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The iPhone 4/S is truly iConic

ChrisTX

ChrisTX

macrumors 68030
Original poster
Dec 30, 2009
2,689
55
Texas
Everyone already knows how the original iPhone changed the face of mobile forever. From the initial buttonless design, to the operating system, and the way we interact with our phones. But I think the iPhone 4/S will go down in history as one of the most iconic devices of our time. While the 4S brought mainly internal upgrades, the iPhone 4 was truly revolutionary in every way imaginable.

Retina Display:
It's taken it's competitors this long to "best" the iPhone 4 display in terms of resolution, and pixel density. A truly amazing feat of technology by Apple that no one saw coming.

FaceTime, and the front facing camera:
I saw many people(mainly on forums, twitter, and the blogsphere) claim this feature was a gimmick. Many talked about how phones in Europe have had this feature for years(yet astonishingly no one ever used it!). Now every leading Android, and WP7 smartphone comes with a front facing camera as standard. While limited to Wifi, I think FaceTime has really changed the way a lot of us communicate.

iconic design:
To this day, I can't seem to find another smartphone from anyone else out there whether it's RIM, Samsung, HTC, or Nokia that has a device that is as beautifully crafted, and as aesthetically pleasing as the iPhone 4/S. Many people dogged on it's leaked design, but revered the final product as Steve Jobs began to put the pieces together at WWDC 2010.

I say all of this because when I see the leaked photos of what may or may not be the new iPhone, it just seems like a forced design, and a little bit uninspired. While I trust that Jonathan Ive still has an incredible sense of design, I just feel a little underwhelmed by the pieces of the iPhone puzzle we are seeing at the moment. Seeing the rumored teardrop design that was leaked last year got me really excited about Apple and what's to come again. Here's to hoping the new design, and the new Tim Cook Apple can continue on Steve Jobs legacy as it once was.

Thanks for taking the time to read this little rant of mine. I know some will agree, and some may not. This is just something I've been thinking about since some of these major leaks have begun to surface.
 
ChrisTX said:
when I see the leaked photos of what may or may not be the new iPhone, it just seems like a forced design, and a little bit uninspired.
Click to expand...
x2. It's the curse of being at the top for too long. It happened to RIM and now it's looking like it could happen to the iPhone.
 
except apple doesn't drop a new product every other month like RIM did, and they have a slue of other products that keep their bills paid. Computers, displays, iPods, iPads, other gadgets, likely a TV some time in the future.

If Apple stopped making iPhones today they would still survive as a company. They wouldn't be the king of the mountain, but they would still be a huge, viable company. Could RIM say that at any point?
 
SGMD1 said:
x2. It's the curse of being at the top for too long. It happened to RIM and now it's looking like it could happen to the iPhone.
Click to expand...

I don't think Apple is going the way of RIM by any stretch. I just don't want to see them get too comfortable with the iPhone. I know there's not entirely too much that can change in terms of form and function as much as the original iPhone. But I wan't to be blown away by this new iPhone like I was with the iPhone 4. It really makes holding on to my aging iPhone 4 a little easier knowing the road ahead is uncertain.
 
Last edited:
ChrisTX said:
Apple never ceases to amaze so we will see. All of these leaks make you wonder just how soon we might see this new iPhone.
Click to expand...

I couldn't agree more. Here's to a WWDC launch despite what the naysayers say. Who's to say Apple isn't laughing at some of these people defend a fall release. I am sure they have a plan to work out any conflicts that might arise. I will definitely laugh if a WWDC preview/ launch occurs. Those who didn't expect will be:
1) Shocked
2) hypocrites (if you know what I mean)
3) and eat their own words
 
Last edited:
"iConic"

c6e4e136-fdab-d362.jpg
 
ChrisTX said:
To this day, I can't seem to find another smartphone from anyone else out there whether it's RIM, Samsung, HTC, or Nokia that has a device that is as beautifully crafted, and as aesthetically pleasing as the iPhone 4/S.
Click to expand...

Nokia
nokia-lumia-800-2.jpg


HTC
htc-one-x-press.jpeg




Still, I agree. iPhone 4/4s just took the industry and forced it into a whole new level.
 
