I am a current 3GS owner (2 1/2 years), and I have to respectfully disagree. I did not see anything in the iPhone 4 that caused me to upgrade, and if the new model is simply a revamped 4, I'll wait again. IOS5 will run on my 3GS, so unless the hardware is a significant upgrade, why would I spend my money? A faster processor and better camera are hardly reasons to spend hundreds of dollars, but a larger screen, resolution, and other enhancements might entice me. I guess we will find out in a few days which way we are headed!
Kevin
Sent from my iPhone
I don't know if you are in the U.S. But, if you are, you have been giving more money to AT&T since your contract expired. AT&T did not lower your monthly charges after they recovered the subsidy from you. Perhaps (and, I repeat, perhaps), you might have been better off upgrading to iPhone 4 at the end of your 3Gs contract, and selling your 3Gs to pay for some or all of the subsidized iPhone 4 price. I know people who have come out ahead this way. In the U.S.
As for 3Gs running iOS5, the question is: How well will it run iOS5? I don't know, but it is a safe assumption that the latest version of the iPhone will run it the best.
iPhone 4S is the new iPhone3GS. iPhone 5 is the new iPhone 4. My feeling. No way iPhone 4S is the latest and greatest. That's like Apple saying, heck, let's just pack up shop now.
It is very hard for me to believe that Grandma would choose the smaller screen of the old iPhone form factor rather than the bigger screen of the new Android phones.
I doubt that Grandma would be convinced by "but what you want is superior integration of hardware and software". She'll reply "but I can't see the tiny birds on this one. Why can't I get the one where I can read the screen?"
"But Grandma, the iPhone has lots of apps in the appstore besides Angry Birds and it didn't copy the name of the Appstore - Google copied Apple! and you can buy all the newest pop music and TV shows on iTunes! Not only that, but Apple will change the OS for you for 2 hardware iterations because it is not fragmented and if you pay more for Applecare you can talk to Apple on the phone for years! And only poor people who hate Apple get anything else!"
"Huh? I don't understand any of that. I'd rather be able to see the screen better, I think."
It is very hard for me to believe that Grandma would choose the smaller screen of the old iPhone form factor rather than the bigger screen of the new Android phones.
I doubt that Grandma would be convinced by "but what you want is superior integration of hardware and software". She'll reply "but I can't see the tiny birds on this one. Why can't I get the one where I can read the screen?"
"But Grandma, the iPhone has lots of apps in the appstore besides Angry Birds and it didn't copy the name of the Appstore - Google copied Apple! and you can buy all the newest pop music and TV shows on iTunes! Not only that, but Apple will change the OS for you for 2 hardware iterations because it is not fragmented and if you pay more for Applecare you can talk to Apple on the phone for years! And only poor people who hate Apple get anything else!"
"Huh? I don't understand any of that. I'd rather be able to see the screen better, I think."
One year later:
Grandma: "How come Mrs. Bitchface in the room next to mine can update her bird game and I can't. Is that because she bought an iPhone last year?! They're all laughing at me in the dining room! I don't give a shit about the smaller screen! I want an iPhone!!"
It is very hard for me to believe that Grandma would choose the smaller screen of the old iPhone form factor rather than the bigger screen of the new Android phones.
I doubt that Grandma would be convinced by "but what you want is superior integration of hardware and software". She'll reply "but I can't see the tiny birds on this one. Why can't I get the one where I can read the screen?"
"But Grandma, the iPhone has lots of apps in the appstore besides Angry Birds and it didn't copy the name of the Appstore - Google copied Apple! and you can buy all the newest pop music and TV shows on iTunes! Not only that, but Apple will change the OS for you for 2 hardware iterations because it is not fragmented and if you pay more for Applecare you can talk to Apple on the phone for years! And only poor people who hate Apple get anything else!"
"Huh? I don't understand any of that. I'd rather be able to see the screen better, I think."
That's an excellent point that all the angry bird playing grandmas out there would agree with.
But seriously, Apple doesn't care if there is a segment or two of the population that does not like the iPhone. They have a strong design language and stick to it religiously. They do what they think is best (often without typical market studies) and are willing to live or die by it. They aspire to be the top smartphone maker but they do not design to go after every demographic or user group. This is what makes their success remarkable, in contrast to companies that produce 3 or 4 models every year trying to cater to Grandma, pa, ma and little Johnny.
iPhone 4S is the new iPhone3GS. iPhone 5 is the new iPhone 4. My feeling. No way iPhone 4S is the latest and greatest. That's like Apple saying, heck, let's just pack up shop now.
