I wish I never sold my original iPhone. Being seen around town using an iPhone with a brushed aluminum back would make others jealous of my uniqueness. The iPhone 4? Dude, that was so 2010. My original iPhone can’t even create folders or multitask, but no one else has one so it makes me like fifty times more awesome than anyone using an iPhone 3GS.
You’re probably snickering at this ridiculous idea that a unique design completely trumps functionality. I don’t blame you. However, a lot of Apple fans are falling into the trap of this same ideology that claims the looks of the new iPhone are more important than the functionality it will bring with it. Many claim that if Apple “only” releases an iPhone 4S it will be a huge disappointment to fans. “We’ve waited 16 months for a new iPhone and all they’re giving us is a minor spec bump? This is crap!”
What some Apple fanboys don’t understand is the iPhone 4S isn’t “just a spec bump.” The new iPhone, regardless of its physical appearance, will be a significant improvement to the greatest phone ever made.
Of course no one wants to be stuck with an ugly phone that looks five years behind the curve, but before rising up in revolt against the iPhone 4S, let’s consider the current state of technology and where the iPhone 4 currently ranks.
Software, just as important as hardware
One thing to consider regarding the delay of the next iPhone is whether Apple has been waiting 16 months for the hardware to be perfected or whether they’re trying to get iOS 5 right. Clearly the delay has been software related and not about hardware. The absence of an upgrade to the iPhone’s exterior looks doesn’t matter because the software upgrades from iOS 5 are huge. iOS 5 is the most significant iOS update since the release of iOS 2. Over 200 new features have been packed inside the new update: iCloud, iTunes Match, iMessage, Notification Center, Wireless syncing, Photo editing, Reminders, Voice Assistant and many more. Combining all the upcoming features with the most successful phone ever, makes the experience of using an iPhone better than we could have dreamed of six years ago. Adding more functionality to the iPhone, regardless of design, is going to take the iPhone even further into the future.
Apple designs the most beautiful hardware in the world. Yet, people forget that they also create the best software in the world to go with it. This combination of great software wrapped in gorgeous hardware is a rarity the world still isn’t accustomed to. Apple products are like a cosmically proportioned Victoria Secret model, whose body alone has the power to stop wars, yet she’s more than just looks because she’s endowed with the amazingly fun and down to earth personality of someone doesn’t depend on their physical looks alone.
Not only is your Victoria’s Secret model smoking hot, but now she’s totally not gonna be a bitch anymore. She’s going smother you with love and cookies and do whatever you want without complaint. Your iPhone 4S is going to keep track of all your documents, emails, and pictures. Make sure data is in-sync across all of your devices. Download any song from your iTunes library straight to your phone. It will even understand commands you shout at it when you’re too tired to caress it with your fingers.
Form Factor Doesn’t Change Performance
All these great software upgrades don’t mean the hardware upgrades coming to the new iPhone are insignificant though. Plausibility states that the new iPhone (regardless of whether it’s an iPhone 4S or iPhone 5) will upgrade its processor from the single core 1GHz A4, to a dual-core 1GHz A5. RAM will be upgraded from 512MB to 1GB. The camera will now be 8MP, and it will be dual-band GSM/CDMA. These upgrades combine to double the performance capabilities of the iPhone. Whatever form factor the new iPhone takes on, it will be a speedy beast. When did an iPhone on steroids, accompanied by new mind melting software become a disappointment?
For some reason we have developed a mentality that the body of a device completely changes the performance of its internals. This is completely wrong. Changing the form factor of the iPhone does not change how extraordinary the device performs with the same internal hardware.
Continuing the design of the iPhone 4 to the next iPhone is a testament of how perfect the iPhone 4 already is. Glass and metal have never combined so elegantly in consumer electronics before the invention of the iPhone 4. Some will claim that companies should continually seek to refine their designs. I agree. Except when there’s not much to improve upon, why rush? iMacs haven’t seen a design update since 2008 but they still look great and provide the best desktop computing experience available today. I have full confidence that Apple will release a spectacular new design for the iMac line in the future, but it’s release is predicated on whether the new design makes sense. The same holds true for the iPhone. A completely redesigned iPhone will come at some point in the near future, but Apple is not under any pressure to hurry up and release a product that is still in beta.
Perils of Overdesign
Apple understands the importance of design better than any company on the planet. They also understand that it is possible to “overdesign” a product. Remember when Apple felt the need to improve the iPod Shuffle’s design and released that tiny stick without any buttons? Or how the first generation MacBook Air was an overpriced, feature deprived novelty item?
Will efforts to make the next iPhone thinner decrease its performance? Will a bigger screen make the device more cumbersome? What are the true benefits of a captive touch home-button? These are things that deserve careful consideration before supplanting a design that has proven to be successful. Getting caught up in design can sometimes force a company back a few steps. There’s nothing major to complain about with the iPhone 4’s design, so there is no need for Apple to push out a new design solely for the sake of redesigning without giving thoughtful time and consideration to the changes being made, when competition still hasn’t caught up.
Next Page: Lack of Competition, Importance of New Form Factor
Buster Hein is a freelance writer who lives in Phoenix, Arizona. Twitter: @bst3r.
281 responses to “Why an iPhone 4S is Anything but Disappointing [Opinion]”
Hi! Maybe the best article i’ve read since several days about all the new iPhone rumors. Logic and realist. Remember iPhone 4 still the best selling smartphone over the world despite low specifications now. Good design and good software doesn’t need a huge of hardware specifications. Only geeks wants that, not the common people.
I don’t think anyone was expecting a massive spec increase between the iphone 4 and 5, we all wanted a larger screen on the device above all else and that requires a redesign.
And just like everyone else, I’ll probably correct people that call my new phone an iPhone 4, and say, “no, it’s the iPhone 4S.” Because that S stands for “Special.” So true. lulz
If all resides in the software, as you propose, than why should I buy the iPhone 4S if both of them will get the same iOS5? Because “assistant” is iPhone 4S exclusive? That’s hardly a solid point to make me wanna spend another 630€ (yes, that’s how much they cost in Portugal) to get a slightly upgraded phone…
I’m still confident on Apple presenting iPhone 5 + iPhone 4S. For many reasons..
