“Apple Inc.’s iPhone has been a trendsetter for half a decade. Now the question is whether it can avoid becoming a bore,” Jessica E. Vascellaro reports for The Wall Street Journal.
“On Wednesday, Apple unveiled the iPhone 5, packed with new features. The phone is thinner and has a bigger display. Its Siri virtual assistant has grown much more powerful. It has a new mapping and digital coupon service,” Vascellaro reports. “Yet no one heralded the new device as a great leap forward. What’s more, several features that are becoming standard across other smartphones aren’t in the iPhone 5. Many of those features, such as even bigger screens and ways to pay with your phone, are generating strong reviews from consumers and technology reviewers.”
Vascellaro reports, “Whether the missing features matter remains to be seen. Consumers worldwide have eagerly snapped up incrementally different versions of the iPhone in the past. Still, the technology gaps are getting more attention.”
Here’s a sampling of what the iPhone 5 is missing:
• Digital Payments
• Touch to Share
• Dynamic Home Screens
• Face Unlock
• Even Bigger Screens
• Wireless charging
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: The screen is the right size and aspect ratio. It’s designed that way after much careful thought, not to get a check mark on a spec sheet shootout.
The iPhone 5 simply does things no other so-called smartphone can do. Things that aren’t goofy, let’s-do-it-just-to-say-we-can-do-it junk that are either not ready for prime time or gimmicky (wireless charging: don’t forget your stupid ass charging pillow which you have to – drumroll – plug in), but useful items that users will use often (and often take for granted): Siri, Passbook, the best smartphone camera and microphone system available, iCloud, Shared Photo Streams, iTunes in the Cloud, in-cell touchscreen, unibody construction, a huge third-party ecosystem, the most apps and the better versions by far overall vs. the ports for which the others settle, FaceTime, etc., etc., etc.
What every spec sheet misses: Apple’s tight integration. Hardware + Software working in conjunction with each other. Not off-the-shelf parts cobbled together by one outfit with a one-size-fits-all OS dumped in from some other company operating outside of its core competency. Apple offers unified seamless quality vs. a fragmented free-for-all.
iPhone 5 will break all smartphone sales records – just like every single iPhone model before it.
Related article:
Apple introduces iPhone 5 – September 12, 2012
I think that all this hype about larger and larger screens is a
bunch of bull if I wanted a big screen I’d buy a tablet who wants to walk around with what appears to be a two by four
strapped to their side. When Steve Jobs first went into the phone market he stressed smaller more mobile and that is
why Apple has succeed and I agree so larger and Larger
must mean less and less mobile.
It’s part of a 3 book trilogy.
The second is “Failobook”
The third is “Android Phones Suck the Big One”.
“Here’s a sampling of what the iPhone 5 is missing:
• Digital Payments
• Touch to Share
• Dynamic Home Screens
• Face Unlock
• Even Bigger Screens
• Wireless charging”
1. Passbook. Phil Schiller said in his interview after the presentation that NFC doesn’t really solve any problem that exists today, that’s why NFC isn’t in the iPhone 5.
2. Guess he’s never heard of the app Bump, available for iOS for many years now. Works great.
3. What is the big deal about dynamic home screens?
4. Gimmick, in my opinion.
5. The only the reason the competition is using bigger screens is because they’re hoping to score points against Apple in the tablet space. Since they can’t compete with the iPad they’re trying to compete with huge phones.
6. You still have to plug the base station into a wall, so what makes wireless charging so useful?
+1
As I said in a past post, the iPhone 5 was not meant to be a revolutionary product but evolutionary product. They is still a long way to go with NFC (digital payment). The infrastructure for it is not there yet and not many merchants actually use it yet. That’s what “Passport” is for in the mean time because the technology is not yet ready for prime time. Apple doesn’t put features in their product cause they have to…..they do it when it’s ready. A good example is LTE. Many other smart phones have it but the infrastructure was not as wide spread as it is now. Because Apple has put it in the phone the consumer will be more aware of it. Wireless charging is another developing technology that is not ready for prime time. Until the charger can be smaller or a mass infrastructure exists (airports) with massive banks of chargers or other devices (Car)/ furniture ( desk in an office) are built with the technology integrated within it….right now it’s not practical. Why do you want to carry another bulky device around with you when a 5W USB Power Adapter (which can be used for other devices/accessories) and a cord are available. Also, Face Lock is so not ready for prime time it’s not funny. The iPhone is on the right track……..it’s the continuing evolution of technology.
