Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Apple’s Errors

stratechery.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

81–90 of 136 posts

Re: Apple’s Errors

#81

Post by wlesieutre »

zozbot123 wrote: post #76
robmaceachern wrote: post #32

This is a really great analysis of the situation but I think Ben, and Tim Cook in his public statements, are missing one important point: iOS 12 made the older devices (iPhone 5s, 6) run _much_ better than they were running on iOS 11 [1, 2, 3]. They improved the software so much on this iteration of iOS that they probably relieved a lot of the hardware upgrade pressure users were beginning to feel in the first half o…

> This is a really great analysis of the situation but I think Ben, and Tim Cook in his public statements, are missing one important point: iOS 12 made the older devices (iPhone 5s, 6) run _much_ better than they were running on iOS 11. They improved the software so much on this iteration of iOS that they probably relieved a lot of the hardware upgrade pressure users were beginning to feel in the first half of 2018.…

Going a step newer, the Nexus 5X has common boot loop failure for which the solution is to flash a custom ROM that kills the pair of big A57 cores and use only the four smaller A53 cores. So it's not all sunshine and roses on the Android side either.

A friend of mine had a 5X replaced under warranty and immediately dumped it on eBay and bought something else because there was no sign of an official fix coming for this.

EDIT: I wasn't sure if this is still up to date, but after some research it looks like "custom ROM to disable the fast cores" is still the state-of-the-art solution https://www.reddit.com/r/nexus5x/comments/8pbg5n/my_guide_to...

Re: Apple’s Errors

#82

Post by qbz »

PKop wrote: post #60
JohnJamesRambo wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't know what phone I am going to get after my iPhone SE no longer works after OS bloat kicks in. It's the perfect phone pretty much. I like android better but I can't find a phone this size that works in the android universe. Surely there must be others like me that want a capable phone that isn't the size of a tablet?

Pixel 3 (not 3XL) to me is perfect size, has the "it works" simplicity and polish of iPhone, and tuned software / camera tweaks of Google that make me not miss iPhone at all. Specifically the camera is just amazing, the portrait mode and wide angle screen shot features, and AI / visual core chip tuning the pictures makes the quality better than any other phone I've used.

Pixel 3 is 5.5"

Re: Apple’s Errors

#83

Post by graeme »

zozbot123 wrote: post #76
robmaceachern wrote: post #32

This is a really great analysis of the situation but I think Ben, and Tim Cook in his public statements, are missing one important point: iOS 12 made the older devices (iPhone 5s, 6) run _much_ better than they were running on iOS 11 [1, 2, 3]. They improved the software so much on this iteration of iOS that they probably relieved a lot of the hardware upgrade pressure users were beginning to feel in the first half o…

> This is a really great analysis of the situation but I think Ben, and Tim Cook in his public statements, are missing one important point: iOS 12 made the older devices (iPhone 5s, 6) run _much_ better than they were running on iOS 11. They improved the software so much on this iteration of iOS that they probably relieved a lot of the hardware upgrade pressure users were beginning to feel in the first half of 2018.…

Sure, but if you were content running an iphone 6 on ios 11, then it’s certainly faster this year on 12.

Re: Apple’s Errors

#84

Post by graeme »

zozbot123 wrote: post #80
Despegar wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's also much better for the platform that there isn't such a wide range between screen sizes. It's incredibly hard to make UIs scale from the SE to the XS Max and both be as functional and good looking on both.

> It's also much better for the platform that there isn't such a wide range between screen sizes. Not a wide range? What about the iPad and iPad Pro? iOS apps need a responsive interface anyway.

Ipad apps are separately purchased apps though.

Re: Apple’s Errors

#85

Post by aylmao »

Not to be under-estimated either: Android in general and Chinese phones.

Android has gotten pretty good. I broke my iPhone 7 earlier this year and am using a Pixel 2-- I thought I'd switch back, trade it for an X or an XS as they became available, but to my surprise I actually like it quite a bit.

Many of the complaints I used to have about Android have been worked out, and there's some cool features (like Night Sight) that I think I'd miss if I switched back.

Moreover, a lot of cool Android phones were released this year-- I'm sure the next iPhone, since it wont be an S, will be cooler and bring about a more radical change.

