Iphone 4S not what people wants

[Aikouka]

I'm kind of pissed. I called the AT&T store last night to get an idea of what was going on. The person said I could pre-order it today and get it on the 14th. Well, I'm in the store this morning, and the guy makes sure to clarify that the 10-14 days days that it would take to get to me might be a little off.

My expression:

I got up in the morning just so you can ship the thing to me? A god damn pre-order should be a pre-order from a specific allotment! If I wanted to have it shipped to me, I would have just ordered it online which would have resulted in the exact same thing.

:|

 

[amdhunter]

I'm mad that I can't get the phone outright without contract info. My work pays for the phones and I don't have ANY of the contract information.

I am super pissed off...

 

[zinfamous]

Well...finally made the commitment to switch. Ordered me a black iPhone 4s and got a white one for my mom as well.

Goodbye Blackberry.

I know you all will say "from one old device to another" but I don't need the latest, greatest, fastest most up-to-date device out. I enjoy the simplicity and ease-of-use of the iPhone. Can't wait to use it when I go to Colombia for photos and video.

I think it would be quite premature to call it outdated and slow. The guts certainly appear to be at the top of the class by today's standard (barring the Nexus/Galaxy Prime announcement).

I think a lot of people here also fail to realize how large the market is for the 3.5" screen. Even if Apple comes with a 4"+ screen with the next version, I can't imagine them dropping that format altogether. It is wildly popular, and I'd say that half of the market probably prefers it over the large screens--comfort to hold, talk, store, etc.

 

[saratoga172]

I think it would be quite premature to call it outdated and slow. The guts certainly appear to be at the top of the class by today's standard (barring the Nexus/Galaxy Prime announcement).

I think a lot of people here also fail to realize how large the market is for the 3.5" screen. Even if Apple comes with a 4"+ screen with the next version, I can't imagine them dropping that format altogether. It is wildly popular, and I'd say that half of the market probably prefers it over the large screens--comfort to hold, talk, store, etc.

Pretty much my thoughts after having my Bionic since release. I've come to be used to the bigger screen and its really nice, but there is something to be said of the smaller physical phone size of the iPhone that I liked. It fit in my pocket much better, didn't notice it when I was doing stuff throughout the day and was nicer when on my bike.

I think right in between at 4 inches would be perfect for me. You're right though. The 3.5 inch market is in high demand for the reasons you mention. I wouldn't mind a Bionic or SGS2 at 4 inches or even 3.7. I'd be all over that. Personal preference though. I'm sure the bigger screen users are still minority over the 3.5 users.

 

[saratoga172]

Well...finally made the commitment to switch. Ordered me a black iPhone 4s and got a white one for my mom as well.

Goodbye Blackberry.

I know you all will say "from one old device to another" but I don't need the latest, greatest, fastest most up-to-date device out. I enjoy the simplicity and ease-of-use of the iPhone. Can't wait to use it when I go to Colombia for photos and video.

By no means is it outdated or slow. I think people expected a little more since it wasn't on the yearly update cycle. That's why you hear the backlash. The phone by all standards is on par with all the current Android phones, other than the screen being a different size. Also remember that iOS is simple and fluid and Apple has the benefit of optimizing it for their phones, so a single core iPhone 4 has almost the same feel as my dual core Bionic. You won't be disappointed and Apple made some nice upgrades to it. Processor, camera, cell radio, voice commands etc.

 

[Aikouka]

Pretty much my thoughts after having my Bionic since release. I've come to be used to the bigger screen and its really nice, but there is something to be said of the smaller physical phone size of the iPhone that I liked. It fit in my pocket much better, didn't notice it when I was doing stuff throughout the day and was nicer when on my bike.

That's actually what I like about it as well. I haven't gone "over the hill" enough yet to purchase a belt clip (I think that's an over-30 sort of thing), so I put my phone in my breast pocket.

I'd be fine if they did the rumored no-bezel approach, which wouldn't include a dimensions increase. I definitely don't see them increasing the resolution of the screen though. One of the benefits to iPhone development is that you have less variables in what you're developing for.

By no means is it outdated or slow. I think people expected a little more since it wasn't on the yearly update cycle. That's why you hear the backlash. The phone by all standards is on par with all the current Android phones, other than the screen being a different size. Also remember that iOS is simple and fluid and Apple has the benefit of optimizing it for their phones, so a single core iPhone 4 has almost the same feel as my dual core Bionic. You won't be disappointed and Apple made some nice upgrades to it. Processor, camera, cell radio, voice commands etc.

