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Apple Forces Us To Wait 2+ Years For A Redesign
- Thread starter blairh
- Start date
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By pushing the iPhone 4s launch to October, Apple appears to have avoided the short-supply fiasco that was the iPhone 4 (and pretty much every iPhone before it) launch.
With the iPhone 4s October launch, Apple had enough stock to add two additional countries to the initial 10/14 launch (Canada and Australia). They were also able to have enough stock on-hand in US retail stores for the launch weekend that virtually everyone who went to buy an iPhone 4s got one, despite crazy sales volumes. "On Friday, AT&T said it had activated a record number of iPhones on its network by the end of the working day, and was on track to double the previous one-day record."
Apple was also able to add 5 additional countries to the second launch (22 countries total), and make the second launch happen only two weeks after the initial launch. With the iPhone 4, it took them five weeks after the initial launch to get enough stock for the second launch, and that launch was only 17 countries.
So basically, if you're going to look at it from the "wah, I have to wait 3 more months to get my iPhone 5", then yeah. But if you step back and see what Apple really did by move the iPhone launches to October, it seems to be a good thing for millions of people around the world.
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the first three gens of the iPhone all looked pretty similar. So the iPhone 4 design is still "fresher" than those I guess.
I really don't care about the design that much, apple usually releases slick looking products that hold up over time. I care way more about the specs.
Using the word "forced" is a bit much when talking about your choice in cell phone.
I really don't care about the design that much, apple usually releases slick looking products that hold up over time. I care way more about the specs.
Using the word "forced" is a bit much when talking about your choice in cell phone.
You like giving Apple your money I take it...
I'd prefer them to deliver innovation and not just incremental changes. Every year they pull a "one special feature" addition to their hardware that the previous version is locked out of. I don't wanna play that stupid game anymore so unless the new iPhone is drastically better than my 4GS I'm gonna stick with my 4GS. Back in the good old days of cellular, you kept the phone until it broke. Don't be a slave to marketing.
I'd prefer them to deliver innovation and not just incremental changes. Every year they pull a "one special feature" addition to their hardware that the previous version is locked out of. I don't wanna play that stupid game anymore so unless the new iPhone is drastically better than my 4GS I'm gonna stick with my 4GS. Back in the good old days of cellular, you kept the phone until it broke. Don't be a slave to marketing.
i don't understand the big deal. my contract was up last june. but i waited the extra couple of months to get the 4S since i knew it would come out eventually. its really not a big deal to me and i doubt most people don't care. the latest and greatest will always be around the corner.
I think the crux of the OP's gripe is that he bought the iPhone 4 (when it first launched) on a 24-month contract.
His 24-month contract is just about up, and the iPhone 5 won't be ready for him to buy.
He thinks it's ridiculous that he's forced to wait three more months (after his contract has expired) before he can purchase the iPhone 5.
In his perfect world, as soon as his 24-month contract has expired, the next "newest" model will be there for him to immediately purchase.
Precisely. I did the same thing and waited after the contract was up to get the 4S.
I don't see the need for me, to get a new handset every 6-12 months, but I know people out there that do. But by in large, most people wait until their contracts are up to take advantage of the subsidized prices.
I don't see how my counter is ridiculous. I'm trying to show you how unnecessary more frequent redesigns are as long as the internals are upgraded on a more regular basis to satisfy increased performance requirements and spec freaks.
You're complaining about an extra 3-4 months that you are "forced" (with a gun to your head, no doubt) to wait past the 2 year mark for a redesign. How horrible!
Actually that isn't the issue one bit. It has nothing to do with this.
I've been upgrade eligible since last December. But I'm not foolish enough to think that Apple is going to redesign the iPhone every year.
All I'm getting at in this thread is that IMO Apple should release a redesigned iPhone every 24 months. If you disagree, so be it. Has nothing to do with having things work in my 'perfect world'.
That's beyond ridiculous. The carrier's contract plan has nothing to do with Apple. And Apple isn't obligated to coincide with your purchase plan. Your 24 months isn't someone else's 34 months, so your argument makes no sense. And again it's not up to Apple to release phones in exact timeframes. They release them yearly, but at varying times of the year.
It really isn't a big deal.
Still ridiculous. It still sounds like a rant about your "perfect world". They are not obligated to do anything of the sort. Every second year is usually a hardware upgrade followed by a redesign the third. Seems to be the trend these days.
Yes it's a ridiculous counter. And no, upgrading the internals is not enough. You think a new iPhone this fall that looks just like the 4S but has LTE and a faster processor and slightly better camera would be enough? I certainly don't think so.
I totally disagree with you and again, comparing smartphones to cars, computers, and the like is absurd.
Okay, I'm done now. Sticking to what I said in the OP. I can't reply anymore despite some of the snarky and dumb replies some of you bringing to the table. Ciao.
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I'm not talking about purchase plans!!!!!!! Come on people.
All I'm getting at is that I feel 24 months is a good time frame to refresh/redesign/innovate the iPhone. That's all I'm saying. Stop making this out to be something other than that. Personally I believe that making it more than 24 months makes it more likely for consumers to jump at the competition. That's all I'm saying. Fin.
Some of you are so happy to sit on your hands and just wait for Apple to do as it pleases. It's amazing.
Maybe trade places with someone in a third world country and maybe you'll see how misplaced your priorities are. Having access to these things is a privilege... fought and died for by many. People getting angry over a technology refresh makes me realize how jaded/confused everyone is these days.
It probably would be enough, yes. They would still sell a crap-ton of iPhones, just like they did with the 4S.
That being said, I think they understand that a redesign is necessary every 2nd generation in order to keep the product fresh.
Smartphones aren't special. For you, upgrading your iPhone when your contract expires isn't a big deal just like upgrading cars every year isn't a big deal to an extremely wealthy person.
Great counter. Comments that you don't agree with are snarky and dumb.
Run away....
They probably will in the future now that they've moved the annual iPhone update to the Autumn.
I got my iPhone 4 on launch day so I'm also due an update. I popped into the local O2 shop today to change my contract to a rolling 30 day SIM only deal and save a bit of money until the launch of the next iPhone. They mentioned that most people seem to be holding on to their iPhone 4 and are waiting to see what is coming.
They redesigned at 24 months in the past and likely will in the future. We just don't see the need to flip out because Apple modified their release time-frame over a year ago... especially when Apple isn't forcing anyone to do anything.
Every single iPhone since 2007 has looked pretty much identical on the parts you actually look at all day.
Given that all 5 similar-looking models continue to sell better and better, I think you have to just acknowledge that you're the one in the minority in our world.
it's like a fine BMW though. I don't mind having it for two years. Now if the next one is just stretched vertically, it will be like having the same design for four years.
What is what you want?
What new design are you expecting?
The glass over the touch screen is the best thing out there in the market.
What are you expecting Poly Carbonate? Really?
What new design are you expecting?
The glass over the touch screen is the best thing out there in the market.
What are you expecting Poly Carbonate? Really?
If Apple sticks with the Oct launch dates, and that move ensures adequate supply for future iPhone launches, all I'm getting at is that a one-time 27-month cycle (that only affects early iPhone 4 adopters) between redesigns seems like a pretty petty thing to get so worked up about.
I don't find the hardware redesign cycle too slow at all. However, I would very much welcome any core innovation in the iOS. It still relies on the 4 x 4 icon grid from the original iPhone, but there are now too many apps and uses for that I find. I know there are folders, but thats still follows the same grid idea.
They don't force you into waiting 28 months or 2 years or whatever. There are tons of smartphones in the store. If you don't like the apple design, get another one. You are just locking yourself into the apple world if you think you have to keep buying from them.