1) iPhone 4S is N90A not N94
2) Was Apple so clumsy before to allow the Apple Store reference the new models prior to announcement?
3) All the case-leaks and also AT&T case inventory would be wrong? I mean AT&T wouldn’t probably play about that….
4) I want to buy a new iPhone, but I won’t buy an “S” version again like I did wth the 3G/3GS before…
Cheers,
Bullcrap. Give us the iPhone 5 Apple!
I for one think the current screen size is fine for my needs. I don’t want to have to worry about weather my new phone will fit in my pocket of not!!!
I for one think the current screen size is fine for my needs. I don’t want to have to worry about weather my new phone will fit in my pocket of not!!!
i totally agree with you…
I’d say it’s a veeeery long article for not much more than saying “performance boost and new software are a great thing”. I for one would agree.
BUT Bust3r, did you really have to add that fat / hot girl comparison, come on!
It will be so underwhelming and disappointing if Apple does not release the iPhone 5. I mean WHY NOT??? The world has been waiting for it! Even if it is just a physically design upgrade, who cares? Apple owes this to the world!
It might be nice to see this article translated into English.
of course im not gonna wait for 5 years to buy a Bimmer with new engine only…
come on, apple must unveil iPhone 5
No iPhone 5, No money from me. Unless the up the iPhone 4S screen size to 4 inches. 3.5 is just too small these days. Come on Apple.
“Almost six years have passed since the iPhone was unveiled in January of 2007” Um……..um…… adding FAIL. 2007 to 2011 = 4 Years ? Fat Girl thing was uncalled for, your not in your dorm room or down the pub mate.
Nice article. Apple has a massive smartphone market share with more adopters coming on daily. Price is stopping people and making them look at Android devices, so a cheaper iPhone that runs the new “magic” iOS 5 will gain even more of a market share.
Take OS Lion’s mentality, invest on the hardware ONCE and you know Apple software will be the best and the cheapest. Very clever approach, get everyone on your platform and once your ‘hooked’ you will upgrade IF you can afford to. So the people with money keep buying the hardware and the people who can’t afford to are still Apple users.
My Mac-Pro is still my main workhorse 4 years on. 4 YEARS! No PC can last 2 years without a hardware boost to handle a new OS. I think Apple are using the same theory in the iPhone.
I agree with you, Buster. But how is strange for my ear to listen from Apple: “The new iPhone 4S with the new iOS 5”. Would be better to unify everything with the number 5.
Ps.
You said: “Tomorrow Apple will unveil the iPhone 4S with beefed specs wrapped in the same old iPhone 4 body. People will take the internet and deride Apple for the move. Some will even threaten to switch to Android, but in then end, we’ll all be waiting infront of the Apple Store on Launch Day hoping we will be one of the blessed ones to get a new device. I’ll probably be there with”.
How is true…!
–
Eliano
http://www.elianoimperato.com
I want at least the equivalent of the competition. 4G LTE .. with a 2 year contract cycle I’m not going to wait another 2 years to get what I could have today in Samsung Galaxy II. I’m not an Apple fanboy so I don’t care about iCloud, iMessenger.
If you want to be respected as a pundit I suggest you grow up and leave your stereotypical (fat girl reference) analogies behind along with your high school memories. Or maybe you’re still in HS?
What you really don’t understand is that those who want the new design actually want the BIGGER screen and the capacitive home button!
Back in May I predicted an iPhone 4S rather than an iPhone 5 simply because it’s unlike Apple to redesign a product after only a year, especially when it’s selling so well. I think they were hoping the White version in May followed by a spec bump in Oct would keep sales going until a redesigned iPhone 5 in June 2012. I hope I’m wrong because I would love to see a larger screen but I doesn’t look like it. As for all the larger cases? Maybe a new iPod Touch?
Nice Article, but how you can say that most of the ppl think that change in design is better performance, its not that, i love my iPhone 4, its no doubt a great design, and i don’t see anything better than that, but its human nature we get bored we need change and thats why Obama was selected.
Apple please we need new design, iPhone 4 is great but we need greatest.
fingers crossed one more day to go.
To the article writer: you do know that sometimes, just *sometimes*, it is okay to be disappointed with Apple. You do not need to justify everything this corporation does merely for the sake of staying loyal. Whether they succeed or stuff up, we the customers will most certainly let them know about it. 16 months for a spec bump. Cmon. If this thing was on time, those complaining wouldn’t be as vocal.
Wow.
Has the author considered that it’s possible some people were hoping for a new design because they simply don’t like the design of the iPhone 4? Personally I find it too “boxey” in my hand and preferred the rounded edges on my 3GS.
I predict an iPhone 5, it would be weird with an iPhone 4S running iOS5.
The iPhone is great, except when using it as a phone, it’s big and clunky. Apple could improve the device going towards smaller, not bigger: Keep the 3.5″ screen but make it edge to edge would cut width by 4-5mm, kill the home button, which breaks anyway and make it shorter by 10mm. To close an app pull down and a close X could appear in the top.
That would take a loft of volume that is likely a lot of battery. Make it just slightly thicker, 1mm say to recover.
“After everything we’ve considered, we still don’t have an answer as to why everyone cares so much about a new iPhone form factor if it doesn’t change how great the iPhone performs.”
Really? I’ll give you 3 good reasons:
1) Multitasking – Do you think Steve Jobs is happy that [as of iOS5’s release], both the Mac and iPad will have the same easy three finger swipe to multitask – but the iPhone still has an older, clunkier method? What you really need before you can make this available on all platforms – and the iPhone is the last piece of the puzzle – is a bigger screen. Then Apple has a new trump card – it can advertise how if you have any one of it’s devices, then you already know how to use the others. Know how to switch apps easily with a swipe on your iPad? You’ll be right at home with an iPhone or a Mac then. OR…If the screen is still felt to be too small for this, then I predict one very useful function of the capacitive home strip will be for multitasking – swipe left/right on the home strip to switch apps. Swipe up on it to reveal the multitasking bar.
