The idea was product differentiation. If they were still selling the iPhone 5, few would buy the 5S, especially if the 5 were still available in 32GB like the 5c is. Visually they look identical, functionally, they are almost identical. By making the 5c, people who can afford the 5S will now be more likely to buy one.
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Tim Cook Sends Email Highlighting iPhone 5s, iPhone 5c and iOS 7 to Employees
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The idea was product differentiation. If they were still selling the iPhone 5, few would buy the 5S, especially if the 5 were still available in 32GB like the 5c is. Visually they look identical, functionally, they are almost identical. By making the 5c, people who can afford the 5S will now be more likely to buy one.
Instead of making the 5S a must-get they downgraded the 5 to "differentiate". I'm really disappointed.
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Pretty much what I was asserting as well.
Not to mention - as this is Production 1.0 - the costs for all the R&D/Manufacturing of the new device can't be ignored.
But they'll make that back in those ridiculously priced cases
First, let me say I'm also a little disappointed.
But I think you have to have a little perspective here. Apple cannot switch their assembly lines every year to come up with something completely different.
This is what cheap plastic is for. It was they first try and they failed with regards to pricing, not features. They'll learn, I hope.
Second, I thing the A7 actually is a big deal. Apple advantage is still tightly coupled hardware and software. THe A7 will deliver features not really obvious and easy to market, but they will help the fluent design of iOS.
I'm sure Apple will improve on visual style and effects, but they need to introduce a powerful platform. This is what they did, even if you (and I) can't see it yet.
Others measure in number of cores and MHz, Apple at least tries to improve on integration.
The only real downer for me is that there was no mention at all regarding new iTunes / Apple TV features. Sharing content between friends, doing sth interesting with Bluetooth LE or similar.
This would not cost much in hardware but would build upon Apple's ecosystem (a word I really do hate).
Oh, and no one would even ask for a 128GB model if they would improve on iCloud services, iTunes and App Store features, because no one would complain wasting their data plan on exciting features.
But as it is right now, all of these services are better handled by Google. They have no taste in design, quality or features but at least are able to handle data.
Be it personal customer data, or offered content.
Having said all that, I will still buy a iPhone 5S, as will most of you even after complaining loudly.
I own the S3, I have seen the S4 and I'm not impressed with the experience.
Hardware of competitors is really equal or better, but I cannot get used to any of those vendor branded phones.
This is for Apple: I;m still in, but my disappointment grows every day. No because of hardware, but because of empty promises.
(No iCloud Moves, TV-Shows here, no 1080p movies to buy, no iTunes Radio as far as I know, no HBO deals or anything)
But I think you have to have a little perspective here. Apple cannot switch their assembly lines every year to come up with something completely different.
This is what cheap plastic is for. It was they first try and they failed with regards to pricing, not features. They'll learn, I hope.
Second, I thing the A7 actually is a big deal. Apple advantage is still tightly coupled hardware and software. THe A7 will deliver features not really obvious and easy to market, but they will help the fluent design of iOS.
I'm sure Apple will improve on visual style and effects, but they need to introduce a powerful platform. This is what they did, even if you (and I) can't see it yet.
Others measure in number of cores and MHz, Apple at least tries to improve on integration.
The only real downer for me is that there was no mention at all regarding new iTunes / Apple TV features. Sharing content between friends, doing sth interesting with Bluetooth LE or similar.
This would not cost much in hardware but would build upon Apple's ecosystem (a word I really do hate).
Oh, and no one would even ask for a 128GB model if they would improve on iCloud services, iTunes and App Store features, because no one would complain wasting their data plan on exciting features.
But as it is right now, all of these services are better handled by Google. They have no taste in design, quality or features but at least are able to handle data.
Be it personal customer data, or offered content.
Having said all that, I will still buy a iPhone 5S, as will most of you even after complaining loudly.
I own the S3, I have seen the S4 and I'm not impressed with the experience.
Hardware of competitors is really equal or better, but I cannot get used to any of those vendor branded phones.
This is for Apple: I;m still in, but my disappointment grows every day. No because of hardware, but because of empty promises.
(No iCloud Moves, TV-Shows here, no 1080p movies to buy, no iTunes Radio as far as I know, no HBO deals or anything)
wow a fingerprint sensor yawwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwn
Another "wow a finger sensor" comment. Yawn
Still too much $
I was waiting, until today, to buy my wife one of the iPhone 5c's. I was expecting a price point of $349 - 399. Once I heard how much they were going to be I went with an Android phone.
