This morning, Apple released an official statement addressing issues surrounding the iPhone 4’s antenna and reception. Many early-adopters of Apple’s latest flagship device have noticed less-than-desirable reception when gripping the phone in a certain manner. Isolated to the lower right portion of the device, holding the phone in an alarmingly “normal” position can result in abrupt and significant signal loss for some users.

In an official letter to iPhone 4 owners, Apple has admitted that the issue is real and that they are actively working on a software fix. Apple claims the issue is rooted in an improperly calculated algorithm which correlates directly to the number of signal bars displayed by the phone. Due to an erroneous calculation, the iPhone 4 displays more bars than actually exist in some areas of weaker service.

The letter mentions that a software update is currently in the works, and should be released sometime within the coming weeks. While this update will correct the amount of bars displayed in weaker service areas, Apple has oddly omitted any information relating directly to the phone’s hardware and design. Apple claims this reception problem also persists in the iPhone 3G and 3Gs models and that both devices will be included in the update.

In an effort to quell anxiety surrounding the issue, the letter mentions that signal loss is normal in any mobile phone when gripped in a certain way. While this statement undoubtably carries a defensive tone, Apple remains objective by clarifying their return policy for anyone who is unsatisfied with the new phone.

While this issue is not universal, it has affected a substantial number of iPhone users. Even if Apple’s fix doesn’t fully resolve the technical issues surrounding the phone’s antenna, it will at least provide users with a more accurate depiction of signal strength. The letter in its entirety “can be found here.”:http://www.apple.com/pr/library/2010/07/02appleletter.html If you’re an iPhone 4 user experiencing this problem, please feel free to email me your thoughts or “comment here.”:http://blog.smalldog.com/article/apple-releases-statement-addressing-iphone-4-reception/

This week we’re featuring a Small Dog refurbished 2.1GHz Intel Core 2 Duo MacBook (white) with a 120GB hard drive and either 1GB or 4GB of RAM. This MacBook comes bundled with a free Hammerhead sleeve. As a Small Dog refurb, this machine comes with a 90-day Small Dog warranty.

These Macs have Combo drives for playing and burning CDs and playing DVDs, and ship with 10.5 Leopard (not Snow Leopard). Starting at $699.99 (or $799 with 4GB of RAM), they’re a great first computer or second computer for traveling, keeping in the den, and so on. See them at the links below!

If you’re looking to make the most of the upcoming 4th of July weekend, you know it means breaking out the grill, cranking the tunes, and letting the drinks and good times flow. Here’s a set of great iPhone apps to aid in planning/throwing the perfect party for your family and friends.

*The Weather Channel Interactive – FREE*

Weather can make or break the perfect BBQ. Before pulling the cover off the grill, make sure to check out this official app from The Weather Channel. This great free app provides a much more intensive projection of the forecast than Apple’s built in widget-esque weather app. In addition to full screen radar maps, this app also provides detailed 10-day forecasts, helpful videos, and even pollen levels to help with those allergies. All of these features come packed in an appealing and easy to use UI. I’d highly recommend this app as an accurate alternative to the built-in weather app on iPhone.

*Weber’s On The Grill – $4.99*

To ensure the best grilling experience possible this weekend, check out this awesome grilling guide from Weber. This app features a ton of awesome recipes ranging from rubs to marinades, and a great techniques section detailing how to prepare them. I’m also a huge fan of the “Grill Guide” section which suggests the perfect cook time for differing thicknesses of meat. You can select your preferred level of doneness and the app will adjust the cook time and recommended temperature accordingly. Of course the app also sports an onboard timer. I’d recommend buying this app sometime before this weekend as the “Groceries” portion is helpful when preparing to make a run to the store to grab the supplies for your gathering. While a bit on the pricey side, this app is definitely worth it once your friends bow before you as “Grill Master!”

