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Hands-On Impressions of the iPhone 5s, iPhone 5c, and Touch ID

Genius

The 5c is a genius product in so many ways. Not because it is a good product, but because it is the same product, an old product, rebranded and made available for preorder. While the real new product isn't available for preorder. You have to wait in line for that.

Someone asked why did they stop making the iPhone 5 and kept making the iPhone 4s. They didn't!
 
Ryth said:
True but this is just the natural evolution of computing. Probably in 5 years you'll be editing HD/4k footage on your tablet.

I think we'll see a big Macintosh update in a month at the Mavericks launch.

New Mac Pro, new Macbook Pro Retina (maybe even in black color like the tower), new iMac, etc.
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Maybe, but I disagree. I consider the rise of portable devices more of a diversion of computing rather than an evolution. Devices such as the iPad and iPhone are a new class of computing rather an evolution of the PC. Essentially, the rise of the post PC devices have split computing in 2 different directions, neither more important than the other.

Jobs called them trucks. I'm not sure I agree with his characterization - but the point here is that while cars are becoming more popular, they can't diminish the need for nor provide the functionality to replace trucks (nor should they have to). Although I have an iPad (and an iPad mini and iPhone as well) they are just not the right tool for the work I do. And while you rightly point out the increased capability these devices will have in the future, at least for me personally, the Mac with a nice big 27" screen and a mouse sitting on my desk where I can sit comfortably and work will ALWAYS be my tool of choice....

As I said in my original post, my opinion isn't popular amongst Apple fans, but my opinion remains that computers are no longer a priority to Apple Inc because they can not generate the profits that the iToys do. Fair enough, but I stand by my opinion that Apple should really sell off (or spin off) the Macintosh division as Macintosh, Inc and let people dedicated to seeing the platform grow run the company.

Macs are great and so are PPC devices, but I fear the Mac stagnation will continue if Apple continues to run the company in a manner where Mac's are an afterthought to the highly profitable PPC devices.

"If I were running Apple, I would milk the Macintosh for all it's worth — and get busy on the next great thing. The PC wars are over. Done. Microsoft won a long time ago. ".... SJ Feb 1996
 
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thejadedmonkey said:
It's all about expectations. Apple could have "leaked" that the 5c wouldn't be a cheap phone, and that it would simply replace the 5 and come in colors.
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But wasn't the expectation that it would replace the 5 and come in colors? 5c = 5 colors. Or have you ever heard of a company actually calling its cheap products c(heap)?
 
copykris said:
who's gonna buy last year's phone to save a measly $100 over a current flagship knowing that, apart from the satisfaction of owning a top of the line product, if that's a thing for you, that extra $100 will get you hardware that will last a year longer than the cheaper alternative, however long that'll last
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The average person is not even aware what hardware is in the iPhone or even cares. As long as the phone fits their needs, most people will go for the $100 saving.
 
ecchh

I actually dig the 5c more than the 5s.
Except the actual colors they chose are gross.

I'm also a bit skeptical of the silicone cases. All teh silicone cases I've had ended up being too stretchy after a while. Especially the one I had which had similar holes to Apples design. I wonder if they have some materials specialist who can formulate a pliant silicone case that doesnt stretch out like crazy.
 
Bibbler said:
Maybe, but I disagree. I consider the rise of portable devices more of a diversion of computing rather than an evolution. Devices such as the iPad and iPhone are a new class of computing rather an evolution of the PC. Essentially, the rise of the post PC devices have split computing in 2 different directions, neither more important than the other.
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Spot on.

4k editing on a tablet? Sometimes my 2 27" LED LCD's aren't enough for post production work let alone a small tablet. God help me if that day ever comes.

Tablets are rather new, but they have become an extension of desktops not in lieu of them. Many businesses from law firms to advertising agencies use tablets for quick access media (in meetings, presentations, etc), but not as a replacement and will never be as the device display is too limiting. Take a look at the "App Store", the top 10 iPad app's consist of games, media players, games, and maybe iMovie or iPhoto. They've become largely for consumption, great for Apple and app developers.
 
copykris said:
right

what does that do again?
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http://www.ehow.com/list_6117910_advantages-64_bit-vs_-32_bit.html

Floating Point Arithmetic
With bigger numbers comes an added advantage--the ability to use more precise decimal computations. Programmers refer to decimal computations as floating point arithmetic, and the speed of this is measured in floating point operations per second (FLOPS). 3D animations, games and scientific studies make extensive use of floating point arithmetic; the higher FLOPS performance of a 64-bit processor enables important software to work faster and more precisely.
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And I remember something about the A7 having 2X floating registers vs the A6.
 
Gudi said:
But wasn't the expectation that it would replace the 5 and come in colors? 5c = 5 colors. Or have you ever heard of a company actually calling its cheap products c(heap)?
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This was posted by Macrumors on Sept 6th. (emphasis mine)

After years of ongoing negotiations, it appears that Apple and China Mobile have finally reached a deal that will see China's largest carrier offer the iPhone. According to The Wall Street Journal, Apple is currently preparing to ship the new low-cost iPhone "5C" to the carrier.
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Not to say that I didn't see this coming, but they could have tempered expectations better.
 
