When function is form, and form is function

Apple announced the new iPhone yesterday - an event that was without its usual suspense because of the Gizmodo revelations. However, there were still some aspects of the announcement that were quite interesting.

To me, one of the most interesting changes in the new iPhone, is in the choice of materials used to make the case. Apple chose to use Glass panels on either side, banded together with a stainless steel side.

To most people, glass is a dicey material - when Apple launched the first iPhone with a glass touchscreen, there were several questions about whether the screen would survive a drop to the floor. However, we have seen that the glass used in the iPhone was quite durable. In fact, the aluminium backing on my phone got dented badly in some falls, but the glass stayed intact. Even now, my old iPhone still has no scratches on the glass. Same is the case with the 3GS - while the plastic got scratched a bit, the glass is good as new.

Considering this, it is not surprising that Apple decided to go with glass on both sides - the new phone looks absolutely stunning. So in a way, the glass not just avoided the scratches and dents, but also gave the phone a classy makeover.

Moving to glass also opens up some other options for Apple. Some time back we saw Apple filing for a patent for Solar Panels integrated into Touchscreens. See http://www.iphonefaq.org/archives/97797 for details. The glass back of the new phone gives apple a much better option to integrate Solar Panels - without impacting the touchscreen in any way. Quite obviously, Solar Panel in the touchscreen would have affected the display - putting it on the back of the phone should solve that problem.

Also, this opens up tremendous personalisation opportunities - when you order a phone from the Apple Store, what if you can upload a picture that Apple will print and insert behind the glass panel? Would be a lot more sophisticated than the inscribing options currently offered.

Let us not forget the stainless steel band - while it looks cool, it also doubles up as the antenna for the phone, while also strengthening the phone significantly.

Apple has once again shown that form and function go hand in hand.