How has your anticipation changed over the years?

[LIVEFRMNYC]

Before the iPhone, I remember the anticipation I had for the iMate SP5, HP iPAQ 6945, Palm Treo 750, HTC TyTN, and other top notch Windows Mobile phones that I had. Those WM days are gone.

Here comes the iPhone ...... I didn't get one until the 3GS cause previous versions lacked some major features. I was stoked to finally get an iPhone and the redesign of the 4 was perfection in my eyes.

I started to look at Android phones ....... Definitely not love at first site. First I tried a used G1. It's was fun to experiment on a different OS, but I sold it after one week. To many software flaws. Then I tried the EVO, great phone but no matter what I tried, the battery just didn't last. Now I'm using the S3 and couldn't be happier. I took a risk coming from previous bad experiences with android. I guess I took that risk at the right time. Now I have so much anticipation for the S4 and barely no anticipation for the next iPhone. I have slight anticipation for iOS7 being that I still have the iPad 2 to play around with

I wonder what will grab the most of my attention after I'm done with the S4? Will Apple entice me again? Or will something completely differ come around?

 

[onthecouchagain]

I'm excited to see Google finally deliver a high-class phone. The Nexus line, so far, is not cutting it. They claim they're committed to finally putting a really good camera in the next Nexus, so we'll see.

It'll be exciting to see what Moto does with them too.

 

[Technarchy]

I was a lot more into the latest and greatest when I was into android.

Since changing over to Apple I mostly keep up on mobile news out of interest, not anticipation for what I might buy in the next 6 months.

 

[jrswizzle]

I'm excited to see Google finally deliver a high-class phone. The Nexus line, so far, is not cutting it. They claim they're committed to finally putting a really good camera in the next Nexus, so we'll see.

It'll be exciting to see what Moto does with them too.

I know its asking a lot - but I'd like for them to stay in the unlocked price range they are in now.....the fact they've put out a relatively high-end smartphone for the unlocked price they have is pretty awesome.

If they can continue to upgrade at the same price point, I may just stick with the Nexus line and not worry about using my upgrades on Android devices.

 

[bmac4]

I'm excited to see Google finally deliver a high-class phone. The Nexus line, so far, is not cutting it. They claim they're committed to finally putting a really good camera in the next Nexus, so we'll see.

It'll be exciting to see what Moto does with them too.

I disagree about the nexus line. Those are the cutting edge features for android, and it shows OEMs what the next android update has to offer. It is normally what we can expect to see from android for the next year. How is that not cutting edge? Sure the OEMs add skins and some features of there own, but the nexus gets the updates first and most of the time has features that other Android phones do not have.

 

[TheMTtakeover]

I disagree about the nexus line. Those are the cutting edge features for android, and it shows OEMs what the next android update has to offer. It is normally what we can expect to see from android for the next year. How is that not cutting edge? Sure the OEMs add skins and some features of there own, but the nexus gets the updates first and most of the time has features that other Android phones do not have.

The Nexus line just isn't top of the line. The nexus line always looks good on paper. It may have a 8MP camera but it is most likely the worst 8 megapixel camera on a phone I have ever seen. The speaker itself isn't great and the placement of it is even worse. The nexus line has never had a good camera.

That's not to say they aren't great device but they don't bring the same "quality" hardware wise as say the iPhones or Galaxy lines.

 

[ChazUK]

Started out with Symbian S60/UIQ, jumped into the Nokia 7650 and the Sony Ericsson P800 and 900. Flitted between the newer Symbian handsets when I got into Windows Mobile thanks to getting a Dell Axim x30.

Lots of love at that time for Windows mobile with the o2 XDA II, HTC Wizard and such and those were some of the earliest days I got into XDA Developers and custom firmwares. A very important thing that shaped my platform preference today I feel.

I then moved back on to the Nokia N series and Symbian again.

iPhone was announced at the time I had the almighty Nokia N95 and I was extremely phased at the iPhone's popularity then.

My N95 had a (for the time) decent 5 megapixel camera with VGA video recording - which the iPhone lacked.
Some shots from the old dog, click to enlarge.