I've actually had people tell me that nothing has changed in the new phone, which makes me think that people either need external differences or they need buzzwords that they don't understand. I mean... how many iPhone 4/4S users do you think would go on and on about the retina display, and actually be able to explain it? I bet very few people actually know what the point of it is beyond, "it looks better!"

4G is another good buzz word that would have worked. Most people have no idea what it is other than that it's better than 3G.

 

[finbarqs]

ordered 4s! all hail fuhrer Cook!

 

[MrX8503]

Well...finally made the commitment to switch. Ordered me a black iPhone 4s and got a white one for my mom as well.

Goodbye Blackberry.

I know you all will say "from one old device to another" but I don't need the latest, greatest, fastest most up-to-date device out. I enjoy the simplicity and ease-of-use of the iPhone. Can't wait to use it when I go to Colombia for photos and video.

Uh..the iPhone4S is one of the fastest phones available. However, the greatest would be subjective. You also get iOS5, whereas Android devices are lucky to get ICS.

 

[zinfamous]

I've actually had people tell me that nothing has changed in the new phone, which makes me think that people either need external differences or they need buzzwords that they don't understand. I mean... how many iPhone 4/4S users do you think would go on and on about the retina display, and actually be able to explain it? I bet very few people actually know what the point of it is beyond, "it looks better!"

4G is another good buzz word that would have worked. Most people have no idea what it is other than that it's better than 3G.

Further, I wonder how many of them think that iPhone 4/4S = 4G phone?

:hmm:

...I do think that reality deserves some serious disappointment from the fans.

 

[zinfamous]

Uh..the iPhone4S is one of the fastest phones available. However, the greatest would be subjective. You also get iOS5, whereas Android devices are lucky to get ICS.

...unless we're talking about data speeds.

they tout 14mbps as OMG revolutionary improvement--it is, for the iPhone 4; but that still puts them at ~1/3 the capability of roughly....everyone else in that category.

Granted--most probably don't need anything beyond that, or will ever notice it, but I consider it the only real disappointment regarding the update.

 

[alent1234]

...unless we're talking about data speeds.

they tout 14mbps as OMG revolutionary improvement--it is, for the iPhone 4; but that still puts them at ~1/3 the capability of roughly....everyone else in that category.

Granted--most probably don't need anything beyond that, or will ever notice it, but I consider it the only real disappointment regarding the update.

that's why motorola is losing money. they are making phones for the 1% of the worldwide population that is going to buy an LTE phone this year

apple is going to sell over 100 million iphone's over the next year around the world

if verizon was giving out unlimited data for LTE, i'd look at switching. but why would i switch for a 2GB plan?

 

[WelshBloke]

I don't want any more discussion of the size of people's junk. ...

Thanks,
Moderator PM

Can we still PM each other pics? :sneaky:

 

[Aikouka]

...unless we're talking about data speeds.

they tout 14mbps as OMG revolutionary improvement--it is, for the iPhone 4; but that still puts them at ~1/3 the capability of roughly....everyone else in that category.

Granted--most probably don't need anything beyond that, or will ever notice it, but I consider it the only real disappointment regarding the update.

It honestly made almost no sense to include LTE with the latest iPhone.

1) The only way to get Voice + LTE with one modem is to use a Qualcomm SoC, which wasn't going to happen. Qualcomm won't have a LTE+Voice modem until next year. As Anand mentioned, the modem should also be at a smaller process (28nm), which means it should use a bit less power.

iPhones are pretty small and I doubt we'll see a physical size increase. This means they won't be able to provide a larger battery in the same case. Although, I'd bet that if Apple does include a LTE modem in the iPhone 5, they will still only list 3G call time (i.e. with LTE disabled).

2) LTE doesn't have nearly enough proliferation on all networks. Right now, Verizon is pretty much the only carrier with a decent enough LTE network setup, and even then you have to be lucky to have it in your city. I can actually get LTE through Verizon in my city, but not AT&T. Just imagine how much people would complain if they think just because their iPhone supports LTE, but is still slow (since it's actually still on 3G). People are stupid... remember?

Chances are the spread of LTE will be a lot better by next year, and I assume the iPhone 5 will have LTE.

Further, I wonder how many of them think that iPhone 4/4S = 4G phone?

Wasn't there a survey that showed how a decent portion of the iPhone 4 users thought they had 4G?

 

[zinfamous]

so, why can't they use HSPA+? is it another SoC problem, because that shouldn't be a size/power restraint, should it?

