The gist of the conference: Apple is sick of everyone making
much ado about nothing, so iPhone 4 owners will receive a free case in
return for keeping their mouths shut -- a much more economical solution than the massive
recall some wanted. (Next time, wish for a pony.)
Of course, Jobs presented that message much more politely and
scientifically.
We're not perfect, he said, but look at all these
other phones that are worse. Citing a bevy of data, he threw other
companies under the bus in an attempt to demonstrate how the iPhone 4's signal strength
is a universal phone problem. While reports are now circulating that Jobs was long ago informed by his chief antenna scientist that the iPhone 4 was problematic, the CEO said this was "total bullshit."
"There is no Antennagate. ...there is a
challenge for the entire smartphone community," he said. In other words: Our antennas may be janky, but we're still a hell of a lot better than any
other option out there.
and again. Implied: But we'd love you even more if you would shut up.
Considering that only 1.7 percent of iPhone 4 customers have returned
their phones, and 0.55 percent have been thoroughly vexed enough to call
Apple's customer service center, he may have a point. "That's just one
half of one percent," he emphasized.
Next, Jobs admitted that the
new phone drops more calls than the previous model, the 3GS. "Even
though we think the iPhone 4 is superior to the 3GS antenna, it drops
more calls per 100 than the 3GS." Following this logic, if superior
means worse, Jobs is spot on.
With the blame effectively passed off to the slippery demon that is technology, Jobs was Father
Christmas again, with gifts to bestow upon his appeased followers:
the
free case, including refunds for anyone who had already purchased one
just a free case, but a CHOICE of cases
and @SFWeekly
