How often should Apple introduce a new iPhone?

[Beeplance]

Originally Posted by Sedrick

The next 5 years are going to be very interesting for Apple. With their mind-set, I'm not sure where they can go with the iPhone from here. They're obviously not interested in changing the OS and I doubt they'll ever go with a larger screen. They've kind of painted themselves into a corner.

Just my 2 cents, but I have this feeling that Apple will be reduced to dust by 2025 should the slow rate of innovation in the iOS component continue, given that it powers 2 of their most popular products: iPhone and iPad.

[Mrbobb]

IMO, the iPad was an aberrasion, as Apple was surprised by the popularity if the Kindles. 1 yr - 18 months is good snuff 4r me. Regardless of Android's merits, too often updates makes a product not so special. How often can Cook goes, The Thinnest The Lightest, EVER! before ppl start yawning.

[janny1]

Less than a year but more than half a year.
Anyway, it's not a good thing to update so fast. We need stable 'Apple' than Fresh apple...

[matttye]

Originally Posted by Beeplance

Just my 2 cents, but I have this feeling that Apple will be reduced to dust by 2025 should the slow rate of innovation in the iOS component continue, given that it powers 2 of their most popular products: iPhone and iPad.

Thing is, the iPhone may be missing a lot of features when compared to other devices, but given the popularity of the product this clearly isn't a big issue for a lot of people.

At the minute some of the stuff is only good for bragging rights. NFC can hardly be used anywhere for payments, and using NFC tags to toggle settings is hardly worth it on iOS because battery life is so good anyway.

One of the features I miss from Android is the way it handles sharing. Other than that, there's nothing I really miss.

[Beeplance]

Originally Posted by matttye

Thing is, the iPhone may be missing a lot of features when compared to other devices, but given the popularity of the product this clearly isn't a big issue for a lot of people.

At the minute some of the stuff is only good for bragging rights. NFC can hardly be used anywhere for payments, and using NFC tags to toggle settings is hardly worth it on iOS because battery life is so good anyway.

One of the features I miss from Android is the way it handles sharing. Other than that, there's nothing I really miss.

You may be right, but Android features =/= NFC only. It offers more customization, some of the widgets are quite intuitive as well.

The thing is, Google and the Android OS give me a feeling that they have more innovative features at hand and they're constantly hard at work at bringing better features. Unfortunately, I don't have the same feeling with Apple. As a matter of fact, the current rate of iOS development reeks of their complacency and arrogance, something which Android, thankfully, lacks.

I do acknowledge that iOS is good, there's no doubt. You can carry out a lot of things on the platform and it works well for most people. I'm more concerned about the future of the OS itself, which I don't think will be pleasant if Apple don't step on the accelerator soon enough.

[maxosx]

I say once a year.

However, since they're playing catch up to Android, even though Apples sales & profits are massive, I believe Apples working hard and once they've caught up they can roll back to an annual release.

I favor an annual release since unlike in the past, Apple seems to be struggling to ship a quality product without the significant issues of late.

[Woodcrest64]

I'm for 6 months. Mainly because having the 's' model with the same body style as the previous is like having the same phone for another year.

[matttye]

Originally Posted by Beeplance

You may be right, but Android features =/= NFC only. It offers more customization, some of the widgets are quite intuitive as well.

The thing is, Google and the Android OS give me a feeling that they have more innovative features at hand and they're constantly hard at work at bringing better features. Unfortunately, I don't have the same feeling with Apple. As a matter of fact, the current rate of iOS development reeks of their complacency and arrogance, something which Android, thankfully, lacks.

I do acknowledge that iOS is good, there's no doubt. You can carry out a lot of things on the platform and it works well for most people. I'm more concerned about the future of the OS itself, which I don't think will be pleasant if Apple don't step on the accelerator soon enough.

I was using NFC as an example. I appreciate there are a lot more things on Android that aren't on iOS other than just that.

Android and iOS are obviously aimed at different user bases. If you want the bleeding edge of technology with experimental features, then you'll have to go Android. If you want something that's very capable, very smooth and has user friendliness in mind, then go iOS.

