Lets talk iPhone

by **Saint John** » Wed Oct 05, 2011 7:35 am

A lot of people are disappointed because Apple didn't announce a new-looking phone called the iPhone 5.

Instead, it released the iPhone 4S, which has updated guts, including a faster dual-core processor and new camera, and a new voice-controlled personal assistant app called Siri. But it looks exactly the same as the iPhone 4, which came out last June — more than 15 months ago.

That's an eternity in tech time.

The iPhone 4S will also be the first phone to ship with iOS 5, a new operating system that will offer a ton of useful features like iCloud (for automatically backing up data) and Twitter integration. But iOS was announced at Apple's big developer event this summer, so it's not really new. Plus, iOS 5 will be run on older models, all the way back to the 3GS, which was released in June 2009.

So what is Apple thinking? Was there some manufacturing screw-up? Has Apple just run out of ideas?

Not at all. It is simply continuing forward with its biggest hit product ever.

The iPhone 4 is not only the best-selling model of iPhone ever. It's also selling FASTER now than it was a year ago. Check out the numbers from Apple's earnings reports:

•April - June 2011: 20.34 million iPhones sold
•January - March 2011: 18.67 million (Verizon deal introduced)
•October - December 2010: 16.24 million (this was the holiday season, when sales are usually highest)
•July - September 2010: 14.1 million (first full quarter in which the iPhone 4 was on sale)
•April - June 2010: 8.4 million (artificially depressed because the iPhone 4 didn't come out until June, and people were probably waiting)

That's what a successful product looks like.

Why mess with it by introducing a new design that some people might hate, and that the people who bought the iPhone 4 in the last year can't get anyway because they're locked into a carrier contract (excluding hardcore tech fans and Apple geeks with lots of money to throw away)? And which, by the way, would increase manufacturing costs as Apple has to add a new production line for the new form factor.

A big reason why iPhone 4 sales accelerated this year was the introduction of Verizon in February.

So all Apple really has to do to keep sales growing is add another carrier — which it did with Sprint, who reportedly has already committed to buying 30.5 million iPhones over the next four years WHETHER IT CAN SELL THEM OR NOT.

Now Apple can continue to ride the iPhone 4 wave out another six months to a year, and then introduce the iPhone 5 — just in time to pick off all the early iPhone 4 buyers whose contracts are starting to expire.

Today's announcement may have lacked the magic of Steve Jobs, but it had the pure business calculation of Tim Cook.

It was also a cocky dare to Google-Motorola, Samsung, Microsoft-Nokia and everybody else in the smartphone business: the iPhone 4 is killing it. Catch us if you can.

by **RedWingFan** » Wed Oct 05, 2011 8:08 am

Saint John wrote:I expect 5 will be out early next year. Perhaps they just didn't want to pad the earnings during the holiday season, and opted to wait for a slower period to release 5.

Are you basing this on anything? Previous release time frame patterns or anything? (Not trying to be a smartass or anything. I haven't really had an interest in iphones before)

If iphone 5 is release within the next 6 months or so I'll continue with my current contract til then.

Behshad if you could give your opinion/prediction too, I'd appreciate it!

by **Saint John** » Wed Oct 05, 2011 8:20 am

RedWingFan wrote:
Saint John wrote:I expect 5 will be out early next year. Perhaps they just didn't want to pad the earnings during the holiday season, and opted to wait for a slower period to release 5.

Are you basing this on anything? Previous release time frame patterns or anything? (Not trying to be a smartass or anything. I haven't really had an interest in iphones before)

If iphone 5 is release within the next 6 months or so I'll continue with my current contract til then.

Behshad if you could give your opinion/prediction too, I'd appreciate it!