Sangdushi said:
Nokia


HTC



Still, I agree. iPhone 4/4s just took the industry and forced it into a whole new level.
Click to expand...

I agree with OP on his points as well. I also agree with your mention of Nokia but I still think the HTC is a bit over the top. Things like Beats Audio are gimmicky and shouldn't be plastered on the outside of the phone. (Though going back to Nokia I don't like that the Lumia 900 has a flat screen as opposed to the curved one.)
 
I still think the iPhone 4/4S design is stunning. In terms of materials used and "feel" nothing comes close to this day.

Yes the Lumia 900 and HTC One X have also stepped up as well. I think just like everything else the 4/4S brought to the table, everyone is now moving toward higher quality materials and a unique "iconic" design language.

The only straggler is Samsung which continues to make plasticy bags of ass that look hideous and feel like somethig made by Fisher Price.
 
I've grown fond of the 4/4S look but I far prefer the Lumia 800, Lumia 900, and the N9. Nokia managed to make something beautiful, simple, but also durable, which is important in a phone.
 
FaceTime hasn't changed anything. You quite rightly pointed out that European phones have had video calling over 3G for a long time.

When in range of a wifi network, you could just as easily use a laptop/netbook with Skype to chat face to face.

Please don't overhype features. FaceTime has changed nothing.

The iPhone 4S design is beautiful, but again I think you're overhyping it by saying it will go down in history! The Nokia Lumia has had shining reviews for its design, as did the N9.
 
I have a htc one x (white) and have had the Nokia, both are lovely "feeling" phones.

Both feel like premium phones and are very tactile. You also don't feel you will break it if you drop them compared to the iPhone which is lovely, but more a design statement than a practical design, and that is its problem for me.

However, my wife would not consider anything else other than the iPhone 4s. She absolutely loves the design, feel, usability.

The software however, regardless of how customisable it is is not as good as iOS. Hence, I have gone back to my iPhone 4s.
 
ChrisTX said:
Everyone already knows how the original iPhone changed the face of mobile forever. From the initial buttonless design, to the operating system, and the way we interact with our phones. But I think the iPhone 4/S will go down in history as one of the most iconic devices of our time. While the 4S brought mainly internal upgrades, the iPhone 4 was truly revolutionary in every way imaginable.
Click to expand...
Your checks's in the mail.

Thanks,
Apple PR
ChrisTX said:
Retina Display:
It's taken it's competitors this long to "best" the iPhone 4 display in terms of resolution, and pixel density. A truly amazing feat of technology by Apple that no one saw coming.
Click to expand...
I have a different take on 'retina: Outside of this forum, I know of no one who gives a rat's petuti about retina and I've worked for two large corporations in the last several years with dozens and dozens of iPhones and Android devices.

I think none of the other manufacturers went 'retina' because they didn't think it was that important either. Again, outside of this forum and tech sites with their magnifying glasses, most people don't know pentile from senile.
ChrisTX said:
FaceTime, and the front facing camera:
I saw many people(mainly on forums, twitter, and the blogsphere) claim this feature was a gimmick. Many talked about how phones in Europe have had this feature for years(yet astonishingly no one ever used it!). Now every leading Android, and WP7 smartphone comes with a front facing camera as standard. While limited to Wifi, I think FaceTime has really changed the way a lot of us communicate.
Click to expand...
Facetime changed nothing. It's cool if your partners also have an iPhone, but please don't over exaggerate. Again, outside of this forum most people still think 'face time' is when you fly out to a customers business so you can talk face to face.
ChrisTX said:
iconic design:
To this day, I can't seem to find another smartphone from anyone else out there whether it's RIM, Samsung, HTC, or Nokia that has a device that is as beautifully crafted, and as aesthetically pleasing as the iPhone 4/S. Many people dogged on it's leaked design, but revered the final product as Steve Jobs began to put the pieces together at WWDC 2010.
Click to expand...
I'll give you the 'iconic' design, but you're completely ignoring phones like the Lumia 900 and the HTC One. iPhone was iconic 2 years ago, but it's showing it's age. Other phones, by far, have bested the iPhone in the looks and feel department.
ChrisTX said:
I say all of this because when I see the leaked photos of what may or may not be the new iPhone, it just seems like a forced design, and a little bit uninspired. While I trust that Jonathan Ive still has an incredible sense of design, I just feel a little underwhelmed by the pieces of the iPhone puzzle we are seeing at the moment.
Click to expand...
Here, you nailed it. If these leaks are what the next iPhone will look like, it's a sad day for Apple and their 'think different' meme.

