iPhone appeal slipping

[The_Unbeliever]

It's not the iPhone alone that's losing appeal, Apple's policies & walled garden approach are just so backwards compared to the ease of use of Android.

Good point, but -

How are you so sure that people, outside of the nerd-herd, actually give a damn?

Most people don't. As long as it works, looks good etc, they're happy with it.

 

[cerebus]

I know plenty of people who would justify a 4S - or at least, a v5 - over an S3. They are business people in general, nontechies. Screen size doesn't impress them nearly as much as the entire phone experience. The whole large screen syndrome is quite offputting for a lot of phone buyers, perhaps the majority. I just got my wife a Desire HD, turns out even that's too big for her to use.

 

[R13...]

I think Apple need to worry about the shareholders more than customers. If the next Iphone is not groundbreaking or rather they cannot convince them that it's groundbreaking expect the share price to plummet

This is actually all that matters. The iPhone cannot disappoint - Apple cannot afford for their cash cow to come out less than expectations.

 

[R13...]

did someone just say iPhones build quality ? i have 4 friends with iPhones.. guess how many have that amazing cracked back look? all of them. My S2 has fallen down stairs, gone flying across rooms, all it has is a scuff on the side. My one friends iPhone cracked in his pocket while at varsity :/

im not saying the iPhone doesnt have things that aren't good. Its just you cant use that excuse.

And how can you justify getting a 4s over an S3 ?

With logic like that an all rubber S3 would still beat the iPhone's quality in the eyes of the android fanboys (of which there is plenty in these iPhone discussions).

 

[The_Unbeliever]

I have played around a bit on the iPhone 4S.

And compared it to my Galaxy S.

Screensize do matter, especially when typing in SMS'es. I prefer the bigger screen as you can easily fat finger unwanted keys on a smaller screen.

 

[BeVonk!]

I've watched several other people go through 2 or 3 or even 4 Samsungs or HTCs during which time my iPhone has remained as pristine as the day it was unboxed and just as functional if not more than the competition. ... The large screen phones present a larger surface to be scratched.

My iPhone 4 screen = cracked. I see many with the same problem. This happened from a 1m fall on a hard surface. Ask those repairing iPhone 4 screens how well they are doing from this.

Gorilla Glass don't scratch so larger screens do not = more scratches.

My S2 and Note have fallen more times - and harder - than my iPhone 4 and have no marks at all. No chips and no cracks. My iPhone 4 got a chip in the first week. The glass at the back is a bad idea ... why all indications are that the iPhone 5 will again have a metal back (way better).

 

[JStrike]

Who do you think people go to when looking at advice for there next upgrade.... The nerds. Also, it isn't just nerds these days who are getting enlightened to technology news. Being tech savy is becoming mainstream.

If that was the case, then the HTC One X would be the most popular phone, not the iPhone.
The fact that the iPhone is the most popular selling phone indicates that the nerd-herd and their advice they give, is actually inconsequential

 

[werfie]

It's not the iPhone alone that's losing appeal, Apple's policies & walled garden approach are just so backwards compared to the ease of use of Android.

+1, love the hardware and the software works well, but they limit and restrict you in every way they can, and most of it is stupid nonsensical limitations. It is by far the phone I've been the happiest with for the longest, but it's also fading a bit...

 

[bwana]

Gorilla Glass don't scratch so larger screens do not = more scratches.

If it is impervious to scratches then why does Corning only market it as "scratch resistant" and not scratch proof?

 

[cerebus]

I find the iPhones can shatter more easily but the Gorilla Glass phones scratch more easily. It's 6 of 1, 1/2 dozen of the other. One serious drop and iPhones can totally smash up but if not they retain their screens much longer.

 

[undesign]

The Android folk should sincerely be wishing the iPhone 5 is great.

Samsung is upping the ante and Apple must reciprocate - that's how we all gain. Having one dominant player, be it Apple or Samsung, is bad for everyone.

 

[BeVonk!]

iPhone = boring. iOS = boring. Solid, reliable ... boring. I've said this before: Time is now for Apple to come up with something revolutionary because the evolution is taking too frikkin long. If the pictures of the new iPhone 5 that surfaced over the last few days turn out to be accurate I will be very very disappointed in Apple. It's like Jonny Ives have not been at Apple HQ for three years ... sailing around the world or something. Samsung is getting ahead fast. Just like the others have caught up with to the Air with the Ultrabooks. Apple is losing it, and that is why I believe they are becoming so petty with their court cases and app/book rejections.

 

[BeVonk!]

If it is impervious to scratches then why does Corning only market it as "scratch resistant" and not scratch proof?

Proof/resistant ... whatever. Unless they make a screen from diamonds nothing will ever be scratch proof. In my experience it performs great and I have not picked up any scratches on any of my devices with Gorilla Glass. And now there is Gorilla Glass 2 which is even better.

 

[HBee]

It's refreshing to now go to a forum and see objective remarks and not just people spewing the Apple gospel. I am so thankfull that there are companies like Samsung and Google that actualy listen to customers and give us what we want. Life is so much better not having to constantly open the wallet and jump through hoops.

 

[Nether]

iPhone / Galaxy , if you have a protective cover on your phone it doesn't really matter how less durable they are against each other.

Some people don't like having a cover on their phone, I can understand that, but its worth it over your dislike of them.

 

[GreyBush]

I find the iPhones can shatter more easily but the Gorilla Glass phones scratch more easily. It's 6 of 1, 1/2 dozen of the other. One serious drop and iPhones can totally smash up but if not they retain their screens much longer.

Put a good cover on an iPhone and it can survive some serious falls, I drop mine all the time.. dont even stress about it anymore.

 

[BeVonk!]

Some people like not having a cover on their phone, I can understand that, but its worth it over your dislike of them.

I hate covers on my phones. It just takes away the essence of the device - what the designer wanted you to experience. It's like people putting protective material covers over the leather seats in their cars.

 

[BeVonk!]

It's like the antenna-gate saga scared all innovation/risk-taking out of Apple.

 

[Nicko]

With logic like that an all rubber S3 would still beat the iPhone's quality in the eyes of the android fanboys (of which there is plenty in these iPhone discussions).

Its all about practicality, in my eyes the build quality of a phone is about the durability of the phone and the visual appeal of the phone. If that can be achieved with rubber then by all means I would take that over a fully metal phone that shatters upon any physical impact.

 

[BeVonk!]

Before the iPhone 4S came out there were some promising looking mock-ups doing the rounds. I remember one where the phone had a wedge shape (like the Air). That is what I'm hoping for in the "5".