iPhone 5

[TheL8Elvis]

I just searched for walking directions from Alacante to Valencia Spain on my phone to see what it said. The map looks the same as on that article. But the parts that supposedly have you walking over water actually have you taking fairies!

Or even ferries.

BTW, that's not walking.

 

[WildCat]

I just searched for walking directions from Alacante to Valencia Spain on my phone to see what it said. The map looks the same as on that article. But the parts that supposedly have you walking over water actually have you taking fairies!

You mean magical little people with wings, or is this some kind of gay slur?

 

[The Dark Lord]

Or even ferries.

BTW, that's not walking.

You mean magical little people with wings, or is this some kind of gay slur?

Lol.

If the worst thing they can show about Google maps is that it has you take a ferry part of the way on some absurdly long walking trip in Spain, it is pretty damn good.

 

[tyr_13]

So I got to use the booth iPhone 5 today, and it's fairly nice. The screen is an improvement, although not as nice as I had hoped it was going to be. I still can't really use it one handed, I guess that's just how it is with a bigger hand.

I still dislike Safari to put it lightly. As far as I can tell, a substantial improvement but nothing to lure an Android user to switch. I'll have to use it more to have more substantive feedback.

 

[merentha]

If the worst thing they can show about Google maps is that it has you take a ferry part of the way on some absurdly long walking trip in Spain, it is pretty damn good.

Plus, Google maps did provide an alternate route for the extreme hiker who insists on walking all the way. The ferry connection was just one of the options.

As for the China map, Google map isn't too shoddy. It did point to the right spot, and at least almost (if not) all the minor roads did show up on the map, which is more than I can say about the large swaths of blanks in many examples of the Apple maps. That is, if the Apple maps were pointing to the right locations in the first place.

I'm surprised how people could try to spin this with "It's all right cos' the maps will get better". In the meantime, if users get lost, they should feel honoured to be given the privilege to help the most valuable company in the world fix its crappy maps. I could just see a legion of fanboys volunteering to trek around the world just to help fix the maps for free (or a priority queue at the next iDevice launch).

 

[This is The End]

A couple new articles claiming Apple only sold 5 million of the 10 million iPhone 5s over the weekend. This backs up what Wildcat said earlier about there being plenty left available in the Chicago area.

Tough, keep in mind that Apple still claims insufficient supply was the problem...

I have a feeling they may have not allocated them correctly. Some places got too many, others got too few.

Both articles also opine on the labor blowup at the factory in China.

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-iphone-china-20120925,0,3643491.story

http://www.sfgate.com/opinion/editorials/article/Apple-should-get-its-own-house-in-order-3891070.php

 

[TheL8Elvis]

A couple new articles claiming Apple only sold 5 million of the 10 million iPhone 5s over the weekend.

Neither of the articles really claim what you just wrote:
...sales of the new iPhone 5 reached more than 5 million units in the three days it's been in stores.
Analysts had predicted sales as high as 10 million phones over the weekend.

What kind of mental somersaults did you have to do to turn that into "Apple only sold 5 million of the 10 million iPhone 5s" ? What 10 million ? The 10 million some random analyst predicted ?

This backs up what Wildcat said earlier about there being plenty left available in the Chicago area.

How exactly does it do that ?

Tough, keep in mind that Apple still claims insufficient supply was the problem...

And your evidence that is not true is what ? Be specific. I really hope it's more than because Wildcat claimed stores had not yet sold out.

While we have sold out of our initial supply, stores continue to receive iPhone 5 shipments regularly and customers can continue to order online and receive an estimated delivery date," Cook said. "We appreciate everyone's patience and are working hard to build enough iPhone 5s for everyone."

Do you believe Tim Cook was lying ?

http://store.apple.com/us/browse/home/shop_iphone/family/iphone/iphone5


available to ship 3-4 weeks

I have a feeling they may have not allocated them correctly. Some places got too many, others got too few.

And what gives you that feeling ? Be specific.

Both articles also opine on the labor blowup at the factory in China.

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-iphone-china-20120925,0,3643491.story

http://www.sfgate.com/opinion/editorials/article/Apple-should-get-its-own-house-in-order-3891070.php

Yes, that is what opinion pieces do.

 

[TheL8Elvis]

So I got to use the booth iPhone 5 today, and it's fairly nice. The screen is an improvement, although not as nice as I had hoped it was going to be. I still can't really use it one handed, I guess that's just how it is with a bigger hand.

