iPhone Hardware Engineering Chief Mark Papermaster Leaves Apple

[cvaldes]

If this is true, the Apple acknowledges that the antennae is a significant issue... something that Apple has yet to fess up to.

Not going to happen. As a matter of fact, Apple went the opposite direction, stating that the antenna issue is insignificant by throwing a bunch of numbers and videos out.

Independent customer satisfaction surveys and iPhone 4 return rates also indicate that the antenna design is not an issue. This has also been stated by third parties in other countries (e.g., Norway).

Will this antenna episode affect the way that Apple designs phone antennas in the future? Unknown, but there's a possibility it would.

 

[sinsin07]

This is not related to the iPhone antenna problem because there is NO antenna problem! Do you have an iPhone 4? I do! No problems whatsoever!!!

OK, so you are in the majority of people who have no issue. So what. It does not negate the fact that some do have a problem. Stop living in a bubble.

 

[reden]

I have this big idea Steve. This exterior antenna, works wonders, and it looks sweet! People will eat it right up.

A year later...

I know this is costing millions, b-but so much research has gone into this project, this can't be right...

I'll show myself out.

 

[superstrikertwo]

This is not related to the iPhone antenna problem because there is NO antenna problem! Do you have an iPhone 4? I do! No problems whatsoever!!!

So because you don't have the problem it must mean everyone else is lying.

 

[modufour]

OK, so you are in the majority of people who have no issue. So what. It does not negate the fact that some do have a problem. Stop living in a bubble.

I love my Mac bubble

 

[sinsin07]

The guy from Mac hardware engineering took over his job? This means even less time will be devoted to Mac .

Good. Maybe will see a 5 inch iPhone with a Mac like doc. And widgets too!!!! LOL

 

[modufour]

So because you don't have the problem it must mean everyone else is lying.

Do you have an antenna problem?

 

[Eastend]

Hey wait a minute. This is America, it's IBM and Apple= Settled out of court, I wonder how much did the lawyers make on this fabrication?

 

[YesILoveTech]

Just some numbers for you guys to look at to see what company is REALLY in control.

Apple (AAPL)

260.60 -1.10‎ (-0.42%‎) Aug 6 9:56am ET
Open: 259.70
High: 260.70
Low: 258.60

Volume: 1,242,853
Avg Vol: 24,940,000
Mkt Cap: 238.07B

Google (GOOG)

503.92 -4.18‎ (-0.82%‎) Aug 6 9:57am ET
Open: 505.40
High: 505.64
Low: 502.10

Volume: 262,846
Avg Vol: 3,061,000
Mkt Cap: 160.49B

 

[sinsin07]

I love my Mac bubble

I am happy you love your MAC bubble. There is no issue with that. I am talking about a life bubble, which exist outside of Apple. Hopefully you have one.

 

[Rocketman]

Why God, Why?!?!?!

Let's begin with the obvious. Please.

He was prevented from being hired due to a lawsuit and fears of technology cross-pollenization. IBM further delayed his hire date to April 2009 through litigation. This is August 2010, only 16 months later.

I feel it is obvious Apple could not parse whatever agreement they made with IBM in reality of working conditions.

The telling news will be what job is announced he is hired for, to see if he gets some favorable leg-up from either IBM or Apple or one of their close allies.

I am happy you love your MAC bubble. There is no issue with that. I am talking about a life bubble, which exist outside of Apple. Hopefully you have one.

Error, error, error . . . . . . . . .

Rocketman

 

[appleguy123]

Just some numbers for you guys to look at to see what company is REALLY in control.

Apple (AAPL)

260.60 -1.10‎ (-0.42%‎) Aug 6 9:56am ET
Open: 259.70
High: 260.70
Low: 258.60

Volume: 1,242,853
Avg Vol: 24,940,000
Mkt Cap: 238.07B

Google (GOOG)

503.92 -4.18‎ (-0.82%‎) Aug 6 9:57am ET
Open: 505.40
High: 505.64
Low: 502.10

Volume: 262,846
Avg Vol: 3,061,000
Mkt Cap: 160.49B

Do you know how to read the stock market? You just showed us that Apple has way more money

 

[sinsin07]

Just some numbers for you guys to look at to see what company is REALLY in control.

Apple (AAPL)

260.60 -1.10‎ (-0.42%‎) Aug 6 9:56am ET
Open: 259.70
High: 260.70
Low: 258.60

Volume: 1,242,853
Avg Vol: 24,940,000
Mkt Cap: 238.07B

Google (GOOG)

503.92 -4.18‎ (-0.82%‎) Aug 6 9:57am ET
Open: 505.40
High: 505.64
Low: 502.10

Volume: 262,846
Avg Vol: 3,061,000
Mkt Cap: 160.49B

How did Google get in this. We are talking about Apple. Any time there is something controversial with Apple you can always depend on some Apple fan to interject unrelated information, usually about how well Apple is financially. We know that, we get it. Next you will be saying how Google is responsible for this poor soul's departure.