There's enough evidence out of there of the "existence" of the iPhone5 to warrant speculation that it will be done soon. I think Apple is just astonished with how well it's still selling and want to continue to grow without it coming at the expense of the iPhone5. The funny thing is that other systems, namely Android, are only able to produce a larger screen and faster speeds. They never set the trend. Apple seems content to sit back and let the iPhone4S line outsell all of the bigger, faster phones until after the holidays. Then, I suspect, they'll splash iPhone5 in early 2012 and reset the bar.

by AR » Wed Oct 05, 2011 8:44 am

I'm getting a $50 discount from Verizon if I re-up for 2 years. I think I'm going iPhone just for the camera.

by **Don** » Wed Oct 05, 2011 8:57 am

They're waiting for Jobs to kick it so they'll have one decent product release for Cook before he tanks the company.

by **Behshad** » Wed Oct 05, 2011 9:17 am

RedWingFan wrote:
Saint John wrote:I expect 5 will be out early next year. Perhaps they just didn't want to pad the earnings during the holiday season, and opted to wait for a slower period to release 5.

Are you basing this on anything? Previous release time frame patterns or anything? (Not trying to be a smartass or anything. I haven't really had an interest in iphones before)

If iphone 5 is release within the next 6 months or so I'll continue with my current contract til then.

Behshad if you could give your opinion/prediction too, I'd appreciate it!

My guess is iPhone 5 will come out between Feb-Jun 2012.
Then again who knows with Apple. They fucked up big time and they will learn a lesson from this.
If this was a pure business move , then they forgot that every dime they make is from loyal consumers.
I am more excited now to see how Microsoft/Nokia partnership will work out. Nokia always makes solid hardware but they need Microsoft in the software department.
I know Dan hates Android phones but if you look at the new Galaxy S II , it's an amazing piece of hardware.

Whatever you do , don't get the iPhone yet. You don't wanna get something that's just an update of an outdated phone. I made that mistake when I upgraded from iPhone 3G to 3GS.
either wait or look at Others like Galaxy S II or nexus.

by **RedWingFan** » Wed Oct 05, 2011 9:23 am

Behshad wrote:
RedWingFan wrote:
Saint John wrote:I expect 5 will be out early next year. Perhaps they just didn't want to pad the earnings during the holiday season, and opted to wait for a slower period to release 5.

Are you basing this on anything? Previous release time frame patterns or anything? (Not trying to be a smartass or anything. I haven't really had an interest in iphones before)

If iphone 5 is release within the next 6 months or so I'll continue with my current contract til then.

Behshad if you could give your opinion/prediction too, I'd appreciate it!

My guess is iPhone 5 will come out between Feb-Jun 2012.
Then again who knows with Apple. They fucked up big time and they will learn a lesson from this.
If this was a pure business move , then they forgot that every dime they make is from loyal consumers.
I am more excited now to see how Microsoft/Nokia partnership will work out. Nokia always makes solid hardware but they need Microsoft in the software department.
I know Dan hates Android phones but if you look at the new Galaxy S II , it's an amazing piece of hardware.

Whatever you do , don't get the iPhone yet. You don't wanna get something that's just an update of an outdated phone. I made that mistake when I upgraded from iPhone 3G to 3GS.
either wait or look at Others like Galaxy S II or nexus.

There's probably not a simple solution to get my itunes files onto a droid Bionic huh?

by **Rick** » Wed Oct 05, 2011 9:33 am

RedWingFan wrote:
Behshad wrote:
RedWingFan wrote:
Saint John wrote:I expect 5 will be out early next year. Perhaps they just didn't want to pad the earnings during the holiday season, and opted to wait for a slower period to release 5.

Are you basing this on anything? Previous release time frame patterns or anything? (Not trying to be a smartass or anything. I haven't really had an interest in iphones before)

If iphone 5 is release within the next 6 months or so I'll continue with my current contract til then.

Behshad if you could give your opinion/prediction too, I'd appreciate it!

My guess is iPhone 5 will come out between Feb-Jun 2012.
Then again who knows with Apple. They fucked up big time and they will learn a lesson from this.
If this was a pure business move , then they forgot that every dime they make is from loyal consumers.
I am more excited now to see how Microsoft/Nokia partnership will work out. Nokia always makes solid hardware but they need Microsoft in the software department.
I know Dan hates Android phones but if you look at the new Galaxy S II , it's an amazing piece of hardware.

