7 ms·

Jonathan Ive on the design of the iPhone 4

72 points by latif 16y ago

deleted 16y ago
[deleted]
ben1040 16y ago
I really liked the original iPhone for how solid and a little heavy it felt, as though it's actually worth the $600 you paid for it. I'm glad to see that back with the iPhone 4; the 3G model just felt like a cheap toy. Reminds me of that scene from Jurassic Park where the kids find the night vision goggles in the back of the truck: Gennaro: Hey, where'd you find that? Tim: In a box under my seat. Gennaro: Are they heavy? Tim: Yeah. Gennaro: Then they're expensive, put 'em back.
- ugh 16y ago
  Sometimes Apple’s material choices are questionable. Their iPod touches have this really slick, polished metal back. It looks really great – for a few weeks. Then it’s quickly getting scratches. I don’t know whether they picked that material for sentimental reasons (all iPods back to the first one – except the smaller ones – had that back) and whether you are just supposed to accept that back that’s slowly getting more and more scratches. (I won’t use cases. Never. I have to be able to put your gadget in my empty jeans pocket. If I can’t there’s something wrong with your product.) Apple knows and used better materials. My trusty six year old brushed aluminum iPod mini pretty much looks like new and has been treated far worse than my iPod touch.
  - dieterrams 16y ago
    > Their iPod touches have this really slick, polished metal back. It looks really great – for a few weeks. Then it’s quickly getting scratches. Likewise for the chrome bezel. Within an hour of ditching my iPhone's case, I nicked the damn thing with a very slight bump. It was a huge relief to see Apple lose the chrome for the iPhone 4. But after one of Engadget's phones got a nice big scratch on the back, I can no longer assume they're using gorilla glass on both sides. I'm forced to believe they make questionable material choices merely to increase the "shiny", which is one of my main gripes with Apple. It's undoubtedly why they use glossy displays by default on MacBooks, iMacs, and iPads, even though matte is far more usable.
    - somebear 16y ago
      To be fair, the introduction of glossy displays was done after most other laptop manufacturers had switched. I'm sure they did it because it looks better at the store, i.e. you have to know that a matte display is more usable in daylight to prefer that over the glossy display.
      - derefr 16y ago
        They do consider how it will look past the store—not in the least because Apple products are sold online as well as through the retail stores. The likely explanation, to me, is that professional graphics people (Apple's high-end core market) will set up the environment of the device to be perfect for it (i.e. "studio lighting"—basically the same as the Apple stores) rather than expecting the device to conform to the environment. Glossy is better under perfect conditions.
        dieterrams 16y ago
        I don't buy that explanation, as glossy displays are ubiquitous on Apple products aside from the Cinema Displays and matte options for MacBook Pros. They surely aren't assuming that iPads and regular Macbooks are being used in perfect lighting conditions, which is an unreasonable assumption to make for any portable device. I would actually argue that glossy displays are not ideal in any lit environment, for the simple reason that blacks just turn the display into a mirror. This is also a problem if you've turned down the brightness in order to save power. Matte really needs to be the default for any display, with glossy as an option.
        fdkz 16y ago
        One sunny day I went outside and tested glossy and matte lcd side-by-side. I had the same results as described here: http://netwalker.nl/2007/07/28/glossy-vs-matte/ http://netwalker.nl/2007/07/28/glossy-vs-matte/ Glossy was better. (lcd panels were from different manufacturers, so my results may not apply to every case) edit: unlike in the linked blog-post, backlight intensity of both lcd-s I tested was roughly the same.
  - richardw 16y ago
    I've read an interview with Jobs that said it's meant to scratch - it gives it personality. Jobs thinks it should, the rest of the universe would prefer it doesn't.
    - thwarted 16y ago
      If this was the case, it would come pre-scratched as an option. Can you still buy those iPods that are scratched with U2's signature?
- SoftwareMaven 16y ago
  And that reminds me of this article: http://news.discovery.com/human/human-touch-emotion.html http://news.discovery.com/human/human-touch-emotion.html It is a really interesting look at how the feel of an item affects the emotional attachment to it.
geuis 16y ago
Ive is right. My new iPhone is like a work of art. Like a piece of art in a museum, because I can't touch it either. The unit I have has so many problems, simply holding it makes it lose both 3G and wifi signal. I'm exchanging mine or switching back to my 3GS
- nickpp 16y ago
  3G AND WiFi? Somehow I doubt you even own an iPhone...
  - MisterWebz 16y ago
    Could you explain why? I don't own one and never really read much about Iphones.
    - atlbeer 16y ago
      The "holding" problem is only related to the 3G signal. WiFi has a completely separate antenna which is unaffected
    - bmalicoat 16y ago
      When you're on wifi you have no indication of the signal strength of any other data source (3G, Edge or GPRS). It's possible the Wifi would go out and then the bars would drop, I suppose. Any signal issues I've seen have been non-wifi though.
      - bombs 16y ago
        You do. The signal strength bars are to the left of the carrier name, while the connection type (EDGE, 3G, WiFi) icon is the right. The WiFi icon (which acts as a signal strength indicator for WiFi connections) unfortunately does hide the cellular data indicator, which shows whether you're connected to EDGE or 3G.
        bmalicoat 16y ago
vena 16y ago
When you see the breaks, the three little black reveals that interrupt the band, in photographs, you could be forgiven for assuming you're seeing three separate strips of metal with gaps in between; but in fact it's all one piece. from the internal photos at ifixits iphone 4 teardown[1] this doesn't appear to actually be true... or am i crazy? ( i am fully prepare to be called crazy/blind :) ) [1] http://www.ifixit.com/Teardown/iPhone-4-Teardown/3130/1 http://www.ifixit.com/Teardown/iPhone-4-Teardown/3130/1
- wmeredith 16y ago
  I'm pretty sure this is a difference of semantics. He means that it's all one piece and then they machine into the separate antennas that fit together with incredibly tight tolerances.
Qz 16y ago
Zzz... device porn. Nothing new to see here, move along.
rbranson 16y ago
Anyone else read Johnny Ive quotes in a British accent, almost as if it's instinct?
- sjs 16y ago
  It is instinct. At least for me. If I know how someone actually sounds I "hear" their voice as I read a quote by them.
bonsaitree 16y ago
This article reminds me vividly why, at my Alma mater, EVERY engineer (even EEs and CEs) were REQUIRED to take a class in their freshmen or sophomore year called "Manufacturing Process & Materials Design". It was basically a fancy academic term for "shop class". We made gears, arc welded (still have a scar from that), cut screw threads, riveted sheet metal, worked milling machines & saws, turned fixtures on lathes, and glued/bagged/baked carbon fiber. At a very visceral hands-on level were introduced to the materials, workflows, and structural fastening tech that makes up the shells and supporting frameworks of physical goods. At the time, it was a royal pain in the ass (I'm not a natural kinesthetic learner) and I didn't "get it", but looking back it was an extremely valuable experience. Aside from the welding scar on my left thumb, I think the biggest takeaway was gaining an appreciation for the EXTREME ROI gained in designing processes which have "loose" tolerances where it's acceptable and "tight" tollerances where it's required.

