Other I'm over Apple and the iPhone

[cynics]

They could release a true PHONE, not a damn phablet!

I'm sorry I don't follow. The XS and Max are the size the iPhones been for years when compared to the standard and Plus versions of the iPhone.

EDIT: nvm I see you replied to someone else.

 

[meme1255]

I'm sorry I don't follow. The XS and Max are the size the iPhones been for years when compared to the standard and Plus versions of the iPhone.

If you bothered yourself with reading my signature, you would have saved yourself some time. I keep the 5S PRECISELY of this reason. I could buy the SE but I dislike buying 3 generations old device for 400 EUR.

 

[x-evil-x]

he just likes the boxier shape it seems like. I agree with you the 6 and up curved edges make the phone feel less stable in your hand. I hope they return the same boxier look in a future design upgrade.

 

[Deguello]

What new features do you want? Do you want it to give you a blow job?

I’d like it to support landscape on the home screen. I’d like the Max to take full advantage of the larger screen. I’d like it to support side-by-side windows.

 

[Jordan921]

I don’t get what else you want from the phone. It does everything I need it too.

 

[Rafterman]

I don’t get what else you want from the phone. It does everything I need it too.

And most people don't even use most of the features it does have.

 

[FFR]

Yes. Yesterday I have tried my 5S, 8 and X (which is the same as Xs) side-by-side in a store. Output? Both X and 8 are too large to hold them in one hand SECURELY for me. I don't have that small hands, I could use both 8 and X with one hand without a problem, but it was a different feeling than the SE/5S gives to me - I couldn't get rid of feeling that it could slip out of the hand at any time.

Other aspect are prices in the EU:
SE 128G? ~450 USD
8 64G? ~ 800 USD
XR 64G? ~ 1025 USD
Xs 64G? ~ 1350 USD
That is insane. I am sorry, I could afford it but I cannot justify paying that much for something I was not in love with in a moment I tried that. Buying the 8 is non-sense as it has 2G of RAM ONLY - the same as SE. I am still thinking about what to do now - whether to spend 400 EUR for 128G SE - and buy 2-3 years of time - or what else I could to except replacing my 5S battery for ~40-50 USD. There is NO offering that appeals to me. I can't be alone.

There are two things I miss on my 5S:
1) Better battery life
2) More RAM (I am looking at you, Safari. iOS 12 has improved that quite a lot, though.)

How much tax it added onto the price?

I just checked the prices in France they are similar to the UK.

Where in the eu do you live?

 

[cynics]

If you bothered yourself with reading my signature, you would have saved yourself some time. I keep the 5S PRECISELY of this reason. I could buy the SE but I dislike buying 3 generations old device for 400 EUR.

I'm sure your sig is as pleasant as your attitude but unfortunately I can't see it without looking into your user details.



Obviously everyone has preferences but the difference here is the deal breaker? (I have a 5S as well).



The struggle is real.

 

[Jordan921]

And most people don't even use most of the features it does have.

Hit it right on the dot.

 

[meme1255]

I'm sure your sig is as pleasant as your attitude but unfortunately I can't see it without looking into your user details.

View attachment 782002

Obviously everyone has preferences but the difference here is the deal breaker? (I have a 5S as well).

View attachment 782003

The struggle is real.

I am sorry if my attitude offends you - you seemed as an ignorant, later you have figured out I've been responding to someone else. I am sorry for this. Sadly, it's quite common to just ignore parts of responses here, thus my attitude.

The difference is not only the size, but also the shape. The box-like design is much better to hold than curved 6+ design. I would probably bite that and bought the 8 if it had 3G of RAM - it has only two, so it soon will behave like 6S/SE/7 (!). I have experienced that with iPhone 4 vs Phone 4S vs 5S. Most of the difference were made by the RAM.

How much tax it added onto the price?

I just checked the prices in France they are similar to the UK.

Where in the eu do you live?

Czechia. 21% VAT Here. And I am using USD prices - if you convert the XR price (860 EUR) to USD, you get ~998 dollars. The rest is made-up by additional conversion EUR -> CZK and different VAT rate (France has "only" 20% VAT).

 

[FFR]

I am sorry if my attitude offends you - you seemed as an ignorant, later you have figured out I've been responding to someone else. I am sorry for this. Sadly, it's quite common to just ignore parts of responses here, thus my attitude.

