AfterDawn: News

Apple head of iPhone engineering leaving after iPhone 4 debacle

Apple's senior VP of engineering Mark Papermaster is leaving the company, says The NYTimes, following the recent "antennagate" debacle of the iPhone 4.

Apple spokesman Steve Dowling confirmed the report, and added that his position will be taken over by Bob Mansfield, VP of Macintosh engineering.



Papermaster was formally IBM's vice president of microprocessor technology development, working primarily in processor design.

"Antennagate" refers to the ongoing situation in which iPhone 4 users lose cell reception when holding the phone in their left hand, covering the antenna.

Apple has repaired the situation by offering all iPhone 4 owners free cases for their devices, eliminating the problem.

While many believe that Papermaster's departure is directly correlated to "antennagate," Gleacher & Company analyst Brian Marshall thinks differently (via CW): "I don't think that's the case. When you have a company the size of Apple, you're going to have turnover at low levels and high levels. I don't see this as that big of a deal."

Written by: Andre Yoskowitz @ 8 Aug 2010 0:56

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• 7 comments

• biglo30

  If you ask me I think he was actually laid off, but I would like to see more on this story.

  8.8.2010 01:32 #1

• tomtgsdokj (unverified)

  I think he was actually fired by Steve Jobs lol!

  8.8.2010 02:02 #2

• ST2006

  I definitely agree to the above two comments, cuz we all know Steve Jobs is a twat after all and this sounds like something their executives would do !!!!
  

  SmokeThis2006

  8.8.2010 10:04 #3

• KillerBug

  "Apple has repaired the situation by offering all iPhone 4 owners free cases for their devices, eliminating the problem."
  
  They seem to have defused the media attention, but they still have not repaired the problem. The closest thing to a repair I have seen is the clear nailpolish...and apple has yet to send out free bottles of nail polish to their customers.

  8.8.2010 10:51 #4

• bam431

  "While many believe that Papermaster's departure is directly correlated to "antennagate,"
  Sounds like he'd be better off making printer anyways. AMIRITE
  

  This could be anywhere This could be everywhere
  Xbox Live: war dog431 - PSN: bam431 - IGN: bam431
  Youtube: electrowaffle - Twitter: bam431
  My site: Work in progress.

  8.8.2010 16:43 #5

• robertmro

  The real reason is that Papermaster couldn't adapt to the Apple culture after working at Big Blue (which is very corporate).
  

  10.8.2010 09:41 #6

• Gnawnivek

  No, the article I read says that the iPhone 4 design has the antenna issue a year ago. Papermaster was aware of the issue that the engineers pointed out and he recommended to fix the problem before release the product. However, Job loved the design so much that nobody dare to redesign it and hence it was released with the antenna issue. Of course, Papermaster's resignation is to take the heat off Job. After all, if the Consumer Report is not going to recommend the iPhone 4, that's bad news isn't it?
  
  

  Peace!

  10.8.2010 15:56 #7