Apple iPhone news

[muffler dragon]

Not sure where/how you found that out, but that's incorrect. I have a 4 and FaceTime works just fine. And yes, the 4 has two cameras.

I apologize for being mistaken. A friend of mine had said this; not a rep.

 

[Fungo Squiggly]

I think the 4S is going to be the best bang for your buck It seems like it's the same as the 4, but it has a better processor and better camera. The camera doesn't seem like it would be a big deal, but it has completely replaced my point-and-shoot. If you use a point-and-shoot camera yourself, you may want to consider the camera in the iPhone you get because you'll probably end up ditching your regular camera like myself and most other people have.


Also, if you're the type who isn't going to upgrade iPhones with every new model or even every two years, a newer model is the way to go since it will be supported longer by operating system and app updates. In that respect, while you would get more mileage out of the newest model, I think the 4S is the real sweet spot for value.




2GB should be plenty if you're not streaming a bunch of music or movies. Plus, you can use Wi-Fi like you mentioned. Between home and work, my data use comes on Wi-Fi about 90% of the time. If your phone is not going to be connected to a Wi-Fi signal most of the time though, it may be something that you want to toggle on or off in the settings on your phone. If you're on Wi-Fi most of the time like I am, it can be a bit of a battery saver, but if you're off Wi-Fi a lot it can be a drain if you don't turn it off because it will keep searching for a connection. My wife doesn't have Wi-Fi at work, so she leaves it turned off even at home to save her battery. She doesn't stream music or video and doesn't come close to using 2GB, even though all of her data is coming from our carrier.

Excellent - thanks! I think the bolded is the key for me. The camera really, really isn't a concern. The only pictures I take are places where we have our nice camera. I never use a point-and-shoot at this point.

I recently ran into the same consideration for work, Bucky.

A store rep summed it up for me like this: the 4 is a single processor, the 4s and 5 are dual. The 4s is essentially the same as the 5 as far as speed. I chose the 4s, and I've been pleased. One thing that I didn't know at the time and have since found out is that the 4 will not support FaceTime or those types of video chats, because it doesn't have the two cameras.

Wait, so I wouldn't be able to have video-internet extramarital sex affairs with your wife? :(

How's the durability on the Iphones? I'm probably middle-of-the-road as far as how rough I am on them. I don't throw my phone (I save that for the television remote), but I do drop it every now and then. Can I expect it survive 4 years of mild abuse?

 

[MD Buckeye]

How's the durability on the Iphones? I'm probably middle-of-the-road as far as how rough I am on them. I don't throw my phone (I save that for the television remote), but I do drop it every now and then. Can I expect it survive 4 years of mild abuse?

Get an otterbox case & you won't have any issues.

 

[jlb1705]

How's the durability on the Iphones? I'm probably middle-of-the-road as far as how rough I am on them. I don't throw my phone (I save that for the television remote), but I do drop it every now and then. Can I expect it survive 4 years of mild abuse?

They are pretty durable I think - it's chemically strengthened glass, so it's pretty tough stuff. It can be vulnerable to certain types of drops - meaning that it can generally take some abuse, but if it drops on its edge just right it can shatter the screen. It's pretty resistant to scratches, though if you care about avoiding that sort of thing you probably don't want to have it rattling around in the same pocket as your keys.

The nice thing about iPhones is that there are all kinds of cases out there if you want one, including some real heavy-duty ones like OtterBoxes. I personally don't see the need for something that big and heavy, so I stick to a cheap silicone case. The one I have now I got for $2 at Half Price Books. It adds a little grip to the phone and a little shock protection in case I drop it (which I seldom do.) I think if you just keep your phone in your pocket most of the time it'll hold up just fine.

I've never kept the same iPhone for longer than 21 months, but these current models with the glass and glass/aluminum body could probably last for four years.

 

[Tonyank]

Get an otterbox case & you won't have any issues.

This, ive had my 4 since it came out. been in the otter box the whole time and is a 99 out of 100.

 

[muffler dragon]

Wait, so I wouldn't be able to have video-internet extramarital sex affairs with your wife? :(

Virtual probably wouldn't have any more of an effect than you do in reality.

