Rumor: Production of Apple's 'iPhone 5S' now underway at Foxconn - Page 2

 

This aligns more with the classic 'Spring is for business, Fall is for consumers" tick tock.   The fact that the out of sequence iPad (the 's' model) came out last fall, was more the 'for those who want one adapter to rule them all (Lightning) which would be a consumer driven decision.   

 

I wouldn't be surprised with a blow the doors off lineup of iPad, then Macbook(retina0) and Mac Pro this spring in a series of announcements.   And all the hardware lining up for releases for iOS 7 and Mac OS X 10.9 (hmmm  X.10.10  will be repetitively  redundant, and repetitious ;-) that we can only hope marry these two cousin computing families tighter through the iCloud (4.0... maybe... just maybe they'll get it right soon).

 

So do the "raise to speak" thing with Siri so that other people just think you're talking to someone on the phone.

 

Thompson

agreed.  I think if Apple ever makes a 'mass market' phone, it will be on the 4s frame...  In the 4 year obsolescence curve, the 4s will be 2 years old this summer, and will have 2 years left, and has working componentry that will drop in price.   The fact it has enough guts to operate Siri, makes it the base bottom for Apple in the long game (3-4 years from now).    

 

Given that the 4s is slated to be the '.99cent' phone this coming fall for subscriptions, I'm curious if Apple will jump the curve one direction or the other (add LTE, lightning, create a 8GB version, etc, and lower the unlocked price to under $300 immediately).   Driving the unlocked price down has an added incentive for major partners in that the subsidies drop and then these become their 'entry level phone' for people dumping dumb phones but staying with their current carrier...  effectively undercutting the cheap androids that are sold in the sales meetings (push the iPhone... we make as much, and sell more in overages later!)

 

This all is based on the path that Apple is looking at the AppleID/ITMS as a cost recovery for these phones, and that keeping people 'in ecosystem' is a long term profit strategy.   a tight iOS/OSX/iCloud synergy, coupled with a lower cost entry point, coupled with AppleTV and content deals (we are your radio, your music store, your newstand, your university lecture hall, your movie theater, and your cable TV company)...    I'm not saying Apple will start selling crap, but that Apple can subsidize HW quality with back end content profits (if I sell you a $300 phone vs $545, I need to get you to buy $1000 of stuff on your phone over 2 years, to make the same 'profit'.. with the added benefit that you are locked into the 'company store' and will not want to leave the iCloud ecosystem (it's where your backups are, your music, your shared folders... the cost of extraction for the non-tech person will be too great a barrier, and it's implicit lockin on the next device).

Yeah, the wife and I haven't been so happy with ATT (biggest issue being dropped calls) and I was hoping to look at alternatives when we went to get new phones. I guess I'll wait until the 5S is released and check options then.

I hope they bring color. That might be a good motivator to upgrade (it's just appearances but still).

It would be so funny to see Samsung follow and bring lots of colors out (not just the current white, black and red)
 

I agree. Even with an otterbox commuter on, feels lighter than a naked 4/4S

I remember the days before cell phones - when people talking out loud alone in the streets really meant something, LoLz.....

I will never get this getting hot and bothered logic.  IMO, Apple should innovate as often as they can add significant value/functionality in a polished package that makes sense. 

 

There are 1) [actual] competitors out there, y'know [see below], and 2) why should those ready to upgrade have to wait until those who weren't ready finish their contracts or whatever (which will ALWAYS be a moving target depending on date of purchase)?? 

 

Plus as has been noted many times here, 3) the device you already own hasn't lost any functionality BECAUSE a new one's been released, so if you were happy you should STAY happy (unless the hit on your planned resale value's a bummer, which is the one thing I will grant here).
 

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Not only nice but along with the other three posts above, absolutely overdue....  ...we don't ALL need to be "protected from ourselves."  P&S cameras figured THIS one out long ago by including a default "intelligent auto mode" for newbs and trogs who just want to aim and press a button - while allowing others to get into all kinds of photo settings.  And Macs still have the ability to get "under the hood."  So why not iDevices as well????

