iPhone 4G Photos Show Apple Patented Radio Transparent Ceramic Back?

Recent photos of what may be an iPhone 4G prototype show a fancy glass type back which could actually be a ceramic enclosure patented by Apple in 2006.

Daring Fireball's sources confirm this special material for the back of the new phone.

Multiple sources familiar with the next iPhone have confirmed to me that the back is made out of some sort of fancy glass — and looks pretty much exactly what’s pictured at Engadget.


Antoine Hebert emailed the site to point out a 2006 Apple patent for a highly durable ceramic enclosure which would have a glass-like appearance but would be stronger, more scratch resistant, and radio transparent.

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The invention relates, in one embodiment, to a portable computing device capable of wireless communications. The portable computing device includes an enclosure that surrounds and protects the internal operational components of the portable computing device. The enclosure includes a structural wall formed from a ceramic material that permits wireless communications therethrough. The wireless communications may for example correspond to RF communications, and further the ceramic material may be radio-transparent thereby allowing RF communications there through.
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