Compass and Maps iPhone 4

Chris P wrote:
Is anyone else having problems with the compass and map travel direction? On my iPhone4 100% of the time I click on compass, I get a Compass Interference and have to do the figure 8 motion to get it working.
Ive noticed that, but not tried it outdoors yet. I seldom use the compass function, though.
Also, on Google maps when traveling and indicating my position, it never points to the heading/direction Im traveling in.
Still need to try that, too. With a Garmin GPSr in my car, something else I seldom use.
Have you reported this to Apple?
Phil
MacBook Al 2.4 Mac OS X (10.6.4) Dell Win7 Desktop ; iPhone 4; iPad 3G 64GB

That used to happen to me and had me worried for a while. Compass on maps is extremely useful living in a city like London.
After the first two days, the problem seems to have gone away and the compass is accurate again (no interference). Very strange.
Vaio Windows 7

I have experienced wildly inaccurate readings as well. Resetting the phone seems to help, but I sure hope Apple fixes it. Im certainly not looking to use the compass to navigate a ship or anything; Id just like reasonably accurate cardinal directions!
MBP 1.83 Mac OS X (10.4.7)

Yep, Ive had similar issues. I have another device (a SkyScout planetarium) which also has a built in compass and that is extremely sensitive to any other magnetic field. Being near just about any other ferrous metal can cause it to complain of interference (cars, metal chairs, even things like some zips on my clothing). I dont think its a fault - just an annoying feature of the design.
I have also noticed the reluctance of Google Maps to orient itself in my direction of travel. As my compass and GPS work once Ive sorted the interference Im working on the assumption this is a software bug rather than a hardware fault.
iPhone

Double tap the get location arrow once to pull up your current location. Double tap the arrow to put maps into facing rotation mode.
MB Pro Core Duo 2.0, 2gig, 250 5400 H.D. Mac OS X (10.6)