You're placing way too much significance into the numbering. Someone else wrote this already: Apple never said that iPhone numbering follows the year of release in relation to 2007. Apple only plays by its own rules. To an extent, they may well be following the cycles of car manufacturers - come out with a new design every 2-3 years, and only modify it slightly in between.
It is very hard for me to believe that Grandma would choose the smaller screen of the old iPhone form factor rather than the bigger screen of the new Android phones.
I doubt that Grandma would be convinced by "but what you want is superior integration of hardware and software". She'll reply "but I can't see the tiny birds on this one. Why can't I get the one where I can read the screen?"
"But Grandma, the iPhone has lots of apps in the appstore besides Angry Birds and it didn't copy the name of the Appstore - Google copied Apple! and you can buy all the newest pop music and TV shows on iTunes! Not only that, but Apple will change the OS for you for 2 hardware iterations because it is not fragmented and if you pay more for Applecare you can talk to Apple on the phone for years! And only poor people who hate Apple get anything else!"
"Huh? I don't understand any of that. I'd rather be able to see the screen better, I think."
This is a ridiculous argument. Grandma would get an iPad not a smartphone.
It is very hard for me to believe that Grandma would choose the smaller screen of the old iPhone form factor rather than the bigger screen of the new Android phones.
I doubt that Grandma would be convinced by "but what you want is superior integration of hardware and software". She'll reply "but I can't see the tiny birds on this one. Why can't I get the one where I can read the screen?"
"But Grandma, the iPhone has lots of apps in the appstore besides Angry Birds and it didn't copy the name of the Appstore - Google copied Apple! and you can buy all the newest pop music and TV shows on iTunes! Not only that, but Apple will change the OS for you for 2 hardware iterations because it is not fragmented and if you pay more for Applecare you can talk to Apple on the phone for years! And only poor people who hate Apple get anything else!"
"Huh? I don't understand any of that. I'd rather be able to see the screen better, I think."
And Grandpa said, "Grandma? This Android thingy is a phone? Where is the rotary dial?"
They aspire to be the top smartphone maker but they do not design to go after every demographic or user group. This is what makes their success remarkable, in contrast to companies that produce 3 or 4 models every year trying to cater to Grandma, pa, ma and little Johnny.
No, the ones who innovate 3 or 4 times a year are going after geekazoids and poor people and people who just plain hate Apple, or so the story goes. You know, the spec whores who don't understand the subtle beauty of leaving out features and capabilities.
Apple is after the broadest demographic - the sweet spot in the market. They want their gear to be so easy to use "even a cavemen could do it". And currently, Apple's growth is in the genpop who does not yet own a smartphone. Like Grandma. Think "broadest possible appeal" and then think of Grandma and little Jonny.
Sure, but what would developers do? Add another button in a row of horizontal buttons because they could do this while keeping their 'physical' size the same?
Can anybody with some experience with Android tell me how this is done there? If you run the same app on a 3.5" Android phone and on a 4.3" Android phone. Are the control elements (buttons etc.) larger (in millimetres) on the 4.3" device? Are there more control elements? Or use the control elements the same pixel numbers and the extra space (and pixels) are used to display more non-fixed size content (eg, longer lists, larger photos)?
How is a video game console able to play games on a 13" screen to a 60" screen?
No, the ones who innovate 3 or 4 times a year are going after geekazoids and poor people and people who just plain hate Apple, or so the story goes. You know, the spec whores who don't understand the subtle beauty of leaving out features and capabilities.
Apple is after the broadest demographic - the sweet spot in the market. They want their gear to be so easy to use "even a cavemen could do it". And currently, Apple's growth is in the genpop who does not yet own a smartphone. Like Grandma. Think "broadest possible appeal" and then think of Grandma and little Jonny.
Screen size is one of 'em specs.
Apple is not going to change it to bring in more Grandmas.
You must be kidding me. Wait more than a year just to update cpu and camera?
I hope that's not true. Otherwise, AAPL trading at $381 two days before iPhone 4s introduction means all insiders are so ethical on the stock market.
I would believe this piece of news if AAPL closes below $350 on Monday.
The stock market in general is dropping so the lowering could be tied to that and not to any rumors.
As for the whole "wait a year", Apple is allowed to change their release schedules and they aren't legally or morally mandated to do something crazy awesome that 5% of the world demands to 'make up for it'.
