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[numble]

Overtime restrictions aren't a production constraint. Foxconn will just hire even more people and add them to other shifts.

Production constraints for Apple are likely going to be supplier based, or just overall factory capacity.

Overtime restrictions are a production constraint. Especially with the current labor shortage in the Pearl River delta, where Foxconn has 2 factories. Add in the high turnover rate at Foxconn, and its faster to produce many iPhones with seasoned workers working overtime, compared to newbies working short shifts. There was an interview with a Foxconn worker in March that demonstrated this--they're rate of production was better with seasoned workers that had worked overtime.

Factory capacity is tied to overtime restrictions. They need to build more dorms if they're going to double the workers. They also need to build more factories if they're going to churn out 50-60 million iPhones for the launch quarter (they sold nearly 40 million just for iPhone 4S launch).

In the end, its cheaper for all parties to start earlier, instead of building more factories, more dorms, and hiring more workers. They'll do a combination of both, of course, just because of the insanely high volume expected. Start 2 months earlier or hire double the workers and build new dorms and factories? Start 1 month earlier?

 

[sc0la]

Hadn't heard about the labor shortage, thought they still had lines of hundreds of job seekers etc.

I stand corrected.

Edit: I also see my previous post came off as authoritative rather than opinion/assumption that it was.

 

[mrklaw]

Hadn't heard about the labor shortage, thought they still had lines of hundreds of job seekers etc.

I stand corrected.

Edit: I also see my previous post came off as authoritative rather than opinion/assumption that it was.

so a photo leak of the biggest iPhone redesign since its launch doesn't even deserve a new thread? damn.

I think it looks ok. My only real issue is the different colour of the back metal panel. Neither the black or white is colour matched, so I can only assume apple decided not to try too hard, allow it to be a design feature. But it just makes it look like it pops off to get to the battery, like ordinary phones.

 

[brianmcdoogle]

The black looks like the center is made of a different, less slick material, so maybe it will be easier to hold and set on a flat surface without scratching or sliding? i dunno.

 

[WordAssassin]

Who knows, maybe that flash has a dual purpose now, or actually functions as a flashlight (w/o JB).

Watchootalkin'bout? There are dozens of apps that allow you to use the camera flash as a constant flashlight without jailbreaking.

Also gotta chime in that I fucking despise the headphone jack being on the bottom. Thank goodness I use BlueTooth headphones. Ugh.

 

[Dreams-Visions]

looks weird as hell to me.

but again, case = no fucks given.

 

[Kurdel]

I would seriously be bummed if this is the final design.

The back is really horrendous!

I am waiting to upgrade from my 4, but if this design is final, then I will really start considering getting a 4S....

 

[WordAssassin]

Yes, that makes sense, ignore all the features that will be present and exclusive to the new phone, and opt for the old model simply because you don't care for the shell of the device.

*boggle*

Edit: Kurdel this isn't specifically aimed at you, I've seen looots of people share your mentality. I just don't understand it, is all, and I forgot to mention it in my other post and your post reminded me.

 

[Marty Chinn]

looks weird as hell to me.

but again, case = no fucks given.

Shrug, my case is minimalistic so you barely even see it.

 

[Dreams-Visions]

Shrug, my case is minimalistic so you barely even see it.

you mean your current case? yea, mine is really thin too.

I would seriously be bummed if this is the final design.

The back is really horrendous!

I am waiting to upgrade from my 4, but if this design is final, then I will really start considering getting a 4S....

put a case on the thing like everyone else and you have nothing to think about. buying a 4S only makes sense if you want to save money or don't like the uptick in size.

 

[Marty Chinn]

you mean your current case? yea, mine is really thin too.

Ya my current case. The thing is, it's thin and you can see through it so the design still shows through. It's not like the design is completely hidden because of the case.

 

[zoukka]

Looks sexy.

 

[Dreams-Visions]

Ya my current case. The thing is, it's thin and you can see through it so the design still shows through. It's not like the design is completely hidden because of the case.

i see. well, you'll have to get a new case anyway for the i5, so pick up a nice thin opaque one and call it a day.

 

[Marty Chinn]

i see. well, you'll have to get a new case anyway for the i5, so pick up a nice then opaque one and call it a day.

Heh =)

For reference, this is my case so I can understand why people are apprehensive about the look even if they are using a case.

 

[WordAssassin]

Heh =)

For reference, this is my case so I can understand why people are apprehensive about the look even if they are using a case.

