By the time the calendar turned to 2010, the era of the iPhone had fully asserted itself, reshaping the technological landscape and redefining what the modern phone could be. Smartphones were still in their formative years — an evolving concept whose full potential was only beginning to emerge. The iPhone, iconic even then, had only just gained basic features we now take for granted, such as the ability to copy and paste text. Yet even in this relatively primitive state, the vision was unmistakably clear: these sleek, glass-fronted slabs were heralds of a new digital age, poised to revolutionize nearly every facet of daily life — from communication and entertainment to business, creativity, and social connection.
Apple, already setting the cadence for the industry, had established a reliable rhythm of annual product releases. This created a sense of ritual anticipation; consumers, journalists, and competitors alike awaited each new unveiling with a blend of curiosity and certainty. Another iPhone was always on the horizon — the only question was what form its advances would take. But before Apple could formally reveal the next chapter in its smartphone saga, fate intervened in an almost cinematic twist: an employee accidentally misplaced a prototype in a bar. This singular mistake would set off one of the most notorious tech scandals of the decade. The prototype found its way into the hands of the tech publication Gizmodo, whose team disassembled the device piece by piece, examined its every component, and then published an exhaustive exposé that spread across the internet with unprecedented speed and intensity. Overnight, the secret design was unveiled to the world, and the story of the iPhone 4 began long before its official debut.
That incident, however, was merely the opening act of a far grander drama. In this episode of *Version History*, the hosts delve deep into the complete chronicle of the iPhone 4 — tracing its path from that fateful leak through its highly anticipated launch, and onward into the turbulent aftermath defined by the infamous Antennagate controversy. The backlash was so intense that Apple’s usually reticent CEO, Steve Jobs, was compelled to hold a press conference to personally address the mounting criticism. Throughout the discussion, David Pierce, Nilay Patel, and the esteemed technology columnist and thinker Walt Mossberg come together to provide a vivid oral history of the event. They recount not only the public spectacle but also the private conversations behind the curtain — from Mossberg’s extensive phone calls with Jobs himself to Patel’s unexpected and previously untold intersections with the unfolding saga.
Among Apple enthusiasts and critics alike, debate continues to this day about whether the iPhone 4 represents the pinnacle of the iPhone lineage. And indeed, that question fuels much of the conversation — spirited, passionate, and deeply nostalgic. Yet one point remains largely undisputed: the iPhone 4 was certainly the most dramatic and arguably the most transformative model in Apple’s history. With its introduction, Apple began designing and implementing its own processors, signaling a major shift toward self-reliance and performance optimization. It also marked the first iPhone to break free from the confines of AT&T’s network exclusivity, thereby expanding accessibility to an even wider audience. Its minimalist design — glass front and back framed by a sleek stainless-steel band — became the archetype that defined smartphone aesthetics for years afterward, influencing not only Apple’s subsequent designs but also those of the entire industry.
For listeners eager to explore this pivotal chapter in technological history, *Version History* offers multiple ways to subscribe and receive each newly released episode the moment it becomes available. And for those who wish to look back at the entire roller-coaster story of the iPhone 4 — from the mysterious prototype leak to the engineering triumphs, from controversy to cultural impact — a curated set of links awaits, ready to guide you deeper into one of the most consequential moments in the evolution of the mobile era.
Sourse: https://www.theverge.com/podcast/844408/inside-the-high-drama-of-the-iphone-4
