iPhone 4S Hands-Ons and First Impressions

[twoodcc]

the iPhone 4S seems great and all, but apple really needed to release a much newer design with an iPhone 5. until then, android will have an advantage, especially with verizon 4g lte

 

[Randy182]

one word: garbage. end of discussion.

 

[Peterg2]

more like here "it is guessed at by someone with zero actual knowledge as to why Apple made the choice they did". IF they wanted LTE and it demanded reducing the size of the battery or making the phone physically larger, they would have chosen to do that. Because they didn't want LTE they didn't have to make either choice. And didn't make it.

Whose opinion should I rather lend credence to on a matter like this? Anand lAl Shimpi who has built up one of the most outstanding technical websites extant or some person on an internet forum using a pseudonym? Let me think about this a bit....

Read the article and think a bit. You see Apple reducing the battery size or going with a physically larger phone?

 

[TMay]

J am interested in the kindle fire and I don't want android nerds coopting it as some sort of android success. When it succeeds with it's custom fork it will be evidence against core android viability as a competitive os

I have to admire Amazon for stealing Google's lunch money.

I know it isn't Android. Otherwise, I would have expected a full page ad in the WSJ touting Androids newest partner.

Crickets.

 

[scoobydoo99]

not saying nothing changed. I know what changed. But those changes were not what the people wanted.

Which people would that be? Many of us are happy with the iPhone 4 form factor. Personally, I don't want it go grow even a millimeter. (Yes, a larger screen could be fit into the current form factor, and that would be fine, but it's not my highest priority).

It seems that some want to devolve the iPhone v. Android phone debate into something similar to PC v. Mac. There will always be some hardware out there with some spec better that similar iPhone specs. But just as with PCs and Macs, its all about the user experience, software integration, hardware quality, customer support, etc. Yes, we know, there are Android phones with better specs. Who cares. I'm tired of the "sky is falling" crowd constantly lamenting how far "behind" Apple is with the iPhone. All the while, consumers are voting with their wallets and keeping the iPhone 4 on top.

 

[Eager Beaver]

iphone 4s price is so cheap..... just suit for me....

So cheap?
$2400.00 is not cheap!
$100 bucks a month for 24 months is alot.
Might as well get the better phone if you're going to pay that much for it, (and miss out on the next 2 iphones while under contract with the 4s) -

 

[Peterg2]

went down exactly as I called it 3 days ago ...

I said something similar to you here:

https://forums.macrumors.com/posts/13444655/

but I essentially admit here and now I was wrong. There is no way there is going to be an iPhone 5 in Q1. The 4S was very easy to guess.

 

[Eager Beaver]

So how much ram does it have?
Is t possible to find out BEFORE we shell out $200+

 

[marksman]

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I like how a lot of people here bashed on Android fanboys for bragging about the guts of the phone, and now, they are using that same technique for defending the 4s. Guts don't make the iphone. The GUI and form factor do. Sometimes I catch myself drooling over my friends' iphones just because they look better than my current Android. If you don't think form factor/design is impt in Apple's success, you must be kidding yourself.

Also, I won't call anyone out in particular, but in no way have I said the 4s won't sell well. I've made general comments about innovation and the competition catching up that even Steve Jobs himself have made.

http://youtu.be/SaJp66ArJVI

"...the problem was Apple stood still...and its differentiation eroded...there is a tremendous brand loyalty...the way out is not to slash and burn...the way out is to innovate." --Steve Jobs

Why can't some people criticize a brand that they love? I love Apple, but I am still able to criticize them when they don't meet expectations.

Personally, it seems to me like Apple is focusing a little less on innovation and a little more on making money/expanding right now. If you ask me, the real winner at this release was the cheaper prices for the iphone 4 and 3gs (FREE!). This is a real winning strategy to get people to get on the iOS platform, that in combination with Apple's vertical integration (which may actually win as a strategy this time around) will build a loyal customer base for years to come.

A lot of people couldn't get on the iphone platform because it wasn't available for their carriers. With an expansion onto other carriers, making the phone GSM/CDMA, and lowering the price point on many models...guess what? $$$$$$$$$$$$$$

So yes, Apple will be financially very successful. Will it be due to the 4s? that remains to be seen. maybe. But personally I think their strategy of expanding is aggressive and patently obvious.

Siri is innovation. If they just added a bigger screen and called it a day I would agree they were letting their leadership position fade.

Instead they innovate and move the industry forward.

