Jobs Ends Hawaii Vacation, Tackles ‘Antennagate’
Apple CEO Steve Jobs today held a press conference to address “Antennagate,” or widespread reports of reception problems with its iPhone 4 smartphone. Jobs reiterated that it’s a problem for all phones, that only a tiny percentage of people have reported problems, and that the iPhone 4 is still their best phone ever. Nonetheless, he said Apple will give everyone a free case to solve issues related to the exposed antenna, and will continue to study things.
I love my iPhone 4, I agree that it’s the best iPhone yet, and even though I can perform the bar-dropping parlor trick, I haven’t experienced any increased problems in day-to-day use. (Then again, I rarely use my iPhone as a phone.) Still, I tuned into coverage of the press conference, and noticed this first question during the Q&A portion:
- Q: Steve, how’s your health? How are you doing?
- A: I’m doing fine, I was doing better earlier in the week when I was on vacation in Hawaii.
I didn’t know he was here, but someone told Gawker that they saw him at the Kona Village Resort. The same tipster says Microsoft founder Bill Gates was also on the Big Island.
Say, did they have a secret meeting? Maybe in a cave with a yellow light :).
LOL, wow, Gates and Jobs in a secret HI meeting? Interesting. Anyway, so you haven’t had any issues with reception, Ryan? I don’t have an iPhone (stuck with a BB until my contract runs out), but have heard quite a few people here on Maui complain about it (particularly the North Shore).
No problems, though with 4.0.1 out yesterday, I now see two or three bars at home when I used to see five. It just highlights the weaknesses in AT&T’s network, rather than any specific flaw in the phone.
Ryan: I heard a few years ago that Bill Gates is a frequest, sometimes long-term, VIP guest at Hilton Waikoloa Resort on the Kohala Coast. Perhaps Jobs wants to find out what all the fuss is about. When I spoke to the salesperson at the MacNet store yesterday, he too emphasized that the number of people actually having reception problems with the iPhone4 is small (just the media catastrophizing again) and that the real problem is with AT&T’s network. BTW: Which phone do you use for calls … or do you not make them at all?
And yes, AT&T service on Maui does suck … unless you’re in the central corridor. I have to go outside and not walk around to make calls.
Our son just picked is I4 up yesterday and loving it. Let’s see how it goes :D Awesome blog here..thanks for all you share.
At&t sucks…very true.