This past year in Android saw the release of many cool Chinese phones. I'd say the most exciting phones of the year came from Chinese manufacturers and featured creative ways to try to get rid of bezels and the notch-- finger-print sensor behind the srceen, two screens, notch-less with automatic mechanical parts, I recently even saw a slider-phone [1]! There's the promise of foldable phones too, which has me intrigued.

My cousin got a mid-tier Xiaomi phone-- it wasn't very expensive but it's pretty neat. If you do the side-by side comparison, it's not as great as an iPhone, but at the price, and for his use-cases, the big screen and fast chip are enough of a fit. I don't know how much iPhones cost in China, but I wouldn't rule out the fact that tariffs and macro-economics aside, Chinese phones have just gotten good enough, are probably more widely available, and honestly also just seem more exciting and creative.

Never thought I'd say this, but I hope Apple (and other manufacturers too) take some clues and inspiration from Chinese phone manufacturers ¯\_(ツ)_/¯.

[1]: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7HCcP0YexTU

Re: Apple’s Errors

#86

Post by Reedx »

rudolph9 wrote: post #26
Reedx wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I used to think the same and didn't like the move to the larger phones. Harder to use with one hand, more bulky to carry around. But then I fired up my old iPhone 5 and quickly appreciated the larger screen of the iPhone 8. Although I still like holding the smaller one better.

Do you think this is because the larger screen is inherently better or perhaps it's because the iOS and the whole app eco-system is geared toward larger screen? Perhaps a little of both?

Both, but more so because the larger screen is just inherently nicer.

Basically I think the ideal is a screen that's as large as possible while still being usable with one hand. The iPhone 8 is just over the edge for my hand size, but it's close.

Re: Apple’s Errors

#87

Post by acdha »

robmaceachern wrote: post #32

This is a really great analysis of the situation but I think Ben, and Tim Cook in his public statements, are missing one important point: iOS 12 made the older devices (iPhone 5s, 6) run _much_ better than they were running on iOS 11 [1, 2, 3]. They improved the software so much on this iteration of iOS that they probably relieved a lot of the hardware upgrade pressure users were beginning to feel in the first half o…

> They improved the software so much on this iteration of iOS that they probably relieved a lot of the hardware upgrade pressure users were beginning to feel in the first half of 2018.

Another other side of this is that they've given people good reasons not to upgrade: I've been surprised by the number of people who commented that the new phones are uncomfortably large to hold and, of course, a fair number of people don't like losing the headphone jack. None of those are complete showstoppers but since costs have also gone up around 20% beyond the rate of inflation[1], you don't need to give people much of a reason to delay a purchase which isn't necessary since everyone knows the phone you buy next year will be even better.

1. A quick spot-check comparing the iPhone 6S & 6S Plus we bought in 2015 vs. the XS / XS Max now has it at 24% with no improvement in storage capacity.

Re: Apple’s Errors

#88

Post by graeme »

malshe wrote: post #15

It's amazing that how everyone but Apple knows how to run their business.

The author of this piece did predict their China problem, so you might want to give them a bit of leeway. They’re not some armchair commentator.

Re: Apple’s Errors

#89

Post by ttul »

aylmao wrote: post #85

Not to be under-estimated either: Android in general and Chinese phones. Android has gotten pretty good. I broke my iPhone 7 earlier this year and am using a Pixel 2-- I thought I'd switch back, trade it for an X or an XS as they became available, but to my surprise I actually like it quite a bit. Many of the complaints I used to have about Android have been worked out, and there's some cool features (like Night Sigh…

I would never in my life use a Chinese phone. Chinese manufacturers are _guaranteed_ to be in the pocket of the CPC and its security services. Moreover, their record on security and privacy is poor. For a device that is so intimately tied to my personal data, the premium I pay for Apple's brand is vastly inferior to the value I would lose by constantly worrying about my privacy with a Chinese handset.

Re: Apple’s Errors

#90

Post by [deleted] »

javagram wrote: post #14
JohnJamesRambo wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't know what phone I am going to get after my iPhone SE no longer works after OS bloat kicks in. It's the perfect phone pretty much. I like android better but I can't find a phone this size that works in the android universe. Surely there must be others like me that want a capable phone that isn't the size of a tablet?

I’ve seen others reference the Sony Xperia Z2 compact as a SE replacement but even that phone has a 5” screen. At this rate it seems like the smartphone market has abandoned small form factor phones.

[deleted]
Post reply on HN