Apple used to be ahead of the curve

[bmac4]

I can remember when the original iPhone came out people were saying "Apple has created something new when we did not know we even wanted something new". The iPhone had a full touch screen experience that no phone had ever had. It was something new, and it took off. Apple was thinking ahead and thinking outside of the box. Look at the smartphone world now most smartphones are full touchscreen. Apple was ahead of the curve.

With that said what has happened? I love Apple and the way they were always willing to try something that had never been tried before. It just does not seem like that is happening any more. Why have they not come out with a big iPhone? If they were the same company they were back in 2007 they would have make a 4.5 inch iphone 2 years ago before the big screen android phones exploded and got really popular. Also look at the ipad mini that should have come out 2 or more years ago before all the small budget tablets had a chance. The Apple of 2007 would have had all these device out before the competition had a change to think of it. What has happened?

I want it back. I want my iphone to feel like something everyone says "wow" about. Right now the iphone does not really say "wow" that is now the note 2. Sure it is a huge phone and that is not for everyone, but you can't tell me when you see the note 2 you don't say "wow that is a cool looking phone". Notice I said cool looking the build quality is nothing close to Apple but the design is. I want to be surprise by my iphone. I want it to do something that I did not know I wanted to do. Will 2013 bring this? Will iOS 7 be "the next big thing"?

 

[daneoni]

The Note II is essentially a giant Galaxy SIII with a stylus. I personally fail to see how this is "ahead of the curve". Also, i see a Note II once in a while in the wild and "wow that is a cool looking phone" is not what comes to mind i assure you. Instead my thoughts are more this...

To each their own of course.

 

[nefan65]

The Note II is essentially a giant Galaxy SIII with a stylus. I personally fail to see how this is "ahead of the curve". Also i see a Note II once in a while and "wow that is a cool looking phone" is not what comes to mind i assure you.

To each their own of course.

It has bigger widgets? /s

 

[bmac4]

The Note II is essentially a giant Galaxy SIII with a stylus. I personally fail to see how this is "ahead of the curve"

Not saying that the note 2 is ahead of the curve. What I am saying is that android phones got bigger and even more popular, and Apple has stayed the same. I am saying if Apple was still "ahead of the curve" they would have made a bigger iphone before android even started making them. My iphone 5 feels like it is playing catch up to the android phone in terms of size. Also Apple makes excuses as to why they waited so long to change the size, and why it did not become even bigger. I don't know it just seems like the "2007" Apple would have seen the big screen smartphones coming before it happened.

 

[mcdj]

You are about the 1,000th person to post these exact sentiments. Not that you are wrong...

So what happens when Apple does make a bigger phone? Will it be too late? Will it be so late as to be impossible to be wowed by it? If so, what next? There are only so many form factors a handheld slab of glass can take.

People were excited by the iPhone because there was basically nothing else like it. Now there are tons of phones like it, and there will likely never be another WOW phone, maybe until we branch out into brain-embedded chips or some other non-physical iteration of a communication device.

This isn't a shortcoming of Apple. It's the nature of technology. The LCD TV industry is seriously suffering because they've sold everyone a big sleek TV that does what it needs to do, much like smart phones. They tried adding bells and whistles (3D, web services, etc), but most people couldn't care less.

 

[bmac4]

You are about the 1,000th person to post these exact sentiments. Not that you are wrong...

So what happens when Apple does make a bigger phone? Will it be too late? Will it be so late as to be impossible to be wowed by it? If so, what next? There are only so many form factors a handheld slab of glass can take.

People were excited by the iPhone because there was basically nothing else like it. Now there are tons of phones like it, and there will likely never be another WOW phone, maybe until we branch out into brain-embedded chips or some other non-physical iteration of a communication device.

This isn't a shortcoming of Apple. It's the nature of technology. The LCD TV industry is seriously suffering because they've sold everyone a big sleek TV that does what it needs to do, much like smart phones. They tried adding bells and whistles (3D, web services, etc), but most people couldn't care less.

I did not want this thread just to be able the iphone getting bigger. I just wanted to discuss what has changed with Apple since 2007.

I disagree with you about the smartphone want really ever "wow" us until something like chips being in our heads. Look at what windows and android have done over the last 2 years. They have come a long way, and they have added features that have "wowed" us. Now the polish is what they lack. They don't have that same polish that Apple has when they create a new feature. I think the iphone could "wow" us with some really cool on iOS 7. Why not?

