iPhone 5s/5c

[buffdaddy]

Well, Apple announced the succesor to the iPhone 5 today. So what do you guys think, minor upgrade, or a giant step in the right direction? I know there are fans of Android and IOS here so let's try to have a civilized conversation.




5S

For the release of the iPhone 5s ($200-$400), the folks at Apple focused on three key areas of improvement: its performance, the camera, and security. It gets an upgrade to an A7 chip — making it the first 64-bit phone in existence — while also receiving support for the latest graphics standards and motion processing without a reduction in battery life. An improved iSight camera has a 15 percent larger sensor, a larger f2.2 aperture, an improved flash, image stabilization, slow motion capture, and a burst mode perfect for taking action shots. Its security enhancement comes in the form of a fingerprint sensor built into the home button, called Touch ID, giving you one-touch access to your phone, and serving as a password replacement for your Apple ID. It'll be available for pre-order later this month, and yes, you can get yours in gold.






5c

Things just got a lot more colorful in Cupertino with the iPhone 5c ($100-$200), Apple's first iPhone made for the entry-level market. Available in either 16GB or 32GB models, the new colorful plastic phones will come in green, white, blue, red, and yellow, with custom Apple-made perforated cases available to show off their colorful shells. While most of the insides are the same as the iPhone 5, its polycarbonate construction features steel reinforcement that also acts as an antenna. Expect a somewhat-faster A6 chip, and an improved front-facing camera. Pre-orders start September 13.

 

[bakerbarber]

Not interested.

Screen is too small.

 

[mretzloff]

I might switch to Android. Apple keeps cheapening their brand by releasing these watered-down versions of their products.

 

[GardenWeasel]

Love 'em!

 

[Slash McCoy]

The new camera sounds nice. Even the old one was pretty darn good. But apple totally lost me a few weeks ago. I tried to download an app from the apple app store to my jailbroke 4s running ios5 and it told me I had to upgrade the app store app and the OS first. That was the last straw. Obviously I am not about to abandon my jailbreak for a new OS that doesn't have a jailbreak yet. It now sits, SIM-less, in a drawer, exiled into cellphone limbo.

But here is the right direction. Support jailbreaking, the way Google supports rooting. Stop renaming files with cryptic filenames when importing to the iphone. Clean up the directory names for installed apps, too. Make the screen wider, not just taller. Improve the GPS... my droid is much more sensitive. Improve battery life. My droid runs circles around the iphone on battery life. Make it easier to connect a usb device such as a thumb drive. Piece of cake on a droid. On iphone? Yeah, right. Better support for ALL 3g/4g bands in the US and all other major markets.

The best thing apple could do would be to combine their obvious hardware expertise (The iphone, even with its undersize screen, is still an impressive bit of hardware) with either the android OS or a Linux. What a killer phone that would be! But don't forget the battery upgrade!

 

[noahpictures]

I don't understand Apple's decision to offer the 5C and the 5S. For me the differences are very minor. Maybe by the end of the month we will get more info.

 

[rxonmymind]

Yawn. Not a ding against Apple just nothing special. I have facial recognition software on my mom phone if I choose to so that fingerprint novelty is so early 2000. The camera while is a nice feature there are software one can download that can improve any stick phone dramatically. Faster shutter speed, multi shots (15 per sec) etc. The only redeeming feature may be the 64 bit processing which I really don't need.
The only cool thing I'd be interested in is if one of these companies did the following. Not half assed but quality...
Make them print pictures. Yes like poloroid.
Projection camera to be able to display on the wall any home video.
A built in laser qwerty keyboard that can project on any surface.
A bigger screen in the same footprint. Maybe have a tri fold out screen(like a wallet) but paper thin as an option.
Some other things that I forgot.

 

[Greg1911]

My job provides me with an iPhone so I'll probably get a 5S but I prefer Androids. You can't beat free though....

iOS 7 looks like a clown barfed all over the interface.

 

[draysniro]

iOS 7 looks like a clown barfed all over the interface.

 

[Tim_McD]

The new phone's main draw for me is the new processor, but I will sit back a bit and see what the online publications put forth once it is released. I am still pretty happy with my iPhone 4; I am outside my 2-yr commitment and can move up at will or switch to other ATT offerings.