2) Screen Size – Apple needs to stay competitive, and *some* other inferior phones do have a real advantage in having a slightly larger screen size. After using the iPad, the iPhone’s screen seems kind’ve…small. Even just a 10% bigger screen would make reading books & web pages so much easier. And of course, would make productivity apps like Pages & Numbers so much more useable.
3) Developers – If with the increase of the screen size they change the aspect ratio to be the same as the iPad’s – then in 3 or 4 years they can make it even easier for developers – only one aspect ratio to develop for = one set of graphical assets per app. Think iOS is the easiest platform to develop for? It’s about to get even easier. More developers/more ease of development = faster growing ecosystem = entrenched position = harder to topple.
So yes, the new hardware is kind’ve important too.
We believe in Jon Ive, and he is the man just for designing and if they will not keep changing design every year than what is the purpose of him in Apple……..i don’t agree…..and if its true still i need iPhone 5
After you install this build, you will not be able to sync devices running earlier seeds of iOS 5. Beta 7 is the only supported version. So make sure your device is up to date before downloading this build.
i think iOS 5, New iPhones and iPod are at Verge to release by Apple Now
http://www.iphoneleaks.net/
He designs more things than just the iPhone, you know.
I understand that. The argument being made isn’t against a bigger screen and captive home button.
January 2007 – October 2011. That’s 3 months shy of 6 years. “Almost six years have passed…”
My main Windows PC has not been upgraded in about 4 years (and was nowhere near top of the line then) and runs Windows 7 quite nicely. It even plays many recent games with medium to high settings. It only really struggles with stuff like encoding video. I have a netbook that runs it adequately under normal circumstances as well, though this one has admittedly been bogged down with junk more recently and needs a reinstall. I like Mac OS and hope to get a Mac at some point but Windows is not always the system hog it is assumed to be. Vista is perhaps an obvious exception though.
This is just a fanboy excuse. I want a new design.
and iPhone sells more than any product.
Buddy. You mean almost 5 years
ah, no. Nice try. It has zero to do with status, and everything to do with wanting a larger screen. Not a TV screen, don’t need 4.3, but 4.0 edge to edge on the EXACT SAME foot print would be just fine. Complete redesign not even necessary–though making it look like a mini-ipad seems to make a lot of sense… aluminum back would be nice for better durability…
One thing I was thinking is that regardless of what techies think about the spec-bump and how good the a5 is, the average Joe and not only, will appreciate a bigger screen more than the A5. Apple and Cook cannot afford to enter the new Era (the “Cook Era”) with a spec-bump only. It has to be more than that, otherwise a lot of people will perceive this as the start of decline for Apple (even if it’s fonded or not). I don’t think they’ve prepared so much for a bump in the frigging specs and the damn assistant!
Either way, whoever launched the rumor about the bigger screen, did it with a purpose…
1. If the “enemies” launched it and there won’t be any bigger screen, some people will be frustrated and will opt for a phone with a bigger screen (like the galaxy2) so the “enemy” will win a small percent of users after this false rumor.
2. My hope is that apple launched it and then cooled it down, so people would become anxious to see what’s the real next for the iphones. If they show up with the iphone 5 tomorrow, I think we all agree there’ll be a “whew” followed by “I’m frigging getting this one”!
Seriously, how long has Apple had the unibody design for their notebooks and the design for their current iMac. The designs just work and they are elegant. Maybe Apple has finally hit the design they like for their phones. Why do we need a completely new physically designed phone every year? iPhone 4 design just works (minus the whole antenna issue).
BTW….functionality trumps design in my book. Especially when I use it everyday.
Dude, pull out your iPhone and use the calculator next time: 2011-2007=4, as in FOUR years.
My 44+ year old eyes would LOVE to see a larger screen. And the home button IS a pain in the a$$; I’m on my second i4 because of it. But I believe Apple will stick to their game plan and release the i4S. It worked with the 3GS, it works with the MBP, MBA and iMac lines and they’ll probably do the same with the iPad 3. I love my i4 though, and I’m in no hurry to upgrade until my contract is up for renewal. I am going to be disappointed, though, that iOS 5 ‘Assistant’ will not be available for i4. I don’t know why Apple couldn’t make it work with the A4 processor, but I’m sure they have their reasons.
Either that, or we’d actually like the iPhone to be slightly thinner and have a screen that’s just a little bit larger. Can I live with it as it is? Sure. Will I buy one either way? Yes, because my 3GS is getting slowwwww….. but I would still like those changes.
Also, you have a typo. Advisory should be adversary.
I think it’s fantastic that people are now comparing phones to computers. I have never replaced my computer yearly, no matter what. But I do change my phone every year or less (when I had Nokia..) so comparing the design of the MBP and iMAc to the iPhone is nonsense.
Nexus Prime (or whatever name they find) will be launching close to i4S/i5 possibly with better than average specs and design. What would Apple do next? Wait another 15 months? And why change the design by then? If it worked before, it can work again, right?
Apple is starting to sound way too confident about they’re “sure sales” in my opinion. Nokia did the same thing 4 years ago and look where they are now. Apple is getting more and more dependent on the sucess of the iPhone and releasing an iPhone4S only is risky. I will buy an iPhone 5 but not an iPhone 4S. Like me I’m sure there’s a lot of people.
Having said that I still believe Apple will release an iPhone5 + iPhone4S
HAS ANYBODY, ANYBODY AT ALL CONSIDERED THAT THE “RE-DSIGNED IPHONE 5” COULD BE THE “ONE MORE THING” AT THE END OF THE KEYNOTE????????
But at least all the cool cases and accessories for the iPhone 4 will fit the 4S, that’s got to count for something.
If apple’s next iPhone does not have a bigger screen, I’m switching to android for sure.
