It’s happening again. The clusters of students raving over new cases, preorders higher than the supply, replaying the Apple preview video, phones immediately updated with the new software: it’s the all new iPhone 5.
“I’m just curious to see what this new phone possibly has that the iPhone 4S doesn’t already have,” Meredith Hood ’14 said.
Well, the iPhone 5 has many new assets: a thinner, longer four-inch screen and a smaller, reversible connector for chargers. The improved iSight camera now has clearer resolution with 28 megapixels, noise reduction, higher low-light performance, and a front camera with flash. Replacing the A5 chip with an A6 chip speeds up the entire phone with faster downloads, faster graphics and a faster data connection.
Teeming with dedicated Apple customers, the Staples student body normally rave about the release of the new iPhones, however, this particular release had opposite reactions.
Some students were offended by the smaller dock connector at the bottom of the phone. “Apple is being selfish,” said Charlotte Rowland ’14. “They’re forcing people to buy new chargers, new speakers, and new car plugs.”
Disappointed by some aspects of the past iPhone, other students were hoping for specific changes in this improved iPhone 5. “I’m not the biggest fan of Siri,” said Hannah Lewis ’14. “They should make a better one; she hasn’t reached my expectations.”
Despite some dissatisfied students, the iPhone 5 has received some positive feedback. “Girls can take better quality selfies” said Luis Cruz ’15, referring to the 8-megapixel iSight front camera. Of course these carefully captured “self-portraits” are irresistible to any typical high school girl. Just snap a candid, write a witty caption, pair it with a hashtag, and it’s ready for instagram.
The addition of more Emojis (smiley faces with many emotions) is also a bonus. “They are my life; I’m the Emoji queen,” Julia Tziolis ’13 said.
Although the Staples excitement is not focused on the Apple techies’ additions, the larger four-inch phone opposed to the original three-and-a-half inch phone has not gone unnoticed. “That’s better for old people, they can see the screen now,” said Lewis.
Cell phones have transcended through decades with change and unimaginable improvements adapting to a variety of consumers.
“No one thought it could get better,” Cole Gendels ’14 said. “But it did.”
