Wozniak: Apple now 'somewhat behind' in smartphone features - Page 2

How do you guys explain the fact that Apple still makes three-quarters of the profits of the smartphone business? 

Woz has nothing better to do and he's enjoying his new kindled attention since Jobs passed away.   It's what the media is doing and Woz allows himself to sucked into it.

i don't take Woz that seriously anymore.  He's never done anything that great since he left Apple.  I think the media should leave him alone or he should be more careful what he says because the media has a tendency to take statements out of context, twist things around to blow things out of proportion just to get reader's attention.  it's what the media is good at.

 

Very good question...features are one thing, but implementing them into a positive and useful user experience is another. This is what iOS does better than Android. Also, as with OS X, Apple isn't always the first to implement a particular feature, but when it does, its usually better than anyone else's solution. 

Why not view the video to understand how each is different instead of "better"?  I don't take someone else's word for "this or that is better" either without a little look for myself. If you have no interest in viewing some of the major differences that's a different story. Then I wouldn't waste time looking at it either.

 

I'm looking around me, staring at various iOS devices and Macs, and Woz had nothing at all to do with any of them. 

Personally, I value Woz' opinion on the matter, and do think he has good insight. The iPhone may be a little behind Android on several areas, but honestly I think most of them fall under the category of tweaks.

Where Apple needs to move the ball is really cloud services and Siri. (Oh gawd... i actually said that!) On the "cloud services" side of things, they need to keep improving the integration between/across devices for a user, family, group, or organization. They do a pretty good job at the user level now (say 80%), but the others are big holes.

(That, and an iMac you can hook up on a VESA arm...)

It already started off bad. If they started off with how Android's unlocking was inherent faster, more secure, or something else that would make it better than I would have continued watching but listing a half dozen ways it can be done compared to Apple's one way is the same was using a spec sheet to list how something must be better than another.

 

Lots of opinion and citation needed on those features/claims.

Just cracks me up reading how the fandroids infesting this forum are trying to preach to everyone how their every-feature-plus-kitchen-sink mentality is superior to the polished, user-friendly system that is iOS.

Get it through your thick (if not solid) skulls that you do NOT represent the majority of users.  Most users don't want infinite customizing (i.e. time-waster, complexity) in their phones.  It's this incredibly simply little concept that continues to allude you, and frankly makes you come across as the anti-social geeky stereotype that nobody listens to.

Sure, there are people out there on the other side of the argument that believe Android is the way to go.  So GO!!!  Why criticize people that exercise that exact same choice and choose iOS??  You people are complete hypocrites!

Now go away and continue micromanaging your phone.  I (and many others like me) will continue actually using our phones for what they were designed for... us!!

Edited by sflocal - 2/7/13 at 11:58am

Apple seriously needs to improve its cloud services. Apple has always sucked at anything cloud based. I don't know why they have such a hard time with this. They have very brilliant people working at Apple yet they can't develop a reliable cloud service. 

 

I agree on the Siri front too...it could use some improvements. Its great for some things, not so much with others. I do think they're working hard on it and will get it right. 

 

You can't possibly be serious.

Some of these things are reasons why I want Apple to catch up on features.  There are many reasons why Android is a more usable and modern OS.  At the same time, iOS has fantastic polish, and Apple hardware has the best quality.  I want to be able to use Apple hardware and not have to feel like I stepped back into 2007 from a software perspective.

You decide what to use based on what the population uses?  If you do, then you should be running Android 2.x OS.  So much for your dumb theories.

Apple sold more iPhones than all of the Android phones last quarter.

 

Most of the Android phones being sold aren't 4.2.1 versions and they aren't the top end models.  So, most of your so-called Android users are just buying the cheaper phones and they don't represent the part of the population that has or spends much money on these devices.

 

There are INDUSTRIES and BUSINESSES that are opting for iPhones and iPads, not Android products.  So, I would tend to use something that people in the same industry as I might be more inclined to use..  

