Gregarius » BetaNews.Com » septembre 13, 2012

BetaNews.Com (11 non lus)

The people are bored because no one is challenging them

Publié: septembre 13, 2012, 9:20pm CEST par Tim Conneally

When a new piece of technology is released, we must watch out for the "bored response." It tells us so much.

Following yesterday's introduction of the iPhone 5, there has been a collective shrugging of shoulders. The iPhone 5 is boring.

Mat Honan at Wired says it's boring because we expect to be blown away by every Apple announcement, and our expectations were unmet. MG Siegler of TechCrunch says we are tired of seeing the same "magic trick" every year that Apple rolls out a new iPhone.

But here's the thing: all these guys did was define boredom. In 1979, psychologist Georgia Zuckerman described boredom as "an aversion for repetitive experience of any kind, routine work, or dull and boring people and extreme restlessness under conditions when escape from constancy is impossible." Logically, repetition of the same iPhone is going to make us bored, right?

But there's no scientifically proven cause for boredom. Conceivably, we could have the same iPhone thrown at us for decades and never grow bored of it. Volkswagen cranked out essentially the same model of the Beetle automobile for 58 years straight before significantly redesigning it. So while Honan and Siegler could both be right, I do not subscribe to either of their points of view. I happen think iPhone audience boredom is related to a couple of theories of developmental psychology.

In short, it's taken us six years to develop as iPhone users. We have seen the challenges it presents us, and we've seen the limits of autonomy it grants us, and we resist those limitations by being bored.

Psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi's seminal work "Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience" places boredom on an X-Y plane of demand and skill. When the demands placed upon us are lower than our skill level, we respond by feeling bored. The iPhone, with its already staggeringly shallow learning curve, has placed no challenges upon a society that is already intimately familiar with it.

Good art is challenging, and massively popular art is minimally challenging. Users require something new to learn to be interested, excited and happy.

Of course, it goes further than that. BetaNews contributor Mihaita Bamburic regularly shows the tech-exclusive side of boredom that goes beyond simply exceeding our skill levels with adequate challenge. To prevent boredom, you need the autonomy to solve problems yourself, which in turn drives you to form a personal connection with the hardware and software you use. The less autonomy you have with your tools, the less likely you are to feel personally attached to them.

I'm not saying this is true for all. In fact, most iPhone users are comfortable with their device telling them what to do. Others, however, would prefer to be the ones doing the commanding. A bigger screen and overall faster internal specs do not afford users any greater control over their own experience than the previous generation. You are guaranteed to have the same *general* limitations you had in the last five iPhones, and can therefore expect no deeper of a relationship.

The iPhone 5 is neither a challenge to the status quo, nor a tool of empowerment, and it didn't even have to reach consumer hands for users to see that.

Photo: Martin Novak/Shutterstock
eBay has a new logo, and it’s less interesting than Microsoft’s

Publié: septembre 13, 2012, 6:38pm CEST par Wayne Williams

I understand companies need to refresh their identities from time to time. I have no problem with that. But I don’t get why any firm would want to swap a recognizable logo for a worse alternative. Microsoft did it last month, and now eBay has decided to follow suit and replace its jumbled multi-colored logo for a straighter, thinner version.

The new design, which is going to start appearing across the site this fall, is apparently intended to "reflect a dynamic future", but mostly succeeds in being blander, and more Google-like. And it’s possible that some people might not even notice it’s changed since the colors remain the same.

According to Devin Wenig, President of eBay: "Our refreshed logo is rooted in our proud history and reflects a dynamic future. It’s eBay today: a global online marketplace that offers a cleaner, more contemporary and consistent experience, with innovation that makes buying and selling easier and more enjoyable. We retained core elements of our logo, including our iconic color palette. Our vibrant eBay colors and touching letters represent our connected and diverse eBay community -- more than 100 million active users and 25 million sellers globally and growing".

Changing the logo, he says, "was not a decision made lightly. The time felt right...we’ve evolved a lot in the past few years, and eBay is much more than auction-style listings today".

