Live Coverage of Apple's 2013 iPhone Media Event

[KPOM]

Very disappointed. I know its a "5" to "5S" upgrade and we shouldn't have expected much, but almost everything predicted was a wipeout (which goes to show that these industry "analysts" do not know crap).

128GB? Nope

Wireless AC? Nope

NFC? Nope.

On top of that, you can't even pre-order the 5S if you wanted to, just the 5C. Its almost like Apple only cared about getting the 5C to China and the 5S was an afterthought (e.g., a money grab).


Again, I know, I know - only an "S" upgrade. And while I didn't expect all the predictions to come true, I also didn't think none of them (or only one) would either.

Just "bleh".

Pretty much all the predictions were spot on except for 128GB. NFC wasn't widely predicted.

As for the pre-sales, I'm guessing that there are limited supplies of the 5S (again, as predicted by the rumor sites) so they didn't have the capacity to pre-sell 1-2 million and sell another 3-4 million on launch weekend like they did last year. This way, they'll get people to wait in lines again, while others like me will take our chances with the online store on the 20th and just wait a few days to get our hands on the 5S.

I think the improved instruction set, camera, battery life, and Touch ID are decent improvements.

 

[Dominicanyor]

I want to thank everyone that was involve on keeping everyone inform on what was going on the event today.

 

[Dmunjal]

So, if no one is releasing major updates/upgrades, stop holding annual showcase events...I don't see Samsung getting up and holding a Galaxy S5 event, nor do I see Google exclusively showing off their Nexus devices (yes, they have I/O, but that's not Nexus/Android specific).

I haven't mentioned Samsung yet. I'm only comparing today's Apple to earlier launches. They used to be about "gotta have it" products and not about finding ways to milk profit.

As for Samsung, just on the phone side, they've launched the GS4 and Note 3 in the same time span. Now compare the 32GB 5S for $299 vs. the 32GB Note 3 for $299. Huge difference in technology and capabilities for the same price.

 

[yaxomoxay]

I'm talking about the iPhone team. The product that makes them the most money? Again, this is it?

they brought you:
iOS7
A7 64 bit
M7 for motion
Fingerprint sensor
Improved camera capability
iWork

And the "s" is just an update release...

 

[unobtainium]

So, if no one is releasing major updates/upgrades, stop holding annual showcase events...I don't see Samsung getting up and holding a Galaxy S5 event

Uh... Samsung just held one of the most cringe-inducing unveiling events I've ever seen earlier this year, for the S4. I'm sure they'll have another whenever the S5 debuts.

 

[kruug]

they brought you:
iOS7
A7 64 bit
M7 for motion
Fingerprint sensor
Improved camera capability
iWork

And the "s" is just an update release...

iOS7 brought 'us' frosted glass (http://www.iphonehacks.com/2013/08/frosted-glass-effect-ios-7.html and http://gizmodo.com/frosted-glass-effects-why-i-switched-to-android-after-1040746797)

64-bit on a device with 1-2 GB of RAM? Wake me up when Apple gets back into the current decade.

M7 - I'm still holding reservations on that.

Fingerprint reader? On a consumer-grade phone?

Improved camera - sorry, I have a better camera than your phone already, don't need that upgrade

iWork - I do, and I get a paycheck for it... (sorry, bad joke). I have Office 2013 (free, thanks to University) and even then, there are plenty of better options out there. Especially when you consider the need (or lack there of) to create a business presentation on a 4" screen.

 

[yaxomoxay]

iOS7 brought 'us' frosted glass (http://www.iphonehacks.com/2013/08/frosted-glass-effect-ios-7.html and http://gizmodo.com/frosted-glass-effects-why-i-switched-to-android-after-1040746797)

64-bit on a device with 1-2 GB of RAM? Wake me up when Apple gets back into the current decade.

M7 - I'm still holding reservations on that.

Fingerprint reader? On a consumer-grade phone?

Improved camera - sorry, I have a better camera than your phone already, don't need that upgrade

iWork - I do, and I get a paycheck for it... (sorry, bad joke). I have Office 2013 (free, thanks to University) and even then, there are plenty of better options out there. Especially when you consider the need (or lack there of) to create a business presentation on a 4" screen.

The fact that the product doesn't fit your need doesn't mean it's crap and that they didn't work on it. Where's the RAM spec at?

 

[b_scott]

I haven't mentioned Samsung yet. I'm only comparing today's Apple to earlier launches. They used to be about "gotta have it" products and not about finding ways to milk profit.

