The iPhone 5

The iPhone 5 seems like it will be a great incremental improvement over the iPhone 4S.  It is thinner and more powerful.  The big new feature is the 4G LTE support.  4G will unleash the full power of the iPhone.  The iPhone 5 is just an incremental improvement.  It is not a revolutionary new device.

One big different (I'm not calling it a feature, because its not) is the connector.  This is a big deal but not in a good way.  I have been reading a lot about this lately.  I hear a lot from the Apple camp that "its about time" that Apple changed the connector.  They have been saying things like how you can't expect Apple to keep using the same connector forever.  That is kind of missing the point.  USB has gone through multiple flavors causing people to re-buy power chargers, as well.  There is a big difference there.

The main point is being an open versus a closed platform.  Apple is a closed platform in many aspects.  One aspect is the power charger.  The first iPod came out in October 2001.  The Mini USB standard came out in October 2000.  Apple had the option to use a standard (open) connector.  Apple chose to create a new proprietary (closed) connector.  This caused everyone to buy connectors from Apple.  The Apple camp will go on and on about how the Apple connector is better.

Since then, Micro USB has come out.  Most Android phones use this connector.  With the iPhone 5, Apple has chosen to repeat their favoritism towards closed platforms.  The big deal with Apple changing connectors is that they didn't choose Micro USB as the connector.  By not choosing a standard, consumers will be forced to buy overpriced connectors instead of connectors available on the open market.

Eventually, non-Apple smartphones will stop using Micro USB.  They will start using some new standard connector.  When that happens, the market will be filled with vendors, keeping the price down.  The non-Apple smartphone users will not revolt.  Apple smartphones will also eventually change connectors.  Apple will probably create a new proprietary connector.  This will cause Apple customers to buy expensive connectors again.  They will not revolt, just like the Apple camp is not revolting now.  What will happen is the non-Apple smartphone customers will make fun of the Apple customers (again), while the Apple customers will still not understand why they are being made fun of.