“Just how slippery is Apple’s iPhone? Scattered reports from people who have put their hands on pre-release models say that its main problem is not the rumored battery life shortfall, but the sleek, slippery surface,” hilip Elmer-DeWitt blogs for Business 2.0.
“I handled one for about 15 minutes in January and didn’t find it any more prone to flying out of my hands — or my shirt pocket — than an iPod. But others who have spent more time with it say different,” Elmer-DeWitt writes.
Elmer-DeWitt writes, “Alexandros Roussos recently interviewed a ‘tipster who had the chance to play with the device for a longer time than just a few minutes.’ He reported on MacScoop that its real-world battery performance would ‘surprise us,’ and, in fact, exceed Apple’s posted specs: up to 5 hours talk/video/browsing, and up to 16 hours audio playback.”
“Overall,” he added, “our source found the iPhone awesome but he mentioned, as a sole negative point, that the material used on the device’s case makes it feel even more slippery than the iPod and will probably require the purchase of a protective skin or case so as to avoid unintentionally dropping it.”
Full article here.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “DLMeyer” for the heads up.]
Judging “slipperiness” by pre-production units is probably not the best idea. We’ll reserve judgement for the shipping product.
you can always carve knotches in the side of it….
Just remember to wipe yer hands off after your KFC binge and before using the iPhone, and you shouldnt have any probs !
A pre-production model is not the best way of evaluating anything, since the processes for a mass production run are different than a one off model. The pre-production model could have easily been a working test of a different material, one that they’re gonna change but that works perfectly well to allow people 5 minute demonstrations.
“you can always carve knotches in the side of it….”
Ha! I have a 20,000 RPM angle grinder if anyone needs to borrow it.
It’s a phone not a bar of soap. Just hold it.
ha ha
let me see
the iphone could be slippery thats the ticket
BORING BS
I love to see everyone trying so hard to catch up with Apple. Thank microsuck for lowering the bar so much …. Apple has had the last 10 years to focus with steve at the top.
this is only the start of some serious change coming down the line
macboy “2010” AAPL
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sorry i dont have a problem with sweat pouring out of my palms like some sort of mongol.
its akin to saying the ipod scratches too easily because as my knuckles drag on the ground during normal walking, the ipod should somehow be made to be totally scratch resistant because i am half ape-man.
for normal people with any taste its like looking at vista and wanting to throw you guts up is suppose.
It’s ok, Apple’s including some Gorilla Snot with every iPhone.
Slipperiness won’t be the issue.
You’ll need to CHAIN it to your wrist to stop people grabbing it for a feel…
My girlfriend’s quite slippery when she’s being nice to me…
I don’t know about the iPhone being slippery, but I know Mr. Gates is pretty slippery.
Perl is a slick piece of plastic.
Now let me ask everyone this: How many times have you dropped your cell phone or iPod? Virtually everyone’s done this at least a few times, and this will be no different.
Personally, the invisible shield (free plug boys!), delivers great scratch protection, no added bulk, and delivers grip to any product, while letting the product look like it has nothing added to it.
Stay tuned for more shit:
– the touch screen will get scratched easily;
– you need three arms to dial (if you don’t have thumbs);
– the Excel files will open, but some Visual Basic macros won’t work;
– the Gogle Earth photo of the Eiffel Tower is obsolete (because it’s evening now, and the photo was taken during the day);
– the browser works fine, but the Windows Update website won’t load properly;
– the album art is from the UK, and not the US edition;
– if you dial more than fifty digits, the font size is too small for people with disabilities (i.e., Bill Gates)
– you have to wash your hands each time after flushing the zune (especially if you don’t have toilet paper), otherwise it/you will get slippery.
They should stop wanking beforehand or avoid eating fried chicken before using one.
I suspect this is an example of the class action wh***s pre -launch strategy, as they did with Nano scratches.
The iPhone is so darn slippery because that hand model who posed with it for the promo photo had way too much makeup on.
I mean, look at this photo:
http://www.cingular.com/cell-phone-service/specials/iPhone.js
Introducing the coolest new accessories for the iPhone…. iNipps! Exciting new iNipps are smart rubber finger tip caps that increase your grip on the super slippery new iPhone! Five hot new colors will handsomely compliment the sleek black and silver of your iPhone. Check out iNipps here:
http://www.craftconn.com/Main.asp?Task=Custom&Step=Notion+Details&productID=14988
Remember kids – Don’t lose your grip, get iNipps!
As long as the launch date doesn’t slip
Lucky for me my hands are adjustable, so i can grip things tighter if needed. Too bad this option wasn’t orderd from the factory by the author’s parents
This is getting to be like Mac OS X security. When it was obvious that there were no real world issues to point at, the media starts looking for silly things, like “Mac OS X is not secure because Apple does not hire a security czar” or “Mac OS X is not as secure as Windows because Apple’s average reaction time to a vulnerability was slower than Microsoft.”
Now that price, battery life, and lack of a physical “thumb” keyboard have run out of steam (and validity), it’s time to focus on “slipperiness” as a critical flaw in iPhone. iPods are “slippery.” I like the feel and would never cover it up with a cheap case. Others will buy a leather or silicone case. If this is the worst issue facing iPhone, it’s going to be huge.
“Isn’t that was cases are for?”
Well, think when you are taking it out from your case. Slip…and there you go!
Time go buy another iPhone.
Everyone should change iPhone once a year, i guess, that’s what S.Jobs would say.
its a non-issue.
There’s going to be a cases market anyway just like other ipods and phones – leather, aluminum, plastic, whatever. I mean, there’s aluminum cases for gadgets that are made of, you guessed it, aluminum.
This has an easy solution: cover it in brown plastic!
Its not like its covered with grease c;mon, if your that much of a klutz get a rubber case for it
Note to self: purchase property insurance along with iPhone in June.