx has the same problem too, I should have spent the price of the iPhone on a new pair of jeans.

From: Chris
Subject: iPhone 4 Yellow Tint Problems
Date: June 24, 2010 9:34:23 AM EDT
To: Jesus Diaz

Hi

Bought my iPhone 4 a few hours ago and just synced it and when i came to use it i found the yellow line along the bottom and a yellow spot about 1cm up from the bottom right hand corner

I've included pictures from my 3Gs as i have no other camera available

O2 have advised me to return t the store to replace the handset... not sure how that will work

Chris Procter

From: Peter Hartes
Subject: iPhone 4 Yellow Tint Problems
Date: June 23, 2010 9:14:15 PM EDT
To: Jesus Diaz

I didn't do well taking the picture, but it's on the left hand side going vertical on my iPhone 4 which I just got today. I'm not sure who to even contact or when to go to my Apple store. I am off Friday, so I'm guessing that'll be the best thing to do and just see what they say.

- Peter

From: Ed Murachanian
Subject: iPhone 4 Yellow Tint Problems
Date: June 23, 2010 9:41:43 PM EDT
To: Jesus Diaz

Hey Same problem here. I didnt even notice till I saw the post on your site. Got mine today and sure enough yellow band and a few yellow spots. Im sure Apple is on this and will fix this eventually!

Cheers

@eddie_money

Update 18: Reader Anthony Marola claims that this may be an issue of the adhesive used to stick the glass to the display:

From: Anthony Marola
Subject: http://gizmodo.com/5571143/some-iphone-4-screens-have-yellow-bands-and-spots
Date: June 23, 2010 8:13:34 PM EDT
To: Jesus Diaz

I think what were seeing here is an unfortunate effect caused from the new process in which they adhere the glass panel to the LCD/digitizer. They sort of talk about it in the promotional video and judging by the perfect lines/dots it's probably how the machining process drops the adhesive.

It's probable that it will fade over time as the screens continue to warm and cool and become more "used".

Update 19: There's another kind of display problem detected by two readers so far. Instead of the yellow dots, there's some white spots randomly distributed over the screen, resembling a constellation of stars.

From: Vance, Corey
Subject: http://gizmodo.com/5571713/iphone-tint-problem-gallery-2
Date: June 24, 2010 10:59:46 AM EDT
To: Jesus Diaz

Jesus,
I don't know if others are having this issue, but I have a constellation of blown pixels or something in my iPhone 4 screen.
The 'v' you're seeing is permanent and stationary. This is a screenshot from my Camera roll, as they show up the most
when on white. This is how it was out of the box under the protective film.

Let me know if you need more info.

thanks,
corey

Update 20: Another person claimed that the issue with the yellow dots is related to the adhesive. In addition, a MacRumors' forums user claims his yellow stains are gone today:

I had major yellow spots on the bottom corners of the iPhone 4 this morning when I received it (as shown in the other thread) and as of right now they have COMPLETELY faded away. I have no idea what caused this but it happened. So keep an eye on it over the next day or so if you have the issue.

There are no more reported cases of the yellow tint going away, however. If you reported this problem to us, check if the problem is gone and get back to us .

Update 21: Apple support, however, hasn't been informed of the adhesive situation. Reader Renard Richie reports the Cambridge Side Galleria's Apple Store in Boston changed his iPhone with the yellow problem for a new one instead of telling him that the problem would go away:

I received my iphone 4 yesterday from AT&T
After i read your article about screen discoloration i quickly check mine and sure it is two yellowish spots bottom right hand corner and on the center.

I called apple store today and they agreed to swap my iphone with a new one. The first iphone they swap has no yellow discoloration however there is a speck of black spot on the lower left corner. The apple employee also said it was under the screen. GREAT!!! i spent an hour ani d a half in the apple store dealing with this problem. He quickly replaced it with a new one and thank god it has no problem so far. I even asked him to check the call drop (he called the apple store and hold the metal sides, especially the left one) and it works.

I hope there isn't this much problem for everyone.

Update 22: Readers from the UK and France are reporting the same problems:

From: Francis THOMAS
Subject: Count me in for Yellow Spots (tm)
Date: June 24, 2010 11:25:08 AM EDT
To: Jesus Diaz

It's yellow across all the bottom of the screen.

Francis THOMAS.

Update 23: More reports coming in. Here's one from Larry Cass:

Sat in line for 6 hrs after not being able to pre-order with delivery (I was awake at 4am). Got phone found large dead yellow spot on top left of screen, bottom 1/8th of screen is yellow blotches; but I was cool with keeping it and waiting to replace. I then put on the bumper case, turned on the vibration switch and it immediately doesn't recognize the SIM card, hard reset, complete restore and nothing; now I'm standing in line to return, funny watching all of these people still waiting in line and I'm here to return. Maybe Apple should have followed Samsung and named the iPhone 4.0— :(___

Lcass

Sent from my iPhone

Update 24: Brian Lam says that his iPhone doesn't have the yellow tint problem.

Update 25: We are receiving more cases of the other display problem, the "constellation" on the screen (there's some white spots randomly distributed over the screen, resembling a constellation of stars). Four so far. Here's a gallery:

Update 25: Reader Jason Houghton is writing to report that Apple has exchanged his phone. Once again, Apple support didn't mention about the alleged adhesive requiring some time to fade.

Hello,

I cued up at 5am this morning in the UK, and after a long 6 hours waiting I got my phone. I took it home to find a yellow band down the left side of the screen. I phoned apple care and they said that they are aware of this issue and are forwarding it onto their engineering team.

The advisor then said one of their superior engineers wanted to speak to me about it. He asked me for photos, I sent them, and he explained apple are working on the issue right now. He advised I go back to the apple store where I bought it and they will fix it.

So I did just that this evening and there was still a massive cue. I completely skipped it. Went to the genius bar and they replaced it for a new iPhone 4. I was only there for two minutes.

This is the replacement iPhone I am mailing from right now and it's screen is perfect. It also seems whiter. They took the replacement out of a black plastic case, different to how they replaced my 3GS.

My point is that apple will happily replace your IPhone if you are unlucky enough to have this issue.

Jason.

Sent from my iPhone

Update 26: Apple support has told one of our readers that the problem is the adhesive, advising to wait. Read about it here.

Update 27: Other readers have said that Apple have directed them to replace their iPhones. There may be some confusion at Apple tech support at this point.