This is the most blantantly sycophantic review I have ever read. Apparently anything you think is wrong wirh the iphone 5 is because you are delusional. No doubt criticism of the phone and the mapping app. has been overblown . . . but this sort of review will not encourage a realistic view of the system. This is not a review it is propaganda.
- "You don't like the new connector? Then why are you spending $700 on a phone in the first place??"
Um, nobody is spending $700 on the new phone outside of the few people who get it unlocked. Most people are spending $200 or $300 on the phone. Why use the completely unrealistic $700 example? And even if someone was spending $700, why does this automatically mean that they shouldn't have to worry about replacing all their accessories or buying adapters?
- "Maps isn't broken. It's just a bunch of whiners."
Oh, really? Maps in iOS 6 can't even find my home and I live on a major street in one of the largest cities in America! In London, 50% of all roads are missing. But yeah, it must just be a bunch of whiners.
- No mention of how much harder it is for your thumb to touch the top of the screen while holding it one-handed. This is our biggest problem with the iPhone 5, and this issue is not even touched upon in this review.
$700 - what about people who don't yet qualify for the fully subsidized price? Or what about the fact that you do have to re-up for 2 years and part of your contract price is funding the lower initial purchase price? Which surprises me that we have not seen a class action lawsuit against all cell carries with subsidizes and contracts such that they are overcharging anyone who does NOT get a new device every time their contract is up. If in fact $20 (or whatever number) of my monthly contract is paying for the device - then after that device is paid off my bill should be $20 lower, right?
Typical fanboy review. Examples:
- "You don't like the new connector? Then why are you spending $700 on a phone in the first place??"
Um, nobody is spending $700 on the new phone outside of the few people who get it unlocked. Most people are spending $200 or $300 on the phone.
You are correct that the only people spending $700 are those getting it unlocked.
The bolded statement, however, is incorrect. Most people are spending well over $1,000 on the phone after you consider what you're paying the carrier.
For example, I was paying over $100 per month when I had a subsidized iPhone from AT&T and a limited data plan. I'm now spending $45 per month for a better plan (unlimited data) with Straight Talk - and using the same network. That means I'm saving $1,320 over the 2 year contract period. Since I would have paid AT&T $200 upfront to renew, my 2 year cost would have been $820 higher with AT&T ($1320 plan difference plus $200 AT&T 'purchase price' minus $700 to buy an unlocked phone).
People who think they're spending $200-300 to buy an iPhone are fooling themselves.
Doesn't anyone find it funny that this article only compares iPhone 5 to previous generation iPhones, but not current generation Android and Windows Phone products? Most revealing in this review is not what it says, but what it doesn't...
I assume that the vast majority of people on this forum own an older iPhone and want to know whether it's worth upgrading. I wouldn't look at another platform simply because I want to keep using the same apps and don't want the hassle of moving my music collection out of iTunes.
Apple's had the same connector for a over a decade.
After a decade, you have to invest a little more to accommodate a new connector, and a few matching plugs and so on. Is this *really* a big deal? Because once you *do* spend a little extra, you're set for lord knows how many more years.
It's been a decade. Best thing to do is live with it and be happy that all your stuff worked the same way for a decade now.
Nothing like spending 50k on a BMW to be told to invest in connector thtat doesnt allow same functionality.
My wife and I have been upgrading each year to each new iPhone. As of now we are staying with the 4S precisely because of the dock connector issue. I know that we are not in the majority, but it is a major headache for many people. Both of our BMWs have full iphone integration via the old dock connector (expensive options when we custom-ordered our cars), I have 3 expensive iphone speaker setups at our various offices, I have my high-end home sound system set up with a traditional ipod dock connection, and we have 10+ chargers/cables from previous iPhones that all still work.
Will I eventually upgrade? Of course at some point I will. But as of now, the immense cost/hassle is simply not worth the benefit. Again, I am not saying that I am representative of the general public. But when people structure their lives/environments around a proprietary connection, it is a huge deal when it shifts. Many connections, like USB, are all backward compatible, so this is less of an issue. But not with Apple.
Negativity? I'm not the one complaining about Apple changing a long overdue connector design.