I am a big Apple fan. Imac, Iphone for business, Apple TV, Ipad and Ipad Mini. I didn't pay for my phone, but everything else I purchased. I like Apple products alot and prefer IOS to Android. But when I can buy an Unlocked phone for 300 vs 549, well Android will win every time.
I was waiting, until today, to buy my wife one of the iPhone 5c's. I was expecting a price point of $349 - 399. Once I heard how much they were going to be I went with an Android phone.
I am a big Apple fan. Imac, Iphone for business, Apple TV, Ipad and Ipad Mini. I didn't pay for my phone, but everything else I purchased. I like Apple products alot and prefer IOS to Android. But when I can buy an Unlocked phone for 300 vs 549, well Android will win every time.
It was less optimistic than you and expected $499 unlocked since it's Apple, Apple the money maker! But even my guess was wrong, very wrong.
I don't think you have a good grasp on the way Apple does business.
Apple does not pioneer display technologies, or any technologies for that matter. They wait for the technologies to mature, for other manufacturers to make mistakes with them, and then they release a perfected version that simply works. They weren't the first to bring a touchscreen phone with internet access and a media hub, they weren't the first to make a tablet, nor an mp3 player, and they certainly won't be the first to pioneer a display technology that hasn't been proven in the market.
As for the larger display, Steve himself said he never wanted a screen larger than 3.5 inches on the iPhone. The only thing that would make him "spin in his grave" would be a Apple's introduction of a phone with such a large display you could no longer use a single hand to comfortably operate it, which is what you're suggesting.
And I don't know why you're still using iTunes to transfer anything to your phone. I don't remember the last time I plugged my phone into my computer to do anything but upload photos and videos, which I use image capture for, not iTunes. Music, Contacts, Calendars, Apps, Backups are all handled by iCloud pretty seamlessly now.
And please don't forget that Steve was around for the 3S and 4S. Both of those gave us the same phone with internal improvements, faster processors, better graphics, and better cameras. The fingerprint sensor is a big deal, and very well may change the way we deal with authenticating anything and everything on our phones from now on. If Steve is spinning in his grave for anything, it's for the fact that Apple just announced a device which can revolutionize the way we deal with our personal lives on the internet forever.
So how to explain the iPhone 4 326ppi retina display in 2010? Apple did pioneer with this highest PPI/resolution mobile phone screen ever and they didn't wait for the technologies to mature nor for other manufacturers to make mistakes with them. They just did it first.
Good for you for seeing thru the apparent deception, BS and disorted reality that Apple was trying to pull off today.
I have no plans of getting an iphone, but I welcome the choice of colors, as opose to only 2 as have been.
Having said that, who is the child choosing the colors? Give me a Ruby red or a indigo blue phone!
Having said that, who is the child choosing the colors? Give me a Ruby red or a indigo blue phone!
So? That isn't all that uncommon at an iPhone/iOS event unless they talk about services that rely on the Mac or a specific OS version.
That picture from the article equals Steve Jobs' worst nightmare...every single gaffe Steve knew to resist, Apple is now doing.
Sorry, but that image above reminds me of Dell.
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I love Apple...which is why I say...come on, man. I do not care if they had colorful iMacs 15 years ago....15 years ago is dated.
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I really don't know what everyone expected? It's an "S" year. History repeats itself and all the rumors pointed to it. It's just a minor refresh with some "cool" new colors and minor features to expand market share. That's just business everyone. It's no different from from the galaxy S line.
You have options! This is why other companies are doing well, they offer alternate options for you want different. Grass isn't always greener, but for some folks it might be.
You have options! This is why other companies are doing well, they offer alternate options for you want different. Grass isn't always greener, but for some folks it might be.
Oh I agree 100%; if they had to spend time and money on making a new design, it should have been for the high end. They should have just released an iPhone 6 and made the 5 the mid-range product. The tick/tock cycle really isn't appropriate for yearly releases (IMO). At 6 months, fine, but it just doesn't make sense to go 2 years with the same design.
But this is what happens when you're so successful that you don't have to do anything. Happens to just about every company in the same position.
That "S" stuff is not going to work too much longer...minor yearly refresh does not work in today's market.
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Apple is just using up old parts, of which they bought a ****-load of...issues of scale, new to Apple.
This reads like such a self-conscious, ready-for-public-consumption, not-internal-at-all press release. Which is exactly what it is. And it is exactly what Steve Jobs used to do.
How was the 5 downgraded really? All the tech inside is the same or better.
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So what was major about the Galaxy S4?
I couldn't agree more! I hate the "S" year. Following previous years and seeing all the leaks, you just know it's happening again. I actually found myself at 1:30pm EST forgetting the presentation had kicked off.