The Screen
The touch screen is your mouse, keyboard, dialing pad, and notepad. It's going to get fingerprinty and streaky, although it wipes clean with a quick rub on your sleeve.
Especially on the iPhone 3GS; one of its best unsung features is its oleophobic screen. That may sound like an irrational fear of yodeling, but it's actually a coating that repels grease. You'll be amazed at how easily a single light wipe on your clothes restores the screen to its right-out-of-the-box crystal sheen.
You can also use the screen as a mirror when the iPhone is off.
Note
Geeks may enjoy knowing that the screen is 320 × 480 pixels.
But what about scratches? Fortunately, Apple learned its lesson on this one. The iPhone screen is made of optical-quality, chemically treated glass—not polycarbonate plastic like the iPod's screen. It's actually very difficult to scratch glass; try it on a window pane someday.
If you're nervous about protecting your iPhone, you can always get a carrying case for it. But in general, the iPhone is far more scratch-resistant than the iPod. Even many Apple employees carry the iPhone in their pockets without carrying cases.
Tip
Camouflaged behind the black glass above the earpiece, where you can't see them except with a bright flashlight, are two sensors. First, there's an ambient-light sensor that brightens the display when you're in sunlight and dims it in darker places. You can also adjust the brightness manually; see Brightness.
Second, there's a proximity sensor. When something ...
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