Anyone else underwhelmed lately?

[jrswizzle]

Familiarity is all it is. There are countless tales of Android users who couldn't wait to get back once they switched to iOS. For sure iOS does some things 'better', but then so too does Android. If someone uses iOS for a few years and then switches to Android, it's completely understandable (and obvious) that they'll pine for how things used to be. The acid test would be to use Android for three years and then to decide. Otherwise it's not a level playing field.

Or it could just be that one works better for someone's needs.

Familiarity definitely plays a role, but to dismiss any desire to go back as "oh its just because you're used to the other" doesn't quite fly.

I use Android and iOS side-by-side. There are things I prefer about iOS - yes its more familiar to me, but it also just feels more polished. And of course, a big reason simply is my friends and family are on iOS devices making it easier to communicate and share with them.

It's just about what works best for someone.

 

[iPadPublisher]

So, why can't you just enjoy them?

I get that people like new things, and perhaps it's boring when things are just working nicely.

But phones, tablets and laptops are at a stage where they fulfill your needs. Just enjoy them.

Oh I do... like I said, I wasn't trying to start a flame war or anything... I just wanted to know if folks were feeling the same way I do. I enjoy them considerably, especially since all of my needs are met and things are working well.

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I've seen this thread in 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013.

There's always someone who doesn't care so much anymore and thinks his opinion can be projected to the entire industry.

Sometimes you're just satisfied with what you have and not interested in something new. That's okay, but I don't see the point in opening threads like this.

Its just a discussion. You didn't have to take part in it.

 

[CarmelMacchiato]

I've seen this thread in 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013.

There's always someone who doesn't care so much anymore and thinks his opinion can be projected to the entire industry.

Sometimes you're just satisfied with what you have and not interested in something new. That's okay, but I don't see the point in opening threads like this.

Wholeheartedly agree.

 

[The Doctor11]

I went to apple.com to learn more about this "underwhelming" phone. I then found out that this phone is nonexistent.
Let's wait until news of a new device to decide if we are whelmed enough or not

 

[iolinux333]

Agreed. I don't care about my already thin phone becoming thinner. I want real improvements, like double the battery life and stereo speakers with bass. The HTC One has great speakers, so why does the 'premium' Apple iPhone have such a cruddy and tinny speaker?

And a cruddy microphone and no graphic EQ. For sound Apple is the pits.

 

[Gathomblipoob]

Agreed. I don't care about my already thin phone becoming thinner. I want real improvements, like double the battery life and stereo speakers with bass. The HTC One has great speakers, so why does the 'premium' Apple iPhone have such a cruddy and tinny speaker?

I wouldn't characterize the HTC One's speakers as having bass. I had one, and the speakers are nice, but not very "bassy." I mean, look at the size of them.

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The point of opening a thread like this is to provide discussion. If you don't like it, no one is forcing you to leave a reply. Just keep moving. Furthermore, if you have nothing to add, please refrain from commenting on threads. Thank you.

I valued his input, thank you. He made a valid point about the similarity of threads through the years. Let's let the mods mod.

 

[jolux]

You only have to pay for those apps once more and then you have two ecosystems up & running. You can switch platforms to your heart's content then. How much have you spent on apps? Is it really that much of an issue?
This synching thing is overplayed too. Would it really be a life and death problem if your notes and iMessages etc weren't available on both devices instantaneously?
Still, each to their own. I'm just saying that if people are bored with iPhones being too samey every year, there are other options.

I know you Android guys don't buy a lot of apps, but I can assure you here with App Store assets going into the hundreds or possibly thousands of dollars. I know some of my friends do. It's like a music library.

Saying the syncing thing is overplayed shows that you haven't used an iPhone for very long, or don't care about the improvements being made. iOS 8 is going to be crushing Android with Handoff and Continuity and a whole host of other massive improvements that make the syncing even more seamless. It's quite an ecosystem, if you can afford all the trees.

And a cruddy microphone and no graphic EQ. For sound Apple is the pits.

I thought there was an EQ? There certainly was on the old iPods. I just set the EQ for the song in iTunes and then it updates it when it syncs.

The microphone's fine, obviously not studio grade, I'm not sure what they could do better with it.

 

[bigjim83]

I hear what you're saying. But for once I'm using my iphone and not worrying about what's next or what out there is bigger and better. The features are coming more slowly for every company now because it seems we've hit the ceiling feature wise. Will there be more and better things? Sure but nothing earth shaking or ground breaking.

Only phones that are really shaking things up in my eyes are the nexus phones and the one plus one. This is only due to the price point that they are offered at.