As for your car scenario, when does it end? WIll there be a period of several years that people will never buy another new car just so Apple can finally update their connector to something modern that use it for a decade or more? Of course not! That's ridiculous to even suggest!
it's unfortunate that with progress there will some that will have to question whether an immediate upgrade is worthwhile to them, butt that's part of progress. It can't always be about being slightly faster than before with no other changes.
Let's remember it's been 9 years with the same connector. 9 years.
Without a doubt this is a great phone. Looking at the speed specs almost makes me want to upgrade. Almost.
I've held one. Played with it and can say I don't like the taller form factor. It's not for me. So I will hold off until I don't have a choice (still hoping Apple offers the shorter 4S form factor for many years to come). Albeit I don't use Android phones for many reason, on is that I feel like phones should be smaller not bigger. The 5 seemingly caters to gamers and those who would primarily watch movies on their phones, and that's not me. The screen is still too small to be an effective browser, so given I have the same issues browsing at I did on the 4/S, why not make the screen as small as possible. Just my preference.
That aside, there is nothing else to truly disparage about it. I think the anodized aluminum was a mistake and if I did buy one it would be the white one, but scratches and nicks to the surface of both glass and frame have and always will be a problem on any cell phone.
IOS 6 was a big disappointment however. Maps is a certified mess, and to try to suggest Apple had no idea how much criticism they would receive over it suggests they are a bunch of idiots since Steve Jobs left. It was THE major update they promoted for iOS 6, listed at the top of every advertisement and even the iOS 6 webpage. No they screwed up and made a decision to release it as a work-in-progress -- not the first time, nor the last they have and will do this, just unfortunate they planned so badly for such a major release. It seems like they focused on things like 3D flyovers, which for anyone who uses a map on a regular basis is far less important than accurate data.
The major feature I hoped for is PhotoStream Sharing, which I have yet to be able to share with anybody, other than the public link. Not the way it was supposed to work. Useless until Apple gets their act together, but its OK since it wasn't exactly the biggest feature they advertised.
There are some other features that would be nice to have but not must haves. Panorama for instance would be nice, but not essential. I feel like sometimes we get too caught up in the fun little additions which some Android phones have implemented so badly before the iPhone, without realizing that aside from bragging rights, my android using friends rarely use after the first week or two of having their phones.
I guess I just don't understand how Passbook is supposed to work, or why it will be adopted more widely as a payment system than NFC. So I will reserve judgement on that until I can use it. What I do know is that something needs to be done. Europe's pin and chip payment system is so much better than anything we have in the US at the moment (I love the gas card zip code verification system, as if the criminal who stole your card didn't get it out of your mailbox). But I disagree with the justification that NFC is not the way to go. Frankly given Apple's track record, if Apple chose to get behind NFC, they could set the standard, even making the Android implementation incompatible. If Apple offered retailers 40% of the mobile phone market as easy payment customers, retailers would fall all over themselves to implement whatever standard Apple offered them. Passbook, on the other hand seems like a stepping stone to something else, and maybe it will be NFC once they have a chance to focus on e proper implementation. But seriously, I wish people would stop defending Apple's decision because its not widely adopted, or its lack of standards. NFC, or something like it is the way of the future, and Apple either has not had the time to address it, or has some other non-standard idea in mind instead. But Apple has the customer base and the leverage to set the standard, and do for credit what they have with multimedia and telecommunications. Banks have further incentive to work with Apple since Apple has iTunes and all the credit cards attached to it. Perhaps they will roll out their own system if the banks don't play. This is a reason not to pursue NFC at this time, not all the other lame excuses being offered around the net.
Doesn't anyone find it funny that this article only compares iPhone 5 to previous generation iPhones, but not current generation Android and Windows Phone products? Most revealing in this review is not what it says, but what it doesn't...
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tallest Skil
No, what's your point? It's faster than any Android phone. The software is beyond compare, because Apple's didn't take four years to scroll smoothly. What would you have them write that they haven't here?
Quote:
Originally Posted by SolipsismX
Why is it funny or AppleInsider to compare to previous iPhones running all running iOS 6?
If you want performance comparisons to many other devices check out AnandTech.
Typically defensive fanboy responses, I'd say. I was simply wondering why an article billing itself as a "Review" would make no mention of the iPhone 5's closest competition. I still find that interesting. A review is not much of a review if it doesn't compare the subject of the review to the competition.
