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"They also compromised on materials. Instead of the glass-backed iPhone 4S, which looked beautiful but was thick and heavy, we now get an aluminum housing, whic

"They also compromised on materials. Instead of the glass-backed iPhone 4S, which looked beautiful but was thick and heavy, we now get an aluminum housing, which scratches and scuffs easily and visibly — something Apple reassuringly tells us is “normal.”" I'd say this is an improvement on the old design. Though not as pretty, it's more durable and lighter. Shattering the glass is a common and expensive problem for customers. It's nice to have one less fragile item on this expensive device.

blvr 14y ago
I was thinking the same thing. And it's even more of an improvement when you consider who the smartphone customer base is spreading to. Out of all the tradesmen I know, I don't think any of them have owned an iPhone that wasn't shattered on at least one side.
PakG1 14y ago
Out of left field contrarian thought: Is it conceivable at all that one day these scratches and scuff marks could be considered cool? In fact, could they one day become so cool that we'd get pre-scuffed iPhones? Happened to clothing... :) Probably not, but I thought it was a fun thought.
- Firehed 14y ago
  I doubt it but you never know. However the original iPhone's aluminum back scuffed too, and it never bothered me one bit. Same with my iPad. I expect it will be a bit more noticible on the 5 as I got the black one, but at the end of the day I have much more important things to think about than some scratched aluminum. More to the point, Apple tends to go for simple design and ignores fashion trends. They have the colored iPods but that's more to appeal to kids and people that want a little more personalization rather than because yellow and green are in. Also, I'm going to slap the next pundit that refers to this as "scuffgate". Protip, guys: Watergate was a proper noun, not a random mashing-together of words.
primitur 14y ago
It also fulfills the 'bar of soap' design strategy, wherein, after time, users become less and less enamoured by their 'personal' device, because of the little knicks and dents and impersonal scratches and so on .. leading to 'upgrade desire' when the next model is released. Its not designed obsolescence, but rather a triggering with our general Western inclination to eschew any flaws in what is usually an extremely personal, desired object: the bar of soap. The more our gadgets progress towards 'soap' in terms of physical usability, the more this factor comes into the design. Slight dings in perfect surfaces beget more dings, until eventually the device requires replacement..

blvr 14y ago

I was thinking the same thing. And it's even more of an improvement when you consider who the smartphone customer base is spreading to. Out of all the tradesmen I know, I don't think any of them have owned an iPhone that wasn't shattered on at least one side.

PakG1 14y ago

Out of left field contrarian thought: Is it conceivable at all that one day these scratches and scuff marks could be considered cool? In fact, could they one day become so cool that we'd get pre-scuffed iPhones? Happened to clothing... :) Probably not, but I thought it was a fun thought.

Firehed 14y ago
I doubt it but you never know. However the original iPhone's aluminum back scuffed too, and it never bothered me one bit. Same with my iPad. I expect it will be a bit more noticible on the 5 as I got the black one, but at the end of the day I have much more important things to think about than some scratched aluminum. More to the point, Apple tends to go for simple design and ignores fashion trends. They have the colored iPods but that's more to appeal to kids and people that want a little more personalization rather than because yellow and green are in. Also, I'm going to slap the next pundit that refers to this as "scuffgate". Protip, guys: Watergate was a proper noun, not a random mashing-together of words.

primitur 14y ago

It also fulfills the 'bar of soap' design strategy, wherein, after time, users become less and less enamoured by their 'personal' device, because of the little knicks and dents and impersonal scratches and so on .. leading to 'upgrade desire' when the next model is released. Its not designed obsolescence, but rather a triggering with our general Western inclination to eschew any flaws in what is usually an extremely personal, desired object: the bar of soap. The more our gadgets progress towards 'soap' in terms of physical usability, the more this factor comes into the design. Slight dings in perfect surfaces beget more dings, until eventually the device requires replacement..