Ryth said:
True but this is just the natural evolution of computing. Probably in 5 years you'll be editing HD/4k footage on your tablet.
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I think this is a silly oversimplification. I am not trying to call you out personally on this. I could hardly hold one person responsible for a meme that has been ricochetting around tech journalism for years.
Yeah, mobile devices are great. They get smarter all the time. Woohoo.
But the rise of mobile devices is simply not going to displace desktop computers entirely. It may seem that way when you look at the numbers of desktops that consumers bought in the last 3 years and overlay that data with the numbers for mobile phones and tablets. But consumers are only one market segment. In business quite often you exactly do NOT want your data being mobile. I've seen people fired for walking out of the building with HR data on a laptop. Likewise, in the company I work for we recently began buying out employees phone contracts and putting them on our dime. That way corporate dictates what is on the phone and which model you get (4S of course!).
But the 4k video still happens on a Z820 or Mac Pro.

This isn't to say the processng power wont eventually be there for a mobile device to cut clips and output video. But when it comes to actual work, nobody has come up with a better interface than a keyboard and mouse for speedy workflow. Albeit a funny keyboard with silly colored keys.
Maybe when we can mind meld with our IOS devices we can dump the desktops and laptops?
But until then the coders will code on laptops and the FCP and Avid guys will cut on boxes, not tablets.
Not saying it isn't possible, just that the idea that we are moving towards an all tablet and phone future is only true for consumer devices.
 
basesloaded190 said:
Sounds like I am in the minority, but I am very much looking forward to getting the 5S. Coming from a 4 currently this is going to be a huge upgrade for me.
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Exactly. Even for someone on a 4S, you immediately get a bigger screen - in addition to all the other upgrades.
 
Gudi said:
64-bit doubles the amount of information the chip can process per cycle compared to 32-bit. So without even increasing the cpu frequency the computer is instantly twice as fast. Thats what it does.
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or, more truthfully, you could have answered:

on a 2GB ram (let's say they went bonkers and doubled the current amount) device? nothing.
 
Still 4S on sale ??!!

Few things don't make sense to me, why get rid of the ip5, and keep the 4s?? This means they have to keep supporting the smaller screen, and non-lightning plug for even longer. Also, the c obviously is more about colour, and nothing to do with low cost (about the only rumour that wasn't correct). Also really expensive outside the US, and the carriers are going to have a field day overcharging for the 5C by way of super expensive plans cause it's also NEW. More expensive than if I wanted to buy an ip5 on contract now imho. Would have been perhaps better to drop the LTE on the 5C and make it cheaper, and keep the ip5. It's all going to be pricey now, as there really is no older model, unless you want the 4s, and let's be honest....who would.

I guess it really all depends how you look at the new lineup. In some ways it makes sense, in others...not so much. Don't get me wrong, I like both these phones, but I was kind of in the market for a reduced price ip5. I am left with a 5c, which would be great, I just don't see the contracts being as cheap or competitive, because it new and has novelty value. If you live in the US though, I guess this is all good news.
 
Oracle1729 said:
So, to sum up. In the 41 months since the iPhone 4 was released, we have:

-- A faster CPU
-- Siri
-- A screen that's bigger by 0.5 inches in one dimension
-- A better camera
-- A fingerprint reader
-- More colors

And we are still paying 2010 prices for flash memory that costs less than a quarter of what it did. A 64 gig USB 3 stick is $30, 64 gig high speed SSD's are in the $60 range. upgrading the iPhone to 64 gig is still $200. Even though the OS and Apps have grown over time, the flash size is still the same.

I think the celebrations are well underway at google and samsung. Even Steve Ballmer has got to be laughing right now.
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You nailed it! And let's not talk about the fugly iOS 7... In a few years, Apple unfortunately will be what Blackberry is today. Sad story...
 
thejadedmonkey said:
Not to say that I didn't see this coming, but they could have tempered expectations better.
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No they couldn't. This is just Macrumors quoting the Wall Street Journal. There is nothing you can do to adjust Wall Street to reality. They are singing the China song no matter what.
 
copykris said:
sure, but also, see above
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Yes, 64-bit allows for more RAM to be accessed but that does not negate the fact that RAM can be accessed faster then a 32-bit processor. Are you saying that faster floating point computation is limited to only those 64-bit processors that have more then 1GB RAM?
 
Dekema2 said:
Ehh, yawn…looks like the last one. A couple of features are cool, but this is Apple we're talking about. Can't wait for 6.
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iPhone 6 will still have 4" screen and same look as iPhone 5/5s. Maybe, it'll be made out of liquid metal and probably have a little cosmetic change, 1080p video recording on improved 13MP camera, stereo audio recording and new iOS 8. That's all. Trust me, Apple will stay with 4" screen for a while.
 
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