Sure functionality of the hardware and OS are important, but ease of use is the most important factor to me and many users… I find 4+ inches much more useable.
I think you’re trying to convince yourself instead of us.
Speaking of no redesign, what about the iPad 2 ?
Yes. Three months shy of 5 years.
Need a larger screen or no reason to buy one this year for me either, I’d rather keep the 3GS and wait for a phone I like. There are only one or two android phones I’d try out but it would be because of the screen size. The 4G would only be an added plus, not real big on battery since I’m at a desk quite a bit and would carry my charger.
Absolutely agree with you.
I recently lost my iPhone 4 and now I’m getting by with my old iPhone 3G (painful, when you go back from iPhone 4), until the next iPhone comes out. So, as soon as I can, I will buy the next iPhone either way. But… I just hope it won’t be like iPhone 4.
I don’t need a redesign for redesigns sake. I simply wasn’t fully happy with my iPhone 4. Sure, I loved it – the camera, the speed, over 3G it seemed like superphone. But I didn’t like the glass back and I NEVER really liked the design, the black antenna seams, how it (doesn’t) fit in hand. Even when it came out I thought to myself, that I like the design of iPod touch way better. And I want a bigger screen. My absolute dream phone is basically Samsung Galaxy S II with iOS and made by Apple.
So, for me, iPhone 4S will be somewhat disappointing. I still hope that tomorrow we’ll see iPhone 4S 8GB universal phone as a budget version and an all-new iPhone 5. :)
If Assistant worked on i4, what incentive would you have to buy the newest APPLE product. I4S will do incredibly well regardless, because so many people will be coming off 3GS contracts.
Yeah keep telling that to yourself. We want new functionality and new form factor as well. We want BOTH. I don’t see why that is very difficult to put out.
Anyway I am still confident that the iPhone 5 will finally see the light of day tomorrow.
The author of this article is an idiot, my iPhone 4 can do all the things his “special” iPhone 4S can do, no one cares about a little spec update that won’t make the phone any better than it is. It is like putting softer shocks in a Cadilac, either way the ride is smooth. The iPhone is behind in hardware now and having a 4S will keep it behind. Bigger screens are in and 3.5″ screens are out, stop dwelling on your 4S fantasy and be a big boy and want and demand a 5.
There will not be an iPhone 4s!!!! It doesn’t even sound right
Its the name that would be disappointing….Feels gay calling it the 4S….5 is so much better
This was an inspiring article. I currently have the original iPhone, believe it or not. However, I’m glad I didn’t upgrade till now. Money has been tight these last 4 years. I knew that in spite of each new model’s added features and improvements over previous versions, there will be a time when iPhones will have wrung out just about everything in the way of hardware and software that could be for this cycle of evolution. Now’s the time for me to consider upgrading. This article gave me the confidence I needed that Apple has in fact reached this cycle’s apogee.
Exactly. The average Joe doesn’t care. If the average Joe cared, there would be a few more than 50 comments on this article. Apple looks at the 100,000,000 iOS users, not the minority of us geeks that read this stuff. Apple tells us what we want, then we give Apple our money. We don’t tell Apple. If they listened to every little comment, you would all have Verizon on the the top, bottom & back of your iPhones. And if a bigger screen really mattered to the masses, Apple wouldn’t be the richest company in the universe.
This makes no sense. I, for one, a loyal Apple fanboy will be very disappointed is after so long they come out with this. Why didn’t they announce it with the iPad 2 if it is just a processor and camera upgrade? Anyway, iOS 5 will come to the iPhone 4 and you saying the iPhone 4 is “so 2010” contradicts your argument. Why would someone want a phone from 2010 when they can get a phone from the wave of crazy new Android designs? Android is catching up, and Apple knows they need to jump ahead, like they did with the iPhone 4.
Some counter-arguments:
– Software: The iPhone 4 will probably support ALL the new iOS 5 features of the new iPhone, so this argument is actually supporting most people to stick with their iPhone 4.
– Redesign “unnecessary”: By your argument then, there was no good reason for Apple to go for a complete redesign with the iPad 2. The iPad design was proven, a monster seller, and still lightyears ahead of the competition. No one had even come close; Apple was absolutely crushing the competition, by many magnitudes higher than you claim the iPhone to be crushing it’s competition. So what was the logic behind the iPad 2’s design?
The simple matter here is that playing-it-safe with the next iPhone gains Apple nothing. The iPhone 4 was a huge hit, and now Apple’s sitting on more cash and assets than ever. NOW is the time to be taking risks and to push the envelope even further. Apple shouldn’t be giving the competition any breathing room. The best way for Apple to stay competitive is to do what they’ve always done: think different, take risks, and always push beyond the limits.
Amen! I buy and USE functionality, not cosmetics. But then, what does this octogenerian know?
Wow, this article misses the boat on so many levels. The market hasn’t just matured since the unveiling of the iPhone 4, it has exploded. We are in the era of HD 4+ inch screens, 14mp camera phone modules, phones with nearly an inch more screen real estate being the nearly same thickness of the iPhone, and 1gz plus dual core cpus being the norm. So your contention is that the public will ignore that fact that the technology in the phone is old hat and the design is stale simply because its an iPhone?!?! Thats not only foolish, it suggest a slavish devotion that may require medical attention. A 4S will fail. A 4S will mark the ascendancy of the Galaxy S II and Samsung.
The 3GS was the exception, not the rule. 4 generations, 2 redesigns, 1 continuation, point is moot when it comes to phones. As mentioned, the iPad was redesigned, so while that holds true with computers, the mobile market is fundamentally different.
“… that’s why Obama was selected.” Which proves the writer’s point!
I just have to say thank you for writing this, someone finally gets it. I’m excited for the 4S (hopefully they call it the 5) and for me, it couldn’t get any greater. IMHO the 4’s design is the most beautiful thing ever created and my dream for the 5 was a spec bump with new software. If that comes true…. It’s not everyday my dream for a phone that has everything I want just right comes along. I’m definitely excited regarless of a new casing. It doesn’t haw to look different just to look different. That, and 4″ screens suck.
