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A lower-price iPhone will be the death knell for the iPod touch, which is why Apple might drop the 5S price by such a significant margin.

I think Apple would love to kill off the ipod touch and have everyone on iphones. I think there's more profit in iphones than the ipod touch.
 
I believe the new Apple TV uses the A8
And the iPad mini 4 and 6th gen iPod Touch as well. I meant on the iPhone lineup, which is odd if Apple had so much trust on the chip that they used it for other lineups.
Previous iPhone Ax chips lasted for 3 years.
 
Noooo, 4.7 its not more normal its just that all manufacturers started making bricks all at once copying each other for a fad or something new but after a while you have to realize that large brick phones are not normal and user friendly. Normal Phones are those 4" and below screens as they are easy to use, light, can hold with one hand, hardly feel it in my pocket etc etc...I'm not going to be like sheep and pretend I like brick phones juts because someone else likes it or pretends to like it because they feel afraid to be with normal phone sizes of some reason. But, if someone likes gigantic phones it don't bother me but it looks kind of crazy funny (I know as I had Note 2 once bought it cause I thought I will read novels and such on it--ha, ha didn't happen plus after few months became a pain to carry and use more of a nuisance and was very happy when it stopped working after one year)...
4.7 (or 4.3 or such) might be ok if it had no bezels all around not just top and bottom

Just because you don't like what is normal doesn't mean it isn't. Most people have larger screened phones. They've become standard now. AKA "normal" There was a time where it wasn't normal to even have a smartphone. Now it's normal to have one. It used to be normal to have a 4 inch or less phone, now it's normal for people to have 4.5-5 inch phones. Less normal for people to have them smaller than that and less normal for them to be bigger. I'm not arguing that a 4 inch device would obviously be suitable to a lot of people who favor portability but just that the market has moved away from ultraportability and to larger screen real estate.

There is nothing normal by attaching a brick to your face (5" plus phones) while you talking :D

Except that a lot of people do. It's not weird to see people with them. That's kind of what normal means, that it's standard or not out of the ordinary. And it's not out of the ordinary to see that.
 
Doesn't have to be exactly 4 inches, but the Moto G (1st gen), Lumia 635, Sony Z5 compact to name a few. Heck look at ZTE, Huawei, Alcatel for better value devices with similar or better specs. 4" is an outdated screen size for the most part. It's pathetic that the Apple fanboys will take this overpriced device and claim it's a godsend. Open your eyes and notice you're getting ripped off.

Geez...why can't people like what they like or want what they want? Just because you don't want a small phone doesn't mean everyone else shouldn't want one neither.
 
You sound like you're in a dysfunctional relationship, where you believe you are "with" a multinational technology behemoth.

Nope, I've just been a customer for a LONG time, and their products have greatly enhanced my life and work... and I'd hate to see that be lost in the future because the bean-counters have taken over the company.

If Apple fundamentally changes (which they seem to be), where do I go? So, whether it has any effect or not, I have to try.

Never said it was fine for Apple to start anywhere. Wasn't necessarily defending the 16 is OK. Only stating my personal use was sufficient for me at this point in time, don't see where I am 'self-included'.
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For anything to change, people will need to speak with their wallet. Don't see that happening anytime soon.

citysnaps said:
"It's because a large number of iPhone purchasers don't take lots of videos, store music, need a lot of apps. etc. As a result, 16GB for that segment is fine. If your needs are greater simply purchase one with more memory."

You said:
This is so true. ... My primary use for my phone is ...uh..a phone, quick email reads and a GPS device for my work travels.

Which isn't what I (we) have been arguing. Of course some people can make it work, that's not the point.

re: 'speak with their wallets' - By the time you're able to see that with certainty, it will be too late.

I'm so tired of the 16GB angst. Apple makes a phone with more storage. Buy it. Stop crying.

You people sound like the most self absorbed, self entitled, self appointed marketing gurus... ... Why does the 32GB argument make any more sense...

Because 32GB is more in line with *cheaper* competition (ie: it's the industry-wide starting point), and it's the point at which a typical user won't have a bad user-experience and feel cheated by Apple for selling them a premium product with sub-par storage.

What I do feel they need to double on is discoverability. So many new features in iOS are made so obscure that I would probably never have realised they were there if I hadn't read about it on some blog. ...the multitasking menu has been revamped multiple times, which suggests...

Which suggest that the current designers are kinda clueless...
http://www.fastcodesign.com/3053406/how-apple-is-giving-design-a-bad-name

The current problem with Apple is much deeper than profit-over-UX from the bean-counters, more bugs, and goofy graphics. It's kind of a rot to the core (pardon the pun).

