Latest iPhone update boosts Wi-Fi reception, say owners

Computerworld - IPhone owners are reporting that the latest software update for their smart device has significantly boosted its wireless reception.

The second update issued this month went live yesterday via iTunes, the usual update mechanism for iPhone owners. Although Apple Inc. only said Version 1.0.2 included unspecified "bug fixes," owners on several popular message forums, including those on the MacRumors site, have come forward with claims that the iPhone now connects to wireless access points once written off as out of range. "My Wi-Fi reception is definitely better," a user identified as schulzmc said yesterday. "While in my office, I have never been able to connect to the wifi hub in the conference room down the hall [but after the update] I was surprised that the Edge connection seemed faster, until I realized I was connected to the wifi hub with two bars. For me, this is a huge issue, as I was preparing to try to deal with whatever hassle it would take to get the wifi connection extended to my office area."

"Wifi reception and connection is much improved," seconded snowboarder on the same thread yesterday. "The phone works better. Some places I had problems with before now work like a charm."

Reports of other changes were more mixed. Some who applied the 3.7MB update, for example, swore that speaker-phone volume -- a long-standing issue for users who complain it's too low -- was boosted by the new software. Others, however, said it was as low as ever.

Problems with the update appeared to be centered on those who had modified, or "modded" their iPhones with unsanctioned hacks to, among other things, let them add their own ring tones. Applying the 1.0.2 update meant owners of modded iPhones had to restore the device from scratch. That wasn't unexpected, however, since Apple's 1.0.1 update did the same thing.

IPhone users can wait out the update interval -- iTunes automatically checks Apple's update servers once a week -- or retrieve 1.0.2 manually by selecting "Check for Update" under the iTunes Help menu and then docking the iPhone to a PC or Macintosh.

Read more about mobile and wireless in Computerworld's Mobile and Wireless Knowledge Center.