Next Generation iPhone Case to Have Matte Finish? Enhanced 3G?

[Andrew K.]

The reason that 1st Gen iPhone owners were allowed to get the subisdized pricing on the 2nd Gen iPhone is that the 1st Gen wasn't subsidized. Anyone who bought a 2nd Gen iPhone had a subsidized price (initially at least), so they will probably not be able to get a 3rd Gen phone at the subsidized price until at least 18 months from when they purchased their 2nd Gen phone.

True but Apple wants every iPhone user to be able to buy the new one, think about it, if you don't have the New iPhone available for purchase at a good price ( maybe $100 extra for early upgrade fee ) then you lose alot of sales, and we know Apple loves toting there sales records. I can't wait to get it, I had the 3G since October, then had to give it up and just got a 1st gen as a back up. I may wait in line again for the 3rd time Damn you Apple!

 

[Andrew K.]

erm...who cares? Seriously, I'm perplexed. Does anyone care whether the stupid phone is going to have a matte back? I guess some people really have nothing else to think about?

Uhhm Yeah a lot of people care and care to discuss it on the Macrumors DISCUSSION Forums. Where did you think you were?

We want a durable material that will keep just like the Aluminum iPhone did. The 3G can't compare to the 1st gen in terms of durability and keeping it looking new, the 3G scratched so easily I just couldn't put it in my pocket without a case or sleeve. I hope they can have the sexiness of the 3G and the durability of the 1st gen ( I think i've said this before haha )

 

[stezza333]

Apple logo doubles as flash? Glows when backlight is on?

Sounds a lot like a concept I made back in 2008

http://www.modmyi.com/forums/general-iphone-chat/193401-iphone-5mp-camera-what-would-look-like.html

If the iPhone had a 5MP camera it will kill its competitors in my opinion. I would not hesitate to buy an iPhone with that sort of camera. This should be the next thing Apple should put on their list to "tick" off. What are your thoughts? Possible to be in 3rd gen iPhone 2009?

Apple logo doubles as flash

The apple logo could also glow when the front screen is lit up, just like the macbook.

 

[SimonMW]

Never mind the look of it. What I want is an OLED screen and HD video with HDMI video out abilities. Of course a decent camera would also be cool, but only if it is halfway decent.

Would be nice if Apple made these devices properly waterproof too.

 

[MacsomJRR]

Hopefully the matte finish protects better against daily wear and tear (e.g. scratches and finger prints). I wonder just how much "faster" the new 3G will actually be.

 

[Virtuo]

Hopefully the matte finish protects better against daily wear and tear (e.g. scratches and finger prints). I wonder just how much "faster" the new 3G will actually be.

Matte finish is always better than glossy in terms of scratches and finger prints. Also, no more of those mysterious hairline cracks people were complaining about before.
Hopefully they'll give the iPod Touch the same treatment in this area - for sake of WiFi reception. I doubt that, however, as the metal provides much of the iPod touch's stability, which is needed due to it's significantly thinner design.

 

[MrZebra]

Apple logo doubles as flash? Glows when backlight is on?

Sounds a lot like a concept I made back in 2008

http://www.modmyi.com/forums/general-iphone-chat/193401-iphone-5mp-camera-what-would-look-like.html

I would buy that in a second!

 

[Eso]

The current iPhone 3G would have MORE grip than one with a textured back. One of the things people like about the 3G vs the original is that it doesn't slide out of your hand because it isn't textured. Texture means less surface area to grip on to which means less grip. Thats why racecars have slick, smooth tires and not grooved ones.

LMAO!

It's called the coefficient of static friction, and actually, textured finished tend to have a higher μ than smooth surfaces. Higher μ translates to a better grip. The frictional force (i.e. "grip") is independent of the surface area.

Race car tires are smooth for an entirely different reason. They peel out and the tires run at high temperatures so the rubber becomes very sticky. Think of gum on the sidewalk on a hot, summer day versus gum in your mouth while drinking ice cold water.

 

[jk000]

Is Apple trying to make every successor to the original iPhone less and less as beautiful as the first? Matt case? No thanks, bring back some actual premium design...

Metals
Brushed metals
Glossy finishes

I hear there's talk of getting rid of the chrome bezel?

Ridiculous.

 

[yorkshire]

Sounds like the back will be made out of the same plastic they use on the SE K800i. Anyone who has this phone will be able to testify that it does feel high quality. Indeed, I've had my K800i for 2 years, and there is not a single scratch on it.

 

[tommy8884]

haha Even my year-old Samsung slider has a flash! There's Apple's priorities for ya! lol I tell ya...

edit: I never thought about the fact that iPhone doesn't have a flash for its camera. Thanks for mentioning it.

So did my 5 year old SE, and every phone i had since (except the iphone). One of my SE phones (the K800i) had a xenon flash. You could take ace pictures in total darkness (like an errm camera). I have always noticed the iphone is missing it. Catch up Apple!!!

Sounds like the back will be made out of the same plastic they use on the SE K800i. Anyone who has this phone will be able to testify that it does feel high quality. Indeed, I've had my K800i for 2 years, and there is not a single scratch on it.

Yup i also remeber the rubberised back to this phone. It was great. I was so supprised that it never marked or rubbed off

 

[Scorch07]

I would definitely like a matte finish. To me the glossy back almost has a sort of cheapish look to it.

