Originally published in the gdgt newsletter, sign up at gdgt.com/newsletter/
Whether or not you've experienced the iPhone 4's famed death grip, or even believe it's a real phenomenon (and based on extensive personal experience I can assure you that it is), the whole Antennagate scandal undoubtedly left a deep scratch on the iPhone's squeaky-clean sheen. As we all now know, the story ended with a semi-contrite Steve explaining how all cellphones have "weak spots" and that iPhone 4 customers upset with their device's wireless performance would be entitled to a free iPhone case. The offer has since expired, but it had the desired effect: people pretty quickly shut up about the issue, and Apple got back to the business of selling a LOT of iPhones.
But there's another issue brewing behind the scenes that's sent Apple's iPhone engineering team back into the bunker for preemptive damage control. If you've been into an Apple Store (or visited Apple's site) recently, you might have caught a hint while browsing iPhone 4 cases (or lack thereof). Although Apple has just this week reestablished a wide variety of cases for sale, as of only a couple of days ago the only iPhone 4 case Apple even so much as mentioned on its site was its own first-party Bumper -- and still conspicuously absent from its lineup are slide-on cases. As it turns out, was by no means a cynical ploy to maximize profits.
See, the interesting thing about how Apple works is they make money on all angles of the ecosystem. Similar to how Apple acts as the gatekeeper for the software it sells in the App Store and then takes a cut of that software's revenues, Apple also officially licenses third-party companies to make accessories for its various products (which are designated MFI, as in: "Made for iPhone," "Made for iPad," "Made for iPod," etc.), often selling those accessories in its Apple Stores.
Although the numbers have never been disclosed, Apple supposedly gets 10-15% off the top of all officially licensed MFI accessories (in recent years this has said to have changed to a flat rate per accessory). Giving Apple a cut hurts margins, but it also opens up a big opportunity: if Apple chooses to carry your officially licensed product, it will give it shelf space in one of the highest grossing retail chains (per square foot) in the world. Of course, if Apple sells your gear in the Store, that means they also get to take another hefty cut of that margin (as would any retailer); it may sting, but as it happens most companies are desperate to have their products sold in the Apple Store, and begrudgingly put up with Apple double-dipping on their margins (in no small part because competition in the accessories business is so fierce these days).
Naturally, this is really good business for Apple. It means that the highly lucrative accessories market is even more profitable for Apple than any other individual company since they're skimming off the top of every licensed product sold -- which is part of the reason it was so bizarre to see so few iPhone accessories sold for the first time in years, and at a moment when Apple is selling more iPhones than ever before. Yes, the free case program could have had something to do with this shift, but there's a huge market for cases outside the standard fare (like, say, those with integrated battery packs). If the absence of these accessories seems as strange to you as it does to me, well, there's a reason why.
According to my sources both inside and outside Apple, after Antennagate the iPhone engineering team identified another potential design flaw that appears to have sent them into lockdown, and has them working behind the scenes in what's been described to me as something of a quiet panic to preempt any further tarnishing the iPhone brand. Apple has apparently found that non-bumper style cases -- specifically those that slide onto the iPhone 4, which are occasionally prone to particulate matter getting caught between the rear of the phone and the case -- can cause unexpected scratching that could quickly develop into full-on cracking or even much larger fracturing of the entire rear pane of glass. To put it another way: Apple is afraid you might buy a standard slide-on iPhone case, put it on your phone, and then discover the next time you take it off that the entire back of your device has been shattered by no fault of your own.
So before things escalated out of control and they had "Glassgate" on their hands, Apple swiftly moved to block sales of nearly all third-party iPhone 4 cases from its stores (which it just this week reversed, but only online -- physical retail stores still aren't yet stocking cases). Internally, I've heard the iPhone team has grown to be very concerned by this issue with slide-on cases, and has created a lab and large new test program specifically to investigate this further. (If the bumper seemed like kind of an odd concept for a case when it was announced, now its design, which doesn't come in direct medial contact with either of the iPhone 4's glass surfaces, seems to make a lot more sense.)
In the mean time, many third-party manufacturers with slide-on cases are all but dead in the water; accessory companies that invested heavily in developing and shipping these iPhone 4 cases now find themselves waiting indefinitely to get their products back into their top sales channel: the Apple Store. And as you might expect, Apple hasn't exactly been to clear about when -- or even if -- it's going to get back to business as usual selling the full selection of iPhone 4 cases. It should also come as no surprise that Apple representatives declined to comment on this story.
