I have a lot of friends in the technology industry. Friends that work for cell phone carriers, friends that build apps for cell phones and tablets, computer science engineers, IT professionals, etc. On the other hand I have just as many if not more friends in other industries that utilize technology for their businesses and professions. I hear opinions from all areas of the spectrum so I would say I have a great idea of what type of people would like and what would work best for them. So let's get to it!
The new iPhone just came out and the experts and bloggers are ranting and raving over it. Many people are criticizing the lack of changes to the form factor. Others are praising it's build quality and engineering genius. But let's be honest, the experts are experts on technology and not on what people want in their devices. So let's take a closer look at what the device actually offers you as a consumer.
Operation
This new phone runs the latest version of iOS, 6.0, which is to say that the main look and feel of the way we interact with phone has been updated. New settings and functionality have been added like Facebook integration and Guided Access. Overall the operation of the device is the same. If you are coming from a previous iPhone then there isn't much new here. Just look for things that have been added or removed. If this is your first iPhone then I'll highlight some great features of iOS 6.
Maps
Google maps is out and Apple maps are in. This is the biggest change in iOS 6 and has drawn the most attention. Whether it's good or bad attention, I'll let you decide. The best added benefit of having Apple maps is the 3D turn by turn navigation free of charge which was not in any of the previous versions of Google maps. I have heard some people say this new addition is great. However, the map data isn't nearly as complete as Google maps and there are some weird graphical bugs with the 3D satellite views. If all you are looking for is a basic navigation app to get you from place to place, this might not be an issue. But, it definitely lacks the polish we have come to love Apple for.
Siri
If you don't know, Siri is Apple's virtual assistant app built into iPhone 5. It is designed to give you greater control over your phone using only your voice. You can send text messages and emails, post to facebook, make calls, search for a good restaurant and much more. With iOS 6 they have added sports scores and statistics to Siri. It's a pretty cool feature, but I don't know of very many iPhone owners that use Siri. If you have Siri and use it, post in the comments below and let us know!
Passbook
This is an app designed by Apple with one specific purpose, and that is to digitize all of the things you would normally keep in a wallet or purse. There are many things your can keep in your passbook such as travel and event tickets, membership cards, coupons and soon credit cards (maybe). This can be very useful if you have a lot of membership cards or if you clip coupons a lot. It will even notify you of any delays your flight has so you don't have any unexpected surprises.
There are other features that have been added to iOS 6 but if you would like, head over to Apple's Website and check out more features.
Design
The iPhone 5's design hasn't changed much since the last version. However, it is by far the best iPhone design yet. The iPhone has a great design and the best build quality of any phone on the market, period. But some changes that have been made are rather significant over previous models even though the look hasn't changed much.
Screen
Previous models of the iPhone had a 3.5" display with a high pixel density of 326 pixels per inch (referred to as ppi from here on out). That is rather small in size compared to the second most popular phone on the market, the Galaxy S 3 which measures in at 4.8". At 326 ppi the last iPhone's display is incredibly sharp. Unless you are holding the phone only inches from your face you will not be able to see any pixelation.
The iPhone 5 did quite a bit for the display making it a 4" display while keeping the same 326 ppi. What they did was added more screen real estate to the top (or bottom) of the phone. The width stayed the same. That changes the aspect ratio quite a bit. Basically, your videos won't have those annoying black bars on the top and bottom and you can see much more in your favorite apps and web sites. Overall the display is fantastic. Oh, and don't listen to those people who mock the iPhone 5 for being "taller". Who complains about getting a better display? Cynics, that's who.
Body
Obviously with a bigger screen comes a bigger phone, but the phone is also smaller...wait, what? Ok, Apple's new commercial is pretty silly because they play on the fact that the iPhone is a three dimensional object. One of the dimensions is greater than the previous iPhone while one of them is smaller. The phone is taller and thinner than previous versions. There you go, it's bigger and smaller at the same time. But that's not the only thing that has changed in the design of the body. Also, the glass on the back has almost been completely removed. Apple opted to go back to aluminum for the first time since the original iPhone. This makes the device incredibly strong and light, in fact it's the lightest iPhone ever made.
Connectors
They moved the headphone jack from the top of the phone to the bottom. In my opinion this is a HUGE improvement. Personally I place my phone in my pocket top-down which is annoying when you have headphones plugged in. Having the jack on the bottom removes the annoyance of ruining many pairs of headphones. They also did away with the original iPod connector which has been used since the first iPod to connect your device to a computer for syncing and connecting to accessories. They opted for an 8 pin Lightning connection. The only thing that is better about it, in my opinion, is that it doesn't matter which way you plug it in. It is a reversible connector. Otherwise, you'll be shelling out more money for either new accessories or an adapter so you can use your old ones.
