How hard is it to make a white iPhone 4?

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.

102 Comments

  1. If the problem is light leakage, the solution is easy… Put an aluminized mirror coating on the entire back of the white glass back panel. That blocks all light transmission and makes the white whiter. It’s also known and simple tech.

  2. If the problem is light leakage, the solution is easy… Put an aluminized mirror coating on the entire back of the white glass back panel. That blocks all light transmission and makes the white whiter. It’s also known and simple tech.

  3. Apple makes products of a complexity that flies a little bit above the blogger/troll “how hard can it be?” mantra. If the details were explained to you, you’d probably be struck retarded instantly. Which isn’t to say that spew of an article is far off.

  4. Apple makes products of a complexity that flies a little bit above the blogger/troll “how hard can it be?” mantra. If the details were explained to you, you’d probably be struck retarded instantly. Which isn’t to say that spew of an article is far off.

  5. You sure have a strong opinion for something you are completely ignorant of. Apple doesn’t have a string of failures and broken promises, this white iPhone thing is an anomaly.

    My guess is that the issues that plague it (and the current notion that it has to do with light leaks adversely affecting photos seems quite plausible) probably seemed initially rather minor, but simply turned out to be a much larger problem as they worked for a resolution.

    You assert that it simply cannot be that hard to produce a white iPhone. I would say that if Apple is having this much trouble doing it, then it must in actuality be exceedingly difficult. I’d say that until YOU successfully design, engineer, and produce a production run of white iPhones you should probably keep these ignorant assertions to yourself.

    As is you come off as an arrogant ass… if this article had been written outside of MDN then it would have been ripped apart for the self-serving, hit whoring maneuver that it really is.

    Weak…

  6. You sure have a strong opinion for something you are completely ignorant of. Apple doesn’t have a string of failures and broken promises, this white iPhone thing is an anomaly.

    My guess is that the issues that plague it (and the current notion that it has to do with light leaks adversely affecting photos seems quite plausible) probably seemed initially rather minor, but simply turned out to be a much larger problem as they worked for a resolution.

    You assert that it simply cannot be that hard to produce a white iPhone. I would say that if Apple is having this much trouble doing it, then it must in actuality be exceedingly difficult. I’d say that until YOU successfully design, engineer, and produce a production run of white iPhones you should probably keep these ignorant assertions to yourself.

    As is you come off as an arrogant ass… if this article had been written outside of MDN then it would have been ripped apart for the self-serving, hit whoring maneuver that it really is.

    Weak…

  7. I just bought an iPhone, black of course. However the first thing I bought before Ieft the shop was an off white case. I have poor eyesight and would never find a black object if I did not know excatly where I put it.
    I hate how so many products are black, like DVD/BluRay Players with black Remote Controls. I even have an oven with black knobs with no visible markings to show where you are setting the time/femp etc – just an indent.
    Incidently I am very impressed with my iPhone. I updated from a Sony Ericsson.

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