Live data from Hacker News

With a $1k Price, Apple’s iPhone Crosses a Threshold

nytimes.com

61–70 of 730 posts

Re: With a $1k Price, Apple’s iPhone Crosses a Threshold

#61

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Also, iPhones are extremely economical. My iPhone 6, which cost $749 at the time, is coming up to 3 years old. Uh, what? I'm on my second ~$70 Android smart phone in eight years. It's a tad slow, but we're talking about literally a few seconds of waiting, nothing truly inconvenient. I have honestly never been impressed by anything a $600+ iPhone can do beyond what my phone can. The only drawback is that it isn't co…

> It's a tad slow, but weren't talking about literally a few seconds of waiting, nothing truly inconvenient. A few seconds of waiting is not "truly inconvenient"? I suppose you're either a zen master, or not doing much with the phone (possibly because it's "a tad slow"). For me, the phone is something I use constantly during the day, in lots of brief bursts. Few seconds of lag may be the difference between me staying…

If two to three seconds of waiting (that's on the high end, and only for certain apps) is breaking your flow, you need to work on your attention span. That's ADHD territory.

Edit: For that matter, interacting with your phone for a few seconds at a time is probably an attention deficit issue in and of itself. I admit that it's common, but that doesn't mean it isn't a problem.

Re: With a $1k Price, Apple’s iPhone Crosses a Threshold

#62

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'd be with you, except for Android's planned obsolescence. The reliance on third-parties to provide at most ~2/3 year security update paired with a dated and forked version of the Linux kernel gives me pause.

That is what AOSP and its derivatives are for, to pick up development when the manufacturer gives up. The Defy did not get updated past 2.3.6 by Motorola, anything after that (currently running 4.4.4 which is as far as this device will go) comes from there. Since Android apps are generally backward compatible for a long time, older Android devices can still run current apps. This is actually one of the advantages And…

First, you aren't talking about the average consumer anymore. If we're talking flashing operating systems, sideloading kernel updates and boot loaders in order to feel secure about your mobile device, then an older, vertically supported iOS device is probably a better bet.

Secondly, AOSP isn't forever. After your carrier/device-manufacturer drops support, Google isn't that far behind. If you're not getting AOSP drops for your device that work with device drivers then it's probably dead. There are a few brave souls willing to port modern Android to no-longer-google supported devices, but I wouldn't call that sure-fire security.

Thirdly, many AOSP derivatives and communities have niche motives that don't really align with the average user. New OS features, experimental "battery saving" kernel hacks and user-space root are commonplace where they really shouldn't be for the average, or arguably any, mobile user. Often devs get a new device and the community quietly moves on, dies, stops providing.

Mobile software is really in a sore place right now overall and neither duopoly is 100%. The incentives aren't aligned to the consumer.

Re: With a $1k Price, Apple’s iPhone Crosses a Threshold

#63

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Even the slimmest of cases makes that invisible.

For a company (and its customers) that rave about the design and look of the phone itself, covering it all with a case seems like the exact opposite of what one would expect to be the norm.

Then I guess that means we can put to rest the idea that Apple puts form over function.

Re: With a $1k Price, Apple’s iPhone Crosses a Threshold

#64
post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

As an Android dev, I see the total opposite sentiment. Most new phones are pretty damn good, even the mid range. I assume things will go the same way as the PC. Cheaper hardware for most, Apple still holding onto a niche in the market.

> Most new phones are pretty damn good, even the mid range. For the first week, at least. Then they start to accumulate cruft and slow down, eventually becoming barely usable. I've experienced it in the past. I see it happen for my friends and family. I decided some time ago to save up that $750 - $1k and go for the high-range phones, so that I can use them for two or three years without daily frustrations. The top-m…

I disagree - I've used a $300 stock android phone for just over a year now, and I haven't really run into any "cruft" issues. But, poor android performance is a very valid problem with android.