Well, the entire point of that particular case is to show off the design of the iPhone 4/4S. If someone got the same case, but not clear, then there's nothing to worry about. I'd imagine one would only get a clear case if they still wanted to show off the design of the phone within.

 

[ashbash159]

Unrelated to the new iPhone images, but the Apple store is offline. Is this normal?

 

[Xun]

In regards to the store going down, it's normal.

Also I don't mind the design, although I'm not too keen on where the camera is placed.

If it were up to me it would be more like this:

But eh, we'll see. It's a prototype after all.

 

[Treefingers]

^ Yeah that's really bugging me.

 

[Keylime]

I need an Ives video explaining why this redesign isn't crap. Visually it looks completely disjointed with the different color shades on the back.

Not saying it won't feel good in your hand or have some others great reason for being this way...hell, maybe this would look better with different lighting or something...but right now, not a fan.

 

[Salvor.Hardin]

In regards to the store going down, it's normal.

Also I don't mind the design, although I'm not too keen on where the camera is placed.

If it were up to me it would be more like this:

But eh, we'll see. It's a prototype after all.

Wait, how is yours different from the leaked model?

 

[Opus Angelorum]

Wait, how is yours different from the leaked model?

It's centred vertically, subtle change.

 

[mrklaw]

I need an Ives video explaining why this redesign isn't crap. Visually it looks completely disjointed with the different color shades on the back.

Not saying it won't feel good in your hand or have some others great reason for being this way...hell, maybe this would look better with different lighting or something...but right now, not a fan.

this fantastic metal rear case is even thinner and lighter than our previous glass cover, allowing the device to melt away into your hand so it is just you and the screen. 7.4mm, our thinnest iphone ever, yet we've managed to put even more inside - a larger screen, LTE, NFC. The brushed finish providing a beautiful contrast from the glossy screen and giving a subtle element of tactility which makes it fantastic to hold.

 

[Salvor.Hardin]

It's centred vertically, subtle change.

Ah makes sense.

I wonder if there's any distinguishing feature about the back plate. I've always imagined the designers at Apple not being very happy about how many people buy a cover for their phone, and usually very shitty covers that shit up the entire elegance of its design. Perhaps it's a scratch proof plate?

I need an Ives video explaining why this redesign isn't crap. Visually it looks completely disjointed with the different color shades on the back.

Why in the world do you need someone to explain to you whether something looks good or not. Jesus Christ, form your own opinion on things.

 

[Good Job Bob]

Ah makes sense.

I wonder if there's any distinguishing feature about the back plate. I've always imagined the designers at Apple not being very happy about how many people buy a cover for their phone, and usually very shitty covers that shit up the entire elegance of its design. Perhaps it's a scratch proof plate?



Why in the world do you need someone to explain to you whether something looks good or not. Jesus Christ, form your own opinion on things.

Jony Ive:

"I fucking hate (iPhone) cases" - he got angry when he saw one

http://neogaf.com/forum/showpost.php?p=33706951&postcount=67

 

[DECK'ARD]

The 2-tone back is so strange for Apple.

It's not horrendous, but the whole thing is a step back from the 4's level of design. Which for what is an important revision is odd.

 

[Keylime]

Why in the world do you need someone to explain to you whether something looks good or not. Jesus Christ, form your own opinion on things.

You must have missed the part where I said I think it's visually crap right now. That's my opinion. Whether or not the final product looks identical to this or different angles surface or the feeling in your hand is amazing or something...who knows.

If this IS representative of the final design, I want to hear why certain decisions were made. This looks like engineering guiding design pretty clearly to me.

 

[Opus Angelorum]

I'm going to throw this out, rear touch panel?

 

[Salvor.Hardin]

This looks like engineering guiding design pretty clearly to me.

How do you figure that? Looks purely aesthetic to me. I actually quite like it. I think the champaign tone looks quite nice against the white.

 

[numble]

How do you figure that? Looks purely aesthetic to me. I actually quite like it. I think the champaign tone looks quite nice against the white.

Maybe metal allows for a thinner casing, allowing for a larger battery which LTE will require. The metal won't shatter when dropped, either.

 

[Keylime]

How do you figure that? Looks purely aesthetic to me. I actually quite like it. I think the champaign tone looks quite nice against the white.

I can't think of a good reason why the camera and flash and mic on the back around centered vertically like that edited photo that was released if the designer has the final say. It looks visually jarring and it wasn't until the edited picture was shown that I paid attention to why.

