Apple confirms September 10th iPhone event

[Subyman]

http://store.apple.com/us/buy-iphone/iphone5c

5C Unsubsidized for $549 (16GB) and $649 (32GB).

what a ripoff

Wow, they are proud of that thing. Oh well, most high schoolers will only see $99 and be set.

 

[Eug]

they said you can preorder the 5c on the 13th, not the 5s. they just said the 5s comes out on the 20th but i didn't hear if you could preorder it beforehand. i'm going to be on vacation down in the keys on the 20th (which is also my 5 year anniversary heh), so it would be nice to preorder it before and just have it when i get home.

Ah, I see. I see on their store now for Canada you can only order from the 20th. Damn.

I wish they would have listed off-contract pricing, but I'm thinking it will be:

CAD$450: 4S
CAD$599: 5C 16 GB
CAD$699: 5C 32 GB, 5S 16 GB
CAD$799: 5S 32 GB
CAD$899: 5S 64 GB

Hmmm... I'm liking the 5S, at least when you consider that the 5C isn't cheap, but do I really want to spend $800 on an off-contract 32 GB 5S? Ouch. That's more than I spent on my last (used) MacBook.

Nope. It's worse than I thought.

CAD$450: 4S
CAD$599: 5C 16 GB
CAD$719: 5C 32 GB, 5S 16 GB
CAD$819: 5S 32 GB
CAD$919: 5S 64 GB

So I either buy the 5C 16 GB for $600, or splurge and get the 5S 32 GB for $820. Hmm....

http://store.apple.com/us/buy-iphone/iphone5c

5C Unsubsidized for $549 (16GB) and $649 (32GB).

what a ripoff

That's exactly what they want you to do. And it may work for me too, if I can stomach the $819 CAD price. 🙁

 

[cronos]

http://store.apple.com/us/buy-iphone/iphone5c

5C Unsubsidized for $549 (16GB) and $649 (32GB).

what a ripoff

Great! At least they have this page up right away. Although apparently the full price is just for T-Mobile version.

I'm somewhat happy now. Thanks 🙂

 

[JAG87]

Maybe I am slow, but can anyone help me understand why anybody would want to buy an unlocked Model A1533 when model A1453 supports everything the former does plus two more LTE bands? Why is it that A1453 is listed as supporting only Sprint?...

http://www.apple.com/iphone/LTE/

 

[Rakehellion]

M7 knows when you’re walking, running, or even driving. For example, Maps switches from driving to walking turn-by-turn navigation if, say, you park and continue on foot. Since M7 can tell when you’re in a moving vehicle, iPhone 5s won’t ask you to join Wi-Fi networks you pass by. And if your phone hasn’t moved for a while, like when you’re asleep, M7 reduces network pinging to spare your battery.

Oh, that's actually pretty useful.

 

[jpeyton]

There goes any illusion of Apple wanting to compete in emerging markets with the 5C.

 

[Rakehellion]

I didn't say they only publish the full prices and let people wonder about the contract prices. Just show it right there next to the contract prices, e.g. iPhone 5C 16 GB - $99 ($400 off contract).

It's not that hard. Plus, I think this type of event is Apple's show, not AT&T, Verizon, or Sprint. I think it's appropriate for Apple to publish the prices they're actually selling these phones for, instead of the prices the carriers are going to sell them after subsidizing the prices in return for contract commitments.

Look at any price for anything. MacBook Pro starting at $1199. They don't mention the $3000 maxed out price.

It's called marketing.

 

[Rakehellion]

There goes any illusion of Apple wanting to compete in emerging markets with the 5C.

The 4S is free on contract. Did the 5C run over your dog or something? What's with you?

 

[Doppel]

Ok, the last interesting thing introduced by Apple was Siri, two years ago. Can we finally all agree that without Jobs Apple is just another tech company? They are no longer innovative leaders. They are no longer interesting.


I love my iPhone 4s but seriously the 5s doesn't even seem interesting. Finger print scanner is kind of nifty but nothing more.

 

[Subyman]

Just got out of a work meeting, missed everything! Arg! So the 5S seems to be missing:

* 128GB
* NFC
* 802.11ac
* LTE-Advanced
* Higher megapixels
* RAM upgrade
* Larger screen

So the 5 is now the 5C, just in plastic version? And basically we just have a faster 5 with a fingerprint sensor?

