Hi,

I was on apples website checking out IOS5 and I noticed the new Notification Centre, IMessage, etc.

I swear they have copied Blackberry and Andriod...not 100%, but the general idea...

Apple have fell behind and are playing catch up and I don't think iOS 5 and the iPhone 5 are going to bring anything new to the table. I've noticed more and more people going to android, sure you still have the die hard apple fans but I think android has stole all the hype at this stage.

Best wait until Tuesday to have this argu......discussion.

I sometimes think we could do with a sub forum where the fanboys can slag each other off and leave this section for actual mobile phone discussion.

I couldn't agree more and to keep them there DS should stick a picture of a young Steve Jobs holding a apple, like this one...

http://cache.gizmodo.com/assets/imag...jobs_apple.jpg

that should grab their attention, lol

Yes because it's only people on the apple side of the argument that cause bother in these parts

Some of the people on the android side of the debate are every bit as bad if not worse. But yes a whole section where people can have their willy waving contests would be nice so the rest of us can actually discuss mobile phones

Back on topic, Apple do seem to get some of their ideas either from other OS's or from the jailbreak community. I do believe they hired someone who created a notification system for jail broken phones to work on notification centre. iMessage is tightly integrated into the existing messaging system on the iPhone with the phone automatically detecting whether it should send an SMS or an iMessage.

I've been using iOS 5 for most of the beta period and I'm more excited about this version than I was the previous 2 major versions

Apple are fulfilling the needs of most if it's users and making lots of money for their share holders.

If they wanted to, do you not think they had the money and technological resources to release the most advanced phone know to man? They don't because they don't need to.

If you can make more money than the US government has then your business is doing something right.

Extra ram, high res screen, swanky processors mean nothing to the majority of phone users. I would go as far to say that most people who have an iPhone or another smart phone don't have a clue about half the features they have.

So why is a company going to add even more features when they can make the same amount of money by having average features that suit the majority? I would say I am a very tech savvy person, I am more than happy with the features of the iPhone and have been very happy with the level of support and new features that have been added whilst I have had it. I don't care if they came up with the changes themselves, got them from copying other phone software or the jailbreak community. I'm a grown up, I don't need to look over someone else's shoulder and tell them my phone is better than theirs because it does x or y. What does it matter if Apple, in your eyes have played catch up to your choice of phone, if you chose android you chose android why are you still comparing to the iPhone and vice versa?

For steadfast android users and apple haters, I should imagine they get annoyed by apple catching up and adding features they have on their phones as they have less and less to claim their phone does that the iPhone doesn't.

Innovation, no matter who is doing it is only good for the consumer as we all get better products in the future.

So if you don't have an iPhone or apple products, what does it matter if they don't fit your technological needs, buy something else.

As Steve Jobs said himself, "We have always been shameless about stealing great ideas."

In answer to the title

Yes.

um, hell no

right now...

they are the most valuable tech company in the world

they have more money than the US government

they have more money than the top 32 european banks

they are having record sales of products

they are just about to announce the release of a new phone in the next week, which will sell 10s if not 100s of millions of units

love em or hate em, wouldn't you like to have shares?

The OP asked about now though, they are cash rich based on their past and their high margins. As for shares anyone who wants shares can buy them. Many years ago if you bought a lot then you would now be very rich, however is now a good time to buy? with Steve Jobbs stepping down.

Remember when Steve left the first time the company fell apart and had to be bailed out by arch rivals Microsoft because they were on the verge of bankruptcy.

Is now the right time to buy shares? I wouldn't have said so I think their best days are over possibly. We'll see though I guess, time will tell, I wonder if the company is overvalued though.

Apple are not falling behind, they are a very capable company with premium products but they won't do anything cutting edge in terms of hardware. They may innovate with further use of cloud technology and the user experience I am sure will be exelllent but that will be at a cost which many will happily pay.

If it's cutting edge tech then look towards HTC and Samsung who will release products with all of the latest innovation. Samsung have the Galaxy S3 in the pipeline with a massive quad core 2Ghz processor on board and some other great hardware innovations but we shall have to see if it matches the ease of use of the new Apple mobile offering which will be pretty up to date technically but will have been well researched to be friendly for non-tech users.

We shall see what Apple offer on Tuesday.

TBH, I don't think Apple are "falling behind" because I don't think they ever really try to "get ahead".

I don't think I've ever been amazed by any technological leap demonstrated by an Apple product.
What I like about them is the way they make things simple and reliable.

In a word no.

he didn't state "now", although it was presumed, and that's what my answers are based on

it would have been more appropriate to ask the same question about microsoft who slipped to 3rd place after IBM earlier last week. apple are the number 1 tech company, so harldly falling behind

I think the question was about technology, innovation.

Hmmm, this video of the German Apple iPhone 5 site (fake or not - even if fake, its got to be pretty close) suggests its far from falling behind

Its not solely about the power of the phone, but what Apple does with that power, and the suggested voice control/search/query system could be awesome!

its doesnt matter really

the fanboys would buy a turd if it had apple logo on it

The thought of Apple owners walking around commanding their phones loudly so all are aware of their purchase, fills me with dread!!

Don't worry - hardly anyone will use voice control because it just feels stupid. I find that Xbox advert a bit cringeworthy, and those people are in their own living rooms, not in public!

You mean the thing Android has had for years? No one bothers to use it for fear of looking like a complete pillock. Plus its easier to press a few buttons in my opinion.

Also i do hope that isn't the real iphone 5. Its bloody awful!!

That's fake. After the iPhone 4 disaster, Apple would never show an iPhone 5 screenshot that says 'no service'

I feel sorry for Apple. They'll be launching their new phone this week, only for Google and Samsung to sweep in with their Autobot and make Apple look out of date again...

The iPhone 5 rumoured specs really only bring it up to standard with the SGS2. The Nexus Prime will be the most powerful phone out when it launches...

I don't even use the voice control in my car very often, because it just feels stupid to do so!


It's a convincing video, but I think it might be fake. At one point it shows a close-up of the supposed iPhone 5, which has the 'no service' message at the top left. No way Apple would have a publicity shot like that, particularly after the signal fiasco of the iPhone 4.

The iPhone has also had voice control for "years" (since the 3GS in 2009). This new one is supposed to be a lot more advanced.


I do totally agree though that no one will use it "for fear of looking like a complete pillock".

I don't see the point. I don't want to talk at my phone in public. I'd rather use the touchscreen...

The video is fake if you look at the address bar at the start it says users/peter/desktop before it switches to apple.com.