iPhone 4S Hands-Ons and First Impressions

[rman726]

Great post dude. I remember seeing the original iPhone that my friend had and going.. wait, you can't send picture messages? You don't have skins? You don't have ringtone profiles? Two years later I was buying a 3GS and LOVING the simplicity and solidity of the whole user experience! I didn't give a crap about all those things anymore!
Apple will continue this focus on user experience and will consistently grow their ecosystem rather than fragment it. Why do we need NFC on a phone while there are hardly any places where you can use it?

Completely agree with what you posted and the post you quoted. It's just such a better use experience. All you hear about the other phones are the specs. Why are they still all sluggish, with supposedly better specs? I want to see the Galaxy S II play that Infinity Blade 2 game with the level of incredible detail that they showed off today, because I am pretty positive that it would fail miserably, just like their customer satisfaction ratings.

I still don't understand NFC. As long as you NFC isn't 100% everywhere, you still have to carry a wallet around, making it almost useless.

 

[apolloa]

Ah found it. Apples shares have dropped by 5% following the lack of an iPhone 5 announcement:

http://techcrunch.com/2011/10/04/apple-stock-drops-5-percent-no-iphone-5/

Also read that Amazon is on target to beat Apple's iPad 2 pre order figures for the Kindle Fire!

 

[linuxcooldude]

I think most (not all) of the people "complaining" about screen size are Android trolls. They don't realize that good UI design can create a better experience than just pumping up the screen size.

And making the phone less portable.

 

[VSMacOne]

The only part I'd take issue with is ascribing a motivation of 2 months use for Android phones. I think they're trying their best, but it's basically impossible--at the moment anyway--to beat Apple given Apple's size and their tight control over the hardware.

Of course, it could be decisions like the 4s which come back to bite Apple in the arse. They've put out a phone they know isn't what would sell the most in their established market, ostensibly to become more competitive in the emerging, cheap, Asian markets. It may be a genius move for Apple, or it could backfire. If I were HP, I'd being feeling particularly stupid. This is an opening in the American/Western markets...now WebOS isn't even an option.

But see they're trying to beat Apple thru HARDWARE alone, without the ecosystem that Apple already has in place (AppStores, iCloud, huge number of developers).
I think this will be the BEST selling iPhone so far, and Apple will grow tremendously. Nobody is thinking about all the Verizon iPhone 4 customers who are not feeling screwed over right now, only a few months after they bought their new shinny iPhone. You don't think that will have an impact on their relationship with Apple? I think it will.

 

[marksman]

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I wouldn't want a larger screen. Jeez it's a phone. I'm 57 and think the size is perfect. If I want to view something large I'll pick up my iPad.

I think most (not all) of the people "complaining" about screen size are Android trolls. They don't realize that good UI design can create a better experience than just pumping up the screen size.

Yeah they need more screen size for their widgets lol

 

[iSayuSay]

To be honest, I love iPhone 4 design, and they continue it on 4S ... Sure, bigger screen would be a welcome addition, but not a must.

As long as it is Retina, I'm a happy camper. If people out there would like to switch to Android just because they have 4.5" screen, well it's their problem. Does all 4.5" Android out there has Retina display spec?

iPhone screen is big enough, and ultimately good .. it's IPS, hi-ppi counts and dual-core too. Whining only for 1" less screen is .. well ... whiner at best

 

[boonlar]

Completely agree with what you posted and the post you quoted. It's just such a better use experience. All you hear about the other phones are the specs. Why are they still all sluggish, with supposedly better specs? I want to see the Galaxy S II play that Infinity Blade 2 game with the level of incredible detail that they showed off today, because I am pretty positive that it would fail miserably, just like their customer satisfaction ratings.

I still don't understand NFC. As long as you NFC isn't 100% everywhere, you still have to carry a wallet around, making it almost useless.

Infinity blade was horrible. The game looked awesome but it was a boring repetitive turd. It's basically an interactive tech demo and I bet IF2 will be the same. While the iPhone has a good GPU the processor will probably be throttled down and the web browsing experience on the S2 will be faster.

 

[stevensr123]

will this siri feature work on the iPhone 4?

 

[Ammo]

Here's what I find amazing: Apple could have announced the SAME EXACT phone they announced today and named it "iPhone 5" and most people would have been happier than pigs in slop. Now, instead, because it's called 4S it's a colossal disappointment. It's amazing what's in a name. That said, this is the biggest marketing blunder since New Coke.

And what's sad about it is that the updates to the phone itself are truly great, especially with Siri.

 

[SactoGuy18]

I clicked on google news and the main article says:

"Apple Underwhelms With iPhone 4S"

That's gotta hurt for apple. This is like the first time I've seen bad publicity about an Apple product. Galaxy SII and Nexus Prime will be this years winners. People who buy Apple products are the most likely to be swayed by these types of headlines.

