Apple just released the iPhone 4.0.1 update that changes the way signal strength is displayed. The new graph looks pretty weird to me since it’s no longer linear. I made some quick graphics of the changes:
| Old display (Pre 4.0.1) | iOS 4.0.1 |
|---|---|
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To make the change easier to visualize, I did some combo graphics. The first is an overlay where the red represents the new bars and the second is an animation showing old and new states:
| Overlay | Animation |
|---|---|
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Apparently the bars themselves now also represent a more accurate depiction of signal strength. AnandTech has a detailed write up of the changes. I’ve noticed that where I have normally gotten the full five bars at my office, I am now hovering around four, with the occasional 5.