Fact is, most folks don't buy a new phone every year, they do it every two years. And a 4s, or call it a 5, with a slightly better camera and processor than the 4 is a big change for the folks that bought a 3gs and have been using it for the last 2 to 2.5 years. THAT's the audience for this hardware. Not the folks that have to have the latest and greatest to look cool and make up for other issues.
iPhone 4S is the new iPhone3GS. iPhone 5 is the new iPhone 4. My feeling. No way iPhone 4S is the latest and greatest. That's like Apple saying, heck, let's just pack up shop now.
That's Apple saying, our design is so iconic that it can be marketable for another 9 months, particularly since iOS5 is going to make even more awesome. The fact that iPhone 4 and iPhone 3GS are respectively the top two selling smartphones embolden them to stick to that belief.
I can't wait till next May and June, when every know-it-all here and elsewhere will be passionately speculating if iPhone 5 (or 6 or 7) will come out then, or in the fall.
2% of buyers, 99.9% were in shitty service areas, had an actual issue with the phone. The media jumped on it for hits cause the only thing that gets more than an article about Apple is a negative one. People that never had an issue with their service, people that don't understand that those bars don't reflect actual service quality etc demanded that Apple do something so to shut them up, Apple gave away some free cases that cost them perhaps a nickel a piece and some of their 3rd party partners jumped in for the free advertising.
THAT's all that happened with the iPhone 4.
Course this phone will possibly be changed up in design if the rumors about going GSM/CDMA in one unit are true. And folks will claim it was to 'fix' the antenna flaw forgetting that putting two antennae in the phone would likely mandate a change
My 3GS is laggy as hell with the latest iOS releases. With iOS 5 designed for the A5 processor, I can only imagine how poorly it will run on older, slower 3GS hardware.
I used a 3GS with iOS 4 and it lagged a bit, but I wouldn't say it was "laggy as hell". That is a bit of hyperbole. From what I have read of those using iOS Betas on a 3GS, it runs fine.
Comments
I am a current 3GS owner (2 1/2 years), and I have to respectfully disagree. I did not see anything in the iPhone 4 that caused me to upgrade, and if the new model is simply a revamped 4, I'll wait again. IOS5 will run on my 3GS, so unless the hardware is a significant upgrade, why would I spend my money? A faster processor and better camera are hardly reasons to spend hundreds of dollars, but a larger screen, resolution, and other enhancements might entice me. I guess we will find out in a few days which way we are headed!
Kevin
Sent from my iPhone
I don't know if you are in the U.S. But, if you are, you have been giving more money to AT&T since your contract expired. AT&T did not lower your monthly charges after they recovered the subsidy from you. Perhaps (and, I repeat, perhaps), you might have been better off upgrading to iPhone 4 at the end of your 3Gs contract, and selling your 3Gs to pay for some or all of the subsidized iPhone 4 price. I know people who have come out ahead this way. In the U.S.
As for 3Gs running iOS5, the question is: How well will it run iOS5? I don't know, but it is a safe assumption that the latest version of the iPhone will run it the best.
iPhone 4S is the new iPhone3GS. iPhone 5 is the new iPhone 4. My feeling. No way iPhone 4S is the latest and greatest. That's like Apple saying, heck, let's just pack up shop now.
It is very hard for me to believe that Grandma would choose the smaller screen of the old iPhone form factor rather than the bigger screen of the new Android phones.
I doubt that Grandma would be convinced by "but what you want is superior integration of hardware and software". She'll reply "but I can't see the tiny birds on this one. Why can't I get the one where I can read the screen?"
"But Grandma, the iPhone has lots of apps in the appstore besides Angry Birds and it didn't copy the name of the Appstore - Google copied Apple! and you can buy all the newest pop music and TV shows on iTunes! Not only that, but Apple will change the OS for you for 2 hardware iterations because it is not fragmented and if you pay more for Applecare you can talk to Apple on the phone for years! And only poor people who hate Apple get anything else!"
"Huh? I don't understand any of that. I'd rather be able to see the screen better, I think."
It is very hard for me to believe that Grandma would choose the smaller screen of the old iPhone form factor rather than the bigger screen of the new Android phones.
I doubt that Grandma would be convinced by "but what you want is superior integration of hardware and software". She'll reply "but I can't see the tiny birds on this one. Why can't I get the one where I can read the screen?"
"But Grandma, the iPhone has lots of apps in the appstore besides Angry Birds and it didn't copy the name of the Appstore - Google copied Apple! and you can buy all the newest pop music and TV shows on iTunes! Not only that, but Apple will change the OS for you for 2 hardware iterations because it is not fragmented and if you pay more for Applecare you can talk to Apple on the phone for years! And only poor people who hate Apple get anything else!"
