The first smartphone I ever owned as an Apple iPhone 3G. This came out at a time when smartphones were still pretty ugly and basically useless. Apple had really taken the smartphone market and turned it upside down with what it was doing. The first time I saw the phone I was completely blown away by how it looked and the way it worked. I became a fan of the product very quickly.
As time passed, I got more and more used to working with my iPhone and really came to like it. I upgraded to the iPhone 4 and it was like night and day as far as usability. The speed difference was awesome and I was quite happy with it. It was also around that same time that Android was starting to get better and become somewhatr useful. The early iterations of that OS were horrid but by the time the iPhone 4 came out things were looking better.
Earlier this year I upgraded to an iPhone 5 and was less than impressed. The truth is, it seemed pretty much like my iPhone 5 with a slightly bigger screen and Siri. Big deal. Then this week, Apple announced their latest phone, the iPhone 5S and the only big thing I see with it is a fingerprint scanner on the home button. Really?
I’ve written before about the Apple vs Android thing so I won’t get into the debate again but I will say that I have become less and less impressed with the “new” items coming from Apple. I mean, I really like and enjoy my iPhone, but it would be nice to experience some of that “holy crap” excitement from a new product again. Instead, it seems that Apple has decided that more of the same is now the norm. Instead of trying to find innovative ways to use technology, they really do seem content to milk the customers with the same tech they already have.
This isn’t going to instantly make me switch to an Android phone. I’m on my iPhone 5 for at least another year, but it does make me consider, at least a little bit, about what else is out there. I have a lot of money invested in my apps, but I’m no longer razzled and dazzled by their tech. Instead, I shrug my shoulders and figure it’s just easier for me to keep what I have and wait until something really amazing comes out.
However, I do suspect that in the world of phones, that is unlikely to happen. I think phones have been pushed as far as they can go as far as new and cool features. Until I see something that makes me go “holy crap” again, I’ll likely just stick with what I have and shake my head at the lack of creativity from a company who was once so innovative.
