[3am_hackernews]

Faster, slimmer, lighter and longer lasting - yes, these are really good updates in a small piece of equipment that iPhone 5 is, there's no denying that.

But what really irks me is the way Apple marketing team is hyping it up - "This is the best <insert iDevice> we have ever made!", "This is revolutionary!", "This will change everything you were doing before!"... A slathering of these so often during the entire event and then on with their advertisements makes me cringe and shake my head with disappointment. This iPhone and the iPod[x] are pretty much an iteration and minor upgrade, not what the actual 'revolutionary' things were - iTouch, iPhone, iPad, retina display, etc.

I don't expect 'revolutionary' every year or any time, I just expect some sincerity announcing.

[ceol]

It's almost like the keynote was specifically made to market a product or something...

[jshen]

"This is revolutionary!"

Did they say this?

[tomelders]

Yeah you're right, they should get up on stage in front of the worlds media and say "It's an OK iPhone. You know, not great great, but pretty good... pffffft, we really could do better but hey ho, here's the new iPhone".

Are you an idiot?

And it is the best iPhone they've ever made. And the iPhone is arguably the best phone out there, so they sort of have a fair bit of credibility when they say that stuff.

[notimetorelax]

Please try to refrain from ad hominem attacks. It doesn't help in any way to prove your point.

[tomelders]

no, because it clearly does help to articulate my point.

[Rygu]

http://ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html

"When disagreeing, please reply to the argument instead of calling names. E.g. "That is an idiotic thing to say; 1 + 1 is 2, not 3" can be shortened to "1 + 1 is 2, not 3."

[milesokeefe]

how?

[3am_hackernews]

I would like to ask your criteria for deciding the best phone.

A few years ago, yes the iPhone was the best in specs and had the most innovative and unique features. I don't think it holds true any more.

[tomelders]

"arguably the best phone"- I left room in there for other peoples opinions.

But as to why I think it's the best phone? The Eco system, it looks good and it's works seamlessly with all my other stuff.

[gizzlon]

A better question is maybe: Will it be the best in 10 months?

[batista]

How is that a better question? Do you need one NOW, or in 10 months? In 10 months we'll be waiting for the iPhone 6 anyway...

[gizzlon]

Since they only release once a year, this one doesn't only have to hold its own against the competition right now, but also against whatever the others put out in 10 months.

Yeah, some people will always wait for the next iPhone. But for others, who have a more "neutral" point of view, this iPhone might look very bad in 10 months.

[tomelders]

But that's the same for all phones.

[batista]

Criteria?

1) Construction (machining, materials, fitting them inside the case, industrial design). Unparalleled.

2) Screen. Top notch (high dpi, improved saturation).

3) Camera. One of the best in the business. Tons of apps for it, even photo books and indie movies videos done with it.

4) Apps ecosystem. Unparalleled in number and quality.

5) OS. Mature, not laggy, full featured, designed with far more coherence than Android and far more functionality in mind than just modernist design compared to Metro.

6) OS Upgrades. You do not even get any with most Android phones. And don't happen to the new Windows mobile os version.

7) Peripherals ecosystem: from health tracking devices, to tripods, to MIDI, unparalleled.

8) No carrier branded bullshit (apps, look etc): priceless.

9) Support ecosystem: Applestores etc. Top notch.

10) Resale value: high.

[philsnow]

I don't follow this stuff closely, but isn't that what they said when they announced the 3gs and the 4s ? There isn't anything really new in the phone they announced today, so it's more like a 4ss than a 5.

Unless they're going the linux kernel route and changing their version numbering ;)