Typically ignorant, irrelevant, meaningless troll response, I'd say. We have valid questions. You aren't answering them.
What inherent reason is there for a review of a product to bring in competitors' products? What inherent reason is there for a review of a product to even bring in products from the same company?
It's a review of this product. Not a review of the other products. Not a comparison to competitors' products.
Typically ignorant, irrelevant, meaningless troll response, I'd say. We have valid questions. You aren't answering them.
What inherent reason is there for a review of a product to bring in competitors' products? What inherent reason is there for a review of a product to even bring in products from the same company?
It's a review of this product. Not a review of the other products. Not a comparison to competitors' products.
Good reviews don't happen in a vacuum, they compare the subject of the review to other similar products. Without that perspective, there is no basis for a "review" because there is no basis for comparison. That is how a real "review" is written. The fact that you don't understand this says more about you than anything else. I guess I must have touched a nerve with my post, since it has caused you to call me names and now a "troll" simply because I took issue with the quality of this "review". I had no idea iPhone owners were this insecure and unable to discuss how the features of their phones compare to those of the competition. You see, not everyone who is reading iPhone reviews owns an iPhone or defines their identity in this manner. I've owned three generations of iPhones, but it seems that these "reviews" are written more as infomercials for Apple than anything else. This is a cheerleader piece, not a review.
And I'm sorry, what "valid questions" are you asking me that I'm not answering? Your response makes no sense.
Without a doubt this is a great phone. Looking at the speed specs almost makes me want to upgrade. Almost.
I've held one. Played with it and can say I don't like the taller form factor. It's not for me. So I will hold off until I don't have a choice (still hoping Apple offers the shorter 4S form factor for many years to come). Albeit I don't use Android phones for many reason, on is that I feel like phones should be smaller not bigger. The 5 seemingly caters to gamers and those who would primarily watch movies on their phones, and that's not me. The screen is still too small to be an effective browser, so given I have the same issues browsing at I did on the 4/S, why not make the screen as small as possible. Just my preference.
That aside, there is nothing else to truly disparage about it. I think the anodized aluminum was a mistake and if I did buy one it would be the white one, but scratches and nicks to the surface of both glass and frame have and always will be a problem on any cell phone.
IOS 6 was a big disappointment however. Maps is a certified mess, and to try to suggest Apple had no idea how much criticism they would receive over it suggests they are a bunch of idiots since Steve Jobs left. It was THE major update they promoted for iOS 6, listed at the top of every advertisement and even the iOS 6 webpage. No they screwed up and made a decision to release it as a work-in-progress -- not the first time, nor the last they have and will do this, just unfortunate they planned so badly for such a major release. It seems like they focused on things like 3D flyovers, which for anyone who uses a map on a regular basis is far less important than accurate data.
The major feature I hoped for is PhotoStream Sharing, which I have yet to be able to share with anybody, other than the public link. Not the way it was supposed to work. Useless until Apple gets their act together, but its OK since it wasn't exactly the biggest feature they advertised.
There are some other features that would be nice to have but not must haves. Panorama for instance would be nice, but not essential. I feel like sometimes we get too caught up in the fun little additions which some Android phones have implemented so badly before the iPhone, without realizing that aside from bragging rights, my android using friends rarely use after the first week or two of having their phones.
I guess I just don't understand how Passbook is supposed to work, or why it will be adopted more widely as a payment system than NFC. So I will reserve judgement on that until I can use it. What I do know is that something needs to be done. Europe's pin and chip payment system is so much better than anything we have in the US at the moment (I love the gas card zip code verification system, as if the criminal who stole your card didn't get it out of your mailbox). But I disagree with the justification that NFC is not the way to go. Frankly given Apple's track record, if Apple chose to get behind NFC, they could set the standard, even making the Android implementation incompatible. If Apple offered retailers 40% of the mobile phone market as easy payment customers, retailers would fall all over themselves to implement whatever standard Apple offered them. Passbook, on the other hand seems like a stepping stone to something else, and maybe it will be NFC once they have a chance to focus on e proper implementation. But seriously, I wish people would stop defending Apple's decision because its not widely adopted, or its lack of standards. NFC, or something like it is the way of the future, and Apple either has not had the time to address it, or has some other non-standard idea in mind instead. But Apple has the customer base and the leverage to set the standard, and do for credit what they have with multimedia and telecommunications. Banks have further incentive to work with Apple since Apple has iTunes and all the credit cards attached to it. Perhaps they will roll out their own system if the banks don't play. This is a reason not to pursue NFC at this time, not all the other lame excuses being offered around the net.
