Apple Announces new iPhone 5

[klang]

Well my 30 pin adapter .2 meter cable shipped today. So, I will soon be able to use my car adapter again. I have been using the headphone jack, but it will be nice to have the one plug again.

Just got two via Fedex a few minutes ago. The Lightning plug is a little bigger than the one on the standard Lightning to USB cable. It still won't fit in the hole on my Rocketfish case. I think a small amount of surgery on the case will fix it. Still waiting for delivery on my iFrogz case.

[bhelms]

Why do you want/need a smartphone ?

In fact, maybe I don't and that has me considering the options and not pulling the trigger yet. I also have an iPad which has essentially replaced my personal computer (not my work one) and does most of what I would do with a smartphone...but not all.

When I'm out of the house/off the premise I always have my current phone with me, but not always the iPad. Sometimes it would be great to have 'net access and the 'Pad is not where I need it. I can't text with my current phone, screen is too small to read and I hate contorting a numeric keypad into a string of text. I'm thinking having NFC will turn into a real convenience factor sooner rather than later. I want tunes with me and my ancient mp3 player is overdue for replacement.

NEED a smartphone, definitely not! WANT one...maybe...probably! Before I had my first cell phone (back in the "bagger" days) I couldn't understand how/why anyone really needed one. Now I find it indespensible, can't recall how I managed without the convenience. I only know one person who doesn't concur. I expect a similar epiphany when I eventually get a smart phone. The question is when to pull that trigger...

[mdram]

I'm thinking having NFC will turn into a real convenience factor sooner rather than later.

iphone 5 does not have nfc

[bhelms]

I do not think any smartphone is really designed to last 6-8 years. Apple does do a nice job of providing IOS upgrades to prior generations, an important thing to consider if you are going to have a phone for several years. The 3GS probably got its last upgrade now, but who knows, maybe they will do something with IOS7 for the 3GS. The iPhone 5 will probably go 4-5 years before you really start to notice features that would be nice. With the aluminum and glass build, it looks like it will not wear (aside from scratches on the aluminum), so I see no durability issues. I am sure you would be able to make calls and surf the web for 6-8 years on it.

Good points to match my situation. I look at the GS3 and like the expandability and easy battery replacement but physical durability for the long haul looks to be suspect. (I imagine Android is here to stay and updates with be similar to iOS.) I expect the only longevity issues w/ iP5 are the case scratching. Hopefully battery replacement will be available and economically feasible, expecting that I'll have to send it somewhere. (Amazed that I can still find batteries and accessories for my old Samsung phone...they're cheap and work!)

If I get 5 "good" years out of the iP5, that would probably suffice. (I'll probably be in a nursing home by then...!) Tks for the feedback.

[bhelms]

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iphone 5 does not have nfc

Yep - I know that, was disappointed to learn it for certain on 9/21. That's one thing that's stalling my selection of iP5, might be the only thing! Maybe I'll decide it really doesn't matter, but I'm not there yet especially since I want something to last me more than a contract duration...

[bhelms]

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I would not hold off waiting for the next best thing, you'll always be waiting, and never get a new device. I guess I am easy to satisfy, I am very very pleased with the iPhone 5. It is fast, it is light, has excellent battery life (with my usage patterns), has a retina display, a large enough screen that still fits in a dress shirt pocket, or even jeans pocket, and solid reliable software. Could care less about nfc, and when the time comes that I do care about it, I'll be on a new phone. This phone will get a good two years life in my family, either by me or my wife or son, will I get the next phone? Probably, I usually do, but we still use the ones we have. And my wife has no qualms about using her 4S for a few years. The 5 is a rock solid phone with excellent specs and performance.

Yeah, holding-off is doomed to disappointment in the long run. I bought my 'Pad 1 late in its short year of exclusivity knowing a "newer and better" version wasn't far off. (I needed it for a particular event, hence the poor timing.) Shirt pocket size is one of my "needs", which has me hesitating on the GS3 (tight fit especially with any presumed protective case, sticks out too much). You emphasized again many of the other important features. I just wish I could get past no NFC. Tks for replying...