And don't forget the upcoming Nokia N9 variant coming very soon that will run Windows Phone 7.5 ("Mango"). If it lives up to its promises, this Nokia phone could blow by the iPhone 4S just like the upcoming Samsung and HTC models that run Android 4.0 ("Ice Cream Sandwich"). And since the N9 has built-in NFC, if the NFC is fully compatible with the Sony FeliCa standard, it would be a HOT seller in Asia, where NFC-based mobile payment systems are very common.

 

[marksman]

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 4_3_4 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/533.17.9 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/5.0.2 Mobile/8K2 Safari/6533.18.5)

It'ld be really cool if Siri can work other apps. I've been waiting a while to get rid of my standalone TomTom and 3G. If I can verbally instruct TomTom to give directions to a contact from my address book, and then play a podcast or something... Will my car be too noisy to allow the 4s to pick up my voice? Could use an in-ear thingybob I suppose, but I'd rather not.

If (and I'd assume so), Siri has an exposed API for developers, I can image all sorts of creative uses for it. Voice interactive RPGs

I also suspect that with the typical environment for phone use, all sorts of noise filtering has been implemented.

That would be very cool. One of the limitations go such games on the phone is input. This could solve that and then create an entire new level of gaming

 

[MarkLal]

The unlocked iPhone includes all the features of iPhone but without a contract commitment. You can activate and use it on the supported GSM wireless network of your choice, such as AT&T in the United States. The unlocked iPhone 4 or iPhone 4S will not work with CDMA-based carriers such as Verizon Wireless or Sprint.

Just noticed this on apple's website regarding an unlocked iphone. Does this mean there'll be unlocked iphone 4S? Since its a world phone with support for 2100 Mhz band(which T-Mo currently uses), will an unlocked version of 4S support T-Mobile's 4G(HSPA+) speed?

 

[charlituna]

Where is Siri in spanish

don't you mean

¿Donde is el Siri in Espanol?

 

[MarkLal]

will this siri feature work on the iPhone 4?

No.

 

[StuddedLeather]

I have to admit when reading the live blogs and they said "Now onto the iPhone 4s. . ." I was immediately shocked and honestly disappointed (with out any knowledge of what the inside was going to bear). I really wanted a bigger screen this time around but to no avail.

However not getting a bigger screen will NOT make me jump or want to jump ship. It's really not that serious. Oh look at me and my big screen, yes I'm winning with my big screen. . . I honestly don't get it. I ONLY wanted a bigger screen just to get the gestures like the iPad (I'm sure we will eventually)

I don't look at Android because It's not polished enough for me, and I don't care about the whole 'open' notion. As an iPhone 4 owner I will be upgrading to the 4S, 1. because I get the 2 year price (AT&T win) and 2. I said regardless if we don't get a bigger screen as long as it's faster and has an upgraded camera I will most likely buy. I love technology and I don't mind putting up $200 for it. I got it.

Why mope and whine about a product you don't like/won't get. Move along. Lastly I seriously died at a post on here from earlier. ". . .going to check out Android phones with bigger screens. . ." So comical, yet pathetic.

 

[SpectatorHere]

But see they're trying to beat Apple thru HARDWARE alone, without the ecosystem that Apple already has in place (AppStores, iCloud, huge number of developers).
I think this will be the BEST selling iPhone so far, and Apple will grow tremendously. Nobody is thinking about all the Verizon iPhone 4 customers who are not feeling screwed over right now, only a few months after they bought their new shinny iPhone. You don't think that will have an impact on their relationship with Apple? I think it will.

You make a good point about the Verizon customers, although giving them a new phone to lust after might not be the worst thing ever.

But, I wonder if Verizon had to know what it was buying back when they "got" the CDMA iPhone. They could have held off for a redesigned iPhone 5....but they didn't. They could have even paid to have some exclusivity for a time...but they didn't. They bought a CDMA iPhone 6 months before Sprint got the "World phone" version of what, basically, ATT had last summer. (And for those who will gripe, I know the internals are different, but just remember to most people it looks the same, feels the same, will run the same software.)

 

[gerrian]

I'll wait for the Apple H5 Hummer phone - I must have the biggest phone and everybody will look at me and my big phone!!! Nobody cares about 4 or 4S - why would anyone use such inferior technology!!!! Everybody who really knows phones and the business hates Apple...
This forum has a lot of dolts..

Your phone problem is your swollen head.
Have it checked ASAP, else it may burst.

 

[SockRolid]

Takes time to build LCD factories

I for one am disappointed, I just don't understand why Apple did not go for the larger screen [...]

Apple is gradually eliminating Samsung as a component supplier. Takes time to build an LCD factory and to let contracts run their course. I hear Sharp will be taking that contract away from Samsung.

[...] I wanted so much more then internal upgrades.. [...]

Just get a case if you want superficial.

 

[KingCrimson]

Apple is falling seriously behind. With the Galaxy S3, HTC Titan, Nexus Prime and Nokia SeaRay coming, they're gonna steal Apple's lunch money and then some. Steve Jobs would have been more bold and rushed an IP5.