 

[pure-rockstar]

We don't know what's coming out that's the thing.

We could have better EarPods. Faster syncing. Faster Wi-Fi. A better design.

It's far from over

What I expect though is a new MacBook air I already sold mine

 

[Truefan31]

Agreed. I don't care about my already thin phone becoming thinner. I want real improvements, like double the battery life and stereo speakers with bass. The HTC One has great speakers, so why does the 'premium' Apple iPhone have such a cruddy and tinny speaker?

Yet the htc one has an awful camera.

 

[Blakjack]

Just be patient.

 

[sunking101]

I wouldn't characterize the HTC One's speakers as having bass. I had one, and the speakers are nice, but not very "bassy." I mean, look at the size of them.

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I valued his input, thank you. He made a valid point about the similarity of threads through the years. Let's let the mods mod.

I'm not saying that the M8's speakers have floorstander bass, but they are rich and warm. There is some lower mid-bass and they don't sound tinny at all. They are more pleasing to the ear than the majority of budget laptops, let alone every other phone on the market.

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Yet the htc one has an awful camera.

It needn't have, it isn't like the speakers are the reason for that. Likewise, the iPhone needn't have a terrible loudspeaker. It isn't like the budget pricing constraints are preventing decent sound ;-)

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I hear what you're saying. But for once I'm using my iphone and not worrying about what's next or what out there is bigger and better. The features are coming more slowly for every company now because it seems we've hit the ceiling feature wise. Will there be more and better things? Sure but nothing earth shaking or ground breaking.

Only phones that are really shaking things up in my eyes are the nexus phones and the one plus one. This is only due to the price point that they are offered at.

Sure, but they can refine those features already present. Apple charge a premium and tout their product as being the best, yet the speakers are dreadful and the battery life could be much improved.

 

[I7guy]

I'm not saying that the M8's speakers have floorstander bass, but they are rich and warm. There is some lower mid-bass and they don't sound tinny at all. They are more pleasing to the ear than the majority of budget laptops, let alone every other phone on the market.

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It needn't have, it isn't like the speakers are the reason for that. Likewise, the iPhone needn't have a terrible loudspeaker. It isn't like the budget pricing constraints are preventing decent sound ;-)

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Sure, but they can refine those features already present. Apple charge a premium and tout their product as being the best, yet the speakers are dreadful and the battery life could be much improved.

Actually apple doesn't "tout" , anything. You in fact just touted apple was the best. The battery life is quite good given it's size and the speakers could be improved. I'd pick overall usability and size against bigger speakers since I use high-end Bluetooth headphones anyway. While it seems I am getting a bigger iPhone 6 I am not getting the 5.5 size.

What a conundrum we consumers need a phone with samsungs voice quality, the m8s speaker and battery quality and apples software and hardware quality. It's quite the pickle.

 

[Jimmy James]

OP, I know exactly what you mean.

I feel the same way about my Ferrari, mansions and jet. Sigh. Someone entertain me.

 

[vulcanvillalta]

OP, I'm glad you said this. I feel the same way, and my justification is: What ELSE do I need? I am already a bit behind in terms of the tech that I own, and I feel no immediate need to advance any further. I honestly don't use my tablet that much, and I use my phone for call/text/email. I might play a game here or there. But what else do I honestly need from apple? Believe it or not, but I still read paperback books every day, and watch movies on dvd. These are just some cool communication devices. That's all they really are. I'm connected with the world, and woohoo.

 

[rrl]

OP, I know exactly what you mean.

I feel the same way about my Ferrari, mansions and jet. Sigh. Someone entertain me.

This is a good meme. Let me try:

OP, I know exactly what you mean.

Oh, wait, no I don't.

 

[BeeGood]

I think the big change this year won't be hardware. It will be iOS 8. I've said it before but I really do believe that with app data sharing this has the potential to be the second most important iOS update ever.

I understand why a lot of people aren't thrilled about this one because the rumors sound "meh". The big change will come a couple months after release, once app developers are fully taking advantage of iOS 8 and giving us more of what android users have come accustomed to in terms of functionality.

 

[Bobby Corwen]

Like I have said before, there has only been one major innovation:

Capacitive touch screens.

All the profound paradigm shifts were a chain reaction of this one invention and thats what made those times so exciting around the time of the iPhone and original iPad release

Thats what created the illusion that Apple was a miracle worker but such profound shifts in innovation probably won't happen for a long time if ever because of logistical limits of our physical bodies and our habits as humans.