 

[vastoholic]

I don't understand how people aren't continuously amazed at the technology in their mobile devices. We truly are a spoiled group. The fact that your phone is talking to satellites in space and catching radio waves to allow you to look at funny pictures all day is pretty amazing to me.

Screen size is a hard thing to change for apple. Since they only release one product a year, compared to the multitudes of android phones released in varying sizes throughout the year. They really can't win because even if they increase the size now, people will call them copy cats, but if they don't, people will complain that they are falling behind.

They believed that the 3.5" screen was the best for a long time and didn't want to mess with their developers changing apps all the time. I think they wanted all iPhone users to have the same experience no matter what. I think they need to realize that, much like their computer line up, there isn't a one size fits all for the phone. I think with a company of their stature, they can afford to take a risk on introducing a second sized device and sell them both at the same time without worrying which one will sell more.

 

[bonskovsky]

Lately I have been intrigued by the multitude of features that came with the Android phones, and Samsung is cranking out some fantastic products but this doesn't shake Apple.

Honestly, I don't think even Apple thought that the iPhone would become as big as it did. But it's not like Microsoft couldn't have been popular too. They had The Courier. But for some reason another, they decided not to release the revolutionary products.

And HP, with the TouchPad. They shelved all the good ideas in favor of maintaining the status quo. Samsung is the only one taking risks and trying something new. And that's why they're on top.

 

[Small White Car]

Apple was thinking ahead and thinking outside of the box. Look at the smartphone world now most smartphones are full touchscreen. Apple was ahead of the curve.

Yes, it's amazing how much things like the Mac, the iPod, and the iPhone revolutionized the tech world. They re-invented categories that already existed and set a new way for everyone else to follow.

But recently the iPhone updates have been simple evolutions, not revolutions. Just little things like different case materials and slightly larger screens. Shouldn't Apple get back to the time when...

Why have they not come out with a big iPhone? If they were the same company they were back in 2007 they would have make a 4.5 inch iphone 2 years ago

...when... uhm. Oh. So this all about you wanting a slightly larger screen again? Ok then. Forget I said all that other stuff.

 

[bmac4]

Yes, it's amazing how much things like the Mac, the iPod, and the iPhone revolutionized the tech world. They re-invented categories that already existed and set a new way for everyone else to follow.

But recently the iPhone updates have been simple evolutions, not revolutions. Just little things like different case materials and slightly larger screens. Shouldn't Apple get back to the time when...




...when... uhm. Oh. So this all about you wanting a slightly larger screen again? Ok then. Forget I said all that other stuff.

No no. I was just using the screen as an example of how android thought ahead of Apple.

 

[bonskovsky]

No no. I was just using the screen as an example of how android thought ahead of Apple.

Apple already solved the big/small screen issue. Bigger iPhone screen? Get a 5. Want it even bigger? iPad mini.

Honestly I don't see why the iPad mini doesn't just double as a big ass phone.

 

[TallGuy1970]

No no. I was just using the screen as an example of how android thought ahead of Apple.

I guess I just don't get it...

iPod - changed the entire portable music industry.
iPhone - changed the whole idea of what a cell phone could or should be
iPad - The industry was moving to netbooks as the next big thing. The iPad turned all that on its ear and basically killed the netbook.

larger screen - ??? I just don't see this in the same category with the others that I listed.

You can't expect an industry changing product every year. The biggest problem is that too many people have started doing just that and are only setting themselves up for disappointment.

 

[bmac4]

I guess I just don't get it...

iPod - changed the entire portable music industry.
iPhone - changed the whole idea of what a cell phone could or should be
iPad - The industry was moving to netbooks as the next big thing. The iPad turned all that on its ear and basically killed the netbook.

larger screen - ??? I just don't see this in the same category with the others that I listed.

You can't expect an industry changing product every year. The biggest problem is that too many people have started doing just that and are only setting themselves up for disappointment.

Ok so how did Apple get to where is today? I think it was from trying new things that they had no idea if they would work or not. That is what I am asking of them again. You said " you can't expect an industry changing product every year", but we have not seen one in 6 years from Apple. I am not asking for some crazy new product I just want some different. Not just a different design.

 

[technowar]

Apple already solved the big/small screen issue. Bigger iPhone screen? Get a 5. Want it even bigger? iPad mini.

Honestly I don't see why the iPad mini doesn't just double as a big ass phone.

Maybe they want to send SMS and make calls on a 5~8" phone, so the iPad mini is out of the picture already.

