I gotta' say, having seen the images of the white with bright green or orange bumpers, I'm tempted to just wait for white and see what they are like in the flesh. I know my wife will want white for sure, and my daughter...well, she's into her "goth" period in life, so black it is! :lol:
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Apple: White iPhone 4 Models Set for 'Second Half of July' Availability
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I surprise no one has posted the actual answers to the problem
Here's the most reasonable answer from Gizmodo
According to an official Apple statement, the reason you won't see any white iPhones on shelves tomorrow is that they've "proven more challenging to manufacture than expected" and are delayed until mid July. Full statement:
CUPERTINO, Calif., June 23 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ White models of Apple's new iPhone® 4 have proven more challenging to manufacture than expected, and as a result they will not be available until the second half of July. The availability of the more popular iPhone 4 black models is not affected.
The idea that one case color would be more difficult to produce than another seems fairly implausible, but then again, Apple could just be referring to general supply line shortages under the umbrella idea of manufacturing challenges. Either way, it doesn't really matter. If you wanted a white iPhone, you'll either be waiting until mid July or mastering the fine art of white-out.
UPDATE: From a reader/Design Manager who knows a thing or two about mass manufacturing, white equipment may indeed be harder to produce than black:
"The process to make the back of the glass black is an electroplating process. This creates a very durable consistent and smooth black finish. To make white on the other hand you have to paint the back of the glass with white paint. It is difficult to create a smooth opaque look with the white. Also if the white paint goes on too thick it is difficult to glue the glass on because the glue will stick to the paint, but the paint will pull off of the glass. "
UPDATE 2: From another reader who cannot disclose their identity:
"Actually the white on the iPhone is not painted, it is screen printed. I cannot say who I am as Apple does have a non-disclosure in effect for this, but: The color specifications for the white on the new iPhones are just crazy. The tolerances they are trying to achieve with the white really is the cause of the delay. As screen printing goes, it is somewhat controllable, doesn't have the tolerance that Apple is wanting to hold the color specification of the white too. Talk about anal..."
Here's the most reasonable answer from Gizmodo
According to an official Apple statement, the reason you won't see any white iPhones on shelves tomorrow is that they've "proven more challenging to manufacture than expected" and are delayed until mid July. Full statement:
CUPERTINO, Calif., June 23 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ White models of Apple's new iPhone® 4 have proven more challenging to manufacture than expected, and as a result they will not be available until the second half of July. The availability of the more popular iPhone 4 black models is not affected.
The idea that one case color would be more difficult to produce than another seems fairly implausible, but then again, Apple could just be referring to general supply line shortages under the umbrella idea of manufacturing challenges. Either way, it doesn't really matter. If you wanted a white iPhone, you'll either be waiting until mid July or mastering the fine art of white-out.
UPDATE: From a reader/Design Manager who knows a thing or two about mass manufacturing, white equipment may indeed be harder to produce than black:
"The process to make the back of the glass black is an electroplating process. This creates a very durable consistent and smooth black finish. To make white on the other hand you have to paint the back of the glass with white paint. It is difficult to create a smooth opaque look with the white. Also if the white paint goes on too thick it is difficult to glue the glass on because the glue will stick to the paint, but the paint will pull off of the glass. "
UPDATE 2: From another reader who cannot disclose their identity:
"Actually the white on the iPhone is not painted, it is screen printed. I cannot say who I am as Apple does have a non-disclosure in effect for this, but: The color specifications for the white on the new iPhones are just crazy. The tolerances they are trying to achieve with the white really is the cause of the delay. As screen printing goes, it is somewhat controllable, doesn't have the tolerance that Apple is wanting to hold the color specification of the white too. Talk about anal..."
ZAGG Invisible Shield + Speck PixelSkin = Invincible Protection
ZAGG Invisible Shield + Speck PixelSkin = Invincible Protection. With both these products on your iPhone 4 it is almost impossible for it to ever get damaged. I am not PR for them. Just a very satisfied customer. I'm planning on getting a Blue PixelSkin for my White iPhone.For some strange reason, I really want the white one with the orange bumper.
