Does it really matter what colour your phone is? If it bothers you so much why don't you pick up a decent quality white skin for $25 and problem solved!
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White iPhone 4 vs. iPhone 5
- Thread starter jameslikeness
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Has anybody concidered the possibility of iPhone 5 NOT arriving in June/July? Everyone thought the iPad 2 would be announced a year after the first one (January), and now it's February.
Apple has just released the CDMA version, the white one is on its way, and Apples biggest iPhone issue for the moment is insufficient production capacity. The only thing pointing towards a summer release of an iPhone 5 so far is history, and how much is history worth when it comes to predicting new gadgets?
Apple has just released the CDMA version, the white one is on its way, and Apples biggest iPhone issue for the moment is insufficient production capacity. The only thing pointing towards a summer release of an iPhone 5 so far is history, and how much is history worth when it comes to predicting new gadgets?
That's awfully judgemental.
The precedent set by the 2G -> 3G -> 3GS suggests that the next refresh will be a mid-cycle update, not a revolutionary new product. The iPhone 4 is the first total redesign of the phone... what evidence do you have to say that the 2011 update will be another complete redesign so soon on the heels of the 4?
OTOH, logic and economics dictates one or two refreshes off the current design before they release another complete redesign. I doubt Apple put so much energy into the 4's design only to change direction completely a year later. In fact, if they were planning on changing the design completely in 2011, why would they have invested the time and effort to make a CDMA version? That by itself suggests that the iPhone 4 is here to stay for at least a while, with relatively minor bumps and tweaks.
But hey, why let logic get in the way of judging others?
Wrong.
If you believe that Apple will not provide a major upgrade then you are unaware of the economics of competition.
Times have changed since the 3G and 3GS upgrade. Apple can't afford to take it easy anymore because Android is eating up the market. It's not a 3G -> 3GS pattern anymore.
Look at the latest Nielsen data if you're still confused. 2009 and 2011 are completely different.
If Apple does in fact decide to take the 3G to 3GS trend, then they will lose the battle to Android.
Btw, read around, there have been many sources like Engadget who say that the next iPhone will be a total redesign. Especially after the horrible coverage of the antenna issue.
Regarding the OP's main question.
I would say wait it out for a few more months and you won't be disappointed. An iPhone 5 or whatever the next iPhone will be called is inevitable.
Possibly, it might arrive in August. Who knows? But it will be absolute stupidity for Apple not to release a new iPhone around summer time.
I don't know who thought the iPad 2 would be announced January or February. The original iPad was released in April, so we can predict for a similar release date for the iPad 2.
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I'm using my iPhone 4 until the 5 is released.
Hopefully it will have a larger display, that's the only thing I dislike about my current model.
The 3.5" was great on my earlier iPhones, but now after using my Droid X with it's 4.3" display I'm completely happy with it.
Hopefully it will have a larger display, that's the only thing I dislike about my current model.
The 3.5" was great on my earlier iPhones, but now after using my Droid X with it's 4.3" display I'm completely happy with it.
The notion that Apple only updates the iPhone "seriously" every other year is insane. Every new iteration of the iPhone has brought about a fundamental change in the internal hardware of the device. 3G was a major step. The 3GS is vastly superior to the 3G. The iPhone 4 has a lot of hardware improvements over the iPhone 3GS.
If I were to speculate anything on the future of the iPhone, it would be that the 2012 iPhone will be the most likely "let-down" iPhone because the major draw will be 4G speeds, and that might be just about it.
The phone coming this summer will almost surely be dual-core. That is a major step. And I highly doubt the 2012 iPhone will be quad-core; but quad-core will probably come in 2013, and that would support a major redesign of the device, presumably. This would be the time to increase screen size, not 2012.
So, I suspect the next "major" iPhone will be the 2013 phone. Of the two updates between now and then, I suspect the 2011 phone will be the more worthwhile purchase because it will probably be the first Apple world phone (both CDMA and GSM), the first with NFC technology, and will probably incorporate some kind of fix for the antenna.
If I were to speculate anything on the future of the iPhone, it would be that the 2012 iPhone will be the most likely "let-down" iPhone because the major draw will be 4G speeds, and that might be just about it.
The phone coming this summer will almost surely be dual-core. That is a major step. And I highly doubt the 2012 iPhone will be quad-core; but quad-core will probably come in 2013, and that would support a major redesign of the device, presumably. This would be the time to increase screen size, not 2012.
So, I suspect the next "major" iPhone will be the 2013 phone. Of the two updates between now and then, I suspect the 2011 phone will be the more worthwhile purchase because it will probably be the first Apple world phone (both CDMA and GSM), the first with NFC technology, and will probably incorporate some kind of fix for the antenna.
10m + new customers on Verizon just before a new phone!
How would Apple introduce millions of new customers to the iPhone, many of whom waited years for it to be on Verizon, then release a newer cooler iphone 5 only 4-5 months later? It's worse than the initial iPhone launch when they dropped the price $200 and gave out iTunes gift cards as apologies.
The antennae issue is a big enough problem for Apple to do a complete redesign, but they just spent millions giving out free bumper cases.
