Today event came and went, but what did we learn from the event. For sure we learned all the rumors and leaks we true. We also saw some improvements in the with the camera and front facing camera. More info after the break if you missed the event.
But for seemingly the first time, it’s not exactly a slam dunk that Apple’s device belongs there.
When the iPhone 4 debuted in June 2010, it was the phone to own. The Android phenomenon hadn’t taken over yet, and Samsung Electronics was still finding its way. Established handset vendors Nokia and Research In Motion, meanwhile, were at the beginning of their quickly accelerating declines. The momentum was behind Apple and CEO Steve Jobs.
Following a lengthier-than-expected upgrade cycle to the incrementally better iPhone 4S, and now the iPhone 5, things have changed. Android is pervasive, and Samsung now has a significant lead in the smartphone business with a franchise, the Galaxy S, that generates nearly as much buzz as the iPhone. Motorola is a part of Google. Nokia and RIM, meanwhile, are re-arming themselves with brand-new mobile platforms and are ready to fight to reverse their fortunes. And Tim Cook now has the reins of Apple.
Most importantly, the iPhone is no longer leaps and bounds better than the competition and the obvious choice for consumers. Instead, rivals have caught up. The iPhone 5’s main features — a larger display, access to 4G LTE, and an improved camera — can already be found on Android smartphones. For the first time, Apple can no longer stand apart from its smartphone competitors as a clear leader; it’s right there in the middle of the fray.
“Whilst the company is still reaping the rewards of the brand equity of the iPhone, consumers are notoriously fickle when it comes to buying handsets,” said Ovum analyst Adam Leach. “Without the continued innovation which we are accustomed to with Apple, the company risks losing consumer appeal.”
While it may no longer be the obvious choice for smartphone buyers, the iPhone 5 will still shake up the market. Apple’s cachet and its world-beating market presence still means every other company needs to watch out.
The iPhone 5 debuted today at the usual hype-infused Apple event, with Cook and his team taking steps to reestablish the iPhone’s leadership role in the world. Executives talked up the various upgrades and new features, with Cook working to leave the impression that Apple’s products remain a step up from those of the competition.
“Only Apple could create such amazing software, hardware, and services and put them together into such a powerful, integrated solution,” Cook said at the event.
[CNET]
