Discussion: Millions Will Buy the Apple iPhone 5 for No Apparent Reason

Entity

Quote:

If anyone but Apple released a major new product whose most unique selling point was a new accessory plug, consumers would jump ship faster than rats on the Titanic.

But not for the iPhone 5. Analysts predict it could be the greatest selling gadget of all time, right behind the nearly identical iPhone 4S, which was nearly identical to the iPhone 4. That's three three major releases over two-and-a-half years and the most Apple lovers have to show is an inch of screen and a talking assistant that basically has no idea what you're saying. Worse, Apple didn't even build that. They bought it.

At any other company, heads would roll, at Apple they'll be rolling in money - as much as $36 billion in new sales, according to a Bloomberg analysis. But can the party really last, and at this point who's really copying whom?

Samsung already has much of what the iPhone 5 is selling. Bigger screen. Check. Lighter body. Check. Works with high-speed cellular networks. Check. As for that special new accessory plug, well that one is exclusive to Apple, who is kind enough to sell you a $29 converter for all the gadgets you bought for the old plug.

The company also proudly touted major new software innovations like turn-by-turn directions and better photo sharing with Facebook, except you can do both on other phones already.

Still Apple sounded impressed with itself at Wednesday's marketing bachanal. The one-inch the company added to the iPhone's screen? "We've worked on that for a few years," said Phil Schiller, Apple's senior vice president for marketing, "to come to what we think is the optimal size to give you more screen, but something that is super comfortable, easy to use and is thin and light and fits in your pocket."

Give them a few more years and one can barely imagination the innovation that's possible: an alarm clock with multiple snooze buttons; a better space bar; another accessory plug?

"Apple has never been stronger," said Apple CEO Tim Cook. Certainly true for the balance sheet, but can the same be said about the product line?

If all of this sounds like I'm an Apple hater, you've got the wrong guy. I'm just disappointed with the company I've loved since I was child. I've bought just about everything Apple's made since the Apple II Plus came out in 1979. I own two iPads, two Airbooks and a 20" iMac. I have a closet full of old iPods. And come Sept 21, I'll probably be standing on line with millions of other Americans buying an iPhone 5. Only this time, I won't really know why.

Huffingpost

This is so true.
Welcome to 2011 technology Apple!

MohammadMonster

YAAS i'm buying it even though that S3 is way better but who cares it's an "iphone"

B2R4D

People keep complaining about the design. Change was not necessary. If something still looks fresh, it would only be necessary to make minimal updates to it. There was not much else they could do. Apple were ahead of their time. The iPhone 5 is great the way it is.

They modified the back, made it thinner and extended the screen. What else could they have honestly done with the design? I'd like to see what people can come up with.

Queen Bea.

Imma stick with my blackberry.

Celestial

iOS >>> Android. That's why people will buy it. It's the best phone on the market.

The Galaxy S3 is junk. I discarded mine last week.

highwayuni

Why do people have such problems with buying products with their hard earned cash?

Does it really matter?

Queen Bea.

Quote:

Originally posted by highwayuni

Why do people have such problems with buying products with their hard earned cash?

Does it really matter?

I think the point is that it is wasteful blind consumerism.

People don't really care about the features or anything, they care that it is new and they need to have it. Is the a perfect example of people having more money than sense.

jomarr

Friend: What phone do you suggest to get soon? Except the iPhone?

Me: The Nokia Lumia 920! It has a 4.5 inch screen (compared to 4.0 "Taller screen" of the iPhone) with 2000 mAh battery, 10 hours of Talk Time (compared to the iPhone's 8 hours), It boasts an 8.7 Megapixel Camera, sure it's almost the same as the iPhone but with Nokia it comes with the latest 'Pureview' technology with Image Stabilization that ables you to take great low light images. It has a PureMotion HD Screen which makes the Screen run fluidly and you wont notice details plus it offers a greater view than the iPhone's Retina Display. It also supports Wireless Charging and packs NFC.

Friend: Getting the iPhone, thanks anyways

Me: Well **** you for wasting my time then.

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I literally hate when this happens. I'm not responding to my friends trying to make me suggest a phone because I know how blinded they are with the iPhone

Jack!

Quote:

Originally posted by highwayuni

Why do people have such problems with buying products with their hard earned cash?

Does it really matter?

!!!

If I wanna buy an iPhone instead of an S3 or whatever with the money I earn myself, why the hell do other people care?

H-I-M

I'm sure even if Apple decide to release a Iphone worse than the previous version, it would sell millions of copies.

vonno

They buy the name. meh, Ima stick with my Samsung

highwayuni

Quote:

Originally posted by Bea.

I think the point is that it is wasteful blind consumerism.

People don't really care about the features or anything, they care that it is new and they need to have it. Is the a perfect example of people having more money than sense.

But it's not like the iPhone is utter ****. The build quality is amazing and it's a reliable phone with a lot of nice features

jj99

I don't understand why people want a drastic change to the best smartphone out there. doesn't that seem like bad business practice.

right now the only choice have to make is picking the right eco system for them. the hardware specs are all pretty similar and there isn't any new out there tech for them to explore into.

jomarr

Quote:

Originally posted by highwayuni

But it's not like the iPhone is utter ****. The build quality is amazing and it's a reliable phone with a lot of nice features

It's really not ****. But it really lags behind other Mobile Phone brands.

The Samsung Galaxy S2 (a 2 year old phone) can still topple down the iPhone 5 specs wise. Or maybe tied at the same pace.

Well I agree about it's build quality. It has the "premium feel" to it.

Callum

I'm kinda dissatisfied with my 4S and iOS in general. I want the S3

J a y

My new Samsung's on its way in the post

alstrom

Let people buy the **** they want, none of your goddamn business.

Hollywood.

Why does it matter?

Queen Bea.

Quote:

Originally posted by highwayuni

But it's not like the iPhone is utter ****. The build quality is amazing and it's a reliable phone with a lot of nice features

Unless you drop it or set your purse down too hard and then it is a POS.

I prefer a durable, reliable phone with an organiser. No iPhone can hold all my music so that feature is useless to me, not to mention the whole system is designed to keep you spending money which as a full time student is a bit stupid to me. Not to mention the sheer price in the full place..for what really? An iPhone is replaceable by most gadgets, it's riding off the name and the first one.

katyperryismylife

The fact that it's "Apple" is already an enough reason for people to splurge on it.