Whatever you do , don't get the iPhone yet. You don't wanna get something that's just an update of an outdated phone. I made that mistake when I upgraded from iPhone 3G to 3GS.
either wait or look at Others like Galaxy S II or nexus.

There's probably not a simple solution to get my itunes files onto a droid Bionic huh?

Check this out and see if that's what you're looking for.

http://www.pocketpccentral.net/help/and ... _music.htm

by AR » Wed Oct 05, 2011 10:24 am

I don't put any music on my phone. I lug around the 120 GB iPod for that. I have about 90 GB filled.

by **Saint John** » Wed Oct 05, 2011 10:29 am

AR wrote:I'm getting a $50 discount from Verizon if I re-up for 2 years. I think I'm going iPhone just for the camera.

Ed, watch this and then make a decision. Personally, I think this phone is amazing and probably still the best one out there.

http://www.apple.com/iphone/#video-4s

by **Behshad** » Wed Oct 05, 2011 10:35 am

This is the one he meant , Ed

http://www.samsung.com/global/microsite/galaxys2
:lol:

Dan,
You getting the S4 or waiting for 5 ?!

by **Saint John** » Wed Oct 05, 2011 10:41 am

Behshad wrote:
Dan,
You getting the S4 or waiting for 5 ?!

Whatever Apple has available when my contract expires in March of 2013. The coolest thing about what they announced today was the iCloud update. Amazing stuff.

by **Behshad** » Wed Oct 05, 2011 10:48 am

Saint John wrote:
Behshad wrote:
Dan,
You getting the S4 or waiting for 5 ?!

Whatever Apple has available when my contract expires in March of 2013. The coolest thing about what they announced today was the iCloud update. Amazing stuff.

2013 ?!

Dude you are probably eligible for a cheap update off iPhone 4S before then.

Go to store.apple.com
Then choose the Learn More on iPhone 4S
Then choose AT&T/Verizon
Then fill out their quick form and it will tell you exactly when you're eligible for the low pricing

by **Behshad** » Wed Oct 05, 2011 10:57 am

I love my iPhone 4 but after 16 months , I need something new.
Check out these comparisons :

Screen size benefits scale by AREA (length x width), not just diagonal; the AT&T version of the Samsung Galaxy S II has 42% more screen area and Sprint / T-Mobile versions of Galaxy S II have 58% more screen area than the iPhone 4S.

The Galaxy S II HSPA+ network speeds are at least 50% faster with AT&T 21 MBPS and three times faster with T-Mobile’s 42 MBPS than the iPhone 4S’s 14 MBPS HSPA network.

Galaxy S II continues to have the thinnest smartphone design with the fastest network speed on each of the networks carrying the smartphone (AT&T, Sprint & T-Mobile) including today’s announcement of the iPhone 4S specs for AT&T, Sprint and Verizon.

Open Ecosystem – Consumers can use the Galaxy S II to buy music from Amazon, Rhapsody, or a variety of other music services, as well as multiple cloud music services supported such as Amazon, Google Music and multiple video chat clients available for use including Google Chat and Skype. The Samsung Galaxy S II is not limited to a single manufacturer’s storefront or app store.

by **Saint John** » Wed Oct 05, 2011 10:58 am

BB, I bought my 4 in March of this year. Check for me! :lol:

by **Behshad** » Wed Oct 05, 2011 11:03 am

Saint John wrote:BB, I bought my 4 in March of this year. Check for me!

That link I gave you , is through apple and they require your phone # , last 4 of soc# and Zip

by **Saint John** » Wed Oct 05, 2011 11:09 am

November 22nd ... 2012. :cry:

by **Behshad** » Wed Oct 05, 2011 11:10 am

Saint John wrote:November 22nd ... 2012.

That's better than March 2013.

plus if they release it next June, they will have a promo program for you

by AR » Wed Oct 05, 2011 11:17 am

Samsung Galaxy S II looks cool, but no Verizon unfortunately. Like what I saw on the video Dan posted on the iPhone 4S.