How's the durability on the Iphones? I'm probably middle-of-the-road as far as how rough I am on them. I don't throw my phone (I save that for the television remote), but I do drop it every now and then. Can I expect it survive 4 years of mild abuse?

See the others below.

Get an otterbox case & you won't have any issues.

This, ive had my 4 since it came out. been in the otter box the whole time and is a 99 out of 100.

My Otterbox Defender already saved my ass once and I've only had the phone one month.

 

[Fungo Squiggly]

I was thinking....these deals come along fairly often, right? If I get the 4 for free with a two-year contract....two years from now I will probably be able to get a 5/5S/6 whatever for free, so the ability to run the current iOS isn't THAT big of a deal, right?

Would it be obsolete before the 2-year contract was even done?

 

[Merih]

I was thinking....these deals come along fairly often, right? If I get the 4 for free with a two-year contract....two years from now I will probably be able to get a 5/5S/6 whatever for free, so the ability to run the current iOS isn't THAT big of a deal, right?

Would it be obsolete before the 2-year contract was even done?

A 5s will probably debut this year, shifting the 5 to $100 and the 4s to free. That's if Apple continues with past patterns.

No guarantee on that however.

 

[jlb1705]

I was thinking....these deals come along fairly often, right? If I get the 4 for free with a two-year contract....two years from now I will probably be able to get a 5/5S/6 whatever for free, so the ability to run the current iOS isn't THAT big of a deal, right?

Would it be obsolete before the 2-year contract was even done?

All of the available models run the current OS. Traditionallly, support stretches back 3-4 generations for iOS updates, and major iOS updates typically come annually. Right now the 3GS, the model before the iPhone 4 is only partially supported. The iPhone 4 is fully supported, but it's entirely possible that by the end of this year there will be an updated iOS released and the iPhone 4 won't be able to take advantage of it.

For me, it's not that it would make the phone obsolete, it's that being able to to update to the new version of iOS is sometimes like making your phone brand new again. To me, the software updates sometimes add just as much life to your phone as buying a newer model would - and the software updates are free.

 

[Dryden]

I was thinking....these deals come along fairly often, right? If I get the 4 for free with a two-year contract....two years from now I will probably be able to get a 5/5S/6 whatever for free, so the ability to run the current iOS isn't THAT big of a deal, right?

Would it be obsolete before the 2-year contract was even done?

Yes, the deals are cyclical. I started with a 3G, then upgraded to a 3GS for $49 after the 4 had been out for awhile. I just recently upgraded to the 4 for 99 cents after the 5 launched. I've also renewed before my 2-year cycle was up. The discounted upgrades will become available around 20-22 months in. The cell carriers want to lock you in before your contract is up so that you don't even think about shopping around for a new carrier.

 

[Fungo Squiggly]

Curse you, peer pressure. Alas, I have succumbed to temptation. Apple 4S ordered tonight for $69.99.

Gah. Pretty soon you people will have me watching television in HD, whatever the hell that is. Damn kids.

 

[MaxBuck]

... watching television in HD, whatever the hell that is. Damn kids.

Stands for "hot damn." As in, "Hot damn, that's a purty pitcher on the moving picture box, Mother."

 

[muffler dragon]

Curse you, peer pressure. Alas, I have succumbed to temptation. Apple 4S ordered tonight for $69.99.

I had to pay $99 for mine last month. EABOD.

Gah. Pretty soon you people will have me watching television in HD, whatever the hell that is. Damn kids.

You no more have a clue as to what "damn kids" are than you do HD. Let's not confuse the issue.

Make sure you get one of these! It's like a $40 insurance policy that works.

 

[Mac]

You don't even have to go the defender series route. I've had my otterbox commuter case on my 3GS and now 5 with no issues. It uses the silicone case wrapped in a hard plastic. Provides great protection and its not as bulky as the defender (which is also a great case)

 

[CentralMOBuck]

If you're going to get an otterbox, get it from amazon. You'll save yourself about $20.

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