Black iPhone 4 + orange bumper = Halloween... I think I'm just reminded of the old Cingular colors and miss them when they were Cingular.
Or white + blue?
Anyone else like the bumper or am I some strange headcase?
Yep - changing what you make requires TIME for switch over/cleanup/etc.
Wow I´m living in the middle of Europe, Austria to be exact and I can´t think of one life-emergency that is more than 0. Glad our health care works..
Fire, Auto, etc. More than just medical expenses can be called life emergencies.
After all, they've never offered a white iPhone prior to the iPhone 4.
I know people on limited budgets.
For whatever reason, they can't work/don't work. They are receiving a limited budget through something like social security. They pick and choose between what is needed, wanted, and wasteful. They choose carefully for their buck trying to get the most out of it. I know a guy who doesn't even have a television, much less cable, because he chose instead internet - because he could do online games and such - which for a house-bound person is more important than 275 channels of crap.
All you know about the person who said he he didn't want to buy a new iPhone with a perfectly good 3GS already his is that after going through his decision-making matrix, it was a sub-optimal choice.
Maybe the person has on-going medical issues without insurance/enough insurance to make the costs negligible. Or some form of fixed budget. If on a fixed budget,they might have a good sized savings, but don't want to get into the habit of dipping into it if they don't need to. Could be involved in some kind of lawsuit - and if it's a lawsuit with an employer? Ouch.
Maybe he's recovering from ID theft - I had a friend stuck paying for, in addition to his liability-only, 1980s or older era bug, a 2006 brand new sports car because his insurance company let someone with a nearly identical name add it to his policy. It took about 4 months for him to be able to prove it wasn't his - and then they didn't refund the money (he needed insurance, had to drive to get to work and didn't want a bad mark on his credit record). They just gave him credit.
Do not make assumptions about people like you've just done when you don't know them any better than a few lines off a forum.
Even if it was for his friend* & psycho nemesis, Harvey Dent aka Two-Face? He'd need a black AND a white one.
*seems like most story lines had him being Bruce's friend before the "accident".
ZAGG Invisible Shield + Speck PixelSkin = Invincible Protection. With both these products on your iPhone 4 it is almost impossible for it to ever get damaged. I am not PR for them. Just a very satisfied customer. I'm planning on getting a Blue PixelSkin for my White iPhone.
+1 on this combination!
ouch
Oooo ... that's going to suck down the road for wear and tear if true. Silkscreened glass is prone to cracking (the ink - not the glass) over time. Of course given the lifespan and use of most phones this probably won't be an issue for the first owner.
I'm curious if the black is actually "electroplated" (I have doubts) or if it's silkscreened too (2 different color processes for one phone - wha)?
Oooo ... that's going to suck down the road for wear and tear if true. Silkscreened glass is prone to cracking (the ink - not the glass) over time. Of course given the lifespan and use of most phones this probably won't be an issue for the first owner.
I'm curious if the black is actually "electroplated" (I have doubts) or if it's silkscreened too (2 different color processes for one phone - wha)?
Wow I´m living in the middle of Europe, Austria to be exact and I can´t think of one life-emergency that is more than 0. Glad our health care works..
Yeah, and you also get to be on a 90 day waiting list for the E.R. Socialized healthcare is crap. What's your income tax 75%??
What I meant is that it's a luxury because you don't need to spend $300 on an phone when you can get one for $50 or even free with a new 2 year contract. I would say iphones are the luxury item of phones. the amount doesn't matter..... if you go to godiva you can buy a $50 piece of chocolate... thats a luxury even though its only $50.... because you can simply buy a snickers bar for $1.
Does anyone know what this "window" is for and why it isn't on the black phone?
sorry if someone else has already said this and i missed it
I hope that by that time, most of the hyped buyers of the iphone 4 would have already had bought an iphone 4 (black) making supplies for the white iphone much more 'normal' and I can just walk into Bestbuy and pick it up.
Example, after the launch of wifi-only ipad, it was MUCH easier to pick up a 3G-enabled ipad.
I hope this would be true in case of the white iphone 4.
Example, after the launch of wifi-only ipad, it was MUCH easier to pick up a 3G-enabled ipad.
