iPhone hardware boss departs

The man in charge of iPhone hardware design at US tech company Apple has left the company, it has been confirmed.

What’s less certain, however, is whether or not Mark Papermaster left of his own accord or was forced out by Apple in the fallout of ‘antennagate’. Apple itself has offered no comment beyond the clarification of his departure.

The New York Times quotes an anonymous source as stating that Mr. Papermaster had been pushed out over a series of hardware problems, including some related to the iPod Touch”.

Senior VP for Mac hardware engineering Bob Mansfield has assumed responsibility for Papermaster’s role and already already has experience in the development of many iPhone technologies including the Retina Display, A4 chip and touch screens.

Papermaster’s move to Apple was shrouded in controversy from the outset with former employee IBM suing the tech veteran for alleged breach of contract, though this was eventually settled out of court.