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LA Weekly reports (via The Next Web) that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Apple over the iPhone 4 and its claimed propensity for breakage. The lawsuit feeds off the "Glassgate" publicity that has seen the iPhone 4 judged to be more accident-prone than other smartphones due to Apple's use of glass on both the front and back of the device.
Apparently fed up and pissed off, California resident Donald LeBuhn filed a class action lawsuit earlier this week in L.A. County against Apple, claiming the company knows about the design flaw and refuses to warn consumers that "normal" use leads essentially to a broken phone.
According to his lawsuit, first reported by Courthouse News Service, LeBuhn threw down $252 in September for a new iPhone 4, but three weeks later the glass broke when his daughter accidentally dropped it approximately three feet to the ground while sending a text message.
He previously owned a 3GS version of the iPhone and claims the glass did not break when accidentally dropped from similar heights.
In his filing, LeBuhn cites Apple marketing materials for the iPhone 4, which claim that the "ultradurable" glass used in the iPhone 4 is "20 times stiffer and 30 times harder than plastic". According to LeBuhn, these claims are misleading at best, and his suit seeks full refunds for customers covered by the class action suit and reimbursement for any repairs made.
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(View all)In his filing, LeBuhn cites Apple marketing materials for the iPhone 4, which claim that the "ultradurable" glass used in the iPhone 4 is "20 times stiffer and 30 times harder than plastic".
HARDness is a measure of how much the material will resist being scratched. If two materials are rubbed together, the harder one will scratch the other.
TOUGHness is a measure of how much energy can be absorbed by the material before it fractures.
The fact that it is hard means that it's difficult for you to scratch it, but if you drop it from a height of 20 feet onto concrete, it will still break (surprise, surprise).
According to LeBuhn, these claims are misleading at best, and his suit seeks full refunds for customers covered by the class action suit and reimbursement for any repairs made.
Don't blame Apple for "misleading" you with facts and correct word choice. It's not Apple's fault you slept through high school.