It seems that we've had quite a few disappointments under Tim Cook already, but until now those missteps have not directly affected products. With the launch of iPhone 5, we can see cracks in the facade. There is something wrong with the management reporting and QC structure, Maps absolutely should not have been launched in this half-baked state. The responsibility for that falls directly on Tim Cook, who seems to be better at delegating his responsibilities than actually carrying them out himself.
It's a review of this product. Not a review of the other products. Not a comparison to competitors' products.
And how, pray tell, do you review a product without looking at competing products in the space? If you have no basis for comparison, you cannot write a rational review unless you intentionally want that review to be based on nothing but opinions. A good review is not just a regurgitation of opinions and press releases, as this review appears to be.
Typically defensive fanboy responses, I'd say. I was simply wondering why an article billing itself as a "Review" would make no mention of the iPhone 5's closest competition. I still find that interesting. A review is not much of a review if it doesn't compare the subject of the review to the competition.
Your comments are both ignorant and stupid. There is no reason that every single review of the iPhone should also review every single non-iPhone device along with it. There will be vendor-focused sites that will focus on various vendor releases and there will other sites that will focus on new competitors to the iPhone, like the one I supplied. Your entire stance is that AI can't be trusted because it did the former. That's bullshit. I read AT because I like their technical breakdown but since I'm coming from an earlier iPhone to a newer one I really don't need 20 Android phones listed to give me an idea of what changes to expect between devices. Try some critical thinking once in awhile; you might like it.
It seems that we've had quite a few disappointments under Tim Cook already, but until now those missteps have not directly affected products. With the launch of iPhone 5, we can see cracks in the facade. There is something wrong with the management reporting and QC structure, Maps absolutely should not have been launched in this half-baked state. The responsibility for that falls directly on Tim Cook, who seems to be better at delegating his responsibilities than actually carrying them out himself.
Apple is doomed!
5 million in 3 days is a disaster!
The facade is cracking!
The veeneer is wearing off!
Run for the hills!
Pack up the babies!
Grab the old ladies!
Comments
Hmmm... phone niched up already? How soft IS that aluminum body?
Quote:
Originally Posted by SolipsismX
How has it been 3 hours since AI posted this article and they still haven't corrected something a simple as their own rating images?
I think the recent site refresh indicates AI's primary interest is selling ad space, not producing pertinent or compelling journalism!
I'm tired of "fanboy" comments from Fandroid haters on any Apple article that is written. Get a hobby other than rushing to every Apple post.
Apparently anything you think is wrong wirh the iphone 5 is because you are delusional.
No doubt criticism of the phone and the mapping app. has been overblown . . . but this sort of review will not encourage a realistic view of the system. This is not a review it is propaganda.
There is a "Report a Problem" link in the maps app when you flip the page up.
Quote:
Originally Posted by scotty321
Typical fanboy review. Examples:
- "You don't like the new connector? Then why are you spending $700 on a phone in the first place??"
Um, nobody is spending $700 on the new phone outside of the few people who get it unlocked. Most people are spending $200 or $300 on the phone. Why use the completely unrealistic $700 example? And even if someone was spending $700, why does this automatically mean that they shouldn't have to worry about replacing all their accessories or buying adapters?
- "Maps isn't broken. It's just a bunch of whiners."
Oh, really? Maps in iOS 6 can't even find my home and I live on a major street in one of the largest cities in America! In London, 50% of all roads are missing. But yeah, it must just be a bunch of whiners.
- No mention of how much harder it is for your thumb to touch the top of the screen while holding it one-handed. This is our biggest problem with the iPhone 5, and this issue is not even touched upon in this review.
