Briefly: On last minute iMac and iPhone design changes

Posted:
in General Discussion edited January 2014
A slow day for Apple news gives us the opportunity to post some tidbits regarding last-minute design changes affecting the company's recent product launches -- the iPhone and iMac.



iPhone's two-week delay



iPhone, which went on sale nationwide on June 29th, may have made its debut several weeks earlier had it not been for a last minute material swap on the handset's top surface.



In a June 18th press release, the company announced that the entire top surface of iPhone, including its 3.5-inch display, was being upgraded from plastic to optical-quality glass to achieve a superior level of scratch resistance and optical clarity.



This move cause a two-week delay in the initial manufacturing ramp of the device, according iPhone touch-screen component supplier, Balda. In a recent financial report, the German-based firm revealed that the last minute design change prompted it to redesign parts of its production line from scratch, causing a material impact on financials.



Balda, which partly owns touchscreen factory TPK in Xiamen China, said it now expects lower revenues for 2007, but anticipates an uptick in sales beginning early next year.



iMac logo goes black



Meanwhile, Apple may have also called for a small, but last minute design change to a the facade of its new iMac enclosures. Although purely aesthetic, observers note a disparity in the color of the desktop's Apple logo as seen in the company's marketing materials.



A .Mac Sync video tutorial released alongside the new all-in-one desktops correctly presents the iMac with a black logo on Apple's U.S. website. However, the same tutorial on its European website depicts the systems with a silver logo -- akin to the iPhone's mirror-like emblem.







While introducing the new iMacs last week, Apple chief executive Steve Jobs acknowledged that his design team took cues from the iPhone in designing the new Macs, including the use of black, glass and aluminum.



The disparity could indicate that Apple originally planned to mimic the iPhone's exterior more closely with the iMac. (Alternatively, the silver-logoed model may simply represent a graphical error.)



Update: A source who provided an accurate description of the latest iMacs ahead of release claims that the original design indeed called for the mirror logo. However, it was subsequently scrapped, the source says, as people "do not like to look at themselves in the mirror all day."



White, black and grey were said to be candidates for a replacement color, with black winning out despite its slightly conspicuous appearance.
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Comments

  • Reply 1 of 114
    mobiusmobius Posts: 380member
    I much prefer the look of the silver Apple logo. Black looks too business-like for my tastes.
  • Reply 2 of 114
    bageljoeybageljoey Posts: 2,008member
    Slow news day indeed...
  • Reply 3 of 114
    lafelafe Posts: 252member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Mobius View Post


    I much prefer the look of the silver Apple logo. Black looks too business-like for my tastes.



    I didn't care much for the black logo, either. It sticks out too prominently.



    I would have vastly preferred that the logo be silvery, and pulse with light when the unit is asleep!
  • Reply 4 of 114
    bacillusbacillus Posts: 313member
    In other news...



    1. Apple insider has discovered, that when measured, the box that the iPhone comes in is 27 microns taller, and 11 microns narrower then the box that houses the Apple bluetooth headset. Inside sources that can only be described as reliable, have indicated this difference is a clear indicator that the iPhone is going 3G by January 2008.



    2. Apple Insider has found that Apple has really scredwed the pooch, and have a ring tone not in correct alphabetical order. It has been noticed that ring tone names are all in alphabetical order EXCPT marimba, which is that the top of the list. This is a clear indication that the underlying OS is breaking down - which what could be described as a design flaw. Stay tuned for further developments as they happen!
  • Reply 5 of 114
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Lafe View Post


    I didn't care much for the black logo, either. It sticks out too prominently.



    I would have vastly preferred that the logo be silvery, and pulse with light when the unit is asleep!



    I too think a pulsing apple logo (when asleep) would have been much cooler.
  • Reply 6 of 114
    addaboxaddabox Posts: 12,665member
    Quote:

    However, it was subsequently scrapped, the source says, as people "do not like to look at themselves in the mirror all day."



    A tad ironic, given the screen surface they went with.
  • Reply 7 of 114
    mr. hmr. h Posts: 4,870member
    It's difficult to believe that the decision to switch from plastic to glass was made just two weeks before they sold over 250,000 iPhones. Could they really have done it in that short a time?
  • Reply 8 of 114
    Im not that keen on the black Apple logo either.
  • Reply 9 of 114
    netdognetdog Posts: 244member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by addabox View Post


    A tad ironic, given the screen surface they went with.



