and all iPhone models, even though they use the same plug, are incompatible with each other’s docks because of artificial incompatibilities created by a series of resistor codes hidden inside the cable or device.
Good story but not actually true. (does it matter on the Internet anymore?) The iPhone 4 works in the iPhone 2G dock. The iPhone 3G works in the iPad dock (by the looks of it the iPhone 4 will also) Audio out is a different issue since Apple has changed the way the dock connector outputs audio on the iPhone for integration with car audio systems to reduce GSM interference. That being said I don't know of any other SmartPhone that comes with a dock these days so it's a bit of a moot point anyway. If you want a dock Apple will sell you one.
> "Did you know the audio out is provided by a microphone in the base of the dock, which connects to an amplifier and then the audio out jack? It does."
Repeating "it does" doesn't make it so. Here's how the audio gets from the iphone to the audio out jack:
If you're wondering what the iPhone speaker port appears to mate with in Apple docks, it's a special vent that permits you to dock the phone and still use it in speakerphone or iPod audio playback modes without significant muffling or additional distortion.
I tried the easy way out and wasted $9 on a “universal dock adapter kit”, which didn’t work at all with my Apple iPhone 3GS dock. I assumed it was meant for the dock that I owned, but this adapter was meant for some device which clearly didn’t match anything that Apple has ever produced.
But guess what? Hacking the dock to fit the iPhone4 doesn’t work, because Apple’s modified the dock to only recognize the 3GS. If you connect an iPhone 4 to that very same connector, the phone and iTunes will not recognize the phone.
...or he messed it up when hacking it. My iPhone 4 works perfectly fine in my iPhone 2G dock.
Hacking the dock to fit the iPhone4 doesn’t work, because Apple’s modified the dock to only recognize the 3GS.
That's interesting.. I imported a US iPad to the UK when they came out but then bought an iPad dock in the UK later on. The iPad will charge but not sync on the dock, but is fine with a direct connection. That seems a very fine level to discriminate on.
I thought I was future-proofing myself a bit by buying a Griffin AirCurve. The AirCurve is an ear-trumpet kind of thing that acoustically amplifies the output from the iPhone's speaker. You wouldn't call it hi-fi, but it works surprisingly well.
I figured that the iPhone 4 would just require a different dock insert to hold the new shape firmly, but no dice: Apple have also swapped the positions of the speaker and microphone vs. their positions on previous iPhones.
Well yeah, he just dremeled away at the plastic until the iPhone 4 would fit. But I bet it looks decent with the iPhone in it covering most of the imperfections up.
Does the iPhone 4 fit into the 1st gen dock without any modifications like the ones described in this article? I think I still have my old dock packaged away in a box somewhere...
I'm extremely skeptical that this mic/amp/audio thing is actually the case. First and foremost, Apple's iPods have (for quite a while) reserved a few pins on their dock connector for audio out, so I'd be surprised if the iPhone did not do the same. Second, this would make absolutely no sense. It would, in fact, make so little sense that I have to, sight-unseen, call bullshit on this.
I agree; this seems highly suspect. For example, how would "a" mic handle stereo audio? And why would Apple do this when pins for stereo audio already exist on the dock connector?
I'm guessing it's a way to decouple the electrical connection between the audio system and the phone, to prevent the propagation of GSM/cellular radio noise.
That is what optoisolators are for, but they wouldn't help with GSM noise.
(GSM noise is related to the fact that GSM divides the radio spectrum into time slices for devices to use to talk to the tower. When a phone gets its time slice, it turns the radio on. When the timeslice is over, the radio is turned off. The time slices come in intervals that are in the audio range, and thus its energy output is measurable in the audible range. Since the radio signals will induce a current in random wires, including wires in your audio amplifier, you can hear the GSM noise in your speakers. It is not related in any way to an unclean audio signal coming out of your phone; that signal has no GSM noise. It's the radio communication that induces noise in your audio equipment. So a speaker + microphone is not going to do anything except make your already-clean audio sound like shit.)
Apple's forced upgrade culture is getting increasingly offensive as each generation has less and less to differentiate it from the previous one.
I have to say, after having my Droid for six months, it does everything I need it to do adequately. When I change it for a new one, I will not be looking for more speed, nor more features, or even a better interface. I just want one that is designed to last more than 18 months.
And a service plan that isn't designed to keep me buying new phones at that interval.
How often do you update the software? What changes when you update the software? How many hardware platform updates have there been for Android so far? How interoperable are the various docks?
The iPhone 4 is essentially the same phone as the original iPhone. So little has changed, many of my colleagues are still happily using their summer 2007 Jesus phones, which they say do everything they need to do, adequately.
Notice how Apple doesn't tell you how much RAM, or what the CPU clock speed is. Apple doesn't want consumers worrying about the hardware race. They'll sell you a major new feature: 3G support, a GPS chip and video encoder, a 4x resolution screen. But the core platform remains viable three and half years later, running the same apps.
If your goal is a platform that's stable, seems you are contradicting yourself. On the one hand, you say Apple's each generation is insufficiently differentiated, yet on the other, you say you're forced to upgrade. With so little differentiation, why do you find yourself forced?
I think you've misunderstood me. I want hardware that's stable. I don't want to be forced to buy new hardware every 18 months, because I don't need hardware more powerful than my Droid.