The press release also includes some interesting facts about the company, such as that it now handles almost 260 million searches a day, that 70 percent of listings are for new items, and that its mobile apps have been downloaded 100 million times.
Oracle VirtualBox 4.2 improves VM management

Publié: septembre 13, 2012, 6:32pm CEST par Mark Wilson

Oracle has released a major update to VirtualBox taking it up to version 4.2. The virtualization software is available for Windows, Linux and OS X, and now includes a new VM Group features that makes it easier to manage related virtual machines by organizing them together in groups. Users are able to utilize several virtual machines simultaneously either through the GUI, using various APIs or through command line tools.

VirtualBox 4.2 has a number of improvements to networking components, starting with increasingly the maximum supported number of network cards for a virtual machine from eight to 36. This is not the only improvement that has been made to networking as it is now also possible to place limits on network usage by any virtual machine. If a network is being used for other things, this traffic shaping is a valuable way to prevent unwanted slow-down in other areas.

Other networking improvements see the introduction of support for VLAN tagging, allowing for more flexibility in real and virtual network environments. The latest version of the open-source virtualization software now includes a range of new startup options that can be used to automate the launch virtual machine on a host device. Virtual machines can be configured to start automatically with a host device allowing for unattended launching of virtual environments.

The relatively recent release of Mountain Lion and the upcoming release of Windows 8 means that the inclusion of support for these latest operating system should come as no surprise, and there is also support for Oracle Linux 6.3

You can find out more and download a free copy of the program by paying a visit to the VirtualBox 4.2 review page.

Photo Credit: Angela Waye/Shutterstock
XtraFinder 0.8.4 gives you what Apple left out of OS X

Publié: septembre 13, 2012, 5:29pm CEST par Nick Peers

One area that doesn’t get an awful lot of attention with each new release of OS X is the Finder. Sadly, as the plethora of Finder add-on tools proves, that’s not because it’s perfect. Unfortunately, there’s usually a price attached to gaining extra functionality, but the good news is that it’s not always the case.

If you’re looking to give Finder a much-needed shot in the arm for free, check out XtraFinder 0.8.4. Since we last featured it, the tool has grown to fill even more gaps left by Finder, including the addition of multi-tabbed Finder windows, making it easier to work with two or more separate locations on your hard drive.

If you’re an existing XtraFinder user, upgrading to version 0.8.4 isn’t quite as simple as it was previously. You first need to uninstall your existing build before installing the new one -- do so by opening the XtraFinder menu under Finder (or on the menu bar) and choosing Uninstall XtraFinder. Once removed, install the new build.

By default, XtraFinder enables a number of useful features, such as adding “Copy to” and “Move to” options to the context menu that appears when right-clicking a folder or file. Other context-menu options include “Show Hidden Items”, “Refresh”, “New File” and “Launch as Root”, all of which can be selectively enabled or disabled via Finder > XtraFinder > Preferences > Add items to Finder menus.

XtraFinder also provides options for arranging folders on top of files in Finder windows, a spring-loaded Path Bar for quicker navigation around your drives and an option for quickly viewing two Finder windows horizontally or vertically. You’ll also find an option allowing you to cut and paste files for quick-fire move operations.

But one of the most attractive options in XtraFinder has to be its support (experimental at present) for tabs. This allows you to quickly switch between folders and drives within a single Finder window, and you can easily copy or move files between tabs too. As its experimental, it’s disabled by default, but you switch it on simply by opening Finder > XtraFinder > Preferences and ticking “Tabs (experimental)”.

This is an app in constant development, so we’re confident it won’t be long before Tabs are considered a permanent feature (we certainly didn’t run into any problems with them). We’re also pleased to report that XtraFinder 0.8.4 is fully compatible with Mountain Lion, although you may need to disable the Gatekeeper feature to use it.

XtraFinder 0.8.4 is a freeware download for Macs running OS X 10.6.8 or later.
Five great things about iPhone 5

Publié: septembre 13, 2012, 5:15pm CEST par Wayne Williams

Let’s be honest, iPhone 5 is evolutionary, not revolutionary. It’s a clear improvement over the previous model but isn’t a huge leap forward, and in some places it’s just playing catch-up with rival devices.