I’d have to disagree with “There’s nothing major to complain about with the iPhone 4”s design.” How about the glass that surrounds both sides of the phone? I haven’t seen another smartphone on the market that requires a case to protect it, bc you drop that bad boy once and bye bye.
I love my iPhone 4 but I want a phone that doesn’t require a case. What’s the point of making a phone as sexy as the iPhone 4 if you have to cover it up with a case for fear of it breaking?
The iPhone 4s is coming, as is the iPhone 5. Mark my words. That being said, making absolute statements like “Clearly the delay has been software related and not about hardware.” early on in your article is helpful, because it lets me know expediently that you’re writing for writing’s sake, and not honestly and objectively examining the issue.
That said, you’re right: it’s just as much about the software as the hardware, and Apple does both extremely well. Stoked to see what is in store tomorrow no matter what.
Have you considered that you do not have to use the GD CAP LOCKS to make your statement??
What an absurd article. Seriously.
People want a larger screen because it’s easier to read text, less need to zoom in on items, better games and video viewing experience. I can’t believe I even need to state that.
The thing is people want the sharpness of the retina display but on a larger scale. I think 4″ would be perfect.
While most Android devices have large screens, they aren’t as sharp as an iPhone 4 screen, so it isn’t a huge improvement over the iPhone 4.
A 4″ retina display would be the logical next step. But it doesn’t appear we are getting that tomorrow. But please spare us the words about how we don’t need a bigger screen now or why we would want it. You’re just ridiculously defending Apple here.
Not to mention the glass back is insanely slippery and the flat nature of the backing makes holding the iPhone to your head incredibly awkward. The curved backing of the original iPhone up until the 3GS were far superior with respect to holding the device to your ear.
I love my iPhone 4, but it requires a case to be used properly in my experience.
can I quote you on that?
“Not only is your Victoria’s Secret model smoking hot, but now she’s
totally not gonna be a bitch anymore. She’s going smother you with love
and cookies and do whatever you want without complaint.”
All other points of the article aside, this sort of sexist writing seriously detracts.
I agree with you (and may be because I am 43), a larger screen and another kind of home button are the things that I wish more…
this has got to be the most fanboyism article ever written…i have the iphone 4 but even i know its not perfect…iphone 4 is far from perfect as you like to make it out but it needs more than just bump in spec and ios
If they really do release the same design with a spec bump, I hope people do get angry and refused to buy it. That way, it’ll be easier for me and all the other people who aren’t shallow to get one!
It is not about specs or other..it’s all about user experience and satisfaction!,see that’s wat apple told us…I want new design so as millions out there..y don’t don’t apple wanna give us a little satisfaction
14mp cameras? I’m pretty sure Nokie is the only manufacturer releasing phones with sensors higher than 8mp right now. Most smartphones have 5-8.
Also, despite the phone’s physical appearance, if it has more RAM, a faster dual-core CPU, and 4G data, then it’s technically not the same phone.Similar, maybe, but not the same.
The 3GS sold just fine after the 3G, I can’t see why people wouldn’t buy a 4S, especially when Apple will make sure everyone knows how much better it is than last year’s model, and people make each other feel lame for still using it.
I think the “one more thing” will be, “…and it’s available today.”
And that will suck for me because I don’t have money for it and I have a genius bar appointment at noon tomorrow.
I catch their typos all the time… because it happens almost all the time. haha
octogenerian > no results found
That’s a good point. Tech bloggers and those who read them might care about spec bumps a lot, but the average person will see it and if it looks the same, not understand why it’s better. All they’ll know is that it’s “supposedly faster or something”. That’s why I can kind of believe the theory of two models being released; spec bumped iPhone 4 for $100 less than an iPhone 5. They kind of did that nonchalantly with the iPod Touch in 2008/2009 I think. The higher capacity model had a faster processor and microphone compatibility.
please stop being pro apple everytime…just cause apple product does not mean you have to be biased…i have the iphone 4 but guess what i have the galaxy s2…its a lie if you say the galaxy s2 under performs to the iphone 4…just youtube iphone 4 vs gs2 and you will see the gs2 is smoother,faster in every department…the gs2 is the only android that does not lag…yes the iphone has better ecosystem built in and has more apps but android has more than enough apps and all the big apps are on both stores and both has there exclusives too…all this articles is a fanboy trying to make himself feel better about the fact that a redesign might not be happening and cant see pass the apple goggles…iphone 4 is not the perfect design as you like to think,its not durable,uncomfortable compared to the 3gs,has antenna issue and for many its unusable with out a case…i know this is a apple site but that does not mean you cant be unbiased….its been 16 month,if they expect me to buy the next iphone i want more than just a bump in spec and i am sure a lot of people are thinking the same too.
Another good point! The iPhone 3G and 3GS both ran iOS 3.x while iOS 4 was released in tandem with the iPhone 4, naturally. So why wouldn’t there be an iPhone 5 to go with iOS 5?
Wow a lot of people hate the author. That’s a bit harsh.
Here’s how I see it: Apple needs to redesign the iPhone. It’s been too long since the last iPhone. By waiting this long to launch the iPhone, they’ve painted themselves in a corner. They need to launch something that’s “worth” 16 months of waiting. I know that some, including the autor, think that as long as Apple shows new CpUs and GPUs and better cameras that everything will be alright. But, really, you can put lipstick on an iPhone…….I’m not saying that the iPhone 4 design is bad in any way. It was definitely a design marvel, and still is. The issue is that Apple took too long and now people want an iPhone that looks like it’s been in the works for a decade, which is what it feels like.
I will not buy an iPhone 4S, I will; however, buy an iPhone 5 with a 4″ retina display and a capacitive home button. I already have my iPad 2 for iOS 5 voice recognition.