And then there's the matter of all those iPhone 4 owners. Whether Apple likes it or not, slide-on cases iPhone 4 cases will continue to be sold, and many even bear the "Made for iPhone" mark, presumably licensed before it went into Glassgate-lockdown. Apple surely can't ignore any iPhone 4s cracked -- with a certain dash of irony -- by those users going out of their way to protect their phone from undue damage, but whether they will (or can) find a resolution to what the what the company is treating as another design flaw is yet to be seen. Either way, something tells me there's a pretty good chance next year's iPhone probably won't have any glass on its back.
Update / clarification here: gdgt.com/discuss/following-up-on-yesterdays-glassg...
Discussion about
With Antennagate over, is Glassgate next for the iPhone 4?
I've had my iPhone 4 since Day 1, and have been quite happy with it. I don't have any actually visible scratches on my iPhone, and I don't keep it in a case. If in extremely bright sunlight, you hold it at a certain angle, you can see some extremely fine scratches that only show up when they reflect light, but again, these aren't noticeable unless you explicitly look for them in light, and don't hinder usability at all.
All in all I am personally very happy with the iPhone 4. I've had substantially fewer dropped calls since I've gotten it. My dropped calls went from daily on the iPhone 3GS, to 2 a month at the most.
Beyond a bumper, I haven't put a case on mine, and don't use the bumper in day to day usage. The build quality of the device has been absolutely rock solid, and see no need personally, but ymmv,
All in all I am personally very happy with the iPhone 4. I've had substantially fewer dropped calls since I've gotten it. My dropped calls went from daily on the iPhone 3GS, to 2 a month at the most.
Beyond a bumper, I haven't put a case on mine, and don't use the bumper in day to day usage. The build quality of the device has been absolutely rock solid, and see no need personally, but ymmv,
I have not heard of one person who says the back of the iPhone 4 cracked and broke because of dust scratches.
This is different than anntenagate where people clearly could see the cause and effect.
This is different than anntenagate where people clearly could see the cause and effect.
The Bumper I bought with my phone has scratched every side of the antennae. I took it in to the Genius Bar and the store manager said they can't replace the phone as the damage is cosmetic and any case I bought would damage the phone! I wasn't having that so i've written to Apple Europe and am awaiting reply. I assume they would say the same with cracked glass caused by a case.
i'm sorry bro, but rubber will never scratch metal, and this is ludicrous. All rubber phone covers that cover plastic phones do this as well. (iphone 3gs, every other phone in history)
This entire post is beyond me
This entire post is beyond me
Quartz is a fairly standard material in dust. Quartz is higher on the Mohs scale than glass. 7 vs 5.5. (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mohs_scale_of_mineral_hardne...). Thus, it will scratch the glass. Similarly, the aluminium band around the outside is even less hard than glass.
It's like car wash squeegees and brushes that guarantee not to scratch glass or paint. Yes, rubber won't scratch, but the sand that gets caught up in the device will.
It's like car wash squeegees and brushes that guarantee not to scratch glass or paint. Yes, rubber won't scratch, but the sand that gets caught up in the device will.
5.5 is the average for glass. I've read the iphone 4's is closer to 7.
answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=2010061619372...
answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=2010061619372...
This happens to every phone though... With plastic, fiberglass, any backing. Everyone puts covers on them, everyone gets dust, sand in-between said covers.
I'm very relaxed, just amazed at such insanity.
I'm very relaxed, just amazed at such insanity.
no, it's just obvious. (there for like making a post that water is wet) It's happened to every phone that anyone's ever put a cover on. It's not like the screen protection packs cut for the iphone 4 don't come with two protectors (front, back)
I use 2 screen protectors, and mine is still mint.
obvious pots, is obvious.
I use 2 screen protectors, and mine is still mint.
obvious pots, is obvious.
ahh, someone with a good reason to mod me down, i force my iphone 4 users to use zagg screen protection, no bumpers here. Sorry for the mix up.
I'm on my second iPhone 4. The glass on the first one shattered after it dropped about 4 inches out of my pocket onto the ground (I was sitting on the ground). I walked into the Apple store and was told it will be $200 for a replacement and after I wined a little bit I asked if they would do it for $100, they did. I still feel it's WAY more fragile than my iPhone 3G. I dropped that thing, I threw it in my pocket with keys and it never got a singe scratch or crack on the glass in the two years I owned it. My iPhone 4 (the second one) is COVERED in little scratches even though I'm very careful with it.
