Microsoft Exec Mocks iPhone 4's Antenna Issues

Some are calling the iPhone 4's antenna issues a software glitch. Some are calling for a recall of the phone. And someone is calling it Apple's Windows Vista.

That someone is Kevin Turner, Microsoft's COO.

Turner criticized Apple's iPhone 4, which has been shown to lose signal strength when held a certain way, at Microsoft's Worldwide Partner Conference (WPC) on Wednesday, comparing it to Microsoft's lackluster Vista operating system, dubbed one of the company's worst ever.

"It looks like the iPhone 4 might be their Vista, and I'm okay with that," Turner said, according to ComputerWorld.

Turner also made a pitch for Microsoft's Windows 7 Phone, which is set to launch later this year. "One of the things I want to make sure you know today is that you're going to be able to use a Windows Phone 7 and not have to worry about how you're holding it to make a phone call," he explained.

Turner isn't the first Microsoft exec to doubt Apple's smartphone: in a 2007 interview, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer burst out laughing at Apple's iPhone.

Is the iPhone 4--which received lavish praise from critics when it first launched--Apple's Vista, as Turner suggests it may be? Tell us in the comments below.

Comments

[Brian Charlton]

03:08 AM on 07/24/2010

Let me preface this by saying that I own one Apple product, an iPod Classic. That said can we stop with the "Windows 7 is the fastest selling OS" crap. All major PC vendors products except one comes with the Windows installed and since Apple isn't licensing their OS to other vendors Microsoft is basically competing with itself. So lets not pretend that consumers are walking into Best Buy choosing Windows 7 over a slew of competitors. At this stage in the game all other PC vendors are stuck with Windows whether they like or not and it isn't feasible for them to develop their own proprietary OS like Apple. So while Apple has small share of the PC market they are more profitable than other vendors who simply are not able to provide a customer experience that significantly differentiate them from their competitors because that experience is largely defined by Microsoft. Consequently, their margins are very low even though they sell a lot of computers.

It isn't Microsoft vs Apple rather it is Apple vs HP, Acer, Dell and others. So while I may have a little fun with friends who are Apple users about their "cult.". They do enjoy the customer experience that comes with tight hardware/software integration even it means paying a premium. It something that I bet other PC makers who love to have.

[Nate Cheek]

01:28 PM on 07/15/2010

Die, Microsoft, Die! jk, but I really don't think that the iPhone 4 is anything near Windows Vista's failure.

[arrgh]

11:58 AM on 07/15/2010

I wouldn't be reminding people of Vista if I were them, even to mock a competitor.

[kurtvb]

10:16 AM on 07/15/2010

What has Microsoft got to say? Look at the crap that they produced for so long. That is why iOS and Android have taken over the market. Windows 7 mobile will never make a big impact on the smart phone market. MS has been relegated to irrelevance in the cell phone market.

[robmclaughjr]

09:28 AM on 07/15/2010

I wish Microsoft the best of luck. But Apple is getting all this bad press because they have had such a good track record with their quality. Look at the iPad. It's a great device, but where's the competition? Everybody claims to be developing a competitor but it's always "fourth quarter 2010", "2011", etc. Obviously Apple R&D is light-years ahead of these other companies. Microsoft needs to stop copying others and create new products of their own design. The Windows 7 phone looks like a good start. It's a new approach to smartphone UI.

[MilesLong]

08:00 AM on 07/15/2010

Ir appears that in the case of the iPhone 4, Apple has produced another product that engenders good looks over product development. The conclusion here is that Apple's marketing department is the dominate force behind product development and not engineering; however in this respect, Microsoft is equally guilty.

We haven't seen a technology company where engineering made sure a product was actually ready to go before it was released since Digital Equipment Corporation.

Not to mention, Apple treats its customers like children. Who else could get away with dictating to what use you can put their products? Would we tolerate an auto company that told us where we couldn't drive? How about a television manufacturer that dictated what channels we couldn't watch? (chuckle)

Miles "Style Over Substance" Long

[miles120]

09:12 AM on 07/15/2010

Groan, I really miss my VAX.

[robmclaughjr]

09:36 AM on 07/15/2010

Really? We had those in college and I worked in IT support for financial aid. We couldn't wait to get away from them and use Unix. Getting documents written and printed was like moving mountains. I challenge anyone's nostalgia for old computers in terms of getting things done.

[MilesLong]

09:36 AM on 07/15/2010

I have a Pro-380 and a MicroVAX in storage.

I lament the days when Compaq bought DEC just for the Alpha chip and then abandoned it. I used to be able to support four additional terminals on my 380 for huge database applications with no problem at all, and crashes were non-existent

Miles "The Good Old Days" Long

[ForeverXL]

06:14 AM on 07/15/2010

The worst Apple product is still galaxies ahead of anything made by Microsoft. So Hushhhh it COO and only open your mouth once you really overtake Apple's superiority. I won't hold my breath.

[MilesLong]

08:01 AM on 07/15/2010

I see! (laughing)

The "Hey, I beat my wife less than you" defense?

Miles "Lessor Of Two Evils" Long

[Complex]

08:20 AM on 07/15/2010

Sycophancy is so unbecoming...

