Contrite Jobs Offers $100 iPhone Credit

It didn’t take Apple CEO Steve Jobs long to reverse his dismissal of complaints about the new iPhone discount from the first consumers to buy the gadget. He apologized and  instituted a $100 credit for those who don't fall under the 14-day refund period. Jobs had told early buyers “that’s life in the technology lane"— but backpedaled after hundreds of angry emails.

Since announcing the $200 price cut, the company’s stock dropped 6 percent over two days, costing shareholders $8 billion, according to AP.  Apple wouldn’t say how costly the credits would be, but officials hoped the gesture would appease die-hard supporters. “Our early customers trusted us, and we must live up to that trust," said a spokesman. (More iPhone stories.)