I still dislike Safari to put it lightly. As far as I can tell, a substantial improvement but nothing to lure an Android user to switch. I'll have to use it more to have more substantive feedback.

Just curious what's wrong with safari ? Both android and iphone browsers are all based on webkit ...

 

[tyr_13]

Just curious what's wrong with safari ? Both android and iphone browsers are all based on webkit ...

I don't like the layout, but that's a minor gripe. I really dislike that scrolling has no momentum. My thumb and fingers get tired getting to the bottom of JREF threads for example. Things on the screen are always too small and I'm using the edge of my pinky to try to hit things or I have to zoom in which exacerbates the no momentum in scrolling issue.

I would like Firefox if it were more consistent, but I'm really spoiled on Chrome on the newer Android units. I had the display of the Nexus 7 tablet in my back pocket whenever I was at work for the three weeks we had the display but no fixture to attach it too. Such great browsing.

It's the little things mostly.

 

[TheL8Elvis]

I don't like the layout, but that's a minor gripe. I really dislike that scrolling has no momentum. My thumb and fingers get tired getting to the bottom of JREF threads for example. Things on the screen are always too small and I'm using the edge of my pinky to try to hit things or I have to zoom in which exacerbates the no momentum in scrolling issue.

I would like Firefox if it were more consistent, but I'm really spoiled on Chrome on the newer Android units. I had the display of the Nexus 7 tablet in my back pocket whenever I was at work for the three weeks we had the display but no fixture to attach it too. Such great browsing.

It's the little things mostly.

Fair enough.

There are other options, just so you know:
http://atomicwebbrowser.com/
http://www.google.com/intl/en/chrome/browser/mobile/ios.html

I'm a big fan of chrome as well, but not used it extensively on iOS, I like atomic web browser for iOS, chrome for my windows computers.

 

[Vermonter]

I've had mine since Friday (preorder) and so far I love it. Just got a new case for it too. Much lighter than my 3GS. Only issue is that Tetris doesn't always recognize my taps! The panoramic camera mode is pretty sweet, and the new earbuds are actually quite comfy; I don't have to keep adjusting them like I did with my Skullcandies or the old earbuds. If I had a 4 or 4S I wouldn't have upgraded, but I'm very happy with my new 5.

 

[richardm]

Looks like there may be some cosmetic problems with the hardware too, with speculation that Apple might have to do a recall.

If hundreds of consumer reports are to be believed, it seems that 30 to 40% of all iPhone 5s are arriving with scuff marks — damage to the sides and back of the case that range from minor abrasions, all the way through to nicks where the coating of the phone has been completely removed, exposing the aluminium chassis beneath.
Scuffgate doesn’t seem to be a localized issue: There have been lots of reports from the west coast of the US, of course, but users in Europe and Hong Kong are also reporting scuffed phones. The damage isn’t being caused by overzealous Apple fans, desperate to get their sterilized tentacles on the new iPhone, either: The scuffed iPhones are seemingly already damaged when they arrive, before anyone has had a chance to finger them aggressively.

It's the same problem that affected some versions of the iPod Nano, apparently. Of course that's less important on a £100 music player than a big, prominent flagship product. Perhaps there's something to be said for polycarbonate after all?

 

[tyr_13]

Fair enough.

There are other options, just so you know:
http://atomicwebbrowser.com/
http://www.google.com/intl/en/chrome/browser/mobile/ios.html

I'm a big fan of chrome as well, but not used it extensively on iOS, I like atomic web browser for iOS, chrome for my windows computers.

I actually hadn't heard of atomic web browser before. I'll have to give it a try tomorrow when I'm working in wireless again. Thanks.

 

[richardm]

Perhaps there's something to be said for polycarbonate after all?

Having said that, it does seem to be surprisingly durable. Just a bit tatty.

 

[kajata]

Looks like there may be some cosmetic problems with the hardware too, with speculation that Apple might have to do a recall.


It's the same problem that affected some versions of the iPod Nano, apparently. Of course that's less important on a £100 music player than a big, prominent flagship product. Perhaps there's something to be said for polycarbonate after all?

As an anodizer myself I'm very curious as to how these scratches are happening right out of the box. Most of our customers' parts are simply wrapped in plain newsprint and arrive without a scratch. And even though we have a modern shop with QC procedures up the wazoo (we're ISO and Nadcap certified) I'm sure it pales in comparison to whatever they have at Foxconn.

 

[BenBurch]

None available here in the Chicago suburbs, BTW, according to a coworker who has visited the Apple Store and also the Woodfield mall Verizon store.