I still love it for the most part but the glass is way to easy to scratch and crack. In comparison to the 3G durability of it is crap.
I still love it for the most part but the glass is way to easy to scratch and crack. In comparison to the 3G durability of it is crap.
This is all felgercarb. It's more FUD for the masses. I say this because --- Duh, scratches happen and it's prone to hard cases especially. Thats why they have felt on the inside of hard cases. You don't get this or minimized the problem with a gel case. Also I bet owners who have busted backs, dropped their phone and didn't realized the damage until much later, when taking off the case for whatever reason. I have noticed with iPhone 4 the third party cases are junkier anyway. my favorite case is an InCase iPhone 3G / 3Gs firm rubber case that I have not see for the iPhone 4. So I use Apples instead until something better comes along. Maybe the cases are not in Apples stores, because they are not so good.
For the record, new back panels can be had for about $30 on ebay, and it's VERY easy to replace it yourself. Literally two screws and you're done.
I have used a hard case for my iPhone 4 since the moment I purchased it. I took the case off recently to clean it and noticed a small crack in the back glass along the top right corner. I have never dropped it and in general don't throw it in a bag, etc. I chalked it up to bad luck, but maybe now that should be considered bad design.
Do you expect Apple to respond in any way to replace damaged glass in this case?
Do you expect Apple to respond in any way to replace damaged glass in this case?
I don't know if I would consider this a "design flaw" as much as a problem inherent to using a material like glass for the back casing. I clean my iPhone 4 obsessively, though, so it's likely that this issue is surfacing for individuals who aren't as regimented with the cleaning and maintenance of their devices.
i'm with you on this.
IF it is in fact some function of slide on cases + dust/grit/sand (um hello, your denim is still often washed in some kind of 'rock bath' and you'll find remains in your new pockets) then Apple has some serious thinking to do, like maybe re-designing their design and testing processes. BUT there is a HUGE problem/factor here that Apple can't do anything about and that's the people who use iPhones. I have several friends (almost ALL who came from dumb-phone ownership) have been through several iphones each because they drop them, throw them into the bottom of their bag/pack, and no amount of design can protect from that kind of carelessness and still keep the iphone svelte and attractive.
IF in fact Apple proves this is a design flaw, then they'll should do something about it, but I'm tired of seeing manufacturers being held accountable for individuals' carelessness.
the onus of cleaning and maintaining your stuff is on YOU, the buyer, not the maker
IF it is in fact some function of slide on cases + dust/grit/sand (um hello, your denim is still often washed in some kind of 'rock bath' and you'll find remains in your new pockets) then Apple has some serious thinking to do, like maybe re-designing their design and testing processes. BUT there is a HUGE problem/factor here that Apple can't do anything about and that's the people who use iPhones. I have several friends (almost ALL who came from dumb-phone ownership) have been through several iphones each because they drop them, throw them into the bottom of their bag/pack, and no amount of design can protect from that kind of carelessness and still keep the iphone svelte and attractive.
IF in fact Apple proves this is a design flaw, then they'll should do something about it, but I'm tired of seeing manufacturers being held accountable for individuals' carelessness.
the onus of cleaning and maintaining your stuff is on YOU, the buyer, not the maker
Good stuff, Ryan. I remember you posting a picture the first day you had your iPhone 4 and there was a long scratch down the back already.
I recently purchased one of those military style InvisibleSHIELDS for my iPhone 4. Front, back, sides, the whole deal. It does feel different swiping over the plastic, but I know that in two years, the phone will be mint when I decide to sell it.
I also can lay it down on my living room table without wetting myself thinking there was a crumb underneath it.
I recently purchased one of those military style InvisibleSHIELDS for my iPhone 4. Front, back, sides, the whole deal. It does feel different swiping over the plastic, but I know that in two years, the phone will be mint when I decide to sell it.
I also can lay it down on my living room table without wetting myself thinking there was a crumb underneath it.
Get a better shield/protective film. Power Support's Anti-Glare HD and Crystal film are the absolute best. Thinner than Invisible Shield and doesn't give you that weird rubbery feeling when swiping.
And it works great with the Bumper case. Promise.
And it works great with the Bumper case. Promise.
Please- I dare everyone to say that the iPhone 4 scratches more than the cheap plastic looking 3G/3GS. I had every model of iPhone since day 1 in 2007. The V1, the 3G, the 3GS and the iPhone 4. I also had a lot of different cases ranging from the "incase slider" to the "pixelskin" from Speck.