Adding a crappy big screen is not innovative

 

[apolloa]

That was posted about an hour after the event ended. meanwhile, the value came back up and closed at a merely 1/2% under the day's opening




That is based on the assumption that every day between now and the release will be just as high as day one and that none of the orders are cancelled in the meantime.

which might happen or might not

and even if the Fire does beat the ipad2's opening sales figures it doesn't really mean that much. Half of them could be returned. Or sales after the first week could drop off and never come near what the iPad 2 had managed overall.

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And yet it only fished 2% down and will be up at the end of the week

Yeah, aapl dropped to $354 today and made up all but 2.1 pts to close at $372.50. You are aware that means that it only lost 2.1 points at close, or does that basic fact escape you? After hours, its only 0.23 pt down! Hardly a loss even if the market overall was up 1.44% for the day.

Per your Amazon Kindle sales; So, preorders are going to hold up for 50 days at that pace? Good luck on that.

Do you lot get together to screw lightbulbs in? Just wondering as three of you posted the same information??

As for:

That is based on the assumption that every day between now and the release will be just as high as day one and that none of the orders are cancelled in the meantime. ...................

------ Wishful thinking mate I'm afraid, the Fire isn't going anywhere and Amazon will have launched another tablet next year no doubt. So try and turn it around, the Fire is going to compete.

 

[revelated]

Oh, and what if Siri tech, Apple owned of course, gets into home apps, or remote apps? "Turn on the lights" "Have the roast done by 7" "Make coffee, black". "Is there milk in the fridge?" If I owned a home appliance company, I would be falling over myself to get this into my stuff.

Computer *beep beep* Set autodestruct countdown from my mark, authorization Picard 1 Alpha... *beep beep* "autodistruct engaged".

^ recorded 10 seconds before the airport blew up with a gang of terrorists driving away in one of those old Volkswagen vans. Siri!

 

[apolloa]

I don't think you or the cult of android understand pre order purchase patterns. Off big announcements the largest portion of pre orders are front loaded. It does not keep up at a steady pace.

So just out of curiosity, exactly what qualifications and proven business experience do you hold to qualify you to go against predictions made based on obtained information from a retailer?
Or are you an armchair business analyst who is 'guessing' his comments?

 

[sineplex]

went down exactly as I called it 3 days ago ...

And what might be the great upgrade to buy with iPhone 5?
Just a body? with 4S internals?... I'd want something mind blowing
By Feb/March

 

[Frankied22]

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I have had an iPhone 4 on AT&T since it came out but I will be buying a 4S. Why you ask? Because AT&T can take their overpriced plans and capped data and shove it up their ***. Sprint with a cheaper bill and unlimited data, here I come. I will just sell my current iPhone 4 and be out nothing. Easy as pie.

 

[mozumder]

Siri is completely incredible.

It's as if they invented the mouse and keyboard.

Again, Apple pushes usability in surprising ways. When everyone else thinks a bigger screen is what matters, Apple surprises everyone with a completely new user interface designed for mobile use.

I'm kinda amazed at the systematic level of design quality Apple is innovating.

Looks like a big win today for Apple, and a big loss for Android. Android is pretty much junk at this point, especially with unusable apps. At this point, Android should just give up and call it a day, maybe Google can go back to working on search engines.

 

[iPaf]

Do you remember when the iPad was launched? Everyone was calling it a big iPod fail. And now...

 

[silentnite]

Today 4s and a few months or so down the road 2012 if you can wait you'll have your iPhone 5. This is so Apple.

 

[wovel]

I see that the new Infinity Blade will ONLY work with the iPhone 4S!! And others will follow, then next year we get the iPhone 5 and A6 chip and it repeats... thank God I'm getting a PSVITA. One in the face for those on here who stated Apple has revolutionised gaming hahahaha.... it seems to have revolutionised ripping you off!
God I don't know weather to get one now, if I do it is seriously the last iPhone I do get. I can get a Sony Ericsson Xperia Ray that's more powerful then the iPhone 4! for nearly half the cost of the new 'reduced' iPhone 4 8gb!!

I believe they said that performance was only on the 4s...

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.

Seriously, google highlighted a negative iPhone headline? Say it isn't so.

Any news on how Apples stocks and shares have reacted to this announcement? I bet they have dropped slightly?

The relationship between rumors and news and how they effect stock prices is not a myth. Please look into it before you look foolish..

People say "everyone" wants a bigger screen….
I certainly don't. Reason I don't like most Android phones, They're just..too big. With that huge screen, and not even being that thick..No thanks. Many people don't want a bigger screen. Like me.



This is a very good upgrade. You can only come up with SO many new Design's for a phone. Might as well same the new design for the next iPhone.

I'm getting it.

