Several weeks ago, Apple announced the newest series of its iPhone products, the 4s. Most people, namely iPhone enthusiasts were somewhat disappointed. They were expecting all new iPhone 5 instead of 4s with only several spec upgrades and new (yet improved) features that was already there in the first place.
Not long after the new iPhone was announced, Steve Jobs died. And suddenly people had one more reason to get the new 4s as it was probably the last legacy from its late innovator.
For a moment, I got caught up in the hype. I even considered to get one once its launched. But I came to my senses. I don't really need it. Of course, yes, it's cool. Awesome. Loved the design. Very badass with all its new features and over the edge specs. But then again, bottom line, I did not need it and I kept telling myself that. The money I'll be needing to be spent on the phone can be allocated for something else more essential, like improving my current gaming PC. Okay, it might not sound "essential".
These are the basic specs and upgrades iPhone 4s will have to offer.
Dual-core A5 chip.
Great. The all new chip set will definitely kick the iPhone to a better and neat-o performance. Would really love to see and feel the experience (sliding those on screen menus without much rough transition). But then again, new smartphones with upgraded specs come and go ever now and then, in a matter of months simply to say. So I don't think this is a really significant factor to be too excited about it. Another product will catch up with similar or even more than this spec, probably in the next several months.
All-new 8 MP camera and optics.
This one is neat too. 8 MP camera in a smartphone is realy something. Even my latest Blackberry only hold a 5 MP. Plus, Apple has given awesome software for enhancing video/picture capturing. Again, Apple hasn't given up on becoming the frontline for hobbyist/media enthusiast smartphone. My gadget-freak friend recommend me to get one if I didn't have any pocket camera yet, which I haven't.
iOS 5 and iCloud
New operating system means new features and probably graphical gimmicks. I would really love to see and feel the experience of those stuff. Will it be new and trendy? Or will it be simply the same than before only faster/smoother? Plus, the iCloud function integrates some of the features that come with any smartphones. Apple wanted to make its new product as the most sophisticated smartphone which can manage your personal stuff easily. Combined with Siri it seems quite powerful.
Nevertheless, this is another reason why I should not really get one of those iPhones. Even with my current phone, I don't really put my schedules, appointments, mostly in it. If I have to get 4s simply because I wanted to try its features, it would be quite a waste. I will not utilize it to its maximum potential.
Siri
This may be the coolest features that the new iPhone 4s have to offer. The voice recognition command system. Based on its demo video (if it will really be able to do so), it can identify our voice and respond to it accordingly, with accurate results. It's like talking to your own personal assisstant (robot). It made iPhone 4s looked very futuristic.
Yet to what end? Although it's cool, I have to remember that it only come in English language. It probably won't recognize Bahasa Indonesia :D plus, what if it is not as sophisticated as it was claimed? If it don't have the ability to "learn" new phrases and accent, it probably will get most of your voice command wrong. What about its noise dampening? If there are two or more voices around it, will it automatically recognise all of them?
Lastly, this Siri function was not actually Apple's. It was an app for iPhone 4. Apple bought the company that made Siri and then integrated its software into their new product (with improvements). Nice move on that, Apple.
In the end, I am not an Apple enthusiast. I never own any Apple product although, I have to admit, I've always been amazed by how stylish and neat they are. The iMac, iPod, iPhone, iPad. Especially for iPhone and iPad. I've always thought iPod was preposterous. Too expensive for an mp3 player. Yet it was strangely difficult for me to find alternative good mp3 players on its era. For those who wanted to buy iPhone 4s, go ahead. I am not trying to tell you not to. It has some cool and awesome stuff wrapped in it. For me, I won't really get it at the moment. Not until my old phone cracked. Because I think it's not a significant leap from its predecessor the iPhone 4 and it won't be a over the edge trend to own one. People will only see it as iPhone 4 and will only realize that it's actually 4s until you show them.