Hmm the hardware aesthetic change (assuming thinner and bigger screen) is important to me because:
– A larger screen means easier reading, more screen real estate, gaming potential, etc.
– Thinner means taking up less space in my pocket
I just want the iPhone. No other device can do what the iPhone can do as well as it can. I have a Pre that showed promise but got trounced by the 3GS. Android phones can do a lot but its UI is clunky and cluttered. So I’m gonna love my new iPhone, whether it’s the 4S or the 5. Long live iPhone.
If Lamborghini puts its internals into a plain looking VW, yet price it the same as a normal Lambo, wouldn’t it make a difference in consumers’ perception?
This guy is full of crap! We want the next iPhone (4S or 5 or whatever) to be a major redesign.
that analogy doesn’t fit for what I’m talking about. The analogy would be, if Lamorghini came out with a newly designed car in 2010…and then in 2011 rather than redesign the car they just increase engine performance for the 2011 models. This is exactly what car companies do. They find a design that works and they hold to it for a few years and make small improvements, not overhaul the design every year. We don’t get mad when car companies don’t give us a new design every year, but now we’re mad because Apple didn’t add new cupholders?
I wanna new iphone design, if tney releasing 4S and have same design as 4 i will never buy it and waiting for 5….
I don’t need 8 mp camera, i don’t need facetime HD, i don’t need a5 cheap, i wanna new desigen with new feauters……
If they release 4s, i don’t upgrade my 3g iphone, so i will jist update my ipad 2 ios, and also update my brothers iphone 4
http://www.iphoneleaks.net/2011/07/do...
people want a BIGGER SCREEN…thats the importance of the new design. BIGGER. SCREEN. 4 inches!!!
It;s official, sticking with my iphone 4 not buying the 4S, rather wait till next year. Way to go Apple, your just watching the parade go by.
I may be the world’s biggest disappointed person! I will never buy iphone 4S, Apple you have just ruined your customers! bye bye for ever
iPhone 4s only is a massive marketing failure for Apple. Sales will suffer substantially.
Nothing shallow about not wanting to spend hundreds of dollars on a phone that isn’t much of a difference to most users who already own a 4 once they download the new operating system.
If your thoughts that “form does not matter, its only internals that matter”… if that was the case – car manufacturers would never need to modify the look of their cars.. But they do update them, because people want a change, or at least the perception of change.. I want to pull my iphone 5 (4s, whatever) out of my pocket and see that i have the new one..
Have you considered that caps or not his statement still reads the same and you are just some anal internerd who is bothered by trivial internerd things? Does your computer read things to you and when people type in caps your computer yells it to you? No? Didn’t think so. Life will be much more comfortable when you pull the stick out of your ass.
It’s not though. It looks the same, but it has a dual-core processor (faster, more efficient for multi-tasking, and better graphics processing), vastly improved camera, world phone capabilities.
Shallow: not exhibiting, requiring, or capable of serious thought
I’m a big Apple fan, but I’ll stick with my iPhone4 untill the 5 arrives. I want a bigger screen en and à slimmer design. I feel really disappointed!
“This is exactly what car companies do. They find a design that works and
they hold to it for a few years and make small improvements, not
overhaul the design every year.” This is true… But we are talking about a $200 phone, not a car! I want a new design! I like design and I like change. This was needed and they completely disappointing me. This article’s opinion/your opinion seems to be anything but the popular at this point. Maybe next time they release an iPhone you will see how much a re-design makes a difference!
Well-ballanced, articulate, and interesting article. However, for me, it’s not that the iPhone 4S is disappointing as an new phone, it’s that we are now so used to a major update to the iPhone each year that only a small makeover falls short of those expectations. Apple really needs to think about Expectation control.
I feel robbed!!! BIG DEAL about the stupid needless software upgrade. I wanted a bigger screen and faster data speed (4G) didn’t get EITHER. This is it, I’m done. Android here I come!
Here’s the bottom line—the iPhone 4S is probably the BEST phone on the market right now, period. However, I feel totally let down and I’m not going to upgrade, because it’s only marginally “better” than the iPhone 4. The problem here is not with the product itself, but with the fact that Apple has not lived up to the unbelievable hype surrounding this product because it came so late. If the iPhone 4S would have come out in June, it would have been great, and I would have bought it. Now, I really don’t care and I’ll just wait until the iPhone 5 comes out next year.
In short—the iPhone 4S has a better camera and a faster processor. That’s it. They might be better, but the camera and speed on my iPhone 4 is good enough, so I’ll wait. iCloud will work on iPhone 4, and I bet Siri will too.
iFan gibberish… i just switched to Android couldn’t be happier. Apple charges for most apps android gives for free. I can search and download any song from my phone no charge. I can customize my very smooth UI the way Apple will never allow. I’ve owned both iPhone and android trust me android rocks.
Way to go Apple,,, what a dissapointment.
Samsung Galaxy S 2 > iFail 4S
Lamborghini doesn’t make incremental changes. They make a whole new one every 10 years. But that’s irrelevant. You’re right, i want a new iPhone. The 16 month wait coupled with apples senseless secrecy followed by a minor update is what does it for me. Im mad I’m not going to lie.
Goodbye iPhone….hello Nexus Prime!
S stands for Speechless. Yes, looks like I’m going Android.
It’s a great phone I would love one but some people are just get so mad just because they didn’t add a curve to it I like e iPhone 4 design it looks awesome it got iOS 5, cloud, a5, 8 mp that’s like the resolution of a nth quality camcorder, hd video, more ram, more pixels, even better display, voice commands, gsm and CDMA and what phone works with 3 out of the 4 carriers and it’s missing tmobile and t sucks I would love to get and who needs it more skinnier and lighter getting under 3 ounces is very light and why do you need a new 0.37 inch screen upgrade
This is exactly why the iPhone 4S is disappointing: Sure the 4S is going to be the best iPhone ever but take one look at the Android market and you can find phones that have the same if not better specs. Personally I thought the iPhone 4 design was great, but could they at least have put a bigger screen on the 4S? It’s been 4 years and we’re still stuck with the 3.5 inch screen! I think Apple disappointed most of the 3G and 3GS users like me who were expecting to upgrade to a phone that will just blow everything out of the water or at least be on par with everything else on the market. Turned out to be just a mediocre upgrade from the iPhone 4.