*Slacker Radio – FREE w/Optional Subscription Available*

Picking the perfect music can be crucial in setting the proper ambience for your guests. Over the past few months, I’ve developed an affinity for Slacker Radio. As the name implies, Slacker is for well… slackers. Not pointing any fingers, but sometimes it’s nice when something does the hard work for you. While you can select a certain artist if you choose, Slacker’s strength is its built-in genres. Users can select from a broad range of genres which all further subdivide into more specific categories. Under the Rock category for instance, you have about 20 different styles to choose from. Just tap one and the music starts right up. You’re allotted 6 skips per hour just like with Pandora. My only qualm with the free version of Slacker is that you have to put up with brief 30-second ads every half hour or so. If you choose to upgrade to the subscription based service, you can do away with these ads entirely. The latest update to Slacker incorporates multi-tasking functionality, so it will run in the background on your new iPhone 4, iPhone 3Gs, or 3rd gen. iPod touch.

*Hipstamatic – $1.99*

If you need a way to document your 4th of July happenings, look no further than this next app. Hipstamatic is a brilliantly designed app which lends drab iPhone photos a vintage toy camera flair. This app has a great analog feel to it which harkens back to the days of Holgas and Polaroids. If you’d like to time warp your friends back to the ’70s and ’80s, then this is the app to do it with! Hipstamatic comes preloaded with 3 lenses, 2 flashes, and 3 different types of films. Via in app purchases, you can add additional items in all of these categories by buying packages which go for $0.99 a piece. This is hands down one of my all-time favorite apps, and is a big hit with the SDE crew. We even have our own Hipstamatic themed flickr page! Check it out “*here.*”:http://www.flickr.com/photos/smalldog/sets/72157623520955455/

*Epicurious Recipes & Shopping List – FREE*

This is a mobile version of the popular Epicurious website. There are an almost infinite number of recipes in the epi library ranging from snacks, appetizers, and entrees, to drinks, and deserts. There’s even a specific 4th of July category with some great drink and lighter fare ideas.

_Dear Friends,_

I have been trying to grow apples up at my house for about 20 years, and this year looked good as the trees seem to have an abundance of apples. However, Hammer and I spotted the doe chowing down on them, and yesterday, my neighbor saw a bear munching on our gardens and yes, our apples, too.

I guess the wildlife has to eat, too, and it is part of living in the woods, I guess. Hammerhead was barking like crazy at the bear, though it took our neighbors’ little dog Osito to chase him from the yards–but not before “they got some photos!”:http://blog.smalldog.com/images/1774.jpg

I had the embarrassment of having to wear a Lakers championship t-shirt all day yesterday as part of my wager with Hapy. It wasn’t too bad when we were at the office, but I also owed him lunch and our friends at the local restaurant were really giving me a hard time, refusing to serve me with the t-shirt on, until I showed them my Celtics tattoo that trumped the shirt.

Hapy and I have been buying each other lunch based upon the NBA games and we have found our lunch time discussions so valuable that we are now looking for new things to determine who buys lunch. The latest was the Lebron James free agency. We each have two teams: I have Cleveland and Chicago and Hapy has New Jersey and Atlanta–if Lebron signs with one of those teams, lunch is on!

There has been a lot of talk about the new iPhone 4. I love my new iPhone and find a lot to like about it. I am not concerned with the reported issue of the antenna. I know to hold my iPhone so it does not impact the signal and I think for the first time, I will be installing a case on my phone. I do not want to break the back glass the way one of my co-authors has done. I showed my mom FaceTime and she immediately wanted an iPhone 4 regardless of the fact that she does not even use a cell phone!

Earlier this week, “Lifehacker.com”:http://lifehacker.com/5576927/how-to-stay-safe-on-public-wi+fi-networks posted a great article titled “How to Stay Safe on Public Wi-Fi Networks.”:http://lifehacker.com/5576927/how-to-stay-safe-on-public-wi+fi-networks The article covers setting up and automating all the right settings on Mac and Windows.

While we generally prefer to suggest unique Mac Treats, in this case, the article is so good that we’re simply going to refer you to their site. There’s not much for me to add here, except to remind everyone that even though Macs are more secure and far less prone to viruses, trojans, and unauthorized access, we should never be complacent with computer security.

You can read the article by “clicking here.”:http://lifehacker.com/5576927/how-to-stay-safe-on-public-wi+fi-networks I recommend bookmarking it and passing it on to all your friends!