And really, I can't blame them. While it seems a new Android phone is released once a week, a new iPhone comes only once a year. After all the anticipation, Apple will be releasing a phone that appears to be, in many respects, exactly the same. Couple that with Google posturing to reveal its flagship, "Nexus Prime", and Apple’s got itself a potential dilemma. I am not here to defend them, but instead to find some method to the madness.
Sprint
Again, the announcement of the iPhone 4S may not have been a big deal for people who already have an iPhone 4, but for Sprint customers who, in the past, have not been able to choose the iPhone, this is a big win. Sprint’s CEO, Dan Hesse, recently cited the lack of an iPhone as the number one reason customers were leaving the carrier, so it'll be interesting to see if his theory proves true in the coming weeks.
More of the same
The cause for a certain demographic’s disappointment could actually be the very reason many Apple consumers stay loyal to the brand. Many of today’s tech-savvy individuals have probably moved to the Android platform where dual core, 4-inch screens are the norm, but those who have stuck with the iPhone are most likely happy with the simplicity and fluidity that iOS has to offer.
To the future
With many of the iPhone 5 rumors still lingering in the air, there's a good possibility that many of them will be included in a next year’s upgrade. It seems that the iPhone 4S will be a way to introduce newcomers to iOS, while offering a few improvements for people with a 3GS or 4.
Although the circumstances were not predictable, revealing a totally redesigned and amazingly awesome iPhone next year could be the perfect way to eulogize Steve Jobs in light of his untimely death. But regardless of what happens, it’ll be interesting to see how Apple handles the Android’s ever growing grasp on the industry.