    Thank God somebody said it.
  • Reply 10 of 114
    msanttimsantti Posts: 1,377member
    I prefer the black logo.



    One would get sick and tired of seeing yourself all day with the mirrored one.
  • Reply 11 of 114
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by msantti View Post


    I prefer the black logo.



    One would get sick and tired of seeing yourself all day with the mirrored one.



    I haven't had an opportunity to try the new iMac, but isn't this exactly what you will have to do with the new glossy display coating?
  • Reply 12 of 114
    k3nk3n Posts: 2member
    definitely the black, id say because it matches the overall look more, with the outer black rim around the display.



    its looks niiiiice!
  • Reply 13 of 114
    aplnubaplnub Posts: 2,605member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Bacillus View Post


    In other news...



    1. Apple insider has discovered, that when measured, the box that the iPhone comes in is 27 microns taller, and 11 microns narrower then the box that houses the Apple bluetooth headset. Inside sources that can only be described as reliable, have indicated this difference is a clear indicator that the iPhone is going 3G by January 2008.



    2. Apple Insider has found that Apple has really scredwed the pooch, and have a ring tone not in correct alphabetical order. It has been noticed that ring tone names are all in alphabetical order EXCPT marimba, which is that the top of the list. This is a clear indication that the underlying OS is breaking down - which what could be described as a design flaw. Stay tuned for further developments as they happen!



    A tad harsh don't you think?
  • Reply 14 of 114
    rot'napplerot'napple Posts: 1,839member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by addabox View Post


    A tad ironic, given the screen surface they went with.



    Beat me to it, but AMEN!
  • Reply 15 of 114
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by AppleInsider View Post


    A slow day for Apple news gives us the opportunity to post some tidbits regarding last-minute design changes affecting the company's recent product launches...



    Personally, I hate the design.



    Firstly, Apple are trying to "pull the wool" with the black trim. The screen looks larger than it actually is. The sides look thinner than they actually are. Clever, yet deceptive and you really aren't supposed to deceive your buyers!

    Second, the white mouse. Silver keyboard with white keys AND a white mouse. Oh dear, oh dear.

    Third, the logo looks aweful. Why black for God's sake. OK, the trim is black but the logo just looks stuck on, like a cheap sticker. I too agree with the white / pulse logo as on the laptops. Way better.



    Now if silver (ai) was going to be the main "feel" of the iMac then, aluminum body with black logo, black trim, silver (ai) keyboard with black keys and a silver/black mouse would have been much nicer. A windows box it may have resembled but this looks like SH**!
  • Reply 16 of 114
    cosmonutcosmonut Posts: 4,872member
    The G4 "sunflower" iMac had a mirrored logo on the front. I notice it every time I use my dad's iMac.
  • Reply 17 of 114
    melgrossmelgross Posts: 33,600member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Lafe View Post


    I didn't care much for the black logo, either. It sticks out too prominently.



    I would have vastly preferred that the logo be silvery, and pulse with light when the unit is asleep!



    Tacky.
  • Reply 18 of 114
    melgrossmelgross Posts: 33,600member
    Quote:

    A tad ironic, given the screen surface they went with.



    Quote:

    Thank God somebody said it.



    Quote:

    I haven't had an opportunity to try the new iMac, but isn't this exactly what you will have to do with the new glossy display coating?



    Quote:

    Beat me to it, but AMEN!



    Very cute, guys, but once it's on, you can't see your reflection.
  • Reply 19 of 114
    irelandireland Posts: 17,799member
    Black looks infinitely better. If you don't want to see yourself in the glossy display turn it on then



    This is the same argument people make for plasma TV's, but when you take them home you appreciate the design choice. I much prefer glossy displays, and the new keyboard (by the way) is way better too. The only change I'd make to the new keyboard (British version) is I'd make the 'return' key a little bigger.
  • Reply 20 of 114
    irelandireland Posts: 17,799member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by melgross View Post


    Very cute, guys, but once it's on, you can't see your reflection.



    Yeah totally, I don't get this at all. People are calling out reflections mostly when seeing the iMac at an angle, but head on in normal indoor lighting the reflections are pretty much non-existent, and the gloss just makes the computer and its desktop more pleasing to the eye.
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