While my colleague Mihaita Bamburic points out the downsides of the new handset, I’d highlight areas where it shines.

1. Speedier. The new Apple A6 chip is twice as fast as the old iPhone 4S's processor, both in terms of CPU and graphics performance. According to Apple, it will launch apps in around half the time. It’s rumored (and we’ll have to wait to see if it’s true) that the chip runs ARM Cortex A15 cores, beating Samsung to the punch.

2. Larger screen. Yes, fair enough, the new iPhone’s 4-inch screen isn’t as big as the Samsung Galaxy S III (4.8 inches) or the Nokia Lumia 920 (4.5 inches), but still is larger than its predecessor, and in a device that’s 18-percent thinner and 20-percent lighter than, too. In the hands of another company, the resized screen probably wouldn’t be much of a selling point, but Apple’s retooled all its apps, including iPhoto and Garage Band, to really make the most of that additional real estate, and as the old saying goes, it’s not the size but what you do with it that counts.

3. LTE/4G. The phone’s LTE connectivity is hugely welcome and lets you make the most of much faster speeds, provided your carrier offers it. A giant step forward for the iPhone. Yes, Samsung, which owns a large collection of LTE patents, may challenge the new phone, but it’s unlikely to succeed to get the device banned.

4. Better camera. The new iPhone is much thinner, but the camera is just as good, still offering 8 megapixels and 3268 x 2448 resolution. But it also has some great new features, including a dynamic low-light mode that can deliver up to two f-stops greater performance, combined with a new Image Signal Processor with spatial noise reduction. The camera’s sapphire crystal lens cover produces clearer images and won’t scratch easily. You can instantly share images on social sites using PhotoStream, plus the camera can now take panoramic shots (just like, ahem, the Galaxy Nexus), making it useful for creating cool Facebook cover photos.

5. Additional microphone. iPhone 5 has three microphones -- one built into the bottom, one at the front/top, and one at the back of the device. This helps to ensure good quality audio regardless of whether you're chatting on Facetime, using Siri or recording a video. It will also help with noise cancellation.

I’m not going to pretend iPhone 5 is streets ahead of the competition, but the new improvements do put it back in the race, and for me at least, it’s a solid upgrade that will appeal to many. Plus that aluminum and glass design is really nice…

Would you buy one?
Five reasons iPhone 5 disappoints

Publié: septembre 13, 2012, 4:47pm CEST par Mihaita Bamburic

A new iPhone is Apple's chance to drive competitors nuts, to take technological innovation to new heights and to leave the stage with a justified smug look, but as the dust settles from yesterday's launch event the new handset feels dated already. The Cupertino, Calif.-based corporation should smash the competition to bits but that hasn't happened, has it?

iPhone 5 is not the revolutionary product that could set the world on fire and just like my colleage Wayne Williams I wonder "Hey, Apple, where’s the innovation?" There is a saying that's perfect for landmark product releases: "Go big or go home" and Apple should have followed the former not the latter for what will most likely be flagship device over the next year. It's not enough to sway the current cutting-edge Android smartphones to the curb, so how can it when there will be fierce competition from Windows Phone 8 devices like the Nokia Lumia 920 or Samsung ATIV S?

The new iPhone 5 is a disappointment and here are five reasons why it fails to impress. (Ha! Wayne struggles to find five things to like about iPhone 5).

1. 4-inch display is straight from the history books. The new iPhone sports a 4-inch display with a 1136 x 640 resolution at 326 pixels per inch. It clearly bests the iPhone 4S display in terms of resolution and size, but a 4-inch display in 2012 is still subpar compared to other smartphones like the popular Samsung Galaxy S III or Nokia Lumia 920, which both come with bigger display and higher resolution. The original iPhone was a game-changer with its 3.5-inch display, but five years later and just a minor size increase is a clear sign of stagnation.

