"This is a known iPhone bug that is being fixed in the next software update in September," says a one-line reply from His Steveness Himself to an AppleInsider reader who had written to complain about his iPhone's third-party apps being disabled. Yes, it's really him. Jobs has been spotted in customers' inboxes in 2006, 2007, and earlier this year. Jobs's replies are usually limited to a simple yes-we're-fixing-that. But sometimes, the Dan Lyons version of his demeanor peeks through: "I suggest you calm down. Everyone knows the issue and it is being worked. Steve."

Contact information for this author is not available.