bb-15

Bacillus3 said:

The conclusions in this article would be reasonable if Apple was 1/10th of its size and financial momentum.
At it's current investment and patenting level it is just plain embarassing to bring out a phone with double glass sides, mediocre battery life, and 2015 level inductive charging - whatever it's accomplishments (faceID) that flourish up mediocre advancements in the most needed area's.
And oh, the iPhone X design is nice but sorely needed if not 2/3 years late.

dick applebaum said:

I found the article useful and informative, if verbose.

IMO, DED should avoid the hyperbole and the temptation to disparage the competition at every opportunity:

AppleInsider said:
iPhone X isn't aspiring to look like an angular techie robot on a mission to monetize everyone's content with advertising messages or a square panel of "live tile" TV boxes seeking to impose licensing taxes on the enterprise. 

lorin schultz said:

StrangeDays said:

Using terms like that makes you appear to be a troll.

Even just a cursory look at my posting history would have dispelled that notion. My motivation was not to just strip up shit -- I think people who derive enjoyment from that are sociopathic -- but to encourage writing that is less congratulatory and more evaluative.

StrangeDays said:

[...] DED isn’t a zealot, he’s a columnist and he backs up his conclusions with reasoning and facts.

In my opinion, Mr. Dilger backs up his conclusions with facts the same way a corporate communications or political spokesperson does. He seems to begin with the conclusion then constructs the factual argument to support the premise. One doesn't have to dislike Apple to question fawning praise that dismisses and derides alternative viewpoints and preferences. I like Apple, and usually even agree with Mr. Dilger's assessments. I'm just suspicious of any commentary that doesn't allow for the existence of valid use cases outside Apple's design and that tries to pre-emptively quiet differing views.

StrangeDays said:

[...] This upsets those who struggle with reasoning, fatcs, and the conclusion that Apple’s products are usually better. 

Actually, in my case, it's upsetting because the reasoning and facts are limited to supporting the thesis that Apple's way is always the right way. It's tacitly insulting to anyone with other ideas. I agree that Apple's products are usually better than alternatives, but:

1. Sometimes they're not. From time to time, someone else makes something that's better than what Apple offers. Recognizing and acknowledging those cases provides users with information that may better guide their choices and provide feedback to Apple.

2. As you've pointed out yourself, design decisions are rarely "right" or "wrong." There are usually many variables that have to be considered, and despite the best intentions and efforts of the designers, some of those choices are going to conflict with the way some users like to work. The fact that the choice was made by Apple does not make it unassailable or render those considerations invalid.

3. Starting from a presumption of Apple's infallibility makes it impossible to imagine ways they could be even better. If a problem (or, let's call it an "imperfection") is discussed openly, positive thinkers will come up with a solution. When any viewpoint that isn't on-board with Apple's approach is considered heretical the path to improvement is closed.

StrangeDays said:

[...] Your “calling him out” just demonstrates that you struggle with these things, and or the job of a columnist. 

I'm not a journalist myself, but I do work among them. Much of what I've written here is based on my observations of what they do. But perhaps there's a difference between a journalist and a columnist? Maybe objectivity isn't in DED's job description.

Anyway, bottom line, my objection to praise prose isn't based on disliking Apple or lack of reasoning. Just the opposite. I like Apple a lot, and I know from experience that some of its products have imperfections, in the form of both features that appear to be wildly divisive and some "unexpected behaviours." Basic reasoning tells us that there are no absolutes. I don't expect or want articles that focus on flaws, but when article after article dismisses any notion of there ever being a problem or equally valid alternative approaches, I stop taking the author seriously. That's all.

The worst part of the unboxing is that iPhone X still only ships with an inadequate 5-watt USB charger, even though the new phone supports Qi wireless charging and USB-PD Fast Charging. Actually using either one requires some additional purchases… 

One potential disadvantage over Touch ID is that you can't share a device (some couples apparently configure a shared device using each of their fingerprints); Face ID is designed to work with one person."

* You do not focus on details in this thread and instead made sweeping generalizations. And what you are pushing for in your final premise is that there are equally valid approaches to Apple's ecosystem. That works for your preferences of course. 

- However, what you fail to realize is that techies come with their own different preferences. Certain websites from Android Central, to ZDNet, to Apple Insider cater to tech audiences which have particular preferences of one platform over another. 

Since you have different preferences, you dismiss the descriptions of the iPhone X in the First Look article. That's your privilege. But I do not dismiss those descriptions because my tech preferences are in line with this site. 

* I have decades of experience with tech and have trained over 500 people to use personal computers in various settings. For my preferences what Google and Microsoft have been doing over 10 years with smaller portable tech has not been an "equally valid alternative" to what Apple has done. Again that conclusion applies just for me.  

- I do not believe that the Pixel 2XL, touted by many experts as the best Android phone, is as good as the iPhone X. Overall, I do not prefer Google's ecosystem in terms of how it handles data or consider it to be equally valid. 

- I also don't think that what Microsoft has ended up with mobile tech tablets is as good as a basic iPad for casual computing. I don't see Windows 10 as an equally valid approach in that casual mobile sector. 

* So from my POV, you have not stated some grand infallible truth. Instead what you have done is come to an Apple centric website and have complained that people here prefer Apple products and that they enjoy reading articles which highlight the strengths of Apple products. I think that a tech site named Apple Insider would give a clue to the preferences of its readership. 

StrangeDays said:

mr. h said:

larryjw said:

I attach zero importance to the 5W charger. That might be an issue for first time Apple buyers, but everyone else has a drawer filled with Apple chargers. Apple put a minimal charger in because they know anything more is unnecessary. 

This makes no sense. Having a drawer full of Apple chargers doesn't make your new 5 W charger charge the iPhone X any faster.

The point is, the iPhone X can be charged at a much faster rate than the included 5 W adaptor is capable of. For very little incremental cost (to Apple), Apple could include a more powerful charger. Given the high retail price of the iPhone X, I agree that it just seems mean-spirited of Apple to not include a more powerful adaptor.

It’s not actually much faster. Gruber timed the 8 with the 29-watt charged compared to the iphone 7 without fast charging. At thirty minutes the fast charging was 54% charged while the iphone 7 had it at 43%. That’s nothing to get excited about. 

https://daringfireball.net/2017/09/the_iphones_8

http://appleinsider.com/articles/17/10/02/comparing-iphone-8-charging-speeds-with-fast-charge-wireless-and-more

http://bgr.com/2017/10/10/iphone-8-charging-speeds-fast-charging-iphone-x/

k2kw said:

bb-15 said:

franklinjackcon said:

The Verge seemed to complain about Face ID outdoors. Any thoughts AI or they are just being picky?

My thoughts; the Verge was being picky. 
The Verge test in sunlight had the iPhone X at belt height next to the belt. That logically would be the edge of the range of the Face ID system. 
After all, at belt height / next to the belt this is testing the unlock system while looking up at a person's chin. 
But this is not Chin ID. It is Face ID.
Logically, if in bright lighting, the iPhone X should be moved up to eye level so that the system can clearly recognize the face of the user.
As far as I know the iPhone X will work at eye level even in bright sunlight.   

TouchId works at belt height.