Of all the Apple blogs this one is the most fanboyish what a ridiculous article.
I never upgrade to half version of iPhone (3S, 4S). After 16 months, this is all Apple can do, iPhone 4S…? What a pity release! I can forgive this if iPhone 4S was released back in June, not now. Why would I want to upgrade to this from my current iPhone 4? I’m not going to waste $300 just to get a phone with better camera and processor. I can place the bet that most of current iPhone 4 users won’t upgrade to this one. For the first time, I can say that Apple is full of sh.t to release a minor upgraded phone at this point. This is a good reason for Android phone manufacturers laugh their a$$ off. I won’t be surprise if the Apple starts losing more market share to Android phones because of this. Well, nothing else to say but good luck to Sprint users: Let’s Talk iPhone, Biggest Disappointment of the Year…
iPhone 4S, A Joke of the Day!
What a load of crap!
Apple’s new CEO had a great opportunity to show that the momentum and creativity
has not been lost at Apple. This could be his first big mistake for not seizing
such a major opportunity.
As for trying to get the software right, that should be a standard and not an option when you’re the largest company in the US. They have heaps of resources they could use to deliver a new look phone and the best software. Lets not forget that this is their “HALO” product – a product used to wow current Mac users and, most importantly, non Mac users.
SE have had phones with 12MP cameras out since 2009.
If it had a 4″ screen, you would have said that 4″ is the perfect size for a phone.
How does Steve Jobs balls taste like? Seems like you have your lips wrapped around them!
This article is completely true. I would also like to add that Apple is thinking in the long run, whereas customers are thinking “now now now.” There’s only so much you can do to a phone design-wise that makes sense. Apple has already had an aluminum, rounded back. If they revert back to that design, what’s next? With the logic you pissed off Apple fanboys have, iPhone 6-7S-8-9S-10 would be a disappointment too. Design only goes so far. Ultimately it’s the software that matters…
The Android UI is heavily customisable. Its as clunky (or not) as you make it, rather than being forced into just a single (not always intuitive) way of doing things.
For example, I much prefer having separate buttons for different tasks (options, home, back, search) rather than being forced into using just a single multifunction button.
I like being able to choose if I want a 5″ screen, or a 2.5″ screen, a QWERTY keyboard, or not, rather than being forced to buy a “one size fits all” device.
Bottom line, I wanted a phone with a big screen (so I wouldn’t have top zoom web pages to see them) that I could shoot 3D video on and easily replace the battery (should I need to) and write my own apps for without having to jailbreak or pay a fee. That certainly is not the iPhone.
Capacitive home button, are you sure? The fact the iPhone has a physical button IMO is one the things that is good about it.
My Android phone has capacitive buttons and its far too easy to accidentally press them when using the touch screen near to the buttons. Pretty frustrating playing a game then tapping the right side of the screen (eg to turn in Asphalt as I do not like the motion controls) but accidentally triggering the home button instead.
What’s even more crazy is apple still has not addressed, admitted or FIXED the antenna issue on the iPhone 4. The iPhone 4 was a horrible design, I still get the iPhone 4 death grip. Now they are releasing the 4S with the same shotty design. Unreal.
ummmm…seriously? Guess you have read much today because they actually did improve the antenna to fix dropped calls issue
How disappointment :-(
the success of a smartphone directly correlates to the amount of cases/accessories are available for it, and if you look at the amount available for the galaxy s2 now, i’d say its very competitive against the iphone.
p.s. you have clearly never used a samsung galaxy s2. i have been using both the iphone 4 and the samsung galaxy s2 for the past year, and the galaxy s2 performs more efficiently.
Ahahaha!!! You are well said, but your opinions put forth as fact are ridiculous. I owned an iPhone4 for a week, coming from a Droid X. I tapped it to the extreme. Jailbroke. Cydia. Apps. Etc. And once I added in my background, paid for iGrid, and made it look like a custom screen, it never even touched my Droid X. Took it back and got a Bioinic. Not even talking up about Android though. Many good phones… But an iPhone… cmon. you want to get spoonfed forever?
HSPA+ is just as fast if not faster than the current 4G LTE specs. Apple could have gone with LTE, but then the iPhone wouldn’t have been as good, less battery life, thicker, the LTE chipsets are still not good enough for Apple. Apple will do LTE when it’s ready for primetime.
Also, Siri won’t work on the older iPhone 4, remember DUAL-Core (and dual graphics).
New design would have been cool. BUT it would have had the same new features that the new iPhone 4S has. Dual-Core, 7x faster graphics, Siri Voice recognition that works.
Apple doesn’t do anything till is nearly damn perfect.
BTW the iPhone 3G to 3GS was a huge upgrade, it was nearly twice as fast as well and did video recording for the first time.
Plus the new camera (in the iPhone 4S) is more sensitive and blows away any other 8MP camera. Also, Imagine 70% leeway in image stabilization for 1080P video recording! The 5MP camera with only 4 lenses in the iPhone 4 gave better pictures than most 8MP camera phones last year. I’d like to see the infrared features of their new camera too…
Oh look my half year old Samsung GII is much better, cheaper but hey i will overpaid for this two year old Iphone just tu get new slower A5 procesor
I’m sorry you feel that way about the SG2. Apple does have competition, it’s merely people whom refuse to see the truth that say otherwise. Apple has brand recognition but it seems that the age of Apple being the smartphone innovator is coming to a close.
A sad upgrade that took apple years to release. They’ve now lost the boat as today’s specs are much higher and the 4s is no longer a leader, but simply catching up with the competition.
