Apple's new and intuitive iPhone 5...

[stealthify]

Granted I have the convenience of working at a Verizon store but I see people coming in and asking for a phone and have absolutely NO reason why they want said phone.

I'd believe it man. What's interesting, and somewhat on the flipside, is sitting in on a number of conversations between the reps and my friends/family at various mobile retailers. While many of the employs clearly had their own biases (the Verizon Stores I've attended tend to really push Android phones, AT&T seemed to be more supportive of the iPhone), they came up with the silliest reasons why a "clueless" person should buy one OS over another.

For example, one Verizon rep was trying to convince an elderly lady that she should buy an Android phone because of many of the same reasons listed in this thread ("Apple is evil", "Apple fanboys are annoying", "Android is more configurable", "Android is more open and you can make your own apps!"). Do you think this old lady gave 2-toots about any of this stuff? She just wants a phone that doesn't give her a headache. I really hope, as someone that works at Verizon, that you consider how a person plans to use their phone, and how each OS has their benefits and drawbacks depending on the type of person that will be using it. It's not always so black and white.

[IPD]

I am surprised this thread went the way it did.

Stealthify vehemently defending Apple using extreme cognitive dissonance to justify their poor choices, and IPD arguing his excessively strong opinions on everything and getting really really mad because people like things he doesn't like. I don't think this has ever happened in the history of a 3SGTO thread in relation to Apple.

[IPD]

[Zaroth]

[Intropy]

Apple has no competition in software / UI / design, but IMO they are beginning to rely on this a bit too much. While I think the iPhone 5 is an obvious buy for a new customer or outdated iPhone user, I see no reason anyone would switch from an iPhone 4S or a high-end Android device.

[onebadmollafolla]

Apple has no competition in software / UI / design, but IMO they are beginning to rely on this a bit too much. While I think the iPhone 5 is an obvious buy for a new customer or outdated iPhone user, I see no reason anyone would switch from an iPhone 4S or a high-end Android device.

I can give a real life example. A friend of mine who is a die hard iPhone user, always used them, has one now, won't be buying the new one. He threw hundreds of dollars at docks and anything else that fits the iPhone charger...they made a completely new one for no reason. His reason for switching to Android come time for a new phone is that Apple isn't looking in support of their current users, but rather trying to money grab by using an old old fashion tactic of "we'll replace everything so they have to buy all new accessories." He's fed up with their lack of caring for their current supporters, so he's switching to a platform that doesn't make you drop another few hundred dollars just to accommodate another phone. An entire platform of different manufacturers makes the same usb port, but Apple has to remain unique to its own, and changes from its previous model. That's a nice "F*** off" to its customers. Best part is, he never entertained the idea of anything else until he had first hand experience with just how blatant Apple is with its self-made scumbag model for sales. He'll be joining the majority soon.

[NickS VR4]

IMO it would be wise for apple to include at least one adapter with the phone, but I know that doesn't fit into their overpriced business model.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

[stealthify]

I can give a real life example. A friend of mine who is a die hard iPhone user, always used them, has one now, won't be buying the new one. He threw hundreds of dollars at docks and anything else that fits the iPhone charger...they made a completely new one for no reason.

I'm sorry man, but Apple has kept the same dock connector for nearly a decade. At some point you have to let it go in favor of something that's smaller and just makes more sense for modern technology. In this case, that means dropping analog pins in favor of going all digital. That sounds about right compared to where we were 9 years ago.

Apple does include a USB3/Lightning cable and a wall-plug charger with each iPhone and iPod, for free. As far as docks go, if you think Apple is just trying to make everyone "pay them for new accessories," that doesn't seem to quite line up with this news:

No Dock for the iPhone 5, Says SVP Phil Schiller

That's not to say I don't think Apple is trying to make money. They are. They're a business, after all. But at the rate technology is growing, if you'll abandon a company because they change a connector, you might as well quit the game. I didn't shed any tears when my SCSI peripherals became obsolete.

[NickS VR4]

Why not use micro USB?

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

[stealthify]

Because Micro USB only has 5 pins (as opposed to the 9 pins that Apple decided on)?

In short, each of the pins offer a different function. Some include your basics (power/ground), others for data, but the rest are for interacting with certain features that third-party accessories might, and likely will, incorporate. The original iWhatever cable had 30-pins, a mixture of analog and digital, and was at this point just redundant. It was time to simplify.

Not to mention making the plug reversible. Granted this is a small bonus, but one that is still welcome. I know I hate fiddling in the dark while trying to plug in a standard USB cable on the nightstand. Attention to detail. Why aren't all USB-styled cables designed to be reversible to begin with?

I'm not going to deny that Apple probably has other goals in mind (e.g. getting third-party dock manufacturers to renew their "Made for iPhone/iPod" branding licenses), but in short, designing the Lightning cable was a necessity in order to incorporate the features/versatilities they wanted to see accessories (made by anyone, and of all types) be able to do.