If only you guys could look under a lamp what's the inside of a slider case like. Not only it's hard plastic, but it also presents so many little manufacturing defects and a "less polished" appearance than on the outside, since it's not meant to be seen. Putting that on ANY phone that's made out of glass or plastic will damage it. When I read somewhere that the iPhone 3G didn't present any scratches on its back after months of usage is totally absurd.
I practically have OCD when it comes to Apple to make sure the product keeps its original aspect and I wasn't able to avoid scratches wether the phone was in a pixelskin or a slider. The slider did in fact damage the back of my phone, leaving an incredible amount of vertical scratches.
Would I use a sponge and its green side to clean the hood of my new german car with, even though it has a reinforced paint with crystals or I don't know what they put in? Would you do it? It doesn't make any sense. You should think the same way when it comes to your phone.
With the iPhone 4 I simply decided to avoid a slider case. I just bought a pixelskin and pixelskin HD from Speck. Both have a smooth inside material. I make sure to clean my phone regularly to avoid dust and debris accumulation like you would do on a laptop to avoid clogging your keyboard. After 4 months, it's mint. I put it under direct sunlight and I can't even see a micro scratch or a dent or a crack or whatever people are blaming Apple for quoting "another design flaw."
It's very easy to blame everyone else but you especially after that very dramatic-media-accentuated antenna issue. Apple has taken steps to make sure every customer would be taken care of (they personally gave me a brand new phone) but they shouldn't be held accountable for the use you do of your phones.
"I threw my iPhone on the ground after I wrapped it in a metal slider case. Case I did not clean for 4 months and I work in the sandy and dusty Mojave desert. It shattered and it has bad scratches on its back. Let's call this "Glassgate". Apple, must redesign the lineup. If they don't I'll go buy a Blackberry and be done with them." Please, this way-
If only you guys could look under a lamp what's the inside of a slider case like. Not only it's hard plastic, but it also presents so many little manufacturing defects and a "less polished" appearance than on the outside, since it's not meant to be seen. Putting that on ANY phone that's made out of glass or plastic will damage it. When I read somewhere that the iPhone 3G didn't present any scratches on its back after months of usage is totally absurd.
I practically have OCD when it comes to Apple to make sure the product keeps its original aspect and I wasn't able to avoid scratches wether the phone was in a pixelskin or a slider. The slider did in fact damage the back of my phone, leaving an incredible amount of vertical scratches.
Would I use a sponge and its green side to clean the hood of my new german car with, even though it has a reinforced paint with crystals or I don't know what they put in? Would you do it? It doesn't make any sense. You should think the same way when it comes to your phone.
With the iPhone 4 I simply decided to avoid a slider case. I just bought a pixelskin and pixelskin HD from Speck. Both have a smooth inside material. I make sure to clean my phone regularly to avoid dust and debris accumulation like you would do on a laptop to avoid clogging your keyboard. After 4 months, it's mint. I put it under direct sunlight and I can't even see a micro scratch or a dent or a crack or whatever people are blaming Apple for quoting "another design flaw."
It's very easy to blame everyone else but you especially after that very dramatic-media-accentuated antenna issue. Apple has taken steps to make sure every customer would be taken care of (they personally gave me a brand new phone) but they shouldn't be held accountable for the use you do of your phones.
"I threw my iPhone on the ground after I wrapped it in a metal slider case. Case I did not clean for 4 months and I work in the sandy and dusty Mojave desert. It shattered and it has bad scratches on its back. Let's call this "Glassgate". Apple, must redesign the lineup. If they don't I'll go buy a Blackberry and be done with them." Please, this way-
I was at the genius bar on Monday and found out that you can replace the glass on the back of the iPhone 4 for $29. I thought this was too good to be true but now it makes sense.
My back glass cracked the first day i got the phone. I also had the antenna issue very bad until I got my free case. I'm not usually subject to hyperbole in my proclamations but Apple may have lost a customer for life with this phone fiasco. I've gone from absolutely loving my first iPhone to hating this one, especally as the Android (and Windows phone 7) keep making advances. Assuming no surprises in quality I'm thinking WP7 with a 4" screen is my next purchase as soon as it's on Verizon early next year.
In my case I dropped the phone.. but I've dropped my old iPhone's dozens of times and no cracked fronts or back. What was so disheartening was that it was right when the phone came out as Apple was promoting the heck out of it's 'gorilla glass'. I was already experiencing what I was calling 'fat chin syndrome' and hanging up on people.. that turned out to be the proximity sensor.. I really thought it was me. Also the phone seemed to drop calls.. at first I also thought it was me.. then antennagate. So between the three issues my euphora at the new iPhone was gone.