The difference is not only the size, but also the shape. The box-like design is much better to hold than curved 6+ design. I would probably bite that and bought the 8 if it had 3G of RAM - it has only two, so it soon will behave like 6S/SE/7 (!). I have experienced that with iPhone 4 vs Phone 4S vs 5S. Most of the difference were made by the RAM.



Czechia. 21% VAT Here. And I am using USD prices - if you convert the XR price (860 EUR) to USD, you get ~998 dollars. The rest is made-up by additional conversion EUR -> CZK and different VAT rate (France has "only" 20% VAT).

Dobrý den!

That explains the price difference.

Not fair to blame Apple for the 21% vat and whichever exchange rate you utilized.

Still a beautiful country

 

[meme1255]

Dobrý den!

That explains the price difference.

Not fair to blame Apple for the 21% vat and whichever exchange rate you utilized.

Still a beautiful country

Thanks! Greeting to London.

I have not utilised any "my" rate. The Apple's one is the awful one. It was cheaper to buy my MacBook Pro in Vienna than here by approx. 4000 CZK (180 dollars/ 150 EUR). I've bought AppleCare for the savings after the 2016/2017 fiasco.

Even after you deduct the tax, we pay much more in the whole EU. 2 years warranty does not (fully) explain this - IF the fail rate between year 1 and year 2 is that high, something is VERY badly designed.

 

[I7guy]

I'm so over the iphone. Every year I vent on this site about my frustration with the lack of new features because I'm angry and hopeful that, on the off-chance, something will be done about it.

This year is no different.

How can I say it without sounding like a troll: Tim Cook has NFI. He started from a very high platform. He becomes CEO of the company which invented and makes arguably the greatest consumer product the world has ever seen, all thanks to Steve Jobs (RIP) and has since seen it progressively reduced to an overpriced, feature-starved, glorified emoji device.

Somebody please correct me if I'm wrong, but:

In 2014, the iphone came with with a big screen (cool) with very little else added to the iphone.

In 2015, Apple introduced 3D touch which had so much potential but was left to became effectively a shortcut menu. 3D touch is now, according to reports, on its way out.

In 2016, Apple introduced a better camera (an improvement, not to be confused with a new feature) but took away the headphone jack.

In 2017, Apple introduced Face ID, a biometrich which replaced another biometrich, again, an improvement rather than a new feature because it was a case of one security access feature replacing another, no new capability was added. It also polarised opinion as not everyone was/is a fan of Face ID. Oh, and we also saw anamojis, yipeeeeee.

And in 2018....a bigger screen and a spec bump.

And next year? Well at this rate Apple will be removing something from the iphone because that's the one certainty you get with Apple, for whatever reason, they remove features. Anyone remember the old Youtube app? Gone. Headphone jack, gone. 3D touch, probably gone. Apple giveth, Apple taketh away.

Back to Apple's go slow approach. When's it gonna end? I've had enough of it. In the last 5 iphone keynotes, we have seen improvements and spec bumps here and there, but nothing to make me go wow. When was the last time Apple added something which made the iphone do something it could never do before and which was innovative?

Now before people say "phones have stopped making people go wow" and "what do you expect from a phone", please spare me the comments. Those comments may have been relevant 2-3 years ago, but not now. In the last 5 years, we have not seen one major added feature to spruce life back into the iphone. And don't get me started on the years preceding 2014 and how slow the feature-adding was then too, albeit, better than the years post 2014.

The iphone has become a boring, bland device. If all we want from it is to read email, play music, text and consume media, which is what some keep saying, then why has it become so damn expensive? I have seen at least 5 phone reviewers say if you're going to spend a thousand dollars on a phone, then the Note 9 is the phone to buy. And that is no coincidence. Not kidding you, the Note line has left the iphone line behind. And I say this as an iphone user. After playing with the Note 9 in the store, it did make me go "WOW".

That is all.

To be fair, there are more innovations than the few items you mentioned, but OK. I have a 6S and have been vacillating on pulling the plug on the 256 iphone Xs Max, space grey. Seems like 6 to 6s is equivalent to x to xs.

Not sure what is expected. I don't see Samsungs approach being any different, in spite of the marketing. The biggest differentiator between the Note 8 and Note 9 is what? Software?