Anyway, along with the once generally well-liked here but now probably to-be-burned-at-the-stake Andy Ihnatko, will point out that I'm about to achieve official troll status myself after my "loyal" years on the site by saying I've been increasingly leaning in the direction of this article (below) - and will note that IMO Apple's finally become a victim of their own long and carefully crafted "reality distortion field," i.e., that it's enveloped them as well:

http://www.macworld.com/article/2030042/why-i-switched-from-iphone-to-android.html

PS: And also as has been pointed out many times, no, unless you're an NBA player you already CAN'T reach the whole iPhone 5 screen with your thumb.

Edited by bigpics - 3/6/13 at 11:34am

What changes are the availability of better performing internal components in the massive quantities and the high quality control specifications that Apple requires.

 

People who get upset that technology keeps advancing deserve their silly lives.

The iphone 5s will blow away the samsung galaxy s4 when it comes out.

It's really not a larger phone. It's way thinner and lighter. Exact same width. And as far as height- they really cut down the size of the top and bottom "bezel", so it isn't much taller, really.

I had each version since the 3G at the release date.  I thought the 4/4S form factor would always be my favorite and was concerned the 5 would be a let down.  As soon as I held it I instantly knew it was special.  It was so light.  Then it was extremely fast.  At work I had to jailbreak my 4S to be able to switch to edge network because 3G is at capacity.  We have about 4500 employees on campus.    Switching to LTE made the 5 blazing fast.  It was like the 3G all over again on steroids.

 

All that being said this might be the first upgrade I skip.  I always sell my previous phone for more than what it costs me to upgrade including AppleCare but this time I might just wait until the 6 comes out.  Time will tell when it comes out but I don't see a major change or reason to upgrade this time around.

I just finished the entire series from Andy (link above)... and must say, he's right on his assessment of Apple, iOS, the diferences and pain of moving to Android... but most of all, nailing it down to what I see as 3 shortcomings of the iPhone.

1. Size - must be adressed this year for the reasons stated often enough. Approached by Apple just like the current best-selling tablet on the market: iPad Mini: covering the market segment that wants/needs an alternative format/size.
2. App integration - must happen with iOS 7. I have a Nexus 7 that I test web-dev on... and this feature really is by far my most liked feature. Rest of Android: meh.
3. iPhone Customizing and/or extensions (Pro or Easy Mode): certain keyboards, as Andy mentioned... would be nice... as well as being able to "dig deeper" if and when you want to AND know what the heck you're doing.

I'm going to go so far as to say, that those 3 "small" changes to how Apple thinks about iDevices... IF implemented... could pretty much put a wrap on getting back to 60% of the market for "flagship smart phones" in circulation. It would bring back the Andy Ihnatkos and Steve Wozniaks of the tech world, among the millions of people that have jumped specifically because of these momentary flaws in Apple's development of the iPhone... especially the size factor. More important: it will stop people even like myself, of "considering" the thought (I'm just keeping an eye out for now... but...?!)

In fact I'm absolutely SURE that at Apple HQ this very moment... elegant solutions and answers are being worked on. I would hope that releasing those ideas to the faithful and optimistic fans won't take too much longer.

As it pertains to "rampant viral RFD", I seriously don't think the current management (which I summarized yesterday in a post) has the SJ bug. SJ had his reasons... and in many cases he was absolutely right in "forcing change and adoption" in how we interact with computer technology. For example: get touch right and thoroughly integrated from Day 1(!). See the polar opposite of that strict and focused execution with the MS Surface. (not working!).

However, in some instances SJ carried his personal philosophies too far... and held on to them unflinchingly for too long. Yes. We and the world "get's it" by now. Time for Apple to treat a large swath of us as "advanced users" and "big enough" to know what we want to do with our iOS devices, what size to use, and the proper "power settings" to let us have our fun!

Because owning an Apple device of any kind, should... Always. Be. Fun & Enjoyable! I do believe even SJ said that once upon a time

Addendum to my above post:

I seriously believe that if Apple does make "The Big 3 Changes", they'll not only wrap up the "premium smart phone category", they will drive a serious stake into the heart of Microsoft, Blackberry & Co.... and "super wedge" between Samsung and Google. Samsung will surely point the blame at Google, and possibly dabble in forking Android and/or developing Tizen sooner than they would have. I don't believe Google will stand for that, and possibly bust up the handheld alliance because of it, taking any further Android developments in-house and keeping them locked up there.

All kinds of repercussions if Apple plays it's hand correctly... and soon.

 

Yeah, I have LTE as well, though I rarely find myself using it.  But the little that I do use it, it makes a huge difference, I agree.