Steve Jobs On iPhone 4 'Antennagate': 'Phones Aren't Perfect' (VIDEO)

*Scroll down for video.*

Apple CEO Steve Jobs announced Friday that Apple would offer iPhone 4 buyers free cases to remedy their phone's antenna issues.

The iPhone 4 press conference, which aimed to address accusations that Apple's newest iPhone suffered from a "design defect" that caused it lose signal when handled in a certain way, has rankled and upset some, including Apple's main rivals and iPhone 4 owners.

What did Jobs, recently crowned "smartest CEO in tech," have to say?

Here's a rundown of some of the key quotes from Apple's press conference.

On the iPhone 4's problems:
"You know, we're not perfect. We know that, you know that. And phones aren't perfect either."

On customer satisfaction:
"[W]e want to make all of our users happy. If you don't know that about Apple, you don't know Apple. We love making our users happy."

On smartphones' service issues:
"[T]hat doesn't seem like a good thing if you can make the bars go down by touching the phone. Well, we first learned that this doesn't just happen to the iPhone, Nokia, Motorola... other phones have this issue. [...] It's a challenge for the whole industry. Every phone has weak spots."

On what's wrong with the iPhone 4:
"[W]e had a reporting error -- we screwed up on our algorithm. Some of these other phones may be too generous. Our choice was to put the correct algorithm in. And we did that with the new update. [...] We haven't figured out a way around the laws of physics yet."

On Apple's ethos and work: "We love our users [...] We love to to surprise and delight them, and we work our asses off to make that happen [...] We do all this because we love our users, and when we fall short, which we do sometimes, we try harder, we pick ourselves up, we figure out what's wrong, and we try harder, and when we succeed they reward us by staying with us."

On rumors that Steve Jobs had prior knowledge about antenna problems:
"That's a crock, and we've challenged them to show proof that that."

On what Apple's doing now:
"Some people have wanted us to run a little faster. I don't think we could run any faster [he adds the company has added cots in parts of the engineering department.] I don't know how we could be working any harder to get to the real root cause of the matter."

On his health:
"I'm doing fine. I was doing better earlier in the week when I was on vacation in Hawaii."

Watch the video clip (below) to see a highlight from the conference. Then read our full coverage of the iPhone 4, including reviews, analysis, and news, here.

Steve Jobs quotes via Engadget, All Things D, and the Wall Street Journal.

WATCH: [via Business Insider]

Comments

[Whinger]

06:49 AM on 07/22/2010

True lies....

In the case of other phones, detuning the antenna has to be a deliberate act, in the case of the IPhone 4 it is a natural act where the hand would normally hold the phone to talk it is difficult to avoid detuning the antenna thus causinf signal drop out.

[mister jerry]

05:38 PM on 07/20/2010

Phones not perfect? The way you heard from Steve Jobs before the antenna issues popped up; one would think the iPhone can slice bread, perform open-heart surgery and stop global warming.

"cars need bumpers, not cell phones"

[mashland]

03:27 PM on 07/20/2010

Love the Apple.
Customer satisfied.

'nuff said.

[SpongeBrad]

08:57 AM on 07/20/2010

If any engineers need cots it would be those of BP

[StAlphonso]

08:05 AM on 07/20/2010

"You know, we're not perfect."

"Well, I mean YOU all..."

[huff reader]

07:17 AM on 07/20/2010

What're the cots for?

When I was working as an engineer, and later as an engineering manager, we didn't need cots. Why? We were WORKING at work, not sleeping!

In any case, this is a symptom of promises/lies of function and schedule, made by marketing suits who didn't listen to their engineers, that, ultimately, couldn't be kept. Why am I not surprised?

I've lived it for thirty years.

[RattleCat]

07:01 AM on 07/20/2010

And HPosts love affair with Apple is resurrected yet again on the front page. :)

[PoorRichardsHeartache]

12:33 AM on 07/20/2010

as a shareholder and customer, Apple has lost its grip. I can be treated the same way by Microsoft/PC suppliers for a hell of a lot less money. The genius bars are now staffed for phones and Ipods, pray for help if you actually have a problem with your computer and its software. How terribly disappointing. On the other hand, this is saving me a lot of money as I was in the process of converting completely off Microsoft and BB.

[JasonMcl]

07:43 PM on 07/19/2010

"One thing is for certain, RIM's customers don't need to use a case for their BlackBerry smartphone to maintain proper connectivity," Lazaridis and Balsillie wrote. "Apple clearly made certain design decisions and it should take responsibility for these decisions rather than trying to draw RIM and others into a situation that relates specifically to Apple.

RIM is a global leader in antenna design and has been successfully designing industry-leading wireless data products with efficient and effective radio performance for over 20 years," RIM said. "During that time, RIM has avoided designs like the one Apple used in the iPhone 4 and instead has used innovative designs which reduce the risk for dropped calls, especially in areas of lower coverage." - RIM

Of course it can get a bit difficult to make these effective decisions when you are sleeping on a cot in your office.

