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[Husker86]

do you remember when they went from 3G to 3GS?

or were you not on internets then? they've improved the iPhone in every way including DOUBLING the bandwidth potential to 14mbps+. AND now that they have just 1 phone with all the cell network chips inside, they can reduce overhead/costs in the process.

people should already know damn well that Apple won't add real 4G and similar features until they can do it without compromising their battery life. stuff like NFC is barely on the market at this point. bigger screen will still probably come with the next major phone release.

Apple sometimes errs, but this isn't one of those times. Not their fault the blog hype train takes some of you to extraordinary heights only to be let down when the reality is excellent but not the long list of things you wanted instead.


nope. but bigger is nice.

When will they ever be able to add LTE without compromising battery life? They took the hit with 3G.

 

[3N16MA]

I wonder if this means Apple will now do iPhone releases during the fall or do a short cycle with the 4S and go back to summer next year.

 

[Josh7289]

But I tend to believe that any bigger than that and you're reaching into "Too big to be comfortable for everyday usage" territory.

I've got a phone with a 4.5" screen and I'm looking forward to upgrading to a bigger one when I can. It hasn't hampered my everyday usage of it.

 

[Lonely1]

I think the same will be the same with the 4S and 4. The 3GS might start to show it's age a bit down the line, but maybe not.

Is because there wasn't. It almost was the same hardware with a new screen. But the A5 is a gen ahead of the A4.

Why is Siri only on the 4S?

So you upgrade?

 

[Chinner]

I wonder if this means Apple will now do iPhone releases during the fall or do a short cycle with the 4S and go back to summer next year.

thats something im wondering as well.

 

[ecurbj]

Is it worth going from a 3GS to the 4S? All I wanted was a bigger screen... didn't care about the resolution as much as having a larger screen.

That's all I wanted!

Does this appeal to you or convince you to want the 4S?

"beefier CPU, GPU, more storage, better video recording capabilities, world phone, Sprint-accessible, better camera and quality, Siri, longer talk time. and only 3grams heavier."

If not, wait till next October for the 4G LTE version of the iPhone.

 

[narcosis219]

do you remember when they went from 3G to 3GS?

or were you not on internets then? they've improved the iPhone in every way including DOUBLING the bandwidth potential to 14mbps+. AND now that they have just 1 phone with all the cell network chips inside, they can reduce overhead/costs in the process.

people should already know damn well that Apple won't add real 4G and similar features until they can do it without compromising their battery life. stuff like NFC is barely on the market at this point. bigger screen will still probably come with the next major phone release.

Apple sometimes errs, but this isn't one of those times. Not their fault the blog hype train takes some of you to extraordinary heights only to be let down when the reality is excellent but not the long list of things you wanted instead.


nope. but bigger is nice.

3G to 3GS made sense because shit was slow on the 3G. Name an app (that isn't a 3D game) that your 4 chugs with.

No, I don't go on any techblogs to read apple hype. I just know that this time of year is new iPhone time and I expected to be wowed, in which case I wasn't. I just got a marginal upgrade for the same price. Yay, they saved on costs and overhead. So that mean's it's cheaper right? Nope. If it were truly a move to save on overhead and costs, it wouldn't be a whole new product. They would just do it. ECOs are done all the time without announcing a new product.

 

[dallow_bg]

This is why I don't get why some people are jizzing over this. A new faster CPU gets announced and they get excited at performance numbers but not what it means in every day life. Siri is probably the best answer for this spec bump.

LOL

I remember finally upgrading from 3G to 3GS.

Holy crap. I never realized how slow it was and how much time was saved with that upgrade.

With 4 to 4S?
I don't know. 4 seems pretty snappy already from my limited time with it.
Assuredly it means better framerates and loading, and that's always welcome on mobile devices.

 

[giga]

When will they ever be able to add LTE without compromising battery life? They took the hit with 3G.

http://www.anandtech.com/show/4925/why-no-lte-iphone-5-blame-28nm-maturity

Marty: The CPU affects speed of everything system wide. From the 1 second start up time of the camera to loading web pages faster.

 

[Tobor]

I wonder if this means Apple will now do iPhone releases during the fall or do a short cycle with the 4S and go back to summer next year.

We're discussing the same stuff in both threads at this point.

As I said over there, IMO, this is the new schedule. Spring= iPad, Fall = iPhone. Roughly 6 months between major iOS launches.

 

[Keylime]

We're discussing the same stuff in both threads at this point.

As I said over there, IMO, this is the new schedule. Spring= iPad, Fall = iPhone. Roughly 6 months between major iOS launches.

