iPhone Diplomacy With Dmitry Medvedev

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has enjoyed a couple of down-home American traditions on his visit to the States this week, involving such time-honored rituals as the consumption of unnecessary gadgetry and hamburger meat. Wednesday found Medvedev in the Silicon Valley for a meeting with Apple CEO Steve Jobs, who came bearing the coveted gift of the new iPhone 4, and on Thursday, Medvedev joined forces with his American counterpart, Barack Obama, for a taste of haute burger cuisine in Arlington, Va.  —KA

Valleywag:

Jobs’ gift confirmed rumors, reported here previously, that he’d make a pre-release iPhone part of “elected” Russian leader Dmitry Medvedev’s tour of Silicon Valley this week. The optics are unfortunate; Americans are exposing themselves to muggers and heat stroke in long, Soviet-style lines outside Apple stores while the elite swap precious goods among themselves.

Read more

AP / RIA-Novosti, Dmtiry Astakhov, Presidential Press Service

Geeking out: Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, left, beams at a new iPhone 4 with Apple Chairman and CEO Steve Jobs at Apple Inc. in Cupertino, Calif., on Wednesday.