Consumer Reports "can't recommend the iPhone 4" because of reception problems
They did some formal testing in a radio isolation chamber with a calibrated emission source and replicated (video) a serious drop in reception quality when a finger or hand covers the lower left side of the phone. They also report that a thick layer of insulation (duct tape, in their testing) mitigates the problem.
For such a well-regarded body as Consumer Reports to take such a strong position is very bad news for Apple’s ongoing PR efforts to downplay the matter. It’s fantastic to see someone with access to the appropriate equipment bring some long-needed clarity to the discussion to trump my poor efforts.
