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Why do people "cry" so much about the back being glass and being able to shatter when you can get a replacement for $30? As opposed to a back like this... looks like it would go more towards the design of the 3G/S where everything would be removed from the screen down. Now, you just slide the back off to get to the insides and are able to easily replace the back.

PLUS... if they use the glass they use on the front, it will wear much better than any aluminum they currently use.

Glass, FTW.

If it breaks a couple times, it adds up quick at $30 a pop.
 
Why do people "cry" so much about the back being glass and being able to shatter when you can get a replacement for $30? As opposed to a back like this... looks like it would go more towards the design of the 3G/S where everything would be removed from the screen down. Now, you just slide the back off to get to the insides and are able to easily replace the back.

PLUS... if they use the glass they use on the front, it will wear much better than any aluminum they currently use.

Glass, FTW.

I would be upset if my glass cracked. It's generally unfortunate when an expensive piece of property is damaged.
 
Why do people "cry" so much about the back being glass and being able to shatter when you can get a replacement for $30?
Because the design of a device needs to take into consideration how/where it is used. Your phone will be with you 24/7 for two years and should be able to survive the abuse inflicted on it by an average user.
 
Because the design of a device needs to take into consideration how/where it is used. Your phone will be with you 24/7 for two years and should be able to survive the abuse inflicted on it by an average user.

Exactly. I don't buy a device knowing that I'm gonna have to start replacing parts on it due to normal use.
 
Just saw this one, and my jaw literally dropped. I would love for my phone to look like this!
http://nak-design.over-blog.fr/pages/iphone-5-concept-5379107.html

NAK_iPhone5_1_1280.jpg

click for larger​
 
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I would be upset if my glass cracked. It's generally unfortunate when an expensive piece of property is damaged.

Understood, but with the 3GS phones... if they got very scratched up in the back.. there was really no way to fix that. With the glass back and the way it's designed... $30 and your phone looks almost new, since the back is all that really shows wear.
 
I do not want a tapered back, after having the 4 I really really like the fact it will sit flat on the table (that's more important to me than how it feels in the hand. Honestly, the only time I notice is if I hold a 3G in my hand before I hold the 4. Otherwise it is not something I even notice. But I do enjoy my phone not rocking when I'm using it when it's sitting on a table).

I personally think Carbon Fiber would be nice. Course I'm not knowledgeable on the strengths and weaknesses (cause I do know it has weaknesses but I can't remember what) but I would think Carbon Fiber would be durable enough, it would look decent (sorry aluminum lovers but I hate the look of the iPhone with an aluminum back, blech), it wouldn't block signal (another problem of a metal back), and the only thing I can foresee being bad is it may not be cheap enough to use.

Other than that, I think I prefer the glass over the plastic. If you take care of the glass (don't drop, put a case on it), it will stay nice so at least you have a chance of it staying nice. Where as I find Apple's history with plastic is that it will inevitabley crack (between my old Macbook which every single person I knew with that macbook ended up with cracks on the palm area, even one guy who had his top case replaced the top case cracked again, and my iphone). And yes, I realize drops happen and I agree that a phone should be able to take a drop. But I find my 4 has done fine with a case on it (haven't cracked/chipped it yet and trust me, it's been dropped).

Third choice would be... I have no idea. Some one had an article to some material that I thought sounded promising, glass metal:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases...0512150815.htm

Honestly, the third would probably be the best choice.
 
Considering I carry my phone everywhere I go, a drop is going to happen. Are u telling me that I'm in the minority for dropping my phone?

I carry my phone everywhere, as well. I work in the city and take the subway every day and listen to music on it. I've used every iPhone for music as well. In the 4 years I've had iPhones, I've dropped one ONCE... my 3G. It cracked the front glass.. so the back is somewhat irrelivant in that instance.

I understand that people will drop a phone from time to time, but I don't believe it's "normal" to be doing it often. If you are someone that drops it often, maybe you need a case (even though I despise them).
 
Just saw this one, and my jaw literally dropped. I would love for my phone to look like this!
http://nak-design.over-blog.fr/pages/iphone-5-concept-5379107.html

I'm sorry, but ewwww.

