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CES 2012: Gorilla Glass 2 to Allow for Thinner Stronger Phones

Fairly impressive but what I really want to see are more real world tests and glass that is more resistant to drops on hard surfaces. I've only broken one iPhone screen ever (out of my 6 iPhones) but I'm constantly worried about it. I don't really care that the glass is thinner, make it the same thickness and MUCH stronger! This stress test shows the new glass off nicely, but it seems like these type of force gauge tests have little correspondence to the real world device's ability to stay in tact.
 
Rocko1 said:
Not sure about whether the Droid X and Droid 2 Global had the gapless layer, but what I am looking at at a steep angle appears to be the outermost glass. It appears different. Hard to describe. There is almost a slightly wavy effect on the X and Droid 2.
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It doesn't have to look precisely the same. They'll each have their own specs for the glass.

Isn't the iPhone 4 still the only one with glass edges? All the others, including earlier iPhones, have the glass protected on the edge, from what I've seen. Although I haven't seen every single phone in existence. That's the real issue for potential breakage, and why Apple suddenly got back into the case market with the bumper.
 
The iphone 4 and 4s don't have gorilla glass. I've seen it break during a 4 ft drop test. It shatters when dropped flat, meaning the glass itself isn't that strong. I don't know why people keep claiming its gorilla glass when gorilla glass is pretty much impervious to shattering. I read somewhere that it wasn't being used because it was still too thick at 1mm. Maybe now they'll use it and save their customers from going though the headache of fixing or replacing a shattered phone.
 
Tarzanman said:
Apple has never claimed to use gorilla glass in the iphone line. Most people have come to the conclusion that apple is not using gorilla glass for iphones because of widespread problems with shattering/cracks/etc with iphones.

People who insist that the iphone does use gorilla glass (such as yourself?) are doing so on supposition.
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So what other company is making tough glass? There has to be a few, but they're not in the news that much. Maybe Apple is making their own?

From Apple's site:
Advancements in the glass. And under it.
Made from the same materials used in helicopters and high-speed trains, the Retina display glass is chemically strengthened to be harder, more scratch resistant, and more durable than ever.
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Rocko1 said:
Not sure this is correct.
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Tint. Thickness. Aren't some of these phones curved?

And frankly, the naked eye may not be the best tool to identify the manufacturer of a piece of glass. Unless there is a sticker on it. Not to mention all the pieces we are discussing are attached to a phone. Can't even really look at them attached to other parts.
 
newagemac said:
Gorilla Glass has always been in the iPhone. Did you even read the article?
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Gorilla glass was only used in the original iPhone, as confirmed by the biography. All of the shattering reports escalated once Apple moved past the iPhone 1.

The only absolutely true statment that can me made today is that iPhone 1 had Gorilla Glass as the confirmation came directly from Jobs. Everything else, including my statements, are speculation.

I can think of NO reason why Apple would tout the glass in iPhone 1 then be secretive about it in later models other than the fact that they dont use it any more but want consumers to assume they do.

Why did they claim they came up with a new glass for the iphone 4, when Corning is only now announcing Gorilla Glass 2. Why, because they dont use Gorilla Glass. Seems probably they decided to produce the glass themselves. Glass use in their flagship stores seems to support this presumption.
 
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nagromme said:
I agree, an edge test would be good. But face pressure is relevant as well, when your phone is in your pocket, left on a chair, or in a bag with other stuff.
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Case in point - I had a Palm PDA's screen crack under this circumstance. It was in my pocket, inside an aluminum case. I tripped and fell in just the wrong way and my keys shoved a large dent into the aluminum and into the screen, cracking it.

I can't help but think Gorilla glass would've saved the screen (and me the $100 to get a replacement.)

WRT iPhone protection overall, my wife's been very happy with a Case-Mate Tank case. It significantly increases the size of the phone, but it adds incredible amounts of protection.
nagromme said:
DO NOT PUT YOUR PHONE IN AN UNSEALED JACKET POCKET... The jacket becomes your very own Angry Birds slingshot when you take it off too fast :eek: )
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I destroyed an iPod mini under similar circumstances. It was in an outer pocket of my laptop case. I flipped the case open too rapidly and the iPod was sent flying across the room. It was still able to play music and the screen didn't crack, but the display was reduced to a pile of static that shifted randomly when manipulating the click-wheel.

I keep my current iPod (a 2nd-gen nano) in a belt pouch, alongside my Palm PDA (which, yes, I still use). Both have been safe since then.
Sankersizzle said:
This is so wholly incorrect I literally died after I read it.
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What web browser do you use to read MacRumors from beyond the grave? :D
 
JAT said:
Tint. Thickness. Aren't some of these phones curved?

And frankly, the naked eye may not be the best tool to identify the manufacturer of a piece of glass. Unless there is a sticker on it. Not to mention all the pieces we are discussing are attached to a phone. Can't even really look at them attached to other parts.
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I agree outside shapes maybe thickness, but general 'ingredients' can't easily be changed for such production.

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ZipZap said:
Why did they claim they came up with a new glass for the iphone 4, when Corning is only now announcing Gorilla Glass 2. Why, because they dont use Gorilla Glass. Seems probably they decided to produce the glass themselves. Glass use in their flagship stores seems to support this presumption.
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This is my theory. And Apple is not producing it, some company is doing it for them overseas more than likely. They are using a similar technology but it is not Gorilla glass. It may not be as effective but it is more than likely cheaper for them to produce and they have more control over production.
 
JarScott said:
Okay, so this glass doesn't break under direct pressure. But what if it is dropped and hits the ground on a corner? Does it shatter? Because if it does, it is still useless to mobile phones. Apple claimed the glass in the iPhone 4 was strengthened, yet it's the first thing to shatter when you drop the device.
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By that standard, everything is useless for mobile phones. Perhaps they should make a screen out of cast iron to satisfy you?
 
CrackedButter said:
Which material is in the best running to take the ultimate stress test of 80 tons of humpback whale with 18000 cubic feet of water; Gorilla Glass or transparent aluminium?
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Outstanding comment, sir. :D Still, Gorilla Glass strength post time travel has yet to be tested.

But to continue the non-sequiturs... I travel a lot, and I like accents and trying to figure out where they're from. Where is this guy from? I hear India by way of Australia.
 
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