Is hardware the most important thing for the iPhone 6 to be successful?

[spinedoc77]

64 bit processor....leading the pack. You can say from an end user point of view....meh...but its a game changer as far as future proofing these devices.

Meh, it's marketing. Sure we will get to a point where 64bit make sense, but today it's just a bullet point. I have yet to see anyone show an app which takes advantage of 64bit to a marked degree, something substantially improved in the eyes of the end user.

This is an interesting article:
http://www.techradar.com/us/news/ph...re-going-to-be-a-big-deal-but-not-yet-1202942

I really dig the prediction that eventually our phones will replace every other computing device. You get home or to work and you just dock it and you have your main computer. It will probably be foldable so you have a tablet as well. Etc etc, pretty cool stuff, around that time is when we will need 64bit.

 

[I7guy]

Meh, it's marketing. Sure we will get to a point where 64bit make sense, but today it's just a bullet point. I have yet to see anyone show an app which takes advantage of 64bit to a marked degree, something substantially improved in the eyes of the end user.

This is an interesting article:
http://www.techradar.com/us/news/ph...re-going-to-be-a-big-deal-but-not-yet-1202942

I really dig the prediction that eventually our phones will replace every other computing device. You get home or to work and you just dock it and you have your main computer. It will probably be foldable so you have a tablet as well. Etc etc, pretty cool stuff, around that time is when we will need 64bit.

64 bit is not a bullet point on my desktop. 24 gig memory, 6.5 TB storage. If all you do is check imessage, yeah a dockable dumb phone would suit you. A dockable smartphone won't replace my desktop anytime soon. However if 99.9% of the target market are email and netflix users, why a computer?

Years ago, there wasn't an option. Today you pick your poison, expensive cell phone plan or expensive cable or fiber plan.

 

[spinedoc77]

64 bit is not a bullet point on my desktop. 24 gig memory, 6.5 TB storage. If all you do is check imessage, yeah a dockable dumb phone would suit you. A dockable smartphone won't replace my desktop anytime soon. However if 99.9% of the target market are email and netflix users, why a computer?

Years ago, there wasn't an option. Today you pick your poison, expensive cell phone plan or expensive cable or fiber plan.

I'm having trouble following your point, your rambling is a bit convoluted. I never said anything about 64bit on a desktop, no idea where that came from. I also never said a dockable smartphone would replace your desktop soon. I don't think you read my post carefully, if at all.

 

[I7guy]

I'm having trouble following your point, your rambling is a bit convoluted. I never said anything about 64bit on a desktop, no idea where that came from. I also never said a dockable smartphone would replace your desktop soon. I don't think you read my post carefully, if at all.

You said 64 bit is just a point on a smartphone and then go on to say:

"I really dig the prediction that eventually our phones will replace every other computing device."

So my "ramblings" were suggesting this is not going to happen if one is a power user. My desktop has been 64 bit since 2008 at a time they said 64 bit why? It's only recently I upgraded memory and disk.

However, for a smartphone to replace every other computing device they need processing power. (I realize we are not talking about big corporate server farms, but end users who have light computer needs...but still..64 bit and I'm sure 128 computing is on the horizon.)

 

[Skika]

Meh, it's marketing. Sure we will get to a point where 64bit make sense, but today it's just a bullet point. I have yet to see anyone show an app which takes advantage of 64bit to a marked degree, something substantially improved in the eyes of the end user.

This is an interesting article:
http://www.techradar.com/us/news/ph...re-going-to-be-a-big-deal-but-not-yet-1202942

I really dig the prediction that eventually our phones will replace every other computing device. You get home or to work and you just dock it and you have your main computer. It will probably be foldable so you have a tablet as well. Etc etc, pretty cool stuff, around that time is when we will need 64bit.

64bit alone brings really good improvements. You should take a look into the Anandtech article about it.

 

[matttye]

4K on a phone?

Hope you like 2 minute clips taking up gigs worth of data

...with nothing to watch them on!