[joocee102]

07:58 PM on 07/19/2010

Point well taken.

[amdezurik]

06:49 AM on 07/20/2010

seeing the original decision by Stevie was not made on cots, what does that have to do with RIM?

[JasonMcl]

04:39 PM on 07/20/2010

At job's latest press conference he tried to deflect the iPhone 4's singal problems by claiming that all other phones had this problem.

Research In Motion responded by stating that blackberries don't need special cases to maintain signal.

[flashblitzen]

04:32 PM on 07/19/2010

Is it possible that as a society, we're attaching just a little too much importance to a phone these days? It's a phone for C's sake! Crank up your land line or talk face to face.

[joocee102]

08:05 PM on 07/19/2010

Smartphones today offer internet connectivity, wifi hotspot, real time news feed, weather and gps tracking, banking, face to face conferences, home and car alarm notice, pics, vids, and important documents, so yea, its more then just a phone. Some people are afraid of technology and still prefer to use the Dixie cup and string method of communication.

[GoDogGo]

01:43 AM on 07/20/2010

With respect, I think that's a terribly narrow view of what these devices are and how they're actually used. It's NOT just a phone and they are used far more for sharing information and accessing data, a very different use from that just a phone.

With smartphones usurping much of the utility of computers and with the easy, instant accessibility of the internet, these devices are changing our culture in profound ways that we are only beginning to understand.

In that regard, no, we're not attaching too much importance to these!

[anthonytaurus]

04:04 PM on 07/19/2010

LOL.. and the Apple fanboys ate it up.

I dare any Jobs or any of his Apple minions to find one example in the HISTORY OF CELLULAR SERVICE where a phone manufacturer thought it to be a good idea to place a raw antenna on the OUTSIDE of a cellular phone.

Did Jobs know? Of course he knew. This is not new information people. This is the exact same reason you got static from those old cordless phones with the metal antenna. He just decided that form was more important than function which has really been Apple's ethic all the time.

But, these lies he's spewing and the Apple fanboys are regurgitating is beyond ridiculous. That's the real problem. As I stated before, I dare Jobs or any Apple fanboy to point out ONE instance where a raw antenna was placed outside of cellular phone.

I know those Apple fanboys will respond with every issue under the book and ignore the challenge. That's because, none, NOT ONE, will be able to prove Jobs' lies, not even Jobs himself. That's the real test of your intelligence. Do you keep spewing lies so you can feel better about the crap you purchased or will you have the courage to investigate these false claims?

I know I'll win this bet, hands down. The real issue is, will you Apple fanboys have the courage to question Apple's gimmicks yesterday, today, and tomorrow?

[SickHippie]

04:09 PM on 07/19/2010

I had to note that the iPhone 4 can get that signal drop with a single finger - all the others had to be squeezed with the whole hand (and no indication of how hard either).

How that turns into "all phones have this issue" is amazing spin. No other phones can lose bars with a single finger - because (as you stated) no other phones have a raw external antenna with the weak point right where your finger goes.

If he had to have the external antenna, the best spot for the seam would have been top center - where fingers have the least chance of coming into contact with it.

[Erdgeist]

10:41 PM on 07/19/2010

So much FUD. Read this and weep.

http://macdailynews.com/index.php/weblog/comments/26017/

[RattleCat]

05:25 PM on 07/19/2010

Up until the early 2000s, all cell phones has external antennas.

[SickHippie]

06:35 PM on 07/19/2010

A raw metal external antenna? Or a coated antenna?

[anthonytaurus]

01:35 AM on 07/20/2010

LOL. So, what do you think your point is with that statement?

You aren't addressing any issue that I discussed. That's for sure.

Sorry Apple fanboy, there will be NO redirection of argument here! Stay on topic please.

[Eusebiu Blindu]

02:50 PM on 07/19/2010

I guess testing was not properly done there.

Here is a testing puzzle

http://www.testalways.com/2010/07/18/another-test-puzzle/

[kinogod]

01:46 PM on 07/19/2010

Love apple even in their time of heed.

[dmsdzinr]

01:02 PM on 07/19/2010

Steve Jobs was NOT making excuses, He was stating FACTS!

[Mydian01]

02:43 PM on 07/19/2010

it doesn't matter.. the haters don't care, apple threatens their manhood for whatever reason, so they will go to all lengths (no pun intended) to slander and defame apple.. just look at this taiwanese version of the iphone controversy, i especially like the guy who can still use his iPhone after two of his fingers get cut off.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tn-YesqzvNk&feature=player_embedded
hilarious stuff.. almost as funny as the haters here at HP who go on and on an on about how apple is draconian and going out of business. ya right.

[LightShadow62]

10:49 AM on 07/19/2010

Jobs is right, when I hold my HTC Tilt (with AT&T) I loose some reception signal.

Of course I have to cover it with both hands and peek through my fingers to see that it has lost 1 bar. When I hold it as I would to actually us the phone I have no problems because they designed to phone for the way 'normal' people would hold it, by the bottom of the device.