Apple says Steve Jobs' email replies on iPhone 4 reception were faked - Page 2

I look forward to the day when internet journalism matures and becomes a worthy replacement for paper based journalism. It takes time for the cream to rise to the top, and for this new industry to police itself, and for consumers to demand better. If you look at newspapers in the 19th century you'll see much of what you see on websites and blogs today. Rumors published as fact, personal attacks of the most vicious kind, boosterism, payoffs, you name it. In short, Yellow Journalism. Someday there'll be a "website of record," a place where they pride themselves on accuracy, fairness, and neutrality. Where stories are vetted, edited, and rigorously fact checked before posting for all to see.

A guy can dream, can't he?

I love this... haha. and this is why its RUMOR WEBSITE. just because someone said it doesnt make it true

Thanks for that one, these boards have been devoid of any sense of humor this week.

He was just pointing to a particularly egregious example of how ALL media outlets will lie. Some do it to improve ratings, some do it to influence elections. No need to make this a political fight.

Regardless, its despicable and its an unfortunate reality if we are to keep the 1st Amendment around.

you know, all you have to do is put a clear piece of tape between that seam and your problem is solved.*

or get yourself a bumper. if i get an iphone, i will get a bumper anyway because of the edge-to-edge glass making me queasy.

Low barriers to entry just means that the public (and other blogs which circulate the stories as well) need to do their own vetting. We all have memories. Next time, we'll just have to remember to doubt the credibility of the next BGR.

Or, the antenna can be insulated from the factory in a way that isn't super ghetto.

Not at all. it just means, as is typical of Apple, they haven't and likely won't comment on it until there's something to say/release.

Anyone that has spent time with Apple knows that they don't advance talk. They don't release conjecture and try not to release half ass might fix its.

The phone has been out for a week. they are gathering data. it's not all that conclusive at the moment a number of the reports also say things like "but my reception has always sucked" or "the bars go down but i can make calls and stuff just fine" etc. So pining down the issue could be a little harder.

That is the dumbest comment I've ever heard, bar none. The PR person, likely, was asked, "Did Steve write those e-mails?" PR was asked by Fortune, which is actually a reputable news organization, and they do fact-check. BGR could have done the same, you know? The PR guy/woman went to Jobs. Jobs told her no. Why on earth would he lie? I've enjoyed the late night emails from the CEO, but I've been wondering when some idiot would fake it. Well, somebody did. Time for BGR to name that person, and sue for their money back if they did pay. (Reputable news organizations do not, because it creates an inducement for fraud. Which is what happened here.)

Hurting Apple in the worst way? You pipsqueak, they just sold 1.7 million iPhones in 3 days. Read AnandTech for an actual facts about the "flaw," and how minor it actually is. There is something happening in this period, though. There are lots of strange characters trying to spread hysteria and damage Apple's reputation. Sort of smells like Gizmodo types and Android zealots.

Oh, no, my brother. You must get your own.

it's called the ignore list. use it and stop replying or quoting said alleged troll. Cause remember, trolls by their nature want attention. and even say "shut up your troll" is attention.

if everyone ignore lists the trolls and stops replying to them then it doesn't matter what they do cause they are behind a nice sound proof wall.

I hope they were faked. The comments were unprofessional and a deviated from apple as I experience it. (actually the first three I could see steve writing in bad mood, but fourth one I guess was clearly fruad. Steve was way to exited about the phone to call it just a phone)

Robin, methinks you give print journalism too much credit. Bloggers are easier to expose because there are just so many more posts than there are newspaper or magazine articles.

Are we so sure they were asked by Fortune. And not that Steve didn't pick up the phone, call the PR office downstairs and tell them "I did NOT write any such emails, particularly these 4 going around. Find a reputable source and notify them right away" and that's what they did.

Does it matter? Its an official statement since the PR person went on the record. You cant get much better than that as far as things go. Apple can be held to that statement if they were sued or it was ever part of a lawsuit - like the one that was filed this morning!

Yes, and he can also have his dreams crushed like an ant under a steamroller.

