3 ms·

What would a new iPhone be like? Slightly smaller? Better battery life? Better camera? It would be hard for many people to justify dropping $600+ for just those

What would a new iPhone be like? Slightly smaller? Better battery life? Better camera? It would be hard for many people to justify dropping $600+ for just those features. And, Apple has demonstrated with these major firmware revisions that they can upgrade the device substantially; I think consumers will get angry if they start withholding firmware updates as an incentive to buy more hardware. That is exactly what Nokia does, and I don't think Nokia's customers are going to take it anymore after seeing what Apple's doing here. Very soon the typical smartphone lifespan will be close to 5 years and the average computer lifespan will be close to 10 years. The Nokia N95 was released in 2006 and there are still tons of people rocking that device. There will probably be millions of people using the iPhone 3G and the Nokia N97 in 2014 (maybe as hand-me-downs).

jodrellblank 18y ago
Apple released new iPods year on year pretty much just for storage space upgrades for a while. What could it have that couldn't be done in software? How about: More storage (always more storage), more RAM, maybe a faster CPU if they could do it without ruining existing software by running it too fast, the new more precise more responsive multi touch screen design that was demo'd on recently, a front facing camera, new radio support (e.g. 4G), reduced power consuming components (3G/bluetooth/gps processors), improved internal speaker for music/handsfree use, new WiFi standard support, more CPU features, camera flash. What about manufacturing changes? If they apply what they've done to the Macbook range to the iPhone, could they get a casing with fewer seams? Better looking? Cheaper to make? With more room for components inside? And these are just basic predictable potential improvements without going as far as a projector or an nVidia 3D card or a physical keyboard or some new never seen before innovative change.
ivanzhao 18y ago
Good point ---- altough somewhat exagerated ---- but all points to that software development, after years, might finally catch up the hardware development a little bit.
silvestrov 18y ago
Probably incremental update such as more RAM (many apps have a hard time because the OS uses most of the RAM, leaving very little for apps) and faster CPU (more responsive, faster web browser).
Raphomet 18y ago
The preview of the new turn-by-turn API suggests that they may add a digital compass to the phone, just like the G1.
ryanwaggoner 18y ago
the average computer lifespan will be close to 10 years Is anyone here using a computer they purchased in 1999? Come on.
- zandorg 18y ago
  I'm using a 2nd-hand Omnibook 6100 which is from 2000-2001. It still works, and it's pretty powerful, so I use it. The main reason is the CPU fan almost never comes on, so it's a quietbook. Other than that, software development on it is a good idea, because if it runs adequately on this, it'll run blazingly faster on a new machine!
DougBTX 18y ago
> It would be hard for many people to justify dropping $600+ for just those features. Depending on your contract, the last iPhone hardware update was a "free" upgrade.

jodrellblank 18y ago

Apple released new iPods year on year pretty much just for storage space upgrades for a while. What could it have that couldn't be done in software? How about: More storage (always more storage), more RAM, maybe a faster CPU if they could do it without ruining existing software by running it too fast, the new more precise more responsive multi touch screen design that was demo'd on recently, a front facing camera, new radio support (e.g. 4G), reduced power consuming components (3G/bluetooth/gps processors), improved internal speaker for music/handsfree use, new WiFi standard support, more CPU features, camera flash. What about manufacturing changes? If they apply what they've done to the Macbook range to the iPhone, could they get a casing with fewer seams? Better looking? Cheaper to make? With more room for components inside? And these are just basic predictable potential improvements without going as far as a projector or an nVidia 3D card or a physical keyboard or some new never seen before innovative change.

ivanzhao 18y ago

Good point ---- altough somewhat exagerated ---- but all points to that software development, after years, might finally catch up the hardware development a little bit.

silvestrov 18y ago

Probably incremental update such as more RAM (many apps have a hard time because the OS uses most of the RAM, leaving very little for apps) and faster CPU (more responsive, faster web browser).

Raphomet 18y ago

The preview of the new turn-by-turn API suggests that they may add a digital compass to the phone, just like the G1.

ryanwaggoner 18y ago

the average computer lifespan will be close to 10 years Is anyone here using a computer they purchased in 1999? Come on.

zandorg 18y ago
I'm using a 2nd-hand Omnibook 6100 which is from 2000-2001. It still works, and it's pretty powerful, so I use it. The main reason is the CPU fan almost never comes on, so it's a quietbook. Other than that, software development on it is a good idea, because if it runs adequately on this, it'll run blazingly faster on a new machine!

DougBTX 18y ago

> It would be hard for many people to justify dropping $600+ for just those features. Depending on your contract, the last iPhone hardware update was a "free" upgrade.