Why the metal back is as tall as it is and why the lens/flash/mic is located where it is would seem to me to be more to serve some engineering purpose vs. some aesthetic or design purpose. Perhaps the space inside at the top is cramped which pushed the location of those things lower on the phone back, and the metal back can't be reduced to allow everything to be vertically aligned because then it wraps around the phone and the side buttons look placed funny or something.

Either way, if design was leading the look alone, there is no way those bits aren't vertically centered. Edit: Also, why not have the entire back be metal? I assume from an engineering perspective it'd black all the fun radios they'd put inside the thing ala the carrier specific iPads that need a black plastic bit on the top where the radios are located to get signal.

Pure speculation on my part, and again is why I want to hear what Ives would have to say about this if it is indeed the final. He is an expert on the matter, afterall...and I'm just an armchair Apple enthusiast. Maybe there's an AWESOME reason for it and I'll learn to appreciate the decision versus just blindly hating it (as is my first impression).

My opinions are rarely set in stone...justification for the alternative POV can sway me one way or the other if it's convincing enough. It IS a matter of subjectivity afterall...

I get that a product is a give and take between design and engineering...not at all challenging that dynamic. I'm just saying that this phone design more than the others feels like engineering is pushing the designers in a corner.

 

[Vyse The Legend]

It looks like a pancake'd version of the iPhone 4 design. It's not a major change, unless you consider a two-tone back serious business.

 

[Worm_Buffet]

The webcams on the MacBooks aren't vertically centered either. They have previous with these things.

 

[Red]

I'm going to throw this out, rear touch panel?

I'm thinking rear touch or inductive charging.

 

[Keylime]

The webcams on the MacBooks aren't vertically centered either. They have previous with these things.

http://images.apple.com/macbookair/images/features_multitouch.jpg[IMG][/QUOTE]

My 2011 MBP that I use at work has the iSight camera vertically centered when you account for the rubber on the edges to prevent crashing when you close the laptop. The Macbook Air may be another example of engineering guiding design vs. the MBP is design leading engineering.

Obviously the MBA form factor would have certain restrictions that the MBP wouldn't...most likely that the display panel is thinner on the MBA so the camera placement needs to be lower where the panel opens up a bit more or something.

I'd still submit that a vertically centered camera would be the preference.

...of course the MacBook Pro label at the bottom of the laptop isn't vertically centered and there's absolutely no reason why the placement of that label would be dictated by engineering.

Perhaps I am talking out my ass or making assumptions about design preferences, but that's just another reason why I want to hear Sir Ives talk about it.

 

[DECK'ARD]

I'm going to throw this out, rear touch panel?

Apple have had that patented since the iPod days, so it's not out of the question.

Inductive charging is another possibility. I'm guessing there is a reason for them having something so ugly, and not just "the back glass smashes lol".

 

[Zeppu]

Apple have had that patented since the iPod days, so it's not out of the question.

Inductive charging is another possibility. I'm guessing there is a reason for them having something so ugly.

GS3 has inductive charging and its hideous back is less ugly than that. Also, I don't think you can charge through metal.

 

[Worm_Buffet]

My 2011 MBP that I use at work has the iSight camera vertically centered when you account for the rubber on the edges to prevent crashing when you close the laptop. The Macbook Air may be another example of engineering guiding design vs. the MBP is design leading engineering.

Obviously the MBA form factor would have certain restrictions that the MBP wouldn't...most likely that the display panel is thinner on the MBA so the camera placement needs to be lower where the panel opens up a bit more or something.

I'd still submit that a vertically centered camera would be the preference.

...of course the MacBook Pro label at the bottom of the laptop isn't vertically centered and there's absolutely no reason why the placement of that label would be dictated by engineering.

Perhaps I am talking out my ass or making assumptions about design preferences, but that's just another reason why I want to hear Sir Ives talk about it.

Agreed on both counts. (That having things centered is more aesthetically pleasing, and the thinness of the MacBook Air display likely does not allow for any other vertical placement of the webcam while maintaining structural integrity).

 

[twobear]

Those prototypes aren't as gorgeous as the iPhone 4 but please, they're not GS3 ugly.

 

[noah111]

Guys, I think the angle in that shot is playing tricks on you, a bit. The camera placement isn't a huge deal. It's aligned in a way that compliments the rounded corners, not the center aluminum plating.

Watchootalkin'bout? There are dozens of apps that allow you to use the camera flash as a constant flashlight without jailbreaking.

Also gotta chime in that I fucking despise the headphone jack being on the bottom. Thank goodness I use BlueTooth headphones. Ugh.

Right, I just meant as a system-integrated feature, not through an app.

