Apple has been trying to build the iphone up as a brand like Coca Cola or McDonalds. However, unlike the iphone Coke doesn’t have to keep up with technological improvements. Mobile phones though just keep getting better and better.
When the original iphone was released it was at the high end of mobile computing technology. Now, even with the latest 3GS its tech specs are looking pretty dated. There are only so many new features Apple can tack on to keep people interested before they realise the iphone is just a pig with makeup on.
When the iphone gets to the point where it is seriously outdated. Which will be sometime late 2009/early 2010 Apple will have to drop support for the earlier generations of phones as they release a new generation. Suddenly all those millions who bought the earlier generation of phones will have to upgrade. We have already seen this kind of forced upgrade with the 3GS as the 3.1 firmware has made the earlier revisions of the iphone significantly slower.
Will you keep mindlessly upgrading? What if you don’t? Will you be left with an unsupported brick?
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HELLO. I’M A WIGGER AND I HATE IPHONES.
That’s the case with all forms of technology. You can compare tech to soda flavors. I’ve gone from the Nokia 3650, RAZR, MotoQ, iPhone 3G to the iPhone 3Gs. I’m not sure what my next phone will be but so far the iPhone has been working flawlessly for everything I need it to do and I think I’ve read that it will already support 7.2 Mb connectivity when ATT roles that out, so I guess I won’t have to upgrade too quickly and I don’t see the keyboard failing on me like it did on the MotoQ. When it starts feeling slow like someone’s iPhone 2G, then it will be time for me to start looking. I’m a tech guy who isn’t interested in the latest and the greatest only that which works well for me and has great reviews from others. Perhaps my next phone maybe Android based or another iPhone. Time will tell.
My 3GS 16GB broke afterjust 4 weeks. Battery died. Fun. Took Apple weeks to get my new phone.
I think this is true for not only iPhones but a lot of smartphones. Think how long it took for rim to change the look and is of their blackberrys. This is why I never keep the same brand when I get a new phone. I’ll go from blackberry to htc and now I have an iPhone which I really like but I’m definately going with something new next time.