Josh OngSources inside and outside of Apple told Ryan Block of gdgt that the iPhone engineering team is in "quiet lockdown" as it works to solve the issue of potentially damaging third-party cases. Slide-on cases in particular may cause damage by trapping particulate matter between the phone and the case, eventually scratching, cracking, or even fracturing the glass back of the iPhone 4, Block wrote in his report.
"The iPhone team has grown to be very concerned by this issue with slide-on cases, and has created a lab and large new test program specifically to investigate this further," Block said.
Apple is anxious to prevent any further damage to the iPhone brand, especially now that coverage of the iPhone 4 antenna problem has finally quieted down. After reports of the iPhone 4 losing bars and dropping calls when gripped were picked up by the media, Apple chief executive Steve Jobs held a press conference in July to announce that the company would give away free bumper cases for every iPhone 4 through Sept. 30. The free case program may have cost the iPhone maker as much as $175 million in revenue.
After the free case program ended, Apple resumed selling its bumper cases and a select few third-party cases. However, Block points to a lack of variety in third-party cases, including a complete absence of slide-on cases, offered at Apple Stores as evidence that Apple is blocking sales while it solves the scratching problem.
In the meantime, third-party case manufacturers with slide-on case designs are reportedly "dead in the water" as they wait to get their cases into the Apple Store.
Apple representatives declined to comment on the story when contacted by Block.
In June, Engadget reported that an early review unit of the iPhone 4 had collected "incredibly minor" scratches after a few days of heavy use.
Andrew O'Hara
William Gallagher
Malcolm Owen
61 Comments
Apple is frantically investigating scratching and cracking of the iPhone 4's glass panel back caused by third-party cases, a new report claims.
"frantically"?!
Really... Says who? A "journalist"?...
I never liked the thought of carrying a two sided piece of glass in my pocket. With older models I place the glass on the inside, plastic on the outside. Is it just me?
In an effort to avoid another public relations debacle, Apple is frantically investigating scratching and cracking of the iPhone 4's glass panel back caused by third-party cases, a new report claims.
*Groans*
According to a journalist.
Was it too much trouble to separate some of the bullshit? \
I'll wager it (I'll give the benefit of the doubt and assume some of this is really even happening) boiled down to some users getting some truly nasty scratches on the back of their phone, and then applying considerable pressure. You'd need to get a good scratch in to create enough of a weakness in the glass for a crack to find its way across, and the angling/distance would have to be appropriate too. And Apple tests any regular report in their lab. I doubt they do so frantically.
I like my free bumper. Didn't have a problem with the antenna. I just gave it a shot and it works. Thanks Apple.
I never liked the thought of carrying a two sided piece of glass in my pocket. With older models I place the glass on the inside, plastic on the outside. Is it just me?
Doesn't bother me at all.