Those leaks smack of cheap, no imagination and "how much money can we milk out of the current design and people's desire to own anything Apple these days before we're no longer the darlings of the press?"
ChrisTX said:
Seeing the rumored teardrop design that was leaked last year got me really excited about Apple and what's to come again. Here's to hoping the new design, and the new Tim Cook Apple can continue on Steve Jobs legacy as it once was.
Click to expand...
Please, that tear-drop design was the most ridiculous thing ever. Not only would it not sit in a dock and feel awkward in the hand, but it was so thin that you couldn't even fit components inside. Stop the insanity.

An to all the Apple apologists out there saying "how far can you go with a phone design anyway? If Apple never changed the iPhone again for 10 years I'd be perfectly happy". Good for you. You are sadly brainwashed into thinking anything Apple puts out is golden and all you're ever need. But at least Apple loves you.
 
ChrisTX said:
Everyone already knows how the original iPhone changed the face of mobile forever. From the initial buttonless design, to the operating system, and the way we interact with our phones.
Click to expand...

The iPhone's primary influence was to make capacitive screens and finger-friendly UIs the new norm.

Minor quibbles:

I wouldn't call the iPhone buttonless, since it cannot work without its physical faceplate hogging button. Ironically, Windows Mobile touch phones at the time could do everything from their screen, including finding and launching apps and changing volume, even though they came with lots of convenience buttons.

Also, the iPhone didn't cause everyone else to drop their useful back buttons. A back button not only saves screen space, they make it easier to have large screens since your thumb doesn't have to reach the far upper left corner as much.

Retina Display:
It's taken it's competitors this long to "best" the iPhone 4 display in terms of resolution, and pixel density. A truly amazing feat of technology by Apple that no one saw coming.
Click to expand...

Higher res screens were in use long before Apple had one.

Back when the iPhone first went on sale in 2007, you could buy a couple of WM phones with 310 PPI "retina" (they were called "print quality" back then) displays at 800x480 (e.g. Toshiba G900).

By 2009 there were plenty of 285-298PPI phones with WVGA resolution screens, including the Diamond, Diamond2, Touch Pro.

FaceTime, and the front facing camera:
Click to expand...

Video Skype over 3G is more universally usable. Did Apple ever release the Facetime specs as promised, btw?

iconic design:
Click to expand...

Yes it's pretty, although you'll notice that it's not widely copied because it's also not very ergonomic or practical.

One of the main reasons why so many people didn't believe the iPhone 4 leaks was because they thought that Apple would never give up hand-fitting curves and change to a "Zune-like industrial look".
 
Sedrick said:
I'll give you the 'iconic' design, but you're completely ignoring phones like the Lumia 900 and the HTC One. iPhone was iconic 2 years ago, but it's showing it's age. Other phones, by far, have bested the iPhone in the looks and feel department.
Click to expand...

This is the only point I completely disagree on. I think there is much to said when the universal symbol for smartphone, at least in the states, is an iPhone. Look at ads, commercials, etc. It's a silhouette of an iPhone face. That is saying a whole lot right there.
 
The iPhone includes all the features of iPhone but without a contract commitment. You can activate and use it on the supported GSM wireless network of your choice. The unlocked iPhone 4 will not work with CDMA-based carriers.

If you don't want a multiyear service contract or if you prefer to use a local carrier when traveling, the unlocked iPhone 4 is the best choice. It arrives without a micro-SIM card, so you'll need an active micro-SIM card from any supported GSM carrier worldwide. To start using it, simply insert the micro-SIM card into the slot on your iPhone, then follow the onscreen instructions to set up your iPhone.

To know more how to buy:

http://www.techyv.com/questions/it-easier-buy-new-iphone
 
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