So Apple was never as magical as they sold themselves to be and can't possibly retain that level of excitement because theres nothing left to re-invent in this generation.

We are at the point where we are just making devices of every size of capacitive touch screens for various intended purposes but its all just the same invention. Thats not nearly as exciting. And theres nothing left to redefine.

People are looking to watches and TV because Apple created the illusion like whatever they touch becomes a new "thing" because they did it three times in a row with iPod, iPhone, and iPad.

But there won't be a 4th blockbuster invention because those inventions are the replacements for those exact devices.

It was those devices that made any other device brackets more or less obsolete. Nobody wears a watch cuz they have an iPhone. Nobody sits in front of the tube cuz they are on the internet with their iPad. Or if anything they are watching a TV Show or Netflix episode on their Mac thats output to a projector.

If you go back to that revolutionary time, thats why there was excitement, because of all the profound implications of the capacitive touch screen and the excitement and curiosity of where it was gonna take us with Apple leading the way.

Now we are done with that and ran out of potentially profound innovations this generation and we don't generate nearly as much hype about anything in particular.

 

[I7guy]

Like I have said before, there has only been one major innovation:

Capacitive touch screens.

All the profound paradigm shifts were a chain reaction of this one invention and thats what made those times so exciting around the time of the iPhone and original iPad release

Thats what created the illusion that Apple was a miracle worker but such profound shifts in innovation probably won't happen for a long time if ever because of logistical limits of our physical bodies and our habits as humans.

So Apple was never as magical as they sold themselves to be and can't possibly retain that level of excitement because theres nothing left to re-invent in this generation.

We are at the point where we are just making devices of every size of capacitive touch screens for various intended purposes but its all just the same invention. Thats not nearly as exciting. And theres nothing left to redefine.

People are looking to watches and TV because Apple created the illusion like whatever they touch becomes a new "thing" because they did it three times in a row with iPod, iPhone, and iPad.

But there won't be a 4th blockbuster invention because those inventions are the replacements for those exact devices.

It was those devices that made any other device brackets more or less obsolete. Nobody wears a watch cuz they have an iPhone. Nobody sits in front of the tube cuz they are on the internet with their iPad. Or if anything they are watching a TV Show or Netflix episode on their Mac thats output to a projector.

If you go back to that revolutionary time, thats why there was excitement, because of all the profound implications of the capacitive touch screen and the excitement and curiosity of where it was gonna take us with Apple leading the way.

Now we are done with that and ran out of potentially profound innovations this generation and we don't generate nearly as much hype about anything in particular.

And apple will still sell out launch weekend.

 

[David58117]

Honestly I'm not exactly excited either - it's a phone for god sakes!!

It already does everything I want it to and integrates in my home setup pretty well (multiple macs, iPad).

If a phone is what makes someone truly excited, then I think that's a pretty low bar they have set.

But maybe I'm just not a techie...

 

[Eileen89]

Anyone else underwhelmed lately?

I'm more than satisfied with the way the iPhones have progressed over time. With the impending larger screen sizes, updated iOS, better camera, ect..., the iPhone lineup can only get better.

 

[sunking101]

Honestly I'm not exactly excited either - it's a phone for god sakes!!

It already does everything I want it to and integrates in my home setup pretty well (multiple macs, iPad).

If a phone is what makes someone truly excited, then I think that's a pretty low bar they have set.

But maybe I'm just not a techie...

If you're not a techie then why do you have a slew of premium gadgets, .and why are you on this site?

 

[Aniseedvan]

I'm another who tries to mostly duck out of seeing leaked pictures of circuit boards, etc. and just stick to the rumours about when the event is likely to be.

I actually enjoy keynotes, but will only upgrade this year from my 5 if there's something compelling (rather than doing it because the phone is 2 years old). TouchId in the 5s is something I could do with (from using my phone with OS maps on when walking), the iOS8 continuity stuff looks great - I personally find it handy now to tap away iMessages on my mac, and things like air dropping between the two will make it better still.

 

[aPple nErd]

there are so many things apple could implement that would actually get them up do date with other phone companies. such as nfc, 13+ mp cameras, a better OS, and the list goes on. so yeah while i'm underwhelmed lately, and these features aren't necessary for me, they are features apple should add to be up to date.

 

[Gathomblipoob]

I'm not saying that the M8's speakers have floorstander bass, but they are rich and warm. There is some lower mid-bass and they don't sound tinny at all. They are more pleasing to the ear than the majority of budget laptops, let alone every other phone on the market.

I can agree with that.