Mobile Computing News

Photo: Apple

We promised to follow up on Apple’s press conference relating to the iPhone signal problems and here’s the outcome – Apple thinks we’re all overreacting.

We’re not perfect

Steve Jobs walked on stage with a slide behind him reading: ‘We’re not perfect’. Cue the laughter. Strange that he needs to confess this because it applies to everybody, but Apple have had a sense of being ‘untouchable’ over the last decade. Untouchable they never were – by Jobs’ own (reluctant?) admission.

‘Antennagate’

He then got straight to the meat of the matter, discussing the iPhone signal issues that have come up repeatedly over the last few weeks. Indirectly, he said we’ve all overblown the issue, pointing out that the problem exists in less than 1 per cent of iPhone 4 devices. Then, he demonstrated that the problem is common to a wide range of mobile phones, demonstrating so on a BlackBerry Bold 9700, Samsung Omnia and an HTC Droid Eris. (Interjection: why bring the competition into this?)

I see what you did there

As if ‘proving’ we’ve all overreacted with antennagate isn’t enough, Jobs proceeded to offer free bumper cases to all of Apple’s users to mitigate the iPhone antenna problem. Aweso- wait, hold on a minute here. Surely if there is no iPhone signal issue, then there should be no freebie. And don’t put it down to PR, this is Apple trying to pull a fast one on us.

Oh, and just in case you thought this iPhone antenna controversy was hurting iPhone 4 sales, Jobs wanted to make sure you thought again, announcing over 3 million iPhone 4 handsets have been sold since the device’s release less than a month ago.

The sun will set and rise, and in other news

Photo: Apple

Apple continues to sell products – and make money – hand over fist. The technology giant’s three-pronged mobile devices strategy sees the iPhone, the iPad, and the iPod being the three leading devices in their respective market segments. Mac laptop sales have also buoyed recently, with the supposed iPod ‘halo effect’ – wherein Apple’s laptops did well as a result of new iPod users deciding to try them out – being repeated with the iPad.

We’ve maintained that this iPhone signal problem has been overblown since day one. But to let Jobs get on stage, turn on his charm, tell us there’s nothing wrong and then offer us something for free as a peace treaty if we still insist there’s something wrong, is unacceptable. Apple dropped the ball here – but not to the extent people have made out. And perhaps trying to drag other companies down in the dirt with the iPhone antenna problem was in bad taste.