When they offer 32 gb baseline at the same price as current 16gb, they loose lots of sales of the 64gb model. asp will fall, revenue , margins and profits will drop.

Maybe they should start at 8GB then? That way, they could charge $100 more for 16GB. If they added a 32GB back in, they could go another $100 for that, then another $100 for 64GB. My gosh, they'd blow away the estimates then, huh? *sheesh!*

The point is that 32GB is now the norm, and it's the point at which most users wouldn't feel horribly cramped and possibly have a bad user-experience. Happy users... more users... Apple does better.

Ahh, but that will impact the 64GB sales. Sure will. But happy users are worth more than a $100 up-sell in the long-term. And, they could solve it by moving the line to 32/64GB, 128GB, 256GB. Problem solved!

You're absolutely right in what you're saying in terms of short-term, industry analyst, bean-counter, stock-market type thinking. And, where has that gotten most US companies? I don't want Apple to be like most companies, and the stock market is a joke. They didn't get where they are that way.

...there are millions of people wanting a 16gb and don' t need the 32gb, and they will demand a 16gb model ... There will be a time that 16gb base won' t cut it anymore for the non power user.

Yea, I think that was like 2014 or before. And, if 32GB were the base, I'm almost 100% certain no one would be demanding a 16GB model.

They have to reverse declining iPad and Mac sales by developing hybrids.
They have to speed up development of the Apple TV and offer more advanced hw to get it up to ps4, Xbox one standards and stimulating content for cable cutters.
They have to release a great update for the Apple Watch, which could be the next blockbuster.
They have tospeed up AR/VR development, and bring something more than a strap on your head iPhone the next 2 years.

Wow, are you sure you aren't some top tech industry 'analyst'? This is the kind of stuff that will spell failure for sure, so I sure HOPE Apple isn't going there!

iPad/Mac hybrid = M$ Surface (how many decades has M$ been failing in mobile and tablets???)
Apple TV - content, yes... but compete in the console market? OK
Apple Watch - Let me know when that becomes a big-seller, heh.
VR - Yea, I guess I can see you walking down the street with a goofy thing strapped to your forehead. ;) Do you, by chance, have Google Glass too?

Yea, this was the kind of advice Apple got that lead to the 'dark years' before Jobs returned. The clown-CEOs during those years listened to it... Jobs didn't.

The outlook isn' t that dark...
Every year, Apple was doomed, and after, they always came out on top...

Yep, and that's what I said too since the late 80s up until a year or so ago. Now, I'm pretty convinced the 'new' Apple isn't like the 'Jobs' Apple anymore, sadly. It will take several years before it has much, if any impact, just from brand momentum.

I would argue that 4.7 is more of a "normal" screen size than 4 is. ... but I think people need to accept the fact that what was "normal" 4 years ago isn't the same now. ... My hope for the future of the 4 inch model is they keep it on par with the other sizes. I really think keeping them all the same (as close as possible feature wise) and just giving people the choice of screen size without compromise is the best route.

Normal for a phone, or normal as in what the majority have/use? I guess my argument is that the 4" is more normal for the size of a phone (maybe even a bit big), but that for other reasons, people have started preferring bigger-than-normal sized mobile devices which also double as a phone.

But, IMO, phone size should be driven by use-case, not what's popular. And, I agree that there is a need for all the sizes (within reason). So yes, roughly the size of the 4", 4.7" and 5.5" are pretty good as far as current case dimensions. The more screen they can put into those package sizes, the better.

The 5.5" seems to actually be about 10% of the market, if I remember, so my guess is that if the 4" is on-par hardware-wise, it might be about 30%, leaving 60% for the 4.7" So, yes, the 4.7" is the most popular, but I'll bet the 4" outsells the 5.5". And, I don't think that's just due to cost.

A decrease in iPhone sales quarter, if it happens, doesn't mean "Rome is burning" either.

No, but it's just the tip of the iceberg... more like a symptom of the problem, and one of MANY.

It's one thing when you have the typical 'industry experts' predicting doom and gloom for Apple (that's been happening since the early 90s), or the ever-silly stock market. But now, it's people like me - very long term Apple evangelists - who have recognized a massive shiift in how Apple is operating, right down to core principals, and we're sounding the alarm.

If you say it enough times, that apples growth will slow, eventually you will be right. The same things have been said since the iphone 4.