 

[FFR]

Thanks! Greeting to London.

I have not utilised any "my" rate. The Apple's one is the awful one. It was cheaper to buy my MacBook Pro in Vienna than here by approx. 4000 CZK (180 dollars/ 150 EUR). I've bought AppleCare for the savings after the 2016/2017 fiasco.

Even after you deduct the tax, we pay much more in the whole EU. 2 years warranty does not (fully) explain this - IF the fail rate between year 1 and year 2 is that high, something is VERY badly designed.

Could be cheaper but, added transportations and or import duties would negate any perceived price benefit.

It sounds expensive.

No one is arguing about the 2016 or 2017 MacBook Pro keyboard failure rate. It’s terrible.
Not as bad as the taxes but a close second.

 

[meme1255]

Could be cheaper but, added transportations and or import duties would negate any perceived price benefit.

Even the US prices are quite high (a least I judge so by reactions seen all over the internet). In my country, average (!) wage is 1150 GBP/ 1250 EUR now… [median is 1000 EUR]. Many things are cheaper than elsewhere, electronics costs +- the same everywhere. So buying a new iPhone means spending more than monthly income for majority of people here.) That's probably why I have a little bit different view on the prices.

 

[cynics]

I am sorry if my attitude offends you - you seemed as an ignorant, later you have figured out I've been responding to someone else. I am sorry for this. Sadly, it's quite common to just ignore parts of responses here, thus my attitude.

The difference is not only the size, but also the shape. The box-like design is much better to hold than curved 6+ design. I would probably bite that and bought the 8 if it had 3G of RAM - it has only two, so it soon will behave like 6S/SE/7 (!). I have experienced that with iPhone 4 vs Phone 4S vs 5S. Most of the difference were made by the RAM.



Czechia. 21% VAT Here. And I am using USD prices - if you convert the XR price (860 EUR) to USD, you get ~998 dollars. The rest is made-up by additional conversion EUR -> CZK and different VAT rate (France has "only" 20% VAT).

Trust me I'm not offended.

Well I do agree the newer iPhones are harder to hold compared to the 5S. I use a case on both but without it the more rounded iPhone feels like it will slip out of my hands. So I do get that point.

If you convert to USD you'll need to include individuals state sales tax which ranges from 0% to 10% depending on where you live. Also you guys get consumer protection laws that can force a 2 year warranty if the need arises, for us we would need to get AppleCare+ for 2 years of warranty (yes I know there are differences). So someone in the US could....

iPhone Xr 64gb $750 + AppleCare+ $150 = 900 x sales tax .1 (10%) = $990

Conversely you could drive/fly to a sales tax free state (or have someone do it for you) and also not get AppleCare and get an iPhone Xr for $750. Not sure how consumer laws works over there but here if our hand was force to say provide a warranty extension beyond what we would normally offer we would just add it onto the price (covering operating cost). Wouldn't be surprised if that is a little of the premium some people see.

 

[FFR]

Even the US prices are quite high (a least I judge so by reactions seen all over the internet). In my country, average (!) wage is 1150 GBP/ 1250 EUR now… [median is 1000 EUR]. Many things are cheaper than elsewhere, electronics costs +- the same everywhere. So buying a new iPhone means spending more than monthly income for majority of people here.) That's probably why I have a little bit different view on the prices.

True.
But prices are relative to demand.
Demand dictates wether prices are too high or not. By that logic it doesn’t look like prices are high at all.

Judging by your post, your still using a 5s, a device released in 2012, about 6 years ago. So it looks like you really use your devices and keep it for as long as possible.

If you amortize the cost of an iphone over 5 years, it’s not so much.
The xr would be about 170euros a year that’s not so bad.

The good thing about high prices and Apple is that they don’t depreciate as much. Just look at second year iPhone X prices, still going strong to the detriment of some posters on the board.

Still can’t get over the 21%vat.

Makes me want to move back to Switzerland, 7.7% vat.

 

[Ffosse]

I've not really noticed the difference with just 2GB of RAM on my 8 compared with the X; but I never really ask the 8 to do anything intensive, mainly music and podcasts, some light browsing.

 

[meme1255]

True.
But prices are relative to demand.
Demand dictates wether prices are too high or not. By that logic it doesn’t look like prices are high at all.

