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SCRATCHES are not even close to being a common problem. CRACKING is. We need glass that is resistant to shock and won't spiderweb when dropped. Current smart phone and tablet screens are already fairly resistant to scratches; I don't use a screen protector on my iPhone and I certainly don't baby it yet there are no easily visible scratches.

Why do you assume it's for a phone? If this was for an iWatch, Apple wouldn't need to design a drop-proof device if it's attached or worn, rather than held.
 
Why do you assume it's for a phone? If this was for an iWatch, Apple wouldn't need to design a drop-proof device if it's attached or worn, rather than held.

Well it wouldn't exactly be a blind assumption. Last month Apple filed a patent on a technique for mounting sapphire on mobile phones.

I personally do think scratching is a big problem, though I've always suspected those very fine scratches are from the oleophobic coating. Who knows, but I get tons of very fine scratches in daily use. I've never cracked a screen, but that's probably more because I've been lucky and careful.
 
Ya know, in my years of using mobile devices, seeing them in the field, and so on, SCRATCHES are not even close to being a common problem.

CRACKING is. We need glass that is resistant to shock and won't spiderweb when dropped. Current smart phone and tablet screens are already fairly resistant to scratches; I don't use a screen protector on my iPhone and I certainly don't baby it yet there are no easily visible scratches.

I think Apple is going in the wrong direction with sapphire glass. It's okay for the camera; that's a tiny piece and the camera does get abuse because it's on the back of the phone, but not for the screen!

Gorila Glass and Sapphire are both strong when it comes to cracking, they can both take a lot to the point where i doubt iPhone screens actually "crack". Do you wana know what actually does happen? They shatter because they get hit in a corner or side. Do you wana know what material doesn't shatter? Sapphire, well look at that?
 
Gorila Glass and Sapphire are both strong when it comes to cracking, they can both take a lot to the point where i doubt iPhone screens actually "crack". Do you wana know what actually does happen? They shatter because they get hit in a corner or side. Do you wana know what material doesn't shatter? Sapphire, well look at that?

What?? Sapphire most certainly does shatter, and if you believe the Corning strength test video then you'll see that it shatters more easily than Gorilla Glass.
 
I won't claim to know much about the properties of sapphire and which is actually better for any given purpose, but that section of Wikipedia is written from a perspective of advocacy. The language isn't neutral, and the facts aren't referenced to any other source. "Highly transparent" isn't given a comparison point.

Here ya go:

http://www.edmundoptics.com/optics/...-windows/gorilla-glass-windows/3379?#products

http://www.rayotek.com/techincal_info_glass_sapphire.htm


Basically, we're talking about a ~5% difference in transmittance between gorilla glass and sapphire. You'd be hard pressed to even see that difference, in fact you'd notice a bigger difference just by putting on your reading glasses (does the world get noticeably darker?)

Understandably, Corning is a bit worried about their future, but the claim that sapphire will require more battery power due the glass being less transparent is a bit bonkers.
 
Thats called cracking... Not shattering.

Either you haven't seen the video, or you don't know the definition of "shatter". I would consider a sudden explosion of a pane of sapphire into several smaller separate parts to be "shattering". Maybe you can explain why you don't agree.

This is the first definition of the verb "shatter":
to break (something) into pieces, as by a blow.
 
Either you haven't seen the video, or you don't know the definition of "shatter". I would consider a sudden explosion of a pane of sapphire into several smaller separate parts to be "shattering". Maybe you can explain why you don't agree.

This is the first definition of the verb "shatter":
to break (something) into pieces, as by a blow.

I have seen the video and it cracked it half.

This is shattering
shattered-iPhone-Screen.jpg


This is a crack
DSC_0255.jpg



They are quite obviously different.
 
Ya know, in my years of using mobile devices, seeing them in the field, and so on, SCRATCHES are not even close to being a common problem.

CRACKING is.
So wrong. Only a small minority of iPhone screens are cracked. 100% of them are scratched, or hidden behind a screen protector. Just because the scratches can't be seen from across the room does mean they don't distort the sharpness and dull the colors, just like screen protectors do. I don't use a screen protector and have zero grossly visible scratches, but my screen is noticeably less sharp and colorful than my wife's when I take her screen protector off. Micro scratches matter. Forcing the majority of users to get screen protectors matters. Apple is as huge as they are because they know what actually matters.
 
