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Apple to Release iPhone 4S with New GPS Features?

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number9 said:
lusky said:
To anyone saying these spec bumps would be enough, you are forgetting one very important thing. A large large part of any phone's appeal is fashion, a lot of people will see it as the same phone regardless of the internal change, plus a lot of people are valuing the bigger screen over a lot of other things, so I can understand people being unhappy if it is the same design
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So the millions of people who have been buying iPhone 4's even though they're old and outdated designs from last summer are the minority, or are the basment dwellers on here who think a phone's case is more important than the hardware and software inside in the minority?

What about the millions of people who went out and bought the iPhone 3GS even though it was physically identical (save the shiny vs. matte Apple logo and text on the back)?

I think that smartphones, in particular Android and iOS phones, have been out for long enough that most of the public who would be purchasing these are more intune with which software they like better than what the back of the phone is made of. People have been flocking to smartphones because they're software allows them to do more, not because of the hardware advances. The hardware is secondary to the vast majority of people. They only become disgruntled with the hardware when its a few years old and it runs the latest software slowly.
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Yeah add tI that the 3GS outselling all android devices and the fashion/trendiness argument rings completely bogus.

It boils down to people making proclamations without first understanding why apple is successful. It is like scores of people here are auditionng to be CEOs of android handset makers given their lack of insight into apple
 
macgrove said:
Funny. Looks like a pre-release site. Missing images, but definitely says iPhone 4S and nothing about an iPhone 5.

Bummer.
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From what I have read the iphone 5 may be an AT&T exclusive, so it wouldn't show up on a Japanese website. But who knows for sure.

IF there is an iphone 5, i am betting one compnay, most likely AT&T has an exclusive on it and it won't be coming out for a month or two, hence the fact we have no leaks of pics on it.
 
It is what it is...

But I just wanted throw this out there...(and FYI-it'll be interested to see what actually gets showcased today)

The iPad came out in April 2010 and the iPad 2 came out in March 2011...

So why does everyone think a speed bump can't coexist with new hardware? If it was because of hardware flaws, didn't the iPhone 4 have flaws as well? And how many people were still surprised when the iPad 2 came out?

You can't rule out anything with Apple. And if it is indeed a redesign, then Apple will go down as creating and executing the biggest bluff in technological history.

And if they don't, life goes on...And I'll still enjoy my iPhone 2G and 3GS.
:apple:
 
Apple's technology (or at least form factor) advances are just moving slower than most of us would like to see. It does seem like this phone could have come out in June though. Maybe it was simply the updated software features that slowed it's release. The next question becomes exactly when they will update again. June? Then 4G?
 
bim88 said:
From what I have read the iphone 5 may be an AT&T exclusive, so it wouldn't show up on a Japanese website. But who knows for sure.

IF there is an iphone 5, i am betting one compnay, most likely AT&T has an exclusive on it and it won't be coming out for a month or two, hence the fact we have no leaks of pics on it.
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Very good point. I guess there may be a 5 in US (but not counting on it), with 4S available more globally.
 
One reason why I don't get why Apple would do just a spec bump and not a redesign is the fact that it's not going to make anyone switch from Android to an iPhone. People who love the iPhone 4's design already have it for the most part, and when dealing with casual users, they care a lot more about presentation and body than the specs inside. They're going to look at the phone and think it's the same old same old.
 
For all of those blasting people who want a new design, it's quite simple. It's not about wanting a "new design", it's about wanting a design that isn't overly fragile and small. Remember, when the iPhone 4 was leaked these boards were flooded with people saying it can't be real because Apple wouldn't release something so ugly...now it's the hottest thing still around? It can't be both ways.

Beyond that, some of us who have lived with the iPhone 4 since it's release simply don't like the beefy weight, the (basically) ALL GLASS construction, the uncomfortable grip when holding it, and tiny screen size. Every single other phone manufacturer seems to be doing at least 4" screens, even thinner devices than the iPhone now, lighter, nicer to hold etc. The form IS the function in this case. Sure the A5 would be great, but if the device is still not that enjoyable to hold and carry, who cares? We use these phones so much throughout the day, every day, the form has to be very pleasant to use. From my perspective at least, and I know many others, the iPhone 4 is greatly lacking in this department.

That is why so many are desiring a lighter, thinner, larger screen, and curved edge phone.
 
snowcrash said:
Just because it sells massively well doesn't mean that people wouldn't like those changes. I want those changes but that doesn't mean that if I don't get them I'm not getting an iPhone. I said, and will again, it's what the iPhone can do that draws me to it. That doesn't mean that I'm happy with the glass back (and almost everyone I know hates it, yeah they like the looks pretty, but isn't practical for every day abuse, and yeah I get it "treat it nicely", some people are just klutzy), square edges, and 3.5" screen. But that being said I'm not going to get a crappy Droid or whatever just for the form factor. Yeah holding it, larger screen, plastic more rugged back etc will make me happy, that is if I never have to turn it on or actually use it.
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I'm not disputing your opinion and I utterly support your position as being entirely reasonable and rational. Different design choices will always please different people. Apple could make 50 different models and still some people would complain that there wasn't one that was just right for them.

