What was Apple thinking releasing another 3G iphone?

[The Rev]

Talk about a total innovation fail. I'm sorry, but Apple, the company that boasts about having better technology, more innovation, more reliable software, etc.... LAST in the race to 4G? Come on... Just about every major phone manufacturer has released a 4g capable phone: LG, Samsung, HTC, Motorola.... There's even a 4G T-mobile My Touch.... Apple's response to the 4g race? Release another 3g iPhone...

I never liked Apple in the first place, but now that they've proven just how UNnovative they are... I'm not saying they're doomed without Steve Jobs.... but I'll bet they'll be on the downswing for a while at least... The 4g race in the cell phone market is like the space race was in the 50s and 60s... You can't be LAST, or no one's going to remember you.

Apple should be doing better than this. Not that I care per se, but it does further support my contention that while Apple pretends their products are superior, in actuality, they are not.

[Elliott]

They were thinking "Hey, battery life is a good thing."

[episode]

They were also thinking that most of the world doesn't have a 4G buildout yet.

Also, Apple has never worried about specs or being 'first'. As Jobs always said 'we get it right'. It doesn't matter if it has 4G or not, the phone will sell like crazy either way. And when the 4G chipsets don't destroy your battery instantly, the iPhone will get it.

[neufuse Veteran]

because when 4G is common in everyother phone, apple will come out and say OMG LOOK WE HAVE 4G! We're changing the world! and everyone will forget everyone else had it first and say Apple was innovating......

[FMH]

Apple is not worrying.

According to a survey, 34% of the iPhone 4 users think, that their phone is a 4G phone! :laugh:

http://mashable.com/2011/07/14/4g-confusion-study/

[.Neo]

Apple should be doing better than this. Not that I care per se, but it does further support my contention that while Apple pretends their products are superior, in actuality, they are not.

Why you took the time to write this rant is beyond me really. You don't buy their products which means this doesn't affect you in any way. 4G support isn't the only aspect of a phone, not to mention the fact 4G is still in its infancy when it comes to coverage.

[Xilo]

It's so people will upgrade to the 4S, then they release the iPhone 5 a while down the road that features 4G and then everyone has to pay full price to upgrade because you know Apple fans...

Seems exactly the kind of thing Apple would do...

[Charisma Veteran]

Apple is not worrying.

According to a survey, 34% of the iPhone 4 users think, that their phone is a 4G phone! :laugh:

http://mashable.com/...onfusion-study/

Haha, this just further proves my theory about the majority of iPhone users.

(I said 'majority', don't get butthurt if you didn't just buy it because it's shiny and trendy and thupercool.)

[TheLegendOfMart]

Talk about a total innovation fail. I'm sorry, but Apple, the company that boasts about having better technology, more innovation, more reliable software, etc....

Two reasons:

1) Battery consumption and lack of space for the current large LTE chips

2) The next generation 28nm LTE chip that Qualcomm are making is having problems due to the die shrinkage because its over 4x smaller than current generation LTE and wont be ready till 2012

Those are the reasons why there is no 4G iPhone. If the use current generation chips then battery life and specs will have to suffer and people would be crying because the phone isnt as big an upgrade as they would have hoped because theyve had to cut down just to fit LTE chip, that and the battery life people would moan that its not enough.

It's so people will upgrade to the 4S, then they release the iPhone 5 a while down the road that features 4G and then everyone has to pay full price to upgrade because you know Apple fans...

Seems exactly the kind of thing Apple would do...

Or, its because of the issues outlined above, dont hate on Apple just because its the 'in' thing to do, if you used your brain and did a bit of research you would see why.

[techbeck]

Apple is not worrying.

According to a survey, 34% of the iPhone 4 users think, that their phone is a 4G phone! :laugh:

http://mashable.com/...onfusion-study/

Haha, just proves my point that a lot of Apple users get their products because of popularity/status....not because they know what they are getting.

Also, Apple has never worried about specs or being 'first'. As Jobs always said 'we get it right'. It doesn't matter if it has 4G or not, the phone will sell like crazy either way. And when the 4G chipsets don't destroy your battery instantly, the iPhone will get it.

Tell that to all the people with the antenna issue...and all the people unhappy with Lion. I remember a time when Apple did get it right...but they are having more issues lately and their innovation is dying...IMO.

[.Neo]

Haha, this just further proves my theory about the majority of iPhone users.

You actually think the majority of other brand phone owners are any smarter? Gimme a break.

[Glassed Silver]

I'll take my better battery life over any micro-speed bump in surfing here.

Let's be honest, with today's data plans least people have any need for many big and then quicker downloads.

My music loads extremely fine when I rarely purchase it sans WiFi.

I try to avoid big data juggling on the go sans WiFi, although I'm throttled after 5GB, which is superb for Youtube HD.

3G is totally sufficient on my end.

I personally will take the battery life savings in a heartbeat.

I usually just leave it at Edge until I do some more intense surfing/download stuff/watch youtube.

Totally gets the job done.

Oh and: Apple is not always JUST about highest specs like many manufacturers.

It's moreso their integration of hardware, software and usability/user experience.

You always have to make compromises.

This is just another way of doing it, hence enriching the market in its own way.

I see, you have different needs, and that's why we can thank the pluralism of manufacturers and choices out there. (Y)

Everyone benefits!

Glassed Silver:mac

[Yusuf M. Veteran]

Apple released a 2G phone when 3G technology was available, but not widespread. They're just waiting until the technology matures. It may even be better that way because in the end, they'll deliver a product that doesn't suffer from battery issues or reduced specs.

