Both you and Tom seem to be applying my comments to all prior iPhones for some reason, even though I didn't say anything to imply that. I was only talking about the 4S.
The story has been the same for previous iPhones, but I'm not attributing your comments to those versions. I'm just saying that for all versions, there have always been these elaborate explanations - or better yet, excuses. I'm also not saying that you're the one making them up.
Yes, it could be because the 4S a great product, but why is this phone selling so many MORE units than others did?
Many possible reasons. The iPhone now has more than 4.5 years of press and marketing behind it, therefore greater public awareness, both in the US and globally. It's now available on the three largest carriers in the US versus just ATT only a year ago. The new model is twice as fast as the previous model and blows away all handhelds for graphics abilities. There are more apps today than ever before, with many getting some good press. You can talk TO your phone! And it answers back. That's huge.
The average consumer doesn't see it as a major update because it looks the same.
Totally incorrect, in my experience. The average consumer only knows that it looks as good today as it did yesterday. The iPhone 4 physical design is the pinnacle of mobile handset design. The iPhone 4 was already the best selling handset model. Now you have a new release that looks just as good. Most of the people I know are not techno junkies by any stretch of the imagination. However, when Apple releases a new iPhone, I'll usually get hit up for info from most of them. These people seem to be up to date about iPhones and iPads, but that's as far as it goes. Never once have I heard anyone complain about a new iPhone looking too much like an older one.
They don't know about A4 vs A5 (aside from "it's one better, right?"), and while Siri is cool, I doubt any of them really understand it all that well.
I think "you can talk to your phone" is pretty easy to understand. By your reasoning, Porsche should/could have failed long ago because all their cars have essentially always looked the same. I do agree that the subtle details of the new offering will be lost on most people initially - that goes for some tech pundits as well however. But I maintain that the iPhone is a huge draw without knowing the secrets to every feature.
I'm suggesting that the longer period between device releases played a factor in the significantly larger sales growth.
But that only works if you also suppose that iPhone 4 purchasing slowed or was otherwise being held back. Because if it wasn't, it either means new customers or people buying multiple phones. Neither case supports the delay theory.
It's not his death that increased sales, it was the coverage his death received.
I know what you meant, you don't need to explain that part to me. Any press is good press, but the iPhone 4, even without the extra press attributable to Jobs' death, was going to get covered on the front page of everything in the world.
You honestly don't think that drew attention to the product?
I don't think it had any bearing on anyones decision to buy the phone, no.
I'm sure the 4S would have sold just as well or better than the 4 did over the same time span, because the smartphone market is growing as a whole.
Apple isn't in the smartphone market however. As Tom pointed out, they're simply in the mobile handset market. And they have a lot of room to grow.
I was merely trying to speculate why this model was selling beyond what might have been expected
I do suppose some people weren't expecting it. But a lot of people, myself included, were. iPhone 4 was already the top handset, there was little to no reason to think the 4S would be any different. Coupled with wider availability it would no doubt sell in higher quantities.
considering it's not the leap in design that some people - justified or not - might expect.
That last most significant leap in mobile handsets was in 2007 when Apple showed the original iPhone. This device is immensely significant because of the voice recognition, but it pales in comparison to the revolutionary introduction of the original, yes. But everything needs to be looked at in context. No other mobile product has had even a fraction of the significance since 2007.
You seem to be hearing all my statements
I know you've echoed what had already been expressed by a number of other sources, but I was commenting on much of the press coverage in recent years. There's always some angle, some convoluted theory, about why the iPhone does well. While Jobs was alive it was some magic mind-control he had over "iFans" now that he's dead it's sadness that's driving people to take out their wallets. Or it's the extra 3 months on the release schedule compared to previous versions - everyone has just been waiting for the 4S and not buying phones all summer. And now that the 4S is here, even though it's a let-down, they're all climbing all over themselves to buy it.
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