iPhone News Updated

iPhone 4G ‘lacks wow factor’

iPhone 4G ‘lacks wow factor’

iPhone enthusiasts may not be scrambling to upgrade to the next-generation iPhone, expected to be unveiled by Apple in San Francisco tomorrow.

The latest model is tipped to feature a forward-facing camera for video-calling, a higher-resolution camera, better battery life and an improved display.

But independent technology consultant Colin Jackson says those features will not deliver the “wow” factor, and most expensive smartphones already have them. The new iPhone will probably retail for between $1200 to $1500, and there may be a 64 gigabyte version.

Apple is facing serious competition from smartphones powered by Google’s operating system Android, such as the HTC Desire, and needs to reveal something spectacular to keep iPhone adopters faithful and hang on to the smartphone market, he says.

“If there’s one company that can do that, it’s Apple … But a lot of commentators are predicting that the iPhone has peaked.”

Apple’s insistence on keeping the iPhone locked down – so only approved applications can be downloaded – could be harming it, he says.

“Android takes a different approach, you can do pretty much what you like with an Android … They have a more open approach, everything they do is open source.

“People do care about whether or not they can achieve what they want to with their phone and whether it delivers good value for them.”

Several manufacturers are making Android phones, giving the phones an innovation edge over the iPhone, Mr Jackson says.

“There’s a new Android phone every couple of months … whereas Apple are grinding out one of these each year and always trying to make it a bit better.”

Apple could be distracted by the iPad, he says.

“The iPad actually is radically new and interesting. That’s going well for them and good on them, but maybe that’s their quota of innovation for the year.”

Jason Cordelle, who owns an iPhone 3GS, introduced by Apple last June, says he will not be rushing to buy the new model, but will take advantage of the firmware updates coming out about the same time, which will let him multi-task and create folders for organising applications.

“There’s nothing that I’ve read about the iPhone 4G that really appeals enough for me to change. It’s a huge investment.”

He suspects Apple will bring out a 64Gb and 32Gb version as opposed to 32Gb and 16Gb versions.

“The 64Gb will be around $1300 to $1400, while the 32Gb will be $1000 to $1100.”

Mr Cordelle says he is an iPhone convert. “It’s so simple to use. I don’t care that they are locked down and controlled by Apple.”

Ross Martin has a second-generation iPhone and will be upgrading. “I’m really looking forward to the larger capacity, the decent quality camera, the front camera, hopefully Flash support if Adobe can get it going in time, and the new operating system.

“As long as Apple keeps producing such beautiful handsets, I’ll keep buying.”

Mr Jackson says a “spectacular” feature would be the ability to project images on to a wall.

“But we’re probably years away from the technology that can do that.”

[thanks: http://www.stuff.co.nz]

Comments are closed.