[The Faceless Master]

Yet few heralded the new device as a great leap forward. What's more, the iPhone 5 doesn't have several features that are becoming standard across other smartphones. Those features, such as ways to pay with your phone or even bigger screens, are generating strong reviews from consumers and technology critics. Those reviewers, quick to call winners and losers in the space, have spent the last few months lamenting that the iPhone doesn't offer more. Even some hard-core Apple fans questioned whether the iPhone can continue to trail blaze or if it's becoming a snoozer. One Apple employee recently confided he had been hoping the new device would have more dramatic changes.

Still, the technology gaps are getting more attention. Here's a sampling of what the iPhone 5, available Sept. 21, is missing: • Digital Payments: ... • Touch to Share: ... • Dynamic Home Screens: ... • Face Unlock: ... • Even Bigger Screens: ... • Wireless Charging: ...

full article has fleshed out paragraphs on above sampling.

http://tinyurl.com/isip5boring


so is it boring? i wouldn't call it boring and i also don't think wireless charging is ready for prime time yet. the other gaps are pretty awesome though!

[planar1280]

This is getting boring from you

[Tobor]

How many boring negative Apple threads can The Faceless Master make in one day?

We're about to find out.

[bud]

apple died with steve. ;_;

[Reuenthal]

Yes

[Vic]

Can't believe they've skip on NFC, even if it wasn't supported by the OS from the get-go. I believe it cost very little to implement.

[Appleman]

This is so stupid, every article points out the "checkbox" features that some Android phones have but fails to mention the innovations and precision manufacturing process that the iPhone 5 can weild above them. Apple waits until they can do (most) features right, whether that be software (copy/paste) or hardware (LTE)

[ep85]

I honestly don't know what they can do to not make a "boring" phone. But then again I'm not being payed millions to do so.

[Aguirre]

i dont particularly like apple, but damn master. you werent allowed to get an iphone or something, is that the reason for the hate?

[Izick]

Someone makes a negative comment about Apple/Apple fans jump on them. It's just like a dance at this point.

[bobbytkc]

Don't know why you guys are bashing the OP. It isnt as if he plucked out the topic from thin air. This is a thread about the wall street journal article.

[Zaptruder]

I would call it predictably refined. Plus some jerk moves to make you rebuy more stuff. And a couple of questionable design decisions that make it less usable than before in some circumstances.

[planar1280]

Don't know why you guys are bashing the OP. It isnt as if he plucked out the topic from thin air. This is a thread about the wall street journal article.

There is a thread called iphone 5 OT?

[equap]

it's been pretty boring since the 3s came out, then 4 & 4s, and now this.

[bobbytkc]

There is a thread called iphone 5 OT?

New thread for new news. That is the rule. This is a new article.

[Dynamite Shikoku]

Boring all the way to the bank

[x-Lundz-x]

Considering the pre-orders started at midnight and they are already sold out, it doesn't look that way to the public.

[beast786]

New thread for new news. That is the rule. This is a new article.

not the same

[Zaptruder]

New thread for new news. That is the rule. This is a new article.

This isn't actually news. It's just an editorial, or opinion piece.

[Tobor]

Boring all the way to the bank

Yeah, the day 1 launch preorders are already sold out. There's a large market for "boring".

[Salvor.Hardin]

This is so stupid, every article points out the "checkbox" features that some Android phones have but fails to mention the innovations and precision manufacturing process that the iPhone 5 can weild above them. Apple waits until they can do (most) features right, whether that be software (copy/paste) or hardware (LTE)

Not sure if this is sarcasm. Who gives a shit about the manufacturing process? And how were LTE or copy/paste broken before Apple decided to include them?

It's incredible that some people think there wasn't a panorama option in smartphones prior to iphone 5. My Galaxy S1 had it.

[Kurdel]

All of the criticism is because the software isn't dramatically different (except for NFC).

I mean, iOS 6 was revealed a few months ago, why is this a surprise?

[outunderthestars]

Don't know why you guys are bashing the OP. It isnt as if he plucked out the topic from thin air. This is a thread about the wall street journal article.

I think it has more to do with the sheer number of anti-apple threads this week than the article itself. Couldn't this easily have gone in one of the dozen or so other threads?

