“The iPhone 4S is not the last major project that Steve Jobs worked on, according to one analyst,” Brooke Crothers reports for CNET. “That would be the next iPhone–let’s call it the iPhone 5.”
“The next-generation iPhone “was the last project that Steve Jobs was intimately involved with from concept to final design,” Crothers reports. “‘For that reason…this product will establish the high water mark for iPhone volumes,’ Ashok Kumar, an analyst at Rodman & Renshaw, wrote in a research note this week. He expects the iPhone 5 to be a ‘cult classic’ because of Jobs’ involvement.”
Crothers reports, “Another source, who I spoke with this week and who claims to have knowledge of the redesign, said the iPhone 5 is a ‘complete redesign. This is a very large project that Steve dedicated all of his time to. He was not that involved in the 4S because his time was limited.’ …The iPhone 5 should debut around the time of Apple’s Developer’s Conference in the summer of 2012, according to Kumar’s research note.”
Read more in the full article here.
Says analyst? How many analysts were wrong about this latest iPhone announcement? Analysts are almost always wrong.
Agree:
1. “iPhone 5” is hardly the last project that Jobs worked on; as previous history testified, he works on project which years, many years before they are technically possible (like for iPad since early 2000s).
2. The new iPhone will not be called iPhone 5, since fifth generation of iPhone already happened right now (iPhone, iPhone 3G, iPhone 3Gs, iPhone 4, iPhone 4S). The new iPhone will be called either iPhone 4G or iPhone 6.
This this is just another ignorant analyst talking.
I agree — iPhone 4G. If the names were just sequential numbers, we would end up with iPhone 27 before you knew it.
Thats good.
As much as I want to get the last product he was involved in during development, I dont think I’ll be willing to break my purchasing pattern. (I always get the “s” version so that if there are bugs in the original design , I don’t have to worry about them)
Would still love to get it though.
I always buy the new phone and give the old one to my wife. I have my 4S sitting in a box, but I spent most of today setting up my boss’ 4S.
I do the opposite. I always buy the new phone for my wife and take the last version.
I always delay enjoying the present because the future will be much more enjoyable and less problematic.
The last two words in the headline says it all. Steve set up many things for Apple. The next iPhone won’t be the last thing he had a hand in. There are no doubt many projects he lined up for apple to keep them going for the time being.
I think the analyst has a point. By the standards of Steve Jobs, the iPhone 4S was a disappointment. Nothing changed apart from the innards which were mostly derived from the iPad 2. So from a design standpoint, Apple stood still. Standing still isn’t Steve’s trademark. It might be the safest option to take but it’s not Steve’s style.
I dont know if you’re trying to be an unfunny character: the 4S is for 3GS owners just wrapping up a 2 year contract. Not that complicated.
Tell that to the “record-breaking one day sales” Sprint customers. Oh yeah… and to this previous iPhone 4 day-one owner who upgraded on Friday and absolutely LOVE Siri and the new 1080p video.
I wonder when the analysts will begin writing about the 4.5″ screen. Sources say, you know.
Quite frankly I use my iPhone for multiple things. That’s the beauty and flexibility of a blank slate. You’re not wedded to a design that has a fixed keyboard.
The one advantage the iPhone has is that It’s lighter than an IPad and more manoeuvrable. I use it for reading books published in ePUB format on iBooks. A bigger screen would be great. Not only for that but for a great many things like answering e-mails, games and chat (iMessage, WhatsApp, Skype, eBuddy, etc).
When the iPhone was originally released, its screen looked huge in comparison to the existing smart phones that were available then, which were mainly designed around the principle of the use of a stylus (WM6.5, Palm), half screen, half keyboard (BB) and flip covers (Nokia, Motorola) but nothing that allowed you the use of the whole screen whose onscreen objects were manipulated by finger movement.
But smart phones have evolved since then. Screen sizes are increasing. The cost of manufacturing larger sized screens is falling and becoming more affordable. I think it’s a trend that results in the user being better able to see and manipulate objects onscreen.
Bigger screens have been an easy way for OEMs to differentiate their product versus the iPhone. Outside of that, I don’t think OEMs put much thought into it.
Some people prefer bigger screens. That’s good for them, but I believe that the 3.5″ form factor is the sweet spot when it comes to scaling up. When you are selling 50 million units a year, you have to make tough decisions.
I’m sure a lot of thought went into the 3.5″ form factor. If apple wanted to go with a 4″ screen for the first iPhone, I’m sure they could have done it.
I really don’t see Apple making a bigger screen. That’s what zOoM is for. A really big problem with a bigger screen is adding another version of apps. And that’s a lot of apps!
I’ve seen someone, only one person (a woman) with a large screen phone.
I sure hope that Apple does not enlarge the screen! The iPhone is the optimal size as it is right now. Not everyone has large hands and wants a fat brick inside their pocket.
You want a 4.0-4.5″ screen? I’m sure there’s an android device out there for you. Good luck with that.
Ummmmm how familiar are you with Apple Macintosh Computers. No, Apple doesn’t stand still, but once they achieve a refined design they tend to stick to it and change the parts that really matter.
Mac Pro: current design has basically been around since 2003.
MacBook Pro: The current unibody aluminum design came out in 2008, but it wasnt earth shatteringly different then the titanium skinned one they came out with in 2001.
