Consumer Reports Slams iPhone 4, Apple Doesn't Want You to Know

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Apple's New iPhone 4

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References to Consumer Reports Article on iPhone 4 Are Being Deleted by Apple on Their Website

CNET and The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) are reporting that Apple forum moderators are removing references to the recently published article on the iPhone 4 by Consumer Reports. The consumer magazine advised against buying Apple's new iPhone due to an antenna design flaw it has personally tested.

• Consumer Reports iPhone 4 Video, Test Confirms Antenna Design Flaw
  

After testing three different iPhone 4s, CR has determined that there is indeed a flaw in the antenna which impedes the reception of the phone when held a certain way. In many cases, the number of signal bars drops to one or zero and calls are then dropped.

Apple has been receiving an enormous amount of flack from consumers and bloggers alike regarding the antenna glitch among other problems. The antenna issue, however, seems to be the most widespread complaint among new iPhone 4 users. So much that CR have decided to formally advise readers not to purchase the new smartphone until Apple has released a free solution for consumers.

Currently, Apple's response to this issue is to hold the phone differently or to purchase a bumper case accessory that would prevent the signal from dropping.

Apple forums would normally be the best spot to look for technical support for iPhone issues, so the moderators might have felt threatened to see links to such negative reviews by a magazine like CR so they may have felt the need to remove them.

Deleting forum posts by users is common for Apple moderators according to TUAW, but deleting reviews by a CR article may raise questions about Apple's transparency on what it wants and doesn't want customers to see. Negative comments in a troubleshooting forum are expected, but it seems Apple may want to respond to the CR piece before permitting such critical information on its website. Apple has not responded to the test results by CR.