I'll see if I can get the other thread closed down for efficiency's sake.

 

[gutterboy44]

Pre ordering it through work on Friday. Was hoping for the "5" but I need a new phone since my 3GS is moments away from disintegrating to dust. Look forward to having a usable cell phone camera for the first time in ages. White 32GB it is.

 

[artist]

4S the new overlord, iPhone 4 users jelly.

 

[thezerofire]

Am I the only one who thinks that this is pretty cool? Android user for full disclosure.

 

[scorcho]

since they're sticking with the 4 design for one more cycle, i suppose it makes more sense now why Apple's going so hard after Samsung for their design lift.

 

[bananas]

It is. Just like the 3GS was a significant upgrade from the 3G and everyone gave similar reactions.

Sure, but the iPhone and the iPhone 3G hardware weren't great. The 3GS was a leap forward in CPU and GPU speed. But everything since then has been faster, but it's not dramatically noticeable.

It's not like the iPhone 4 was having issues displaying web pages, or running apps.
It's not like the 5MP camera was taking horrible photos.
The iPhone 4 has slower 3G download speed theoretically, but it's not like you'll ever reach the maximum speed in a real world setting anyway.

The iPhone 4S is undoubtedly a better phone. And if your upgrading it's a great offer, but it's hard to get excited about something that is so similar to the same model that's been out for almost a year and a half that, as a technophile geek, you can't help but be a little bummed out.

 

[dallow_bg]

Faster 3G web loading with the new CPU will be a great time saver too.

 

[user_nat]

So you upgrade?

Haha, fair enough.

Can't recall them making an IOS improvement exclusive to new hardware before, without a hardware reason.
Other cases have had reasons, like Facetime doesn't work well without a front facing camera or old phones just don't have the grunt for multitasking.

 

[Chinner]

Sure, but the iPhone and the iPhone 3G hardware weren't great. The 3GS was a leap forward in CPU and GPU speed. But everything since then has been faster, but it's not dramatically noticeable.

It's not like the iPhone 4 was having issues displaying web pages, or running apps.
It's not like the 5MP camera was taking horrible photos.
The iPhone 4 has slower 3G download speed theoretically, but it's not like you'll ever reach the maximum speed in a real world setting anyway.

The iPhone 4S is undoubtedly a better phone. And if your upgrading it's a great offer, but it's hard to get excited about something that is so similar to the same model that's been out for almost a year and a half that, as a technophile geek, you can't help but be a little bummed out.

so what you're saying is that hardware and software improvement do not impress you?

why you even bothered about the iphone 5 then? do you use the original iphone ironically?

 

[X-Frame]

For those of you with a White iPhone 4 .. do you like it enough to get it again or will you get the black one?

I have black now but the white looks so slick in the pictures/videos on Apple.com. On the other hand, the iPad 2 in white didn't look nearly as good to me.

 

[ecurbj]

4S the new overlord, iPhone 4 users jelly.

Jesus Christ, we going to start this now...

 

[LOCK]

I'm not impressed, and that's coming from a 3GS owner.

 

[narcosis219]

LOL

I remember finally upgrading from 3G to 3GS.

Holy crap. I never realized how slow it was and how much time was saved with that upgrade.

With 4 to 4S?
I don't know. 4 seems pretty snappy already from my limited time with it.
Assuredly it means better framerates and loading, and that's always welcome on mobile devices.

There are diminishing returns (with the present technology) with higher clock speeds. We're hitting that limit with the 4. The marginal upgrade in the 4S isn't going to be even close to the drastic improvement that the 3GS was to the 3G.

If that didn't make sense, imagine a table. 4 legs? Stands perfectly, might be a bit wobbly because the material/joints aren't strong. Let's add 4 more legs to it. Doesn't wobble at all. Now just put the tabletop on a block of cement. Cool, it doesn't wobble at all.

Don't you think the block of cement was unnecessary?

 

[Marty Chinn]

Is because there wasn't. It almost was the same hardware with a new screen. But the A5 is a gen ahead of the A4.

What? 3GS wasn't an A4. There was a pretty nice performance bump between 3GS and 4. So no, it wasn't simply the same hardware with a new screen.

LOL

I remember finally upgrading from 3G to 3GS.

Holy crap. I never realized how slow it was and how much time was saved with that upgrade.

With 4 to 4S?
I don't know. 4 seems pretty snappy already from my limited time with it.
Assuredly it means better framerates and loading, and that's always welcome on mobile devices.

