Like Judgement Day, the apocalypse and every other world-ending ‘oh my god, this is a life changing moment’ we seem to have every other year, the introduction of a new iPhone seemingly takes over people’s lives. Apple drops a new iPhone once a year and, in 2012, it was the turn of the iPhone 5, but what’s new; what have they failed at and just how popular has it become?
Well, it’s fair to say there was a hell of a lot of people disappointed with the initial launch of the iPhone 5. Sure, Apple fan-boys are always going to back the company up no matter what but, the fact of the matter is, the 5 is not the massive overhaul of the 4S we were all expecting. There are plenty of new features, improvements on design and performance, but the fact it remained basically the same as the 4S left many Android-loving, anti-Apple supporters the chance to seriously go in hard on the internet.
It’s always like opening a can of worms when you bring up Apple or Android, but the passion and loyalty means we end up with better products as the two battle it out for supremacy. So, just what did Apple do with the iPhone 5 to tease us into wanting one?
Well, Apple has amended the basic look and feel for the iPhone 5. It feels much lighter in your hand and looks as smart as ever – which is good. Many were expecting another big chance in aesthetics – like the 3G to 4 – but that never happened, which isn’t the end of the world.
One of the biggest introductions can be found within Apple’s iOS6 operating system. This introduced Apple’s new Maps app – similar to Google Maps – and, well, let’s just say it didn’t go down well. Sure, there were applauds for Apple finally getting rid of the Google Maps – even though that software is by far and away the best – but there were a lot of problems with this first offering. Apple’s Maps software misplaced towns, cities, along with odd pictures of landmarks like the Brooklyn Bridge. It’s been a bit of a PR disaster for Apple as fans on Twitter went in on the company for bringing out such a flawed system. Apple responded by claiming the Maps software was just the beginning and that it would be vastly improved over time – let’s hope so.
Apple iPhone 5 Launch Day
To the launch – and what a launch it was. Apple confirmed it received five million orders in the first week. More than that, the pre-orders on the first day of release were double that we saw for the iPhone 4S, so it’s fair to say Apple’s pre-launch hype worked.
The Apple and iPhone brand is now so huge that the anticipation is already growing for next year’s device. It’s safe to presume Apple doesn’t really need to do any marketing because the internet and fans will create the buzz for them.
Whether you’re an Apple fan or an Android lover, you can’t deny the powerhouse that is a new iPhone launch. The 5 may have seen some disappointment, but many feel like it’s a step forward and, with Apple’s continued developments in speed and performance, the device will continue to strip the money from people’s bank accounts for years to come.