Re: With a $1k Price, Apple’s iPhone Crosses a Threshold

#65

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> It's a tad slow, but weren't talking about literally a few seconds of waiting, nothing truly inconvenient. A few seconds of waiting is not "truly inconvenient"? I suppose you're either a zen master, or not doing much with the phone (possibly because it's "a tad slow"). For me, the phone is something I use constantly during the day, in lots of brief bursts. Few seconds of lag may be the difference between me staying…

If two to three seconds of waiting (that's on the high end, and only for certain apps) is breaking your flow, you need to work on your attention span. That's ADHD territory. Edit: For that matter, interacting with your phone for a few seconds at a time is probably an attention deficit issue in and of itself. I admit that it's common, but that doesn't mean it isn't a problem.

Or, you're using snapchat, or instagram, or signal.

Re: With a $1k Price, Apple’s iPhone Crosses a Threshold

#66

Previously, if you bought a Plus, upgraded the storage you also hit the $1000 mark quite easily. Apple can't do much wrong: removed the audio jack did not hurt iPhone sales. The new mac book pro, ridiculously priced, a very 'particular' keyboard, was the fastest selling laptop ever. If you see the reactions on let's say, The Verge, on any post regarding new Apple products - it's insane. So I think Apple is still in a…

My wife has one of the new ones with the "particular" keyboard. I think it's okay (the keyboard), but it's pretty noisy.

I hated it at first but started liking it after a few weeks.

9 months later I kind of hate it again. You get used to the short travel, and the clickiness is very pleasant. The problem I have now is that sometimes you can feel a click and it doesn't trigger - most commonly with the arrow keys. Also occasionally a few keys would "jam" and not fully click.

Overall my typing speed and accuracy has definitely decreased.

Re: With a $1k Price, Apple’s iPhone Crosses a Threshold

#68
post #36

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That the purpose of it is to advertise economic resources is not true. My wife has an iPhone because it's the most competent tool she can use to get the job done. Having used several Android phones prior to this, I don't blame her. Relatively speaking there are fewer security issues, compatibility quirks, and reliability issues with iPhones which makes them worth the price to her. After the 2 year mark our Android ph…

I'm still rocking an iPhone 5. I use it mainly for browsing, news apps and spotify. It has the latest OS, all new apps are usable (except games of course). Recently the battery got swollen, I took it to an apple shop and got a replacement (a refurbished iPhone 5) for 100 dollars.

iOS 11 won't support iPhone 5 unfortunately, see:

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/IPhone_5

Re: With a $1k Price, Apple’s iPhone Crosses a Threshold

#69
post #18

Nobody looks at a top of the line PC with the best graphics card(s) and say it's crossing a threshold. Everybody understands it's for a certain demographic. According to rumors, they're still going to have various models and price points. Also, iPhones are extremely economical because no other phones receive OS updates for as long. My iPhone 6, which cost $749 at the time, is coming up to 3 years old. It's still flaw…

> Also, iPhones are extremely economical. My iPhone 6, which cost $749 at the time, is coming up to 3 years old. Uh, what? I'm on my second ~$70 Android smart phone in eight years. It's a tad slow, but we're talking about literally a few seconds of waiting, nothing truly inconvenient. I have honestly never been impressed by anything a $600+ iPhone can do beyond what my phone can. The only drawback is that it isn't co…

I mean my wife is still using my iPhone 3Gs (8 years old), so I get there are different needs. That's exactly my point.

Would you make the argument that everyone should be using $200 chromebooks?

If not, then why would one make the argument that anything more expensive than a chromebook is crossing some kind of threshold?

Re: With a $1k Price, Apple’s iPhone Crosses a Threshold

#70
post #39
post #26

From the so far leaked rumors I don’t see anything to justify the price. If anything there is a regression with the absence of TouchID. But I guess we will have to wait and see in two days.

I think the screen will be the thing everyone talks about it. I think it's also the reason for the price.

What's so innovative about the screen? All the components at the top of the phone are still present in a blocked out section. It's not like they figured out how to conceal those components beneath the screen, which is what we're truly waiting for. Until the front of the phone is 100% screen space (perhaps minus a very thin bezel), it's certainly not worth the hype.

Edit: I went back and looked at the latest leaked photos. It's better than I remember. The phone looks decent enough when the screen is off, but very gimmicky when the screen is lit. It looks like they went as far as they could, realized they couldn't deliver any better, and so left that top section of the phone in what is essentially an unfinished state. I suspect the innovation I'm holding out for will happen by iPhone 10 or 11.

Post reply on HN