I'm merely saying that there is no hard evidence that these things you mentioned are wanted or are important enough for Apple to respond to. There is, however, tons of evidence that people love the iPhone 4s. They buy lots of them for one thing. They give amazingly high feedback scores for another. So if people are going to make statements that suggest that people want things or dislike things and that those things are particularly important then really they should offer evidence. But I've never actually seen any evidence. All I hear is 'my friends say this' or 'I think this' or 'people on forums have said this'. None of that counts for much set against the tons of hard data that speaks to the opposite. So I have to five the benefit of the doubt to the status quo.

I don't mean to sound combative. I suppose it's easy to get frustrated when so much of what is said on forums like this is dribble. You made valid points but I question the basis for generalising them as you did. I just don't think the evidence exists to support the idea that, for example, the antenna issue, is even in the minds of people anymore. If it was a big deal wouldn't people have stopped buying iPhone 4s? Unless you subscribe to the idea that everyone who buys Apple stuff is a sheep and will blindly accept that anything Steve Jobs says is truth (that would include a huge number of fortune 500 companies - getting stuff passed the penny pinchers is not an easy task these days! - of course).

Fact is that the opposite is true - people hold Apple up to higher standards than anyone else. Apple is watched for any small problem and that problem will be splashed across the news pages of the national press. Samsung can create a total cow of a product and no one would notice. They'd just drop it and move on. Apple? A small (and I do mean small) issue around reception and it's news for weeks! Then, as soon as the hysteria dies down, people forget about it and move on. Such is life.
 
I dont see apple spending so much money on R&D for the current design to abandon it a year later.

I predict the new iphone will be the iphone 4 with updated guts.

All blogs will jizz and drool until we all start getting our hands on the device and problems pop-up.

Dont get too excited. 5 -8 megapix is not that great and voice assistance of course will be headlined but im sure it will be used by 2% of iphone users. The other 98% will continue as they do now.
 
Yes, the updates are certainly welcome but if they only unveil the 4S it does seem like a bit of a let down (especially if you consider the amount of time that has passed since the last update and the significant talent and resources Apple has at its disposal). I for one would have appreciated a bigger screen (even if they kept a similar form factor). I guess we'll all know soon enough, then it's up to consumers to do as they want.
 
TennisandMusic said:
For all of those blasting people who want a new design, it's quite simple. It's not about wanting a "new design", it's about wanting a design that isn't overly fragile and small. Remember, when the iPhone 4 was leaked these boards were flooded with people saying it can't be real because Apple wouldn't release something so ugly...now it's the hottest thing still around? It can't be both ways.
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Sure it can. After all, more than one person posts here, and people *obviously* have differing opinions on the design of the iPhone 4. MacRumors is not a monolithic entity, it's a collection of individual people.

I wasn't thrilled with the iP4 design myself based on the early pictures. (Heck, I thought it was an exceptionally early test-rig for the new hardware.) Having seen it in person, and held it, it wasn't as bad as I had expected, but it also wasn't *quite* enough to get me to go for an early upgrade from my 3Gs.

I'm still not thrilled with the idea of the 90 degree corners, but given the opportunity to get a serious spec bump over my 3Gs, and also get the iP4 screen resolution, I'll probably go ahead and upgrade this time around. If I can't deal with the way the phone feels in my hand, I'll get a case for it that rounds the edges a bit. Not that big of a deal.
 
Zunjine said:
I'm not disputing your opinion and I utterly support your position as being entirely reasonable and rational. Different design choices will always please different people. Apple could make 50 different models and still some people would complain that there wasn't one that was just right for them.

I'm merely saying that there is no hard evidence that these things you mentioned are wanted or are important enough for Apple to respond to. There is, however, tons of evidence that people love the iPhone 4s. They buy lots of them for one thing. They give amazingly high feedback scores for another. So if people are going to make statements that suggest that people want things or dislike things and that those things are particularly important then really they should offer evidence. But I've never actually seen any evidence. All I hear is 'my friends say this' or 'I think this' or 'people on forums have said this'. None of that counts for much set against the tons of hard data that speaks to the opposite. So I have to five the benefit of the doubt to the status quo.

I don't mean to sound combative. I suppose it's easy to get frustrated when so much of what is said on forums like this is dribble. You made valid points but I question the basis for generalising them as you did. I just don't think the evidence exists to support the idea that, for example, the antenna issue, is even in the minds of people anymore. If it was a big deal wouldn't people have stopped buying iPhone 4s? Unless you subscribe to the idea that everyone who buys Apple stuff is a sheep and will blindly accept that anything Steve Jobs says is truth (that would include a huge number of fortune 500 companies - getting stuff passed the penny pinchers is not an easy task these days! - of course).