Ok I take it back. Looking at hi-red images at 9to5, the device looks pretty gorgeous. Where I said cheap before, on cloe inspection you can tell it's going to feel premium again. Just the finish and materials make it great. If it's thinner then bonus!

If the black one really looks like the leaked image (and it's not just lighting trickery) where the it's all really charcoal colored (stainless steel and all) and not black glass on iPad-aluminum grey (as the mockups indicate) then I'll be fine. The White one still looks ugly as fuck in both leaked images, but I can live with the lack one if the black one is an anodized aluminum back with non-silver stainless steel trim.

 

[andycapps]

I'm thinking rear touch or inductive charging.

You may be on to something with inductive charging. Hadn't thought of that.

 

[twobear]

Face facts, Apple is changing to match what the market is saying is what consumers want. Apple is going to be able to match their OS with the size. Everyone chill the fuck out.

Would this be the same market where a 3.5" 3:2 screen continues to sell like the proverbial hot cakes, or a different one?

[edit]One thing I do like about the design is that the central bit doesn't look like a back plate, it looks like a unibody piece as on the MacBook. If you look at the edges, it doesn't seem to stop. I don't think it has antennas on the sides, only the top and bottom.

 

[Keylime]

Guys, I think the angle in that shot is playing tricks on you, a bit. The camera placement isn't a huge deal. It's aligned in a way that compliments the rounded corners, not the center aluminum plating.

That little cut of the phone just looks so odd...like the phone is all hacked together. BLAH

 

[Red]

Those prototypes aren't as gorgeous as the iPhone 4 but please, they're not GS3 ugly.

Agreed. I don't think they look too bad. The black metal band on the black phone actually looks great, very classy.

 

[jimmythepage]

O-o

can't unsee

 

[noah111]

That little cut of the phone just looks so odd...like the phone is all hacked together. BLAH

It's growing on me, the black one at least. But yeah, it is odd looking, however the cut off point is aligned with the antenna strips, so that's something....

What no one is talking about is how long this phone is. Substantially longer than the iPhone 4. Why? They could easily fit the 1136 pixel long 4" screen within the same frame as the current iPhone. Seems like I was right when I said they wouldn't be able to fit that shit in the current body, they had to elongate the physical frame quite a bit. But at the same time that let them slim down the thickness a bit.

 

[Tobor]

It's growing on me, the black one at least. But yeah, it is odd looking, however the cut off point is aligned with the antenna strips, so that's something....

What no one is talking about is how long this phone is. Substantially longer than the iPhone 4. Why? They could easily fit the 1136 pixel long 4" screen within the same frame as the current iPhone. Seems like I was right when I said they wouldn't be able to fit that shit in the current body, they had to elongate the physical frame quite a bit. But at the same time that let them slim down the thickness a bit.

You're contradicting yourself from one sentence to the next now. Breathe, Sentry.

 

[Kosmo]

Here's my theory - what does the back of that leaked photo look like, as far as texture?

I think that the back will be a touch panel in some respects - connect it via Bluetooth to your PC and voila, your phone acts as your touchpad. not to mention the other functions it could be used for, like the PS Vita back touch panel.

 

[LCfiner]

It's growing on me, the black one at least. But yeah, it is odd looking, however the cut off point is aligned with the antenna strips, so that's something....

What no one is talking about is how long this phone is. Substantially longer than the iPhone 4. Why? They could easily fit the 1136 pixel long 4" screen within the same frame as the current iPhone. Seems like I was right when I said they wouldn't be able to fit that shit in the current body, they had to elongate the physical frame quite a bit. But at the same time that let them slim down the thickness a bit.

well, not quite. they could "easily" do it if they completely replaced the home button mechanism and the space for sensors cameras and mic at top.

obviously that wasn't easy enough to do (or feasible) and so the top and bottom chins look to be the same size as they are now. it's the same long-ass length as that mockup from two weeks ago (from that site that mocked up all sorts of screen shapes) that looked awkward as hell to me.

edit: Kosmo, the surface of the desktop trackpad is glass. the color behind it is irrelevant. it's the material that's important. the back of these cases is not glass. it's just metal. it's not set up for a touch surface. there's no space for sensors back there in the milled enclosure. if anything, the current iphone with the removable glass back is better setup for a rear touch panel than this new model

 

[Akira]

The machined speaker grille looks cheap, the holes are too big and doesn't have the same refined feel as the speaker grille of the MBP. Other than that, it's fine to me. The two-tone look is going back to the original iPhone look.

 

[Lunchbox]

this thing is gonna end up looking like those ghetto looking androids

4 was the peak