"On Par"

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To illustrate the previous post’s point on how the iPhone is “on par” with Android, I’d like to refer to a handy chart of Android software support put together by Michael DeGusta.

Go look at the chart. It also includes the first four iPhone models for comparison. To summarize his findings about Android, DeGusta lists:

  • 7 of the 18 Android phones never ran a current version of the OS.
  • 12 of 18 only ran a current version of the OS for a matter of weeks or less.
  • 10 of 18 were at least two major versions behind well within their two year contract period.
  • 11 of 18 stopped getting any support updates less than a year after release.
  • 13 of 18 stopped getting any support updates before they even stopped selling the device or very shortly thereafter.
  • 15 of 18 don’t run Gingerbread, which shipped in December 2010.
  • In a few weeks, when Ice Cream Sandwich comes out, every device on here will be another major version behind.
  • At least 16 of 18 will almost certainly never get Ice Cream Sandwich.

Also worth noting that each bar in the chart starts from the first day of release - so it only gets worse for people who bought their phone late in its sales period.

Kind of incredible, isn’t it?

Android Bias

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Anthony Pafford runs commentary on a Verizon press release that supposedly promotes the iPhone 4S. His comments are bracketed throughout the presser:

Oct 14, 2011 - Apple iPhone 4S has arrived

Just in time for shoppers to start thinking about the holidays, along comes another iPhone.

[oh, *another *iPhone….]

The Apple iPhone 4S hits stores today, Friday, October 14th.

[Now the good bit—]

Although the look and feel remain the same,

[you don’t ‘Although’ in an overall positive message or lead with a negative if you want to promote a product.]

most of the new features

[not all of the new features?]

bring the iPhone 4S up to par with many of Verizon’s current models

[up to par? So the iPhone 4 was below par and it’s new features only serve to bring it up to par with some other Verizon devices that apparently set the standard. What device could it be that plays such an acceptable game of golf?]

and in some cases even surpass the Android technology.

[Wow! You mean to tell me in this obligatory press release about the new Apple iPhone that the new model serves to play catch up with the amazing features of Android phones and even occasionally does better? Sign me up for this acceptable but lagging technology!]

It gets even more biased the more you read. Ever since the Verizon iPhone debuted earlier this year, I’ve had the impression this is an uneasy alliance between Verizon and Apple. Even the event announcing the Verizon iPhone seemed demurred with reluctance between the two companies.

Make sure you hit up the link above to read the rest of Anthony’s thoughts.

The S is for 'Selling Like Hotcakes'

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Apple PR announced first-weekend sales of the iPhone 4S today:

Apple® today announced it has sold over four million of its new iPhone® 4S, just three days after its launch on October 14. In addition, more than 25 million customers are already using iOS 5, the world’s most advanced mobile operating system, in the first five days of its release, and more than 20 million customers have signed up for iCloud®, a breakthrough set of free cloud services that automatically and wirelessly store your content in iCloud and push it to all your devices.

Four million is a lot. For perspective, the XBox Kinect currently holds the Guiness record for selling 8 million devices in its first 60 days. My guess is the iPhone 4S will take that by the end of October.

Other choice bits:

  • iOS 5 is already on 25 million devices. Yesterday I talked with several of my friends who had yet to update because they wanted to let the dust settle.
  • iCloud is already at 20 million users. That's amazing. I've had relatively few issues with iCloud so far. Getting MobileMe to start the transition took some doing, but other than that it has been a smooth ride. Also notice how Apple doesn't say the word 'sync' anywhere in their description of iCloud. Smart.

Preparing for iOS 5 and iCloud

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Tomorrow Apple will undertake what is likely the most ambitious software launch in the company’s history. Tomorrow will see the release of iOS 5, OS X Lion 10.7.2, updates to various supporting apps, and the biggest thing since iTunes — iCloud.

It would be prudent to make some preparations for all of this. First, let’s talk iPhones, iPads, & iPods.

iOS 5

iOS 5 is Apple’s latest software for the iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch. It has loads of new features that you’ll want. Best of all, it’s free.

The first thing you’ll need for putting iOS 5 on your device is iTunes 10.5, which was released earlier today. I would sync each of your devices before upgrading to iOS 5, as that will create a backup. And just for kicks, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to import your camera roll to your computer, as part of iCloud will include significant changes to how photos are handled within iOS. More on that in a bit.

Also, make sure you check for updates to your apps and install them. Apple is approving app updates like gangbusters right now because developers are adding iOS 5 compatibility. If you have an update for an app that lists fixes for iOS 5 and you don’t install them, don’t complain if the app breaks. Install the updates, okay?

Okay, after all that is done, get a good night’s sleep and plug your device in tomorrow afternoon, wait for it to show up in iTunes, then select the device in the sidebar, and click the big Check for Updates button. Then let iTunes update your device while you get a snack.

After you’re all updated, you can enjoy never having to physically plug your iPhone to your computer for syncing again, as long as you have Wi-Fi. From now on you can sync over your home Wi-Fi, backups happen wirelessly with iCloud, and future iOS updates will be pushed over the air to your device.

iCloud

Where iTunes was the digital hub for the past decade, iCloud is the hub for the next decade or so. iCloud will hold onto copies of your purchased music, TV shows, apps, & books, device backups, contacts, calendars, notes, reminders, documents, photos, and email.

