I'm almost convinced if this. Would not be surprised if a total new form factor was announced next month. I was really hoping the screen width would increase some. The same width means the same cramped keyboard in portrait mode!
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Detailed Photo and Video Comparison of iPhone 4S and 'iPhone 5' Front Panels
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I'm almost convinced if this. Would not be surprised if a total new form factor was announced next month. I was really hoping the screen width would increase some. The same width means the same cramped keyboard in portrait mode!
I think black bars on half the apps is horrible looking, especially when you consider Apples, "Everything must look stunning" approach.
It's sad what delusions you guys come up with to avoid the obvious truth...these parts are the new iPhone! They don't change designs just for the sake of change. They feel this antennae band structure is really good and until they find something better they will not change it.
Apple does not name their mobile devices based on version number. "3G", "3GS", "4", and "4S" are all examples. And whether or not they originally intended to, I cannot see them naming the next iPhone the "iPhone 6".
iPhone, iPhone 3G, iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4 (GSM), iPhone 4 (CDMA), iPhone 4 (White), iPhone 4S. So the 4S is the 7th iPhone if you want to be strict.
That put it in perspective for me. I was one of those on the fence about just taller but seeing that it does look pretty sweet.
That being said, and maybe because I'm getting old, I would still like a bigger overall phone. I don't think something like an HTC is too big to use one handed.
Thx for pointing that out. I now like the look a bit more. (though always loved the two-tone back)
I don't like the iPhone 4 design. The "glass brick" feels incredibly anti-ergonomic with the hard edges that don't follow the shape of a hand, plus the glass is way too fragile. I'm happy with my iPhone 3GS.
Now, why would I upgrade from my 3GS to a 4S?
The advantages of a new model are the new design (and the iPhone 4 design is IMO ugly, as mentioned above) and the new features it brings. So let's see:
Hence, 3GS it is. What does the iPhone 5 add?
Bigger screen, but it doesn't really improve readability. A small text on the portrait orientation will continue to be small, since it's limited by width. A small text on the landscape mode could have bigger letters, but it would require people to scroll more often since less text would fit in the screen. Writing, meanwhile, would continue to be as bad as it is today, since a large part of the screen on landscape mode would still be taken by the keyboard.
Slightly faster. Slightly better camera. Slightly thinner. Those are simply incremental additions, they are not new features, much less unexpected ones. Other than eventually keeping the same thickness, I'm sure what would be the the iPhone 6 will also be slightly faster and have a slightly better camera, the so-called iPhone 7 will also be slightly faster and have a slightly better camera, and so on.
The design is the only thing I'm in doubt about. At least the back won't be glass anymore, which is great, but it appears Apple will keep the same kind of hard edge the iPhone 4 has.
It's disappointing. I would rather keep the 3GS display size, or go with a truly bigger screen. It feels like Apple is just doing a half-assed change that doesn't really improve the phone just so they can claim the iPhone also has a 4 inches display.
Now, why would I upgrade from my 3GS to a 4S?
- Faster? Sure, but the slightly extra speed doesn't matter that much.
- Better camera? Sure, but the slightly extra resolution doesn't make much of a difference.
- Thinner? A few milimeters don't make any real difference when protecting the phone in a case.
The advantages of a new model are the new design (and the iPhone 4 design is IMO ugly, as mentioned above) and the new features it brings. So let's see:
- Siri? Doesn't work in my country, so no.
- Camera flash? The only useful thing.
- Retina display? The iPhone screen is too small to read long documents, and for smaller ones the old display is fine.
Hence, 3GS it is. What does the iPhone 5 add?
Bigger screen, but it doesn't really improve readability. A small text on the portrait orientation will continue to be small, since it's limited by width. A small text on the landscape mode could have bigger letters, but it would require people to scroll more often since less text would fit in the screen. Writing, meanwhile, would continue to be as bad as it is today, since a large part of the screen on landscape mode would still be taken by the keyboard.