 

[bushman4]

Hardware in the next model.will be very important as Apples 2 year period of change for hardware is abit long. However software is portant as we'll IOS7 most likely carries new features which we have. Not seen yet but will be activated with the next model. Don't think for a minute that Apple created iOS7 for cosmetic purposes only

 

[Black Magic]

I heard kit kat android is very fast and more stable than iOS 7. But the next samsung s5 will have 2K 5.25inch screen 4GB of ram...2.4hhz 16MP camera with 4K video recording and other amazing things. I believe that apple needs to innovate to be successful in 2014. This time around specs will matter more than software.
No way on earth that 16GB standard is enough for next year because the size of the apps will be huge and the camera will take up way more space and the OS as well. It's not enough for 2 years. 64bit takes up more memory for everything.

Not sure why people are still stuck in the 90's when it comes to technology. Specs are good but if not implemented properly it's just a bullet point on a marketing pamphlet that nerds eat up. Let's go over a few:

1. 16MP Camera. A waste if not done correctly. The sensor has to be bigger other wise you are just taking photos that take up more precious storage due to the larger file size.

2. 4GB. Why? The iPhone and iPad run just fine with 1GB. Maybe adding another GB will satisfy some that open 20 tabs in Safari because they feel they need too but for most, 4GB is overkill at this point.

3. 2K on 5.25in Screen. Another waste. Why do I say that? No apps are designed to utilize those specs and by the time a few come out for it, Samsung will be trying to do 3K or higher. It's not a standard, its just a gimmick. It's like buying a 4K TV now when there is no content to utilize it. Let's not even get into battery life.

4. CPU Cores. Waste if not done correctly. Notice how you hear about cores being turned off to save battery life? Apps are not designed to utilize these cores because its not standardized and changes every so many months. So on a Galaxy S4, the standard Android apps will run no faster than other competing phones out there with less cores.

Having said all that, Apple always tries to do some type of improvement on everything in the phone. The iPhone 6 will fly off the shelf regardless of what any of us want or how we feel.

On a side note, marketing specs kinda bit Samsung in the ass the last go around, I'm willing to wager a more conservative approach next phone release.

 

[I7guy]

Not sure why people are still stuck in the 90's when it comes to technology. Specs are good but if not implemented properly it's just a bullet point on a marketing pamphlet that nerds eat up. Let's go over a few:

1. 16MP Camera. A waste if not done correctly. The sensor has to be bigger other wise you are just taking photos that take up more precious storage due to the larger file size.

2. 4GB. Why? The iPhone and iPad run just fine with 1GB. Maybe adding another GB will satisfy some that open 20 tabs in Safari because they feel they need too but for most, 4GB is overkill at this point.

3. 2K on 5.25in Screen. Another waste. Why do I say that? No apps are designed to utilize those specs and by the time a few come out for it, Samsung will be trying to do 3K or higher. It's not a standard, its just a gimmick. It's like buying a 4K TV now when there is no content to utilize it. Let's not even get into battery life.

4. CPU Cores. Waste if not done correctly. Notice how you hear about cores being turned off to save battery life? Apps are not designed to utilize these cores because its not standardized and changes every so many months. So on a Galaxy S4, the standard Android apps will run no faster than other competing phones out there with less cores.

Having said all that, Apple always tries to do some type of improvement on everything in the phone. The iPhone 6 will fly off the shelf regardless of what any of us want or how we feel.

On a side note, marketing specs kinda bit Samsung in the ass the last go around, I'm willing to wager a more conservative approach next phone release.

The slowest improvement is always battery life the fastest is cpu and memory. Software always takes a bit to catch to catch up to hardware.

 

[spinedoc77]

You said 64 bit is just a point on a smartphone and then go on to say:

"I really dig the prediction that eventually our phones will replace every other computing device."

So my "ramblings" were suggesting this is not going to happen if one is a power user. My desktop has been 64 bit since 2008 at a time they said 64 bit why? It's only recently I upgraded memory and disk.

However, for a smartphone to replace every other computing device they need processing power. (I realize we are not talking about big corporate server farms, but end users who have light computer needs...but still..64 bit and I'm sure 128 computing is on the horizon.)

You still didn't get what I'm saying, and what the article I linked is saying. 64 bit right now is useless, nothing takes advantage of it. Tomorrow, as I said, is a different story. But today its just a marketing bullet point. Same thing about a smartphone replacing a desktop, it MIGHT be what the FUTURE brings, it might not be, I just simply found a lot of interest in that prediction on the article and personally agree with it.

 

[I7guy]

Apple said they needed 64 bit for touch id. Needed was their word.

