Yet Another iPhone 4 Design Flaw: Glass Problems

[Marcus Yam]

The phone that belongs in a case inside a museum... sitting on a velvet pillow.

Yet Another iPhone 4 Design Flaw: Glass Problems : Read more

 

[chronicbint]

Dragging grit along your phone might scratch it? really?

Sounds like a flaw in the case not just the phone.

 

[LePhuronn]

Everybody puts out a bad product once in a while - it's just inevitable - but it's how the company deals with the problem that counts. And Apple's arrogance in dealing with the iPhone 4 just makes any flaws with it much more funny (to non-owners) and unfortunate (to owners).

What are the chances in Apple refreshing faster than the usual year cycle?

 

[Rancifer7]

From what I gather in the article, there is no dragging required to scratch or crack it. It just has to be there. Which is a huge problem.

 

[Guest]

there's no signal issue in Europe with iPhone 4, it's only a US problem due to telecom regulations that allow a bigger distance between GSM cells. I played with the iPhone 4 in 3 countries already, tried to hold it in all possible ways for any period of time. It never went down more than 1 line and most of the times nothing happened.

 

[hellwig]

I thought that Gorilla Glass (TM) was supposed to be unbreakable? Weren't we hearing about how the glass-back wouldn't be a problem because of the Gorilla Glass (TM)?

Oh, and how does Apple get a cut of 3rd party cases? I understand they get a cut if they sell it through their stores (just like your grocer "gets a cut" from Dole when he sells bananas). Are they counting licensing fees when companies pay to use the Apple logo on their product packaging? If I bought a phone, measured it myself, and manufactured a case that fit it, sold it in stores as compatible with the Iphone 4 (without using their trademarked logo), how does Apple get a cut of that?

 

[saturnus]

[citation][nom]chronicbint[/nom]Dragging grit along your phone might scratch it? really?Sounds like a flaw in the case not just the phone.[/citation]

Well, it's a design flaw I pointed out when they first unveiled the use of glass fronts and backs. Though grit can cause scratches on most surfaces it is far more severe on a glass surface because it introduces a fracture point.

It's just like a glass cutter really. A glass cutter doesn't actually cut the glass, rather it makes a uniform long scratch that makes a fracture point whereafter it can easily be broken in two.

It's the same on the iPhone whether from grit stuck in a sliding case or just unlucky handling, either can make a long enough fracture point that the glass will break apart from even a slight bump.

 

[DjEaZy]

... it is decided... ii gonne wait till iPhone 5G or 4GS...

 

[back_by_demand]

Y'know, Microsoft, Google, Nokia and Blackberry don't need to try so hard to compete against Apple.
They should just sit back and watch the iPhone disintegrate.

The iPhone 4 has done more to promote the sales of non-Apple phones than all the combined advertising of the competition put together.

 

[noble]

I can't hold myself...

There are no cracks people, you are just watching the screen from the wrong angle...

 

[nxym]

The horror

 

[awood28211]

You're scratching it wrong!

 

[dingmatt]

If Gorilla Glass is anything like traditional toughened glass then its weakness is lateral pressure (see below link for example); with Apple's product testing being as crap as it is atm then I'm not surprised they missed it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1iHGLQJlTFk

 

[Guest]

It doesn't even need the case. I thought I have been seeing a lot of iPhone4s with cracked screens and this just confirms my rather unscientific observations.

 

[theuerkorn]

Okay, it's Glass and some caution has to be taken, Gorilla or not. Granted, the issue with hard cases can make for unpleasant surprise and maybe one should apply a screen protector if that fits under a hard case?
Seems like the iPhone 5 is going to be neither Glass back nor external antenna. ;-)

 

[figgus]

[citation][nom]theuerkorn[/nom]Okay, it's Glass and some caution has to be taken, Gorilla or not. Granted, the issue with hard cases can make for unpleasant surprise and maybe one should apply a screen protector if that fits under a hard case?Seems like the iPhone 5 is going to be neither Glass back nor external antenna. ;-)[/citation]

That depends on how well Apple learns from their mistakes, and the first step is admitting they have a problem...

 

[Marco925]

[citation][nom]theuerkorn[/nom]Okay, it's Glass and some caution has to be taken, Gorilla or not. Granted, the issue with hard cases can make for unpleasant surprise and maybe one should apply a screen protector if that fits under a hard case?Seems like the iPhone 5 is going to be neither Glass back nor external antenna. ;-)[/citation]
i hope it's something strong.

 

[kikireeki]

[citation][nom]dingmatt[/nom]If Gorilla Glass is anything like traditional toughened glass then its weakness is lateral pressure (see below link for example); with Apple's product testing being as crap as it is atm then I'm not surprised they missed it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1iHGLQJlTFk[/citation]
The irony is that video was uploaded bu an iPhone!

 

[Travis Beane]

[citation][nom]hellwig[/nom]I thought that Gorilla Glass (TM) was supposed to be unbreakable? Weren't we hearing about how the glass-back wouldn't be a problem because of the Gorilla Glass (TM)?Oh, and how does Apple get a cut of 3rd party cases? I understand they get a cut if they sell it through their stores (just like your grocer "gets a cut" from Dole when he sells bananas). Are they counting licensing fees when companies pay to use the Apple logo on their product packaging? If I bought a phone, measured it myself, and manufactured a case that fit it, sold it in stores as compatible with the Iphone 4 (without using their trademarked logo), how does Apple get a cut of that?[/citation]
It's a more flexible glass. It's on my Cowon S9 mp3 player, and yeah. it still scratches (just not as easily).

 

[tolham]

i guess people should just buy a different phone.