"Huh? I don't understand any of that. I'd rather be able to see the screen better, I think."
One year later:
Grandma: "How come Mrs. Bitchface in the room next to mine can update her bird game and I can't. Is that because she bought an iPhone last year?! They're all laughing at me in the dining room! I don't give a shit about the smaller screen! I want an iPhone!!"
It is very hard for me to believe that Grandma would choose the smaller screen of the old iPhone form factor rather than the bigger screen of the new Android phones.
I doubt that Grandma would be convinced by "but what you want is superior integration of hardware and software". She'll reply "but I can't see the tiny birds on this one. Why can't I get the one where I can read the screen?"
"But Grandma, the iPhone has lots of apps in the appstore besides Angry Birds and it didn't copy the name of the Appstore - Google copied Apple! and you can buy all the newest pop music and TV shows on iTunes! Not only that, but Apple will change the OS for you for 2 hardware iterations because it is not fragmented and if you pay more for Applecare you can talk to Apple on the phone for years! And only poor people who hate Apple get anything else!"
"Huh? I don't understand any of that. I'd rather be able to see the screen better, I think."
That's an excellent point that all the angry bird playing grandmas out there would agree with.
But seriously, Apple doesn't care if there is a segment or two of the population that does not like the iPhone. They have a strong design language and stick to it religiously. They do what they think is best (often without typical market studies) and are willing to live or die by it. They aspire to be the top smartphone maker but they do not design to go after every demographic or user group. This is what makes their success remarkable, in contrast to companies that produce 3 or 4 models every year trying to cater to Grandma, pa, ma and little Johnny.
iPhone 4S is the new iPhone3GS. iPhone 5 is the new iPhone 4. My feeling. No way iPhone 4S is the latest and greatest. That's like Apple saying, heck, let's just pack up shop now.
You're placing way too much significance into the numbering. Someone else wrote this already: Apple never said that iPhone numbering follows the year of release in relation to 2007. Apple only plays by its own rules. To an extent, they may well be following the cycles of car manufacturers - come out with a new design every 2-3 years, and only modify it slightly in between.
It is very hard for me to believe that Grandma would choose the smaller screen of the old iPhone form factor rather than the bigger screen of the new Android phones.
I doubt that Grandma would be convinced by "but what you want is superior integration of hardware and software". She'll reply "but I can't see the tiny birds on this one. Why can't I get the one where I can read the screen?"
"But Grandma, the iPhone has lots of apps in the appstore besides Angry Birds and it didn't copy the name of the Appstore - Google copied Apple! and you can buy all the newest pop music and TV shows on iTunes! Not only that, but Apple will change the OS for you for 2 hardware iterations because it is not fragmented and if you pay more for Applecare you can talk to Apple on the phone for years! And only poor people who hate Apple get anything else!"
"Huh? I don't understand any of that. I'd rather be able to see the screen better, I think."
This is a ridiculous argument. Grandma would get an iPad not a smartphone.
It is very hard for me to believe that Grandma would choose the smaller screen of the old iPhone form factor rather than the bigger screen of the new Android phones.
I doubt that Grandma would be convinced by "but what you want is superior integration of hardware and software". She'll reply "but I can't see the tiny birds on this one. Why can't I get the one where I can read the screen?"
"But Grandma, the iPhone has lots of apps in the appstore besides Angry Birds and it didn't copy the name of the Appstore - Google copied Apple! and you can buy all the newest pop music and TV shows on iTunes! Not only that, but Apple will change the OS for you for 2 hardware iterations because it is not fragmented and if you pay more for Applecare you can talk to Apple on the phone for years! And only poor people who hate Apple get anything else!"
"Huh? I don't understand any of that. I'd rather be able to see the screen better, I think."
And Grandpa said, "Grandma? This Android thingy is a phone? Where is the rotary dial?"
They aspire to be the top smartphone maker but they do not design to go after every demographic or user group. This is what makes their success remarkable, in contrast to companies that produce 3 or 4 models every year trying to cater to Grandma, pa, ma and little Johnny.
No, the ones who innovate 3 or 4 times a year are going after geekazoids and poor people and people who just plain hate Apple, or so the story goes. You know, the spec whores who don't understand the subtle beauty of leaving out features and capabilities.
