Remember in middle school when you had to tote around a sack of flour or a little egg with a Sharpie smiley face on it? Back then we thought we were prepping ourselves for motherhood in an admittedly weird way, but now we know — we were just gearing up for the responsibility of having to carry around our most important info on a very breakable glass brick at all times. The practical iPhone users among us (as well as those of us who cracked an egg-baby way back when… and then our smartphone screens just last weekend) have had “more durable screen” on the top of our iPhone 6 wish list, and now a new video shows just how durable that piece of protective glass could be.
Maybe you saw the one where tech reviewer and vlogger Marques Brownlee put a supposed iPhone 6 screen under an intense durability test.
He stepped on it, tried to bend it, scratched his keys on it and stabbed it with a fairly scary knife — and that bad boy held up well under these everyday pressures.
But as Marques explains in his latest video, knives and keys aren’t actually that hard when you compare them to sapphire glass so yeah, they shouldn’t scratch or dent it. To see what the iPhone 6’s rumored new screen can truly withstand, Marques busts out the Mohs Scale of Hardness and puts it all into perspective.
Since sapphire is the second hardest naturally occurring material on Earth, we need a better test to put it through than just the delightfully dramatic stab test. In this seven minute video, Marques uses two different types of sandpaper on iPhone 5’s Gorilla Glass screen and its home button (which is made of pure sapphire) and then on the iPhone 6.
The iPhone 6 display proves to be harder than Gorilla Glass, which means it will put up with even more wear, tear and tumbling around in your purse or pants. Since the iPhone 5’s home button stood up better to the sandpaper than the iPhone 6 screen, it looks like the 6 is made of a sapphire blend. A pure sapphire screen would bring up the price on that upgrade and not be flexible enough to give your phone the slight bend that it needs — so this is good news.
Watch to the end of the video to really see whether or not the iPhone 6 screen is breakable when it’s put to the ultimate test, the crossbow test. #ow
Is having a more durable screen on the top of your iPhone 6 wishlist? What does your current smartphone screen look like? Share below!
Getting the word out about your brand takes time, drive, and ingenuity. And it doesn't come easy for many entrepreneurs. As part of our collaboration with Office Depot, we're chatting with Selfmade alum Taylor Morgan McPherson, founder of Sustainable Sparkle Bar, about ways in which she scored press as a solo startup brand and what she learned from Selfmade to take her brand marketing up a notch.
B + C: How did you know Sustainable Sparkle Bar was your business to start?
Glitter has always been my thing, so when I started my event company I decided to make it my niche. I started telling people I threw glitter-themed parties where people would get sparkled with glitter body art and makeup. Six months after that I applied to my first festival and to work with SUR restaurant in West Hollywood.
B + C: What's one strategy that's helped you start your business?
I honestly can't say that I've had a specific strategy that I've followed when it comes to getting my business off the ground. I have a PR background so I was just constantly pitching new business and posting on social media.
B + C: What's the biggest challenge you face as a small business owner?
I would say creating a stable income and revenue stream. With a seasonal, event-based business it can be very up and down.
B + C: What was your most valuable takeaway from Selfmade?
The relationships I made and the push to start an email database.
B + C: How do you stay motivated?
I love what I do and I believe in myself 100%. Staying motivated isn't the hard part. Pushing myself to do the work and staying accountable is the hard part.
B + C: What's your best organizational tip? Do you use any apps that help you manage your business?
I keep multiple to-do lists, hand-written and digital. I also tell clients and partners that I will have something to them by a certain time or day so I have to stick to it.
B + C: What's one piece of advice you would give to female entrepreneurs on the brink of starting?
Just do it, take the leap. And don't worry about what anyone else says to thinks.
B + C: Who inspires you in the entrepreneurial space?
Issa Rae, I'm so inspired by everything that she's created being a creative and a black woman. It's my dream to have my own show one day based on my life and where I give advice and talk about the world. She's doing it and making people laugh and giving people joy. And it's based in LA. Watching Insecure only further cemented my dreams of wanting to live in LA.
B + C: How did you hear about the Office Depot scholarship?
One of my friends that I met through Camp No Counselors saw an IG ad for it and nominated me.
B + C: What has receiving the scholarship to Selfmade done to help you start/grow your business?
It's completely helped me level up and take my business to another level. Selfmade helped me host my first virtual event and taught me how to set up my website to sell tickets to events and get RSVPs.
B + C: How have Office Depot services or products helped you accomplish more in your business?
I got new cards to send in all of my orders with my discount code on them. I also bought a really cool 4K camera that I now use for my social media.
Thanks Taylor! You really know how to sparkle. We love her colorful, creative vibe. You can follow Sustainable Sparkle Bar on Instagram @sustainablesparklebar.
Let Office Depot OfficeMax help you stand out in the crowd. From signs, posters & banners to promote your business, to marketing materials to keep your customers informed, Office Depot OfficeMax offers a full suite of business services & solutions to help you & your business get noticed.
Head to Office Depot's Selfmade page to check out even more amazing business resources (and discounts!) to help you accomplish more on your entrepreneurial journey. These offers are available for a limited time only, so be sure to take advantage of all this goodness while supplies last. Want to join the next Selfmade cohort this summer? Check out all of the scholarship details right here.