As for Samsung, just on the phone side, they've launched the GS4 and Note 3 in the same time span. Now compare the 32GB 5S for $299 vs. the 32GB Note 3 for $299. Huge difference in technology and capabilities for the same price.

the Note 3 is a mini tablet. Other than a big screen (standard, for mini tablet), tell me of all the wonders that it can do that I need, that the 5S won't do

(I'm not buying either one. Waiting on the 6)

 

[ctone]

So, the 5C and 5S have more LTE bands than the 5. Does that improve anything for someone in the US that doesn't use the phone in other countries?

 

[kruug]

The fact that the product doesn't fit your need doesn't mean it's crap and that they didn't work on it. Where's the RAM spec at?

You're right...I shouldn't assume everyone else has a P&S that already takes just as good (if not better) photos than the 5S, or that people don't want to create a spreadsheet on a 4" touchscreen.

As for the rest of my post, I still stand by it...

The RAM spec is (conveniently) missing from Apple's website...I wonder why they left that off but still felt the need to inform of the fact that "Apple EarPods with Remote and Mic" and "Storage and travel case" are included in the box, as well as what apps you will have right out of the box...

 

[b_scott]

Fingerprint reader? On a consumer-grade phone?

"consumer grade"?

I work at a giant professional company and many people have iPhones. define what is more than "consumer grade" for phones. Considering we're all consumers. Blackberry being "professional"? LOL

 

[KPOM]

64-bit on a device with 1-2 GB of RAM? Wake me up when Apple gets back into the current decade.

M7 - I'm still holding reservations on that.

Fingerprint reader? On a consumer-grade phone?

Improved camera - sorry, I have a better camera than your phone already, don't need that upgrade

iWork - I do, and I get a paycheck for it... (sorry, bad joke). I have Office 2013 (free, thanks to University) and even then, there are plenty of better options out there. Especially when you consider the need (or lack there of) to create a business presentation on a 4" screen.

64-bit is important because of the instruction set, as well. It's a whole new microarchitecture. It's more meaningful than 8 cores on a smartphone. Not many mobile applications can use that many threads.

The fingerprint reader is a big deal for enterprise. Instead of clunky complex passwords companies can require use of the fingerprint scanner.

We'll need to see comparisons of the camera before we pass judgment. It has never been possible to compare cameras based on tech specs. A lousy lens or sensor attached to all the tech specs in the world still puts out lousy images. A high quality lens and sensor attached to average technology can put out above-average images.

 

[Dmunjal]

the Note 3 is a mini tablet. Other than a big screen (standard, for mini tablet), tell me of all the wonders that it can do that I need, that the 5S won't do

(I'm not buying either one. Waiting on the 6)

Just compare the two and see who's trying harder to get my hard earned money?

 

[KPOM]

So, the 5C and 5S have more LTE bands than the 5. Does that improve anything for someone in the US that doesn't use the phone in other countries?

Potentially Verizon iPhone users will be able to insert T-Mobile and AT&T SIMS and access LTE. Right now they can only access 3G ("4G" in T-Mobile/AT&T parlance). That's assuming Verizon is still required to sell them unlocked.

 

[b_scott]

Just compare the two and see who's trying harder to get my hard earned money?

they're not comparable. One is a phablet, one is a phone. The Note is just that - a notebook style, complete with a stylus.

The PS Vita is $199. So is the iPhone 5C/5S. They can both play games and run apps. Does that mean they're the same thing? No.

 

[rgarjr]

This doesnt look a regular Apple Keynote, but one before a long collective vacation...

What's the Hell did Johnny Ive last year ?

Sure makes you wonder what these guys do at work everyday

 

[Giuly]

And Pages, the most beautiful spreadsheet ever written on a mobile device, allows you to create, edit and view documents from anywhere.

Numbers is the best spreadsheet ever designed for a mobile device and allows you to create compelling spreadsheets in just minutes.

Please, make your own joke. I've found that a word processor like Keynote is a great tool for that, which apparently is free now.

 

[karmatourer]

As mentioned earlier,use an alternate body part.

"It's never stored on Apple servers or backed up to iCloud."

Apple, I love you and all...but...

I mean, literally tens of millions of fingerprints on file is just a bit too tempting for law enforcement.

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And $99 for the 16GB 5.

iPhone 4S still available, 8GB model free with two-year contract.

 

[jaymzuk]

Outside of the size of the screen, how exactly has the game been raised to a point where Apple is so far behind in your eyes?

Everything that Apple fanboys held against Android handsets for so very long:

Build quality
Materials
Design
User Experience

My decision when it comes to a phone isn't a 50/50 question of whether I choose an iPhone or one 99 Android handsets. The question I ask of all 100 is 'why is this the best phone for me?'

I last upgraded my handset in May, and I bought a HTC One, primarily for the speakers, which get used a lot, and knowing at the time that the camera was a bit on the weak side.