You get a free @me.com email address, which is ad-free to boot. Apps that take advantage of iCloud will be able to sync their data between your devices, as well. iCloud also features location services such as being able to find and lock down a lost device, and even find family & friends that have given you permission to see their location. All in all, iCloud is Apple’s big new amazing technology that will make us feel like we live in the future.

After you update to iOS 5, you will be able to set up iCloud and all its nifty services from the Settings app.

OS X Lion 10.7.2

Ah yes, the Macintosh. The original digital hub. With the advent of iCloud, the Mac has been “demoted” to just another device, and OS X Lion 10.7.2 will bring all the advantages of iCloud with it — including that ability to find and lock down a lost Mac.

The Mac is known for its iLife suite, and part of that will see a little upgrade tomorrow, too. iPhoto 9.2 will include iCloud’s Photo Stream. Take a picture with your iPhone, it shows up in mere moments on your Mac.

A Note for MobileMe Users

If you are a MobileMe user, you’ve probably heard that iCloud is succeeding MobileMe. You’ll still get email, and syncing for calendars, contacts, & bookmarks. You still get Find my iPhone. But a few things aren’t making it. iDisk and Gallery are going away. They are sort of being replaced by Documents in the Cloud and Photo Stream, respectively. And if you’re a multi-Mac user who used MobileMe to keep dock items, Dashboard widgets, and keychains in sync — well, those are going away, too.

But honestly, things like iDisk, and the syncing for dock, Dashboard, & keychains — they never really worked well. So, when you migrate to iCloud, be prepared. On the bright side, iCloud is likely to work much more effectively, and hey, it’s free. Enjoy it.

Tomorrow is a big day. Things are about to get a lot more awesome.

Zero Dollars

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3GS

Another little tidbit of news is that the iPhone 3GS is still for sale, but now for the wallet-busting price of free. Granted, there’s a two-year contract attached to that, and only available on AT&T. Still, for anyone who was holding out because they considered the iPhone too expensive, well, it’s now less than the price of lunch.

Wonder how Android is going to fare over the next year…

¶ S

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Turns out I wasn’t too far off on my late-night predictions yesterday.

The iPhone 4S sports an A5 processor, 8MP camera with vastly improved optics, and 1080p video recording with stabilization. It also features an AI assistant called Siri. It looks exactly like the iPhone 4, which is great because the the iPhone 4 is awesome. It has an improved antenna that can handle both CDMA & GSM frequencies, and is coming to Verizon, AT&T, & newcomer Sprint on October 14.

iOS 5, iCloud, & OS X Lion 10.7.2 will be dropping on October 12. And iCloud did get one more new feature: Friends & Family. This looks like it could be kind of neat for my wife to able to see how close I am to home before calling me to tell me to stop at the store.

And the iPod nano and iPod received very slight revisions. The nano no longer needs a dongle for Nike+ and has more clock faces to choose from since some people have taken to using them as watches. The touch now comes in white (seriously, I don’t think anything has changes as far as specs).

However, I was wrong about the iPod classic. It lives on for yet another year.

¶ Predictions

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It's the eve before Apple's big reveal on the new iPhone. I always like to give a few predictions, of which I am usually terribly short-sighted or flat-out wrong. So I'm going to try to be a little more conservative this year, and just give my gut feelings on the some of the rumors.

  • We will see a new iPhone, and it will be available very soon.
  • We will get a release date for iOS 5, iCloud, and OS X 10.7.2. I would wager a couple days prior to the release of the new iPhone.
  • iCloud will have one more really awesome thing to make it that much more of a big deal. I have no idea what that may be, but I have a hunch. Come on, this is Apple's baby for the next decade.
  • We'll hear some news about refreshed iPods for the holidays. Nothing major. The classic will be dispatched to its Great Reward.

¶ One Year of iPhone 4

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On 24 June 2010, many people stood in line for hours for the iPhone 4. I would have been one of them, but I was fortunate enough to get in on the pre-order, and I even received mine one day early. A year later, the iPhone 4 is still the absolute best piece of technology I have ever owned. As much as I adore my Mac and iPad, my iPhone is by far my most used and most personal device.

And I can't say that there is anything about the iPhone 4 that I find myself wishing it could do better. The display is amazing, the design and construction is spot on, it takes great pictures, and connects me with people I care about through voice, email, tweets, and FaceTime.

FaceTime. I know so many people who never use it and think it's lame. To me, it allows my parents and my in-laws to interact with my son. FaceTime allowed my wife to say goodnight to our son every night while she was on a trip. It is almost unbelievable that we possess these things.

And I'm obviously not the only one who is head over heels for the iPhone 4. In one year, Apple has sold more iPhone 4's than the original iPhone, iPhone 3G, and iPhone 3GS combined. It's a runaway success, despite the dramas of Antennagate, Locationgate, and the — until recently — elusive white iPhone 4.

I know the next iPhone will be even better than the iPhone 4, and the one after that will be really great. Though I have to say where I was able to find many things I wish had been better about the iPhone 3G when I was one year into my ownership of it, I can't find a fault with my iPhone 4.