 

[Abazigal]

Yes they do. Why else go to 64-bit when there still aren't very many apps that can even take advantage of it at this time? It's not to "future-proof" one specific model. Apple wants you to get the 5s now, but it wants you to get the 6 too. And then the 6s. And so on. They could care less if you now have a phone that is great for the next two years.

Headlines. That's all it is.

You may be right in that 64-bit has very limited benefits today (Anandtech reports an average of 10% improvement in performance, and it has been blamed for causing the 5s and iPads to crash more often due to ram shortages).

However, I believe it's also Apple's way of telegraphing their intention to app developers so that when IOS devices do ship with 4gb of ram in 2-3 years time, most, if not all apps in the app store will be optimised for 64-bit. Someone has to take the first step, and it makes more sense for Apple to spearhead this move then expect every single developer to somehow start developing 64-bit apps just for the heck of it.

Using a 64-bit processor now shows their commitment and tells the world that they are serious about this. Else, if they simply made an announcement, people could just think "Oh, I still have 3 more years", continue creating 32-bit apps and we would still be in the same situation 3 years later.

Apple's no stranger to transitioning between different platforms, nor are they run by idiots. I feel it's one of those moves which seems pointless now, but will make perfect sense in hindsight many years later (assuming Apple pulls off the transition smoothly).

 

[cynics]

I'm more interested in software. Things that really benefit me. That's why I'm still using the 4S. The 5S doesn't really do anything for me. Sure the better hardware specs would be welcomed but not worth me upgrading.

I think if Apple added a bigger screen and NFC (maybe a proprietary system?) then a hardware bump would entice me to upgrade.

What use is quad core 64 bit etc if tapatalk or my email load 1 second faster? Now things like iMessage and AirPlay really interest me.

 

[spinedoc77]

64bit alone brings really good improvements. You should take a look into the Anandtech article about it.

Yeah I've seen that article, it's very informative. The take away I got from Anandtech was that 64bit doesn't do much today. Everyone will move towards it in the future, and Apple simply pre-empted them by going there first, but it's still just a bullet point for marketing. There is also the RAM limitation which is an interesting subject to discuss.

Aanandtech:
"The soonest Apple would need 64-bit from a memory addressability standpoint in an iOS device would be 2015, and the latest would be 2016."

Certainly the benchmarks in that article are pretty impressive and I'm definitely not saying it's not an improvement, although there is other hardware which brings improvement even without 64bit. What I'm saying is it's not an improvement *today*. We're not even seeing increased battery life, the 5s is just minimally better and that's probably due to the 9.35% larger capacity battery.

But it's much simpler than that. Which 32 bit app "needs" 64bit improvement? Which app opened slowly, or churned, or ran slowly? That's the issue, I have yet to find an app that I had an issue with from a performance point of view in 32bit on my iphone5. I'm sure a few exist, maybe processing large picture files or something, I don't know, I just haven't ran into any personally and haven't seen anyone on the forums shout for joy that their previously slow app now runs incredibly fast.

Once again there is nothing wrong with future proofing your device. But I think readers on this forum are savvy enough to know that Apple is NOT in the business of encouraging users to hang onto the last generation of iphones, although they are generous in keeping them up to date. Apple's strategy is to provide reasons for consumers to buy new generations, which includes arguable marketing bullet points like 64bit.

Now to get back to the OP, 64bit for the ip6 would make more sense but that depends on how much RAM it would have, among other things. But even then without a drastic change of the OS and apps what good will it do? 32bit apps today and iOS7 on the 32bit iphone 5 run virtually just as well as they do on 64bit. Apps will need to become more like programs, and now they have the power to do so. THIS is exactly why I like the prediction that desktops (to some degree) might be replaced by smartphones, it makes sense.

 

[I7guy]

When Xp 64 bit came out, one could say there was a parallel between what was said back then and what is being said now.

In 2013, I cant even imagine a laptop or desktop, for me, without 64 bit. But when xp 64 bit was released in 2002 it was meh for desktop users.

Same thing here, in a few years all mobile phone OS will be 64 bit as internal ram goes above 4 gig.

 

[spinedoc77]

When Xp 64 bit came out, one could say there was a parallel between what was said back then and what is being said now.

