“It is time to start questioning the iPhone ‘S’ cycle, the often referred to development cycle theory in which a significant iPhone update is followed by a more minor, evolutionary update the following yea,” Neil Cybart writes for Above Avalon. ” Instead, the best way to understand how Apple thinks about iPhone development is to look at Pixar. The film company has multiple films under development at any given time in order to ship at least one new film a year.”
“Similarly, Apple is developing a number of iPhone features at any given time with the goal of shipping a more advanced iPhone at least once a year,” Cybart writes. “As more people upgrade their iPhones annually using monthly leases, shipping iPhone features just to match a two-year iPhone ‘S’ cycle begins to look like a dated theory.”
“Partly due to Apple’s own iPhone nomenclature, consensus has settled on the theory that Apple keeps its significant iPhone updates for whole numbered years (iPhone 3G, 4, 5, 6, and so on),” Cybart writes. “Consequently, the odd years, or so-called ‘S’ years, are characterized by more modest, evolutionary software and hardware upgrades (iPhone 3GS, 4s, 5s, 6s and so on).”
“For Apple, the iPhone is likely following a product development strategy and timeline similar to that of Pixar. At any one time, Apple has a number of iPhone features under development since it takes more than one year for many features to go from concept to finished product,” Cybart writes. “The era of a tick-tock development cycle for iPhone is over.”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: The shape of the case should not the most important factor in the naming of the device. It never was. Even if this “S” naming convention was Steve Jobs’ idea, it was wrong then and, as Apple obviously wants people to upgrade to a new iPhone annually, it’s even more wrong today. Fix it, Apple. The naming of the device should denigrate and/or deprecate the product. This is basic marketing and branding, not rocket science. Then Tim won’t have to “bristle” when morons claim the new iPhone that Apple just worked on for a year is a “minor” improvement with some “slight” changes.
Apple, enough with the stupid iPhone ‘S’ naming already.
iPhone “S” years usher in hugely significant features, such as oleophobic displays, significant GPU improvements, world phone capability, Siri personal assistant, video stabilization, panorama photos, 64-bit processors, TD-LTE support, Touch ID, and 3D Touch, among other improvements and additions. Each year’s iPhone deserves its own number. By not doing so, Apple is shooting itself in the foot; handicapping iPhones with an “S” every other year. Why Tim Cook or Phil Schiller haven’t put an end to this stupid – yes, stupid – “S” naming is inexplicable. Why don’t you just name it “iPhone No Big Deal This Year,” Tim and Phil?
Here’s what you say onstage and in the press release when there’s no “iPhone 7s” and you jump directly from iPhone 7 to iPhone 8: “The improvements are such that the new iPhone deserves its own number.” Period. Done. Mission accomplished. It’s your naming convention, Apple, and you can correct your stupid mistake at any time. — MacDailyNews, September 16, 2015
—
It’s as if Apple is naming iPhone models solely for their own internal inventory purposes, just so they can keep track of which model is which, with no regard for how the iPhones are perceived by the rest of the world – the media, the customers, etc. – outside One Infinite Loop.
The “S” doesn’t stand for “Speed,” it stands for “Stupid.” Yes, we know it’s the same case design; we know the “S” version is the one you make the big margins on; we get it. Call it the “S” internally if you must, but don’t be so engineer-ish that you insist on calling it that on the box, too!
It’s not about sales figures or the model’s success (as long as “iPhone” is in the name, it will be a success), it’s about setting a tone. In this case, with the “S,” Apple sets a tone that they are just making an incremental update… Why gift the naysayers with the opportunity, Apple? — MacDailyNews Take, April 5, 2013
—
There are plenty of numbers in the universe. Infinite, actually. Don’t worry, Apple, you won’t run out. – MacDailyNews, October 4, 2011
SEE ALSO:
Apple, enough with the stupid iPhone ‘S’ naming already – September 16, 2015