Apple Deletes Competitor Smartphone Demonstrations from Antenna Page

[Michael Essany]

Unless you habitually linger around Apple's recently launched antenna-dedicated page within the Apple website, you may not have noticed a significant update this weekend to the page that launched after the formal Apple press conference that aimed to mitigate the fallout from "Antennagate" by effectively arguing that all smartphones have a similar and unavoidable "death grip."

Incredibly, when the page first went live, it displayed videos of such iPhone rivals as the BlackBerry Bold 9700, the HTC Droid Eris, the Motorola Droid X, the Nokia N97 Mini, and the Samsung Omnia II. The demonstrations served up illustrations of how these particular devices similarly dropped calls and bars when held improperly. Apple's initial posting of the images and video within this controversial page prompted a wave of criticisms and responses from the makers of those smartphones, all of which compete with the iPhone.

Today, however, the videos are gone - although they remain on YouTube and floating about the Internet in myriad other places. In their place are images and content centered around the ornate and sophisticated test lab that Apple uses to perfect their products and ensure proper attenuated signal for its hugely popular handset. Not surprisingly, though, the dropped videos in question can still be found on the Canadian version of the Apple website. Canada, of course, just received the iPhone 4 and, as a result, Apple will likely continue pushing its antenna page to Canadian consumers until the initial rush of iPhone 4 purchases slows along with more to-be-expected death grip complaints.

apple.com/antenna
apple.com/ca/antenna/

[z3r01]

haaa, interesting

[plumoso]

WOW apple Shoud stay away from comparing to other smart phones just try to fix it and make it better (the iPhone).I got the iPhone 4 I'm not that happy with it but I loved the phone I got my free bumper case already and this fix alot of the antenna issues ,,,now we need and update to fix the sensors ,, and the best the JAILBREAK

[Nickaroni22]

Lol nice!

[Cowboy]

Lol apple throw in the town on proving a point

[dtmoore555]

I just want Apple to show me where my EVO has it's weak point? I've tried and Apple did say ALL SMARTPHONES have this problem... why haven't they hit one of their biggest rivals and the phone that got me out of the death clutches of that which is APPLE!!!

[kuhndsn]

Pretty much like most tech websites. When the point is delivered it's no longer news or important info to push out. Keeping it in Canada I'm sure is nothing more than a hey remember the news flash about this? In case you missed it here it is. Really though I can't wait until we can move on from this. But I am sure once the i5 is released this will once again popup and start another civil consumer war amongst each user as well as other companies.

I can already see this thread...
- couple of infractions handed out for people hating on the news reporter...
- few people cussing out each other for diff of opinions.
- And last but not least someone asking when the JB will be released. ;-)


D

[awesomeSlayer]

Apple must have gotten tired of it.

[delusion950]

maybe they figured out problem with death grip so no need to crap on RIM nd other smartphones to makes themselves feel better.

[macsoldier]

its just pushing everybody to move on

[KartRacer]

That's strange. Could it be that they were threatened with legal action? I wouldn't think so because I doubt there's anything legally wrong with what they did, but BlackBerry was very direct with their press statement to Apple.

[ecd5000]

forgive and forget is apples slogan for the antennae debacle

[WenzHere]

ooohhh....come on Apple...stop being a jerk...
u better fix it rather than keep comparing i4 with others

[Wilbourn]

That's strange. Could it be that they were threatened with legal action? I wouldn't think so because I doubt there's anything legally wrong with what they did, but BlackBerry was very direct with their press statement to Apple.

I would be willing to bet that 99% of the reason this was finally taken down was due to legal ramifications, in fact I'm surprised this campaign ran for as long as it did. Apple was walking a VERY thin line when they posted all of these various manufacturers on their website regarding the Antenna issues. Whether or not the claims apple made are factual, there are still grounds for a slander and defamation lawsuit on behalf of the other cell phone makers (And your looking at some pretty notable ones too; RIM, Nokia, Samsung...etc).

[QWood13]

I love Apple, but I just have to know, wheres the Part that causes the death grip on my Motorola Cliq? Cuz I can't find it. I mean, if all smartphones have this problem, where is it?

[MooShoo]

I just want Apple to show me where my EVO has it's weak point? I've tried and Apple did say ALL SMARTPHONES have this problem... why haven't they hit one of their biggest rivals and the phone that got me out of the death clutches of that which is APPLE!!!

EVO .... The phone with the 1 hr standby and 10 min talk time battery. Lol!

EVO = POS

[cyberbia242ph]

I don't think Apple should compare itself to others anyway. It's way above the rest.

[macimaster]

yeah this happened last week, I went on on Thursday to have another look at them and they were gone.

[dtmoore555]

EVO .... The phone with the 1 hr standby and 10 min talk time battery. Lol!

EVO = POS

well wouldn't say it's that bad, but it's not good either... doesn't bother me since I'm always around some form of power source...

at least I can hold my phone anyway I want w/o a case & any problems of signal issues!!! That's not all either... I being a former 2G, 3G & 3GS user have tons of other reasons the new I4 is more of a POS than the EVO ever dreamed of being!!!

Also not being a FANBOY of either phone I speak from experience instead of LUST!!!

[redwolf]