In 2013, I cant even imagine a laptop or desktop, for me, without 64 bit. But when xp 64 bit was released in 2002 it was meh for desktop users.

Same thing here, in a few years all mobile phone OS will be 64 bit as internal ram goes above 4 gig.

Absolutely, I agree 100%.

 

[takeshi74]

Is hardware the most important thing for the iPhone 6 to be successful?

Take a look at history and you'll have your answer.

 

[irDigital0l]

Design and the way iOS 8 is able to compliment it.

All-new design, larger and better display, and iOS 8 to be able to work it.

 

[pagemaster]

You heard wrong. Kit Kat is not more stable than IOS, but android is getting closer with every release.

I have got a Nexus 7 with Kit Kat and my wife has a iPad Mini with retina with IOS7 that I bought her for Christmas. My iPod Touch has IOS7. Both are equally stable. Android is the better operating system.

 

[I7guy]

I have got a Nexus 7 with Kit Kat and my wife has a iPad Mini with retina with IOS7 that I bought her for Christmas. My iPod Touch has IOS7. Both are equally stable. Android is the better operating system.

Better is clearly in the eyes of the beholder as these two operating systems go about their tasks in a different way. It's like saying Linux is better than Windows (or vice-versa) without any real treatise to back it up.

 

[Badrottie]

Tim Cook's idea for iPhone 6 is not much. I don't believe iPhone 6 will ever have a new wireless charging system. Or bigger megapixel like 16? iPhone 6 is not ready for Quad-core ARM CPU? (dual core is very old technology) Apple is not going to add 4K display because iPhone is not meant for watching movies!

 

[pagemaster]

Better is clearly in the eyes of the beholder as these two operating systems go about their tasks in a different way. It's like saying Linux is better than Windows (or vice-versa) without any real treatise to back it up.

The issue I have with IOS is that is way behind in some of the features that are currently available on Android Kit Kat. The multiple accounts on Kit Kat is enough for me to determine that Android Kit Kat is the superior operating system.

 

[I7guy]

The issue I have with IOS is that is way behind in some of the features that are currently available on Android Kit Kat. The multiple accounts on Kit Kat is enough for me to determine that Android Kit Kat is the superior operating system.

With BYOD no version of android or smartphone is welcome due to security concerns. So that is enough for me to determine IOS is better because it is more secure.

It all depends on what you are looking for.

 

[itjw]

"Apple is doomed if they don't..."

No. They're not.

The amount of goodwill created by the iPhone so far is enough to carry it for YEARS with minimal (think: color (gold anyone???), screen size, and minor conveniences like TouchID) improvements.

They will NOT be "innovating" (at least to the people who are crying about it) for 2 reasons:

1) There is NO need to. They are a business, and all this crap about "they'll be sorry if they don't" is just that: crap. They can keep doing what they've been doing for the last 5 years for the next 5 years AT LEAST, and the product will be just fine. Just because a segment of complainers NEEDS them to "innovate" for their own indulgences, from a business standpoint there's just no reason to until sales start to dip (see the 5S, arguably the most underwhelming upgrade to date, and it's CRUSHING any single model of Android...).

2) They don't cater to the people screaming for "innovation". They cater to the MASSES. The masses don't want a radically redesigned phone. They want a better phone, with better battery life, better performance, etc. They don't CARE if it has a 600Ghz processor if it's fast enough to run everything they put on it. I get it, you DO, but the masses don't...

Get over this "innovation" thing. It happens, but not very often, and DEFINITELY not every year. And if specs mattered as much as you THINK they do, Apple would be out of business. They have never been about the raw specs. They rarely bother publishing any information about them. Samesung, on the other hand, is obsessed with them, and so if you are too, there's no shame in jumping ship. You'll have better specs. An inferior phone, support system, and experience, but you'll have more SPECS!

Hooray?

 

[Shanghaichica]

The issue I have with IOS is that is way behind in some of the features that are currently available on Android Kit Kat. The multiple accounts on Kit Kat is enough for me to determine that Android Kit Kat is the superior operating system.

I don't even get kit Kat. I'm sure when samsung update their devices, they will add more features as they have done in the past. However on my nexus 7, apart from a cool Zoe like feature in the photo gallery I can't really see that anything has changed. It's rather boring. At least I got some useful features in ios7 like airdrop and streaming from iCloud.