 

[John Albert]

http://dangerousminds.net/comments/woman_explains_why_shes_waiting_in_line_for_an_iphone_5

 

[This is The End]

recall.

If hundreds of consumer reports are to be believed, it seems that 30 to 40% of all iPhone 5s are arriving with scuff marks — damage to the sides and back of the case that range from minor abrasions, all the way through to nicks where the coating of the phone has been completely removed, exposing the aluminium chassis beneath.

Hmmmmm, if it was really 1 out of every 3 iPhone 5s surely we would have heard about it before now?

This is just a guess, so no one attack me please:

Could those defects have anything to do with the discontent and then the riots at the factories? Or do those factories not make those specific parts and/or assemble parts that close to the final product.

ETA: Just saw this in the article:

It is possible that the anodized coating is so soft that it’s being scuffed by Foxconn’s workers at the iPhone 5 production line in Taiyuan, China.

From the article several posts up:

Making matters worse, a mass brawl on Monday between security guards and about 2,000 Chinese employees at an iPhone assembly plant in the northern Chinese city of Taiyuan shut down all assembly there.

Also, a ton of i5s with worse defects that were held back would explain why they only sold 5 million and not the projected 10 million, and the weird supply/demand issues.

Apple would surely be tight-lipped about it if that really happened.

ETA: And this:

The problem with this answer, though, is that the phones wouldn’t pass quality assurance (QA) — unless QA itself was causing the scuff marks, or if the damage was caused after QA (perhaps as the phones are being boxed).

Let's say there were a ton of i5s with even worse defects. Eventually they would have to decide to let some of the lesser offenders through QA in order to not lower supply to even worse levels.

Now to get into CT: Apple complained and then the security put the smack down on the disgruntled workers. Of course they waited until launch day, so as not to have any bad press.

 

[TheL8Elvis]

Hmmmmm, if it was really 1 out of every 3 iPhone 5s surely we would have heard about it before now?

This is just a guess, so no one attack me please:

Could those defects have anything to do with the discontent and then the riots at the factories? Or do those factories not make those specific parts and/or assemble parts that close to the final product.

Just Asking Questions ?

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/09/24/us-hon-hai-idUSBRE88N00L20120924

...The cause of this dispute is under investigation by local authorities and we are working closely with them in this process, but it appears not to have been work-related," Foxconn said. Hon Hai said about 2,000 workers were involved.

Comments posted online, however, suggested security guards may have been to blame. In a posting on the Chinese Twitter-like microblog site Sina Weibo, user "Jo-Liang" said that four or five security guards beat a worker almost to death.
...
Foxconn does not confirm which of its plants supply Apple, but an employee told Reuters that the Taiyuan plant is among those that assemble and make parts for Apple's iPhone 5.

Also, a ton of i5s with worse defects that were held back would explain why they only sold 5 million and not the projected 10 million, and the weird supply/demand issues.

Or it could be that the "projected 10 million" was a wildly incorrect number made up by an analyst that has zero insight into apples actual manufacturing capability ?

Also, still waiting for evidence od any "weird supply/demand issues"

Apple would surely be tight-lipped about it if that really happened.

ETA: And this

Let's say there were a ton of i5s with even worse defects. Eventually they would have to decide to let some of the lesser offenders through QA in order to not lower supply to even worse levels.

Now to get into CT: Apple complained and then the security put the smack down on the disgruntled workers. Of course they waited until launch day, so as not to have any bad press.

I think you crossed into CT land way earlier than you believe....

 

[TheL8Elvis]

Agree completely. I wonder what went on behind the scenes that made someone look at the maps and say "yeah, we can ditch google now..."

I hope we get some insight into why the switch was made now.

OTOH, google may be ready release a maps app on iOS, so that at least fixes part of the problem if they do.

Information begins to come in about the maps issue ...

http://www.theverge.com/2012/9/25/3...t-on-google-maps-contract-google-maps-ios-app

Apple's decision to ship its own mapping system in the iPhone 5 and iOS 6 was made over a year before the company's agreement to use Google Maps expired, according to two independent sources familiar with the matter. The decision, made sometime before Apple's WWDC event in June, sent Google scrambling to develop an iOS Google Maps app — an app which both sources say is still incomplete and currently not scheduled to ship for several months.

Interesting.

I suspect ultimately this is a tempest in a teapot, and will not dissuade any discernible number of people from buying an iphone 5.