Thursday
Sep272012
What’s the 5 like?
Thursday, September 27, 2012 at 3:00AM Did you receive your iPhone 5? Did you queue for it? What are your first impressions? Was it worth the money etc. etc.?
Thursday, September 27, 2012 at 3:00AM Thursday, September 27, 2012 at 3:00AM
Reader Comments (14)
I didn't queue for the 5, that's a mugs game. And I'm too old. I queued for the iPad 2, was 2nd in line. It was fun but very tiring. The original iPad was ordered online.
Being very honest I really thought I wouldn't be keeping it versus the Samsung S3. I opened the box and placed the 5 next to the S3, and my first reaction was, wow the S3 looks like a piece of cheap crap. The S3 is not crap btw. Once the 5 was powered on, the screen, the feel in my hand was incredible. But more importantly the tight integration with my iPad, Apple TV, and MacBook are amazing. So effortless. Also my wife has a 3GS on iOS 6! We share photos using photostream. No learning curve. It's been 9 months without syncing to iTunes. Now I have the 5 it's bliss to do so and have everything on my phone so neatly.
The iPhone 5 feels nicer to use. It feels polished. iCloud does a lot more and very well. It's not as highly specced as the S3 but yet it does everything so well and so beautifully. Apps look nicer than on android. I am very happy with it.
So my S3 is on eBay with a £300 reserve, no bids and only 1 watcher after 4 days. So disappointing that I am thinking of closing auction. There are 3 days left, and it seems nobody wants an S3. And yet the S3 is a better device, more like a mini computer than phone.
Got it. Didn't queue for it - ordered online. It's very good and I've got no buyer's remorse, unlike the first days with the 4S.
Loving the speed - fastest computer I've ever owned. In fact, every aspect of the 4S is improved. If Google bring out a maps app and iOS 7 actually pushes the OS forward (unlike iOS 6), I'll be very happy.
Perhaps a fancy phone, rather than mini computer capable of making phone calls, is what people want, and it really comes down to interface and perception?
Still waiting for my iPhone 5. I downloaded iOS 6 to my 3GS but nothing has happened. I have been watching it for a couple of hours now but it hasn't changed shape. Is it like those cubes on Dr Who? Do you just have to wait?
Neil,
Nokia bet on 'phone first, computer second' with Symbian and lost, big time. They sold plenty for a while, but, big surprise, people generally used them as phones - as Nokia designed. When the tide turned and people's heads were turned by computing on the move, Nokia had no competitive product. The biggest jump in their move to Windows Phone is not technological, it's conceptual - embracing 'computer first, phone second'.
Frankly, I couldn't care less about the phone part - it's just convenient, I guess, that a phone app is included in my pocket computer for the rare occasions I need it. E-mail, web browsing, agenda, gaming, radio, navigation - all are more commonly used on my iPhone.
Does anyone else think that smartphone makers should just drop the name "phone"?
@gavin The problem with selling an S3 is that its available free on reasonably cheap contracts - £25 seems achievable and normal buyers (i.e. those not on LIM!) won't look elsewhere for one... I'd take it off you myself if I hadn't just bought the One X
@Peter M Great summing up of Nokia's failure... I so rarely use the phone component I don't even have the shortcut in my dock... I suspect we are not alone and that's why people are buying bigger and bigger phones - its not like you ever talk into them.
elbowz , I believe the other post you said you would be selling your Note to get a Note II. May I ask you what price are you thinking for the mint Note? and does it have any accessories?
Didn't queue though the wife stayed home to accept it from the courier :-)
First Impressions:
Initially terrible, so much so I almost was going to go back to the galaxy. There was a strange network switching problem which made it miss calls and have a horrendous battery life (half a day). Finally though Telstra the local telco admitted they had made a mistake with the carrier settings and accidentally forced the phone to search for networks every *minute*. Now fixed, it's much better (on par with my 4s for batt life)
Runs like a dream and a breath of fresh air after using the Samsung s3 for the last 3-4 weeks.
Definitely worth the money, but like Gavin having issues with getting rid of my S3 - I can't even give it away. Gave it to a friend coming off his iphone 4 and he is already giving it back to me after a few days of multiple issues, the most serious of which is that he is unable to turn his data (ie 3g) back on after it mysteriously switched off yesterday morning. The net is full of similar stories apparently and it requires a root and a hacked rom to fix.
Just a quick view on Apple Maps. Firstly the iPhone never had turn by turn directions so this is a first.
Second. If you want streetview there is a free app on the AppStore that provides this. Or in about 2 weeks the web page of google maps will haw street view. In other words nothing will change only improve as everyone will have access to google maps and have free turn by turn from Apple.
You have all read how terrible Apple Maps is. But let's put some perspective. I have used Apple Maps for turn by turn and covered so far just over 600 miles. It has been amazing. The layout is ultra clear and better than google navigation in terms of ease of following. If you launch another app, the top banner space becomes the turn directions. Really clever implementation.
Also third party software apps can easily be integrated with Apple Maps. I have copilot 8 integrated.
I was really expecting it to be rubbish. In reality it's been a surprise.
I expect mine today or tomorrow but my son has one (different provider) and it is a beautiful piece of work. I don't know how Apple is able to shed an ounce and make it feel like more. They did that with the iPad 2 and now with the iPhone 5. It feels good in the hand, at least mine. The added height is minimal. The bigger screen is very nice. And it's fast, very fast. Apps that take seconds to load on my iPhone 4, load almost instantly. Now I have iPhone 5 envy.
Remember when you were told not to look at the new iPad beside your old iPad? Same thing. At least for me.
I don't have an iPhone 5 traded in my 4S for an S3 and don't regret it at all. I played with the 5 at the local AT&T store and basically, it's an iPhone - which is guess is the whole point. But having gone back and played with it 2ce since the initial time, I still don't feel compelled by it. The only thing I miss about not having an iOS device is being in the Apple ecosystem, but I'm coping. :-)
But it's everything it needs to be, Maps notwithstanding, and if I hadn't traded for the S3 but waited for the 5, I would have gotten it without a 2nd thought.
My son is getting his in a couple weeks and I'll hear from him ad nauseum about how great it is. :-)
Donald. That's going to be torture in 2 weeks :)
@Rui Duarte I'm thinking £275... Accessory-wise I have the official Samsung flip case and that's about it...
OK, thanks elbowz. Will have a think about that.
On the post subject, I'm reading reports here in Portugal that there are about 90 pages on Apple support about complains with wifi and the iOS6. It has been fixed temporarily but it looks there are still people having issues...