It either needs curved sides too or flat bottom and top. How it is it just really looks unbalanced/weird. Plus it looks even weirder when you notice the black part is a piece sitting on top of the body (it would be better if the display laid flat against the body, not on a piece sitting on top of it).
 
I carry my phone everywhere, as well. I work in the city and take the subway every day and listen to music on it. I've used every iPhone for music as well. In the 4 years I've had iPhones, I've dropped one ONCE... my 3G. It cracked the front glass.. so the back is somewhat irrelivant in that instance.

I understand that people will drop a phone from time to time, but I don't believe it's "normal" to be doing it often. If you are someone that drops it often, maybe you need a case (even though I despise them).

1 drop in 4 years is pretty damn impressive I must say. Anyhow, there is nothing wrong with making a phone durable. I despise cases too and I'd love to have an iphone where I wouldnt need one. My Droid has been dropped on tile, cement, lenolium, hardwood and minus a few scratches, nothing broke or cracked.
 
1 drop in 4 years is pretty damn impressive I must say. Anyhow, there is nothing wrong with making a phone durable. I despise cases too and I'd love to have an iphone where I wouldnt need one. My Droid has been dropped on tile, cement, lenolium, hardwood and minus a few scratches, nothing broke or cracked.

I hear you. If they made the back out of the glass they use in the front - it would be much better for normal day wear and tear compared to materials they use on the back of iPods and iPads... but would be worse for major drops. Depends what is more important to you. I'm obviously more concerned with daily wear and tear. haha...
 
I hear you. If they made the back out of the glass they use in the front - it would be much better for normal day wear and tear compared to materials they use on the back of iPods and iPads... but would be worse for major drops. Depends what is more important to you. I'm obviously more concerned with daily wear and tear. haha...

Same here. I hate getting scratches just from daily wear and tear. With major drops (like a 4 foot fall on cement) I can't bitch too much if something breaks. I just hope whatever it is, is very resistant and strong. I do not wanna use a case. Cases just hide the beauty of the phone.
 
A metal back is very unlikely. Keep in mind metal hinders signal strength and how much Apple has promoted the distinctive glass look in the iPhone 4.

The original iPhone had a metal back and plastic top part for the antenna, but for the 3G/S they went plastic due to the added gps radio.


I personally would love a brushed SS back, but most probably Apple will use glass again (maybe stronger this time).

the plastic was at the bottom of the phone
 
I'd want it to be aluminum but the chances of that happening are slim since aluminum blocks out signal or whatever. Something like an iPad 2 but in iPhone form would be perfect. Take the current iPod touch, get rid of the stainless steel back and replace it with aluminum and make that the next iPhone. I think that'd look great.
 
the plastic was at the bottom of the phone

Tell that to Charlie Sheen :D. That's the original "you are holding it wrong."

charlie_sheen_iphone.jpg


They did it with an antenna that looks like this:
(the black strip on top)

Image

That's longer than an iPhone actually IS, isn't it?

If you somehow re-shaped that for an iPhone it would pretty much cover the whole back.

You are absolutely right. Even on the first iphone the plastic part looks quite large, and it did not had as many antennas as current iphones.


As long as they don't go back to a plastic back its ok.
 
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Just saw this one, and my jaw literally dropped. I would love for my phone to look like this!
http://nak-design.over-blog.fr/pages/iphone-5-concept-5379107.html

NAK_iPhone5_1_1280.jpg

click for larger​

I think that's wayy too sharp on the edges. I believe the current iPhone 4 is too edgy as it is..

My ideal type would be Liquid Metal, or at least Aluminum, it's much more sturdy and we would all love a sturdy iPhone. I treat the iPhone 4 like an expensive furniture due to the glass.

OP, the mock up is nice, but very unrealistic.. the iPhone is just too thin for all it's necessary internals. I wouldn't want the next iPhone to be thinner, i would want it to be better.

My ideal/perfect iPhone would be this:
iphone5.jpg

+ LED notification in the front.
 
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