After today's announcements, I fail to see how the iPhone 5s is practically better in any way than a handset released 6 months ago.

iPhone doesn't compete with Android as some sort of disjointed mess of equally terrible phones as people like to think. Yes there are terrible handsets out there, but there are some really exceptional handsets that can fit people's needs far better than blindly accepting whatever it is that Apple deem fit to furnish you with this year.

 

[robsp2000]

You're right...I shouldn't assume everyone else has a P&S that already takes just as good (if not better) photos than the 5S, or that people don't want to create a spreadsheet on a 4" touchscreen.

As for the rest of my post, I still stand by it...

The RAM spec is (conveniently) missing from Apple's website...I wonder why they left that off but still felt the need to inform of the fact that "Apple EarPods with Remote and Mic" and "Storage and travel case" are included in the box, as well as what apps you will have right out of the box...

So are you walking around all day with your P&S camera in your pocket? I have a Canon 7D and I end taking more photos and catching more moments with my phone than my DSLR. How can't you see that an improved camera is a big deal? What decade are you in that you are lugging around a separate camera? Do you have a separate camcorder too?

----------

Everything that Apple fanboys held against Android handsets for so very long:

Build quality
Materials
Design
User Experience

My decision when it comes to a phone isn't a 50/50 question of whether I choose an iPhone or one 99 Android handsets. The question I ask of all 100 is 'why is this the best phone for me?'

I last upgraded my handset in May, and I bought a HTC One, primarily for the speakers, which get used a lot, and knowing at the time that the camera was a bit on the weak side.

After today's announcements, I fail to see how the iPhone 5s is practically better in any way than a handset released 6 months ago.

iPhone doesn't compete with Android as some sort of disjointed mess of equally terrible phones as people like to think. Yes there are terrible handsets out there, but there are some really exceptional handsets that can fit people's needs far better than blindly accepting whatever it is that Apple deem fit to furnish you with this year.

You bought a phone for it's speakers? Really?

 

[jaymzuk]

So are you walking around all day with your P&S camera in your pocket? I have a Canon 7D and I end taking more photos and catching more moments with my phone than my DSLR. How can't you see that an improved camera is a big deal? What decade are you in that you are lugging around a separate camera? Do you have a separate camcorder too?

----------



You bought a phone for it's speakers? Really?

The speakers were the deciding factor. The vast majority of factors, such as build quality, quality of materials, app availability and overall smoothness of user experience were comparable or the HTC One edged ahead.

Spending a lot of times in hotels, and listening to music, the speaker was a significant difference between the two handsets.

Maybe I'm just ignorant about tech, and speakers aren't important at all, while I should be gravely concerned at the lack of a fingerprint sensor on my handset.

 

[Zellio]

So are you walking around all day with your P&S camera in your pocket? I have a Canon 7D and I end taking more photos and catching more moments with my phone than my DSLR. How can't you see that an improved camera is a big deal? What decade are you in that you are lugging around a separate camera? Do you have a separate camcorder too?

----------



You bought a phone for it's speakers? Really?

The speakers on the HTC One are a HUGE step above everything else. They make gaming, movie watching, everything far better.

----------

The speakers were the deciding factor. The vast majority of factors, such as build quality, quality of materials, app availability and overall smoothness of user experience were comparable or the HTC One edged ahead.

Spending a lot of times in hotels, and listening to music, the speaker was a significant difference between the two handsets.

Maybe I'm just ignorant about tech, and speakers aren't important at all, while I should be gravely concerned at the lack of a fingerprint sensor on my handset.

You shouldn't be concerned about what Apple will be forwarding to the NSA on a daily basis.

 

[robsp2000]

The speakers were the deciding factor. The vast majority of factors, such as build quality, quality of materials, app availability and overall smoothness of user experience were comparable or the HTC One edged ahead.

Spending a lot of times in hotels, and listening to music, the speaker was a significant difference between the two handsets.

Maybe I'm just ignorant about tech, and speakers aren't important at all, while I should be gravely concerned at the lack of a fingerprint sensor on my handset.

Hilarious.

 

[Zellio]

Hilarious.

Reviews were extremely positive about the HTC One's speakers. It's one of the many reasons the HTC One was voted phone of the year by many outlets.

If you like the same old phone every year, go right ahead and buy a new iphone, but don't comment on a phone you obviously have NOT tried.

 

[Rafterman]

True. You just get.64 bit, fingerprint, a brand new OS, iWork, iPhoto, iMovie. Life sucks.

Nope, we get 64 bit and fingerprint for our hard earned money. Everything else we get even if we don't buy a new iPhone. And I already have (and paid for, thanks Apple for making it free now) iWork and iLife. The cost vs. value received is very low (64 bit and fingerprint upgrades cost $400-$800 depending on your situation.