Judging by your post, your still using a 5s, a device released in 2012, about 6 years ago. So it looks like you really use your devices and keep it for as long as possible.

If you amortize the cost of an iphone over 5 years, it’s not so much.
The xr would be about 170euros a year that’s not so bad.

The good thing about high prices and Apple is that they don’t depreciate as much. Just look at second year iPhone X prices, still going strong to the detriment of some posters on the board.

Still can’t get over the 21%vat.

Makes me want to move back to Switzerland, 7.7% vat.

Yes, I tend to use my devices as long as they suffice, I see no reason in replacing something I am happy with (the only this I dislike on the 5S is the battery life - the speed has been very significantly improved by the iOS 12) – and tend to travel using the savings instead (as a student I don't have time to make that much money - I just give a little amount of money aside every month and I buy whatever I need to buy/replace using these savings). I would never borrow money for an phone or pay it monthly.

I could afford to buy the XR or even the XS - I just don't want to buy something I don't like and I am not willing to support Apple's effort in raising the prices in this extend - I can only vote with my wallet, so I do it.

Yes, the Switzerland's VAT is nice - as long as you work in Switzerland and you make enough money - because Switzerland is expensive enough even with its low VAT. You surely know that, though .

 

[cynics]

I've not really noticed the difference with just 2GB of RAM on my 8 compared with the X; but I never really ask the 8 to do anything intensive, mainly music and podcasts, some light browsing.

They main benefit of RAM in a smartphone is foreground apps RAMs usage does cause a background app to be purged from RAM from it’s suspended state causing the app to refresh when you go back to it. This can cause an annoying situation where you are switching between apps and need to navigate back to where you were every time.

A well programmed app can mitigate a lot of that by caching data which is why you might not notice a performance difference. I notice it with my 6S but not too often.

 

[meme1255]

I've not really noticed the difference with just 2GB of RAM on my 8 compared with the X; but I never really ask the 8 to do anything intensive, mainly music and podcasts, some light browsing.

You will notice it later, not know. There are still 1 GB devices (iPhone 5S, 6, iPad Mini 2 and Air 1) supported.

 

[_Refurbished_]

I'm so over the iphone. Every year I vent on this site about my frustration with the lack of new features because I'm angry and hopeful that, on the off-chance, something will be done about it.

This year is no different.

How can I say it without sounding like a troll: Tim Cook has NFI. He started from a very high platform. He becomes CEO of the company which invented and makes arguably the greatest consumer product the world has ever seen, all thanks to Steve Jobs (RIP) and has since seen it progressively reduced to an overpriced, feature-starved, glorified emoji device.

Somebody please correct me if I'm wrong, but:

In 2014, the iphone came with with a big screen (cool) with very little else added to the iphone.

In 2015, Apple introduced 3D touch which had so much potential but was left to became effectively a shortcut menu. 3D touch is now, according to reports, on its way out.

In 2016, Apple introduced a better camera (an improvement, not to be confused with a new feature) but took away the headphone jack.

In 2017, Apple introduced Face ID, a biometrich which replaced another biometrich, again, an improvement rather than a new feature because it was a case of one security access feature replacing another, no new capability was added. It also polarised opinion as not everyone was/is a fan of Face ID. Oh, and we also saw anamojis, yipeeeeee.

And in 2018....a bigger screen and a spec bump.

And next year? Well at this rate Apple will be removing something from the iphone because that's the one certainty you get with Apple, for whatever reason, they remove features. Anyone remember the old Youtube app? Gone. Headphone jack, gone. 3D touch, probably gone. Apple giveth, Apple taketh away.

Back to Apple's go slow approach. When's it gonna end? I've had enough of it. In the last 5 iphone keynotes, we have seen improvements and spec bumps here and there, but nothing to make me go wow. When was the last time Apple added something which made the iphone do something it could never do before and which was innovative?

Now before people say "phones have stopped making people go wow" and "what do you expect from a phone", please spare me the comments. Those comments may have been relevant 2-3 years ago, but not now. In the last 5 years, we have not seen one major added feature to spruce life back into the iphone. And don't get me started on the years preceding 2014 and how slow the feature-adding was then too, albeit, better than the years post 2014.