The only reason it is boring for me, is that everything was leaked before the announcement. The keynote lacked it’s wow factor.
So many disappointed … I just don’t get it … There is a difference between innovation (flip-phone to iPhone) and iteration (3G,3GS,4,4S…) We are not going to have a surprise like we did in 2007 … That was a new invention …
Honestly I here lots of complaints but very few who can name a crazy new feature that is missing … Besides the whole giant Droid screen.
What can’t these phones do? I can’t think of much besides NFC which requires more collaboration than technology.
I like the design most. And ios6.
I’m going to hold out for the iPhone that finally delivers Orgasmatron While Teleporting and has a genie on a magic carpet waiting with 12 course meals and 15 palaces at one’s every destination.
“Is Apple’s iPhone 5 Boring?”
Answer: Betteridge’s Law of Headlines.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Betteridge's_Law_of_Headlines
My wife is happy to get an iphone4 free now. With that and 4s at $99 the 4 line is probably see their numbers rocket as well as the 5
Boring are those stupids blablabla sites/blogs/analysts… same haters every year…. Who needs Dvorak, Laporte, Cnet, Gizmodo, Engadget, those jerks…? Hating Apple is their money maker. Please buy a ‘copy’ with more ‘features’… make me sick. God bless MDN.
Jessica E. Vascellaro get back in the Kitchen!
they extolled that it was ‘trendy’ ‘had new features’ ‘social networking’ ‘new UNIQUE DIFFERENT curvy (egg shaped) form factor that will STAND OUT among the crowd’ and was ‘sure to be hit especially among young people (one writer for ZDnet was so excited he said he bought TWO !) ,with the KIN the iPhone has lost a substantial market among the young’
etc etc.
KIN r.i.p.
Of course it’s disappointing, we’ve been reading articles for months — years even — and we expected so much more. Here’s just some of the things the iPhone 5 ISN’T::
A Taser – Why not a weapon? It goes everywhere with you and looks harmless.
An Iron – for on the go wrinkle removal
A Vibrator – it could vibrate in time to music, or, just at one of a dozen pre-set rhythms [How much could a waterproof case cost?]
A Polaroid-style Camera – Sure, Instagram is great, but what if we could instantly print photos?
Or put two of them together:
A Defibrillator – Admittedly it would be rough on battery life. But oh the people we could save. . .
A Panini maker – Choose a case with just the pattern you like.
It’s not too soon to dream about the iPhone 6. . .
Just a laundry list of everything else that everybody else and their uncle has, and the iPhone doesn’t, to make the point that it’s boring.
How boring and lazy can you get just to generate copy? Move on . . .
Just go into all the other Mac forums and you will see that 50% of iPhone 4 users that were waiting to upgrade to the 5 are saying that they will not, because it offers nothing significant…
translation = I’m not upgrading to the iPhone 5 cause I have x months or x years left on my contract, and don’t want to pay full price.
Let’s see… it’s awesome in every nuanced way, in addition to being powerful and perfectly designed. In addition to impressive app integration. It’s boring to those brain-dead enough to expect miracles not understand the true complexity and momentum to make such things come together so fluidly.
I would correct my typo if I could. Apologies.
@mac daily news,
The screen is the right size? Really? Because I thought 3.5 inch was the right size. No, I thought 3.5 inch was the perfect size. In fact, I thought it was the only size that could be held and used one handed due to the limitations of human anatomy…does that mean that the new 4 inch screen is inferior? Has Apple now gone backward in Steve’s absence?
The new screen is unaesthetic, stupid and retarded.
I guess we can’t call Android … Fragmentoid any more.
Samsung must be celebrating tonight!
I know you are but what am i(Phone)
I don’t know if it looks bad or not, I haven’t seen it in real life yet. And I actually want a larger screen iPhone, so I’m kind of happy.