I'm saying that a smartphone is a commodity item to me, and adding features beyond what the Droid does does not interest me. I want a cheaper, more reliable Droid.
If you do get a new Motorola Droid you will have to buy a new desk dock and a new car dock. Neither of the original Motorola Droid docks are compatible with the Droid X or Droid 2.
But they can easily be hacked to work, because they all run USB.
And I don't own a dock anyway, because they don't have cross-device compatibility.
In any case, I wasn't asserting the absolute superiority of Android. I only said that the Motorola Droid is entirely sufficient. So I'm not looking to upgrade to a better model anytime soon. If anything, I'll be looking for something with roughly the Motorola Droid's specs.
Forced upgrade? I know many, many, many people that are still using a first generation iPhone, iPhone 3G, or iPhone 3GS. There are, of course, enthusiasts that will get every new revision, just as there are enthusiasts for any sort of product. I think you're ignoring a large population of people that are content with their "old" iPhone models.
I would have to see some figures. Maybe I'm wrong about the iPhone's longevity.
Of course, I also might be wrong about my Droid's longevity.
The primary reason I say forced is the US's carrier subsidy model, in which you are forced to pay 2/3 of the cost of a new phone whether you buy one or not.
So your friends on first-gen are already making payments on their 4
In the case of Verizon it is. Just because I'm singling out Apple doesn't mean it's a singular concern.
But my problem is that it seems pretty clear to me that of all the ways AT&T is shafting consumers, this is one way that Apple appreciates, because they can sell more devices than their customers would otherwise buy.
And coupled with Apple's obstinate rejection of the USB standard adopted by most other manufacturers, even more waste is generated by cables that cannot be repurposed - they want you to buy another cable, even though your current one could be repurposed with minimal engineering changes on their part. In fact, using standard USB drivers instead of a proprietary, in-house protocol, even for a company like Apple, should be cheaper.
Are you imagining that — for those who still have early-generation iPhones and "are already making payments on their 4" — that Apple is getting a cut of those payments? I doubt that they are, and I don't see why Apple would appreciate that.
I've never heard anybody else talk about upgrading in terms of "force" like you have. It appears, from my perspective, that your mental calculus for making your purchase is the rare case, and that many people don't want to bite the additional up-front cost of a new phone and don't want to to extend the length of their contract.
I would wager that most people would roll their eyes at folks like me who would upgrade a perfectly good 3GS to a 4 just for the better display. Yeah, they're not doing the math, but not doing the math is the norm — not the exception.
I'm laughing. But really at this point, I'm convinced people will shell out whatever amount of money they have for an Apple product. I'm in awe of their marketing and ability to sell computers with hardware that is priced 3 times more than anywhere else, get people to pay for software updates that should be free, and sell phones which ... (well obviously right lolz) require you to update almost all of your other peripheral oriented accessories. They have created an experience above an beyond all. It's almost like Barbies ... you have to pay for the high heels after you buy the doll but at least her shoe size stays the same.
I do however think that time is running out. Nothing lasts forever my friends. But I guess we'll see.
The iPhone is not priced three times more than equivalent phones. Outright prices are not available in the US, but in England an iPhone 4 starts at £499 and a HTC Desire is £449.
Software updates for the iPhone have always been free from Apple (iPod Touch was different).
Finally, with regard to accessories, I don't think that's a fair comment either. If I purchased a HTC phone 12 months ago and then replaced it with a Desire/Hero etc, then there is every chance the accessories would be different.
I wish Apple would keep the dock the same over all iPhones, but I understand why they change it too. They have universal docks available and offer the slip in connectors allowing you to use the dock for multiple devices. This is more than I can say of most companies.
I was referring to computers having hardware that is 3 times overpriced. Not the iPhone being 3 times more expensive (All phones are subsidized by the carrier so I don't think pricing will ever be an issue for the consumer). Now, I would imagine that ATT does lose a tremendous amount of money on every iPhone it sells opposed to say an equivalent smart phone. But anyway, my point is basically ... the marketing team at Apple has done a fantastic job of selling products at a premium and at selling the Apple experience.
I'm not sure about the Droid/Hero thought. On numerous occasions I have seen other brands of phones being charged by the chargers of older models and even different models. My old Samsung could be charged by the charger of virtually any other Samsung phone. Even if it were a different model. I'm not sure about this, but I wouldn't be surprised if my Evo could be charged by another charger meant for another HTC device.
But no knock on Apple ... tremendous company ... tremendous story. It's just that some of their practices don't seem to be as consumer minded as some would like.
People buy cases for all sorts of non-Apple phones. They buy accessories like the car dock for the Motorola Droid for example which is incompatible with other devices. They are basically luxury items and people pay accordingly. Their only purpose is to enhance your enjoyment of using the device. My guess is the more enjoyable a device is to use is directly related to the amount of money people are willing to spend on accessories for it.
Good story but not actually true. (does it matter on the Internet anymore?) The iPhone 4 works in the iPhone 2G dock. The iPhone 3G works in the iPad dock (by the looks of it the iPhone 4 will also) Audio out is a different issue since Apple has changed the way the dock connector outputs audio on the iPhone for integration with car audio systems to reduce GSM interference. That being said I don't know of any other SmartPhone that comes with a dock these days so it's a bit of a moot point anyway. If you want a dock Apple will sell you one.