[Tobor]

Not sure if this is sarcasm. Who gives a shit about the manufacturing process? And how was LTE or copy/paste broken before Apple decided to include them?

Copy/Paste: they took their time designing an implementation that works well with a capacitive touchscreen and a finger. It's still the best implementation I've seen.

LTE: the original chipsets were battery destroyers and too large to fit into the size phone Apple wants to make. They waited for the tech to catch up to their designs.

[ThoseDeafMutes]

not the same

The Reggie of Apple News?

[Izick]

[Zeppu]

All of the criticism is because the software isn't dramatically different (except for NFC). I mean, iOS 6 was revealed a few months ago, why is this a surprise?

And because all of the phone basically leaked months in advance. If no one had known they would've been changing the screen size and having a machined unibody, erm, body, then this reveal would've been exciting as fuck.

[Double D]

Maybe, but that black one is the stuff boners are made of.

[Sentry]

If only they had introduced NFC and made a big deal of it with Passbook, it would've sparked some level of hype similar to facetime with 4 and Siri with 4S, if not more.

I guess they felt the larger screen would do that for them instead, but it really hasn't..

However, it's no more boring than the 4S was. That's not exactly a compliment, but I wouldn't call the 5 a 'snoozer' either.

[Hiro_Kunimi_80]

Still, the technology gaps are getting more attention. Here's a sampling of what the iPhone 5, available Sept. 21, is missing:

• Digital Payments: ... = Useful (in US) but everywhere ? no.
• Touch to Share: ... = this is a real deal... ( against the " apple " policy )
• Dynamic Home Screens: ... = as above.
• Face Unlock: ... = why in the hell someone need such kind of solution :( ? it's worse that using kinect as main control device
• Even Bigger Screens: ... = it depends..
• Wireless Charging: ... = too early tech maybe with iphone 7

[DrFunk]

Isn't the concept of 'boring' subjective?

[cubicle47b]

Yes, it's boring. My iPhone 4S is also boring. It's also really well made and does everything I want it to do.

[Tobor]

If only they had introduced NFC and made a big deal of it with Passbook, it would've sparked some level of hype similar to facetime with 4 and Siri with 4S, if not more. I guess they felt the larger screen would do that for them instead, but it really hasn't.. However, it's no more boring than the 4S was. That's not exactly a compliment, but I wouldn't call the 5 a 'snoozer' either.

Sure, but imagine the shitstorm if Apple went forward with NFC before the implementation and pay system is ready.

Releasing Siri in beta is one thing, it's not a mission critical feature. You can't screw around with people's money. That needs to be locked down and perfect.

[Salvor.Hardin]

Copy/Paste: they took their time designing an implementation that works well with a capacitive touchscreen and a finger. It's still the best implementation I've seen. LTE: the original chipsets were battery destroyers and too large to fit into the size phone Apple wants to make. They waited for the tech to catch up to their designs.

The copy/paste thing is silly. It functioned perfectly fine on other devices. Apple was very oddly late to the game there.

In terms of battery, the iphone 5 is stronger than the 4s but most sites indicate it to be weaker than the S3. I find that to be pretty pretty lame.

[ScOULaris]

Yes, but so was every other iteration of the iPhone save for the first one.

iPhones have never been exciting, although the lines of people snatching up each new iteration might make you think they are.

[shagg_187]

This is getting boring from you

.

• Digital Payments: There are apps for that
• Touch to Share: There are apps for that. Also, find it easier to iMessage than using apps like Bump or whatnot.
• Dynamic Home Screens: Already crowded. Don't need to be dynamic enough.
• Face Unlock: Don't need it (Also, isn't this patented by someone else?)
• Even Bigger Screens: Isn't it bigger already?
• Wireless Charging: There are accessories for that.


Next.

[numble]

The copy/paste thing is silly. It functioned perfectly fine on other devices. Apple was very oddly late to the game there. In terms of battery, the iphone 5 is stronger than the 4s but most sites indicate it to be weaker than the S3. I find that to be pretty pretty lame.

Which sites? There are no benchmarks out (the phone isn't out) and the 4S beats the S3 in battery life.