Heh, it's been happing since LONG before that! But, it's a different group of people this time saying it. (Well, along with the typical 'industry experts' and stock market... but for very different reasons. In other words, the day-traders might be right this time, but not for the right reasons.)

My mom has the iPad 2. It still runs pretty well for her needs, and at 16GB, is far from full.
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But, buyer beware. Apple or no, the customer needs to take more responsibility in their purchasing decisions. It's just common sense higher quality photos and videos are going to take up more storage.
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If your point is simply Apple is being greedy by not offering more when they could without a significant hit to their margins, well no argument there. But anyone who's been buying Apple for any length of time knows that's always been the case. I'm not sure "greed" is the right word, but certainly preservation of their margins.

I have an iPad 2 as well, and while the latest iOS 9 has helped quite a bit overall, it's still quite sluggish. But, the big problem is keyboard input... it's too laggy to be productive anymore. It was completely find on iOS 7.

And, that's not great, but hey, the iPad 2 is quite old now. The problem is more with models like the iPad mini, which Apple was *still* selling when iOS 8 came out. My fear is that it's going to be a similar story for anything with 1GB RAM with the next iOS release or two.

And, it used to not be such a 'buyer beware' thing with Apple. Yes, they might have typically been a bit short on RAM for the base model, but you could just open the slot and stuff more in. You can't do that anymore, but Apple is still playing the same strategy. Back then, it was a mild irritation, now it's a big problem.

I don't care what we call it... I call it stupid. Putting profit and marketing tactics over user-experience is a great way to start Apple's fall.

Let's keep antiquated ideas alive because people don't move with the times.

Can you please explain the link between screen size and 'antiquated ideas'??? Apparently, I've been under this crazy impression that screen size is more related to use-case, than fashion.
 
These arguments are just silly. Buy what works for you and let everyone else do the same. All the name calling and trying to make people feel bad for not liking the same thing as yourself is just childish. So we all like different devices. No need to sound like a fanatic trying to push an agenda. By the logic expressed here, we should all drive the same size cars too.
 
Please don't stop me from ordering a 2.5-3" screen phone because I need a blackberry curve with the latest specs.

nviz22's is of the opinion that his opinion is to be treated as a fact and the laughable assertion that smaller screens are "outdated" because he says so speaks for itself.
 
So what's the deal? Locked into a 2 year carrier contract? Unlimited replacement phones for $48, or is there a limit?

It's an AT&T Go Phone that can also be used with Tracfone. But if you request it unlocked before activating it, you will get an unlock code in about 2 days. The phone is $48 outright on Amazon and Tracfone sends you their own SIM. If you broke it, you can just move the SIM to a new phone (it doesn't have to be unlocked even to use with Tracphone since they use AT&T's lines).

I'm assuming it runs all of the Microsoft Office apps, so that takes care of the business side. But will it run Netflix, & HBO-GO apps? what kind of video streaming does it support? Obviously not TV, but chrome cast? Does it support Drop Box, Amazon Prime, GMail, Facebook, eBay, Spotify, iTunes, Starbucks, New York Times?

There's a Netflix App. I read there's an HBO Go app for Romania's app store so perhaps it's in the works or there's an exclusive license at the moment (I don't have HBO so I don't really care, personally, but I read you can view it through the web browser; Windows Phone does support FLASH, unlike iOS) and I don't believe there is an Amazon Prime app viewer either (none on the new Apple TV that I know of either; personally I watch this and Netflix at home anyway not on my phone as to save data and small screens suck anyway. I load my own movies on the phone if I really need to watch something on a plane, etc. and with 200GB of storage, it's not hard to load a LOT on there).

I see Facebook (some complain it's not as good as iOS version, though; I don't use Facebook so I don't care) and New York Times Apps and an official eBay App and DropBox as well plus Spotify is there too. I don't think Google supports "apps" for Windows Phones (against their own interests), but my Gmail account works fine with the phone's own email. There's a 3rd party Starbucks App "MY Bucks" that will let you order/pay for Starbucks with the phone.iTunes obviously doesn't work (Apple doesn't support apps on Windows phone devices), although many things may change with Windows 10 and the new iOS Bridge developer software being finished up. Win32 apps will be able to be converted as well in the future (convert Win32 iTunes to phone?). I've got a 3rd party YouTube viewer (Tube Pro) that works great. 3rd party apps cover quite a few things, really. I personally haven't found any huge app gaps I'm missing, but then I don't spend my life on my phone either.

