Discussing White iPhone 4 Delay, Steve Jobs Fends Off Questions on His Return at Apple

Apple has launched the white version of its controversial iPhone 4 ten months late as the white paint posed issues that extended to the proximity sensor, and likely other key functions of the handset, according to Apple’s Steve Jobs and Phil Schiller.

During an interview with WSJ bloggers (posted on the Mobilized blog), Apple Senior Vice President Phil Schiller said “It was challenging” when asked to comment on the White iPhone 4 delay.

“It’s not as simple as making something white,” Schiller elaborated. “There’s a lot more that goes into both the material science of it–how it holds up over time…but also in how it all works with the sensors.”

According to the report, the white paint made it difficult to absorb ultra-violet light, which made the proximity sensor act up.

“We thought we were there a year ago, or less than that, when we launched the iPhone 4, and we weren’t,” Schiller said.

Apple believes it has done well to wait this long, in order to ensure they deliver a product that works as advertised.

During the same interview, Steve Jobs reiterated Apple’s stance on location tracking, saying his company isn’t tracking users.

He said the industry needs to go to greater lengths to keep the public informed on the necessity of the technical issues at the heart of the matter.

The CEO also confirmed that Apple will appear before Congress next week to speak on the burning subject.

Finally, Jobs was asked when he would return to Apple full time. The CEO has been on medical leave since January, this year.

According to the Mobilized blog's author, the Apple boss evaded the question saying, “Look, we’re here to talk about location today, not me.”

The terse reply will undoubtedly be interpreted as a warning that Apple’s CEO is still not ready to get back on the saddle, though it may also suggest Jobs simply wanted to stay on topic.