iPhone 5 has been unveiled...

[nick g.]

I disagree. iTunes *is* complicated when you compare it to utilizing a device that has the ability to act like a simple USB drive and simply dragging and dropping files or folders to or from the device to a computer or vice versa is beyond simple.

"drag and drop" is exactly how iTunes works.

 

[Eric Perry]

...just not so much with songs purchased from iTunes, because of the DRM. That's the lone issue for drag and drop with me.

This is one of my bigger complaints, yes.

 

[Eric Perry]

"drag and drop" is exactly how iTunes works.

Clearly I'm using it wrong then!

 

[MatticusMania]

Rhapsody. $9.99/month, same catalog as iTunes, listen to entire catalog with no limitations, entire songs and compilations (not 30-second teasers), no extra charge. You never have to download if you don't want, but when you do, same pricing as iTunes. I listen to Rhapsody on my iPad constantly. GREAT app, no hitchhikers, never fails.

I use Spotify for that purpose. I dont know if their catalog is as extensive as iTunes, though. I just use to to listen to music without purchasing. They do also have a $9.99/mo upgrade, but Im not sure what that includes over the free version.

 

[MJ5150]

I don't really like music anyway, so I won't be subscribing to any of those services. I have Sirius so I can listen to NHLN and Howard Stern.

-Mike

 

[Webtroll]

Meh I only use iTunes to load my iPod (it was a gift). I drag and drop the songs I burn from CDs or purchase from Amazon, seems easy enough to use for that.

As for the iPhone I'm not a big fan of the service packages, so I use a 3G Warp through Boost for unlimited what have you. The phone quality is excellent and easy to use, and I'm not tied in to any contracts. It works fine for me and I don't have to deal with the urge to get something insignificantly better for significantly more money.

 

[hover]

This is one of my bigger complaints, yes.

Well, ok, but you agree to that going it. Can't complain if you agree.

 

[Eric Perry]

Well, ok, but you agree to that going it. Can't complain if you agree.

 

[MJ5150]

As for the iPhone I'm not a big fan of the service packages..........

Oh, so you're a hater too.

-Mike

 

[Webtroll]

Oh, so you're a hater too.

-Mike

Yar!

 

[king_biscuit]

I feel like at this point we need a huge innovation, I don't knHonestly, they need to be more Open. Android does well because they are so Open, you have a thousand choices, you can do anything, add anything you want. (As long as it doesn't involve root). Apple is simple to use which is good and all but it needs to add some Customization, or, even be a little more lax on Jailbreaking.

Same old tired argument... Most people couldn't program the clock on their VCRs; they don't need more open they need it simple and they need it to work. That's what Apple figured out and what Apple continues to do better than anyone else. This is coming form an old BSD/Linux guy, btw.

 

[king_biscuit]

I'm not a phone hobbyist.I never use any of the theoretical advantages of the "open" Android. It's a phone: I want to browse the webs, do twitter and FB, email, text, make calls, and do calendar stuff, and not have my effing battery die every 2 hours. Add in a few apps (none of which are droid only)and I'm good. Sadly, the iphone does what I need better than android. From a pragmatic "use what works best for me" standpoint I have to go with the Apple.

This is 99 percent of cell phone users!

 

[Eric Perry]

Then I'm a 1%'er.

 

[king_biscuit]

Then I'm a 1%'er.

You are definitely the one percenter Most people don't need or really want complicated phones with endless options and adjustability. They want a phone/voicemail, email, some web browsing, and Angry Birds, along with a few specialty apps like those that set alarms. Mainly, the phone needs to be really stable, and really easy to use.

My guess is that the Android phone user base breaks down something like this:

10% are phone nerds/hobbists/trendy-Apple-haters

15% Couldn't afford an iPhone and bitterly settled

75% don't know the difference in any of the phones and simply bought what was handed to them by the salesman

 

[Eric Perry]

My guess is that the Android phone user base breaks down something like this:

10% are phone nerds/hobbists/trendy-Apple-haters

Not an Apple hater here. I own an iPad, and have owned an iPhone (3GS). I do hate Apple's proprietary approach, however. I want to be able to alter/tweak my device as *I* see fit, not how someone else does.