$700 - what about people who don't yet qualify for the fully subsidized price? Or what about the fact that you do have to re-up for 2 years and part of your contract price is funding the lower initial purchase price? Which surprises me that we have not seen a class action lawsuit against all cell carries with subsidizes and contracts such that they are overcharging anyone who does NOT get a new device every time their contract is up. If in fact $20 (or whatever number) of my monthly contract is paying for the device - then after that device is paid off my bill should be $20 lower, right?
You are correct that the only people spending $700 are those getting it unlocked.
The bolded statement, however, is incorrect. Most people are spending well over $1,000 on the phone after you consider what you're paying the carrier.
For example, I was paying over $100 per month when I had a subsidized iPhone from AT&T and a limited data plan. I'm now spending $45 per month for a better plan (unlimited data) with Straight Talk - and using the same network. That means I'm saving $1,320 over the 2 year contract period. Since I would have paid AT&T $200 upfront to renew, my 2 year cost would have been $820 higher with AT&T ($1320 plan difference plus $200 AT&T 'purchase price' minus $700 to buy an unlocked phone).
People who think they're spending $200-300 to buy an iPhone are fooling themselves.
Certainly not as hard as the head of the Android shills around here.
Quote:
Originally Posted by AZREOSpecialist
Doesn't anyone find it funny that this article only compares iPhone 5 to previous generation iPhones, but not current generation Android and Windows Phone products? Most revealing in this review is not what it says, but what it doesn't...
I assume that the vast majority of people on this forum own an older iPhone and want to know whether it's worth upgrading. I wouldn't look at another platform simply because I want to keep using the same apps and don't want the hassle of moving my music collection out of iTunes.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Quadra 610
Apple's had the same connector for a over a decade.
After a decade, you have to invest a little more to accommodate a new connector, and a few matching plugs and so on. Is this *really* a big deal? Because once you *do* spend a little extra, you're set for lord knows how many more years.
It's been a decade. Best thing to do is live with it and be happy that all your stuff worked the same way for a decade now.
Nothing like spending 50k on a BMW to be told to invest in connector thtat doesnt allow same functionality.
Score.
Negativity? I'm not the one complaining about Apple changing a long overdue connector design.
As for your car scenario, when does it end? WIll there be a period of several years that people will never buy another new car just so Apple can finally update their connector to something modern that use it for a decade or more? Of course not! That's ridiculous to even suggest!
it's unfortunate that with progress there will some that will have to question whether an immediate upgrade is worthwhile to them, butt that's part of progress. It can't always be about being slightly faster than before with no other changes.
Let's remember it's been 9 years with the same connector. 9 years.
I've held one. Played with it and can say I don't like the taller form factor. It's not for me. So I will hold off until I don't have a choice (still hoping Apple offers the shorter 4S form factor for many years to come). Albeit I don't use Android phones for many reason, on is that I feel like phones should be smaller not bigger. The 5 seemingly caters to gamers and those who would primarily watch movies on their phones, and that's not me. The screen is still too small to be an effective browser, so given I have the same issues browsing at I did on the 4/S, why not make the screen as small as possible. Just my preference.
That aside, there is nothing else to truly disparage about it. I think the anodized aluminum was a mistake and if I did buy one it would be the white one, but scratches and nicks to the surface of both glass and frame have and always will be a problem on any cell phone.
IOS 6 was a big disappointment however. Maps is a certified mess, and to try to suggest Apple had no idea how much criticism they would receive over it suggests they are a bunch of idiots since Steve Jobs left. It was THE major update they promoted for iOS 6, listed at the top of every advertisement and even the iOS 6 webpage. No they screwed up and made a decision to release it as a work-in-progress -- not the first time, nor the last they have and will do this, just unfortunate they planned so badly for such a major release. It seems like they focused on things like 3D flyovers, which for anyone who uses a map on a regular basis is far less important than accurate data.
The major feature I hoped for is PhotoStream Sharing, which I have yet to be able to share with anybody, other than the public link. Not the way it was supposed to work. Useless until Apple gets their act together, but its OK since it wasn't exactly the biggest feature they advertised.
There are some other features that would be nice to have but not must haves. Panorama for instance would be nice, but not essential. I feel like sometimes we get too caught up in the fun little additions which some Android phones have implemented so badly before the iPhone, without realizing that aside from bragging rights, my android using friends rarely use after the first week or two of having their phones.
