Article is misleading, an iPhone 4s is also unble to be used on both GSM and CDMA because of firmware.
Why Apple Made Three iPhone 5 Models
11–20 of 30 posts
Re: Why Apple Made Three iPhone 5 Models
#12Yeah. No matter what, you're screwed this time around. Verizon's version doesn't support simultaneous data and calling. PITA. AT&T doesn't support LTE when roaming except in Canada. PITA. International GSM versions can't get AT&T LTE in the US. PITA. The only plus side to anything is that if you switch to Verizon you can use some international LTE and get an international unlock after 60 days. However, in my case, sw…
According to http://mgalligan.com/post/31415410863/buying-an-iphone-5-don... simultaneous voice & data is possible on Verizon's network, but only with LTE.
Until Verizon's network supports VoLTE, you can not talk and use data at the same time with the iPhone 5.
Re: Why Apple Made Three iPhone 5 Models
#13I expected a lot more interoperability between LTE devices and networks, something more akin to WiFi. Is there even a good technical reason why an LTE phone that supports AT&T's two channels cannot also support Verizon's five?
Re: Why Apple Made Three iPhone 5 Models
#14Yeah. No matter what, you're screwed this time around. Verizon's version doesn't support simultaneous data and calling. PITA. AT&T doesn't support LTE when roaming except in Canada. PITA. International GSM versions can't get AT&T LTE in the US. PITA. The only plus side to anything is that if you switch to Verizon you can use some international LTE and get an international unlock after 60 days. However, in my case, sw…
And no one in the US supports the wide-band audio. According to some coverage it's likely no one will support it, because they are focusing on using audio over LTE for their wideband instead of the different codec on 3G that Apple supports (if I remember right).
Too bad. I'd really love the better audio.
I'll be upgrading, but I'm sticking with AT&T. The fact I can keep my old unlimited plan (from when I bought my 3G) and the simultaneous voice and data (which is really nice) means it's not worth switching.
Re: Why Apple Made Three iPhone 5 Models
#15iPhone 5: The biggest thing to ever happen to iPhone since iPhone.
No, the biggest thing would have been stuff like swappable RF modules so I can keep the computer portion of the phone and get the RF module my carrier requires.
The biggest thing would have been support for external memory cards (microSD would have been great).
The biggest thing would have been ditching the 30 pin connector for a mini/micro USB connector.
The biggest thing would have been allowing some access to the file system.
The biggest thing would have been adding "guest" mode to the OS so you don't have to worry about access to your stuff when you hand the phone to someone else.
There are a lot of "biggest things" that would have made iPhone 5 truly a revolutionary step in the history of iPhone. Longer, thinner and blah, blah, blah doesn't, in my not-so-humble opinion qualify. Most people I talk to have said "not interested". As a developer I'll have to buy one. No real choice there. We'll see what the average consumer does.
The real question: Is the iPhone 5 enough of an improvement for the average person to ditch their 4S? I don't know. My rather limited sample came out on the side of "no".
Re: Why Apple Made Three iPhone 5 Models
#16I expected a lot more interoperability between LTE devices and networks, something more akin to WiFi. Is there even a good technical reason why an LTE phone that supports AT&T's two channels cannot also support Verizon's five?
Yes, the networks use different frequency bands. Ostensibly, nobody has yet developed a chip that works on both LTE bands. The iPhone 4S shipped with a chipset that worked with both Verizon and AT&T's 3G bands, so I'm sure somebody is working on the same for LTE. This is just an effect of the technology being newer.
Re: Why Apple Made Three iPhone 5 Models
#17iPhone 5: The biggest thing to ever happen to iPhone since iPhone. No, the biggest thing would have been stuff like swappable RF modules so I can keep the computer portion of the phone and get the RF module my carrier requires. The biggest thing would have been support for external memory cards (microSD would have been great). The biggest thing would have been ditching the 30 pin connector for a mini/micro USB connec…
Historically, the answer will be yes. Apple launches a new model ever year the conversion rates from last years model holders to the new model are really high. This is even higher then conversions from consumers who bought two models ago to the new model. It's ridiculous (not that I think it is dumb, just that they have a consumer base/behavior like that).
Additionally, I don't know if the general population would be on board with your feature list.
For example, why would my mom, sister, wife, or grandma want a sd card? They all by the 64 gig device and that is more than enough. They access their photos on their iPad through photo stream, email, etc. I'm not even sure if they know what an SD card is.
I hear you on the pin connector. But again, people will fork over the money to buy an adapter if need be. Most people aren't going to throw their phone out the window of a moving car because they have to buy an adapter .... Most.
No idea why I need access to the file system. I can store any type of file I want and access it without any problems. It takes an app, but even my grandma knows how to do this. SO maybe if you elaborate on the problem the context of an average consumer might have regarding the file system, I would better understand.
Who the hell are you share your phone with? Additionally, how often is that happening? Even if I had this I would never use it. So much damn work. Additionally, I'm usually standing right there when someone borrows my phone. I never hand it to a stranger and then wander off.
Anywho. I can't argue that the changes are as revolutionary as the iPhone 1. However, the device got thinner, screen got bigger, physical design looks sweet, camera got better, software is getting better, and the device got faster. It's not curing cancer, but that is a damn good phone.
I'm upgrading my 4S tonight. Given how much I use my phone I find it worth the couple hundred bucks. Especially since I can sell my 4S and drastically bring down my net out of pocket.
Re: Why Apple Made Three iPhone 5 Models
#18So the iPhone 5 on AT&T can't use LTE outside of the US because AT&T uses some LTE band nobody else uses. Bit of a bummer, but I wouldn't call it crippled since you can still use 3G voice and data pretty much anywhere in the world. International roaming is actually one of AT&T's few strengths. I'd be more upset if International data wasn't so expensive. At $300 / GB, turning LTE on overseas would just scare me. Hopef…
I won't call it crippled either. You can make a call with it. Can't you?
In 2012, "phone" no longer means "device primarily used to conduct voice calls". It means "pocket computer with wireless Internet connectivity".
Re: Why Apple Made Three iPhone 5 Models
#19iPhone 5: The biggest thing to ever happen to iPhone since iPhone. No, the biggest thing would have been stuff like swappable RF modules so I can keep the computer portion of the phone and get the RF module my carrier requires. The biggest thing would have been support for external memory cards (microSD would have been great). The biggest thing would have been ditching the 30 pin connector for a mini/micro USB connec…
Sorry. We can't do those things.
We are not technology company. We make products that are beautiful to look at.
Buy iPhone 5. It's beautiful.
Sincerely,
Apple Computer, Inc.
Re: Why Apple Made Three iPhone 5 Models
#20Yeah. No matter what, you're screwed this time around. Verizon's version doesn't support simultaneous data and calling. PITA. AT&T doesn't support LTE when roaming except in Canada. PITA. International GSM versions can't get AT&T LTE in the US. PITA. The only plus side to anything is that if you switch to Verizon you can use some international LTE and get an international unlock after 60 days. However, in my case, sw…
According to http://mgalligan.com/post/31415410863/buying-an-iphone-5-don... simultaneous voice & data is possible on Verizon's network, but only with LTE.
I've got a thunderbolt on Verizon and I do 3G and voice as well as 4G and voice at the same time. Some googling seems to show that it uses two antennae to do this, but to me as an end user it works great.