Android is evolving more quickly because it attracts the sorts of users who like that. iOS is more for people who just want something that works and don't need loads of complicated features.

Then you have to throw individual manufacturer options into the mix as well. For example, with the Galaxy S3 there's loads of stuff to learn: -

Allshare Play
Allshare Cast
Buddy photo share (can't remember if that's actually what it's called)
Best shot

What the hell is all that stuff and why do I care about it? < That's how a lot of people would see all of those bells and whistles. Some people just want a phone that they can use to browse the internet, check emails, send messages, check Facebook, etc.

Apple's "complacency" is not complacency at all. What they're actually doing is improving the OS without drastically changing it at a rapid pace so as not to alienate their customer base.

I'm not sure why everybody wants the two OSes to be the same. Why would anybody want Apple to add all the features that Android has and basically become the same OS? Doesn't make sense to me.

[JayLenochiniMac]

Originally Posted by Leet Apple

18 months...the S bull needs to stop lol

Why should they wait 18 months if they can just slap an S on it and still sell an assload of it with very little changed?

[MacDawg]

Really makes no difference to me whatsoever when they release a new phone <shrug>
If I feel like it is an upgrade I want, then I will upgrade, regardless of the contract
If I weigh it out and decide to wait, then I wait

The choice to upgrade is always mine, not Apple's
So I am not tied to their schedule at all
Just because they release an iPhone or iPad doesn't mean I have to jump on it

[harcosparky]

Originally Posted by ChristianJapan

1. Let the consumer decide if they want to pay full price or not.

Consumers pay full price plus plus plus.

They always have, and alway will, so long as subsidized contracts go on.


Go buy that $200 subsidized iPhone and cancel 35 days later.

They hit ya with that crazy Early Termination Fee?

Do you know what that represents? It's the PAYMENTS you would have paid on your phone had you fulfilled the contract.

You can quit and pay full price up front via ETF, or you can continue making payments on the phone via the contracted agreement.

Now where does the " plus plus plus " come into play?

Say you finished your contract, and have made all the payments ( $200 down + payments monthly ). Now your phone is completely paid for but you are still paying the inflated monthly fee that includes the Service and Phone Payment.

Phone companies have you over a barrel though!

[zildMacjian]

i voted 18 months, but yeah if your in a 2 year contract thats gonna be a pain !

[erratikmind]

Personally, I think that the current new release schedule is fine. New releases do not affect me, as I am not motivated to make a new purchase of the said. I make purchases based on necessity.

[irDigital0l]

Originally Posted by tomjleeds

UPDATE STUFF!!!!!!

How?

I DON'T KNOW JUST CHANGE IT SO IT DOESN'T FEEL STALE!!!!!!!!!

But what if that makes it worse?

WHO CARES IOS IS LIKE FREAKIN' PREHISTORIC MAN!!!!!!!!!

Using caps doesn't make your post more intelligent....

Have you not seen Auxo's take for multitasking? If not go actually read the front page. It just came out on Cydia and ts a load better than what Apple has right now. Look at other Android and Windows phones and how they do Notifications and Multitasking. They are also a load better...and work better.

Apple comes up with something = best thing ever
Android/Windows/Jailbreakers come up with something = worse than Apple

[SnowLeopard OSX]

Originally Posted by Mrbobb

IMO, the iPad was an aberrasion, as Apple was surprised by the popularity if the Kindles. 1 yr - 18 months is good snuff 4r me. Regardless of Android's merits, too often updates makes a product not so special. How often can Cook goes, The Thinnest The Lightest, EVER! before ppl start yawning.

I agree. In my opinion, Apple products have already passed the point of thinness to the point where I no longer feel like I'm holding a quality product -- this particularly applies to the new iPod touches, the iPad minis, and the iPhone 5. They're too thin. I think the Macbook, iMac, iPod classic/older iPod touch, iPhone 4, and iPad 1-4 designs are the perfect amount of thinness for their respective device categories.