72 points by latif 16y ago

deleted 16y ago

[deleted]

I really liked the original iPhone for how solid and a little heavy it felt, as though it's actually worth the $600 you paid for it. I'm glad to see that back with the iPhone 4; the 3G model just felt like a cheap toy. Reminds me of that scene from Jurassic Park where the kids find the night vision goggles in the back of the truck: Gennaro: Hey, where'd you find that? Tim: In a box under my seat. Gennaro: Are they heavy? Tim: Yeah. Gennaro: Then they're expensive, put 'em back.

ugh 16y ago
Sometimes Apple’s material choices are questionable. Their iPod touches have this really slick, polished metal back. It looks really great – for a few weeks. Then it’s quickly getting scratches. I don’t know whether they picked that material for sentimental reasons (all iPods back to the first one – except the smaller ones – had that back) and whether you are just supposed to accept that back that’s slowly getting more and more scratches. (I won’t use cases. Never. I have to be able to put your gadget in my empty jeans pocket. If I can’t there’s something wrong with your product.) Apple knows and used better materials. My trusty six year old brushed aluminum iPod mini pretty much looks like new and has been treated far worse than my iPod touch.
- dieterrams 16y ago
  > Their iPod touches have this really slick, polished metal back. It looks really great – for a few weeks. Then it’s quickly getting scratches. Likewise for the chrome bezel. Within an hour of ditching my iPhone's case, I nicked the damn thing with a very slight bump. It was a huge relief to see Apple lose the chrome for the iPhone 4. But after one of Engadget's phones got a nice big scratch on the back, I can no longer assume they're using gorilla glass on both sides. I'm forced to believe they make questionable material choices merely to increase the "shiny", which is one of my main gripes with Apple. It's undoubtedly why they use glossy displays by default on MacBooks, iMacs, and iPads, even though matte is far more usable.
  - somebear 16y ago
    To be fair, the introduction of glossy displays was done after most other laptop manufacturers had switched. I'm sure they did it because it looks better at the store, i.e. you have to know that a matte display is more usable in daylight to prefer that over the glossy display.
    - derefr 16y ago
      They do consider how it will look past the store—not in the least because Apple products are sold online as well as through the retail stores. The likely explanation, to me, is that professional graphics people (Apple's high-end core market) will set up the environment of the device to be perfect for it (i.e. "studio lighting"—basically the same as the Apple stores) rather than expecting the device to conform to the environment. Glossy is better under perfect conditions.
      - dieterrams 16y ago
        I don't buy that explanation, as glossy displays are ubiquitous on Apple products aside from the Cinema Displays and matte options for MacBook Pros. They surely aren't assuming that iPads and regular Macbooks are being used in perfect lighting conditions, which is an unreasonable assumption to make for any portable device. I would actually argue that glossy displays are not ideal in any lit environment, for the simple reason that blacks just turn the display into a mirror. This is also a problem if you've turned down the brightness in order to save power. Matte really needs to be the default for any display, with glossy as an option.
        fdkz 16y ago
        One sunny day I went outside and tested glossy and matte lcd side-by-side. I had the same results as described here: http://netwalker.nl/2007/07/28/glossy-vs-matte/ http://netwalker.nl/2007/07/28/glossy-vs-matte/ Glossy was better. (lcd panels were from different manufacturers, so my results may not apply to every case) edit: unlike in the linked blog-post, backlight intensity of both lcd-s I tested was roughly the same.
- richardw 16y ago
  I've read an interview with Jobs that said it's meant to scratch - it gives it personality. Jobs thinks it should, the rest of the universe would prefer it doesn't.
  - thwarted 16y ago
    If this was the case, it would come pre-scratched as an option. Can you still buy those iPods that are scratched with U2's signature?
SoftwareMaven 16y ago
And that reminds me of this article: http://news.discovery.com/human/human-touch-emotion.html http://news.discovery.com/human/human-touch-emotion.html It is a really interesting look at how the feel of an item affects the emotional attachment to it.

