iPhone 4S Craze?

I have not been posted for a while due to other commitments.

The first post will be iPhone 4S. Since Steve has just passed away and he is missed by many, it will be a good time to see if Apple has products to continue his legacy.

There are minor updates to iPhone 4 but 4S has breaking sales due to the demise of Steve. What are the interesting features which many found it useful? Some of the features are:

1. Siri - a voice app that aims to be your personal secretary;
2. Speed - dual cores which nearly double the benchmark and chipset is upgraded to A5;
3. Camera - 5 element lens and 30% improved sharpness on a 8MB resolution with video stabilization; and
4. iOS5 - new OS with special mention of iCloud which promises 5G storage space in the cyberspace.

The question to ask is whether iPhone 4S breaks new ground or people just buy it for the sake of remembering Steve. Industry is disappointed it is not iPhone 5 but the sentiment defy expectation and sales better iPhone 4.

How is competition? Samsung Galaxy S2 is the closest competition with the chart HERE. A complete comparison is spelt out HERE in iTechVision. Numbers aside, the question is do you want to upgrade if you already has iPhone 4?

For those without data plan, it is a punishment to buy a iPhone 4S if you do not understand the true meanings of mobility and smartphone. Those who have already owned a iPhone 4 with a budget, it is not advisable to upgrade as the features are not fantastic. You can save for an iPhone 5. Apple is cashing in on Steve's death and maximise their profits.

If you never own a smartphone before, you may consider iPhone 4S. But before you jump into the wagon, spare a thought for other smartphone vendors like Samsung Galaxy S2 or Nokia N9. Both are cheaper than iPhone 4S and your experiences will not be dampened as long as you have a data plan (the key to your smartphone experiences).

You have lots to learn if you have your first smartphone. The key is the applications which you can install to suit your lifestyle with a data plan. In the world of social media, instant communication is the key to be hype. Getting a fad iPhone 4S with no data plan will be the biggest mistake you will make. Given limited budget, get a smartphone with data plan is better off than an expensive iPhone 4S with no data plan.

Frankly, technology gadgets are fads when the warranty is only 12 months for a 24-month standard mobile contact. The costs of the "free" phone has already been included in the monthly payment. When the warranty expires in 12 months, you are still paying for another 12 months for the discounted phone but enjoy no warranty for another 12 months. Isn't it interesting?

In Amercia, Apple's iPhones are tied up exclusively with AT&T with a cheapest US$15/month data plan for only 200MB of data. As a new customer, you are expected to pay another US$399 for a 64GB iPhone 4S. Bear in mind that the data speed is inconsistently low at a maximum of 2.5MBps at best with repeated upgrade on its networks.

In Singapore, Singtel's customers are expected to pay S$39.9/month for a 24-month plan for an upfront cost of S$798 for a 64GB iPhone. A new Samsung Galaxy S2 I9100 and Nokia N9 16GB cost S$148 and S$98 respectively. You do your maths.

For a die-hard Apple fan, you may consider the old iPhone 3 or iPhone 4 as they have depreciated to a "free" phone. The argument that Apple fans has is Apple provide long-term support for its handset while other vendors ignore their older phones when they have new models. Very true as we see iPhone 4 can be upgrade to iOS5 while many Android phones are still in Froyo 2.2 or below instead of the latest Gingerbread 2.3. In fact, non-Gingerbread phones are often sold at discount or free to consumers with a budget to clear stocks. Manufacturers offer no upgrade on its firmware and obsolete them before the 24-month mobile contract is over. It is a sad fact in the industry. Apple wins hand down in support since they have only a handful of mobile phone sets. Read more by The Understatement.

No matter what you choose, stocks for Samsung Galaxy S2 and iPhone 4S 64GB is low now. With plenty of stocks, Nokia N9 is the underdog as Meego OS may be obsoleted soon as the partnership with Microsoft thickens. The only merit of N9 is the free OVI GPS map where the download of maps is free.

Afterall, it is a Laissez-faire ecomony and the choice is yours.