I guess I just don't understand how Passbook is supposed to work, or why it will be adopted more widely as a payment system than NFC. So I will reserve judgement on that until I can use it. What I do know is that something needs to be done. Europe's pin and chip payment system is so much better than anything we have in the US at the moment (I love the gas card zip code verification system, as if the criminal who stole your card didn't get it out of your mailbox). But I disagree with the justification that NFC is not the way to go. Frankly given Apple's track record, if Apple chose to get behind NFC, they could set the standard, even making the Android implementation incompatible. If Apple offered retailers 40% of the mobile phone market as easy payment customers, retailers would fall all over themselves to implement whatever standard Apple offered them. Passbook, on the other hand seems like a stepping stone to something else, and maybe it will be NFC once they have a chance to focus on e proper implementation. But seriously, I wish people would stop defending Apple's decision because its not widely adopted, or its lack of standards. NFC, or something like it is the way of the future, and Apple either has not had the time to address it, or has some other non-standard idea in mind instead. But Apple has the customer base and the leverage to set the standard, and do for credit what they have with multimedia and telecommunications. Banks have further incentive to work with Apple since Apple has iTunes and all the credit cards attached to it. Perhaps they will roll out their own system if the banks don't play. This is a reason not to pursue NFC at this time, not all the other lame excuses being offered around the net.
Quote:
Originally Posted by AZREOSpecialist
Doesn't anyone find it funny that this article only compares iPhone 5 to previous generation iPhones, but not current generation Android and Windows Phone products? Most revealing in this review is not what it says, but what it doesn't...
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tallest Skil
No, what's your point? It's faster than any Android phone. The software is beyond compare, because Apple's didn't take four years to scroll smoothly. What would you have them write that they haven't here?
Quote:
Originally Posted by SolipsismX
Why is it funny or AppleInsider to compare to previous iPhones running all running iOS 6?
If you want performance comparisons to many other devices check out AnandTech.
http://www.anandtech.com/show/6324/the-iphone-5-performance-preview
Typically defensive fanboy responses, I'd say. I was simply wondering why an article billing itself as a "Review" would make no mention of the iPhone 5's closest competition. I still find that interesting. A review is not much of a review if it doesn't compare the subject of the review to the competition.
Originally Posted by AZREOSpecialist
Typically defensive fanboy responses, I'd say.
Typically ignorant, irrelevant, meaningless troll response, I'd say. We have valid questions. You aren't answering them.
What inherent reason is there for a review of a product to bring in competitors' products? What inherent reason is there for a review of a product to even bring in products from the same company?
It's a review of this product. Not a review of the other products. Not a comparison to competitors' products.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tallest Skil
Typically ignorant, irrelevant, meaningless troll response, I'd say. We have valid questions. You aren't answering them.
What inherent reason is there for a review of a product to bring in competitors' products? What inherent reason is there for a review of a product to even bring in products from the same company?
It's a review of this product. Not a review of the other products. Not a comparison to competitors' products.
Good reviews don't happen in a vacuum, they compare the subject of the review to other similar products. Without that perspective, there is no basis for a "review" because there is no basis for comparison. That is how a real "review" is written. The fact that you don't understand this says more about you than anything else. I guess I must have touched a nerve with my post, since it has caused you to call me names and now a "troll" simply because I took issue with the quality of this "review". I had no idea iPhone owners were this insecure and unable to discuss how the features of their phones compare to those of the competition. You see, not everyone who is reading iPhone reviews owns an iPhone or defines their identity in this manner. I've owned three generations of iPhones, but it seems that these "reviews" are written more as infomercials for Apple than anything else. This is a cheerleader piece, not a review.
And I'm sorry, what "valid questions" are you asking me that I'm not answering? Your response makes no sense.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mac_128
Without a doubt this is a great phone. Looking at the speed specs almost makes me want to upgrade. Almost.
I've held one. Played with it and can say I don't like the taller form factor. It's not for me. So I will hold off until I don't have a choice (still hoping Apple offers the shorter 4S form factor for many years to come). Albeit I don't use Android phones for many reason, on is that I feel like phones should be smaller not bigger. The 5 seemingly caters to gamers and those who would primarily watch movies on their phones, and that's not me. The screen is still too small to be an effective browser, so given I have the same issues browsing at I did on the 4/S, why not make the screen as small as possible. Just my preference.