A larger screen wasn't going to happen at all. They didn't speak about a RAM upgrade, so it could still be in there. The resolution of the sensor is specifically tuned to the megapixel rating, so arbitrarily increasing megapixel without the subsequent increase in sensor size is pointless (see most android phone.)

NFC will come eventually, they had a lot of stuff to roll out with the new iOS, finger sensor, releasing two brand new lines, etc. LTE-A and 802.11ac are interesting omissions, 802.11ac more so than LTE-A support.

IMO, the finger print sensor is going to be a huge deal for the general public. I'm rather interested as well. Not having to type in a 10 character password with a bunch of random character to use my phone will be nice.

 

[ultimatebob]

There goes any illusion of Apple wanting to compete in emerging markets with the 5C.

Apple has another presentation in China tomorrow. Perhaps they have another low cost model ready to compete in that market? Something like a plastic version of the iPhone 4S? I doubt it, but who knows.

 

[joshhedge]

Ok, the last interesting thing introduced by Apple was Siri, two years ago. Can we finally all agree that without Jobs Apple is just another tech company? They are no longer innovative leaders. They are no longer interesting.


I love my iPhone 4s but seriously the 5s doesn't even seem interesting. Finger print scanner is kind of nifty but nothing more.

I fail to see how this hardware isn't innovative?

 

[Doppel]

Price of the 5c is disheartening. I want to get somebody into a phone on Virgin mobile. This second I can get a 5 for $550. If virgin charges the same for a 5c it means apple has not dropped price on a previous model when announcing a new. I see the normal 5 is no longer available at apple.

 

[Rakehellion]

Ok, the last interesting thing introduced by Apple was Siri, two years ago. Can we finally all agree that without Jobs Apple is just another tech company? They are no longer innovative leaders. They are no longer interesting.


I love my iPhone 4s but seriously the 5s doesn't even seem interesting. Finger print scanner is kind of nifty but nothing more.

I like the M7 and the fingerprint scanner. And the "S" versions of the phones have always just been speed bumps.

What have other phone manufacturer done that's more innovative?

 

[Kaido]

A larger screen wasn't going to happen at all. They didn't speak about a RAM upgrade, so it could still be in there. The resolution of the sensor is specifically tuned to the megapixel rating, so arbitrarily increasing megapixel without the subsequent increase in sensor size is pointless (see most android phone.)

NFC will come eventually, they had a lot of stuff to roll out with the new iOS, finger sensor, releasing two brand new lines, etc. LTE-A and 802.11ac are interesting omissions, 802.11ac more so than LTE-A support.

IMO, the finger print sensor is going to be a huge deal for the general public. I'm rather interested as well. Not having to type in a 10 character password with a bunch of random character to use my phone will be nice.

I haven't been an upgrade critic in the past, but a lot of people I know have switched from the iPhone to the Samsung Galaxy S4...gorgeous 5" screen, huge 13MP camera that takes really nice photos, NFC, 2GB RAM, etc. So I've seen a lot of those floating around, and one of my coworkers just got the S4 active, which is water-resistant. Boy would THAT be handy! So I think a lot of people are feeling left out with all of these Android upgrades...and then Apple comes out with a gold 5 with 110% more fingerprint sensor. So, it's kinda meh.

And the surprising thing is, I'm seeing a lot of hardcore Apple fans switching to the Galaxy & other types of Android phones. Like, people who I thought would never switch ever. Personally I like the iOS platform since it just gets out of your way with no fuss, but it's hard not to get jealous from a waterproof phone or a phone with a huge 5" AMOLED screen & 13-megapixel camera, you know?

 

[ultimatebob]

I fail to see how this hardware isn't innovative?

This release seems more like a spec bump then innovation to me. That said, the "S" models are usually pretty boring compared to the other models.

These "off year" product updates are pretty boring... it's like watching a product announcement from HP or Dell.

 

[Eug]

I like the bigger photo sensor pixels and the f/2.2 aperture is slightly bigger too. Also the flash is improved. I'm expecting significantly improved low light pix.

---

I haven't been an upgrade critic in the past, but a lot of people I know have switched from the iPhone to the Samsung Galaxy S4...gorgeous 5" screen, huge 13MP camera that takes really nice photos, NFC, 2GB RAM, etc. So I've seen a lot of those floating around, and one of my coworkers just got the S4 active, which is water-resistant. Boy would THAT be handy! So I think a lot of people are feeling left out with all of these Android upgrades...and then Apple comes out with a gold 5 with 110% more fingerprint sensor. So, it's kinda meh.