I hope this would be true in case of the white iphone 4.
Because It Screams "I'm An iPhone 4" Without Saying Anything
Plus it looks different than any other cell phone. But now it turns out we don't have to wait any longer than the new black orders have to wait. So I'm happy Apple finally got around to telling us what's up with WHITE.
offtopic but what the hell
Ok now THERE's a point. But let's take it even further. Do you smoke? Ask a smoker if they think it's a luxury - but in the age of 8 - 11 dollar a packs, it's a very expensive one. For a pack to a pack-and-a-half a day smoker that's a range of 3000 to 6000 dollars in after-tax income.
Now factor in alcohol. Take a bottle a week and 1-2 bar trips a week/weekend. That's a range of about 7000 to 10000 a year.
So if you gave up both "luxuries" (you shouldn't need them to live) you're getting a 10-16K year raise AFTER taxes (x.25 for pre-tax income parity in the a range of 12.5 to 20 grand) Quitting either will give you a healthy discretionary spike, in which case you can avoid White Castles and Snickers for a very long time.
And you didn't even have to ask your boss for a raise.
Ok now THERE's a point. But let's take it even further. Do you smoke? Ask a smoker if they think it's a luxury - but in the age of 8 - 11 dollar a packs, it's a very expensive one. For a pack to a pack-and-a-half a day smoker that's a range of 3000 to 6000 dollars in after-tax income.
Now factor in alcohol. Take a bottle a week and 1-2 bar trips a week/weekend. That's a range of about 7000 to 10000 a year.
So if you gave up both "luxuries" (you shouldn't need them to live) you're getting a 10-16K year raise AFTER taxes (x.25 for pre-tax income parity in the a range of 12.5 to 20 grand) Quitting either will give you a healthy discretionary spike, in which case you can avoid White Castles and Snickers for a very long time.
And you didn't even have to ask your boss for a raise.
I thought Apple was waiting for "donations" of the teeth of Chinese children.And don't forget the pixie dust, not easy to come by in china.
Was he the only one who got the white iPhone?Not too challenging to make a White one for Uncle Walt though? huh?
Whether it's this or the screen printing issue is really irrelevant. People are going to bitch no matter the reason.
I guess you really don't fail to see the irony in wanting to "stand out" and "think different", or not being a "mindless zombie follower" because you buy Apple. I mean come on...surely it's so thick you can barely see through it.
Also, if you want to stand out for the crowd then do something worthwhile, don't buy a product. No one cares what you buy. Seriously. Buying any sort of iPhone is about as mindless and conformist as you get (and yes, I am an iPhone owner and user).
Man do I hope you are joking, because otherwise society has completely failed you.
I guess you really don't fail to see the irony in wanting to "stand out" and "think different", or not being a "mindless zombie follower" because you buy Apple. I mean come on...surely it's so thick you can barely see through it.
Apple haven't wanted you to think different for years. They want everyone to think exactly the same - App Store
Probably. Apple has no idea when they'll be ready, just hoping for some time in July. When they have a ship date, you'll be able to order one online.
I bet the manufacturing defect was cracking plastic.
I planned on buying a white 16GB at launch. Now I'm stuck with a black one. My wife will order the white one as soon as they launch, and I'll try to convince her to swap SIM cards with me. Not sure how successful I'll be.
Proximity Sensor Turns The Display Off When You Are Listening To A Phone Call
It's the Proximity Sensor that Turns The Display Off When You Are Listening To A Phone Call to conserve battery power. It's invisible on the black models.
ZAGG Invisible Shield + Speck PixelSkin = Invincible Protection. With both these products on your iPhone 4 it is almost impossible for it to ever get damaged. I am not PR for them. Just a very satisfied customer. I'm planning on getting a Blue PixelSkin for my White iPhone.
Pixelskin looks ugly.. lol.
It's the Proximity Sensor that Turns The Display Off When You Are Listening To A Phone Call to conserve battery power. It's invisible on the black models.
Close - it is there to keep you from "face dialing".
Not Much Of An Evolution?!?! You Can't Be Serious.
You're kidding right? It's the most radically changed - revolutionary - version ever. How did you miss that?