3G to 3GS, ya there was a pretty big bump in performance, and then even from 3GS there was still a bump to 4. But I have to think that at some point, those spec bumps don't mean so much unless you're fragmenting your market to take advantage of that performance. The only place I see this happening is with some games like Infnity Blade 2. At this point in time, I can't think of any app that feels sluggish on either a 3GS or a 4 that would need the extra performance. I don't think app developers are going to start exclusing the 3GS or 4 because of the 4S either. If anything, the 3GS still holding up against the 4 outside of games, sorta is the point I'm getting at.

Sure we get a beefier CPU, but what does it really mean in real world situation if you're not playing games? Siri sounds like the best answer so far and nothing beyond that.

 

[ecurbj]

I wonder what kind of processor the 2012 iPhone might have?

 

[Lonely1]

We're discussing the same stuff in both threads at this point.

As I said over there, IMO, this is the new schedule. Spring= iPad, Fall = iPhone. Roughly 6 months between major iOS launches.

And the touches?

What? 3GS wasn't an A4. There was a pretty nice performance bump between 3GS and 4. So no, it wasn't simply the same hardware with a new screen.

The difference were only higher clocks, and not by much. The RAM advantage was only for the iPhone, since the A4 on the iPad and the iTouches had the same amount as the 3GS.

 

[Keylime]

Did anyone go from an iPad 1 to an iPad 2? Because that is going to be the same kind of jump from the iPhone 4 to the iPhone 4S.

People using iPad 1's have no idea how nice a jump the iPad 2 was. Heck, I forgot that they were using the same internals as iPhone 4 and 4S and that actually eased myself a good bit.

A4 to A5 is a big jump...regardless of all the awesome camera, antenna, siri stuff. Performance wise the new phone is going to scream to the old one.

 

[Recon]

And the touches?

Touches come out the same time as iphone?

 

[bananas]

so what you're saying is that hardware and software improvement do not impress you?

I'm just saying you get to a point of diminishing returns where a faster CPU isn't going to be that big of a difference compared to the iPhone 4. The software improvements do impress me, but I don't need an iPhone 4S for those. I can get most, if not all, of those on the iPhone 4. Hell, I even had most on my 3GS when I was running the iOS 5 beta.

why you even bothered about the iphone 5 then? do you use the original iphone ironically?

I'm not bothered, I'm disappointed. And I don't even know what that last question is supposed to mean. I haven't used the original iPhone since I got the 3GS and I've recently got a different phone.

 

[amrod]

any canada news on this... like from Rogers?

 

[PeakPointMatrix]

Have they confirmed when we're getting iOS 5? Sorry if I missed it.

 

[artist]

Jesus Christ, we going to start this now...

Cant deny that the processor boost is significant. Probably a bigger boost than all the iterations we've got so far.

Can anyone compile the benches please?

 

[brain_stew]

Serious question here. Is there really anything other than maybe games that this is needed for at the moment or even anytime soon? Are there apps on the iPhone 4 that feel sluggish on the 3GS?

Even basic web page rendering is still CPU bottlenecked on high end smartphones with dual core A9s. I t won't be until we've got dual 2ghz+ A15s before we start seeing any real diminishing returns.

As for the iphone 4s? Well, I'm majorly disappointed, we all knew about the A5 and there's no doubting its credentials but for a slightly beefed up camera and long overdue HSPA+ support to be all that came a long with that is underwhelming. A 3.5" screen just doesn't cut it for the most expensive phone on the market.

 

[JackEtc]

I've had a Droid X for a year and a half, and I'm very happy with it, but will be switching to the iPhone 4S. Not because I don't like Android, but because I've found that I mainly use my phone for music and podcasts, which iOS does better, especially with iTunes.

Just hopefully I can preorder through the Verizon site...

 

[Marty Chinn]

so what you're saying is that hardware and software improvement do not impress you?

why you even bothered about the iphone 5 then? do you use the original iphone ironically?

Why do I want an iPhone 5? It'll be for the camera enhancements, it'll be for Siri assuming it pans out, it'll be for upping the capacity to 64GB, it'll be hopefully for 4G/LTE, and it'll hopefully be for tech like NFC.

 

[rkn]

I'm just saying you get to a point of diminishing returns where a faster CPU isn't going to be that big of a difference compared to the iPhone 4. The software improvements do impress me, but I don't need an iPhone 4S for those. I can get most, if not all, of those on the iPhone 4. Hell, I even had most on my 3GS when I was running the iOS 5 beta.



I'm not bothered, I'm disappointed. And I don't even know what that last question is supposed to mean. I haven't used the original iPhone since I got the 3GS and I've recently got a different phone.

