Week in review: Apple’s Antennagate

Concerns about a faulty antenna design in Apple’s iPhone 4 dominated the tech headlines this week.
First, Consumer Reports on Monday (July 12) validated complaints that the iPhone 4 loses signal strength or drops calls if users touch a certain part of the exposed antenna.
Then, Apple held a hastily scheduled press conference on Friday (July 16) where it said all smart phones have similar antenna problems and that media reports about issues with the iPhone 4 were blown way out of proportion. Still, Apple offered a free insulating bumper to all iPhone 4 users.
The question facing Apple now is whether that’s enough to allay customer complaints and put the company’s so-called “antennagate” to rest.
The following is a roundup of my stories from Investor’s Business Daily at Investors.com and Click, IBD’s Tech Blog.

Apple CEO Steve Jobs calls iPhone 4 antenna issue overblown, but offers free bumpers to buyers anyway. (July 16, 2010)

Steve Jobs’ WTF moment at Apple iPhone 4 press conference. (July 16, 2010)

Take-Two’s “Red Dead Redemption” is the top-selling video game of the year so far. EA’s new “Tiger Woods” game flops. (July 16, 2010)

Apple seeks to do damage control at press conference about iPhone 4 problems. (July 15, 2010)

Luxury eyewear and sunglasses maker Marchon aims to make stylish 3-D movie glasses for consumers. (July 13, 2010)

DreamWorks Animation executive is bullish on 3-D TV. (July 13, 2010)

Profile of retailer Charles Tandy, the spark behind RadioShack. (July 13, 2010)

Apple shares dip on iPhone 4 antenna worries. (July 13, 2010)

Is Apple lying about iPhone 4 antenna problem? Consumer Reports questions Apple’s explanation of the issue. (July 12, 2010)

Someone thinks Microsoft is still relevant in consumer tech. Consumer Electronics Show organizers pick Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer to be opening keynote speaker for 2011 show. (July 8, 2010)

Apple’s iPad no longer seen as just a fun consumer device. It’s a business tool, MicroStrategy shows. (July 6, 2010)

Photo: Hilarious mockup of iPhone 5 by Peter Morgan posted on Flickr.