Fact is that the opposite is true - people hold Apple up to higher standards than anyone else. Apple is watched for any small problem and that problem will be splashed across the news pages of the national press. Samsung can create a total cow of a product and no one would notice. They'd just drop it and move on. Apple? A small (and I do mean small) issue around reception and it's news for weeks! Then, as soon as the hysteria dies down, people forget about it and move on. Such is life.
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Yeah I agree. Just was saying that just because it sells well doesn't actually mean that people don't want something different. There are other factors that keeps the iPhone the top dog. But yeah they could make a bunch of different styles and of course people would still complain. Personally if they listened to just me I'd be very happy hahaha. I'm sure there are still people out there waiting for a slide out keyboard...
 
Newton70 said:
Yes, the updates are certainly welcome but if they only unveil the 4S it does seem like a bit of a let down (especially if you consider the amount of time that has passed since the last update and the significant talent and resources Apple has at its disposal). I for one would have appreciated a bigger screen (even if they kept a similar form factor). I guess we'll all know soon enough, then it's up to consumers to do as they want.
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Apple always gives us just enough to want something....but not enough to say "wow". This is usually the fault of forums like this that build up expectations.

Apple may be shooting low this time and target this release to all of the people we have heard about that are simply waiting for the next release to switch to iPhone. An iPhone 4s in almost any form will still allow millions of non-iphone users a reason to purchase. Apple may be assuming that most iPhone 4 users are happy and will stick around another year until they release the 5.

Give sprint access also and apple will sell millions regardless of specs between the new carrier and android users that are ready to switch.

Us iPhone 4 users will just wait another 16 months.
 
macgrove said:
I am prepared to be disappointed. I really hope Apple steps up. They had us trained to expect a new phone every 12 months, they throw a curveball at us and push it back to 16 months, build up expectations that the delay is worth it, and now they may just release a minor update.

Who knows...I guess we all will in 60 minutes, but this may be the first apple product release that I skip in 10 years.
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So the MacPro case being the same as the G5 case would have kept you from upgrading?

The original Mac looked the same for years, as did the Performa line, as did the Quadra, as did the Newton, as did the original iMac, as did the G5/Intel iMac.

I'm not judging, just wondering if the externals of Apple products are more important to you than what is on the inside.
 
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Navdakilla said:
Donz0r said:
Wow....

16 months later and we get the EXACT SAME PHONE with a better processor and a slightly better camera?

This isn't 2009 w/ the 3GS - Android is exploding and an iPhone 4S will not make people run to the Apple stores.
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exactly, this is a bad move on apple's part, Android is running full steam ahead.
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More like android is running out of steam. I give 50/50 chance google stops developing android in next 36 months. Perhaps they will make their own devices with s new os but android is likely not going to be driven by google in a few years
 
Donz0r said:
Wow....

16 months later and we get the EXACT SAME PHONE with a better processor and a slightly better camera?

This isn't 2009 w/ the 3GS - Android is exploding and an iPhone 4S will not make people run to the Apple stores.
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And yet the 3Gs is the #2 seller for iPhones in the US behind the iPhone 4. I'm pretty certain the "4s" will just be as popular ;)
 
AtariMac said:
So the MacPro case being the same as the G5 case would have kept you from upgrading?

The original Mac looked the same for years, as did the Performa line, as did the Quadra, as did the Newton, as did the original iMac, as did the G5/Intel iMac.

I'm not judging, just wondering if the externals of Apple products are more important to you than what is on the inside.
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Mac design is completely different than an iPhone design. The design of an iPhone is part of it's functionality, i.e. if it has a 4 inch screen like most Android phones do nowadays.

People can continue to defend the iPhone 4s all they want, because the fact is it will sell well regardless, but it is true that to people outside the iOS community will look at it like it's old news and the same design. If Apple thinks it can use the same design for a cell phone for 28 months (assuming next iPhone upgrade is in a year) without ridicule from competitors, they're kidding themselves.
 
pezasied182 said:
Mac design is completely different than an iPhone design. The design of an iPhone is part of it's functionality, i.e. if it has a 4 inch screen like most Android phones do nowadays.

People can continue to defend the iPhone 4s all they want, because the fact is it will sell well regardless, but it is true that to people outside the iOS community will look at it like it's old news and the same design. If Apple thinks it can use the same design for a cell phone for 28 months (assuming next iPhone upgrade is in a year) without ridicule from competitors, they're kidding themselves.
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I completely agree; if you listen to the ThisIsMyNext Podcast, Josh just talked about this. As a long time Android user, I feel as though I need to try something new, which is why I'm watching 3 live blogs of the keynote right now.

Credit card is in hand, and I'm waiting to preorder right now.
 
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