And the surprising thing is, I'm seeing a lot of hardcore Apple fans switching to the Galaxy & other types of Android phones. Like, people who I thought would never switch ever. Personally I like the iOS platform since it just gets out of your way with no fuss, but it's hard not to get jealous from a waterproof phone or a phone with a huge 5" AMOLED screen & 13-megapixel camera, you know?

I'm switching back. My 9 month experiment with Android was enough. Android just gets in the way too much, at least when you're used to the ease-of-use of iOS. And I tried to like this 4.7" screen but after 9 months I still hate the size.

 

[Kaido]

M7 knows when you’re walking, running, or even driving. For example, Maps switches from driving to walking turn-by-turn navigation if, say, you park and continue on foot. Since M7 can tell when you’re in a moving vehicle, iPhone 5s won’t ask you to join Wi-Fi networks you pass by. And if your phone hasn’t moved for a while, like when you’re asleep, M7 reduces network pinging to spare your battery.

It cracks me up how people interpret technology as acceptable vs. intrusive. Let's play a word game:

The NSA knows when you’re walking, running, or even driving. For example, Maps switches from driving to walking turn-by-turn navigation if, say, you park and continue on foot. Since the NSA can tell when you’re in a moving vehicle, they won’t ask you to join Wi-Fi networks you pass by. And if your phone hasn’t moved for a while, like when you’re asleep, the NSA reduces network pinging to spare your battery.

😀

 

[joshhedge]

This release seems more like a spec bump then innovation to me. That said, the "S" models are usually pretty boring compared to the other models.

These "off year" product updates are pretty boring... it's like watching a product announcement from HP or Dell.

64bit, Fingerprint sensor, is that not innovation?

 

[Doppel]

Ok and what was innovative about the 5? It like the 5s are simply evolutionary and predictable. 120 FPS? Nice. Already done by Samsung. Faster CPU? Who gives a shit, more people will never notice on the majority of apps they are using. The finger print scanner is the only interesting thing about this phone and that was done on laptops years back. It makes more sense on a phone.

There were no "holy crap" moments with this and not because it was leaked but because it is boring.

 

[Kev]

I'll probably just be using my upgrade to buy the 5S and sell it on ebay. Looks like a pointless "upgrade"

 

[Ns1]

I'll probably just be using my upgrade to buy the 5S and sell it on ebay. Looks like a pointless "upgrade"

As many others have said, the "S" has always been a spec upgrade...

 

[Subyman]

Ok, the last interesting thing introduced by Apple was Siri, two years ago. Can we finally all agree that without Jobs Apple is just another tech company? They are no longer innovative leaders. They are no longer interesting.


I love my iPhone 4s but seriously the 5s doesn't even seem interesting. Finger print scanner is kind of nifty but nothing more.

I don't agree. They are the first to push through the 64bit barrier. Without Apple, we'd probably linger in 32bit until we felt the strain in usability. Now we are transitioning at the correct time, before the limitations are felt.

I think the finger sensor can be a large turning point as well. It may not seem like much right now, but eliminating the need for people to memorize passphrases or long passwords is great. Not only will it replace the passcode to unlock the phone, it seems to also allow access to your Apple ID. Believe it or not, lowering the convenience barrier for buying apps and in-app purchases will help devs.

Apple noted that only 50% of people even use a passcode. Hopefully the ease of fingerprint security will increase that number.

The color changing flash, offering a full mobile productivity suite for free, and offloading motion processing to a separate, low power chip are great announcements as well.

 

[Rakehellion]

It cracks me up how people interpret technology as acceptable vs. intrusive. Let's play a word game:

I'm sure most people know the difference between a machine doing exactly as you tell it to and a person spying on you without your permission.

How many restraining orders have you had against you to date?

 

[cronos]

Look at any price for anything. MacBook Pro starting at $1199. They don't mention the $3000 maxed out price.

It's called marketing.

If you can't tell the difference between:

base unit --> max specced unit
vs.
carrier's subsidized price --> actual price

then I have nothing else to say. Plus, if you look up a couple of posts, Apple actually does post the full price on their website right away. They never did this before, and I really appreciate that they're doing it now.