[anthonytaurus]

06:06 AM on 07/15/2010

The iPhone itself is a crap device. It was just a matter of time before Apple would not get any more passes on their failed technology. The problem, as most find it, is that Jobs has been allowed to get away with a lot due to Apple's impressive marketing team. When Apple came out with their proprietary everything iTunes, that slapped the face of freedom, it was ok because Apple's marketing pushed out so much PR spin and misdirection that the sheep couldn't even concentrate on the drawbacks.

Since then, it's just been one pass after another with the Apple zombies. Overpriced, weak computers.. pass. iTunes aka iEnslave.. pass. iPod with no FM + a lot of other missing stuff.. pass. iPhone that can't send mms.. pass.

Now the iPhone can't hold a signal if held a certain way... p...p....paaa....FAIL.

No matter how much marketing you do, you're not going to tell a bunch of people, even *some* Apple zombies, a phone that can't hold a signal if held a certain way is acceptable. It simply isn't.

I hope that this finally wakes folks up!! Maybe they'll take a look at all the Apple crap they've purchased and do a comparison to what else is available. Get off that Apple plantation for a sec.

[dannyo152]

09:16 AM on 07/15/2010

Do you have a phone and computer that you like? Do us Apple customers really threaten the ability for you to buy a non-Apple phone or computer in the future? Does it really matter to you if I have my iPhone because it's shiny and I might be shallow?

Back about 2000, I was really irritated at Microsoft because of things that I thought interfered with my ability to get things done. I was thinking of how they poisoned the java well. I wasn't happy about the "This site best viewed in ..." nonsense. People asked me to help them with their Windows ME and it was an abominable operating system; a step back from Windows 98SE. So, I had occasion to learn Unix and use Linux. I loved it and I was off to the races. "Why won't you sheep leave Windows?!?" I posted and posted and posted.

I now regret calling others sheep. Like me, they make their choices and compromises and are quite cognizant of what they give up for what they gain.

Regarding marketing saving Apple, a very smart man once told me that marketing comes down to two things: have something that somebody wants and tell them that you have it.

[Dominicus]

10:39 AM on 07/15/2010

iTunes is iEnslave? No, iEnslave was having to buy a $17 CD to rip one or two songs. If you think Apple prevents you from ripping CD's or generating unprotected mp3's, you're obviously just reading the news.
Even before I had an iPhone, I recognized how iTunes was different from what the music industry was doling out.
I agree iPhone4 "don't touch here" signal issue is an epic fail, but I wouldn't hold my breath thinking this will impact Apple much.
They'll have egg on their face for sure.

[joocee102]

02:30 AM on 07/15/2010

Does this guy know his phone(The Kin) didn't even make it out the gate. lol

I don't think has the credibility to be saying that another phone has issues.

Android-HTC EVO-ITS WHAT'S FOR DINNER!

[hardlyhikin]

01:03 AM on 07/15/2010

"One of the things I want to make sure you know today is that you're going to be able to use a Windows Phone 7 and not have to worry about how you're holding it to make a phone call,"

Maybe not, but you can rest assured that there will be some other fatal flaw in it if it's got Microsoft's name on it.

[Nate Cheek]

01:32 PM on 07/15/2010

Exactly.

[TheJibreelaMonsters]

12:52 AM on 07/15/2010

even Apple iPhone on its worst day is better than what Microsoft can muster up

[Krek]

12:51 AM on 07/15/2010

Jeez - what is it with MS and the bald exec brigade? Much as I like their products don't they understand that they live in a society that demands their male authority figures have a full head of hair? There hasn't been a bald president in 50 years, and as South Park satirically showed, just about all male news anchors have luscious mops. Bald guys simply have no credibility. Either drag Gates back from Africa or get some wigs for the boardroom.

Signed,
MS customer whose own battle is just about lost.

[kinogod]

12:04 AM on 07/15/2010

God no, apples vista, that's such a stretch. You couldn't fix vista with duct tape. Apple will generously fix their phones and make their customers whole continuing the tradition of apple excellence. Watch.

[OmegaHunter]

12:57 AM on 07/15/2010

"Apple will generously fix their phones..."

by charging their customers $30 for a cheap piece of plastic to wrap around it.

[Complex]

08:25 AM on 07/15/2010

Yes, wasn't it excellent when Apple didn't want to appease angry customers? And funny, too.

[RGKahn]

10:48 PM on 07/14/2010

That is really bad when you negatively compare a competitors product to a product that your own company had produced just recently. Apples iPhone 4 is as bad as Vista.

[Martel]

11:24 PM on 07/14/2010

If there was really anything wrong with the iPhone4 which isn't wrong with any phone on the ATT network, that would be a pretty obtuse comment for him to make. As it is, he's just hoping to pile on the media frenzy over a smoke and mirrors Apple-Kill campaign and the phone doesn't have an actual problem, so his comment was remarkably self-defeating.

[Fernaggio]

09:08 PM on 07/14/2010

Haters gotta hate. Bottom line...there weren't thousands of people in line, waiting for a Sprint EVO. Or a Palm Pre. And no one's writing articles about the newest phone that is a "Droid Killer". I have not had ANY of the issues that people are complaining about. That said, I don't hate the Droid, or the Pre or the EVO. I'm sure they're fine. I just happen to prefer my iPhone 4, which does everything I need it to do.