Conclusion
This iPhone is the best iPhone yet. Without a doubt iPhone users will love this phone. If you have never owned a smartphone, I would highly recommend you get an iPhone for it's ease of use, optional accessories, and huge library of media available on iTunes. If you are coming from another smart phone, then you might want to consider what you like about your phone and see if the iPhone matches up. For me, I would love to have an iPhone, but I'm currently in a love affair with my Lumia 900. Please, leave me your thoughts in the comments section. Do you love the iPhone? Would you not be caught dead with an iPhone? Let me know!
Google maps is out and Apple maps are in. This is the biggest change in iOS 6 and has drawn the most attention. Whether it's good or bad attention, I'll let you decide. The best added benefit of having Apple maps is the 3D turn by turn navigation free of charge which was not in any of the previous versions of Google maps. I have heard some people say this new addition is great. However, the map data isn't nearly as complete as Google maps and there are some weird graphical bugs with the 3D satellite views. If all you are looking for is a basic navigation app to get you from place to place, this might not be an issue. But, it definitely lacks the polish we have come to love Apple for.
If you don't know, Siri is Apple's virtual assistant app built into iPhone 5. It is designed to give you greater control over your phone using only your voice. You can send text messages and emails, post to facebook, make calls, search for a good restaurant and much more. With iOS 6 they have added sports scores and statistics to Siri. It's a pretty cool feature, but I don't know of very many iPhone owners that use Siri. If you have Siri and use it, post in the comments below and let us know!
This is an app designed by Apple with one specific purpose, and that is to digitize all of the things you would normally keep in a wallet or purse. There are many things your can keep in your passbook such as travel and event tickets, membership cards, coupons and soon credit cards (maybe). This can be very useful if you have a lot of membership cards or if you clip coupons a lot. It will even notify you of any delays your flight has so you don't have any unexpected surprises.
There are other features that have been added to iOS 6 but if you would like, head over to Apple's Website and check out more features.
Design
The iPhone 5's design hasn't changed much since the last version. However, it is by far the best iPhone design yet. The iPhone has a great design and the best build quality of any phone on the market, period. But some changes that have been made are rather significant over previous models even though the look hasn't changed much.
Screen
Previous models of the iPhone had a 3.5" display with a high pixel density of 326 pixels per inch (referred to as ppi from here on out). That is rather small in size compared to the second most popular phone on the market, the Galaxy S 3 which measures in at 4.8". At 326 ppi the last iPhone's display is incredibly sharp. Unless you are holding the phone only inches from your face you will not be able to see any pixelation.
The iPhone 5 did quite a bit for the display making it a 4" display while keeping the same 326 ppi. What they did was added more screen real estate to the top (or bottom) of the phone. The width stayed the same. That changes the aspect ratio quite a bit. Basically, your videos won't have those annoying black bars on the top and bottom and you can see much more in your favorite apps and web sites. Overall the display is fantastic. Oh, and don't listen to those people who mock the iPhone 5 for being "taller". Who complains about getting a better display? Cynics, that's who.
Body
Obviously with a bigger screen comes a bigger phone, but the phone is also smaller...wait, what? Ok, Apple's new commercial is pretty silly because they play on the fact that the iPhone is a three dimensional object. One of the dimensions is greater than the previous iPhone while one of them is smaller. The phone is taller and thinner than previous versions. There you go, it's bigger and smaller at the same time. But that's not the only thing that has changed in the design of the body. Also, the glass on the back has almost been completely removed. Apple opted to go back to aluminum for the first time since the original iPhone. This makes the device incredibly strong and light, in fact it's the lightest iPhone ever made.
 |
| iPhone 4S (left) iPhone 5 (right) |
Connectors
They moved the headphone jack from the top of the phone to the bottom. In my opinion this is a HUGE improvement. Personally I place my phone in my pocket top-down which is annoying when you have headphones plugged in. Having the jack on the bottom removes the annoyance of ruining many pairs of headphones. They also did away with the original iPod connector which has been used since the first iPod to connect your device to a computer for syncing and connecting to accessories. They opted for an 8 pin Lightning connection. The only thing that is better about it, in my opinion, is that it doesn't matter which way you plug it in. It is a reversible connector. Otherwise, you'll be shelling out more money for either new accessories or an adapter so you can use your old ones.
 |
| iPhone 4S (top) iPhone 5 (bottom) |
This iPhone is the best iPhone yet. Without a doubt iPhone users will love this phone. If you have never owned a smartphone, I would highly recommend you get an iPhone for it's ease of use, optional accessories, and huge library of media available on iTunes. If you are coming from another smart phone, then you might want to consider what you like about your phone and see if the iPhone matches up. For me, I would love to have an iPhone, but I'm currently in a love affair with my Lumia 900. Please, leave me your thoughts in the comments section. Do you love the iPhone? Would you not be caught dead with an iPhone? Let me know!
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