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Sorry but, it's from overheating. My friend is going bareback with his 16GB 3GS and the thing is turing brownish orange under the Apple logo (to the left). He's never had it in a case once. It just has an invisibleSHIELD on the front.
 
I have a 3GS, and after playing with it for a while, it definitely gives off a warm fuzzy feeling. But while the increase in heat generated from the 3GS might be within Apple's design specifications....

I can tell you it's not in the case manufacturer's design specs since most cases available now are just re branded to say it fits with the 3GS because, dimension-wise, it's the same. Later they'll probably re-release 3GS specific cases made with plastics that can better handle the 3GS's more intense heat rate.

PS - all you lemmings out there need to realize that YES the iPhone is a beautiful phone, but not everybody wants their phone to look exactly the same as everyone else's. Sometimes cases are used more for customizing and individualizing a phone than protecting it.

[update] from reports like the post before mine...I question whether or not the increased heat rate of the 3GS is even within Apple's design specs. Apple does have a history of denying anything wrong with their products until it gets really bad ..aka iphone nano 1st gen...faulty nvidia chips... etc
 
Might be time to get some higher quality chassis materials. It feels like the yellowing MacBooks all over again.



the problem is with the case, not the phone. it's like when you buy some dyed materials and the ink rubs off onto the sofa.

and i'm not shocked about this new report. despite claims I only saw one report of a 'heat discolored' iphone that was reposted like 100 times. no other claims. and generally when it is real you have folks on every board coming out to claim it happened to them, to a friend, to the boyfriend, to the boss etc.
 
PS - all you lemmings out there need to realize that YES the iPhone is a beautiful phone, but not everybody wants their phone to look exactly the same as everyone else's. Sometimes cases are used more for customizing and individualizing a phone than protecting it.

"You are all individuals!"
"We are all individuals!"
"I'm not!"
 
Sorry but, it's from overheating. My friend is going bareback with his 16GB 3GS and the thing is turing brownish orange under the Apple logo (to the left). He's never had it in a case once. It just has an invisibleSHIELD on the front.

Really? I would be very curious to see a picture of that phone. Which I assume you don't or cannot obtain.
 
Me. White MacBook and White iPhone are both naked and look great. Why ruin the sexy form of the iPhone with a bulky case? It makes it look ugly.

Agreed. I carry my original iPhone in my Jeans' pocket all the time. The chrome got a dent from when it fell down on a metal grille and the aluminum back is pretty scratched from people sliding and spinning it around on tabletops. The glass is scratch-free though.

I don't like cases either. The device was crafted in a way that it is ergonomically nice. Making it thicker and uglier with a case is kinda dumb I think. But I guess it makes sense for careless people who drop their stuff a lot or want to resell it quickly to get the newest one. I don't really treasure my Macs or iPhone, but my 3 year old matte black Macbook look like new once I cleaned it.
 
I've never understood the obsession with ugly cases for iPhones/iPods. No other portable products seem to breed this massive market for godawful cases that make the product look unimaginably ugly AND make it a lot bulkier. Apple spend a lot of time on the aesthetics of their products and frankly I think people do it a disservice by putting ugly cases on their products. (I know it's all personal preference, but that's just the way I see it).

It's weird actually, I know a few people who asked me about buying an iPhone or an iPod Touch and I advised them accordingly. What surprised me was that in the same conversation about what product to buy etc, they also asked for my advice on what cases to get for them as they've 'heard that they're easily scratched'. :rolleyes:

I personally keep my iPhone in an iPod sock for when it's in my pocket to avoid lint/scratches. As soon as I'm actually using it, it's used as Apple intended.
 
Another thing I don't understand is how everyone poo-poo'd the original Fox News report of the discolorization, saying it probably wasn't true and it was from an illegit news source. However, now, some obscure French blog says otherwise and now everyone is all relieved? I'm certainly not wishing ill-will towards people's purchases, but let's use some common sense and just see how this plays out. The translation said he got this info from the Apple tech line. Of course, they were going to blame it on something else.

You really think people would be able to clean off their phones if it was actually caused by the plastic itself changing color due to heat? I mean, really? Just think about that for a second. And Fox is notorious for slandering things just for ratings. How do you get people talking? Try to discredit one of the most popular items in the last 10 years. It's worked hasn't it? You wanna talk trash about Apple, then do everyone a favor..give your stuff away to people who actually want it and get the f*ck off this forum.
 
Umm, I know this is going to sound like a silly question but if this is a case problem... why didn't it appear on the white 3G iPhone?

Face facts folks, something isn't quite right with the 3GS. Apple are clearly pushing the boundaries of the cooling system and if something as simple as putting it in case can cause issues then something ain't right.
 
