Post launch iPhone 4S rambling and musings
So first off, I am a bit disappointed. The why is a little more tricky and I think it has more to do with perception than actual technology. I don’t think Apple needed a new iPhone 5 today as much as they needed a new design. And while the iPhone 4S is technically under the hood “all new” it still looks the same… and consumers respond to that. I didn’t want a bigger screen, just a more refined design, and I honestly think it was doable in this timeframe.
They had over a year to come up with a new hardware design to counter many of the issues people have had with the existing iPhone 4. Antenna issues, shape/ergo issues, multi-glass/breaking issues, etc and nothing changed. I get its all new inside especially as a tech guy, but Apple is not selling to tech folks, they sell to consumers and that typically amounts to design aesthetic.
So what about Siri you ask? It looks cool and I can’t wait to try it, but will you upgrade your entire iPhone 4 for it, most people won’t. I really wish they could have made this iPhone 4 compatible, but this is simply not a compelling enough reason for most people to upgrade.
Now don’t get me wrong, they will sell a ton… bet on it, especially given that we are adding Sprint to the mix and getting a single multi-network device. I just don’t think we will see nearly as many people trading in their iPhone 4s, simply because it doesn’t “feel” like an upgrade visually.
So if you have a 3GS or lower, now is the time to upgrade. If you have an iPhone 4, then it depends on your need to be an “early adopter”.
And yes, I will be getting one.