When Tim Cook said "we are using sapphire for a top secret product" I'm pretty sure he was talking about the iWatch.

The reason I say that, is simply because all high end watch company's use sapphire to cover the face of there watches. Less glare, no scratches.

I truly believe that apple will stick with GG for the iPhone. Sapphire breaks more easily then GG. So that's why I think apple will only use sapphire glass on items like iWatch and maybe even iTV.
 
I have seen the video and it cracked it half.

This is shattering
Image

This is a crack
Image


They are quite obviously different.

Uh, right. I think you're just arguing for pride's sake at this point. Following is the video that shows the pane of sapphire shattering into several (way more than two) pieces:
http://www.corninggorillaglass.com/gorilla-channel/Corning®-Gorilla®-Glass-vs.-Sapphire

You can keep arguing that this is just "cracked in half", but you're plainly wrong and anyone who watches that video can see it. The fact is that sapphire does shatter and this video almost shows the textbook definition of shattering. On the other hand, if you want to get technical about it, your images above both could be considered as "cracking" due to the fact that there is no separation of the individual pieces of glass. Here's the first definition of the verb "crack":
to break without complete separation of parts; become fissured:
 
If the article below is correct, we may be looking at a solar charging panel on the next iPhone.
Why would I want something so useless? My phone either sits in my pocket or on top of my desk. Neither place has any solar charging capacity whatsoever.
 
Actually the fact that GTAT found a way to put a photovoltaic layer into sapphire glass IMO all speaks to that it will be used for a smart watch project.

One of the major disadvantages of the smart watch until now was always battery life and apple didnt wanted to release a smart watch with less then a week of battery life, so the photovoltaic layer seems like a great way to extend battery life.
Also an iWatch would always be outside (around your arm) and potentially exposed to sunlight. Your phone on the other hand is most of the times in ur pocket and away from light.

Doesnt make much sense to put sapphire on the iphone, since GG is very scratch resistant and like many say sapphire is just as breakable. Sapphire has already proved itself in the high end watch market, so if GTAT has found a way to include photovoltaic, then we are talking smartwatch here guys...

You're a genius. Or maybe not, but at you've come up with a very good insight/rationale as to why Apple's sapphire will be for a watch. If they could get enough charging out of such a system so as not to need additional charging in normal use that would make for an awesome product feature.
 
Uh, right. I think you're just arguing for pride's sake at this point. Following is the video that shows the pane of sapphire shattering into several (way more than two) pieces:
http://www.corninggorillaglass.com/gorilla-channel/Corning®-Gorilla®-Glass-vs.-Sapphire

You can keep arguing that this is just "cracked in half", but you're plainly wrong and anyone who watches that video can see it. The fact is that sapphire does shatter and this video almost shows the textbook definition of shattering. On the other hand, if you want to get technical about it, your images above both could be considered as "cracking" due to the fact that there is no separation of the individual pieces of glass. Here's the first definition of the verb "crack":
to break without complete separation of parts; become fissured:

It was separated X'D, the phones Bezel keeps it in place tho!!! O wow, you are just cracking me up with your "facts"! Have you not seen the glass fall out of people's phones when they are like that?

Here read what it says about sapphire fracturing

Now read why glass shatters, it's a property it has, not everything can shatter because not everything has that property!! Put please tell me more about your suppose made up "facts"?

And no, i don't argue due to pride, i argue on facts, if I'm proven wrong I'm more than happy to admit it because now i have more knowledge thanks to the debate.
 
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When Tim Cook said "we are using sapphire for a top secret product" I'm pretty sure he was talking about the iWatch.

The reason I say that, is simply because all high end watch company's use sapphire to cover the face of there watches. Less glare, no scratches.

I truly believe that apple will stick with GG for the iPhone. Sapphire breaks more easily then GG. So that's why I think apple will only use sapphire glass on items like iWatch and maybe even iTV.

There's no iTV (it won't be called that). A personal gripe I have is that people just refer to some hypothetical tv project as just that.

Also - there's no confirmation of any iWatch either. A wearable that MIGHT also have the time on it sure - but that doesn't make it a watch or an iWatch.

My .02
 
It was separated X'D, the phones Bezel keeps it in place tho!!! O wow, you are just cracking me up with your "facts"! Have you not seen the glass fall out of people phones when they are like that?

