Apple's iPhone 4 was just dealt a fairly significant blow, from a PR perspective anyway, as it's iPhone 4 can't be recommended by the leading consumer advice group. Consumer Reports does rate the other (read: non-phone) aspects of the device higher than any of its competitors, but was able to replicate the pesky antenna issue and thus directs users to the outdated iPhone 3GS if they want to make calls in an area of questionable AT&T coverage and don't wish to employ a bumper case of stick a bit of tape on the side.

As just about everyone knows, Apple is working on a software patch which will help the iPhone to correctly display signal bars but hasn't confirmed the antenna issue as a hardware design flaw.