Well said.

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!

Uh oh, I was too late, you went and made a fool of yourself. I like the fire , but your comment seems to be a bit of a non-sequitur.

And making the phone less portable.

Thanks for the assist.

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Yeah they need more screen size for their widgets lol

You too

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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

I can only think of that local tv show in la where you phoned in and played video games saying "pow"

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.

A lot of these same people would have complained no matter what. They complained about the 3GS, the 4, they will complain about the 6. On the Internet we call them trolls. The majority of the noise in these threads sprouts from these mythical beasts.

Ah I see you 'attempted' to post counter links. Shame because numerous websites are reporting a drop in shares so you loose.

Oh and:

Amazon selling 50,000 Kindle Fire tablets a day?
Reports on Tuesday night suggest that Amazon has some serious envelope stuffing to do prior to the US Kindle Fire launch on November 15th. The Cult of Android website, claims to have gotten its hands-on internal inventory documents that say the company is selling 2,000 an hour, 50,000 a day. The report says that if this trend continues until launch day, it would have 2.5m pre-orders, beating the iPad 2 as the most successful tablet launch ever.

www.t3.com/news/tech-today-latest-iphone-4s-news-kindle-to-outsell-ipad

I really feel bad I did not stop you in time. I truly feel sad to watch you go on so foolishly.

Sailing in the same boat as you are. Only difference i'll be switching from T-Mo's G2 for a more smoother and polished OS.

I forgot what I was responding too, but I am sure you will enjoy the 4s.

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I don't think you or the cult of android understand pre order purchase patterns. Off big announcements the largest portion of pre orders are front loaded. It does not keep up at a steady pace.

Also the other person pointed out in day 1 preorders the ipad2 sold 3x as many as the fire.

J am interested in the kindle fire and I don't want android nerds coopting it as some sort of android success. When it succeeds with it's custom fork it will be evidence against core android viability as a competitive os

Amazon does not want it known as an Android device. That is a clear negative they don't need. They will meet any attribution requirements and then do their own thing.

Do you lot get together to screw lightbulbs in? Just wondering as three of you posted the same information??

As for:

That is based on the assumption that every day between now and the release will be just as high as day one and that none of the orders are cancelled in the meantime. ...................

------ Wishful thinking mate I'm afraid, the Fire isn't going anywhere and Amazon will have launched another tablet next year no doubt. So try and turn it around, the Fire is going to compete.

No one said the fire is going anywhere. Expecting launch day pre-order rates to continue for 50 days is just folly. Amazon owns the 7" space. Two pieces of the tablet market are locked down. Until someone else finds another niche, there will only be Apple and Amazon selling tablets in a meaningful way.

 

[BLOND37]

i have the ip4.. not upgrading to 4s.. i know siri wont work on it (ok).. but over all how well will everything else work? will it feel sluggish to do lack of ram?

 

[haruki]

Definitely lame upgrade...the upside? iPhone 5 is gonna be AWESOME!!

 

[wovel]

So just out of curiosity, exactly what qualifications and proven business experience do you hold to qualify you to go against predictions made based on obtained information from a retailer?
Or are you an armchair business analyst who is 'guessing' his comments?

Go against your wild extrapolations of a single data point? You don't need any experience to go against that. Just a touch of common sense. You won't find anyone at Amazon who believes that pre-order rate is sustainable.

----------

i have the ip4.. not upgrading to 4s.. i know siri wont work on it (ok).. but over all how well will everything else work? will it feel sluggish to do lack of ram?

All of the iOS 5 on iPhone reports from beta have been very positive. In fact the 3GS reports have been positive too. What a great lineup Apple will have.

 

[Funkymonk]

so so so underwhelming

 

[irnchriz]

I'm gonna stick with my iPhone 4, i already have siri on my phone, downloaded when it was available in the app store. so nothing really new for me, can't wait till iOS5 though!

Did anyone notice Phil Shiller's reaction when he announced the 4S?
http://youtu.be/Zbo9KqOP8bA

Siri has been pulled from the app store and will no longer work for anyone who has it from October 16th.

 

[Thex1138]

Interesting prediction from '87...

http://waxy.org/2011/10/apples_1987_knowledge_navigator_only_one_month_late/

 

[sishaw]

Is that really the only reason you feel the iPhone has fallen behind?

How else has the iPhone fallen behind?

Honest questions. I understand people wanting a bigger screen (although, the iPhone size is ideal, since it just about allows 1 handed operation for me), but in what other way is the iPhone "behind"?

In the service itself, which is still third-generation while there are a number of 4G Android phones.