iPhone 6 Release News: The Top 5 Apple PR Disasters in Recent History

After Apple launched it's two new iPhone's last week, it's been one issue after another plaguing the record sales and pre-orders for the devices. Accusations of bending phones and an iOS 8 update that reportedly rendered iPhones useless were the most prominent gaffs Apple endured during the first week of what is considered its biggest iPhone launch maybe ever. But this week isn't the first time Apple has encountered so-called scandals based on the shortcomings of their products. Below we've listed the biggest 'iScandals' of recent memory. 

Apple Maps

Who can forget when Apple tried to further cut Google out of their products when they instituted their own proprietary maps app instead of Google Maps? The results were disastrous in some circumstances as people were led far off course by the buggy app. It was so bad that Apple CEO actually apologized to users for the gaff and even advised his loyal followers to download other maps apps until they could get the bugs worked out. Ouch.

Antennagate

When Apple launched the iPhone 4, it was universally heralded for it what was at that point a major hardware re-design. The flat edges and elegantly sharp curves signaled that Apple had once again taken mobile design to a new level of beauty a and quality. There was just one problem: the cell signal seemed to cut out if users held their hands over the phones external antenna in just the right way. And by the way, those flat edges that everyone loved were the antenna. While Apple insisted that there was no design flaw, they eventually all but admitted culpability when they offered iPhone 4 owners a free bumper case, which solved the problem. 

U2's 'Free' Album

This one is a bit odd, but people were absolutely irate when Apple forced all iTunes users to download a copy of U2's latest record, Songs of Innocence. Apple actually paid U2 (or their label) a reported $100 million just to be able to provide the album free to all their iTunes users. While it may seem like people were overreacting to what seemed like a generous act on the part of Apple, the fact is that the album automatically downloaded onto users' devices without their consent. So, while the gesture might have been well-meant, Apple probably should have asked first. 

Bendgate

The Internet nearly exploded earlier this week when a video went viral of a YouTube user bending his iPhone 6 with his bare hands to the point where the phone was noticeably, and most likely irrevocably warped. This came on the heels of several iPhone 6 Plus users posting complaints and photos regarding their phones bending after being in their pockets for certain amounts of time. Apple went into full damage control mode and gave several journalists tours of its hardware testing facilities to attempt to quell the public outcry about what has been perceived as a major design flaw and oversight. All in all, Apple claims that 'Bendgate' was largely overblown based on the fact that--according to them--they have only received 9 complaints about bent phones in the first week the new iPhones have been out.