Last month's Wired magazine had a short piece by Steven Levy regarding the Smart Cover on the iPad 2 and the somewhat contentious relationship Apple has with accessory makers, and how the Smart Cover kind of 1-ups them.
www.wired.com/magazine/2011/05/pr_levy_smartcover
But what stuck out at me the most in this piece was this quote from Steve Jobs:
“I think stainless steel looks beautiful when it wears.”
What Steve is referring to there is generally known as patina, which, while it commonly refers to the tarnish that accumulates on bronze and similar metals (think the green color on the Statue of Liberty), can also be used to describe the changes in texture and color that occur from physical wear-and-tear on an object—think of a set of silverware, which starts out shiny but eventually takes on a more muted texture, which some describe as a "warm glow." In antiques, patina is part of the value.
Thing is, it usually takes years for proper patina to develop. For something like a fork, that means years of being eaten with, washed, stored in a drawer, repeat the whole process daily. But while many of the chrome-backed Apple products can be used daily, people often don't keep them for years and years—they seem to be replaced annually, or biannually. Generally, not enough time to accumulate the proper wear-and-tear that looks "beautiful."
So my question is, are you inclined to agree with Steve? Do you appreciate the look of stainless steel as it wears, and do you keep your iDevice unprotected to achieve this look? And most importantly, do you keep your products long enough for it to happen?
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Do you keep your iDevices long enough to develop "beautiful" wear?
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kris' pick
When I used to have iDevices I always kept them in cases because I was paranoid of the aluminum backing being scratched up. If I'm to have a new iDevice now I'd probably leave it out of the case, which is what I do with my Nexus S, because I want to appreciate how device looks naked. It also frees me from constantly worrying about the back of the phone. Manufacturers didn't make gadgets to be covered up and protected, they're meant to be free and beautiful. haha
There was an article about a month ago that showed a beautifully aged iPhone 1. Check it out: www.tuaw.com/2011/05/05/admiring-the-beauty-of-an-...
There was an article about a month ago that showed a beautifully aged iPhone 1. Check it out: www.tuaw.com/2011/05/05/admiring-the-beauty-of-an-...
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kris' pick
My iPod touch has always been unprotected, it's acquired some unfortunate scratches on the front (but not over the screen itself) as a result, and is rather scuffed up on the back. It's not what I'd call attractive at all, and I bet before that happens it'll be completely obsolete, the App Store won't work anymore and most new apps if downloaded via iTunes won't work either. Apple's pretty clearly doing whatever they can to force people to upgrade every 1-2 years, so on that cyle nobody will ever see that kind of wear.
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community pick
I am of the crowd that slaps on a protective film the second I get my hands on an iDevice but I certainly see why worn down aluminum would look nice. I think some devices look better with a little wear but the problem is that it takes a certain degree of usage for it to start having that "look" and in between it just looks plain ugly.
I think the first gen iPhone is the best example of Steve's point. Chrome backed iPods don't look that great after being worn down but some people held on to first gen iPhones for long enough that the "matte" aluminum began to wear off and it ends up having a really distinctive appearance.
I think the first gen iPhone is the best example of Steve's point. Chrome backed iPods don't look that great after being worn down but some people held on to first gen iPhones for long enough that the "matte" aluminum began to wear off and it ends up having a really distinctive appearance.
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I'm kind of like Obamanizer, I have to find some way to protect my device. It's not necessarily in an effort to protect from scratches, but from drops and bumps.
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I don't use cases on my phones, and I had my original iPhone for well over 2 years, i didn't really have any wear or tear on it. I don't use my current gen itouch to expect any kind of wear.
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I have always used a kind of protective case for any of my phones because I tend to drop them every now and then.
I have a back cover on my 3GS which so far has done a pretty good job to protect it from serious damage. However I intend to replace the 3GS as soon as the iPhone 5 is available.
In my opinion plastic does not age gracefully
I have a back cover on my 3GS which so far has done a pretty good job to protect it from serious damage. However I intend to replace the 3GS as soon as the iPhone 5 is available.
In my opinion plastic does not age gracefully
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I usually don't keep my phones, by any manufacturer, in cases. I usually don't keep music players, by any manufacturer, in cases. Exceptions? I am currently keeping both my Nexus S and my Galaxy Tab in cases because as awesome as these devices are on the inside, Sammy's shiny, soft plastic bodies don't develop a patina, they just get scratched up. Their looks don't improve with scratches. I have several iPods, OTOH, which have aged beautifully.
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I think it shows its age, but it took two weeks on my iPod before it was scratched significantly. I think the older scratches could be considered beautiful though.
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I use my devices until I can't even buy new parts to solder them back into working condition. Yup, still have my first gen 5 Gb iPod with the actual buttons and spinning click-wheel.
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I dont like leaving them completely unprocted, but for most of my devices i will get one of those thin cases that are a metallic type color and only cover the back of the device. The color wears off them rellatively fast so there isn't much of an "ugly" stage. I have had my Nexus S for about a month and have it in a burgandy case and it has worn off the edges to show the black layer under the paint. it looks really nice as the black makes like a boarder around the device with the odd scratch/scuff in the middle. As for the screen, I cant stand even the smallest of imperfections on it so whenever i get a phone i show up to the store with a screen protector and it stays on for the life of the phone.
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I've got an original ipod touch, and after 3 odd years, the rear flat stainless panel has gathered a lovely patina, especially around the edges. It feathers nicely away, but the dark anodised aluminium front bezel has a few chips and and hasn't weathered as well. It's had a hard life, but still goes strong.
Looks well loved, and in a way, I don't want to replace it, because of this. Much like an old friend
Looks well loved, and in a way, I don't want to replace it, because of this. Much like an old friend
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