Apple is after the broadest demographic - the sweet spot in the market. They want their gear to be so easy to use "even a cavemen could do it". And currently, Apple's growth is in the genpop who does not yet own a smartphone. Like Grandma. Think "broadest possible appeal" and then think of Grandma and little Jonny.
Sure, but what would developers do? Add another button in a row of horizontal buttons because they could do this while keeping their 'physical' size the same?
Can anybody with some experience with Android tell me how this is done there? If you run the same app on a 3.5" Android phone and on a 4.3" Android phone. Are the control elements (buttons etc.) larger (in millimetres) on the 4.3" device? Are there more control elements? Or use the control elements the same pixel numbers and the extra space (and pixels) are used to display more non-fixed size content (eg, longer lists, larger photos)?
How is a video game console able to play games on a 13" screen to a 60" screen?
And Grandpa said, "Grandma? This Android thingy is a phone? Where is the rotary dial?"
there's an idea for a app, oops too late there's already a bunch of them
This is a ridiculous argument. Grandma would get an iPad not a smartphone.
Or at least, not a phone with a smaller screen.
This is a ridiculous argument. Grandma would get an iPad not a smartphone.
on a fixed income? i think not
How is a video game console able to play games on a 13" screen to a 60" screen?
Because both have the same resolution? (Otherwise the aspect ratio gets screwed)
No, the ones who innovate 3 or 4 times a year are going after geekazoids and poor people and people who just plain hate Apple, or so the story goes. You know, the spec whores who don't understand the subtle beauty of leaving out features and capabilities.
Apple is after the broadest demographic - the sweet spot in the market. They want their gear to be so easy to use "even a cavemen could do it". And currently, Apple's growth is in the genpop who does not yet own a smartphone. Like Grandma. Think "broadest possible appeal" and then think of Grandma and little Jonny.
Screen size is one of 'em specs.
Apple is not going to change it to bring in more Grandmas.
on a fixed income? i think not
Grandma wisely put a big chunk of her money into AAPL and is now sitting pretty.
You must be kidding me. Wait more than a year just to update cpu and camera?
I hope that's not true. Otherwise, AAPL trading at $381 two days before iPhone 4s introduction means all insiders are so ethical on the stock market.
I would believe this piece of news if AAPL closes below $350 on Monday.
The stock market in general is dropping so the lowering could be tied to that and not to any rumors.
As for the whole "wait a year", Apple is allowed to change their release schedules and they aren't legally or morally mandated to do something crazy awesome that 5% of the world demands to 'make up for it'.
Fact is, most folks don't buy a new phone every year, they do it every two years. And a 4s, or call it a 5, with a slightly better camera and processor than the 4 is a big change for the folks that bought a 3gs and have been using it for the last 2 to 2.5 years. THAT's the audience for this hardware. Not the folks that have to have the latest and greatest to look cool and make up for other issues.
iPhone 4S is the new iPhone3GS. iPhone 5 is the new iPhone 4. My feeling. No way iPhone 4S is the latest and greatest. That's like Apple saying, heck, let's just pack up shop now.
That's Apple saying, our design is so iconic that it can be marketable for another 9 months, particularly since iOS5 is going to make even more awesome. The fact that iPhone 4 and iPhone 3GS are respectively the top two selling smartphones embolden them to stick to that belief.
I can't wait till next May and June, when every know-it-all here and elsewhere will be passionately speculating if iPhone 5 (or 6 or 7) will come out then, or in the fall.
Unlike what happened with the iPhone 4.
2% of buyers, 99.9% were in shitty service areas, had an actual issue with the phone. The media jumped on it for hits cause the only thing that gets more than an article about Apple is a negative one. People that never had an issue with their service, people that don't understand that those bars don't reflect actual service quality etc demanded that Apple do something so to shut them up, Apple gave away some free cases that cost them perhaps a nickel a piece and some of their 3rd party partners jumped in for the free advertising.
THAT's all that happened with the iPhone 4.
Course this phone will possibly be changed up in design if the rumors about going GSM/CDMA in one unit are true. And folks will claim it was to 'fix' the antenna flaw forgetting that putting two antennae in the phone would likely mandate a change
My 3GS is laggy as hell with the latest iOS releases. With iOS 5 designed for the A5 processor, I can only imagine how poorly it will run on older, slower 3GS hardware.
I used a 3GS with iOS 4 and it lagged a bit, but I wouldn't say it was "laggy as hell". That is a bit of hyperbole. From what I have read of those using iOS Betas on a 3GS, it runs fine.
Waiting for iPhone 5 ... a saga more confounding than anything Samuel Beckett conjured.