By SteveJack
Seriously, is it really that difficult to make a white iPhone?
Apple first mentioned the elusive white iPhone 4 on June 7, 2010, promising it would be available “in either black or white” on June 24th.
Then, on June 24th, Apple issues a press release stating, “White models of Apple’s new iPhone 4 have proven more challenging to manufacture than expected, and as a result they will not be available until the second half of July.”
Okay, I can see that; a bit of a delay is understandable. Break given. Apple has much experience making Macs and iPods in many colors, and even in white, so they’ll correct the issue(s) in no time. They even made white iPhone 3G and 3GS models, so confidence should be high, right?
Uh, no. Next, on July 23rd, Apple released another statement, “White models of Apple’s new iPhone 4 have continued to be more challenging to manufacture than we originally expected, and as a result they will not be available until later this year.”
Now, we’ve jumped right from understandable straight into ridiculous territory.
But, that’s not all, folks! With “later this year” rapidly running out, Apple didn’t even bother with another press release, they just phoned up select media yesterday with the news that the white iPhone won’t arrive “until spring 2011.”
Yeah, right. Hey, did you enjoy your trip from ridiculous to WTF-land?
Let’s pause to recap:
• June 7, 2010: White iPhone 4 coming June 24th.
• June 24, 2010: White iPhone 4 coming “second half of July.”
• July 23, 2010: White iPhone 4 coming “later this year.”
• October 26, 2010: White iPhone 4 coming “spring 2011.”
Listen, I don’t want a white iPhone. I prefer my iPhones in black (luckily, it turns out). Because I’m a man. But, for you ladies who’ve been waiting patiently for a white iPhone, I simply have to call ’em like I see ’em. So, as I would with any other lesser company, I must point out that Apple has failed miserably here. Who’s in charge of this white iPhone fiasco? Who planned the materials, did the testing, approved the samples, and set up the availability timeline? Steve Ballmer?
There’s no other way to look at it: Microsoftian is what this is; a laughable comedy of errors. Obviously even Apple is embarrassed, and rightfully so, hence the lack of a third press release announcing their inexplicable inability to produce an iPhone 4 in white.
It shouldn’t be this hard, Apple. It really shouldn’t.
SteveJack is a long-time Macintosh user, web designer, multimedia producer and a regular contributor to the MacDailyNews Opinion section.