I personally prefer to get a revoulutionary rather than evolutionary product every 2 years.
The "true" Apple fans go for the former while the more "vanilla" soccer Mom types go for the latter. IMO.![]()
There's no "true" or "vanilla" Apple "fans" in regard to this.
It's all dependant on the model you are CURRENTLY contracted to use and the cycle you are basically forced into following unless you change mid contract.
Regardless of which cycle you sit on, you will ALWAYS end up on a "revolutionary" new model of the iPhone, one which skips a model completely.
Using your terminology, if you're on an iPhone 4 now, skipped the 4S, and got a 5 you're getting some revolutionary update. Same applies to those on the 4S who skip the 5 but get the 5S, these people will not get a device which is evolutionary, because to those owners they are getting the new model in terms of design AND more power.
However, if you've come from a 4 to the 5 the jump will feel more substantial and more, dare I use the cringe worthy term once more, revolutionary. The jump is only an evolutionary one if you go from 4 to 4S, 5 to 5S, etc.
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Moving from the 4S to 5 is a HUGE upgrade in terms of "sheer power under the hood". It's ridiculously fast...More then double my 4S.
Your on a good upgrade schedule, though. Nothing wrong with the 4s at all. I was just shocked on just how powerful and fast the A6 is. Can't wait to see what's in store for the 5S.
In terms of navigating iOS, there's no difference other than the panes in the Settings tab loading that little quicker. iOS animations are ... iOS animations, they go a set speed and the frame rate of them is the same on the 4S and 5.
When we see some apps being written specifically for the 5, that's when we'll see our jaws hit the ground. But then that's always been the problem with the iPhone and it's annual updates. We never really see the full power of a new iPhone until, what feels like, a year down the line because developers don't want to push too far ahead out of fear of leaving even 3GS and 4 owners behind. There comes a point when the link has to be severed, the old devices need to be cut loose to allow the newer devices to shine.
I keep referring back to the showcase title at the 4S keynote last year, Infinity Blade 2. Epic came out and showed these "God ray" lighting effects, particle effects, water reflections, etc but they were only niche little graphical touches which didn't push the game or the platform in comparison to the iPhone 4 version which, lower frame rate aside, looked identical at a glance.
Even though I won't own a 5, I am looking forward to seeing what developers do with that A6, especially in the gaming genre.