You're right about the newspapers of 19th century, and even well into the 20th. For the most part, they were nakedly partisan and would routinely print political and personal hit pieces that would make even today's devotees of FOX cringe.

I don't see us ever getting to the point where the net is edited and vetted for fairness and accuracy. Some online news sources already do a good job -- but who reads them? I'm afraid the noise will always overwhelm the signal.

Some media outlets make mistakes. Others make stuff up as a matter of policy.

Apple execs say a lot of things... much of it readily disregardable - \

much like many who post here at times then?

Not surprising. The first message is the only one I could see Jobs saying.

As to trying to get money for access to an Email written by Steve.... what is this world coming to.

SpotOn is that you? We don't usually see such a string of nasty comments out of new members. And the ones that do come in as intentional WinLinTrolls usually do it by starting threads, not jumping in this way.

And if it isn't a SpotOn alias: Lighten up, Francis!

Including APPLEINSIDER!
\

"on the record" and "off the record" have legal status. If something is "on the record" it is attributed to a real person and is sanctioned by the company. If something is "off the record" then it can not be attributed and is not sanctioned by the company.

From the above quote from the Fortune article the author states that "Asked on the record ... a top Apple spokesman emphatically denied it." If it was asked "on the record" what is the top Apple spokesman's name? What is the top Apple spokesman's position and title. Where is the official press release to all news organizations?

At the very least have some common sense, nothing about what Fortune has said is "on the record". It is all hearsay from an unattributed source that is supposedly a top Apple spokesman. Why would this top Apple spokesman make these anonymous statements and on top of that single source this "emphatic denial"?

If Apple really said this it would be released as a general press release made by a real Apple employee that has a name, a title and a means to be reached at the company.

Someone is playing head games and it looks like it is CNN/Money - Fortune - Apple 2.0 that is doing it.

edit: hmm. I emailed the author and his email address is ped@mac.com. So at the very best he is a free lancer for CNN Money without his own cnn.com email address, and at the worst he is a paid shill for Apple.

2nd edit: I withdraw my comments. Engadget claims they have independently contacted Apple to confirm the denial.

The spokesperson said it "on the record" without being named? That's not on the record - it's off the record.

I call BS.

You guys want to believe it, go ahead. I don't. And if I'm wrong I will post my apologies to all on this forum.

Good to see DED is propagating the spin as usual though.

Oops... Kresh beat me to it.

Phone Racist.

This whole situation is crazy. OK so we know the BGR stuff is fake. We don't know for sure whether the initial "just avoid holding it that way" is true or not. "there is no reception issues" is possibly fake. Then again, who knows.

What IS clear to me is that these direct emails from Steve have now finally proved to be the inappropriate way to do things. It was fun and cool for a while, but Apple, however successful they are, must realize the risks they are taking if they are to allow this to continue.

I'm sure everyone here must had some work experience where the higher-ups have intervened directly in certain matters and in those cases middle management has to reconcile the wishes of the CEO with their daily tasks and established procedures.

It is also entirely possible Steve said some things to some people via email, published or not, and now PR is trying to minimize the damage. Which, as I mentioned above, adds to the risks of company communication.

Now we have no idea what Apple intends to do about the situation other than the official, formal support statements of "any phone held in a certain way etc etc".

Which brings us all back to square one after this whole week of madness.

And AppleInsider ranks up there too. They dish out quite a bit of BS stories, just spreading rumors from bloggers that claim to be journalists...like always referencing Gizmodo, etc.

I'm siding with anantksundaram here. AI clearly uses sensationalist titles and slanted reporting heavily in favour of Apple as a general rule, even when the content is well researched and in-depth, but I don't recall them simply taking unfounded information and stating as fact without sufficient caveats.

Then you haven't been paying attention.

However, in this instance, DED is cowering behind Fortune's Apple suck-up so he can repeat the rubbish ad infinitum and claim he was just "quoting Fortune". However, the headline might get him into some bother as it inadequately qualifies the content.

I'd expect AI to subtly modify that in the near future.