Slightly faster. Slightly better camera. Slightly thinner. Those are simply incremental additions, they are not new features, much less unexpected ones. Other than eventually keeping the same thickness, I'm sure what would be the the iPhone 6 will also be slightly faster and have a slightly better camera, the so-called iPhone 7 will also be slightly faster and have a slightly better camera, and so on.
The design is the only thing I'm in doubt about. At least the back won't be glass anymore, which is great, but it appears Apple will keep the same kind of hard edge the iPhone 4 has.
It's disappointing. I would rather keep the 3GS display size, or go with a truly bigger screen. It feels like Apple is just doing a half-assed change that doesn't really improve the phone just so they can claim the iPhone also has a 4 inches display.
I know, we've been over this so many times. "These parts can't be the final product!" Then the 4S comes out and lo and behold they are the final product. Same case here...
The case for a fake
I'm now leaning more to believing these long phone part leaks, but let me lay out my reservations.
1. It's a new aspect ratio and resolution. It's different than previous iPhones and iPads. Tim Cook recently made a point saying Apple has one phone, one resolution. This seems unlikely to say if you're about to roll out a phone that violates both principles.
2. We haven't seen a working phone. The sites getting these have parts. Why would they have parts at this point? Weirder still, the parts seems to come from very different portions of the supply chain. Which brings me to one part issue in particular.
3. The unattached glass screen. How does this go out to a parts vendor? If the screen is fused to the lcd, then having glass would do no good for repair. You'd have to have the entire display. Isn't it unlikely these are even handled by human hands? Wouldn't you expect the glass to be made, cut and glued together in a sterile room by robots?
4. The long phone matches previous dubious rumors. This might lend credence until you notice the rumors seem to have been fan speculation that solved a potential issue of "retina" dpi while expanding the screen. The leaked parts only came AFTER this suggestion.
5. No adequate back story. Frequently we're used to these leaks having some explanation. We hear about someone paying off a worker, stolen from the display factory....etc. This isn't a strong point for disbelief, just something unusual.
6. Apple legal hasn't given any take down notices. We know they have in the past, but then other times they don't. Perhaps they don't want to confirm them, but usually Apple is aggressive with this stuff and I would have expected them to go after real photos as trade secrets.
7. Apple and Samsung are locked in a patent dispute where Samsung publicly tried to obtain iPhone 5 design specs. This case affects millions of dollars (Apple claiming 2. something BILLION) and products are actively being banned in many countries around the world. The biggest corporations in the world are fighting over this, surely security would be tighter than sending out random parts to fixit shops.
8. Very lucrative and thriving counterfeit markets that can make any phone they want. We even saw case makers get fooled last time around.
9. Few reputable and trusted sources have confirmed the long phone. Now, some good sources have shown up recently, but none of the "official" insiders like Walt Mossburg or Gruber from Daring Fireball have said much of anything.
10. New connector seems unnecessary. What are they gaining here again? The connector is already flat. The size advantage seems to be in narrowing the device, which they aren't doing. Furthermore, a new connector adds cost and introduces new points of failure. If you were Apple wouldn't you try this on a Shuffle or cheaper iPod first? You'd get the aftermarket ready and work out kinks before you try it out on your big cash cow.
11. Cook has claimed he is doubling down on secrecy. Wouldn't putting out a fake be smart for Apple? They are fighting counterfeiters and other corporate espionage. Certainly the security at Apple would have considered leaking a fake model, and why not do it? They have the financial incentives to do so, they love secrecy, and Cook has put his name out there promising security. I think it's more likely than not that Apple has put out prototypes and other fake leaks--it simply makes good sense.
I'm sure you can think of others, but these are my reasons for my continued apprehension.
I'm now leaning more to believing these long phone part leaks, but let me lay out my reservations.
