Jacob Hall, Editor-in-Chief of TapSauce | BUSINESS | 09.14.2012 @ 5:00 pm
(Talksauce is a weekly editorial that represents the opinions of Tapsauce editor-in-chief Jacob Hall, not Rocksauce Studios. If he says something stupid, blame him and him alone.)
Earlier this week, Apple announced the iPhone 5. But you already know that. In fact, considering that iPhone 5 pre-orders sold out in sixty minutes last night, you probably already have one en route to your home. To put that in context, it took twenty two hours for the iPhone 4S to sell out and at the time, everyone decided that they sold like hotcakes. That means that the iPhone 5 sold like a more efficient and delicious version of hotcakes that people want right friggin’ now.
But what did the fine folks at Rocksauce Studios think about the iPhone 5? How did the people who work around apps and smartphones all day, every day respond to Apple’s lastest? Well, I asked them.
Q Manning, writer of our weekly Q & Answers column and CEO of Rocksauce, is fully on board:
“Yes, I will be upgrading. While there was little new information announced, this is only because so many leaks of photographs, specifications and information happened beforehand. Typically, Apple keeps a tighter lid on new product rollouts. Outside of the increase in height, there are few elements of the phone that are particularly new, however, the new connector seems to offer additional abilities for third-party device manufacturers that the previous connector was unable to afford.”
Developer Adam Weeks shared a similar sentiment:
“While most of the “surprise” about the iPhone 5 was spoiled by rumor sites, I am still quite excited about the 5. Faster processor, more screen real estate and a better front and back camera is a developer’s dream! I’ll be preordering mine tomorrow!”
Consider Steven Walker also on board:
“I’m excited for it…I will probably buy it once I can afford it, but I have a slightly different take on it. I did not expect massive innovation. My first iPhone was a 3G and even though I liked it, I was constantly frustrated by it’s glaring flaws and missing features. The jump from the 3G to the 4 was overwhelming. I feel like the iPhone 4 was a huge leap toward perfecting the concept of the iPhone. I’ve now had it for two years and I’ve been really happy with it. There wasn’t much that I felt was obviously lacking, so I wasn’t really wanting Apple to dramatically change anything. I just wanted it to go faster, and as a videophile, I wanted a proper 16:9 display. The iPhone 5 delivers on those things in big way, and features lots of subtle improvements to all different parts of the device. So I view the iPhone 5 as the continued perfection of the concept.”
Designer Brandon Schaffner is going to get one as well and he explained his reasoning:
“I’ve been waiting for this for a year, since I skipped the iPhone 4S because it was really just half of an update. From a design standpoint, the larger screen will open up a hole new world of how much data we can display. Apple nailed the form factor by making it taller but not wider. The new phone will also make it easier to type with one hand, which is important to me since that’s how I tend to respond to my messages. The introduction of the A6 chipset will make all of our apps run smother and faster. All of that before the built-in LTE! I’ve also been waiting for iOS 6 and am super excited about it. Turn by turn directions will make life and getting around much faster. I know my mom refused to jump from her LG until Apple added this feature. To sum it up, I will be anxiously waiting until November, when my plan allows for an upgrade.”
Designer Ben Sanders will also be getting one, albeit for professional reasons:
“I am upgrading. As a designer I need to have the most current device to effectively design for it. I am interested in the A6 chip and the new graphics performance. I am hoping great things for a6. I am also interested in what the jailbreak community will bring to this device.”
Guthrie Bunn was a little more neutral on the device, but he was impressed from a purely business perspective:
“It seems like a predictable iteration from the surface: lighter, a little taller, and sleeker, but it still seems like it’s trying to keep up with advances made by HTC, Samsung, and Motorola in mobile phones. I’m sure the OS is improved and the display looks great, but I was hoping for something groundbreaking. It’s an unfair expectation probably. The stock is about even today so it was in line with expectations on the market side.”
Travis Slate, however, was less than impressed:
“I can honestly say I have no interest in the iPhone 5. I was really expecting Apple to push the boundaries both on form factor and features, but this iteration appears simply to be a “me too” device. Where did all the real innovation go?”
Brian Cappelli agrees:
“After the verdict on Apple vs Samsung, I think it’s ironic that Apple borrowed so much functionality from Android and passed it off as innovation. Panoramic photography has been present in Samsung devices since the original Galaxy S phone. HTC and Samsung hold a significant piece of LTE technology (and they plan on pushing an injunction on the iPhone 5 for this). Apple did not embrace NFC technology (even with passbook) as they should have. They have condemned Android over its fragmentation since its initial release and now has fragmented itself. They adopted a 16:9 aspect ratio (which is a standard) and the future of 16:9 can only be speculated as of now. I think this is a major step backwards for Apple (I’m calling it Apple’s Mitt Romney moment). I’ll stick with my GNEX.”
David Blakeslee is also firmly on Team Android:
“To be honest, it doesn’t have a wow factor to me. While the bigger screen is nice, they didn’t go above and beyond. All they did was bring it up to the standards of what the current Android phones offer. They did not surpass other phones on the market and they did not entice me to purchase their phone by offering something new.”
Robert Blake had to question those who felt the iPhone 5 wasn’t innovating anything:
“I’m not exactly sure what you guys were expecting, but I think he is overlooking the amount of engineering that went into this phone. They made the screen size bigger, faster processor, LTE, changed the connector, made it 18% thinner all while maintaining the same battery life. Innovation is both on the inside and the outside of this device.”
But that’s just what we think? Did you pre-order the iPhone 5?