As for streaming, Windows phones uses Miracast (which is supposed to be the "standard", but Apple and Google refuse to support standards, it seems). It's supposed to work with Amazon's FireTV, but I haven't had any luck with it (don't really need it, though since I have my local network streamed through Kodi anyway so all I need is a Kodi Remote. I suppose it would be helpful to stream videos you took with the phone right away. The problem is Amazon's not-standard Miracast support, of course. You can get a Miracast adapter (like Chromecast) for like $35 or something, though.


Enjoy your DOA operative system then....
I was a big Windows Phone supporter. Now I know I just wasted a lot of money : Microsoft can't design a mobile OS...

How is it dead on arrival? The phone will have an upgrade to Windows 10 Mobile very soon. Try to get an OS upgrade on 90% of Android phones. You're fracked with just about everything save Nexus. Frankly, I have NO IDEA WTF you're talking about when it comes to that comment about not being able to design a mobile OS. I actually prefer the Live Tile layout . and system for the most part over iOS (I can fit ALL my most used apps onto the main page easily and alter sizes and categories to fit or easily view an alphabetical list or search with a left swipe. Apps close just as easily as an iPhone (hold <- and then swipe them down to close OR press the "X" button t close them, which is more options than iOS).

I used to like iOS, but since Jony Ive got his mitts on the thing, it looks like some kindergarten reject pile with that god-awful WHITE interface everywhere with funky colors galore (Windows 8.1 Mobile default is DARK MODE and it looks GREAT on a phone. Their preference pane could use some work and the XBox media player isn't great (plenty of 3rd party and other utilities to use something else, though; ALL my Mac and non-Mac media files play, though and I cannot say that of iOS without 3rd party software). The iOS music playler is HORRIFIC to work with now. It used to be a nice thoughtful layout with a dark look. Now it's blinding white with artist/album control on a "scrolling" screen instead of the bottom so they can PUSH that Apple music crap instead at the bottom and redundant play controls and having to swipe up to see the full music player view and moving Airplay onto a full system swipe instead of having it right there to click on next to the volume control? THAT SUCKS. iOS is going to Hell. Windows Phone appears to be working hard to make it better not worse.

I can see choosing an Android phone. They're more reasonably priced than iPhones and have a ton of Apps, but you can't get what the Lumia 640 offers for under $300 even on Android. I've got better things to do with my money. I'm not going to play Borderlands 2 on this phone, after all. It's just a mobile device. It's not worth $750 to do crap that's best done on a home computer or console anyway (e.g. gaming). People are worried about Snapchat? I think most people should get a real social life and they'll find there's more to life than things like Facebook and Snapchat. You couldn't pay me to use Facebook or Snapchat.
 
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I don't care so much about the cost, but otherwise, it's sounding nearly perfect.... IF it has 2GB of RAM.

I think, though, that to keep selling the 5s at a reduced price is a mistake. That phone will very likely be obsolete (or may as well be) with the next couple of iOS updates. It's not a good deal if it doesn't work well or provide a good user experience. Apple is making way too many poor user experiences these days.

Sir, you're misunderstanding something completely here! It's not about "user experience" anymore. Apple couldn't care less about that! It's about "cash experience" for their shareholders!

So as long as there are people out there spending their cash on outdated hardware - sell the ************!
 
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Well clearly Apple is all hands on deck on 4.7"+ screened phones. Those who are going for the lesser iPhone is probably not going to care about 3D touch anyway. For the Apple fanboy who wants the latest and greatest, nothing to see here.
 
Tim Cook has stated that 60% of the installed iPhone customers are using a 4" or smaller. How do you explain that when only a small percentage of those customers account for those still under a contract purchase, especially when all of the carriers have provided a means to convert from contracts under their new payment plans to upgrade customers faster?

They probably just don't have the money or don't really know there is a larger iPhone. I didn't say Apple shouldn't make one, but 4" is just too small unless you have midget hands.
 
I used to like iOS, but since Jony Ive got his mitts on the thing, it looks like some kindergarten reject pile with that god-awful WHITE interface everywhere with funky colors galore ... The iOS music playler is HORRIFIC to work with now. It used to be a nice thoughtful layout with a dark look. Now it's blinding white with artist/album control on a "scrolling" screen... iOS is going to Hell.

Tell us how you feel! :D Yea, I mostly agree. Flat design has it's reasons (mostly to push towards light-weight and 'responsive' Web sites), but Apple's implementation of it is pretty poor, and how they've thought out the UI aspects are even worse. It's so sad when UI/UX used to be the hallmark of Apple.

