Full iPhone 4 ‘Antennagate’ Q&A Video Surfaces After 16 Years

A 47-minute video of the Q&A session from Apple’s 2010 iPhone 4 “antennagate” press conference has surfaced on YouTube, showing Steve Jobs, Tim Cook, and Bob Mansfield answering reporters’ questions.

The recording was highlighted by Daring Fireball‘s John Gruber, who attended the event. Apple called the July 16, 2010 press conference amid complaints that holding the iPhone 4 in a particular way could reduce its cellular signal.

Jobs used his prepared presentation to announce free cases for eligible customers and a 30-day return option. Apple later posted video of that presentation, but left out the Q&A, which was documented at the time through written reports and photographs.

Among the exchanges now visible is a question from Gruber at about 18:45 asking whether the three executives used cases on their own iPhone 4s. Jobs, Cook, and Mansfield each hold up an uncased phone. Jobs later gives a lengthy answer about what Apple learned from the controversy, including why the company waited to gather more data before holding the press conference.

Near the end of the recording, Jobs explains Apple’s strategy of owning or controlling the core technology behind its products, and why the growing importance of software made that approach valuable for consumer electronics. Gruber says he does not know where the recording came from or why it has surfaced only now.