April 29th, 2007
Is the iPhone Too Slippery?
By Michael Santo
Executive Editor, RealTechNews
Reports have been flying around the Internet that the prototypes of the iPhone that people have been seeing are “too slippery.” People whio have used the device have said it’s definitely drop-prone … not good when you look at the price tag.
According to those who’ve had a little more than Apple’s standard 15 minute playtime, the mobile’s design is simply too smooth, meaning it’s prone to slipping from the hand and, potentially, tumbling to the floor. Source: T3
We Say: Let’s say this is true. So what? The reason I say this is because I’ve seen plenty of cell phone prototypes, and many of them go through case changes, including not just color but often texture. Even IF this is true, it will most likely be fixed before release. Case texture or color … that’s easy to fix. What Apple’s been discovering is that the ROM and firmware … those are harder to fix than they expected.
Nico says:
Two things: 1) Isn’t it the whole idea of prototypes to get feedback from people to improve design etc? 2) Depending on the final product, you could possibly get a body glove for the iPhone in the not too distant future, which will address the slippery issue.
April 29th, 2007 at 2:24 am
Cylver says:
Why should I have to buy an aftermarket addon to correct a flaw in a device? Particularly at the price they’re asking, there shouldn’t be a problem on the final product that’s as easy to fix as texturizing the plastic case.
April 29th, 2007 at 3:57 am
Charles says:
Is it really a ‘flaw’? I’ve never dropped anything because of how smooth the plastic or metal is on an object. It’s usually some very uncoordinated bumbling move brought on by my carelessness with a very loose grip.
Regardless of the plastic texture, there will be cases for it because people like the added protection.
Michael is right… so what. Textured walking surfaces make a difference. Textured handheld objects? Give me a break…
April 29th, 2007 at 8:39 am
DBL says:
Unless this is some kind of space age material made from frictionless surface technology discovered at Area 51, I am an adult and I am quite capable of keeping a grip on any earthbound object. What’s smoother than a glass of water? And yet I don’t have a problem keep a grip on one despite the fact that it’s only worth about a dollar.
If I need rubber and ridges to keep my hands on a device, then I think that I would have bigger problems than replacing an iPhone.
April 29th, 2007 at 11:58 am
THOR says:
This seems to be a recurring problem in consumer electronics today: http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2006/11/29
April 29th, 2007 at 2:02 pm
techno says:
I’m thinking of a digicam at a store which, amongst a rack of others, was the only one having a slippery sheen that caused it slip easily out of hand. Much of the problem seemed to be the way its surface retained natural skin oil.
April 29th, 2007 at 3:31 pm
Al says:
Who are these people who got to use the iPhone? It’s illegal to have them out in the wild before certification.
Someone is so scared of the iPhone that they have organized a FUD campaign. This is all BS.
April 29th, 2007 at 7:35 pm
iPhone says:
do somebody knows when we get the iphone in europe?
April 29th, 2007 at 11:40 pm
Chan says:
You always want some kind of protection like a case or a screen protector for your ipod or cell phone right?
so what would make this iPhone any different…
Like nico mentioned getting some kind of rubber casing would work.
April 30th, 2007 at 11:46 am