Sir, you're misunderstanding something completely here! It's not about "user experience" anymore. Apple couldn't care less about that! It's about "cash experience" for their shareholders!

Yep, and that's what I've been shouting about and afraid of for some time now... and it's being confirmed more every day. And, if that's the case, sell any AAPL you have and start looking at other platforms. Apple won't be gone today or tomorrow, but they eventually will be (or, just an average, insignificant player, with no good reason anymore to use their stuff). We'll just have to start guessing about when.

When Steve died, and everyone said, well, that's it for Apple, I didn't buy it. I thought surely Steve, as they say, built some of his ways into the DNA of Apple. He would have picked a good successor, etc. And, I think at the time, the people saying it didn't have a clue what they were talking about, they just thought Steve wouldn't be there to dream up the 'next big thing.' So, I disagreed.

What I didn't see coming, is that once Steve was gone, a bunch of the typical 'industry expert & business' types would instantly start transforming Apple back into what Steve saved it from. It's almost mind-shattering that these folks can so quickly ruin the world's most valuable company, because they don't understand some basic business principals and Econ 101 (which apparently, they don't teach at business school anymore, or I suppose, teach incorrectly). (My gosh, I've only had a single - albeit Master's level seminar course taught by a prof who was the head economist at a major London firm and setup a couple countries' EU entrances - on economics in grad school and I can see these problems from miles away!)
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They probably just don't have the money or don't really know there is a larger iPhone. I didn't say Apple shouldn't make one, but 4" is just too small unless you have midget hands.

Or, they actually have other computing devices, and want a phone-sized-phone instead of a phablet. Methinks you might be a bit too influenced by your dashboard. ;)
 
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16 or 64....? Interesting that it's not 16 or 32. Surely Apple can get 32gb parts cheaper than 64gb. Or maybe Apple thinks 32gb isn't enough these days... Lol. Imagine the outcry among consumers if the most expensive SE model can't store more pictures, music or apps (my 32gb 5S is already running out of space...).

But then again, introducing 32gb model would somewhat complicate things for other iPhone models... Consumers would be puzzled over the fact that more expensive iPhone 6S is not available with 32gb...
 
I don't really see potential for this phone, premium pricing with tiny screen. Hope at least that the design will be something spectacular.
Well I was going to get one of these because I prefer small, compact phones but don't want to compromise on high end specifications.

In the end though, I decided to get the Galaxy S7, despite it being much bigger, just because the camera is so impressive compared to the iPhone 6S camera.

I'm sure there are other people like me who want small, yet premium phones, so I think this mini iPhone will sell really well :)
 
16 or 64....? Interesting that it's not 16 or 32. Surely Apple can get 32gb parts cheaper than 64gb. Or maybe Apple thinks 32gb isn't enough these days... Lol. Imagine the outcry among consumers if the most expensive SE model can't store more pictures, music or apps (my 32gb 5S is already running out of space...).

But then again, introducing 32gb model would somewhat complicate things for other iPhone models... Consumers would be puzzled over the fact that more expensive iPhone 6S is not available with 32gb...

I have 128Gb 6S Plus, whatever I install, shoot video or put music in, the beast is never full. Never. Actually I ran out of ideas of what to install into that phone. With all my fantasy I have used only 26Gb and have 87GB left unused.
 
I think Apple would love to kill off the ipod touch and have everyone on iphones. I think there's more profit in iphones than the ipod touch.
People who are buying an iPod Touch are doing it for a reason. Like money. Apple can't just say "we killed off the iPod Touch, pay as three times as much, plus a phone contract". Just because Apple says that won't make people do it.
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They probably just don't have the money or don't really know there is a larger iPhone. I didn't say Apple shouldn't make one, but 4" is just too small unless you have midget hands.

I'll just assume that I have more money than you, and I certainly know the sizes of various phones, nobody has ever complained about the size of my hands (can _you_ play a tenth on the piano?), and I want a 4" iPhone. I don't want a tablet or a tablet sized phone, I have a real computer for that.
 
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They probably just don't have the money or don't really know there is a larger iPhone. I didn't say Apple shouldn't make one, but 4" is just too small unless you have midget hands.

I find it very unlikely that any one who owns a 4" or smaller iPhone is not aware that there is a larger iPhone available.

Isn't it interesting that just two years ago, 4" was a perfectly acceptable mobile phone size that no one complained about being too small, and yet Apple sold hundreds of millions of them? And I'm pretty sure that most of those weren't sold just to people with "midget hands". So either you're wrong, or the "midget hands" population has grown substantially over the last two years.
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People who are buying an iPod Touch are doing it for a reason. Like money. Apple can't just say "we killed off the iPod Touch, pay as three times as much, plus a phone contract". Just because Apple says that won't make people do it.

