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Is Apple starting to suck? Should I lower my expectations for the next iPhone?
- Thread starter iAppleseed
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I think we are getting a little off track. I took the post as more of innovations. Not upgrades that other manufactures have been using for a long time.
That's why I brought up NFC. That's cool tech (to me). Or the s-pen with Wacom digitizer (not really for me but cool stuff). Different standard outputs (hdmi, USB, etc).
Not necessarily the most amazing stuff I listed but I for one would like to see something new and cool. One of those "damn that's a good idea!" innovations.
Not just a screen better then my eyes can perceive. Or technology that's been in the competitions phone forever.
That's why I brought up NFC. That's cool tech (to me). Or the s-pen with Wacom digitizer (not really for me but cool stuff). Different standard outputs (hdmi, USB, etc).
Not necessarily the most amazing stuff I listed but I for one would like to see something new and cool. One of those "damn that's a good idea!" innovations.
Not just a screen better then my eyes can perceive. Or technology that's been in the competitions phone forever.
Okay, then what more do you want?
You say Apple isn't "wow"ing you anymore. What would "wow" you then? And don't just say "something revolutionary." That's meaningless without making clear what you feel counts as "revolutionary."
I hate to say it, but it almost sounds you have some sort of addiction that's being fed somehow by Apple products. "I'm disappointed now. The new stuff isn't as exciting. I need more." So, the first hits were great, and now that you're acclimated to the drug, you're chasing an intense first-high that you can't get anymore.
My suggestion would be to find something fulfilling in your life, other than buying things. If you need to buy shiny new things to feel good all the time, then something's wrong. Especially if those things you buy are starting it "disappoint" you.
I switched to Apple products not because I wanted to be wowed for mere sake of being wowed. I switched because things worked well. As long their products continue to work well, I don't need a radical redesign every year. In fact, I think frequent radical redesigns would be disruptive.
I played the "new device every 3 months" game earlier on. I'm done with that. I have real work to do, when when you actually need to depend on your devices for real work, you start to realize that you don't jump on the next new thing just because it's new.
No.
Apple as a company is going to move on without Steve Jobs. it has to. And I'm pretty sure that while Steve guiding certain ideas and principles, we were shown during his leaves of absence that the nitty gritty details were actually put in place by other people. WHile he did some key things and made key decisions, Steve alone didn't make the company what it is. And those people are still very much alive and running the show.
Is Apple going in the direction he would like? Well, I'm pretty sure he laid a foundation that would ensure that for the next few years, Apple will be going in a direction he would've taken it, or at least not too far from that. The iPhone 4S, the new iPad, the next iPhone beyond that and probably the next Apple TV definitely still have Jobs' DNA in 'em.
Beyond that though, that depends on the leadership. But I think there will be plenty of time for those within Apple (and outside of Apple) to accept that Steve is gone, and Apple will have to move along without him. EVen though there will still be plenty of WWSD (What Would Steve Do?) moments.
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I remember you from the HowardForums days ~7 years ago. It's crazy to recall what smartphone life was like back then!
I remember you from the HowardForums days ~7 years ago. It's crazy to recall what smartphone life was like back then!
Oh God. what was I using then? I was still on Sprint.
Must've been this guy.
(And yes, the photo in the above link is a picture of my actual phone then).
Take one look at the stock price and astonishing sales numbers to see exactly why Apple is taking a baby-steps approach to product innovation. People like what Apple makes. They're becoming comfortable with the ecosystem. Just yesterday there was a stat that 50% of American households own an Apple product. Think about that for a second.
Why would they rock the boat with every iteration? I know this is a message board for fanboys, but after the reading the Jobs bio book, it really hammers home the point that Apple products are designed for everyday people looking to get more done with technology. Not us fanboys. Using that perspective, you can see why Apple keeps things as simple as possible.
People don't care about specs. They don't care about HDMI or NFC. They just want a device that works.
Why would they rock the boat with every iteration? I know this is a message board for fanboys, but after the reading the Jobs bio book, it really hammers home the point that Apple products are designed for everyday people looking to get more done with technology. Not us fanboys. Using that perspective, you can see why Apple keeps things as simple as possible.
People don't care about specs. They don't care about HDMI or NFC. They just want a device that works.
Not fussed about a new design just want a larger screen...even if it is only a small improvement...just be nice to have a bigger screen when out.
As far as we've progressed it really makes you wonder why you have so many complainers
I agree.
In fact, I think part of the problem is that some people quickly forget the past. Three years after that antique Treo 650, right before the iPhone came out, the state of the art in smartphones wasn't much better. Apple dramatically changed things in a HUGE way.
Imagine if Apple, or ANY company, dramatically changed things that much EVERY year? It would be exhausting and disruptive. Developers wouldn't be able to keep up. And we'd all be wasting a lot more money on new gadgets than we already do.
You can't have that level of revolution on frequent, repeating basis without alienating your audience. It's a good thing to be able to use the apps from your previous phone without having to buy all new ones because the new device is "too revolutionary." It's a good thing to be able to transfer all your old info into the next iteration without a hiccup. It's a good thing to have smooth transitions for a while.