The rules of the game have changed over time, with bigger displays being better suited for web browsing, reading emails and the social media experience that is ever present in the digital lifestyle, and cramming it all on a 4-inch display is not the way to go.

2. Looks similar to the iPhone 4S. The design coming from Cupertino is (yet again) repetitive, with minor differences from its predecessor that was (again) quite similar to its predecessor. The last three Apple iPhone smartphones are very similar in appearance, begging the question: "Is Apple's design team on vacation?" Visually it looks like Apple took the iPhone 4S, put it on a diet to lose some millimeters from it's already "chunky" sides, stretched it so it could accommodate the display and changed the back a bit so there is one visual cue to separate it from its predecessor. That is, if you look hard enough to spot the difference up close.

Apple leaves similarities aside, and instead used bold statements like "inventing entirely new technology" to describe the "entirely new design", with a clear emphasis the "entirely new" factor that should sway potential buyers from thinking it's darn similar to the old one.

3. iOS 6 is no match for the hardware. If there is one good thing that iPhone 5 has over the iPhone 4S is the hardware it packs. Yet the very same advantage is not matched by a revolutionary, new iOS. Apple plays catchup (again) by offering features similar to Android, but fails to deliver one that is actually fit for the hardware -- true multitasking without any limitations. iOS 6 does not focus on iPhone 5, instead it's taking a one-OS-fits-all approach that is antiquated. Why not add multiple home screens support or even widgets? No wonder it's sipping on battery...

4. No (amazing) new tricks. iPhone 4S introduced one of the most interesting and highly-discussed features -- Siri. The virtual assistant made voice search popular and drove Google to improve its own offering into what Google Now is today. But with the iPhone 5 the inspiration runs out and what we're seeing is more or less the same software that every other iPhone is going to get once iOS 6 launches on September 19. Instead of being innovative, Apple tweaked Siri to better compete with Google Now that was introduced with Android 4.1 Jelly Bean in June, basically playing catchup to Google's mobile operating system.

As far as hardware goes, near field communication and wireless charging are nowhere to be seen on the iPhone 5, even though the Samsung Galaxy S III or the Nokia Lumia 920 have both. LTE? Plenty other smartphones already had it long before Apple introduced iPhone 5. Bottom line: no new "amazing" feature.

5. Unjustified pricing differences. iPhone 5 storage pricing differences are simply absurd. The 16GB model costs $199, which does not sound unreasonable, but the same can not be said about the 32GB model that costs $299 or the 64GB model goes for $399. That 16GB storage is insufficient when there is a 1080p video recording camera that can also take 8-megapixel photos, both of which (videos and photos) will fill the onboard storage reasonably fast to warrant going for a more expensive model. The lack of expandable storage forces potential buyers to spend 50 percent or 100 percent on the base price of an iPhone 5 to get a properly spec'd model.

Apple needs to get down to Earth with its pricing; it's unjustified considering the competition comes with expandable storage at a lower price point.

Apple Chose Wrong

Time to face the truth: as it stands, iPhone 5 is just an upgrade from the iPhone 4S, and nowhere near the smartphone that I was expecting. Disappointed? Yes, badly and I do not consider myself alone in thinking so. Apple chose the wrong ingredients and focused on minor improvements that diminish its appeal, especially so with all the leaks that pointed towards a 4-inch display months before the announcement. It's better than the iPhone 4S, but the bottom line is this: iPhone 5 does not shine.

Photo Credit: NinaMalyna/Shutterstock
Is an older model of iPhone better than a modern Android?

Publié: septembre 13, 2012, 2:56pm CEST par Robert X. Cringely
I’ve been told the new faster-bigger-but-lighter-and-thinner iPhone 5 has a Thunderbolt interface. The press has correctly picked up on the fact the cables and connectors are different. They haven’t, however, figured out Thunderbolt is not USB. I guess we can expect the next round of iPads to use Thunderbolt too.

If it is Thunderbolt (I haven’t been able to confirm) you have to wonder why? In one sense this may just be Apple wagging the market because it can, but what if they really need a 10 gigabit-per-second interface for something? And what could that something be?