 

[bmac4]

Ok so I get the feeling that I might be only one that think Apple can do better. If that is the case do you guys want to see more of the same in terms of the iphone? An S version on the odd years and a redesign of the hardware on the even years? Will this formula keep working for the next 5 years?

To me it is like when you have your kid hand you a paper they wrote for school. The paper is good enough to get a B+ maybe and A-, but you know your child you know that paper could be even better. You know your child has more potential than what that paper has. I just think Apple is doing enough to be good, but they have more in them.

 

[SnowLeopard2008]

When I see someone with a Samsung device, I don't think "wow that is a cool looking phone". It looks really really ugly, poor performance, poor quality, POS everything. When I see a Nokia Lumia or HTC One, I think "wow that is a cool looking phone". Or a Sony Xperia. I forget which model (Sony decided to be stupid and make a CRAP TON of ever so slightly different models) but James Bond used one in Skyfall. I thought damn that is one cool phone.

 

[ucfgrad93]

I think that it is unrealistic to expect a single company to always be the innovator in a particular field.

 

[NewAnger]

The Note II is essentially a giant Galaxy SIII with a stylus. I personally fail to see how this is "ahead of the curve". Also, i see a Note II once in a while in the wild and "wow that is a cool looking phone" is not what comes to mind i assure you. Instead my thoughts are more this...

To each their own of course.

It's big that Note 2. I wanted one but as for a phone, I think it's too big for my uses especially while at work. There are times when I have to make a call with people I am doing business with and pulling out such a big phone would be weird I think. A normal size phone is more appropriate.

Anyways, I do feel Apple can learn a lot from the Android OS. Also, I love the little blue flashing notification light on the front of my Nexus 4.

 

[CEmajr]

I really don't see wha lt Samsung has done that is so innovative or risk taking. I don't consider making a bigger and bigger screen to be innovation.

 

[bonskovsky]

Maybe they want to send SMS and make calls on a 5~8" phone, so the iPad mini is out of the picture already.

No, people just want 5-8 because they're trying to be annoying.

IPhone 5 or iPad mini, it's your choice.

 

[blackhand1001]

The Note II is essentially a giant Galaxy SIII with a stylus. I personally fail to see how this is "ahead of the curve". Also, i see a Note II once in a while in the wild and "wow that is a cool looking phone" is not what comes to mind i assure you. Instead my thoughts are more this...

To each their own of course.

There's a lot more to it than just being giant. They implemented a ton of features in touchwiz like multi window, pop out apps, and tons of other features. It has the highest rated customer review average on every carrier its on. Its quite a bit higher than any of the iphone.

 

[SlCKB0Y]

iPod - changed the entire portable music industry.
iPhone - changed the whole idea of what a cell phone could or should be
iPad - The industry was moving to netbooks as the next big thing. The iPad turned all that on its ear and basically killed the netbook.

Sorry, but you're vastly over estimating how influential the iPod was.

I would definitely replace iPod with iTunes in terms of influential products/services.

 

[Tig Bitties]

There's a lot more to it than just being giant. They implemented a ton of features in touchwiz like multi window, pop out apps, and tons of other features. It has the highest rated customer review average on every carrier its on. Its quite a bit higher than any of the iphone.

Exactly. To me the Note II is like a mini desktop computer, shrunk down to fit in the palm of your hand, can make phone calls, send read full page e-mails, text, surf the web, write notes on PDF's with the stylus, and add drawings or comments to a PDF, and send that to a client. The iPhone now just feels like a kids toy, or basic phone, barely a smartphone.

 

[RetepNamenots]

The Note II is essentially a giant Galaxy SIII with a stylus. I personally fail to see how this is "ahead of the curve". Also, i see a Note II once in a while in the wild and "wow that is a cool looking phone" is not what comes to mind i assure you. Instead my thoughts are more this...

To each their own of course.

You sound like the people who said that the iPad was simply an overside iPod Touch. They have different purposes.

 

[TallGuy1970]

Sorry, but you're vastly over estimating how influential the iPod was.

I would definitely replace iPod with iTunes in terms of influential products/services.

Maybe, but I used to work with the man who owned the patent for the portable MP3 player. No, it was not Apple. It was a small company named, at the time, audiohighway.com. He and I had a long conversation about the iPod when it first came out. He said then that the portable music device would never be the same. Yes, there were already MP3 players out there, but the iPod's user interface and ease of use (in part due to it's syncing ability with iTunes) were what changed everything.