1. It's a new aspect ratio and resolution. It's different than previous iPhones and iPads. Tim Cook recently made a point saying Apple has one phone, one resolution. This seems unlikely to say if you're about to roll out a phone that violates both principles.
2. We haven't seen a working phone. The sites getting these have parts. Why would they have parts at this point? Weirder still, the parts seems to come from very different portions of the supply chain. Which brings me to one part issue in particular.
3. The unattached glass screen. How does this go out to a parts vendor? If the screen is fused to the lcd, then having glass would do no good for repair. You'd have to have the entire display. Isn't it unlikely these are even handled by human hands? Wouldn't you expect the glass to be made, cut and glued together in a sterile room by robots?
4. The long phone matches previous dubious rumors. This might lend credence until you notice the rumors seem to have been fan speculation that solved a potential issue of "retina" dpi while expanding the screen. The leaked parts only came AFTER this suggestion.
5. No adequate back story. Frequently we're used to these leaks having some explanation. We hear about someone paying off a worker, stolen from the display factory....etc. This isn't a strong point for disbelief, just something unusual.
6. Apple legal hasn't given any take down notices. We know they have in the past, but then other times they don't. Perhaps they don't want to confirm them, but usually Apple is aggressive with this stuff and I would have expected them to go after real photos as trade secrets.
7. Apple and Samsung are locked in a patent dispute where Samsung publicly tried to obtain iPhone 5 design specs. This case affects millions of dollars (Apple claiming 2. something BILLION) and products are actively being banned in many countries around the world. The biggest corporations in the world are fighting over this, surely security would be tighter than sending out random parts to fixit shops.
8. Very lucrative and thriving counterfeit markets that can make any phone they want. We even saw case makers get fooled last time around.
9. Few reputable and trusted sources have confirmed the long phone. Now, some good sources have shown up recently, but none of the "official" insiders like Walt Mossburg or Gruber from Daring Fireball have said much of anything.
10. New connector seems unnecessary. What are they gaining here again? The connector is already flat. The size advantage seems to be in narrowing the device, which they aren't doing. Furthermore, a new connector adds cost and introduces new points of failure. If you were Apple wouldn't you try this on a Shuffle or cheaper iPod first? You'd get the aftermarket ready and work out kinks before you try it out on your big cash cow.
11. Cook has claimed he is doubling down on secrecy. Wouldn't putting out a fake be smart for Apple? They are fighting counterfeiters and other corporate espionage. Certainly the security at Apple would have considered leaking a fake model, and why not do it? They have the financial incentives to do so, they love secrecy, and Cook has put his name out there promising security. I think it's more likely than not that Apple has put out prototypes and other fake leaks--it simply makes good sense.
I'm sure you can think of others, but these are my reasons for my continued apprehension.
Apple's apps I'm sure will be ready to go as soon as the new phone comes out. Won't be their fault if developers don't update. Heck, most of my Mac apps (by 3rd party developers) were updated for ML as soon as it was released!
While the rational part of me says we have seen the new iPhone in these and other photos, the irrational part of me asks that if the new iPhone and the iPad mini are coming out within similar time frames, then why are there no leaks of iPad mini parts? Why would they be able to hide one, but not the other. Food for thought.
I think you may be selling the differences between the 3GS/4S a little short. I have replaced my point and shoot with my phone and the speed difference is very noticeable and makes a huge difference IMO as well as Retina (games/video looks VERY noticeable)
I notice a BIG difference between the two. I often used my sons 3GS (set it up as a kind of touch for him) and it was brutally slow, low res compared to even the 4
The LCD is not fused to the glass. They are separate parts.
You may be thinking of the touch sensor, which in the new iPhone is (rumoured to be) combined with the LCD in a single part.
Remember, there's an internal size advantage, too. Less internal space used by dock connector means more precious space for battery etc. Apple have gone to the trouble to shrink the SIM card yet again, so we know they care a lot about this.
