iPhone 4 Antennagate Press Conference by Steve Jobs
Since Gizmodo released their video about the iPhone 4 antenna signal problems when holding it in a certain way (the so called 'deathgrip') the tech community has been waiting for Steve Jobs to make an official statement to the world most awaited smartphone from Apple.
Apple then decided to hold a official press conference about it, where Steve Jobs admitted that Apple was not perfect, phones are not perfect and every iPhone 4 customer would get a free bumper case or refund if they already bought it. Further Jobs announced that their OS 4 would get its first upgrade, where the signal bars were made more accurate, which should for areas with low signal strength make a difference.
Steve then continued to state that the problem was known in the industry and compared three different phones on the market, a Blackberry Bold, HTC Droid Eris and Samsung Omnia II. All phones when used in an area of low signal strength should a decline in signal bars when gripped in a more through way at varying speeds. No iPhone 4 was demonstrated of course.
It begs the question if that wasn't already all part of the plan. Apple marked the spot through which the signal lost occurs by a line in the metal surrounding the phone in the first place. Seems a little odd that they just assumed people would know or if dimply saying this was not a problem we could fix before the release would have been more damaging to Apple's reputation. The free bumper cases at least are a faction of the cost of a total recall of its so far 3,000,000 sold iPhone 4 in just three weeks.
Nevertheless Apple's open stands to a Q&A and press conference in traditional Jobs manner does seem following the recent Toyota approach to openness. Jobs manages to pull even such a topic off so smooth that almost though he was announcing another new super gadget that you want to get out and buy. Leveraging the exposure from admitting a technological failure to build a better relationship with its customers is the magic that Steve Jobs brings to the company. Where next after him is the everlasting question once again.