[hodgy100]

Let the apple is doomed threads begin :D

[Phantast2k]

1) Digital Payments: ... = Useful (in US) but everywhere ? no. 2) Touch to Share: ... = this is a real deal... ( against the " apple " policy ) 3) Dynamic Home Screens: ... = as above. 4) Face Unlock: ... = why in the hell someone need such kind of solution :( ? it's worse that using kinect as main control device 5) Even Bigger Screens: ... = it depends.. 6) Wireless Charging: ... = too early tech maybe with iphone 7

1) Already works in Europe in a whole lot of places - most of our debit card are about be overhauled to support it. NFC is even in our new IDs, lol
4) debatable
6) works on Palm devices for what like 3-4 years now

/on topic
hope this generally negative sentiment will at least somewhat affect their sales.

[Aad]

I think it's more fatigue than anything else.

[Goldrush]

I don't think there's any features Apple could put in that would generate massive hype from most user. Anecdotal, but with most people I know that were disappointed with the phone, it was solely due to the similarity in the "looks" of the iPhone 5 and 4.

[Rocket Scientist]

I think at least the people interested in tech are becoming bored of it given the other options available. We'll see what he regular consumer thinks, but this time does feel different. A bigger screen will no doubt lure people in who skipped it solely for the small screen (compared to other phones), but I don't see how they're going to keep the hype alive with what they're offering at this point. They're obviously offering a great package, but so are others.

[shagg_187]

Which sites? There are no benchmarks out (the phone isn't out) and the 4S beats the S3 in battery life.

Imaginary benchmarks. I've already Benchmarked iPhone 5S and I can confirm that while the dimensions are the same, it has a smaller processor and bigger battery life in 5S.

[Napoleonthechimp]

This is so stupid, every article points out the "checkbox" features that some Android phones have but fails to mention the innovations and precision manufacturing process that the iPhone 5 can weild above them. Apple waits until they can do (most) features right, whether that be software (copy/paste) or hardware (LTE)

People don't interact with precision manufacturing processes. The user experience is king and very little has changed with the iPhone 5.

[SmokyDave]

It's not boring, it's just that new phone launches aren't supposed to be exciting and the iPhone shook that up for a few years. Now people expect dancing mermaids and golden blowjobs every year when ultimately, it's just a consumer product refresh.

[Pie and Beans]

When every single goddam Apple reel tries to sell the "this is the most amazing iProduct we've ever built" (of course it is, why would you purposely make a shittier one?!), diminishing returns on the hype were always going to set in.

Worse still is the power of the Numbered Iteration. The 4 had the retina screen to point to as the big step forward, and then followed the marginal upgrade. This is another boosted internals launch and not much more, but they've named it the 5 with no go to innovation or big obvious must have feature.

So yep, plenty boring, and now is the time for the rest of the mobile industry to strike and strike hard. If they can and Apple havent banned said competing products in your country of residence of course!

[shinobi602]

This isn't actually news. It's just an editorial, or opinion piece.

That would get lost in a split second in the OT.

[Rivyn]

I think it's more fatigue than anything else.

I agree.

Apple is staying in the safe region while the rest is showing the world what they want to see.

While I agree towards the stance that changing something that works is not always a good thing, the iPhone brand has become stale in comparison to its competitors.
The material that is being used is still top of the line, and that is something a lot of companies can not even compete with, but in terms of innovation they are not the #1 phone company any longer.

People can say that Samsung's innovations in the S3 is just a gimmick, but a lot of those gimmicks are making the phone more pleasant to work with.
Texting someone? I can call that person on the spot by just holding the phone to my ear. Staring at the screen and falling asleep? The phone goes into stand-by mode.

Not to mention the fact that the Android based system, while not being noob-user friendly, is incredibly more advanced than the iOS that has been dying for an upgrade since 2010. You can tailor the screen to your own needs and that makes it that much more fun to work it.

[Rourkey]

until they do some thing major with iOS then it will always seem boring to tech fans

Unfortunately they wont because the masses don't care about OS changes, they like familiarity.

In fact its quite hard to see where apple go from here, it cant get any lighter/thinner now can it? Have the reached an imac like plateau?

[Technosteve]

Android is for children, iOS is for refined gentlemen.