The iphone has become a boring, bland device. If all we want from it is to read email, play music, text and consume media, which is what some keep saying, then why has it become so damn expensive? I have seen at least 5 phone reviewers say if you're going to spend a thousand dollars on a phone, then the Note 9 is the phone to buy. And that is no coincidence. Not kidding you, the Note line has left the iphone line behind. And I say this as an iphone user. After playing with the Note 9 in the store, it did make me go "WOW".

That is all.

I've played with the Note, it did not make me go wow in any way. Curved glass screens are worse than a notch from my usage, as it modifies all of your content on the screen. Maybe it's just time for you to move to something new as it seems you need to change technology in order to remain happy. While there is still room for innovation, it's not going to be Earth shattering like it was in the early 2010's. What is Earth shattering about other company's phones?

Cook has been at the helm for the updates listed below. I'd say it's a fairly substantial list and it's just the things I could think of off the top of my head. Regardless of innovation, these features are undeniable in that they change the way we use our phones. Apple rarely invents, Apple refines. The iPhone is a refinement of the smartphone, albeit a revolutionary, once-in-a-lifetime refinement.

- Wireless charging
- CarPlay
- Wireless CarPlay
- FaceID (not in love with it) is most certainly a new feature. Completely changes the way we log into our phones
- Tape-measure tool
- Complete rework of iMessages, changes the way most people communicate via text (does so for everyone that I communicate with). Now people use GIFs, stickers ,and there's just more pizzazz in the Messaging app. It used to be very boring. GIFs are easily my favorite new built-in feature of the iPhone in the last five years, as crazy as that may sound.
- Water resistant phones, almost completely waterproof
- Stereo sound
- Stereo recording
- 4k recording
- Messages in iCloud
- iCloud Photo Library
- Apple Music
- Group FaceTime (when it's released)
- AirPods and the W1 Chip for more seamless wireless headphones
- The iPhone X is the biggest change to the core functions of the iPhone experience, ever, love or hate the changes

There's way more to add to this list, as I'm probably omitting a few big ones. While these are mostly evolutionary changes, that's what can be expected in 2018.

 

[FFR]

Yes, I tend to use my devices as long as they suffice, I see no reason in replacing something I am happy with (the only this I dislike on the 5S is the battery life - the speed has been very significantly improved by the iOS 12) – and tend to travel using the savings instead (as a student I don't have time to make that much money - I just give a little amount of money aside every month and I buy whatever I need to buy/replace using these savings). I would never borrow money for an phone or pay it monthly.

I could afford to buy the XR or even the XS - I just don't want to buy something I don't like and I am not willing to support Apple's effort in raising the prices in this extend - I can only vote with my wallet, so I do it.

Yes, the Switzerland's VAT is nice - as long as you work in Switzerland and you make enough money - because Switzerland is expensive enough even with its low VAT. You surely know that, though .

That’s more than fair.

Yes quality of life in Switzerland is quite high,
And great weather .
If you like to ski it is quite an amazing place.

 

[Ffosse]

They main benefit of RAM in a smartphone is foreground apps RAMs usage does cause a background app to be purged from RAM from it’s suspended state causing the app to refresh when you go back to it. This can cause an annoying situation where you are switching between apps and need to navigate back to where you were every time.

A well programmed app can mitigate a lot of that by caching data which is why you might not notice a performance difference. I notice it with my 6S but not too often.

But doesn't the 6s have 2GBs?

I got an Honor 10 with 4GBs of RAM but Android is so much worse at managing RAM that I can't really tell any difference from my other phones.

1GB RAM on the 6 and other Apple phones must feel a bit sluggish by now, though.

There was a shopping channel on recently that was trying to sell the 6 for 400 British pounds and not once did they mention it was a 6 and had been eclipsed a few generations by now. They just called it an iPhone. Only the very elderly or plain stupid would have been duped by this as the price was extortionate for a 2014 phone.

 

[meme1255]

But doesn't the 6s have 2GBs?

I got an Honor 10 with 4GBs of RAM but Android is so much worse at managing RAM that I can't really tell any difference from my other phones.

1GB RAM on the 6 and other Apple phones must feel a bit sluggish by now, though.

It does. That's why I wouldn't buy a 8 these days - the SE(6S) have the same amount. Simply because I want to use my device for some time. Next year, the 5S and maybe the 6 will be cut off (maybe the 6 will be left, but it will be the only device with 1G), leaving 2G RAM device in the lowest supported tier.