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The ongoing, incremental, improvements continue. The iPhone 7 and 7 Plus: - Better camera - Better processor - Better speakers - Better screen - Almost waterpr

The ongoing, incremental, improvements continue. The iPhone 7 and 7 Plus: - Better camera - Better processor - Better speakers - Better screen - Almost waterproof this time I see nothing groundbreaking or life changing here. Something that might actually BE life-changing is a molecular sensor and better health monitoring / diagnostics tools.

audunw 10y ago
You can start to see that Apple is positioning themselves for a more innovative redesign. If you look at their recent iteration (removing the headphone-jack) and rumors from internal development (fast wireless charging, edge-to-edge display tech).. it's moving towards a phone that's more like a thin slate of glass where everything is wireless. Think the tablets from Westworld. Either Apple will bundle a case with extra battery and USB-C (bridged to wireless charging+bluetooth 5), or third parties will do so. Given that this approach will allow Apple to push the thinness even further, using a case when you're out and about will probably be more or less essential.. but it won't be so bad since the combined thickness will be on-par with iPhone 3-4.. and you get the flexibility to choose between different designs, battery sizes, ports, etc. It's not super groundbreaking ala iPhone 1, and it's where everyone will end up eventually anyway, but Apple is positioning themselves to go there before anyone else. Hence the awkward timing surrounding 3.5mm jacks, lightning and USB-C.
- TheOtherHobbes 10y ago
  I doubt this, because Apple has lost its focus. Products used to offer exciting user benefits, with a significant new user benefit in each update. But going completely wireless is an engineering fantasy, not a user benefit. Let's say iPhone 10 arrives as a shiny slab of ceramic. So what? Even if it looks glisteningly pristine and cool, users care more about functionality and ease of use. The first few iterations were all about the latter. The last few iterations have been about engineering and design for the sake of it. Delighting users seems to have slipped down the list.
dhimes 10y ago
If there is anything I would beg of phone manufacturers it would be to quit trying to make the speakers more powerful. Anybody who lived through the '70s and '80s will remember the days of getting on public transportation or trying to hang out in public places only to be treated to somebody else's idea of music at high volume. It was such a relief when the Walkman and later mp3 players/ipods had everybody using headphones again. I'm not anxious to go back.

audunw 10y ago

You can start to see that Apple is positioning themselves for a more innovative redesign. If you look at their recent iteration (removing the headphone-jack) and rumors from internal development (fast wireless charging, edge-to-edge display tech).. it's moving towards a phone that's more like a thin slate of glass where everything is wireless. Think the tablets from Westworld. Either Apple will bundle a case with extra battery and USB-C (bridged to wireless charging+bluetooth 5), or third parties will do so. Given that this approach will allow Apple to push the thinness even further, using a case when you're out and about will probably be more or less essential.. but it won't be so bad since the combined thickness will be on-par with iPhone 3-4.. and you get the flexibility to choose between different designs, battery sizes, ports, etc. It's not super groundbreaking ala iPhone 1, and it's where everyone will end up eventually anyway, but Apple is positioning themselves to go there before anyone else. Hence the awkward timing surrounding 3.5mm jacks, lightning and USB-C.

TheOtherHobbes 10y ago
I doubt this, because Apple has lost its focus. Products used to offer exciting user benefits, with a significant new user benefit in each update. But going completely wireless is an engineering fantasy, not a user benefit. Let's say iPhone 10 arrives as a shiny slab of ceramic. So what? Even if it looks glisteningly pristine and cool, users care more about functionality and ease of use. The first few iterations were all about the latter. The last few iterations have been about engineering and design for the sake of it. Delighting users seems to have slipped down the list.

dhimes 10y ago

If there is anything I would beg of phone manufacturers it would be to quit trying to make the speakers more powerful. Anybody who lived through the '70s and '80s will remember the days of getting on public transportation or trying to hang out in public places only to be treated to somebody else's idea of music at high volume. It was such a relief when the Walkman and later mp3 players/ipods had everybody using headphones again. I'm not anxious to go back.