And this is why people continue to line up for Apple products. You get new things, but all your old stuff will still work on it. And if you don't want to get the new thing, you can still upgrade to the new software for a couple of years and get most of the benefits. There's a lot to be said for evolutionary advances.
Someone will shake things up again. It might be Apple, or it might not be. But it will happen when the time is right. In the meantime, evolutionary changes are better than most people realize, and jarring massive changes on rapid cycle, not so much unless you've got money to burn, and nothing else to do but cope with learning curves.
I can totally agree with this. It's like intel and amd. They COULD skip a couple processors and increase the speed of them faster. But why? If you make small increases people will buy those and you'll have a lot more product to sell over the course of time.
Apple has an infinite selection of things they could add. What they will do (and always have) is wait till they need something to stay on top and introduce something new. It won't be new but it will be something that's been around that they will attempt to make better.
Problem is and like you said the fanboy/geek in me. Better for apple is simplicity, better for me is features and customization.
I'm not exactly to thrilled with the price of Apple products. I don't find them anymore durable then the competition. However they FEEL well built compared to the competition. Seriously, a mobile device nearly entirely covered in glass? Anyway the hardware you get isn't exactly the best but it's still at a premium price. Like my Audi, the badge has useless value too it.
The only reason I use an iPhone and not a Razr I have is because my work paid for it and the service. And I like it enough but there are times when I am trying to use it as a tool but it just won't work easily. Like its too dumb down.
An example from today (there maybe a way to do this and I just could figure it out). A customer of mine purchased some equipment that goes on the roof of their building. They were unable to get too it to see the product so I took pics to email. But I couldn't find a way to send more then one pic at a time without copying and pasting! What a hassle compared to the competition. But like I said maybe I was just doing something wrong.
Apples strength for me is yes they do make revolutionary product (iPhone, iPad, iMac etc) but not all the time. It's not possible to do. I think their real strength lies in making what's already out there just work better. Take face time for example. Lots of smart phones could video call before the iPhone 4. But then FaceTime is launched and suddenly it's not £1 a minute but free. Also you can FaceTime an iPod or iPad or Mac. To me that's great. When apple put there minds to it things generally just work better. They aren't reinventing the wheel, they have just worked out it works better if it's an aluminium one with a tyre. Things I'd like apple to have a go at but probably won't.
iCar (just imagine!)
iRobot (not the film but a real robot who could do stuff)
iEntertain (not just a atv but a music, tv computer all rolled into one hung on your living room wall, with built in camera and a working voice activation. A console like gaming experience where you control like kinect or with other iOS devices like a wee)
I realise that these things are just fantasy, but I'm still old enough to remember when the Sony Walkman was considered cutting edge. Imagine 15 songs being your only choice next time you select a play list. And the hours you would need to spend creating a mix tape. Things move on. Sometimes fast sometimes slow. But I bet apple will be at the forefront for a while yet.
iCar (just imagine!)
iRobot (not the film but a real robot who could do stuff)
iEntertain (not just a atv but a music, tv computer all rolled into one hung on your living room wall, with built in camera and a working voice activation. A console like gaming experience where you control like kinect or with other iOS devices like a wee)
I realise that these things are just fantasy, but I'm still old enough to remember when the Sony Walkman was considered cutting edge. Imagine 15 songs being your only choice next time you select a play list. And the hours you would need to spend creating a mix tape. Things move on. Sometimes fast sometimes slow. But I bet apple will be at the forefront for a while yet.
Apple doesn't suck in any way, but I can sort of see where IAppleseed may be coming from. Some consumers may be showing fatigue from the Apple release events that only bring minor updates, yes MINOR updates. You can spin a new camera, russian GPS, voice app, or antenna any way you want. Those do not count in my book as anything worth a launch event. I still use the iPhone 3g since launch day. I tell people everyday that wonder why I haven't updated how well built the iPhone 3g is. I work in public safety, and have three children under the age of four who always find their paws on my phone, and it's still ticking. I felt the upgrades the 3gs, 4, and 4s had were not worth the money to upgrade, and I can upgrade every year if I choose. Although I will be getting the next iPhone, my expectations are not that high for something mind blowing. I'm happy with a phone that "just works."
Sigh...
No matter how much I have, I'd trade it all for a little more...
Apple is dominating every single Android phone out there. Name one that's even close? Oh, that's right, you don't "want" an Android either.
The 4S WAS both evolutionary AND revolutionary. Why? Because it managed to to take the "same old" design, and add enough to it to generate sales that dominate any other single phone in the marketplace. When has that EVER happened?
In the meantime, Android desperately tries to energize it's product by increasing screen size, changing the OS (Gingerbread to Pinched Loaf), pretty much throwing the kitchen sink at the problem, and what do they give their base? Every phone that is released is already old news by the time it's in your pocket... Yippee.
In the meantime, my 4S is still fundamentally everything I need it to be, I can still sell it for more than I paid for it, and new Apps I actually WANT, that I know for certain will run well on my OS, are released all the time.
All of the "upgrades" listed were indeed relevant. Saying the camera is just "Ok" is so funny it deserves a slow clap... But that's the problem with folks that are NEVER satisfied with anything. It's not even trolling anymore, it's just a sad way to live.