 

[DeepIn2U]

Scapegoat

THANK YOU!
I was thinking the same thing.
Big business is a bi***!

BINGO!+

Such a short term of employment for high-profiled employee & corporation. I'm now wondering if a similar contractual-employment agreement by Apple has been placed on him that is not too dissimilar to what IBM imposed on him!

We'll soon find out.

Still I see this as Jobs being a narcissitic and him Papermaster loosing all confidence in his efforts and experience being used by Apple.

 

[DeepIn2U]

No, it's called accountability. It's harsh but it's a good thing too. Nothing poisons a company quicker than when a person that makes decisions is not held accountable when things go wrong, even if its perception.

I doubt this has anything to do with accountability; I think this has MORE to do with Papermaster's integrity! With Bloomberg reporting weeks ago a top engineer had issues with use of the external antenna integration and spoke openly to Steve Jobs which rejected the advisement; and Jobs also outright stated its ********, I think THIS is Papermaster's way of stating Jobs is lying and more going on with the antennagate situation; without pointing a finger.

 

[miki66]

has he ever come on stage? i found his face quite familiar

 

[ouimetnick]

Isn't he the guy that had issues leaving IBM to go to Apple?

 

[cvaldes]

I'm now wondering if a similar contractual-employment agreement by Apple has been placed on him that is not too dissimilar to what IBM imposed on him!

Doubtful.

Non-compete clauses are basically unenforceable under California employment law. One of Silicon Valley's greatest advantages is the nurturing of competition. The fact that you can leave a company and start up a competitor is part of the DNA of the region. This isn't Armonk, NY.

Frankly, I expect Papermaster to turn up elsewhere quite shortly, perhaps at Hewlett-Packard in the Palm division, overseeing webOS device hardware engineering.

 

[TomaxXamot]

I doubt this has anything to do with accountability; I think this has MORE to do with Papermaster's integrity! With Bloomberg reporting weeks ago a top engineer had issues with use of the external antenna integration and spoke openly to Steve Jobs which rejected the advisement; and Jobs also outright stated its ********, I think THIS is Papermaster's way of stating Jobs is lying and more going on with the antennagate situation; without pointing a finger.

+1 That was what I was thinking when I read it. My GUESS is that he voiced concerns and Steve 'steved' him down.

 

[Glideslope]

If it really is a significant design issue then apple is going to have to pull some interesting engineering design out of the book for the next model if they keep going down the flatter, thinner route. Personally I prefer to have a real antenna on my mobiles - cdma and next G.

The antenna design on the 4 is actually cutting edge, and in terms of reception is superior to anything on the market. The issue is it being on the outside to satisfy Johnny Ives latest and greatest dream.

The design change will focus on reduction of attenuation. Mainly how to isolate the contact points more effectively to avoid "the spot".

I don't think the look of the redesign will be all that different. There are many solutions.

 

[ouimetnick]

Because Bob Mansfield is taking over Papermaster's job, will Bod have 2 jobs? Who will be in charge on Mac hardware engineering?

 

[gramirez2012]

I'd love to know where the name "Papermaster" comes from. Very interesting.

 

[inkswamp]

If this is true, the Apple acknowledges that the antennae is a significant issue... something that Apple has yet to fess up to.

Get off it already. They acknowledged the problem. What else do you want? Does Steve jobs have to grovel at your feet?

And frankly, the statements at the conference line up with what I've seen. I don't have an iPhone 4, but the people I know who have them say it's not really an issue. I don't think as many people cover that "death spot" when holding the phone as has been reported.

 

[Popeye206]

Is Apple now blowing this out of proportion? Will be interesting to see the Apple loyalist explain this away.

Given he's been absent from the media for the launch, even before the media hype on the "antenna problem" I'm guessing he was leaving before all this happened. Because he's been there for such a short time, I'm guessing it was a bad fit (i.e. personality/culture). It happens.

Besides... IBM guy at Apple? That seems like a turtle going to work for the rabbits. Okay... bad analogy, but you get the point.

 

[AidenShaw]

The design change will focus on reduction of attenuation. Mainly how to isolate the contact points more effectively to avoid "the spot".

Any design change (especially if it occurs on the white Iphone 4) will be taken as admission of a defect - and the lawsuits will be launched.

If there is "no problem", then why does it need a redesign?