At Apple’s Friday news conference to discuss iPhone 4 troubles, Steve Jobs had a blunt observation regarding where to place the blame for the iPhone 4’s reception problems.

We haven’t figured out a way around the laws of physics yet. – Steve Jobs

So, there you have it. In Man vs. Nature, Nature has won. Apple has not overcome Newton’s Apple.

Second on Jobs’ blame list: Phones, in general.

Phones aren’t perfect. – Steve Jobs

Set to a large background graphic explaining that the iPhone’s problems are not unique to the iPhone, Jobs explained that the iPhone’s flaws – get that? flaws, multiple – are no worse than those of other smartphones. That is, the totality of the iPhone 4’s flaws is no worse than the totality of the flaws of other phones, even if the iPhone’s reception problems are worse.

Jobs added to his reputation as a plain speaker by adding that few customers cared about the problem, fewer still returned their iPhone 4’s, and the increase in dropped calls over the 3G model was just 1 call of every 100. He did not elaborate as to whether this included customers who followed Jobs’ advice to just not hold it like that, or who had paid for Apple or third party bumper cases out of their own pockets.

Jobs offered simple advice to potential or actual customers.

If you don’t want an iPhone4, don’t buy it. If (you) bought one and you don’t like it, then bring it back. – Steve Jobs

After explaining how Apple tests all products very thoroughly, that several other smartphones (including two he named specifically, the HTC Erid Droid Android and the Samsung Omnia II) had similar problems, and that the problem was mainly media hype, Jobs declared that Thursday’s iPhone OS update fixed the problem of irrational signal bar exuberance, showing users their signal strength was less than they had been led to believe.

Finally, Jobs declared a solution for those who already have an iPhone 4, or who buy an iPhone 4 prior to Sept. 30 (that is, people who ignore his previous advice and who buy an iPhone 4 despite not being satisfied with the design flaw), Apple will provide you with a free bumper to cover the phone. If you already bought a bumper, Jobs said that a refund is coming your way. Whether this applies to third party bumpers or only Apple bumpers was not immediately clear.

Jobs concluded that Apple has now gotten to the core of the problem, and that Apple loves you all.

Jobs then re-iterated that smartphones have weaknesses and that these weaknesses are not Apple’s fault whatsoever.

Article first published as Jobs: Laws of Physics to Blame on Technorati.