SD card slot - which the iPhone lacked.
True turn by turn navigation - again, lacking.
Third party applications - another thing the iPhone didn't have.
3g & front facing cam to list a few items.

At that time I didn't realise the impact that Apples phone would eventually have and how Nokia would lurch further and further behind...

I kept my N95 until it died and saw the original iPhone released in the UK with little interest or attention from myself. I was a Mac/iPod user back in those days and didn't see what the fission was about.

I jumped on the iPhone 3g come my N95 going kaput and liked what it offered but didn't like the hardware compromises (camera mainly) the iPhone 3g gave me. Jailbreak eventually gave me some tweaking power but I wanted more...

Around 12 months after, I had my first taste of Android in the HTC Hero and slowly moved back to my Windows Mobile XDA ways. it was during this time I first got genuinely into a phone unveiling when the Nexus One was launched.

Developer friendly hardware supported by an open source platform, XDA abuzz with activity and projects like CyanogenMod well on their way to becoming relavant. Been pretty much invested in where then platform is going since with both Android itself and the Nexus line.

Microsoft:
I can't see myself getting too into WP yet until it matures. My times with WP have been nothing but positive and I hope to see things improve for WP fans. I do keep my eye on WPCentral to keep up to speed with the platform, but I'm not as avid a WP watcher as I am Apple and Google.

Apple:
I will always have an interest in what apple's up to. Lots of people complain come a new hardware or software reveal but the tech press do sometimes over exaggerate what to expect from Apple, sometimes making events seem a little more underwhelming than they actually are. I love the WWDC event and all of the stuff surrounding it and can't see that changing. This forum itself is a great place to be during the event.

Google:
Google I/O is the big one for me, especially since Matias Duarte joined the Android team. He has helped bring a ton of standardised themes and features to the platform. Both WWDC and I/O are the two big events for me. As for hardware, its only really the Nexus line that gets my full attention.

Others?
I was excited over Open WebOS, especially after having a Pré3 but that seems to have died a slow, agonising death thanks to the lack of faith from HP. Tizen and Firefox OS could be interesting but there is one last big thing I'm looking forward to:

Ubuntu mobile.
I'm a massive fan of OSS and Ubuntu on the (open) Nexus hardware could easily be my next choice. Hardware I already like with an OS that is already shaping up to be nice with what I've seen in the Dev preview.

TL/DR version:
I guess my interest will always lie with Apple and Google and Ubuntu could sneak in there.
My perceptions of MS are of someone who is struggling, even though they have a great prodivt on their hands.

OEMs that customise android are of little interest to me but it won't stop me from getting the odd customised handset.

Can't wait to see what 2013 brings, there should be good news for all platforms, no matter how big or small (except WebOS).

 

[bmac4]

The Nexus line just isn't top of the line. The nexus line always looks good on paper. It may have a 8MP camera but it is most likely the worst 8 megapixel camera on a phone I have ever seen. The speaker itself isn't great and the placement of it is even worse. The nexus line has never had a good camera.

That's not to say they aren't great device but they don't bring the same "quality" hardware wise as say the iPhones or Galaxy lines.

I am not sure that is what they are there for. They are kind of just there to show off the new android features. Now I never had a problem with this because I am not much of a picture taker, but I do understand that these are not on line with cameras on galaxy phones. I would also add that these phones are not really made for the average user. They have always been called a developer phone, but with the nexus 4 being so cheap I think they have opened a new door to regular phone buyers. Maybe the next Nexus will be more of a consumers phone.

 

[onthecouchagain]

We won't see a full Tim Cook influenced iPhone until 2014, apparently.

http://www.phonearena.com/news/The-...eve-Jobs-slips-Apples-liaison-officer_id41448

2014 might make Apple interesting again. Tim Cook has demonstrated he's willing to break a ton of Apple-held traditions, including launch schedules, the firing of Forestall, allowing employees to take free time to experiment with new and "innovative" ideas (a page out of Google), and there are probably one or two other examples that slip my mind right now.

Maybe 2014 we'll see multiple sized iPhones. There are choices for literally every other Apple line up. It's time the iPhone joined them.