Have fun with your little Android toy. that's all they are.  In the industries I'm in Android is basically NOT supported.  In the music creation/production industry, it's all about iOS devices, OS X and some WIndows. But even Windows is getting set aside by some of the players as some are dropping Windows support.

 

Home automation?  IOS is where it's at. Check out Savant Systems.  They make some of the most advanced home automation products and they don't support Android, at all.

 

IN all of the things you mentioned, apps wasn't one of them.  Apps is what people use.  Apple has more and better apps than Android and is a far more secure OS that's easier to use.

 

Have a nice day and enjoy your fragmented platform.

 

On iOS 6: Settings app -> General -> Usage

 

EDIT: Ah, you mean cellular data.  Might want to clarify that point.  For a technical person, it's pretty easy to figure out which apps would be heavy network users.  For everyone else, all they care/know about is whether they're over or not (total usage).  Very few people are going to take the time to "debug" which apps are doing what.

Don't stick you head in the sand. Apple has always followed during iterative improvements. They prefer to get it right on their own time. It is disruption and creation of new categories that Apple has done it's best work. Give Samsung credit for looking towards new form factor ideas like the Galaxy Note and the smaller tablet sizes first. Samsung is a strong competitor who will skirt the rules to get more leverage more quickly as a fast follower.

I admire Woz for his willingness to be honest about his opinion. I do not doubt that he would love to work for Apple again. I just doubt that he is focused enough to succeed there.

That is storage on the device, not how much data each app is sending and receiving, which I think is what the OP is referring to. That, like the ability to see which apps are using how much CPU and RAM, is really something that the user should never have to deal with so I don't consider that a desirable feature that makes Android batter than iOS. I'd personally like to have it but it should not be something any pocketable device should have for standard operation due to a less than ideal nature of how apps are managed.

Yeah, yeah, yeah... 

Win vs Mac. The same old crappy arguments.. Been there, done that.

If you don't understand what user experience is then maybe different locking options is for you.

Hey! Look at me. Me! Me!  Me! 

 

I'm relevant!!!    Me!  Me!  Me! 

Pretty much this. Woz is entitled to his opinion, just like the rest of are. Apple is not perfect, and there is always room for improvement. 

 

We're an all Apple household (MBA, rMBP, two iPhone 5s), but that doesn't mean that I can't be critical of Apple as well. Too many people get all wrapped up into the "business" of Apple versus the "betterment" of Apple.

 

 

Pretty much this. Woz is entitled to his opinion, just like the rest of are. Apple is not perfect, and there is always room for improvement. 

 

We're an all Apple household (MBA, rMBP, two iPhone 5s), but that doesn't mean that I can't be critical of Apple as well. Too many people get all wrapped up into the "business" of Apple versus the "betterment" of Apple.

 

Case in point:

Someone forgot to mention the S3 "Sudden Death Syndrome".   Oh well.

You hit it right on. My observations recently see more large screen Samsing phones.  A few middle age friends of mine decided on a Samsung simply because their eyes prefer the larger screen, even though the quality of the Samsung screen still it's a good as the iPhone. Their weaker eyes don't see the quality difference!

Apple would be wise to have a 4.5 to 5" iPhone model.  Over 5" is too big and clumsy for many.

 

A few other friends bought older Samsung phones simply because of no up front cost. These people tend to not evaluate total cost carefully, just the cost which is staring at them when buying!   Locally he Samsung S3 is now zero or less ($50 gift card).  I hope Apple doesn't try competing with that bottom end market. The previous iPhone models (4 & 4S) for little or no up front cost, currently at my carrier,  is more than enough incentive!

Android = BAG O HURT.

