Byte Me: A not-so-tempting Apple

Let’s talk iPhone. Apple fanatics waited to hear these words for 16 months since the debut of the iPhone 4.  As if there were not already enough rumors surrounding the launch of what most people hoped to be the iPhone 5, the announcement that Apple would be hosting an event at its Cupertino campus to “talk iPhone” sparked a firestorm of speculation. Unheralded bloggers and world-renowned news sources alike all released their lists of what we should count on for the next-generation iPhone. And with 66 percent (according to an August survey by RBC capital) of current iPhone owners planning to upgrade to the new model, sight-unseen, people were listening.
While there had been a steady stream of iPhone 5 rumors circulating since the iPhone 4 was released in June 2010, the rumor mill really revved up when reports circulated that an Apple employee left a prototype phone at a Mexican restaurant in San Francisco. And then there was Al Gore, an Apple board member, who in a speech in South Africa last month referenced “the new iPhones coming out next month.”
For many, the slip-up confirmed what they already expected; Apple would be releasing not just one new-and-improved iPhone next month, but two iPhones. The first would be the long-awaited iPhone 5, while the second might be some sort of downgraded iPhone. This second-tier phone would possibly have a plastic screen, less storage, or pay-as-you-go capabilities.
Current iPhone owners, however, could care less about a downgraded version of their beloved smartphone. And once again, everything came back to the long-awaited iPhone 5. Some of the most exciting of these rumors were in regards to the appearance of the phone. According to tech blog Gizmodo, the next-generation phone would be thinner, shorter, and wider. Other sites reported that the phone would be teardrop shaped, have a wider screen, and possibly no home button.  Some sites gathered enough insider information to report detailed measurements for everything from the screen size to the width of the new phone.
And on October 4, we talked iPhone. But for many Apple fans and fanatics alike, it was a disappointing conversation. First, there was only one iPhone: a slightly upgraded iPhone 4 called the iPhone 4S. (I guess Al Gore really did just slur his words together when trying to say “the new iPhone IS coming out,” rather than letting big iPhone secrets slip).  In addition, the iPhone 4S looks exactly like the iPhone 4. For iPhone junkies hoping to impress their friends with the latest and greatest, there’s nothing more embarrassing than having it look exactly like their outdated phones.
The 4S is less a new phone athan an upgraded version of the iPhone 4, absent any radical changes. But in all fairness, the predictors did get something right. They accurately anticipated the 8-megapixel camera, voice recognition feature, longer battery life, faster processor, and global capabilities.
Yet after this long awaited announcement, the thrill seemed to be gone. The Twitterverse erupted in cries of disappointment. Apple stock fell as much as five percent that day. But the iPhone 4S sold out, breaking previous pre-order records. Over one million orders were placed within the first 24 hours of its announcement. This increase could be attributed, in part, to the fact that the iPhone 4S is being released on an additional network (Sprint) and in two additional countries, Australia and Canada, bringing the iPhone to previously untapped market. For people who couldn’t get an iPhone before, a slightly upgraded iPhone 4 is better than no iPhone at all.
With so many rumors flying around, the iPhone 4S could never live up to the hype. It was destined to disappoint. It is, however, still a step up from the iPhone 4, even if it is a step down from the oft-prophesized iPhone 5.  Don’t fear, though. The speculation has already begun for the iPhone 5. Many people predict it will come out in mid to late 2012 with an entirely new design and 4G/LTE support. So until then, let the rumors begin. What else would iPhone addicts do without a new phone to fantasize about?