I think iPhone 5 won't be until 2012. This summer there may be a speed/storage bump but, 2012 should see LTE and a complete redesign for the new antennae requirements.
How would Apple introduce millions of new customers to the iPhone, many of whom waited years for it to be on Verizon, then release a newer cooler iphone 5 only 4-5 months later? It's worse than the initial iPhone launch when they dropped the price $200 and gave out iTunes gift cards as apologies.
The antennae issue is a big enough problem for Apple to do a complete redesign, but they just spent millions giving out free bumper cases.
I think iPhone 5 won't be until 2012. This summer there may be a speed/storage bump but, 2012 should see LTE and a complete redesign for the new antennae requirements.
I understand the economics of competition. What you don't understand is that for most consumers, the smartphone buying decision doesn't come down to processor count or MHz.
Most consumers, and in particular the consumers Apple is interested in, just want a phone that makes call, retrieves their email, and gets them on the web. They want to be able to check Facebook, use neat apps, and listen to music.
They don't care if the phone has 1 core or 20. They don't care if it includes an optional laptop dock. They just care that it does what it's supposed to, without any hassle.
The group who thinks that a phone's worth is determined by specs alone is small. I guarantee the Motorola Atrix will not outsell the iPhone, even though on paper it's a way better phone. Specs are a very small part of buying a phone.
Point is, Apple doesn't need to obsessively stalk the competition to sell phones. They'll do just fine keeping to what they do best.
I agree, I'm not only talking about processor count or Mhz. The smartphone buying decision does depend on those simple tasks that you stated.
Sure everyone will buy the iPhone. But when their buddy has a phone which can play 1080p videos, has a bigger screen, powerful notification system, widgets, amazing graphics, great battery, etc. I'm sure they'll jump ship. Why? Because your buddy's phone can now do the little tasks you stated, in a much better way.
That is what Apple can't allow, and is what they will be working on simultaneously due to the spec upgrade.
Again, stats prove that Android is the one to beat, and thus Apple has to step up it's game regardless. I think that a speed bump only would be pointless for the next upgrade, Apple can't afford to lose to Android.
I agree the Atrix won't outsell the iPhone, but the Android competition is there.
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1080p... when you can't visible discern the difference on anything smaller than a ~40" screen.
Bigger screen... which makes the phone physically bigger.
Better notification system... which goes right over the heads of most users.
Widgets... graphics... same thing.
You're still missing the point, which is that the average consumer doesn't care about those things. People on forums like this do. But the average consumer doesn't.
If you think that Android outsells iPhone because it comes on better specced phones, take a look at Android market share outside of the USA. Look at Android market share in countries where the iPhone has been widely available, instead of locked to one carrier. Watch what happens to Android market share in the US now that the Verizon iPhone is available.
Android is not winning the market share war because it comes on better specced phones. It's winning because it's more widely available, on a wider variety of handsets, on a wider variety of carriers. Simply put, it's more available.
1080p, notification, widgets, bigger screen etc. were just examples. Yes, at the end it comes down to preference.
oh for sure, i definitely agree that it's only because of the availability of the Android phones which is leading them in market share.
Regardless, there are consumers like on this board who are looking forward to that brand new spec'd iPhone. I just don't feel like a subtle update will suffice anymore. Apple is also taking a crack at the Enterprise market too.
As someone previously posted, a "major" update might be different for many people. I would see a Dual Core in the iPhone 5 as the only upgrade very "major" others might not.
really? i thought it was....anyways....what i meant was she is deciding on white iPhone 4 or waiting until the 5...
Suffice for who? People on forums like these? Apple doesn't care about the tiny minority on forums like these... Even a modest update the iPhone relatively competitive will keep consumers buying it.
People on this forum would buy the iPhone 5 even if it was the SAME exact phone as the iPhone 4, just apple named it the 5 this summer.
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The design of the original iPhone lasted only a year; It probably had the greatest R&D time invested in it than any other iPhone. That fact pretty much invalidates your point.
Better technology....better paintjob.
Decisions are hard.
Wait for the next iPhone. You've stuck it out this long. If you don't like the color, you can throw it in a case.
Decisions are hard.
Wait for the next iPhone. You've stuck it out this long. If you don't like the color, you can throw it in a case.
Suffice for the general consumer.
Apple does indeed care, they need to, because again their competitors are neck in neck with them.
Anyway, we both have our different opinions, that's fine. We'll only get to see what happens when July comes around.
The design actually stayed pretty constant. The back material changed, but the internals were largely the same and the external shape didn't change. So I'd argue the premise that the design only lasted a year...
We've already established that the general consumer doesn't care about 1080p, dual-core, etc. So I'm not sure what you're arguing anymore...
Isn't that what I said? Anyways, it was much more than just the material of the back (yes, the shape changed). While the components stayed the same, the structure and internal layout were completely different, as well as the volume rocker, mute switch, speaker grills, headphone jack, and screen (which was laminated just like the iPhone 4 as well tinted darker so it more closely matched the color of the black faceplate when off).
...you are correct - this year will get a refresh and I'm willing to bet my current shiny iPhone 4 that the refresh will be - the white iPhone 4......