[Woodcrest64]

Originally Posted by tann

I agree with this! I think the current 5 is the first iPhone that I think will exceed 2 years of use for most people (if they want it to). It has everything, LTE, good battery, super fast.

I agree with you too assuming Apple doesn't really change iOS in a major way. I have feeling they will implement mission control though some how into iOS. Wether that is only for the newest phone at the time is anyone's guess.

[tann]

Originally Posted by SnowLeopard OSX

I agree. In my opinion, Apple products have already passed the point of thinness to the point where I no longer feel like I'm holding a quality product -- this particularly applies to the new iPod touches, the iPad minis, and the iPhone 5. They're too thin. I think the Macbook, iMac, iPod classic/older iPod touch, iPhone 4, and iPad 1-4 designs are the perfect amount of thinness for their respective device categories.

I too thought it was silly to go thinner on the iPhone 5... until I held one.

Same with the iPod touch 5th gen and iPad mini. I think that the feel of the device has increased 10 fold, I didn't think Apple could do a more 'premium' feel and finish than the iPhone 4 and 4S, I really, REALLY didn't. The 4 was a thing of beauty. But holy ****** I was seriously surprised when I held and used the new devices.

A really good example of this is the past iPod touch 4th gen to me felt stupid thin, it was uncomfortable to hold (in my opinion). The current iPod touch 5th gen is ~1mm thinner, but the way that they've made it it actually feels really nice. To me at least.

I do think that the current thinness should not really be 'beaten' because then it will become uncomfortable to hold I think. iPads and iPhones at about 7-8mm are nice, especially with current designs and I don't know how they can improve on them!

----------

Originally Posted by Woodcrest64

I agree with you too assuming Apple doesn't really change iOS in a major way. I have feeling they will implement mission control though some how into iOS. Wether that is only for the newest phone at the time is anyone's guess.

I think they will change the OS now to force people to upgrade, but I also think that the 5 will fully support iOS 7 and unless they increase the screen size again after (to wider) I see most of the 'look' of things staying consistent from now on. But who knows really.

[irDigital0l]

Originally Posted by Woodcrest64

I agree with you too assuming Apple doesn't really change iOS in a major way. I have feeling they will implement mission control though some how into iOS. Wether that is only for the newest phone at the time is anyone's guess.

I feel in terms of hardware...Apple is ahead of the competition but in terms of iOS, Apple is like 2 years behind the competition.

It won't matter how good the iPhoen 5S will be...if it doesn't have a revamped iOS 7, its going to make it a lot harder for Apple to sell its product with a 6 year old OS.

Meanwhile Microsoft and Samsung (maybe even RIM) are all advertising their newest OS with great new features.

[hamiltonDSi]

iPhone 4 was in the market as the latest iPhone for one and a half year. This is the perfect cycle.

[irDigital0l]

Originally Posted by hamiltonDSi

iPhone 4 was in the market as the latest iPhone for one and a half year. This is the perfect cycle.

Are you trying to make Apple go out of business?

[Jungle Jack]

Originally Posted by Woodcrest64

I'm for 6 months. Mainly because having the 's' model with the same body style as the previous is like having the same phone for another year.

Hello,
That was the exact same rationale I used in selecting every 6 months. While it probably would adversely affect resale value, I believe the juice to be worth the squeeze.
Cheers,
JJ

[hamiltonDSi]

Originally Posted by irDigital0l

Are you trying to make Apple go out of business?

Did Apple go out of business with the iPhone 4 cycle ?

[irDigital0l]

Originally Posted by hamiltonDSi

Did Apple go out of business with the iPhone 4 cycle ?

Nope and during that time iOS still had the most marketshare.

But that was 2010...2012 is a very different world.

[XboxMySocks]

Originally Posted by irDigital0l

Nope and during that time iOS still had the most marketshare.

But that was 2010...2012 is a very different world.

iOS still has the most marketshare? What is your point.

[irDigital0l]

Originally Posted by XboxMySocks

iOS still has the most marketshare?.

No it doesn't.