[TheLegendOfMart]

Haha, just proves my point that a lot of Apple users get their products because of popularity/status....not because they know what they are getting.

Or maybe its the confusing nomenclature.

iPhone 2G

iPhone 3G

iPhone 3GS

Surely 'thinking' that the iPhone 4 is 4G isnt a huge leap in logic, not everyone is tech savvy.

[techbeck]

You actually think the majority of other brand phone owners are any smarter? Gimme a break.

Didnt say that. But thank you for implying. And I didnt say majority, I said a lot. I would hope the majority would know what they are getting on any platform.

[psreloaded]

4G hasn't even matured. it has very little reach currently. Besides, the battery consumption of 4g sets are huge and its not like the 50s space race. This is about getting it right.

[The Rev]

Apple is not worrying.

According to a survey, 34% of the iPhone 4 users think, that their phone is a 4G phone! :laugh:

http://mashable.com/...onfusion-study/

That's just sad. :lol

So why do you care and getting all worked up about this in the first place?

*shrugs*.... mostly because the iPhone 4s is, in my eyes, just another blatant cash grab... Maybe they think if they don't release a new phone every year, people will lose interest in their products and go Android..... *shrugs*..... I have a problem with companies that try and sell you "cash grabs" like this just to bilk you out of more money... "Hey, come get this new phone! Its... umm... NEW! You've gotta have it!" Forget the fact that it's essentially "obsolete" with regards to the future of mobile communications, or that many of their "innovations" are now commonplace in most 4g smartphones... What does the iPhone have left now to boast about? User base? Well if all they can brag about are their subscriber numbers an not their cutting edge products, they're in a **** load of trouble, and sooner or later, they'll be but a memory in the technology market.

[M_Lyons10]

Apple is not worrying.

According to a survey, 34% of the iPhone 4 users think, that their phone is a 4G phone! :laugh:

http://mashable.com/...onfusion-study/

Wow. I always am amazed at how little people understand their own purchases...

Honestly, I think battery life probably had a lot to do with it as well.

Though I do feel that Steve Jobs' health probably did play a factor. He was probably not able to be as involved in the process as he normally would be and without him driving the company forward they seem to kind of spend a lot of time bewildered...

[techbeck]

Surely 'thinking' that the iPhone 4 is 4G isnt a huge leap in logic, not everyone is tech savvy.

No, but people can read and ask questions with the phone carriers tho. Why anyone wouldnt read and understand what they are buying is beyond me. Whether its buying a computer, a car, house...anything.

[.Neo]

Nm

[techbeck]

They were thinking "Hey, battery life is a good thing."

Cant switch from 3g to 4g and only use 4g when you need better speed? Dont see what battery life would be that big of an issue.

[majortom1981]

Keep in mind they do not even have a voice spec finalized yet for lte . Also I would think they would have had to redesign the phone to accomodate the bigger chips for lte. Apple will wait till the lte chips are smaller so they do not have to make the phone bigger.

[Yusuf M. Veteran]

Or maybe its the confusing nomenclature.

iPhone 2G

iPhone 3G

iPhone 3GS

Surely 'thinking' that the iPhone 4 is 4G isnt a huge leap in logic, not everyone is tech savvy.

It only became confusing when Apple decided to add a "G" to the second generation and third generation iPhones.

1. iPhone
   
2. iPhone 3G
   
3. iPhone 3GS
   
4. iPhone 4
   
5. iPhone 4S
   

[Southern Patriot]

Or maybe its the confusing nomenclature.

iPhone 2G

iPhone 3G

iPhone 3GS

Surely 'thinking' that the iPhone 4 is 4G isnt a huge leap in logic, not everyone is tech savvy.

First of all, there was never a phone called "iPhone 2G", it was simply called "iPhone". Yes, the iPhone 3G and 3GS referred to it having a 3G chipset (the S was for "speed"). The iPhone 4 was the 4th model released (notice that it didn't have a G in the name). The 4S follows the same naming scheme as the 3GS, with the S meaning that it is a speed bump of the previous model.

[.Neo]

*shrugs*.... mostly because the iPhone 4s is, in my eyes, just another blatant cash grab... Maybe they think if they don't release a new phone every year, people will lose interest in their products and go Android..... *shrugs*..... I have a problem with companies that try and sell you "cash grabs" like this just to bilk you out of more money... "Hey, come get this new phone! Its... umm... NEW! You've gotta have it!" Forget the fact that it's essentially "obsolete" with regards to the future of mobile communications, or that many of their "innovations" are now commonplace in most 4g smartphones... What does the iPhone have left now to boast about? User base? Well if all they can brag about are their subscriber numbers an not their cutting edge products, they're in a **** load of trouble, and sooner or later, they'll be but a memory in the technology market.

The iPhone 4S is a "blatant cash grap" just because it lacks 4G support, something that isn't even available to most people? I'm finding that a serious gap in your logic to be honest. Did you miss the part where it's pretty much the fastest smartphone currently on the market in terms of real-world performance? People are most likely going to care a whole lot more about that than 4G. Especially because many have a monthly maximum MB download cap and are likely to download large files over wi-fi to begin with.

Also, the vast majority of iPhone 4 owners are probably still on their 2-year contract and won't upgrade for another year or so. The iPhone 4S is a great upgrade for those who are still using an iPhone 3GS.