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But how much does any of that really matter? I really believe the future is in things like AI voice assistance, but IMHO stuff like that isn't really good enoug

But how much does any of that really matter? I really believe the future is in things like AI voice assistance, but IMHO stuff like that isn't really good enough yet to make a big difference. I think what Guthur may reflect upon is that we got tons of new phone models pushed into the market every single year that do very little new compared to previous models. So what if we get 50% more performance. Sounds impressive, but then you realize it is only used to create smiley animations, and other frivolous teenager nonsense. I don't think I have really seen a point in phone upgrades since iPhone 4 or so. That is about 9 years ago. Same deal with iPads, not much new anyone needs. There are a couple of things though which I do think has mattered. Retina display and the Apple pencil. But honestly the priorities are quite different from what I would want. I love my Apple products but I really wished they where a bit more modular or serviceable. By that I mean that e.g. replacing the battery should be much easier. Memory should have been easier to expand or replace.

beagle3 6y ago
I still own an iPhone4S that I tried to use when there was an issue with the long-in-the-tooth (5 years old, 4 years newer than my 4S) but still perfectly supported 6S until it got fixed. It still runs iOS 6 which it came with (yes, that's a security risk I was willing to take for a couple of days). It's not just the apps that are missing, and the low resolution; I preferred its theme, and the smaller screen but it's just not fun to use anymore now that I've gotten used to the snappy everything, the dictation while driving, the better camera, etc. When I got the 6S, it was for app support - I didn't feel anything was missing - but I won't switch back to 4S even if it did get a security update. I'll likely get a new iphone when iOS 15 comes out and the 6S isn't supported; There's nothing I know I need it for, but I suspect I won't be satisfied with the 6S after I do have it. Re:ipads, though - my childern's 2013 ipad mini is essentially as good as their new one for all their uses, it's only missing software and security updated that prompted getting a new one.
- porknubbins 6y ago
  6S felt like a quantum leap from every other phone before it and I’m still using one too. I can’t nail it down but there was something perfect about the size, speed, UI where using a phone stopped feeling like messing with a gadget and became pure information retrieval or communication. Trying every other iphone afterwards I have felt no need to upgrade.
thefounder 6y ago
>> I don't think I have really seen a point in phone upgrades since iPhone 4 or so. The apps stop working/updating after a while. So if you don't have a reason Apple gives you one: planned obsolescence
- colejohnson66 6y ago
  Why is Apple guilty of planned obsolescence when they support their devices sometimes 3x (5-6 years vs 2) what their competition (Android) is doing?
  - deleted 6y ago
    [deleted]
  - thefounder 6y ago
    >> Why is Apple guilty of planned obsolescence Because they do it for obvious reasons(i.e money) >> when they support their devices sometimes 3x (5-6 years vs 2) what their competition (Android) is doing? I guess they set a sensible lifespan considering the market they target(i.e high end) Either way the result is the same: after a while you end up with a useless brick instead of an old/use-able computer.
    - simonh 6y ago
      Your contradicting yourself. How can they be supporting their devices for longer (much longer) than their competitors because their premium customers expect it, but also guilty of dropping support for the same products early to make more money? You’re not making any sense.
      - thefounder 6y ago
        So you think it's all right to have your computer become a useless brick after 5 years because the other vendors makes it a brick after just 2 years? It's also worth to note that at least on Android you can still side-load/install apps outside the play store while on Apple your device becomes totally useless/museum brick. The number of competitors has little to do with planned obsolescence but " Planned obsolescence tends to work best when a producer has at least an oligopoly " https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planned_obsolescence https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planned_obsolescence
nwah1 6y ago
Each year the companies listen to user feedback and iteratively improve the hardware and software. I've never used an iPhone, but Galaxy phones used to have a really stupid and annoying button for their intrusive personal assistant. Now they don't have any such intrusive hardware or software designs. The newest versions of Android, which are only supported on newer devices, allow much more fine-grained security permissions. In particular, I like that they allow blocking background access to a capability if the app isn't currently in use. The new AR camera apps are really fun. WiFi 6 and 5G provide noticeable improvement in internet speed. The higher definition screens without bezels provide better video experiences for the same device dimensions. Allowing fingerprint reading through the screen makes for a better experience. Wireless charging, particularly in the car with a magnetic mount, is very slick and you never will want to go back. If you need a cable, USB-C is clearly better than micro-USB. All of this stuff only became common in the past couple years. If your phone is 3 years old, you probably don't have any of it. You will be fumbling with cables on a much less capable device. I can't imagine what other sorts of polish they will figure out, but betting against it seems like a historical loser.