I like the simplicity of the iPhone, my hacking phone days ended long ago, but the thing that matters to me most is phone independent: Network throughput.

I have ATT and it is OK, just slightly better than Vz for data speed and slightly worse for coverage. I am not coverage crazy because I am inside a major metropolitan coverage dome 99.5% of the time (occasional travel to Maine or NH, where coverage and data are lacking).

True LTE throughput is the key to my wallet and that might be the compelling factor for me. I sat out the 4s and 5 releases, but maybe I will have the lovely bride gift me a 5s for Christmas. Just not in "champagne gold"

 

[StillShaving]

Looks like decent incremental advancement. I think the bigger problem is the 5s price point, that it will not be competitive enough compared to cheap android clones.

Apple like many other high tech companies is a victim of its own success. They redefined the mobile phone, provided a platform for special purpose apps, provided itunes, etc, but I don't think they could hit another grand slam like that even if Jobs was still at the helm. I am interested in seeing if they can turn mobile payments into a new market for them, or if people be skeptical of finger print scans, especially after all the NSA secret backdoors and data collection.

 

[Hunter]

It is a phone, one that does nothing for me, if someone wants to spend that cash to get it, well they can do that.

 

[buffdaddy]

If Apple unveiled an iPhone with a bigger screen, I would take a serious look at it. But the biggest news to me is this new streaming music service which seems very compelling.

 

[Toothpick]

I'm an Apple guy all the way. I like the "fingerprint reader". I won't be getting either phone though since my 5 is only a year old and under contract still.

Nothing with these phones made me say "nice! now that is cool!" like they did with the 5: slimmer, bigger screen, lighter....it was a big upgrade from the 4.

so next year when I can upgrade i'm expecting something magical with the 6.

as for these two...eh, it's what i would expect, exactly what they did with the 4S. made it better inside.

 

[rxonmymind]

Looks like decent incremental advancement. I think the bigger problem is the 5s price point, that it will not be competitive enough compared to cheap android clones.

Apple like many other high tech companies is a victim of its own success. They redefined the mobile phone, provided a platform for special purpose apps, provided itunes, etc, but I don't think they could hit another grand slam like that even if Jobs was still at the helm. I am interested in seeing if they can turn mobile payments into a new market for them, or if people be skeptical of finger print scans, especially after all the NSA secret backdoors and data collection.

That pretty much sums it up. It's as if they're coasting and not really trying or pushing the limit. All these changes seem like off the shelf parts from a computer stuffed into a phone. Nothing innovative.

 

[blary54]

Nothing that groundbreaking that I feel I need to run out and get one right away. I have a Iphone 4S that I'm happy with, but battery life is starting to get pretty shoddy and I should be up for an upgrade soon.
When that time comes I'll consider the Iphone 5s but will also take a look at the Samsung Galaxy.

 

[jkingrph]

Think I will wait for iPhone 6

 

[desmoface]

You know, two weeks ago I was looking at new phones - I have a mac at home, so naturally I was looking at Iphones. But, after looking at the competition I came to the conclusion that the Iphone screen is too small.

I wound up going with a Nokia 1020 as the camera is outstanding, which is a plus. So far, pretty happy with the decision. Apple is really losing out by sticking with the smaller 4" screen. I would have bought one if it weren't for that as I'm not a fan of Windows, but the display size was the determining factor.

The camera definitely delivers on the 1020, though.

Lo Res:

Lo Res Crop:

Hi Res (38 mp)

Hi Res Crop:

Steve

 

[Slash McCoy]

Nothing that groundbreaking that I feel I need to run out and get one right away. I have a Iphone 4S that I'm happy with, but battery life is starting to get pretty shoddy and I should be up for an upgrade soon.
When that time comes I'll consider the Iphone 5s but will also take a look at the Samsung Galaxy.

You can replace the battery. It's not all that hard. There are tutorials and new batteries available online.

 

[Khedquist]

Still not impressed and I still refuse to drink the Apple Koolaid. I love my Samsung Galaxy and all the other androids I've had. If fact I am getting an android tablet this weekend for my birthday. Can't wait.