Anyone Else Not Believing this Matte Casing Iteration?

[Andrew K.]

Okay I'm gonna just say it, I think it's a horrible idea on so many levels here's why:

The Material:

Yes it's more durable, but look at The incase sliders or any other matte case you find, it holds up well, but gets scratches from even fingernails. It gouges and for those with sweaty hands ( not me ) it ends up looking smudged and dirty in a matter of weeks.

BIG QUESTION:

What's the other color gonna be? WHITE? Have you seen what happens to white matte, a guy on here had bought a case in matte white and after only ONE DAY it had dirt smudges gathering all over, it looked like hell.

Design:

Where is it? Apple's design team just doesn't take a year off and say,

"Just go with Matte and a darker bezel, BAM we're done!"

Forget the material for a second, it's the same contoured body as the 3G. Yes they subtly change design sometimes but this is just a bezel change and a material backing? Especially when the competition is just starting to get heated (Palm Pre, G2, and the Storm), Apple needs to SHOW us why they are different.

Mass Consumer Attraction and Advertising:

Besides us, how do you see this change in the eyes of the everyday consumer. Apple loves sexiness and attracting attention, you all know that. This sets them back quite a bit with the main audience no matter how much better it may be than the glossy plastic. As if that's hard enough how is Apple going to show everyone how different and new it is if it looks like a dull version of the 3G? I know WE know the specs, but they would be missing the audience in which they make the most money.

Ebay:

Didn't we see these sold on eBay already? With the same pics and one with a 32gb tag? It would seem pretty easy for a foreign manufacturer to make these at a cheap price.

FCC:

What is the stamp doing on there already? We know when the FCC receives and reports a new product like this. Also someone pointed out the height of the matte looks shorter than the actual 3G.

I know it's a dream for some of you guys here, but from a business standpoint and a consumer's, I don't think these pictures are the real iPhone.


or maybe I'm just talking out of my butt

WE'LL SEE COME WWDC

 

[Warbrain]

I don't think they'll go with it and all your points are valid. A matte back is just not a reasonable evolution in terms of the device.

 

[robothero]

I like the matte much better than the shiny 3g crap.

 

[britboyj]

Has anyone considered that it might be matte black metal like the current 4GB Shuffle or black Nano?

 

[Andrew K.]

Has anyone considered that it might be matte black metal like the current 4GB Shuffle or black Nano?

YES and I am really hoping it is but we have the antenna issue to deal with ? Is the aluminum melded with a carbon fiber piece for the antenna to get through? That way it looks cohesive, useful and awesome? I like the way you think

 

[GoCubsGo]

Has anyone considered that it might be matte black metal like the current 4GB Shuffle or black Nano?

Doubtful because when it comes to apple there are many suffering from tunnel vision. I see matte black metal before I see rubbery matte.

 

[silentsal]

I was thinking the same thing. I have never liked the feel of matte and I know quite a few people that don't like it either. I don't think there is any way Apple would put it on a product when they should know that a lot of people don't like it.

Also, it just wouldn't feel good on a phone. I used to have a matte case and it was extremely hard to get out of my pocket and scratched like no tomorrow.

 

[GoCubsGo]

I liked the feel of Matt.

ba da da
Zing!

 

[Andrew K.]

I liked the feel of Matt.

ba da da
Zing!

Hahaha to bad that's not my name

 

[9822679]

Ok lets see if we can break down your argument one at a time

It gouges and for those with sweaty hands ( not me ) it ends up looking smudged and dirty in a matter of weeks.

Yeah and so does a gloss finish. The matte finish will actually hide smaller scracthes, where the gloss finish will hide ABSOLUTELY NONE.

The matte finish will show grease and wear a lot easier ( I agree with you here)

What's the other color gonna be? WHITE? Have you seen what happens to white matte, a guy on here had bought a case in matte white and after only ONE DAY it had dirt smudges gathering all over, it looked like hell.

I'm sorry but I have a matte white keyboard, and it it is perfectly white. I don't know why your hands are so dirty, but this is obviously a per user opinion, and not fact. I do tend to use hand sanitizer about 3x a day so I'm pretty sure that's why my hands are always clean

Where is it? Apple's design team just doesn't take a year off and say,

I'm sorry I guess they must have missed your application for hire at the Apple design team. Not every new device has to be a revolution, an evolution of an already succesful design is perfectly fine.

As if that's hard enough how is Apple going to show everyone how different and new it is if it looks like a dull version of the 3G?

Not everyone is so shallow that they care about looks. In fact I still think the original iPHone looks better than the 3G. SO WHAT !!
To me the features of the iPhone 3G compared to the original made choosing the new one an easy choice

Didn't we see these sold on eBay already? With the same pics and one with a 32gb tag? It would seem pretty easy for a foreign manufacturer to make these at a cheap price.

Oh yeah apple has a serious problem here. It's not like any other phone has cheap chinese knockoff parts and accessories. ( this is probably your worst point )

What is the stamp doing on there already? We know when the FCC receives and reports a new product like this. Also someone pointed out the height of the matte looks shorter than the actual 3G.

Not true

I know it's a dream for some of you guys here, but from a business standpoint and a consumer's, I don't think these pictures are the real iPhone.

NO one has ever mentioned that these are the final pictures of the phone. Every single time, people have hinted ( and rumored) that this is what the iPhone will look like)

Even the black bezel is up for debate. In the end Apple could always just add a chrome plating to it, we don't know what the final design will look like.


Good post, but honestly It's all still speculation. I would reserve your public outcry until the phone is actually released.

 

[GoCubsGo]

And Dr. Cabrera takes the rook and spoils the potential fun.
I love you all the same Doogie.

 

[fishmoose]

How would you take the thing out of your pocket?