Apple always makes a mess with overheating products.

I still remember my MBA first gen... yeah... good memories... especially because they will never admit it was a ****** faulty product... never give you the money back, or replace it for a new product... just trying to watch a youtube video was an amazing experience... (notice the irony)... for those $3o0o I could've bought 15 faulty white 3GS iPhones...
 
Yes but its a trade off against the look of the phone and the perceived risks which people must make - I haven't used a cover on any phone since my first in the early 90's.

What really gets me though is screen protectors - the iphone has a tempered glass front which is virtually scratchproof !

In my opinion covers and skins are just as ugly as a few scratches etc.

The glass isn't exactly scratchproof. I've had an iPhone that had a scratched screen. The main reason why I use a screen protector is because the matte ones from Power Support hide the finger smudges.

Sorry but, it's from overheating. My friend is going bareback with his 16GB 3GS and the thing is turing brownish orange under the Apple logo (to the left). He's never had it in a case once. It just has an invisibleSHIELD on the front.

Pictures...
 
So all this ruckus because it happened to one phone from France?
 
Well, if it was caused by a certain brand/type third-party case... then more/other iPhone users should see the same discoloring and be able to wipe it off with alcohol. In which case Apple should know about this pretty soon, and if not; then this is another waste bin story.

OT: My black 3GS is running pretty hot with in car GPS (with the AC on) and the battery is empty in no time when removed from the cradle.
 
Might be time to get some higher quality chassis materials. It feels like the yellowing MacBooks all over again.

The dye from the case is rubbing off on the phone (presumably moreso when it is hot). The phone material isn't a problem. If the case isn't colour-fast, then its dye is going to rub off, no matter what the phone is made of.
 
Ok, sounds promising although I believe that Apple screwed up with an unrealistic approach to size vs. function with the iPhone. They made the device so thin that its battery drains quickly and it will demonstrate other heat related issues more readily.
Regards,
 
Umm, I know this is going to sound like a silly question but if this is a case problem... why didn't it appear on the white 3G iPhone?

Face facts folks, something isn't quite right with the 3GS. Apple are clearly pushing the boundaries of the cooling system and if something as simple as putting it in case can cause issues then something ain't right.

Yes, the 3GS does put off more heat than the 3G. Enough to cause this level of "damage," no. And if it's an actual threat to the well being of yourself or your property, it's addressed VERY seriously at Apple. The reason the phone gets WARMER(a better word than "hotter") is, it's hardware is way better while still keeping the same size. Apple gets demands from it's customers to have faster, thinner items. Also, companies who make 3rd party accessories(i.e. cases) demand that new items from Apple work with existing accessories to save them money. So while attempted to meet those demands for 3rd party companies, it seems the cases for the 3G don't fully agree with the COSMETIC part of the WHITE iPhone. I'm sure soon, companies will begin to make cases that fit around the corners better, while giving the back some room to breath. People need to understand that hardware of this spec will get warm. Other phones aren't immune to this either. Apple just catches the most because 1, people think these phones should do everything for them..including wiping their butts, and 2 the iPhone is the most successful innovative phone of it's kind. I know most people on here proudly say "iPhone :D" when asked what kind of phone they have. And people who don't own the phones gawk at their friends, spouses, co-workers who have the phones. It's that success that make other companies or "haters" want to slander Apple and their products.
 
I figured it would be something like this. My ear buds started to turn blue after spending some time in my suitcase in between pairs of jeans.
 
"You are all individuals!"
"We are all individuals!"
"I'm not!"

life of brian, love it. seriously. if you put covers on your iphone (or mac )any make or model you are making a constrain to battery power, more heat less battery lifetime... thats just facts...

m
 
I don't!

Who isn't going to use a case? Hell who isn't going to buy a Mac without getting a shell for it?
I'm not even sure what you are talking about here. A Mac is not a turtle, it doesn't need a shell.
Scratch, fingerprint, and dent city. I need to get some Novus Polish for my MacBook.

My iPhone is a working tool, it is not a fashion statement. That doesn't mean I haven't looked at cases for my iPhone, it's just that the ones I've seen add very little to the product.


Dave
 
That is why I got the black unit.. who on earth can keep anything white? and what do you do after Labor Day??? :eek:

Exactly. I only went with the white MacBook because of how much money I had. I got the black iPhone because it looks better and won't stain.
 
Might be time to get some higher quality chassis materials. It feels like the yellowing MacBooks all over again.

Sheesh, did you even READ the article? Do you ever READ what you write sometimes??? Until you decide to post more presumably informed responses, please do us all a favor and don't. :p
 
okay..

my friends iphone got the discoloration, without a case. so it does appear that overheating is really an issue.
 
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