That aside, there is nothing else to truly disparage about it. I think the anodized aluminum was a mistake and if I did buy one it would be the white one, but scratches and nicks to the surface of both glass and frame have and always will be a problem on any cell phone.
IOS 6 was a big disappointment however. Maps is a certified mess, and to try to suggest Apple had no idea how much criticism they would receive over it suggests they are a bunch of idiots since Steve Jobs left. It was THE major update they promoted for iOS 6, listed at the top of every advertisement and even the iOS 6 webpage. No they screwed up and made a decision to release it as a work-in-progress -- not the first time, nor the last they have and will do this, just unfortunate they planned so badly for such a major release. It seems like they focused on things like 3D flyovers, which for anyone who uses a map on a regular basis is far less important than accurate data.
The major feature I hoped for is PhotoStream Sharing, which I have yet to be able to share with anybody, other than the public link. Not the way it was supposed to work. Useless until Apple gets their act together, but its OK since it wasn't exactly the biggest feature they advertised.
There are some other features that would be nice to have but not must haves. Panorama for instance would be nice, but not essential. I feel like sometimes we get too caught up in the fun little additions which some Android phones have implemented so badly before the iPhone, without realizing that aside from bragging rights, my android using friends rarely use after the first week or two of having their phones.
I guess I just don't understand how Passbook is supposed to work, or why it will be adopted more widely as a payment system than NFC. So I will reserve judgement on that until I can use it. What I do know is that something needs to be done. Europe's pin and chip payment system is so much better than anything we have in the US at the moment (I love the gas card zip code verification system, as if the criminal who stole your card didn't get it out of your mailbox). But I disagree with the justification that NFC is not the way to go. Frankly given Apple's track record, if Apple chose to get behind NFC, they could set the standard, even making the Android implementation incompatible. If Apple offered retailers 40% of the mobile phone market as easy payment customers, retailers would fall all over themselves to implement whatever standard Apple offered them. Passbook, on the other hand seems like a stepping stone to something else, and maybe it will be NFC once they have a chance to focus on e proper implementation. But seriously, I wish people would stop defending Apple's decision because its not widely adopted, or its lack of standards. NFC, or something like it is the way of the future, and Apple either has not had the time to address it, or has some other non-standard idea in mind instead. But Apple has the customer base and the leverage to set the standard, and do for credit what they have with multimedia and telecommunications. Banks have further incentive to work with Apple since Apple has iTunes and all the credit cards attached to it. Perhaps they will roll out their own system if the banks don't play. This is a reason not to pursue NFC at this time, not all the other lame excuses being offered around the net.
It seems that we've had quite a few disappointments under Tim Cook already, but until now those missteps have not directly affected products. With the launch of iPhone 5, we can see cracks in the facade. There is something wrong with the management reporting and QC structure, Maps absolutely should not have been launched in this half-baked state. The responsibility for that falls directly on Tim Cook, who seems to be better at delegating his responsibilities than actually carrying them out himself.
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Originally Posted by Tallest Skil
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It's a review of this product. Not a review of the other products. Not a comparison to competitors' products.
And how, pray tell, do you review a product without looking at competing products in the space? If you have no basis for comparison, you cannot write a rational review unless you intentionally want that review to be based on nothing but opinions. A good review is not just a regurgitation of opinions and press releases, as this review appears to be.
Your comments are both ignorant and stupid. There is no reason that every single review of the iPhone should also review every single non-iPhone device along with it. There will be vendor-focused sites that will focus on various vendor releases and there will other sites that will focus on new competitors to the iPhone, like the one I supplied. Your entire stance is that AI can't be trusted because it did the former. That's bullshit. I read AT because I like their technical breakdown but since I'm coming from an earlier iPhone to a newer one I really don't need 20 Android phones listed to give me an idea of what changes to expect between devices. Try some critical thinking once in awhile; you might like it.
Apple is doomed!
5 million in 3 days is a disaster!
The facade is cracking!
The veeneer is wearing off!
Run for the hills!
Pack up the babies!
Grab the old ladies!