 

[SpectatorHere]

Here's what I find amazing: Apple could have announced the SAME EXACT phone they announced today and named it "iPhone 5" and most people would have been happier than pigs in slop. Now, instead, because it's called 4S it's a colossal disappointment. It's amazing what's in a name. That said, this is the biggest marketing blunder since New Coke.

And what's sad about it is that the updates to the phone itself are truly great, especially with Siri.

I'm not trying to be some idiot who just bashes you, but I have to disagree. Calling it the iPhone 5 would have appeased some complainers, but I think the actual look of the phone is what's truly important. I think people wanted something different, and something other people would know is the latest and greatest simply by glancing over.

 

[charlituna]

Just noticed this on apple's website regarding an unlocked iphone. Does this mean there'll be unlocked iphone 4S?

Most likely. But if you buy it for GSM you can't switch it to CDMA. Why, who knows.

The more curious question is if you can go the other way. I can switch my SIM cards from phone to phone no issues with my GSMs (all ATT). So it seems that there doesn't need to be a system link between the SIM and the IMEI number. But I am told that under CDMA because there is no SIM the ID number has to be what is on file as the active number. And once you set it for Verizon or Sprint, that's it. you can't change it. Thus there's no such thing as an unlocked CDMA phone.

It's possible that once you set it for one or the other service type in the software you can't swap it. At least not if you start with GSM and are trying to go CDMA.

But is the reverse true. Or could I buy it for CDMA because Verizon is the best here at home but when I take my 1-2 week to wherever outside the country where there is no CDMA, can I pop in a SIM card and use a local service. Would that work even if I was under a Verizon Contract or would I need to buy it full price/no commitment even for Verizon.

Or if I move and Verizon sucks where I go, could I reset the phone as a GSM.

 

[trip1ex]

They have a good design why change it yet? The iPHone4 still felt better in the hand than the competition.

Sometimes I think folks don't want Apple to be Apple. They want them to be Motorola and release 10 models a year. And not put as much effort into polishing the experience. And slap out hardware after hardware just so something is new to look at on the shelf every month.

 

[charlituna]

"Ooooh fancy voice recognition!" - Google Voice. Want to see the weather? Tap the damn app icon, its 10x faster.

you may not be impressed but my "blind since he was 4 years old" baby brother feels very different. in fact, he won't shut up about it.

The cherry on the cake was the unofficial killing of the iPod classic in favour of Angry Birds capable devices which will only line the pockets of Apple Inc with yet more golden coins.

first off, they killed it last year. Second, they are a business not a charity so no freaking duh about going with the things that make them more money

 

[TMay]

Ah found it. Apples shares have dropped by 5% following the lack of an iPhone 5 announcement:

http://techcrunch.com/2011/10/04/apple-stock-drops-5-percent-no-iphone-5/

Also read that Amazon is on target to beat Apple's iPad 2 pre order figures for the Kindle Fire!

Down 2.1 points and (.56%) at closing.
Down 0.23 points and (.06%) after hours

That looks pretty close to no change.

"eMailDataSource to have already taken over 100,000 pre-orders for its Kindle Fire. The seven-inch, heavily customized, Android-based tablet went up for pre-order on Monday and reached that figure by the end of its first day on sale. Compared to other tablet launches the figure is significant although it still trails the original iPad, which took 300,000 orders on its first day on sale for pre-order."

http://www.electronista.com/articles/11/10/04/amazon.on.fire.with.kindle.android.tablet/

You didn't come close to making your case.

 

[speedylomeli]

Upgrade?

I guess if your still stuck on the 3G this is a revolutionary upgrade. Other than that this is a scat upgrade.

[url=http://cdn.macrumors.com/im/macrumorsthreadlogodarkd.png]Image[/url]


With media members in attendance at Apple's iPhone 4S event having had the opportunity to spend some time with the new hardware following the presentation, hands-on reports and first impressions are beginning to come in.

Image


Engadget highlights the improved internal specs of the iPhone 4S, noting that everything "just feels zippier".Engadget was also impressed with the Siri personal assistant feature, describing their attempts to "psych it out" without success, as Siri "never faltered" in bringing up the requested information and transcribed voice input perfectly.

The BBC has also posted a brief video hands-on with the iPhone 4S, showing off a demonstration of the Siri functionality.

Finally, SlashGear also spent some time with the iPhone 4S and similarly found it to be very quick, with webpages rendering "instantly" and pinch-to-zoom being "silky smooth". SlashGear was also impressed with Siri's performance.Apple will begin taking pre-orders for the iPhone 4S this Friday, with the device going on sale in the first batch of countries on Friday, October 14th. Pricing comes in at $199 for 16 GB, $299 for 32 GB, and $399 for 64 GB on contract, with both black and white models available in all capacities.

Article Link: iPhone 4S Hands-Ons and First Impressions