iPhone 5, meh....

[fjrabon]

the thing is everybody complains about how secretive Apple is, then when things do actually leak out, people complain that there was no "oomph" to their event.

Sure, it's not revolutionary, but it's not time for revolutionary yet. The iPhone very obviously is doing things right at this point. It just needs to be better at everything it already does. That's essentially what this phone is, everything we liked in the basic design of the original 4, but continuing to be better. It's thinner, better battery life, much better processor, better camera (not radically different, but better in low light and makes use of the better processor), faster cell connection, better audio, etc.

If Apple radically redesigned the iPhone at this point, they'd be doing it just for the sake of doing it. While being innovative is great, there's also something to be said for knowing when your product is getting things right with the tech that is available at the time. I don't really see the iPhone receiving a radical redesign until some new tech is available that allows for a leap forward.

Contrast the iPhone to the iPod nano, which apple very obviously isn't really happy with. They've redesigned it every couple years, jumped form factors. They know it's not really working at as a product. The iPhone is working as a product, and any radical redesign would be just as likely a step backwards as a step forwards.

 

[Derrel]

The iPhone 4s sold more than four million units in its first week in the US, Canada, Japan, the U.K., France, Germany, and Australia. So, yeah, the iPhone 5 is gonna suck too. What with that amazing Retina Display, more-powerful processor, and native 4G network capability, and the better camera and imaging software. "Meh".

What Do the iPhone 4S Sales Figures Tell Us About Consumers? - Forbes

I never contended the iPhone 5 won't sell. Despite it's disappointing lack of features after 2 years of waiting, I'm still considering it.

What I'm saying is there's no oomph to the announcement. No "oooo, ahhhhh..." moment like Apple has been so good at in the past. When Apple announced the 4s, I remember a lot of people were disappointed that it wasn't the iPhone 5. Now, expectations were higher than ever for Apple to deliver a revolutionary new product considering they had an extra year to build it, and my reaction is much the same as to the 4s..... Meh...

For the iphone 5 announcment, Everyone expected the bigger screen and thinner body. Those specs have been rumored and expected for 2 years.

The camera is the good camera in the 4s, but no significant upgrade there (panoramic is gimmicky, there are plenty of third party apps that already do that).

The iPhone 5 has a faster processor, that's great, but the competitors in the market already have all that and a bag of chips. Apple just seems to be behind in this regard.

4g, shmore-gee... Have you seen what Verizon and AT&T have been charging for data. ZOMG. It's probably better to get data at 3g speeds so Verizon and AT&T can't rape you as fast!

Bear in mind that I've had a 4G capable phone with unlimited data since Sprint rolled them out 2 years ago. I've also had a 4 inch screen and a fast processor. So this iPhone 5, 2 years later, isn't making my jaw hit the floor. I've been looking forward to this phone for 2 years (since I got my Evo 4) and had a bit higher expectations.

In sales, there's an old joke about customers who feel like you do about a high-demand, high-selling, or class-leading product...and the joke is,"Would you like a ****j0b with that too?" I guess the millions of people who will eagerly lap up the iPhone 5 are all just idiots? I mean, I know the iPhone 5 announcement might lack oomph! to a fellow who is used to a 2 year-old Evo that's been replaced multiple times already because it's so well-made, but, uh...back to the old joke...

 

[fjrabon]

yeah, the funniest thing about the new iPhone and people who complain about lack of a leap forward is that nobody can even think of what features they'd want on it that aren't already there. Perhaps more RAM? But if you use that much RAM, you would KILL the battery life (the dirty secret of the top of the line android phones with huge screens and tons of RAM are that they have to be recharged every two hours if you actually use them). And the current iPhone beats androids in every real world speed test, even with less RAM, because the software is designed more efficiently. Androids are such hack job poorly engineered things for the most part that they need to double the RAM to just keep up with iPhones.

 

[rexbobcat]

yeah, the funniest thing about the new iPhone and people who complain about lack of a leap forward is that nobody can even think of what features they'd want on it that aren't already there. Perhaps more RAM? But if you use that much RAM, you would KILL the battery life (the dirty secret of the top of the line android phones with huge screens and tons of RAM are that they have to be recharged every two hours if you actually use them). And the current iPhone beats androids in every real world speed test, even with less RAM, because the software is designed more efficiently. Androids are such hack job poorly engineered things for the most part that they need to double the RAM to just keep up with iPhones.

The UI of Android phones is abysmal as well. It take me 10 minutes just to find and then search the app store. There's no uniformity between Android phones it seems.

That's why I got the iPhone. Yeah, it probably doesn't have as much potential as Android phones, but it's a whole hell of a lot simpler to navigate.

 

[fjrabon]

yeah, the funniest thing about the new iPhone and people who complain about lack of a leap forward is that nobody can even think of what features they'd want on it that aren't already there. Perhaps more RAM? But if you use that much RAM, you would KILL the battery life (the dirty secret of the top of the line android phones with huge screens and tons of RAM are that they have to be recharged every two hours if you actually use them). And the current iPhone beats androids in every real world speed test, even with less RAM, because the software is designed more efficiently. Androids are such hack job poorly engineered things for the most part that they need to double the RAM to just keep up with iPhones.

The UI of Android phones is abysmal as well. It take me 10 minutes just to find and then search the app store. There's no uniformity between Android phones it seems.

That's why I got the iPhone. Yeah, it probably doesn't have as much potential as Android phones, but it's a whole hell of a lot simpler to navigate.

yeah, theoretically I want to like android better. But I've tried Androids. They're a cluster. They never get updated with new OS's on time. They're not durable. (iPhones are pretty druable as longa s you don;t crack the glass, androids for the most part just wear down). To be honest, I'd probably take an original iPhone over about any non-iPhone except maybe an SIII. And I'd take an original iP4 over an SIII.