Giving them their credit, I loved the new high resolution screen and the speed of the CPU. I didn't have the yellow screen issues.
Regarding the dust issue... I can't confirm this but I do keep my iphone in my pocket and it's littered with dust.. the phone is always dirty.. so if the garbage in my pocket created the micro-fissures I could see where the drop created the crack.
Giving them their credit, I loved the new high resolution screen and the speed of the CPU. I didn't have the yellow screen issues.
Regarding the dust issue... I can't confirm this but I do keep my iphone in my pocket and it's littered with dust.. the phone is always dirty.. so if the garbage in my pocket created the micro-fissures I could see where the drop created the crack.
Crikey--I carry my iphone4 in *two* cases--one of those crystal clear snap-on cases, and then I carry the cased phone in my old 3g Marware holster. And I was thinking I'd also get one of those clear screen covers as well. But gah--to hear this story, the more I protect it, the more likely it will just spontaneously combust back into a sand-and-molten-metal state. :..( I don't even know what I'd do--I've never relied so much on a device. If I could bolt a mini toilet-roll to the end of it, I could just roam the earth like Kung Fu and fight for justice between telework projects. Which would be kind of cool, except for the hygiene issues you get with the whole roaming-the-earth lifestyle.
I use the Crystal Film on my 3Gs. I've had the same one on it since I got the phone over a year ago. It really needs to be replaced now, however, it still works and protects. I've been a bit lazy about it, lol. But they do last a long time if you keep it clean. I also use the Incase slider. I remove it from time to time to clean the case and the phone. There are very few scratches on the phone, which were caused by the case itself (combined with dirt, I assume). I figure that's better than having the phone all scratched up from not using a case at all.
Do you think this has anything to do with why they're holding off on the white iPhone, Ryan? Rather than release another version of the same problems, just holding off altogether?
I read that heating elements caused the cases to turn yellowish after a certain period of time, but it could be that.
This is something I've wondered about with regard to the snap on cases as well. If there's any dust, sand, or some sort of particulate matter inside the case and someone snaps it on and tries to force it into a snug fit, you might still be able to fracture to glass that way as well.
The phone is dead sexy, but I really think the glass back was a mistake -- it's slippery, easy to scratch, and exceedingly fragile (one other user in this thread mentioned it cracked after a drop of half a foot or so!).
The phone is dead sexy, but I really think the glass back was a mistake -- it's slippery, easy to scratch, and exceedingly fragile (one other user in this thread mentioned it cracked after a drop of half a foot or so!).
Again, your reaching here, like by football fields. To say a user would exert the amount of pressure it would take to break a glass screen in the first place, while trying to snap it on, is ridiculous.
"When i install ram, i have to be sure to not punch a hole through the logic board when seating it properly"
your staff?
"When i install ram, i have to be sure to not punch a hole through the logic board when seating it properly"
your staff?
It fits for me. Are you using the original cable that comes with the iPhone 4?
Thanks for your message.
I have been using an old ipod cable that has the push-in buttons on the connector sides; because I thought it was a more secure connection and a more rugged connector and one that may have not been cheapened by production cost savings.
I use a griffin fm transmitter charger in my car that does not fit.
I have now tried the official iPhone 4 cable and it does work. Thanks for your tip. I now know that all Apple cables are not equal.
Interestingly I have defaulted back to a silicone case that I used with my old iPhone 3g. It fits the iPhone 4 remarkably well and makes me feel safe to leave it on a stool in a bar. ha ha
I have been using an old ipod cable that has the push-in buttons on the connector sides; because I thought it was a more secure connection and a more rugged connector and one that may have not been cheapened by production cost savings.
I use a griffin fm transmitter charger in my car that does not fit.
I have now tried the official iPhone 4 cable and it does work. Thanks for your tip. I now know that all Apple cables are not equal.
Interestingly I have defaulted back to a silicone case that I used with my old iPhone 3g. It fits the iPhone 4 remarkably well and makes me feel safe to leave it on a stool in a bar. ha ha
This seems like a nice, juicy, chunk of link bait to drive traffic to this site. I can't fault Ryan for it because that's the goal of all these blogs. Doesn't this point to bad case design? If I put a certain type of car cover on my car and the paint or finish gets damaged, is it time to recall the car?
Good job Ryan, John C. Dvorak would be proud.
Good job Ryan, John C. Dvorak would be proud.
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