beagle3 6y ago

I still own an iPhone4S that I tried to use when there was an issue with the long-in-the-tooth (5 years old, 4 years newer than my 4S) but still perfectly supported 6S until it got fixed. It still runs iOS 6 which it came with (yes, that's a security risk I was willing to take for a couple of days). It's not just the apps that are missing, and the low resolution; I preferred its theme, and the smaller screen but it's just not fun to use anymore now that I've gotten used to the snappy everything, the dictation while driving, the better camera, etc. When I got the 6S, it was for app support - I didn't feel anything was missing - but I won't switch back to 4S even if it did get a security update. I'll likely get a new iphone when iOS 15 comes out and the 6S isn't supported; There's nothing I know I need it for, but I suspect I won't be satisfied with the 6S after I do have it. Re:ipads, though - my childern's 2013 ipad mini is essentially as good as their new one for all their uses, it's only missing software and security updated that prompted getting a new one.

porknubbins 6y ago
6S felt like a quantum leap from every other phone before it and I’m still using one too. I can’t nail it down but there was something perfect about the size, speed, UI where using a phone stopped feeling like messing with a gadget and became pure information retrieval or communication. Trying every other iphone afterwards I have felt no need to upgrade.

thefounder 6y ago

>> I don't think I have really seen a point in phone upgrades since iPhone 4 or so. The apps stop working/updating after a while. So if you don't have a reason Apple gives you one: planned obsolescence

colejohnson66 6y ago
Why is Apple guilty of planned obsolescence when they support their devices sometimes 3x (5-6 years vs 2) what their competition (Android) is doing?
- deleted 6y ago
  [deleted]
- thefounder 6y ago
  >> Why is Apple guilty of planned obsolescence Because they do it for obvious reasons(i.e money) >> when they support their devices sometimes 3x (5-6 years vs 2) what their competition (Android) is doing? I guess they set a sensible lifespan considering the market they target(i.e high end) Either way the result is the same: after a while you end up with a useless brick instead of an old/use-able computer.
  - simonh 6y ago
    Your contradicting yourself. How can they be supporting their devices for longer (much longer) than their competitors because their premium customers expect it, but also guilty of dropping support for the same products early to make more money? You’re not making any sense.
    - thefounder 6y ago
      So you think it's all right to have your computer become a useless brick after 5 years because the other vendors makes it a brick after just 2 years? It's also worth to note that at least on Android you can still side-load/install apps outside the play store while on Apple your device becomes totally useless/museum brick. The number of competitors has little to do with planned obsolescence but " Planned obsolescence tends to work best when a producer has at least an oligopoly " https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planned_obsolescence https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planned_obsolescence

nwah1 6y ago

Each year the companies listen to user feedback and iteratively improve the hardware and software. I've never used an iPhone, but Galaxy phones used to have a really stupid and annoying button for their intrusive personal assistant. Now they don't have any such intrusive hardware or software designs. The newest versions of Android, which are only supported on newer devices, allow much more fine-grained security permissions. In particular, I like that they allow blocking background access to a capability if the app isn't currently in use. The new AR camera apps are really fun. WiFi 6 and 5G provide noticeable improvement in internet speed. The higher definition screens without bezels provide better video experiences for the same device dimensions. Allowing fingerprint reading through the screen makes for a better experience. Wireless charging, particularly in the car with a magnetic mount, is very slick and you never will want to go back. If you need a cable, USB-C is clearly better than micro-USB. All of this stuff only became common in the past couple years. If your phone is 3 years old, you probably don't have any of it. You will be fumbling with cables on a much less capable device. I can't imagine what other sorts of polish they will figure out, but betting against it seems like a historical loser.