I think this is right, also why it's a disappointment, at some point, arguably now, the speed is 'good enough' and other differentiating factors become more important, ie the industrial design and software.

 

[Tobor]

And the touches?

The IPod's don't really need their own event anymore.

 

[narcosis219]

Cant deny that the processor boost is significant. Probably a bigger boost than all the iterations we've got so far.

Was the iPhone 4 sluggish to you?

Realistically, it will mean your apps load 0.1s faster.

The only huge gains made here (processor only) is in 3D games

 

[Chinner]

I'm just saying you get to a point of diminishing returns where a faster CPU isn't going to be that big of a difference compared to the iPhone 4. The software improvements do impress me, but I don't need an iPhone 4S for those. I can get most, if not all, of those on the iPhone 4. Hell, I even had most on my 3GS when I was running the iOS 5 beta.

.

well its p simple, more powerful hardware will lead to more demanding software. i mean personally i find the improvements made in the years time to be impressive, but as a consumer you should be running on a 2 year cycle so that you see the best improvements anyway. i mean it was made pretty obvious with history of the previous iphones, but i guess nobody is smart enough to realise that you're not going to see huge overhauls every year.

 

[artist]

Was the iPhone 4 sluggish to you?

Realistically, it will mean your apps load 0.1s faster.

The only huge gains made here (processor only) is in 3D games

I havent seen a physical iPhone 4 running iOS5 with Siri & other perks, have you?

 

[Lonely1]

The IPod's don't really need their own event anymore.

But where new iPod Touch models announced at this? (The White doesn't count).

 

[Jill Sandwich]

Going forward, I hope for more natural sounding voice packs for Siri. I'd eat my mother's face for a GLaDOS one.

 

[Chinner]

2012: omg the new iphone 5 is amazing
2013: OMG THE IPHONE 5S IS SHIT BOYCOTT APPLE!!!!
2014: omg the new iphone 6 is amazing
2015: omg iphone 6s is terrible WHY DONT YOU LEARN APPLE I HATE YOU WHY DONT YOU FEED MY ENTITLMENT ISSUES!!!

*cries on internet like a fart in the wind*

 

[narcosis219]

I havent seen a physical iPhone 4 running iOS5 with Siri & other perks, have you?

I have seen an iPhone4 running with iOS5 & "other perks" (lolol). It is smooth. Nothing is slow.

On a 3G? Noticeably slow. Compare that with the 3GS and it is a huge difference. This time, the difference will be much, much smaller.

 

[Deadly Cyclone]

Anyone have success getting Verizon to do an early upgrade 16 months in as opposed to 20?

 

[scorcho]

Cant deny that the processor boost is significant. Probably a bigger boost than all the iterations we've got so far.

Can anyone compile the benches please?

you really won't notice the difference in speed in most non-gaming use. see: iphone 4 compared to ipad 2. i'm sure the ipad 2 is faster, but in terms of web surfing or interface interaction i've never had a point where i thought the phone felt 'slower.'

 

[Marty Chinn]

well its p simple, more powerful hardware will lead to more demanding software. i mean personally i find the improvements made in the years time to be impressive, but as a consumer you should be running on a 2 year cycle so that you see the best improvements anyway. i mean it was made pretty obvious with history of the previous iphones, but i guess nobody is smart enough to realise that you're not going to see huge overhauls every year.

But that's not true. Even with games, most don't push the envelope because they don't want to fragment their market. Why appeal to the iPhone 4S when you can run great on an iPhone 4S, iPhone 4 and iPhone 3GS? The possible fragmentation is what holds back demanding software and that's not a bad thing for end consumers either. It just means that performance bump you get every year doesn't translate it into being taken advantage of.

 

[3N16MA]

Have they confirmed when we're getting iOS 5? Sorry if I missed it.

October 12.

 

[Tobor]

Was the iPhone 4 sluggish to you?

Realistically, it will mean your apps load 0.1s faster.

The only huge gains made here (processor only) is in 3D games

Are games no longer important?

Besides that, there are tons of apps that can be improved, or better yet created in the first place thanks to a better CPU. We're not even close to the point where more power isn't needed.

Augmented reality apps are an entire category that can benefit from more processing power.

 

[brain_stew]

I think this is right, also why it's a disappointment, at some point, arguably now, the speed is 'good enough' and other differentiating factors become more important, ie the industrial design and software.

By all means, express your disappointment, but lets get real. The iphone 4 isn't anywhere close to "good enough" in terms of performance, and the SOC upgrade will make a huge difference.