 

[Majeed Badizadegan]

I'll probably still buy one though

Did everyone miss this small, tiny, inconsequential point in the OP? Who are you trying to convince?

Down, Fanboys! Down!

 

[Derrel]

I didn't. You are the customer (i.e. the person who actually BUYS) the hot-selling product, the class-leading product, but seems so bummed out by it that the salesman asks him, "Hey, would you like a ****j0b with that too?" to make him realize what a buzz-kill he's acting like...and of course, to sweeten the deal and relieve all that purchase disillusionment...

It's rumored that the iPhone 6 will make your "unit" larger!!!! Now THAT's gonna be a big seller! wink-wink-nudge,nudge!

 

[Mendoza]

I like gadgets and read about them on a daily basis. The downside is that with all the leaks and predictable upgrades (at least pertaining to the iPhone), I already knew exactly what to expect--almost down to the millimeter--before it was all made official today. No surprises. Different shape, better specs, updated OS, but none of that game-changing innovation that gets people salivating. (Personally I have no incentive to upgrade my 4S.) It's still an excellent device, and I give Apple credit for their role in the creation of the smartphone market as we know it today. The consumer certainly doesn't suffer from a lack of options in this arena.

(But you know the feature I would kill for? This may sound a little out there, and I know it's asking a lot, but seeing as how the iPhone has been Apple's flagship product for 5 years now, is in direct competition for the most popular smartphone on the planet, and is a remarkably sophisticated piece of technology, how about they upgrade the horrible, horrible selection of built-in ringtones? Seriously, Apple: 20 ringtones--15 of which are irritating to the point of being unusable?? I know you can add your own, and I have, but it seems like kind of an oversight.)

 

[Majeed Badizadegan]

Oh so now I'm Mr. Buzz Killington! I get it! Maybe the problem is I hold Apple to such a high standards, that nothing short of pure slap-you-in-the face awesomeness will impress me. Maybe the Steve Jobs era of every product announcement being jaw-dropping are over.

 

[CCericola]

I still like this video

iPhone4 vs HTC Evo - YouTube

 

[camz]

LOL this reminds me about the debate we're having at home. My wife got the iphone 4s and I got the galaxy S III. Before my S3 upgrade, I had the second revision iphone and loved it. I really actually loved the product however my only gripe about it was the itsy bitsy tinnie winnie display. They've somewhat made some ground expanding it to a 4 in. display with the iphone 5 however I still prefer my bigger display on the S3.

 

[MonicaBH]

I'm a huge Apple junkie, but I doubt I'll rush to upgrade to the iP5. I have the iP4 that is perfectly functional, and the SO has an iP4s that works fine as well. I don't particularly need anything the iP5 offers. Plus, I'm still saving for an iPad2.

I have a Kindle Fire that is an Android system. I flipping HATE it. It's slow and feels/looks yuck, but there are only a few books on it and no apps. I can't imagine how sluggish it would be if I used for more than some light web browsing and downloading/reading books.

 

[jamesbjenkins]

Apple iPhone 5 makes glowing first impression

I've been looking forward to this phone because I'm really tired of my HTC Evo 4 (2-3 replacements, lots of issues). It seems Apple has lost their mojo, the oomph that makes their products completely irresistible. The iPhone 4s was a huge letdown IMHO, and this year, I don't see enough to warrant a new phone.

Here's what I've gathered:


[*]slightly bigger screen at 16:9 ratio
[*]faster processor
[*]4g
[*]thinner
[*]Same camera as the 4s (maybe slightly better low light performance)?


Just, meh...

I'll probably still buy one though

And yet, the sheeple masses will flock to their local Apple with their Starbucks in one hand and their debit card in the other. While in line, they'll exclaim to each other how avant-garde they are...

 

[fjrabon]

Apple iPhone 5 makes glowing first impression

I've been looking forward to this phone because I'm really tired of my HTC Evo 4 (2-3 replacements, lots of issues). It seems Apple has lost their mojo, the oomph that makes their products completely irresistible. The iPhone 4s was a huge letdown IMHO, and this year, I don't see enough to warrant a new phone.

Here's what I've gathered:

[*]slightly bigger screen at 16:9 ratio
[*]faster processor
[*]4g
[*]thinner
[*]Same camera as the 4s (maybe slightly better low light performance)?


Just, meh...

I'll probably still buy one though

And yet, the sheeple masses will flock to their local Apple with their Starbucks in one hand and their debit card in the other. While in line, they'll exclaim to each other how avant-garde they are...

ha, this stereotype always cracks me up. In a sense I hate how mainstream the iPhone is. I theoretically like the open philosophy of android more. But, you know what, I've tried plenty of android products and... they suck. The iPhone makes my life much easier, given how crazy my schedule can be. It's easy to use, almost never has problems, etc. I can't imagine doing work and personal life today without it. I mean sure, I could, but I'd be able to accomplish less.

I've had several of the top of the line blackberries, android phones, etc and none really are even in the ballpark of the day to day ease of use of the iPhone. The iPhone simply doesn't have a peer when it comes to how I use my phone.

 

[mjhoward]

I like how most of the "sheep" products are now made of solid, durable materials like aluminum and glass rather than plastic and plastic... and for the same price as its main competitor. For some reason Apple haters like to complain about how overpriced and expensive they are, but they are happy to be the same price for the cheap plastic Galaxy S III.