The list goes on, all point to Apple bringing out major redesigns only every so often they’d squally basedaim function/engineering. Once they hit the sweet spot and then it’s mainly refinement, while major changes happen under the hood.
Personally I absolutely love the iPhone 4 form factor, and am glad Apple hasn’t yet felt the need to change it just for change sake. Every redesign so far has served purpose, to solve a problem.
Yeah, I’m sure he’d be disappointed in it being the fastest selling product they’ve ever released.
There was a lot of time and money that went into the iPhone 4 design. I think you and the anal-ysts have no idea what you’re taking about.
How do you consider what will be the most successful phone in history a disappointment? It was only listed as a disappointment by analysts trying to drive stock prices down briefly until the presales started. They knew it was a massive upgrade.. But they knew they had to drive down prices briefly to make money….
Does the chassis make the phone? No. The 4 million or so this weekend will make your argument NULL and VOID. It’s what’s inside tht really matters.. Twice the performance and ios5 make the 4S a huge success of a design.
People act like its the end of the world because it’s pretty much an iPhone 4 with major changes under the hood like really? iPhone 4S looks like an awesome phone and if I could get it I would but I have to wait for an upgrade.
Apple barely changed the iPhone’s design from the original to the 3GS. Some people need to get a fucking life.
Shut. The. Fuck. Up.
In retrospect, I don’t know why anyone expected the iPhone 5 this year. It doesn’t fit Apple’s established pattern:
2007: iPhone
2008: iPhone 3G
2009: iPhone 3GS
2010: iPhone 4
2011: iPhone 4S
2012: iPhone 5?
I hope to get my iPhone 4S this week, and plan to upgrade to an iPhone 5S in 2013.
——RM
How can the 4S be a disappointment simply because the case is the same design? If BMW offered an 400 hp M3 with the same body as a regular 3 series, at the same price, would you be disappointed???
Bravo Kangag3 !!!! ++++1
I rarely believe what analysts say. Not anymore. How many websites this year announced a iPhone 5? All wrong. I can predict a new iPhone in 2012. That’s it. Don’t ask me the name, the date of release or the specs. Only apple are aware!
Steve Jobs last project was the Apple TV set.
Apple will own our living rooms.
What will be Apple’s disruption? What do you figure it will do that can’t be done with anyone’s TV with an improved AppleTV box plugged into it? What size TV are you expecting Apple to make? Read what Steve said about Focus.
Thats an easy answer if you just think:
1. IOS/iCloud – Apps & content – No wires
2. Siri – “What football games are on tv tonight?” Siri: “record house for me” Siri: “Change it to discovery channel” Siri “Rewind this show 2 minutes” Siri “Pause this”
The potential is unlimited. Where is the pain in TV’s? Losing remote, complicated remote, poor software, too many wires, which input, and on and on. I expect Apple will fix this. Siri gives them the ability to do it like no one else. No more remote just talk to it.
Why do I need to make a television set to do any of that? All I need is an improved Apple TV box. Why would Apple want to have to make 15 different TVs of different sizes just to sell what fits in an Apple TV box?
Steve Jobs, from an exclusive interview with Fortune senior editor Betsy Morris in February 2008 in Kona, Hawaii:
“People think focus means saying yes to the thing you’ve got to focus on. But that’s not what it means at all. It means saying no to the hundred other good ideas that there are. You have to pick carefully. I’m actually as proud of many of the things we haven’t done as the things we have done.”
On April 21, 2010, Nike president and CEO Mark Parker told the story of what transpired when, shortly after he became CEO, he got a call from Steve Jobs.
“Do you have any advice?” Parker asked Jobs.
“Well, just one thing,” said Jobs. “Nike makes some of the best products in the world. Products that you lust after. Absolutely beautiful, stunning products. But you also make a lot of crap. Just get rid of the crappy stuff and focus on the good stuff.”
Disruption? Hotels?
Ok Gene Munster.
Ashok Kumar has proven he is not above being a part of the rumor mill on several occasions. Look at his estimates of AAPL’s earnings for this quarter and as many as you care to look at in previous years. He’s an idiot.
Analyst, like politician, is a synonym for the word liar.
Sounds like one more asswipe analyst trying to blunt current sales by promising unicorn tears just around the corner. I with TheMacAdvocate: Shut the Fuck Up™
With the decreasing importance of the iPod, the iPhone will likely be the headline product in September/October going forward.
Analysts talking about a new iPhone in June simply haven’t thought it through…
reinharden
Analyst talks out of ass. Horseshit.
Those analysts … just wait and see. Apple will not introduce something iPhone again in the near future.
If my iPhone 4S is a “disappointment”, then I wouldn’t want to see what successful is, this device is simply amazing. Go Siri!
siri will probably be realeased for all other ios 5 devices…
oh btw Siri is still in beta
Looks like the wizard had a few final tricks to pull from his magic bag…
I think he was working on the iPhone6 also.
If apple really wanted to blow away the world with the iPhone 5 they should just call it the Steve Jobs signature phone. That would break all previous first day sales 10 fold
“He was not that involved in the 4S because his time was limited”
I doubt Steve didn’t have anything to do with Siri. That kind of end user magic has Steve written all over it.
Let’s forget the numerical iPhone next generation. How about the iPhone SJ ?