 

[s44]

Well, HSPA+ 42 is a special implementation (and super-fast because of it) that currently only works on one Qualcomm SoC.

But not having 21 is just... archaic.

 

[alent1234]

Maybe the Qualcomm radio that does cdma and hspa doesn't do hspa+? I thought there was a radio that does hspa+, Wimax and all the lesser technologies

Business wise they are making the same phone for the entire world which is a huge economies of scale savings

 

[Aikouka]

so, why can't they use HSPA+? is it another SoC problem, because that shouldn't be a size/power restraint, should it?

Yes, it's another SoC problem. The same issue came up with the Samsung Galaxy S II, and that's why the T-Mobile variant doesn't use Samsung's Exynos SoC. There's more information on that in this article.

Although, I've seen some articles throwing around the term "HSPA+ 14" in regard to the iPhone 4S, which only serves to confuse readers even more.

There's a chart on this page that shows the different variations of HSDPA, which is what the iPhone 4S uses:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High-Speed_Downlink_Packet_Access

The T-Mobile Galaxy S II mentioned above also uses the same HSDPA technology, but a different release (5 vs. 8).

EDIT:

But not having 21 is just... archaic.

If you look at the chart above, you'll see that 21Mbit requires a release 7 modem (at least). This makes me wonder if there are no CDMA + GSM modems that are also release 7.

 

[boomhower]

That was a clustered mess. I was at work all night so I was up to order at 3. At 3:45 when it finally started working I couldn't complete the order as it kept kicking me out. So I went to order through Verizon. Well Verizon decided my preferred shipping address didn't exist. Went ahead and had it sent to my PO Box. I call Verizon later in the morning to have the shipping address changed, no can do. So I just have them cancel it. Go to order again from Apple, it will won't ship because Verizon has the PO Box. Call Verizon back, have them manually add my address. Go back to Apple and finally get it ordered. What a freaking mess. Considering they are still available for pre-order now either Apple has a crowd of them built due to the same design or they aren't selling very well. Will be interesting to see the sales numbers. As it's my first iPhone the non-changed design wasn't that big of a deal though I would have preferred a larger screen.

 

[Sid59]

I agree with most people that 4S sounds pretty ho-hum but that's largely from people with a iPhone4 or believe the rumorville of larger screen and 4G.

But ... coming from a 3GS user, the 4S sounds hotter and hotter.

Can i expect faster data speeds with HSPA+ and iPhone 4S? Everything else is a huge upgrade from 3GS

 

[dougp]

That was a clustered mess. I was at work all night so I was up to order at 3. At 3:45 when it finally started working I couldn't complete the order as it kept kicking me out. So I went to order through Verizon. Well Verizon decided my preferred shipping address didn't exist. Went ahead and had it sent to my PO Box. I call Verizon later in the morning to have the shipping address changed, no can do. So I just have them cancel it. Go to order again from Apple, it will won't ship because Verizon has the PO Box. Call Verizon back, have them manually add my address. Go back to Apple and finally get it ordered. What a freaking mess. Considering they are still available for pre-order now either Apple has a crowd of them built due to the same design or they aren't selling very well. Will be interesting to see the sales numbers. As it's my first iPhone the non-changed design wasn't that big of a deal though I would have preferred a larger screen.

Wasn't there rumors (lol) about 15mm 4s's being prepped for release?

 

[MrX8503]

...unless we're talking about data speeds.

they tout 14mbps as OMG revolutionary improvement--it is, for the iPhone 4; but that still puts them at ~1/3 the capability of roughly....everyone else in that category.

Granted--most probably don't need anything beyond that, or will ever notice it, but I consider it the only real disappointment regarding the update.

Sorry, I meant its SOC is one of the fastest.

 

[Aikouka]

Data Unlimited for iPhone (To expire on 11/29/2011)

I saw this on my "Manage Features" section under my AT&T wireless account. Does this mean that I lose my unlimited data plan since I upgraded my phone?

 

[Ns1]

I saw this on my "Manage Features" section under my AT&T wireless account. Does this mean that I lose my unlimited data plan since I upgraded my phone?

waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat!?!?!?

 

[zod96]

I have heard that At&t will get rid of all unlimited data by the end of the year for people that were grandfathered into it. That would just confirm it.

 

[vi edit]

I have heard that At&t will get rid of all unlimited data by the end of the year for people that were grandfathered into it. That would just confirm it.

Hmmm...if Sprint could get it's shit together and roll out LTE and actually have decent coverage it's in a good position to steal a lot of customers.