Cook 2014... Yes, We Can?

 

[TheMTtakeover]

I am not sure that is what they are there for. They are kind of just there to show off the new android features. Now I never had a problem with this because I am not much of a picture taker, but I do understand that these are not on line with cameras on galaxy phones. I would also add that these phones are not really made for the average user. They have always been called a developer phone, but with the nexus 4 being so cheap I think they have opened a new door to regular phone buyers. Maybe the next Nexus will be more of a consumers phone.

I agree completely. After rereading your original post I think I may have misunderstood what you were saying.

 

[bmac4]

I agree completely. After rereading your original post I think I may have misunderstood what you were saying.

Yea I don't think of the nexus line as the greatest phone of the year. They usually come out at the end of a calendar year and preview what is to come in android. They are not top of the line spec wise, but they make all those Samsung's and HTC top of the line with the software.

 

[mattopotamus]

I know its asking a lot - but I'd like for them to stay in the unlocked price range they are in now.....the fact they've put out a relatively high-end smartphone for the unlocked price they have is pretty awesome.

If they can continue to upgrade at the same price point, I may just stick with the Nexus line and not worry about using my upgrades on Android devices.

I completely agree with this. I feel like all top of the line phones (nexus included) have reached a peek until something really innovative or different comes along. I like being able to pay $299 for the most up to date software, and quite frankly hardware (even if not the best).

Back to the OP. This may be one of the first years in a long time I do not upgrade phones. I am using the nexus 4 as my daily device and it works really good right now. That coupled with the fact I will be the first to get KLP makes me really content. I have an ipad which covers my apple needs at home for pairing with other devices. As long as I have an ipad I can still use the apple ecosystem at home and have whatever phone I want.

 

[onthecouchagain]

iOS 7 news: http://www.theverge.com/2013/4/2/4176914/ios-7-behind-schedule-new-look

"Behind schedule"

 

[jrswizzle]

iOS 7 news: http://www.theverge.com/2013/4/2/4176914/ios-7-behind-schedule-new-look

"Behind schedule"

The last time they pulled engineers from an OS X project, it was to work on the first iPhone.....

If we're facing that type of change/upgrade (or anything close) it'll be well worth the wait IMO.

 

[mattopotamus]

iOS 7 news: http://www.theverge.com/2013/4/2/4176914/ios-7-behind-schedule-new-look

"Behind schedule"

The last time they pulled engineers from an OS X project, it was to work on the first iPhone.....

If we're facing that type of change/upgrade (or anything close) it'll be well worth the wait IMO.

I would rather it delay the release by a few months to have something totally new.

 

[daveathall]

I wouldn't mind waiting rather than see something that is not quite ready. I agree with the above. It will be worth the wait.

 

[bmac4]

The last time they pulled engineers from an OS X project, it was to work on the first iPhone.....

If we're facing that type of change/upgrade (or anything close) it'll be well worth the wait IMO.

I am with you. I kept my iphone 5 just incase ios 7 is something huge, and I kind of get the feeling it might be. If it were only good to be a few updates here and there like the last ios updates then I don't think they would be pulling people from OSX. This could be the biggest thing that has happened to the iphone since the iphone was released.

 

[onthecouchagain]

Well, I wouldn't get hopes up too high. As of now, it sounds more cosmetic than deep OS changes.

But here's to hoping...!

 

[bmac4]

Well, I wouldn't get hopes up too high. As of now, it sounds more cosmetic than deep OS changes.

But here's to hoping...!

Cosmetic is one of the things ios needs. It really does need a new look.

 

[jrswizzle]

Well, I wouldn't get hopes up too high. As of now, it sounds more cosmetic than deep OS changes.

But here's to hoping...!

I think there are a lot of UI/cosmetic things that could effect the type of change you and others are looking for. For instance the relative complexity of the settings menu, the notification center, the home screen layouts - all of these could take "cosmetic" changes that turn out to add functionality/make things easier to do.

I'm looking forward to it! Much more interested in iOS 7 than the 5S. Hell, I'm more interested in the cheap iPhone than the 5S - would be nice to have a cheap backup.