I haven't been paying attention, says the guy who claimed Dilger invented the rumour of iOS 4.0.1 coming this past Monday?

http://forums.appleinsider.com/showp...&postcount=581 You're just sore that I called you out for your lack of comprehension and critical thinking. I guess you can pointlessly angry at AI, Dilger and me, now.

you are the biggest idiot since g3pro started posting on here. like a tool such as your self knows what steve jobs would write. i dont know why dead beats like you even post here, there are loads of forums you can bash apple on elsewhere

I doubly withdraw my earlier comments about the veracity of the denial. The author of the Fortune article has responded and the top Apple spokesman is Steve Dowling (dowling@apple.com (408) 974-1896).

Verified: That there was a denial by an actual person cannot be reasonably dismissed.

Now, whether that denial is any more accurate than anything else Apple or bloggers or anyone else says has yet to be determined.

When Apple files suit against BGR we'll see how confident they are. And if they don't....

Yep, it would be nice to know if that ""you are holding it wrong" email
was FAKE.... Cause that particular statement seems to be the main basis for most complaints...

Someone I know said that he has absolutely NO PROBLEM, and lot's of people are in that NO PROBLEM camp... So, who knows, maybe there was a bad batch? Inconclusive evidence! We'll find out eventually when Apple is ready to make an official statement!

Also, the LOCATION -STRENGTH of signal is a FACTOR..., cause some people couldn't replicate the problem, David Pogue of NY Times couldn't make it happen on his... I saw Walt Mossberg on Charlie Rose http://www.charlierose.com 6/25/10. Those guys could have mentioned this antenna issue, but they didn't! I think they tried to be responsible and wait till there is more clarity about this issue! Other media gets hysterical first, then they go to the next topic to make noise, and thus sell more ads!

Too many variables in this whole AntennaGate... Obviously, early "Christmas" for Apple Bashers!!!

This won't go on forever! It WILL be Fixed!!! Till then it's party time for Apple Bashers!!!

There could be some sabotage involved there too -- remember problems at the plants in China? Anything is possible!

See my response to your "calling out" in that thread.

I think you're projecting "anger" solipsism. I'm not sure what "I guess you can pointlessly angry" means but I doubt very much that it gives you any grounds to criticize my comprehension and critical thinking. But in your mind, perhaps it does.

For the record, I'm not angry at AI at all. Hits count for much in cyberspace and I'm certain that DED's pieces bring in many of those. And AI allows me to be here so I'm grateful for the opportunity to poke fun, point the finger and correct what bollocks I think is written. Whatever the rabidly Apple-centric may feel about it. Thanks AppleInsider.

Dilger is a complete Apple apologist and disingenuous twat, so deal with it.

But I can honestly say I'm not angry at you. I think you have a deep belief that Apple is above reproach and somehow transcends its reality as just a very profitable mega corporation which makes gadgets you and millions of others believe to be a cut above. I believe that's a bit like worshipping the sun or believing that GM is somehow holier than Ford. And make no mistake, there are millions out there that believe those things.

But I've been an Apple user for more than two decades so I've been there, done that, spent the bucks and got the T shirt.

And I think that those who profess to "love" Apple are deluded. Are you such a person? And more to the point, is there any reason why you'd care what I think of your religion?

I will continue to support Apple for as long as they give me what I want, not just what they want me to have. And the iP4 crosses the line as it currently stands.

Is that clear enough solipsism?

I guess Boy Genius isn't such a genius after all. You would think a tech site would know that an email (including the headers) is just a text file that anyone can type up and send to an SMTP server. Except that they're not really tech heads just journalists, a profession with an undeserved reputation for being intelligent.

Um, Chopper, Sol doesn't believe that you even exist, so how could he be angry with you?

And of course AI is going to be biased in favor of Apple. It's an APPLE rumor and discussion website!

I beg to differ. Most of the crew at BGR aren't real journalists either. They got their jobs because their buddies hooked them up. Most of these bloggers haven't the education, experience, or knowledge to be commenting about half of what they write...

...maybe I'm just bitter because I can't get in with Engadget.

You're not serious, are you?

Do you work for Samsung?