Sorry if this has been asked and answered before (I'm sure it has), but why do they need a glass back on the iPhones from 4 onwards? It makes sense when the antennae (is that the plural of antenna?) are on the inside, but if the metal bands are the antennae then what's it matter what the rest of the case is made of?
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Why glass?
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I am sure there are a multitude of reasons; aesthetics, cost, ease of manufacture, etc. While it does crack more easily than plastics, it is pretty cheap to replace if you ever need to, so I can't say that I mind it.
The antennas on the outside are just for the cellphone, not Wifi, GPS, or Bluetooth.
Yes that's the pluralgood boy
It depends on where you live. In North America, "antennas" is used for the metal receiver, and "antennae" for the insect appendage. British English usually doesn't make that distinction, and uses "antennae" for both.
Well, not fully glass. There are still glass windows on the top and bottom.
Moreover, the outside trim is only part of the cell antennas.
Apparently, the trim and the boards inside create a form of slot antennas at the top and bottom, from what I have read from antenna experts.
+1
Or plastic. Apple patented a process for seamless material butting, wherein they put some kind of glue between them that covers the gap, or something like that. Anyone have that patent handy to see what materials it covers?
Are you sure? This was the photo Apple used at the keynote. (the first photo)
http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=ip...mUNv4JarK0QWMj4G4Cg#biv=i|0;d|WgREtkcPd3svxM:
glass is silky smooth and the back of the iphone can be replaced so easily if you develop scratches or cracks.
The patent is for plastic.
They machine the edges of the metal a certain way so that when they pour in the liquid plastic it bonds to the metal forming a strong and virtually seamless join.
Because it looks gorgeous, and it's unlike all the cheap flimsy plastic backs of various other phones. Even though many hate the glass, I love it. Makes the phone so solid feeling in your hand.
From the leaks, it seems Apple will be ditching the glass for the next iPhone, since so many people (who had naked iphones, tsk tsk) had problems with the glass shattering.
From the leaks, it seems Apple will be ditching the glass for the next iPhone, since so many people (who had naked iphones, tsk tsk
) had problems with the glass shattering.The 4S is different:
And as kdarling points out, the trim is only part of the antennas.
So it sounds like they stopped using the steel band for some of the antennae after the problems with the iPhone 4 in low signal areas, so there are some internal antennae in the new iPhone hence the glass windows. Wouldn't it have been better to keep the antennae external and simply apply an insulative coating?
The worse thing was the plasticy feeling of the 3GS, and that one had cracking issues without ever even dropping the device. At least with this glass back, I've never had it randomly crack on its own!
It does feel gross. I do miss the chrome look and wish it was on the 4s. Maybe Apple will bring it back.
Yep, the 3GS was prone to developing some big nasty cracks.
Chrome scratches real easy sometimes even by wiping with cloth.