Keeping Steve Jobs alive with iPhone 5
SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) — Apparently nobody wants to let Steve Jobs die in peace.
Bloomberg reports that Steve Jobs was intimately involved in the design work for the next-generation iPhone scheduled for release later this year, reiterating claims that the device will be a substantial change from previous designs in part because of a larger display.
Apple, based in Cupertino, California, has placed orders from suppliers in Asia for screens that are bigger than the 3.5- inch size now on the smartphone, said one of the people, who asked not to be identified because the plans aren’t public. Apple co-founder Steve Jobs had worked closely on the redesigned phone before his death in October, one person said. [...]
Apple has been working on the new device since before the current iPhone 4S model was introduced last October, said one person with knowledge of the project. Jobs, who had gone on medical leave from Apple starting last January, played a key role in developing the phone, this person said.
Apple has been working on the new device since before the current iPhone 4S model was introduced last October, said one person with knowledge of the project. Jobs, who had gone on medical leave from Apple starting last January, played a key role in developing the phone, this person said.
Bloomberg becomes the third major publication to offer an independent report this week regarding a larger display for the next iPhone, following The Wall Street Journal andReuters yesterday.
Reports on MSNBC and elsewhere have it that the late Apple Inc. (US:AAPL) chief was working until the end on the new so-called iPhone 5. Really? He had nothing better to do than work on this legacy device?
The iPhone is looking tired against the newer bigger-screen phones with the much-livelier displays. Supposedly Apple will bump the screen size to 4 inches, but the current sweet spot seems to be around 4.8 inches.
The popular 5-inch Samsung Note phone, I believe, is the extreme in this regard. People love it or hate it, and most people love it.
Back to Jobs and the community of Apple aficionados that cannot seem to let go of their passed leader: The reality is that possibly he had nothing to do with the iPhone 5. Yet it will be played as though he did, so all the Apple mavens will flock to this phone as a memorial device. A celebration, a best-seller — something that will pump the stock!
Apple’s shares have been on the skids, and weird reports such as a CNet item tell us that the Nokia Corp. (US:NOK) Windows phone is outselling the iPhone. This to me sounds unlikely, but cannot be helping the stock price.
Making the iPhone 5 “Steve’s last phone” will surely create a huge seller, despite the fact that the screen will be too small for the changing market.
I’ve gotten into numerous debates about the newest Android phones versus the iPhone versus the Windows phone. I cannot honestly see either the iPhone or the Windows devices as having any qualities that are better than the Android phone, which is generally the least-expensive option.
The more I use a Windows phone, the less I like it. The iPhone is getting dated by the minute.
Users of the iPhone claim they have apps that are so good, they can’t even think of parting with the device. But it’s likely each of these apps also comes in an Android version that is often cheaper, if not completely free.
While there are some very specialized iPhone apps — such as the one that comes with the Nissan Leaf, which monitors the battery remotely and can even start the car — these all eventually get ported to Google Inc.’s (US:GOOG) Android by customer demand.
After Siri, what can Apple do to boost sales of the iPhone 5 besides adding the halo of Steve Jobs and his invisible hand? Not much, as far as I can tell.
These smartphones have now become mature technologies than can only be tweaked here and there. There isn’t much else that can be done.
I suspect what’s being called iPhone 5 will be a monster hit with more sales than ever. This should get Apple’s stock on track.
After that? We’ll see.
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