[awolf]

I'm finding the external antenna's advantage may out-weigh its drawbacks.

Hands mess with cell phone reception. Every phone has an optimal way to be held so as to minimize this effect.

The difference with the iPhone 4 is that the optimal holding method is clear. If my signal is fine then I can cup the phone as normal but if I'm in a low signal situation I can give my phone the death grip to avoid touching the steel.

[steverb]

It's not a bug, it's a feature?

[awolf]

More like: it's a drawback.

I have a hard time believing the shorting-the-antennas issue was unforeseen by Apple. I give a company that just pulled in a $63.5B year a little more credit.

[jonknee]

Huge companies can still make huge mistakes. Ask BP and their $250B in revenue.

[awolf]

BP's business model is based around taking calculated risks.

Apple's is based around creating beautiful products with innovative new features. They have definitely done it again... but whether or not the external antenna feature in particular will be seen as innovative.. I guess we will have to "stay tuned".