Can't leave Verizon. I'm grandfathered in on the unlimited data plan they no longer offer.

by **DrFU** » Wed Oct 05, 2011 11:26 am

Saint John wrote:
DrFU wrote:Whoever decided to do the big Apple build up for that non- event should update her/his resume.

But there really wasn't a build up for the event. Just a note sent out saying "Let's talk iPhone." No media allowed, and that should have told me that there was no major product launch. But ... this update is incredible. The 4S is the best phone out there, assuming you're not a gamer that wants a bigger screen. It has 1080HD capability with an 8 megapixel camera, 9 hours of web surfing battery life, 8 hours of talk time, 10 hours of video ... no other device can do that. And the Siri personal assistant is amazing. Way more than any other phone offers.

And it's 7 times faster than the old iPhone4. For instance, it takes the Droid Bionic over 5 seconds to take 2 pictures (3.6 for the first and 1.7 for the second), but the 4S will take the first one in 1.1 and the second one in .5. I think the biggest collective disappointment is the screen size, but this is still a top notch phone, and still the one that Fortune 500 types and Apple zealots will flock to. I expect 5 will be out early next year. Perhaps they just didn't want to pad the earnings during the holiday season, and opted to wait for a slower period to release 5.

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/ ... TE=DEFAULT

by **Saint John** » Wed Oct 05, 2011 11:26 am

AR wrote:Samsung Galaxy S II looks cool, but no Verizon unfortunately. Like what I saw on the video Dan posted on the iPhone 4S.

Can't leave Verizon. I'm grandfathered in on the unlimited data plan they no longer offer.

Ed, you don't want this hassle:

http://m.blogs.cio.com/smartphones/1653 ... y-bookmark

by **Behshad** » Wed Oct 05, 2011 11:29 am

Saint John wrote:
AR wrote:Samsung Galaxy S II looks cool, but no Verizon unfortunately. Like what I saw on the video Dan posted on the iPhone 4S.

Can't leave Verizon. I'm grandfathered in on the unlimited data plan they no longer offer.

Ed, you don't want this hassle:

http://m.blogs.cio.com/smartphones/1653 ... y-bookmark

Youre bound and determined to defend your Apple stocks , eh

by AR » Wed Oct 05, 2011 11:44 am

Trying to get my wife to take my rooted Droid as a hand me down so I don't have to pay extra to tether the iPad to it when we're away.

by **Saint John** » Wed Oct 05, 2011 12:20 pm

AR wrote:Trying to get my wife to take my rooted Droid as a hand me down so I don't have to pay extra to tether the iPad to it when we're away.

Apple's new iCloud feature automatically downloads any picture, book, song,etc to ALL of your gadgets, including AppleTV. Imagine recording concert footage in HD on you iPhone4S and it already being on your AppleTV to watch when you get home!

by **S2M** » Wed Oct 05, 2011 12:22 pm

Saint John wrote:
AR wrote:Trying to get my wife to take my rooted Droid as a hand me down so I don't have to pay extra to tether the iPad to it when we're away.

Apple's new iCloud feature automatically downloads any picture, book, song,etc to ALL of your gadgets, including AppleTV. Imagine recording concert footage in HD on you iPhone4S and it already being on your AppleTV to watch when you get home!

Wow...I can't wait for that... :roll:

by **Behshad** » Wed Oct 05, 2011 8:58 pm

Saint John wrote:
AR wrote:Trying to get my wife to take my rooted Droid as a hand me down so I don't have to pay extra to tether the iPad to it when we're away.

Apple's new iCloud feature automatically downloads any picture, book, song,etc to ALL of your gadgets, including AppleTV. Imagine recording concert footage in HD on you iPhone4S and it already being on your AppleTV to watch when you get home!

Actually it doesn't download it to your Apple TV since Apple TV has no hard drive. You can access it with your Apple TV through icloud which i have been able to access all my music and videos and pics on my iPhone & iMac through apple TV for a year now.

by **ebake02** » Wed Oct 05, 2011 9:14 pm

I have to admit, the Siri feature is pretty damn cool!!

by **Don** » Thu Oct 06, 2011 2:54 am

Behshad wrote:
RedWingFan wrote:
Saint John wrote:I expect 5 will be out early next year. Perhaps they just didn't want to pad the earnings during the holiday season, and opted to wait for a slower period to release 5.