A reversible, magsafe connector would also just be easier and less fiddly to connect. One of those things that makes Apple products just a bit more friendly than the competition.
hahahaha, I just love how everyone talks as though this IS the actual official iPhone 5 front cover haha. I bet it's fake as anything or a fake part purposely leaked by Apple.
No one had a letter from Apple'e legal team demanding the removal of all videos and photos? Yeah riiiggghhhhttttt....
No one had a letter from Apple'e legal team demanding the removal of all videos and photos? Yeah riiiggghhhhttttt....
So let's get this straight: Innovation is:
4G like every other phone out there now?
NFC, like every other phone out there now?
There's nothing wrong with liking a small screen. There's something wrong with saying Apple can hold out because giving us a better product that we want is stupid.
Its like the people who criticize the iPad mini idea. I think Apple will release it. If you don't like it, stop commenting that its a bad idea. To be honest, I don't see the point in the product, but I'm simply not buying it. Don't like an iPhone with a larger display? Stick to a 4S. If you want one with a larger display that's not available? Buy an iPhone. Easy solution.
A big, high res screen will bring out the innovations in the phone though. But by this point I can't think of ANY innovation Apple's doing, at least, not since the iPhone 3G.
That's an option as well
I show people with iPhones the Reader feature. Odds are they are looking at a page that can be cleaned up and read with larger text. I rarely browse in landscape mode anymore because of the Reader feature.
Well they have a right to feel however they please. The purported iPhone 5 is taller for the same reasons we make skyscrapers. It's easier to build up and maintain the same footprint (read width for dock accessories) than it is to go wider. Apple has a very lucrative "Made for iPod/iPhone/iPad" business going that they don't want to destroy.
I agree at with you at some level. We're at a point where the hardware cannot change much other than get bigger. The software needs to catch up with the hardware. That being said I'm eager to make the 2 generation jump from the 4 to whatevertheychoosetocallit simply because I want better GPS, Camera resolution and shutter speed and speakers in addition to modern Bluetooth.
The screen sizes isn't that big of deal to me personally because I have an iPad and that's where i'm doing most of my video playback.
There is only a small difference in CPU and graphics speed between the 3GS and the 4. RAM is a factor too, since the 4 has double the RAM - but for most apps this is only significant for app loading/switching.
Going from a 3GS to a 4S, on the other hand, is much more noticeable in terms of speed.
Plus you are forgetting this will be the third phone "slightly upgraded" from the 3GS and the change is getting pretty big bounce when skipping a generation (let alone 3GS to "5"). Right now you go from a 5mp to an 8mp camera and I would guess the "5" will be somewhere around 10. You also shoot video at 1080p vs 480p. Wifi b/g/n vs b/g, Bluetooth 2.1 vs 4.0 and so on....
The specs :
http://www.apple.com/iphone/compare-iphones/
From 3GS to 4S seems like a nice jump and more then "slightly" and the next one will probably be even better spec'd out.
Not to mention the countless unreleased iPhone revisions there were before the first publicly-released one. The number is just a number.
iPhone 5 will be my first new one in 4 years...
Whether or not people want to acknowledge it or not iCloud is Apple's latest innovation.
I'm still on a 3GS and other than occasional lag, it works great. To think that iOS 6 will run on the 3GS means that it will *scream* on the iPhone 5. Can't wait to upgrade!
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My only question is why are you so negative? Get off the computer, it's depressing you.
Every day on these forums everyone keeps complaing about how "old" or "outdated" the iPhone 5 design looks. Well, there is one simple solution. Don't buy it then. Keep your iPhone 4's and 4S's. Apple doesn't need to do a big drastic redesign every new iPhone. Want a huge screen? Get an Android phone. Want an OS with crazy icons and colors? Get an Android.
Comments like these that assume so many things make me want to take a snapshot and post it later if it's disproved. And I did
Yup, exactly. It is leaps and bounds ahead of what the competition can offer in terms of true end-to-end integration. And it's only going to get better.