geuis 16y ago

Ive is right. My new iPhone is like a work of art. Like a piece of art in a museum, because I can't touch it either. The unit I have has so many problems, simply holding it makes it lose both 3G and wifi signal. I'm exchanging mine or switching back to my 3GS

nickpp 16y ago
3G AND WiFi? Somehow I doubt you even own an iPhone...
- MisterWebz 16y ago
  Could you explain why? I don't own one and never really read much about Iphones.
  - atlbeer 16y ago
    The "holding" problem is only related to the 3G signal. WiFi has a completely separate antenna which is unaffected
  - bmalicoat 16y ago
    When you're on wifi you have no indication of the signal strength of any other data source (3G, Edge or GPRS). It's possible the Wifi would go out and then the bars would drop, I suppose. Any signal issues I've seen have been non-wifi though.
    - bombs 16y ago
      You do. The signal strength bars are to the left of the carrier name, while the connection type (EDGE, 3G, WiFi) icon is the right. The WiFi icon (which acts as a signal strength indicator for WiFi connections) unfortunately does hide the cellular data indicator, which shows whether you're connected to EDGE or 3G.
      - bmalicoat 16y ago

vena 16y ago

When you see the breaks, the three little black reveals that interrupt the band, in photographs, you could be forgiven for assuming you're seeing three separate strips of metal with gaps in between; but in fact it's all one piece. from the internal photos at ifixits iphone 4 teardown[1] this doesn't appear to actually be true... or am i crazy? ( i am fully prepare to be called crazy/blind :) ) [1] http://www.ifixit.com/Teardown/iPhone-4-Teardown/3130/1 http://www.ifixit.com/Teardown/iPhone-4-Teardown/3130/1

wmeredith 16y ago
I'm pretty sure this is a difference of semantics. He means that it's all one piece and then they machine into the separate antennas that fit together with incredibly tight tolerances.

Qz 16y ago

Zzz... device porn. Nothing new to see here, move along.

rbranson 16y ago

Anyone else read Johnny Ive quotes in a British accent, almost as if it's instinct?

sjs 16y ago
It is instinct. At least for me. If I know how someone actually sounds I "hear" their voice as I read a quote by them.

bonsaitree 16y ago

This article reminds me vividly why, at my Alma mater, EVERY engineer (even EEs and CEs) were REQUIRED to take a class in their freshmen or sophomore year called "Manufacturing Process & Materials Design". It was basically a fancy academic term for "shop class". We made gears, arc welded (still have a scar from that), cut screw threads, riveted sheet metal, worked milling machines & saws, turned fixtures on lathes, and glued/bagged/baked carbon fiber. At a very visceral hands-on level were introduced to the materials, workflows, and structural fastening tech that makes up the shells and supporting frameworks of physical goods. At the time, it was a royal pain in the ass (I'm not a natural kinesthetic learner) and I didn't "get it", but looking back it was an extremely valuable experience. Aside from the welding scar on my left thumb, I think the biggest takeaway was gaining an appreciation for the EXTREME ROI gained in designing processes which have "loose" tolerances where it's acceptable and "tight" tollerances where it's required.