Here read what it says about sapphire fracturing

Now read why glass shatters, it's a property it has, not everything can shatter because not everything has that property!! Put please tell me more about your suppose made up "facts"?

And no, i don't argue due to pride, i argue on facts, if I'm proven wrong I'm more than happy to admit it because now i have more knowledge thanks to the debate.

Buddy, I could care less if your images are considered cracking or shattering. It really doesn't matter and it does absolutely nothing to prove sapphire doesn't shatter. I'm just pointing our that you have invented your own definitions for these terms.

Sapphire does shatter. It's been proven, it's easily demonstrated, and it's a fact. You've invented some alternate definition for the word "shatter" and you're using it to claim that sapphire doesn't shatter. However the best you can do to prove this is to show me a thick watch crystal with a crack in it. Golly, I guess that means that sapphire never shatters. That's really convincing logic.
 
Buddy, I could care less if your images are considered cracking or shattering. It really doesn't matter and it does absolutely nothing to prove sapphire doesn't shatter. I'm just pointing our that you have invented your own definitions for these terms.

Sapphire does shatter. It's been proven, it's easily demonstrated, and it's a fact. You've invented some alternate definition for the word "shatter" and you're using it to claim that sapphire doesn't shatter. However the best you can do to prove this is to show me a thick watch crystal with a crack in it. Golly, I guess that means that sapphire never shatters. That's really convincing logic.

HAHA, you logic is that I'm making up my facts when i posted links to the actual facts when you have done nothing but post your opinion and act like it's a fact. It's known sapphire doesn't shatter, please prove me wrong!!! I dare you!!
 
HAHA, you logic is that I'm making up my facts when i posted links to the actual facts when you have done nothing but post your opinion and act like it's a fact. It's known sapphire doesn't shatter, please prove me wrong!!! I dare you!!

Right, except that none of your links prove (or even suggest) that sapphire doesn't shatter. I've already proven you wrong with both a video of sapphire shattering, and a formal definition of the word "shatter". Done and done. Thanks for the articles. And thanks for playing.
 
HAHA, you logic is that I'm making up my facts when i posted links to the actual facts when you have done nothing but post your opinion and act like it's a fact. It's known sapphire doesn't shatter, please prove me wrong!!! I dare you!!

Are you saying that if I produce a piece of Sapphire that is 1mm thin and 1'x 1' and then drop it on top of a rock from 10 feet up - it will NEVER shatter?
 
Right, except that none of your links prove (or even suggest) that sapphire doesn't shatter. I've already proven you wrong with both a video of sapphire shattering, and a formal definition of the word "shatter". Done and done. Thanks for the articles. And thanks for playing.

Right except that is quite obviously a crack in the vid and you definition actually agrees with me, so thanks for agreeing! :D
Are you saying that if I produce a piece of Sapphire that is 1mm thin and 1'x 1' and then drop it on top of a rock from 10 feet up - it will NEVER shatter?
No I'm saying Crack not= Shatter. Tho i doubt it would crack under those conditions.
 
I have had every iPhone also, and have never broke a screen. In fact, there are 4 iPhones in my family, 2 iPods and 2 iPads, only one of them had the screen break and that was because my step-daughter was roller blading and it fell out of her hand on the ground and then she ran it over...it was the rolling it over that cracked the screen, not the drop onto the concrete driveway that caused it to crack.

However, they are prone to scratches, which I have seen on every Apple device that has Gorilla Glass.

Then u are in the minority.I have seen many many cracked shattered iPhone screens.Gorilla Glass its NOT strong at all.
 
No I'm saying Crack = Shatter. Tho i doubt it would crack under those conditions.

I don't understand what you're saying. Under those conditions I find it hard to believe it wouldn't crack OR shatter. But have a nice day.
 
I don't understand what you're saying. Under those conditions I find it hard to believe it wouldn't crack OR shatter. But have a nice day.

It physically can't shatter like how rubber can't conduct electricity, shattering is a property. Also it's harder than a rock so the rock would be the thing to be damaged.
 
It physically can't shatter like how rubber can't conduct electricity, shattering is a property. Also it's harder than a rock so the rock would be the thing to be damaged.

Thanks for clarifying your faulty logic. I understand where you're coming from and completely disagree.
 
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