No matter what the iPhone 5 does/has, people like you will be underwhelmed. Period. It's really ok, I just don't get the point of whining about it. Seriously. Apple sells millions of the things faster than you can say Ice Cream Sandwich. If you don't want it, or it's not enough, or you think it sucks: BUY SOMETHING ELSE. If everyone felt that way, things would change.
Since almost no one does, it won't.
No matter how much I have, I'd trade it all for a little more...
Apple is dominating every single Android phone out there. Name one that's even close? Oh, that's right, you don't "want" an Android either.
The 4S WAS both evolutionary AND revolutionary. Why? Because it managed to to take the "same old" design, and add enough to it to generate sales that dominate any other single phone in the marketplace. When has that EVER happened?
In the meantime, Android desperately tries to energize it's product by increasing screen size, changing the OS (Gingerbread to Pinched Loaf), pretty much throwing the kitchen sink at the problem, and what do they give their base? Every phone that is released is already old news by the time it's in your pocket... Yippee.
In the meantime, my 4S is still fundamentally everything I need it to be, I can still sell it for more than I paid for it, and new Apps I actually WANT, that I know for certain will run well on my OS, are released all the time.
All of the "upgrades" listed were indeed relevant. Saying the camera is just "Ok" is so funny it deserves a slow clap... But that's the problem with folks that are NEVER satisfied with anything. It's not even trolling anymore, it's just a sad way to live.
No matter what the iPhone 5 does/has, people like you will be underwhelmed. Period. It's really ok, I just don't get the point of whining about it. Seriously. Apple sells millions of the things faster than you can say Ice Cream Sandwich. If you don't want it, or it's not enough, or you think it sucks: BUY SOMETHING ELSE. If everyone felt that way, things would change.
Since almost no one does, it won't.
The two problems are this:
First, Well the overall general look of iOS is becoming a bit stale at this point, no major changes to the overall look since 2007.
It will be interesting if iOS6.0 brings a refreshed graphically UI.............
Second , 3.5 inch screen are a bit small for today standard.
Lastly, the competition is getting better, stronger and faster. The Galaxy Nexus is a monster and the Galaxy Nexus's ICE CREAM SANDWICH OS is Beautiful and Window Phone Mango's Lumia 900 is just Awesome!
currently coming out and its another beautiful
Starting to suck ?...lol
Since Galaxy S2 came out, Android is finally better, the Galaxy-Nexus rocks, and newer phones like HTC-One and Galaxy S3 will be even greater. iPhone-next has its work cut out for it.
Since Galaxy S2 came out, Android is finally better, the Galaxy-Nexus rocks, and newer phones like HTC-One and Galaxy S3 will be even greater. iPhone-next has its work cut out for it.
I'd say it's pretty impressive packing a dual-core Cortex A9 processor and more so a dual-core SGX543 inside a 3.5 inch smartphone. The camera is great, as is video recording, and the battery life is pretty good.
Hopefully we're to see some more punch this year... quad-core Cortex A15, 1GB LPDDR2/LPDDR3 RAM, and... PowerVR 600 series graphics. Hopefully Apple will be able to pull it off in time for the iPhone 5... and then the iPad 4 next year.
Are you trolling or what? You want 2 things:
1) NFC last October, a tech that hasn't been fully adopted by retailers, a tech that isn't completely supported by 2 of the larger iPhone carriers, and a tech that is getting quite a bit of press for... next summer... So having a certain technology for the sake of it being there is a pretty ridiculous argument
2) Apple to invent some random thing, but you don't know what it is...
you really need to consider an Android phone, iPhone is not cutting it for you...
You say "another" speed bump, but the 4 > 4S wasn't a speed bump, it's a whole lot more. And the iPad 2 > 3 wasn't a speed bump at all -- it's just a significant increase in GPU performance to compensate for the retina display.
things that would impress me in the next iphone:
1. better graphics capabilities for games
2. NFC introduced
3. improved resolution
4. new Physical controler introduced as an add on for iphone so if you wanted to play a game you could have that extra playabilty as shooting games with touch screen are annoying..
5. make it slighly cheaper? lol not gonna happen
6. 2 speakers rather than the crappy one.. i do actually notice the difference between mono and stereo thanks
7. led light in the home button for notifications... MAJOR WANT!!
8. and finally the groundbreaking and actually the only thing i want more is........ a different coloured iphone, i would want dark metallic purple, yellow or orange or blue.
Thats all
1. better graphics capabilities for games
2. NFC introduced
3. improved resolution
4. new Physical controler introduced as an add on for iphone so if you wanted to play a game you could have that extra playabilty as shooting games with touch screen are annoying..
5. make it slighly cheaper? lol not gonna happen
6. 2 speakers rather than the crappy one.. i do actually notice the difference between mono and stereo thanks
7. led light in the home button for notifications... MAJOR WANT!!
8. and finally the groundbreaking and actually the only thing i want more is........ a different coloured iphone, i would want dark metallic purple, yellow or orange or blue.
Thats all
The majority people will not lower their expectations, including me! Technology progress will never stop in iphone!