So, are you happy now?
It seems to me that even though Steve, and Apple loves all of us (their customers) I suspect this undying love and admiration does not extend to the those in the technology press.
The tone of today's hastily covered press conference-- the message between the lines, was very much one of:
"The antenna problem is largely fueled by press hysteria, and you should all just cut it out!"
... or as Andy Inhatko, of the Chicago Sun Times put it: "...mostly it’s being experienced by people who are actively trying to make it happen ... folks like me, who write about technology and review new hardware..."
I did think that the reality distortion field generator was cranked up to maximum today-- In fact, I felt a great disturbance across the internet as bloggers out there somewhere burst into flames as the RDF slowly seeped through their modems, buzzing with a faint smell of electricity, and then enveloped them.
Steve did the thing he is best at-- using carefully chosen and presented facts and logic to make you believe completely something that seemed opposite, just moments earlier.
So, just what did Apple do today at this event?:
- First they poked fun of the whole hysteria by playing "The iPhone Antenna Song" as their opening theme, instead of some U2, or a little ditty by Randy Newman on the piano.
- Secondly, they showed anecdotal evidence that Mother Nature won't let any smartphone vendor get this antenna thing right and even now have a web page which shows that other vendors antennas can fail when held in a non-Vulcan ritual like grasp.
- Then showed data that customers don't seem to care about this issue (so why do you? Assembled tech pundits).
- ... and then went on to show the amount of exhaustive testing that goes on at Apple -- "We're Engineers!" with some cool and impressive photos and stats on the great lengths they go to, i.e., we're not building these phones in a garage.
- ... and then pointed out with all of this, there's still something they're missing!
- Then, finally-- Free cases for everyone! and if you really are unhappy, return the phone, and we'll give you your money back!
This was all followed with a somewhat intense question and answer period-- my favorite question being:
"I've got one of the phones you mention, and I quite can't find a way to hold it to make the signal fail. Maybe you can come down here and show me?"
Steve at this point seemed like he was going to get up, walk into the audience, and really show that guy how to hold the phone... if you get my drift.
Somehow, I don't think that just the press alone, Consumer Reports, etc., was enough to force them into addressing this issue with the press in the way they did today.
Apple runs a very tight supply chain, and I suspect they know in minute detail, every day, just how many phones are sold at their various stores around the US, and the world, online.
In my opinion, all this negative press was starting to affect sales-- and they had no choice but to address this fast, before it got out of control.
So ultimately, I think Apple did the right thing here-- even if it almost seemed quite a bit forced.
They did what they needed to do to try and make people who might be unhappy happy-- with minimal cost to themselves-- but there is a press contingent where nothing short of Apple shutting down the iPhone program, refunding everyone's money, confiscating the devices, and and issuing Android phones in their place would be enough.
So yes, there's an actual problem, for some, and there will be more whining and complaining, but I think perhaps a few people were thinking about new white iPhone 4 models due out shortly.
... they certainly won't be buying a Microsoft Kin.
