#FF00AA

I decided earlier (thanks to Rafe Needleman mentioning on Buzz Out Loud that you oughtn’t want to have your hand touching the antenna) that I didn’t want to have an iPhone 4 without a rubber “bumper” between the metal and my skin.

But, if true, this is insane:

Over at ZDNet Rupert Goodwins has put together a decent explanation – which doesn’t require a degree in engineering – that explains why the issue might be happening. Basically, to improve reception Apple chose to put their aerials on the outside, and now they’re subject to the conductive interference of users’ hands.

Since it was such an important element of the design to have the three bits of antenna not be in contact, it would “make sense” that touching two of the antennas with the same conductive skin would interfere with reception.

But it’s appalling that they never thought of it, and that it didn’t come up during testing. Is that because they carried all their test iPhones in 3G-like protective cases, like Gray Powell did?