iPhone 5....

[onewhippedpuppy]

Originally Posted by coldstart

So the new iPhone 5 upgrades are:

(1) a four inch screen (done by Android over a year ago);

(2) new mapping software with voice directions (done by Android over a year ago);

(3) 4G LTE (done by Android around a year ago);

(4) a smaller connector (so it does not work with previous docking, charging and other accessories); and

(5) a better camera (done by everyone).

I think the worst thing for 'the latest and greatest Apple crowd' is that it still looks very similar to the iPhone 4 so people won't feel the need to upgrade as the new phone still looks the same!

No new technology or innovation-- Apple is done being the leader and the new team is just trying to keep up. Where are all the new 'WOW' ideas? I guess we will have to wait for the new iPad mini-- which is a 2/3 version of the current iPad with no other changes....

Why do people feel the need to identify with their choice of phone and then carry the banner of their favorite OS? Ooooh, I'm an ANDROID person! Ooooh, I'm an Apple person! It's a damn phone for God's sake, not a cult.

I'm buying an iPhone 5, and you know the biggest reason? It fits in my pocket so I don't walk around like a dork with my brick sized smart phone hanging on my hip. It also just works, no tinkering required.

[coldstart]

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

Why do people feel the need to identify with their choice of phone and then carry the banner of their favorite OS? Ooooh, I'm an ANDROID person! Ooooh, I'm an Apple person! It's a damn phone for God's sake, not a cult.

I'm buying an iPhone 5, and you know the biggest reason? It fits in my pocket so I don't walk around like a dork with my brick sized smart phone hanging on my hip. It also just works, no tinkering required.

I actually have an iPhone 4G. It does not mean that I cannot be critical of Apple.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Originally Posted by coldstart

I actually have an iPhone 4G. It does not mean that I cannot be critical of Apple.

Sorry, it just came across as very fanboy. I think it's silly in either direction.

I'm curious - what did you expect? Built in espresso maker? It's faster, thinner, and has some new gadgets. All I really want out of my 4 is more speed and turn by turn navigation, so I'm happy with the new one.

[JavaBrewer]

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

Why do people feel the need to identify with their choice of phone and then carry the banner of their favorite OS? Ooooh, I'm an ANDROID person! Ooooh, I'm an Apple person! It's a damn phone for God's sake, not a cult.

I'm buying an iPhone 5, and you know the biggest reason? It fits in my pocket so I don't walk around like a dork with my brick sized smart phone hanging on my hip. It also just works, no tinkering required.

For the most part I agree what you are saying but realize that folks will stand in the cold for days to get their hands on the latest Apple device. Cult like - for a "damn phone" . Most will also be 'upgrading' from a fully functional older iPhone that they stood in line and/or paid handsomely for just a year or two ago.

Lastly, the market is flooded with smart phones the same size as the iPhone so that argument is really just an excuse. You are buying the iPhone because for you "it just works, no tinkering required". For the user already heavily entrenched in the Apple ecosystem that statement holds water - otherwise the Android/Win offerings are every bit as functional and reliable. YMMV

All that said - I am overdue for an 'upgrade' myself. Interested in the new iPhone but might actually give the Nokia Lumia a shot. What could go wrong...

[onewhippedpuppy]

Originally Posted by JavaBrewer

For the most part I agree what you are saying but realize that folks will stand in the cold for days to get their hands on the latest Apple device. Cult like - for a "damn phone" . Most will also be 'upgrading' from a fully functional older iPhone that they stood in line and/or paid handsomely for just a year or two ago.

Lastly, the market is flooded with smart phones the same size as the iPhone so that argument is really just an excuse. You are buying the iPhone because for you "it just works, no tinkering required". For the user already heavily entrenched in the Apple ecosystem that statement holds water - otherwise not so much...IMO.

You won't find me camping outside the Apple store the night before, but I will be ordering two online to replace my wife's nearly destroyed phone (thanks to our 2-year old) and my perfectly good iPhone 4 that the contract has expired on. Were I not upgrading to an iPhone I'd be upgrading to something else, the appeal of 4G now being available in Wichita is too good to resist and not iPhone specific.

The new latest and greatest phones are BIG. Big screens are great for browsing the net, but not so good for pants pockets. The iPhone packs the most tech into the smallest package, that's a big selling point for me. As for the just works, absolutely my opinion. I had a string of Blackberry products before the iPhone and always had to reset or tinker with settings, and found the UI to be buggy and counter-intuitive. I still have one for work, and still feel the same way. I fairly recently played with the newest batch of AT&T smart phones in a store while contemplating an upgrade, and didn't find anything that I felt had the simplicity and build quality of the iPhone. My wife is a technophobe and was able to learn hers without instructions. My 2-year old can navigate the phone and find games and movies that he likes. It's simple, intuitive, and reliable. That's perfect for what I need. Until somebody else does it better, I'll keep buying these.