 

[bmac4]

I think there are a lot of UI/cosmetic things that could effect the type of change you and others are looking for. For instance the relative complexity of the settings menu, the notification center, the home screen layouts - all of these could take "cosmetic" changes that turn out to add functionality/make things easier to do.

I'm looking forward to it! Much more interested in iOS 7 than the 5S. Hell, I'm more interested in the cheap iPhone than the 5S - would be nice to have a cheap backup.

I agree I think cosmetic was what he was asking for from the beginning.

 

[onthecouchagain]

Cosmetic changes will help but it depends on how deep of a cosmetic change we're talking about. Is it just Ive getting rid of Skeurmophism? Recent articles said he'd make the OS look "flatter" and less 3D. What's that really mean?

Regardless, I hope it's more than cosmetic. I hope the changes are deeper. We will see.

2013 could be very interesting for iOS 7 (for real, this time) and 2014 could be real interesting for the iPhone hardware-wise.

Of course, who knows where the competition will be by then...

 

[jrswizzle]

Cosmetic changes will help but it depends on how deep of a cosmetic change we're talking about. Is it just Ive getting rid of Skeurmophism? Recent articles said he'd make the OS look "flatter" and less 3D. What's that really mean?

Regardless, I hope it's more than cosmetic. I hope the changes are deeper. We will see.

2013 could be very interesting for iOS 7 (for real, this time) and 2014 could be real interesting for the iPhone hardware-wise.

Of course, who knows where the competition will be by then...

I can't imagine that type of shallow cosmetic change would take too long to implement.....

If they are delayed and having to pull engineers from OS X 10.9, it has to be something BIG. I agree - we will see!

I think smartphones are plateauing....this is a good time for Apple to make some major improvements without having to worry about the competition "getting further ahead" (which I don't necessarily think they are "ahead" in the first place - but I recognize there are many who do).

Android has its own issues to fix - like allowing me to zoom out on my email and see the whole thing....I think KLP will add some big changes as well. They can start by fixing the standby battery management - 4.2.2 helped when on wifi, but battery life gets eaten fast when on cellular.

I think 2013 will be a fun year

 

[bmac4]

I can't imagine that type of shallow cosmetic change would take too long to implement.....

If they are delayed and having to pull engineers from OS X 10.9, it has to be something BIG. I agree - we will see!

I think smartphones are plateauing....this is a good time for Apple to make some major improvements without having to worry about the competition "getting further ahead" (which I don't necessarily think they are "ahead" in the first place - but I recognize there are many who do).

Android has its own issues to fix - like allowing me to zoom out on my email and see the whole thing....I think KLP will add some big changes as well. They can start by fixing the standby battery management - 4.2.2 helped when on wifi, but battery life gets eaten fast when on cellular.

I think 2013 will be a fun year

This is no doubt a chance for Apple to really impress some people. With the rumors that KLP will just be a small update with some new features, I think a big design change could be huge for Apple. All eyes will be on them like they were when Google announced ICS. If they can do what Google did with ICS man on man will ios be a hard thing for Google to compete with.

Now I am not saying it will happen, but if Apple uses this chance smartly then we are talking huge sales number increases. Just look at all the people posting on this site and all over the Internet waiting on iOS 7 to see if they will stay with the iphone. I don't know maybe I am making too big a deal out of it, but I see this as a huge opportunity for Apple.

 

[bmac4]

My anticipation on Apple products has gone down over the years cause it seems like we know so much before the product is even release. Whether it be we know what to expect in terms of more of the same from Apple, or too much was release to the press and we see too much before it is released. Android products have been a bit different in that we don't know nearly as much which does add to the anticipation, but on the other hand 2 years ago you really did not know what you were getting. It could be a great phone, or that skin could not work that well and the phone was crap.

Now hearing that Apple has taken people off OSX to work on iOS 7 that kind of gets my anticipation up. Maybe Apple holds this update as important to them as some of us do. Maybe they release how big this could be. If this is as big as it sounds then I might just get excited again about Apple release a new device.