Are you basing this on anything? Previous release time frame patterns or anything? (Not trying to be a smartass or anything. I haven't really had an interest in iphones before)

If iphone 5 is release within the next 6 months or so I'll continue with my current contract til then.

Behshad if you could give your opinion/prediction too, I'd appreciate it!

My guess is iPhone 5 will come out between Feb-Jun 2012.
Then again who knows with Apple. They fucked up big time and they will learn a lesson from this.
If this was a pure business move , then they forgot that every dime they make is from loyal consumers.
I am more excited now to see how Microsoft/Nokia partnership will work out. Nokia always makes solid hardware but they need Microsoft in the software department.
I know Dan hates Android phones but if you look at the new Galaxy S II , it's an amazing piece of hardware.

Whatever you do , don't get the iPhone yet. You don't wanna get something that's just an update of an outdated phone. I made that mistake when I upgraded from iPhone 3G to 3GS.
either wait or look at Others like Galaxy S II or nexus.

Spring may very well be the time when it does get released.

http://news.cnet.com/8301-13924_3-20115 ... eStories.0

Branded iPhone 5 won't arrive until LTE, analysts say

Needless to say, the iPhone 5 did not make an appearance today. Will Strauss, president of wireless chip market research firm Forward Concepts, says there is a very good reason that it was the 4S that showed up today and not the 5.

"They're saving iPhone 5 for the LTE version and that won't be out until next spring," said Strauss, who tracks companies like Qualcomm that supply the chips that power the 3G and 4G technology inside of phones. LTE offers, among other things, higher download and upload speeds compared to current 3G technologies.

Moreover, CEO Tim Cook has said in at least two earnings conference calls (when he was chief operating officer) that the "first generation of LTE chipsets force a lot of design compromises." He said that back in April.

And it's not necessarily Apple's fault, says Strauss, who says the current implementations of LTE in phones like the HTC Thunderbolt are too kludgy for Apple's tastes. "There's no way they could come out with LTE now," Strauss said. The Thunderbolt, for example, has an LTE baseband (modem) chip and a second 3G chip from Qualcomm for the voice functions.

That simply takes up too much room inside a relatively compact smartphone like the iPhone. Other experts agree. "The iPhone 4 PCB [printed circuit board] is already incredibly small, not leaving any room for an extra chip to enable LTE without shrinking the size of the battery (or increasing the thickness of the phone to accommodate both a larger PCB and a big battery)," wrote Anand Shimpi, a chip expert and CEO of Anandtech. His comments were posted today.

A Qualcomm chip--the MDM9615--will likely appear in the second quarter of next year built on a more advanced chip manufacturing process. The MDM9615 comes in a smaller chip package and is voice enabled, according to Anand.

"Apple (and all other smartphone makers) could [use]...the MDM9615 and have a 'single chip' LTE solution for smartphones...Next year (Q2 to be exact) should be when we can finally get LTE into something iPhone-sized," Anand wrote.

And the move to a more advanced chip manufacturing process will also reduce the power draw for these chips that are notorious battery-life killers. "Phones based on the MDM9615 will likely increase LTE battery life to reasonable levels rather than what we've seen from the first generation of devices," he wrote.

Another big reason to wait for LTE is coverage. There are a lot of places today that LTE still doesn't reach, according to Strauss. See Verizon's "Check for 4G LTE coverage in my area" page.

by **MCC620** » Thu Oct 06, 2011 9:52 am

very sad news today.....

it will be interesting to see if they can keep his visionary drive and spirit alive. i have a feeling they will

by AR » Sat Oct 08, 2011 9:40 am

I can get the iPhone 4S: 32 GB for $249 or 16 GB for $149.

The old iPhone 4: 32 GB is $149 16 GB for $99

Decisions, decisions.

The one thing that might make me wait is having a rooted Droid that I tether my iPad to on the unlimited data plan (verizon).

MR

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