[coldstart]

I expected the new iPhone 4 to:

(1) be able to make bluetooth payments at some retailers-- similar to what Android is rolling out;

(2) better glass (I've replaced my screen twice due to minor drops by my nephew on hardwood floors);

(3) ability to keep my iPhone accessories (I do understand that there will be an adaptor but....);

(2) change the design to be more distinctive and give a reason to upgrade more than an extra row of icons; and

(3) some amazing feature or use to justify the high price and the demand. I don't work in the telecommunications field so I don't know what is possible but it seems that Apple is catching up to curve rather than setting the pace.

My brother has one of the Android phones and I really like the swipe keypad for the lock screen. Otherwise, I have never used an Android phone.

I used to really like Blackberry as I went to school in Waterloo, ON but I think that their current phones are way behind the curve. Hopefully they will catch up when they release the new BB10 software and six new phones next year.

[RWebb]

faster, thinner, lower in wt. by 20%...

should I upgrade from my DynaTAC?

[island911]

Originally Posted by coldstart

... it seems that Apple is catching up to curve rather than setting the pace.
....

Clearly not enough funding.

Seriously though, I like that they finally have a modern aspect ratio screen. I also like that they got rid of the glass back (that was stupid on multiple levels).

Where's the antenna on this one? Same as before?

I do find it curious that Apple has a One Answer solution for their phones. I mean, it's not as if they have only one size computer.

Well anyway, this looks like a very nice set of improvements over the 4.

[motion]

You non-iPhone fans fail to comprehend something very important: Apple products are not about specs. They're about the user experience. According to Apple, the iPad accounts for 91% of all tablet traffic. I'm sure the iPad isn't the most feature-laden tablet out there, nor the fastest. Nor the cheapest. I'm sure some of the latest tablets have a better screen or cameras or whatever. But the fact remains, that iPad users are in love with their devices and none of that matters.

The same applies for the new iPhone and past iPhones. They are really amazing to interact with, and nearly always work perfectly. They are as close to perfection as you can get today. The new iPhone looks like it continues that, and offers an improved user experience. I think that's just amazing. I'll gladly continue to drink the koolaid, knowing I will be interacting with an amazing piece of engineered art.

Apple propaganda video: Apple - iPhone 5 - The thinnest, lightest, fastest iPhone ever.

[nostatic]

I'm on the fence, but likely will not buy. I've been enjoying my $60/mo unlimited no-contract deal with T-Mobile using the Galaxy Nexus. I do think that iOS is more elegant and provides a better user experience. But I'm not willing to pay the iPhone contract premium at this point in time. I can do what I need on the GN - it's "good enough." For tablets, iPad still smokes the competition imho. The new iPod touch actually is more interesting to me - 4" retina display and the A5 processor. We do some 3D apps that could work very well on that. But we also are hacking the Google 7" tablet and will be interested in the iPad mini when it comes out.

[gr8fl4porsche]

I have to buy the 5 now. I just ordered a teal colored Otterbox to cover my 4S that I'm giving to my daughter.

[porsche4life]

My 4S is still ticking good so I'll skip the upgrade, but it does look good. Big thing for me is the LTE and faster processor. FaceTime over cellular will be cool too.

As far as tough? I have my 4S in a moncarbone hovercoat carbon fiber case, and I've dropped it several time on concrete with no issues. I keep a screen protector on it which helps a ton I think.

I've got an android phone for work, and the voice nab is the only thing I like about it, so that will be nice having on the iPhone. The android POS crashes quite often, and I'm on my second one since June... As soon as they let me I'll be getting an iPhone from the company, all of our guys that have them love them...

[gassy]

You guys sure do drop your phones a lot.

[porsche4life]

Busy life style... And half the time it gets fumbled when I'm trying to get my brick sized android out of my pocket...

[island911]

Originally Posted by motion

You non-iPhone fans fail to comprehend something very important: Apple products are not about specs. ...

Who are you referring to? As I read it the ones most disappointed are the iphone fans.

I suspect that they aren't getting their expected new release high.

At least this wasn't hyped as much as the Facebook IPO.

[gprsh924]

I'm happy, it's better and faster than every way than my 4 so it's well worth the upgrade.

There's is about a zero percent chance of switching from apple at this point. I have an iPod touch, and iPhone, an iPad, and an Apple tv to stream all that media to my tv. Im entrenched and I'm fine with that.

[A930Rocket]

Still using my 3G. Maybe I'll upgrade to a 4 one day...

[greglepore]

Motion hit it on the head-the device itself is beautiful-maybe not in an entirely functional way, but just like a little rune in your hand. Yes, the Android devices are at least as functional, and I hate Itunes as much as everyone else (I only use it to access the Golden Ear app that I use to load music) but nothing approaches the feel of the Iphone.

[epbrown]

Originally Posted by gassy

You guys sure do drop your phones a lot.

Considering the number of people I see walking along not looking where they're going, I'm not surprised they bump into something and drop the phones fairly often.

[JavaBrewer]

I am definitely going to hold on any phone decisions until the Lumia 920 is out.

My close friend works for Nokia and I have had a chance to play around with his Lumia 900. The deciding factor of course be WP 8 but from what I have seen so far on the 900 I really like the OS. The active tile home screen is IMO much nicer than Android/iOS and playing around with basic features like email, music, and pictures was very intuitive.

Edit - and as far as HW quality the top line Nokia products are generally the leaders across all brands.