Apple could do that if they turn the 5s into something more like the iPad model, in which LTE is an option which the user can chose to activate and deactivate without penalty any time it suits them. In which case, then yes, just add a cellular radio to the iPod Touch, bump the price up marginally, and replace the existing model.

I find this fiction that Apple plays with the iPads that they can't be used for phones, and iPhone's for iPads/iPods, interesting to say the least. There's absolutely nothing limiting an cellular equipped iPad from being used like a phone. And there's no reason iPhones shouldn't be able to be used as cellular iPads. The distinction is one is assigned a public number, the other isn't, but it's all the same in the end, just different arbitrary rules.
 
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I have 128Gb 6S Plus, whatever I install, shoot video or put music in, the beast is never full. Never. Actually I ran out of ideas of what to install into that phone. With all my fantasy I have used only 26Gb and have 87GB left unused.

I've noticed the same with my devices or others I know. Somewhere between 16GB and 32Gb seems to be that sweet-spot I've noticed most often. Apple knows that too, which is why the low model stays at 16GB. It's all about the up-sell.

People who are buying an iPod Touch are doing it for a reason. Like money. Apple can't just say "we killed off the iPod Touch, pay as three times as much, plus a phone contract". Just because Apple says that won't make people do it.

Yes, there is totally a place for the iPod touch in the product line. It's similar (though a gen behind) hardware as the phone for 1/4 to 1/3 the price, just without the phone AND especially without an insanely expensive contract. Some people like it for that reason (like me), while others want them for the kids, etc. who don't need the phone part.

I'm really fighting the idea of having to pay the crazy telco fees, but I'm also getting sick of carrying two devices (iPod touch & dumb-phone). So, convenience is probably going to finally win out over principal for me... if Apple does indeed make a competent 4" iPhone again.
 
Yes, there is totally a place for the iPod touch in the product line. It's similar (though a gen behind) hardware as the phone for 1/4 to 1/3 the price, just without the phone AND especially without an insanely expensive contract. Some people like it for that reason (like me), while others want them for the kids, etc. who don't need the phone part.

It's that expensive contract which is the problem and as I pointed out myself, totally unnecessary and arbitrarily applied to Apple's iOS devices. There is absolutely a place for being able to give a child a device capable of cellular communication which could be turned on like an iPad's cellular radio, giving that child a means to communicate under certain circumstances, especially if Apple adds that radio for cost, and the carries offer the same kinds of plans as they do for the iPads.

I'm really fighting the idea of having to pay the crazy telco fees, but I'm also getting sick of carrying two devices (iPod touch & dumb-phone). So, convenience is probably going to finally win out over principal for me... if Apple does indeed make a competent 4" iPhone again.

I'm as big a 4" advocate as there is, but even I would have upgraded to a 6S before I felt the need to carry two devices. I'm using my 5s, and was fully prepared to continue using it until Apple finally offered a new 4" phone, and in the absence of which eventually, and grudgingly upgrade to the next smallest-sized phone.
 
It's that expensive contract which is the problem and as I pointed out myself, totally unnecessary and arbitrarily applied to Apple's iOS devices.

Yes, that's why I like the idea of just buying it outright, unlocked... so the moment I'm able to switch to a cheaper plan (assuming we ever get any competition in the market... especially here in Canada!) I'd be able to. The prices they charge are kind of insane. The only good thing about them, is I can use it for a comparison point when talking to clients about website hosting... I say, people pay $100 for their TV viewing, or $100 for their cell phone plan (or for each employee's cell phone), so should you expect to get good website hosting for $3.99/mo??? (The answer, BTW, is no. :) )

I'm as big a 4" advocate as there is, but even I would have upgraded to a 6S before I felt the need to carry two devices. I'm using my 5s, and was fully prepared to continue using it until Apple finally offered a new 4" phone, and in the absence of which eventually, and grudgingly upgrade to the next smallest-sized phone.

Yea, when I moved to Canada for grad school, I just didn't need a smart-phone for business, so I just got a tiny pocket flip-phone for cheap and a $10/mo plan. It's served me well as I just don't make many phone calls on it... but I've got to carry it along. But, now I'm starting to need one more, but didn't want to buy a 5s considering Apple's iOS trajectory.

So, I think the time has finally come... and am hoping this new 4" is a viable option. I could make a 6s work, but I really don't like them.
 
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