 

[=MuLti-CeLL=]

I like the matte much better than the shiny 3g crap.

I agree. I would like a little more durability than what is currently offered.

Has anyone considered that it might be matte black metal like the current 4GB Shuffle or black Nano?

Havnt' considered that but sounds good to me!

I liked the feel of Matt.

ba da da
Zing!

How YOU doin'..?

How would you take the thing out of your pocket?

uhhh.








The Dr. has spoken.

 

[TheSpaz]

"Matte" doesn't mean "rubbery".

You can't possibly know how it feels from a photo. Think about it.

 

[Merkie]

I have a SonyEricsson K810i in front of me, which has somekind of matte rubbery dark blue back casing.

Observations:
1. It's not hard to get out of your pocket at all, it's not that rubbery.
2. It doesn't have a single scratch after more than one year of usage.
3. It's not dirty at all, looks still new.

If SonyEricsson can do it, then so can Apple. Chill out people.

 

[genmic]

"Matte" doesn't mean "rubbery".

You can't possibly know how it feels from a photo. Think about it.

Exactly! Anyways, I'm sure anything will be an upgrade from the current glossy plastic. At worst it will have the same fingerprint problem but improved durability. And I'm thinking that if Apple is going to introduce a new casing they will have spent the time to make sure it's balanced and much improved.

 

[Andrew K.]

Ok lets see if we can break down your argument one at a time

Okay my turn

Yeah and so does a gloss finish. The matte finish will actually hide smaller scracthes, where the gloss finish will hide ABSOLUTELY NONE.

The matte finish will show grease and wear a lot easier ( I agree with you here)

Cool we agree on that, and I agree with the 3G scratching easily.

I'm sorry but I have a matte white keyboard, and it it is perfectly white. I don't know why your hands are so dirty, but this is obviously a per user opinion, and not fact. I do tend to use hand sanitizer about 3x a day so I'm pretty sure that's why my hands are always clean

You are correct, not about the dirty hands thing, but that not all matte has rubbery texture, forgot about that, so yes I can see that.

I'm sorry I guess they must have missed your application for hire at the Apple design team. Not every new device has to be a revolution, an evolution of an already succesful design is perfectly fine.

Haha yeah I'm angry, again true but the speculated evolution design of this one seems a tad lazy in my opinion.

Not everyone is so shallow that they care about looks. In fact I still think the original iPHone looks better than the 3G. SO WHAT !!
To me the features of the iPhone 3G compared to the original made choosing the new one an easy choice

Guess what? I have a 1st gen iPhone, because it's sturdier and I like it better ( it'll still be my back up phone when the new one comes out ) So got you on that one. But seriously, I know not everyone is shallow but advertising and marketing for any product cannot succeed unless the product is somewhat attractive right? But like I said, when I was talking about others who will see the new phone ( NOT US unshallow macrumorans ) there has to be some initial attraction to the product, You and I know Apple does that best, which is why this seemed out of the ordinary.

Oh yeah apple has a serious problem here. It's not like any other phone has cheap chinese knockoff parts and accessories. ( this is probably your worst point ) Not true.

When have you seen a knock off even before the actual product came out?

NO one has ever mentioned that these are the final pictures of the phone. Every single time, people have hinted ( and rumored) that this is what the iPhone will look like)

Even the black bezel is up for debate. In the end Apple could always just add a chrome plating to it, we don't know what the final design will look like.


Good post, but honestly It's all still speculation. I would reserve your public outcry until the phone is actually released.

MY public outcry? haha so arguing the otherside of the speculation is an utter outcry of some sort of fanboyism? Did I say " OMG NO WAY THAT'S THE UGLY NEW IPHONE I MUST TELL EVERYONE! " ?

I just saw that there wasn't much coherent discussion about certain points, and yes it is speculation so on MACRUMORS we are aloud to speculate all sides.

 

[IgnatiusTheKing]

"Matte" doesn't mean "rubbery".

You can't possibly know how it feels from a photo. Think about it.

Yep. I was always thinking it would be metal of some sort. I can't imagine Apple ever making an iPod/iPhone with a silicon/rubber back. That's what cases are for (and they surely don't want to cripple the case market).

 

[Luke1robb]

I actually like the matte look a lot and I think Apple will design in such a way that it handles better than the incase slider.

 

[bjquach]

Closest matte case to this I have seen so far is the Power Support Air Jacket (BLK). It is resistant to scratches, has a nice feel to it, easy to take out of pocket, and has a good quality build to it. I bet Apple can increase the quality and durability of its case. They don't spend millions on their engineers and technicians to develop a case that'll crack or break. (minus 3g glossy case haha)

 

[TheSpaz]

Closest matte case to this I have seen so far is the Power Support Air Jacket (BLK). It is resistant to scratches, has a nice feel to it, easy to take out of pocket, and has a good quality build to it. I bet Apple can increase the quality and durability of its case. They don't spend millions on their engineers and technicians to develop a case that'll crack or break. (minus 3g glossy case haha)

Or they DO design cases that crack and scratch to give people incentive to upgrade when the next model comes out.

 

[coolant113]

At first when saw the Matte backing i thought it was pretty nice looking.. i mean it is... but now all these points you have made i think i have to agree with you on them

 

[JayLenochiniMac]

People are cheering no more cracks and scratches for the matte case, but in reality, the 3rd gen iPhone (matte or not) will have its own set of problems.

1st gen: non-responsiveness screen
2nd gen: cracks and defective slient switch
3rd gen: ????????

 

[robothero]

When have you seen a knock off even before the actual product came out?

You should follow engadget more. It happens all the time.

 

[Andrew K.]

You should follow engadget more. It happens all the time.

haha actually I do a lot , like every day, but most all those keepin' real fakes come out after the original product does.