15% Couldn't afford an iPhone and bitterly settled

I have a Galaxy S2, and will be getting an S3. Not cheap devices at all. For me, the cost isn't of much issue.

75% don't know the difference in any of the phones and simply bought what was handed to them by the salesman

For many people, I agree. But to suggest that 75% of cell phone users are that limited/ignorant is rather condescending, don'tcha think?

For me, I did a LOT of research and, in MY opinion, the GS2 was the best phone available, hands down, when I bought mine. As stated above, I will most likely be getting the GS3 in the near future. Either that, or I'll hold off 'till the GS4 is released come March '13.

To me, Apple is trying to skate by on name alone. That's unacceptable, me thinks. What *real* improvements have we seen over the last two iPhones??? Jobs is rolling in his grave.

 

[king_biscuit]

Not an Apple hater here. I own an iPad, and have owned an iPhone (3GS). I do hate Apple's proprietary approach, however. I want to be able to alter/tweak my device as *I* see fit, not how someone else does.

I have a Galaxy S2, and will be getting an S3. Not cheap devices at all. For me, the cost isn't of much issue.

For many people, I agree. But to suggest that 75% of cell phone users are that limited/ignorant is rather condescending, don'tcha think?

For me, I did a LOT of research and, in MY opinion, the GS2 was the best phone available, hands down, when I bought mine. As stated above, I will most likely be getting the GS3 in the near future. Either that, or I'll hold off 'till the GS4 is released come March '13.

To me, Apple is trying to skate by on name alone. That's unacceptable, me thinks. What *real* improvements have we seen over the last two iPhones??? Jobs is rolling in his grave.

Clearly you are a phone nerd or phone hobbist, so you fit into the first category, which I believe is a very slim minority of phone users.

I don't think Apple is skating by on name, they continue to turn out beautiful tech works-of-art for which many many people clamor, and iPhone 5 is better in every way than any of its predecessors. Let's not forget that Apple only recently created the hand held digital music market, the smart phone market, and the tablet market; It is not going to be possible to unleash that kind of disruptive technology with every iPhone/iPad upgrade. Still regular upgrades are a necessity to compete in the technology marketplace. What sort of gimicky appendage would you have added to the new phone anyway?

Also, for you to suggest that Apple is skating on name alone is to suggest that the current products are not worth the attention, which further suggests that the multitude of consumers who purchase the products are misinformed -- which is not all that different than what I said about Android users.

 

[MJ5150]

Wow, where are you coming up with your percentages and generalizations? What percentage of people do some research, try a few devices out, then buy what works for them? Or is that a hobbyist/nerd?

Ask the iPhone5 people if Maps is better in every way from it's predecessors.

-Mike

 

[king_biscuit]

Wow, where are you coming up with your percentages and generalizations? What percentage of people do some research, try a few devices out, then buy what works for them? Or is that a hobbyist/nerd?

Ask the iPhone5 people if Maps is better in every way from it's predecessors.

-Mike

Most any smart phone would work for most anybody who wants a phone, so all of this "trying them out" (pragmatic/utilitarian BS) is misplaced. I'm not sure how much you can really "try them out" at the AT&T counter anyway -- you have to live with a phone a while to really try it out, and by then you own it. Ask your grandmother, or your child's second grade teacher how much they need to adjust/tweak their smart phone

Kind of tounge-in-cheek with the percentages, did I forget the smiley again? Here: btw, I told you where I came up with the percentages, "my guess."

The maps app is broken, but will be fixed at some point and work well. I use MotionX GPS, btw, so I don't really care about Apple's maps app. Ironically, since the new maps app came with ios6 and is not iPhone5 specific, the maps app is no worse on the 5 than on older iPhones.

 

[MJ5150]

Since when did making an informed decision become BS?

My grandmas are dead, but my wifes grandma is alive. She has an old school flip phone.

-Mike

 

[king_biscuit]

Since when did making an informed decision become BS?

My grandmas are dead, but my wifes grandma is alive. She has an old school flip phone.

-Mike

You think most smart phone consumers make "informed decisions?" What does that mean exactly, anyway? Find some grandmothers (and second grade school teachers) who are still living and have smart phones; ask them about the research and informed decision making that went into their smart phone purchases!