The Galaxy S2 has the most amazing 4.3″ screen, dual core 1.2GHz, micro SD expandable storage, 8MP camera, 1080p video, 1 GB ram, voice command capability, fully accessible and customizable operating system, is thinner, lighter and than the 4S and has been working SOLIDLY for the 6 months I have owned it.
Apple has been 6 months late to release a product which not only relies on Samsung electronic components, but is sadly behind the competition in terms of specification.
For some reason we have developed a mentality that the body of a
device completely changes the performance of its internals. This is
completely wrong. Changing the form factor of the iPhone does not change
how extraordinary the device performs with the same internal hardware.
Continuing
the design of the iPhone 4 to the next iPhone is a testament of how
perfect the iPhone 4 already is. Glass and metal have never combined so
elegantly in consumer electronics before the invention of the iPhone 4.
The mindlessness continues………………. (Yes design where the
phone looses signal and glass on front and back “Perfect” LOL)
Is this a joke? It’s the same phone as the 4 should have been – better battery, antenna that works. Voice commands??? You mean like Android has had since day 1 with Google Voice?!?! (And nobody wants voice recognition anyway – try saying something into your phone on a windy day or in a busy street!)Underwhelming.They’ll sell a zillion to the rather easily pleased faithful, as usual…
The 4G android phones are THINNER, LIGHTER, and offer comparable battery life to the iPhone. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE don’t talk about things you obviously have no idea about.
Wrong — its fixed
Did you actually read this, you are exactly the same sucker who wants a new phone shell to show off. How can you improve radically on a masterpiece
I seriously hope sales go to sh*t cause Apple needs to feel what it’s like to be in 2nd place! Maybe that will give them a good enough reason to make something more then a half ass phone witha few upgrades. Honestly I wouldn’t be this upset if I didn’t have an iphone 4 but I got one around the beginning of this year and was hoping for something to blow my mind not something thats a little faster! There is no way in hell I will be spending $600 or more on this phone due to I have an iphone 4 and still have a year until I get a new contract. If Apple allows us iphone 4 users to upgrade then hell I will be happy but yeah right now it’s a huge disappointment. I would be willing to exchange my iphone 4 and pay a little more keeping the same contract and all for the new phone with something revolutionary but if that’s all apple has to offer then I can’t do much about it :/
Yeah but your saying just for that your willing to spend $600 on something that doesn’t improve much and I say $600 because that is without a contract. If your getting a new contract yeah take your chances but again most contracts are every 2 years your taking your chances if the next iphone comes out in 2012. I would love to see a comparisson in graphics to please someone show me the difference from the iphone 4 and the iphone 4S in graphics yeah it may be faster but show me some proof!
lol half of the people on this thread are employees of apple sent to forums EXACTLY like this to help promote their products .. some a$$holes actualy have the ordasity to say the iphone was ‘perfect’ and try to dismiss our opinions by saying were narrow minded over the ‘design’,, look we dnt give a fuck about the design ,,its the principle … apple releasing yet another product that has a few extras from the previous one ,,,same with ipods and as for the ipad ,, a bigger ipod touch n thats it eeerm lets just not go there ,,, apple are a complete rip off and some of you people need to pull ur heads out of steve jobs ass n realise your being milked.
When will apple actualy release something new? dont get me wrong the introduction of the ipods to play mp3 and mp4 was great and innovative. But as for their phones ,its just turned into a disgrace ,even the name sais it all , iphone 4s ,, theres been 4+ of these pathetic devices now. what next iphone 5 ? this time it has blue buttons and 1 whole mega pixel extra on the camera …wooow go buy go buy
False, this article is crap and you know nothing. Think of this, why wouled you release the iphone 4S after 16 months of the iphone 4, most people like my self got it on the first day, let’s see most contracts are 2 years that’s 24 months! What the hell is Apple trying to pull they are pretty much telling you that you have to buy it retail price which is around $600! I guess there making a lot of people wait for the new iphone release next year. I just love how people will waist there money on a small upgrade if they already have an iphone 4. That’s called stupidity!
Eh, no. Let’s fix it. Your a Lambo owner and your car is your statement piece. But, you have the same engine as most other cars. Every year Lambo releases a car, as engines double their performance every year, but looks more-or-less the same.
Meanwhile, VW have been having a design explosion. In this process they’ve developed a whole range of cars including a few sexy ones. Sure, none are quite as sexy as your Lambo, but they get performance upgrades quickly, to a higher spec.s and their design changes substantially with new releases.
Suddenly, your Lambo feels a bit yesteryear and you think to yourself, hey, I want people to notice my new stuff and think “I’ll get one of those new fancy VWs”.
yes the samsung has this “amazing” technology that the iphone does not, however being an android user and hearing this drible about specs before tell me what I can do about the horrible battery life, the bloatware, awful and i mean awful keyboard, the constant running out of internal memory when running 3 or more apps? your probably saying i need to buy the latest and greatest android phone to fix these issues, well I bought the samsung nexus s and it is still as shity as my htc desire! i cant wait to go back to the iphone 4s .
android does such a good job at getting software right? what about the bug in gmail for android 2.3? what about not having standard software updates over all phone and all phone companies?
why do you want 4g? is actual 4g even available? and the bigger screen? for what?
This is an article about nothing. You mention a few apps, go into detail about how Apple is the best at everything including stirring coffee. But you never actually speak in any level of detail as to why it’s the best.
Hardware specs and comparison to other smartphones? Nope.
OS features? Nope.
What exactly makes it the best? Apparently, just the fact that ” Apple products are like a cosmically proportioned Victoria Secret model, whose body alone has the power to stop wars, yet she’s more than just looks because she’s endowed with the amazingly fun and down to earth personality of someone doesn’t depend on their physical looks alone”.
i phone 4s is shit
apple died when steve jobs left, I hope you aren’t paid to write this kind of crap
….after Apple announced the iPhone 4S I was actually semi interested. I decided to go ahead with the upgrade and after I got it, I sold it. It really was crap. I decided to call it quits after being with them from the beginning. Now i’m a very happy owner of an Android phone and tablet…This article is weak.