My comment was more to the shear two-facedness and hypocrisy. Had Apple introduced a 5 inch screen, it would some how have been the “right” size. Even after years of posting non stop how stupid anything over 3.5 inch is, and how it just isn’t designed for the human hand.
Oh well, I guess everyone is a weaseling shill underneath.
Stupermac, what distinction are you drawing between “stupid” and “retarded”?
And why should we give a shit?
Really JerryT, you think you are making brilliant statement? The screen is the same width. A tad longer but also the phone is thinner and lighter. So lighter and thinner the slight length increase will work just fine. Get yourself what you think is the perfect size, leave us stupid fanboys alone. Go back to making coffee.
Maybe you’re not smart enough to realise it, but my comment has nothing to do with the size of the iPhone screen. I for one am happy with it, In fact, I actually had hoped for a little bit larger one. Maybe 4.25 inches or so (I know, 4.25 is stupid, until the iPhone 7 which will be 4.25 and then it will magically be the “right” size)
Anyway, my comment was in reference to the shear two-facedness and hypocrisy. For years, MDN and every other ditto head, me too shill has said that 3.5 is the perfect screen size and that anything larger was stupid and not designed for the human hand. I have been ridiculed and soundly put in my place over the years for wanting a larger screen. It’s just nice to know that Steve Jobs actually agreed with me, and not you bozos, since he actively worked on this phone before his death. Praise be upon him.
And how did you know that I have an espresso machine at home? And what does me enjoying coffee have to do with the size of the iPhone screen?
Well, I am very impressed with the new 5! Yes, it retains the original form factor, but, that’s good!
My iPhone 4 has done sterling service and it’s contract is up for re-newel. I will place the 5 order tomorrow…..waiting period?? I am in Australia and can order through the Apple Store in Sydney, or my phone co Telstra.
My wife and I share 7 Apple devices, as well as Apple TV….we love them all and use them all!
The new OS6 will be the icing on the cake for me.
I started a Mac club, approved by Apple, some years ago and was the Foundation President.
We have lots of free manuals for download.
See Bellarine Macintosh User Group (BMUG)
Let’s enjoy the phone which Johnny Ives developed, as part of a team.
Hopefully Apple will continue to pursue Andriod phone and tablet makers that have stolen Apple’s technology!
Regards from Australia.
Ronald Begg
Apple should have made the I-Phone 5 in the shape of a triangle, so all the Droid manufactures could copy it, then upon refresh Apple could be then be told they were just catching up!
“• Even Bigger Screens”
You have GOT to be kiddin’ me! Remember all the 19″+ notebooks that soooo many people bought?
A very special announcement from Aug. 28 2005.
“Samsung to release radical 19 inch Notebook in October”
http://www.gizmag.com/go/4500/
Samdung — plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose.
boRING boRING… boRING boRING.
get it?
Where’s the 128 gig model? There’s just not enough to justify buying a new one every year at this rate.
So buy one every two or three years like normal people or people with subsidized phones on two-year contracts.
Let me clarify it. It is the incremental changes that are boring. Nothing in the updates makes me want to swap my 4 for a 5.
Is Apple’s iPhone 5 boring? One might as well ask, is the latest Porsche boring?
YES! Well said!
I always like apple keyboard (the white plastic keyboard) and am still using them even for my newer minis or imacs because somehow I feel my fingertips experience better physical contact compared to apple’s metal keyboard. I can hit those keys with confidence during my recording session especially when I have to hit or hold several keys at once… Sure the metal keyboard looks better since it matches the imac, mini and macbook metal design.
Now iPhone 5 has larger screen.. when looking at it, I have the same feeling like the first time I saw the metal keyboard. I think I would stick to my 4s since I’m pretty much comfortable with the design and how it fits in my pocket/jeans.
I’m sure iPhone 5 is a fine product and better than the previous models and much better than the droids and winphones. But then again, just like the white plastic keyboard, I need a product that I will feel comfortable, not just when using it, but also when I have to carry it along in my pocket.
Maybe, I would just wait for iPad mini if I need a device bigger than my phone but smaller than my iPad 🙂