 

[RyanR.]

Never mind the look of it. What I want is an OLED screen and HD video with HDMI video out abilities. Of course a decent camera would also be cool, but only if it is halfway decent.

Would be nice if Apple made these devices properly waterproof too.

At least "sweat" proof.......

 

[iPhoneNYC]

Enhanced 3.5 would be great - but what type of coverage does ATT have? I feel as if Apple invents the future and ATT delivers the past.

 

[MacTosh321]

Carbon Fiber

Could this be a carbon fiber back? Lighter, stronger...

 

[edenwaith]

Looks pretty nice, even if it may or may not be real. Probably doesn't leave as many fingerprints.

 

[wonderbread57]

Never mind the look of it. What I want is an OLED screen and HD video with HDMI video out abilities. Of course a decent camera would also be cool, but only if it is halfway decent.

Would be nice if Apple made these devices properly waterproof too.

It's fine to want those things but, as you probably know, they won't happen.

OLED: too expensive and doesn't exist anywhere on the market except sony's $2k 11" LCD
HDMI: Apple uses DisplayPort not HDMI. So maybe displayport with a dongle but no way they put a dedicated video output on the iPhone since it's not a primary function of the device
Waterproof: what cell phones or other computing devices for that matter do you know of that are waterproof? (toshiba toughbook is the only one i know)
Camera: so you want a "decent" camera that is only "halfway decent". wait, what?

lol

 

[DotCom2]

It's fine to want those things but, as you probably know, they won't happen.

OLED: too expensive and doesn't exist anywhere on the market except sony's $2k 11" LCD
HDMI: Apple uses DisplayPort not HDMI. So maybe displayport with a dongle but no way they put a dedicated video output on the iPhone since it's not a primary function of the device
Waterproof: what cell phones or other computing devices for that matter do you know of that are waterproof? (toshiba toughbook is the only one i know)
Camera: so you want a "decent" camera that is only "halfway decent". wait, what?

lol

Ummmmmmmm the upcoming Microsoft Zune HD announced today has an OLED screen.

 

[appleii2mac]

True but Apple wants every iPhone user to be able to buy the new one, think about it, if you don't have the New iPhone available for purchase at a good price ( maybe $100 extra for early upgrade fee ) then you lose alot of sales, and we know Apple loves toting there sales records. I can't wait to get it, I had the 3G since October, then had to give it up and just got a 1st gen as a back up. I may wait in line again for the 3rd time Damn you Apple!

I think that is wishful thinking. They probably figure you will upgrade eventually anyway. But they receive $$$ from AT&T (subsidy) and AT&T expects you to honor your contract. If they allow people to upgrade every year, then the subsidy will be smaller, and the "new" price for the iPhone will be higher.

 

[Gluben]

Could this be a carbon fiber back? Lighter, stronger...

If only. It would receive a good signal, look good and not get as many fingerprint marks.

But I would still take matte plastic over metal, simply for the signal. I don't think people should get too worked up if the iPhone doesn't look as good without a metal back. As long as it gets a better signal, who cares?

Either way, if I have the money, I will probably finally buy an iPhone. I've held off for this long because I believe Apple takes time to craft a product, and I've been waiting for stuff like video, 32GB and a better camera to come along. Stephen Fry believes that the 3rd iPhone will be the "perfect device". We shall see.

 

[offwidafairies]

i like the matt. any chance they might make the new one a little more stable. mine always drops out, it's slow, and the volume doesn't go loud enough, and my friends can't hear me when i use my headset - i never used to have these problems with my last phone

 

[01jamcon]

It's fine to want those things but, as you probably know, they won't happen.

OLED: too expensive and doesn't exist anywhere on the market except sony's $2k 11" LCD

lol

Uh, here's a long long list with many products with OLED screens, the most high profile being the new Sony Walkman and the Zune HD

 

[DiamondMac]

Fewer dropped calls please (on AT&T)

Amen, Amen, & Amen

 

[TSX]

If we take the previously leaked images as indeed being the new case, I would have to say that there will not be a glowing apple (due to the absence of a cutout from the inside view) but there WILL be a flash. Look at the pic below, I do not see the usual chrome ring around the camera. I see a clear plastic ring from both sides, which would presumably act as a flash/light. Anyone else see this or am I crazy?

How do you know that's the inside of the new matte cover and not the 3g? If you look at the bezel for the new iphone it has a cut out on the side "some say it's a camera button" IDK, but the matte cover dosen't have a cut out on it.

 

[regnoc]

Could this be the Carbon Fiber Composite Material?

We saw a couple of posts over the last few months starting in November and another in April. Could this be the Carbon Fiber Composite Materials Apple has been putting into R&D and patent applications?

I believe it would fit the iPhone pretty well. Apple's research into the grip-able matte finish for function and aesthetics, is important to note as well.

Here are the posts:
Apple Researching Carbon Fiber Composite Materials for Exterior Shells

Apple to Adopt Carbon Fiber for Lighter MacBook Air?

I've played with carbon fiber and I really don't believe it would fit into the MacBook line. It's a little bit more flexible than the Unibody MacBook is, especially at that size. For the iPhone and the future "Netbook," Apple's Carbon Fiber composite would be perfect, and for the size of the iPhone this would prove to be physically solid.