Actually for MOST of the population, that is, the non-tech savvy world, better cloud syncing, customizable anything, widgets, and locking features dont matter at all. What does matter to MOST people is BATTERY life, which Android, because of its widgets and "true multitasking" suffers at poorly. Pretty much EVERY android owner I talk to has that major complaint. BTW, battery life was something Apple solved in the second gen. iPod back in like 2002! As for maps, I know i am in the minority, but it has yet to steer me wrong. I will say that there are features it lacks, such as lane assist, the ability to recall the previous command, the ability to turn off the voice commands, and other stuff (which Android also lacks)....HOWEVER, there are apps available that have these, (Like Navigon which AWESOME) and they are NOT available on Android. Malware is a HUUUUGE issue on Android, please don't act like its not. Its well documented and its also the result of the openess of the app stores. Again, an area where MORE choice is actually worse for 90% of the population. And last and possibly THE MOST important point that someone did bring up that was dismissed by an Android fan, is the RE-SALE value. My fist iPhone was the 3GS I paid full (subsidized price) $300 for it. TWO YEARS LATER, I sold it on Gazelle for $185, and had the check in two days and bought my iPhone 4S for $200 (essentially $15 out of my pocket). First off, NEVER IN MY LIFE have i ever RE SOLD a cell phone. Usually they are obsolete in two years and you just recycle them. Not anymore, now I can have a brand new device for practically free, because of the choice I made and the re sale value. THIS MATTERS TO 100% OF THE CONSUMER WORLD!

Ha ha ha... look guys... are you all REALLY slamming Steve Wozniak? Really?
As in he's not relevant? Or with it anymore?

May I gently remind you all - if you took Steve Wozniak and put him in a room with a computer... a few hours later he could have a playmate girlfriend, new product, and millions in funding.

Spend some time with anyone from Apple product marketing - those aren't relaxed or easy going people. Staying #1 is some serious stress.

The one feature I want more than any other is to disable power-off if an iPhone is password protected. Allowing thieves to power-off stolen, password protected phones lets them disable the ability to track it. Yes, they can pull the SIM card but that is not always convenient to do while they are running /driviing away from you where powering off is just a button-press and swipe away.

 

Yes, back in the '80s. Not so much since.

I don't think Apple is behind at all. One person's feature is another person's pain in the ass. If you don't like what the phone offers then trade it in or sell it. I'm sure there is someone willing to take it off your hands. It's not like apple is never going to add new features to the OS. Why did some if you even get an iPhone in the first place? It's not like you didn't know those must-have "features" weren't there. I am extremely pleased with the iPhone (especially the battery life). If I ever get to the point where I am not then I will get something else. It is that easy. I like Woz, but I think he has become an attention whore of late.

The media, such as AppleInsider, is particularly good at presenting stuff in a dishonest way.

 

The title of the article, as I pointed out earlier, presents The Woz  as an Apple hater.

He is stating, with reason, that the iPhone is a few steps back on some features, but that Apple products are worth waiting in line for. Do you wait in line for the Surface or Blackberry or GS4? No? Then you know what his stand is.

 

Since day one in 2007 Symbian and WinMo phones did most of those things, newsflash:- iOS has always been "somewhat behind".

 

For someone so smart, Wozniak comes up with some pretty dumb things.

I think he's become an attention magnet and a internet hit magnet. 

 

Case in point: number of comments on this article largely beats the number of comments on the article stating that Apple might build an Apple Store in that gay Street in SF.

I don't need to see citations, I have friends with Android phones and all one has to do is to talk to someone that isn't going to LIE to them.

 

FYI, In the past couple of weeks, I know of a LOT of Android users that got rid of them and now use iPhone 5's.  And those that use Android phones that i know personally can't stand their Android phone, but they are waiting to get an IPhone the second their 2 year contract is up.

 

Every time I encounter an Android user and I ask them about their phone, they aren't very happy with them.  Sorry, but it seems as though you might belong on an Android site to get better support for your product.  Just a suggestion.

 

Yeah, I figured that out afterwards. Data is a pretty vague term. Though I can see how being vague could be useful in trying to sell products to the average consumer.

What cloud services are unreliable? I can understand you wanting them to add new features but I have never had a problem with the existing iCloud services being unreliable.

