Washington : Apple made a rare apology on Thursday for a software bug that has seen iPhone users lose service, while seeking to quell a storm over reports that its new handsets are susceptible to bending. The slew of negative headlines saw a steep drop in Apple stocks, as the US tech giant acknowledged the software glitch, offering a temporary fix immediately and a full update "in the next few days." But Apple sought to minimize reports on bending of its newly released iPhone — one analyst described the damaging claims as "a black eye" for Apple — saying it had only received nine complaints about the matter. "Our iPhones are designed, engineered and manufactured to be both beautiful and sturdy," a spokeswoman said in an email to AFP. "They also feature stainless steel and titanium inserts to reinforce high-stress locations and use the strongest glass in the smartphone industry."