If you are a heavy google services user (youtube, gmail, google apps, picasa, etc) than android is way easier to just setup and go in seconds.  On iphone you have much more setup to sync calendar and contacts with gmail.  You have to setup exchange server.  Bunch of other config PIA.  I'm a tech guy so no big deal for me but I'm positive it is well beyond the non techy types. 

 

Now if you don't use the google ecosystem at all less of a big deal.  I own both iphone 5 and an S3.  Some things I like better on iphone and others on S3.  Wish I could take best from both and make one super phone. 

 

Anyway I also had every previous iphone and also some droids.  Not until the S3 has there really been a viable competitor IMHO.  Once they hit that with Jelly Bean the game changed.  I heard S4 out in maybe 2 months.  They could end up leaping ahead again.  Apple still behind in screen size and needs to fix this fast.

 

Biggest problem with Apple now is twofold.  No new product category will keep their growth flat and their stock flat.  This negativity is bleeding from Wall Street to Main Street now.  Cook is missing this.  Also they lack shareholder friendly practices so that won't save the broken stock.  Apple getting killed and outspent in marketing.  This is just a very different company than what it was when Jobs left.  As a huge apple fan I am disappointed to see Apple ignore problems and move at glacial speed

 

Oh yeah, you are right I am just kidding. No other company in the world can ever use quality parts but Apple (Apple products are made with Samsung, LG, etc. parts). No other phone can use Gorilla Glass. Quality is only defined as an Aluminum case then? Not Kevlar? I guess a microarc oxidation process to an aluminum case removes the "quality" since we already defined quality as being made of aluminum.

 

You are right. No other company in the word does R&D. Everything we have today started from inside Apple. Other companies just twiddle their thumbs and wait. They are not working on flexible and transparent screens? They are not busy trying to come up with the next thing (want to see that pitched to the board, "We are going to do nothing to increase our technology holdings and profits")? They are not increasing the speed and capacity of the components of mobile devices at an incredible pace? I forgot this is only achievable at Apple and no where else. That is why this is only a feature and benefit of Apple and no one else.

 

Which "cloud syncing" are you referring to, is that the one where it is almost impossible to find your contacts when sync'ed with gmail?

 

Which "maps" is that?

 

The Google maps App?

 

Any of a myriad of third party Apps does these things?

 

So how's Google's license with Microsoft's Activsync looking, Microsoft is kicking their butts in court.

 

Yeah, he's entitled to his opinion, and so is everybody else here who disagrees with his opinion.

 

However, a smart guy like him who is not just an anonymous nobody poster on a forum should be smart enough to recognize the general anti-Apple sentiment and FUD surrounding Apple and realize that his statements can and will be used against Apple. Sometimes it's just better to keep quiet. And he still gets a check from Apple? Why?

All you've stated is that he's a celebrity. Kim Kardashian can get paid a lot for just showing up somewhere. That doesn't mean either is an industry leader or is making the next great product. Steve Jobs changed industries. Between Apple, Pixar and NeXT he was at the center of things that have made the world a better place for most of us. Even if you love your Android phone or Chrome browser over anything Apple makes you need to thank Steve Jobs for being a part of it. What has Wozniak contributed to change the face of technology since the early 80's. He might be the sand that made the pearl that is Apple but he's hasn't been involved in bringing the future to us unless you want to count his universal remote control.


1) My idea for this is that doing a hard shutdown by holding down that Home and Sleep buttons would actually cause a restart, not a shutdown. To do a shutdown you would need to hold the Sleep button, slide to shutdown and then input your PIN.

2) I think even with the SIM removed can't the device's IEMI still send and receive from the tower, as well as GPS still work? Perhaps Apple could work out a deal carriers to allow some basic operation for that function, but I doubt anything like will happen. Our best bet is just to wait for virtual SIMs.

 

How about a six inch, my epenis screen is bigger than yours?

 

That should do the trick.