I’m a little confused by the ho-hum response in some quarters to this new phone, which appears to me to equal or exceed the specs of any phone currently on the market. That’s not good enough?

Yes, Android licenses are piling up at a rate of 1.3 million per day according to a friend of mine who sits on the Google board. And yes, Jelly Bean is a big improvement if you can find a phone that has it.

But it’s hard to compete with free.
- iPhone 4 -- free with plan
- iPhone 4s -- $99
- iPhone 5 -- $199
I suspect the iPhone 5 and iPhone 4 pricing will blow a hole in the Android market. Samsung has serious competition for its top end phone, the Galaxy S III.

It is always interesting to hear the what college kids think. What I am hearing is they are tired of the quirkiness and hassles with Android.

Is an older model of iPhone better than a modern Android phone? Does the bigger display on the S3 offset the new engineering and known quality of Apple’s products?

And where does this leave Microsoft? That last question may not matter.

Editor: Please give us your answer.

Reprinted with permission
JD’s Auto Speed Tester clocks your Net connection

Publié: septembre 13, 2012, 2:10pm CEST par Mike Williams

If you’re curious about your Internet connection’s performance then of course there are plenty of online speed tests around that promise to tell you more. But these are limited, in particular because they can only measure your connection speed at a single point in time, while your actual performance will probably vary throughout the day.

For more accurate results, then, you should probably grab a copy of JD’s Auto Speed Tester, a powerful free tool that runs in the background and automatically benchmarks your connection at regular intervals.

The program runs hourly tests of all the core statistics, including upload and download speed, ping time, packet loss and jitter. These details are displayed on a graph, so you can see how they vary over time, and are also logged to a CSV file if you’d like to run more detailed analyses later.

And if the upload or download speeds fall below some specified figure then you can even have the program send you an email as a warning.

JD’s Auto Speed Tester is highly configurable, so if any of this doesn’t suit your needs then the chances are that it can be tweaked. You can turn particular tests on or off, for instance; define your own servers for the upload, download or ping tests; and tell the program not to run its tests if you’re busy downloading, say, reducing the chance of it interfering with your regular PC use.

Perhaps the most surprising aspect of JD’s Auto Speed Tester, though, is just how lightweight it is. The program consumed barely more than 1.2MB RAM when running in the background on our test PC, and even when browsing the interface it needed only a little more than 2MB.

If you’re looking for the definitive verdict on your internet connection, then, JD’s Auto Speed Testeris the perfect tool to help: detailed and highly configurable, it should run comfortably on most PCs and laptops.

Photo Credit: Dudarev Mikhail/Shutterstock
Opera 12 beta RC supports Retina Display

Publié: septembre 13, 2012, 1:39pm CEST par Mark Wilson

Retina Display support continues to be added to more and more applications as they are updated, and the latest update is for Opera 12.10 beta. This is one of the headline features of the latest build, but there are also a range of bug fixes as well as an update core – although it should be noted that this is a beta release.

The addition of Retina Display support helps to improve the appearance of web pages, particularly for text. Graphics, on the other hand, will appear slightly blurry unless the page administrator has taken the step of using double resolution images. The interface of the browser has also be updated with a new skin which includes new higher resolution icons.

Updates to the libvpx library help to improve the performance of WebM videos but the majority of other changes are minor bug fixes. There is a somewhat strange change to version numbering which means that Opera has moved from ’12.50 internal’ to ’12.10 beta RC’ – this has the knock-on effect of meaning that automatic updating from Opera Next to 12.10 is not possible, but a manual install over the top is not a problem.

You can find out more and download and free copy of the program by paying a visit to the Opera 12.10 review page. There’s also a separate dedicated 64-bit build.
Now you can open PDFs directly in Firefox

Publié: septembre 13, 2012, 1:10am CEST par Nick Peers

Do you want to know what’s annoyed me most about recently switching from Google Chrome to Firefox (or, more precisely, its 64-bit variant, Waterfox)? The lack of a built-in PDF viewer, that’s what.

In Chrome, you’d click on a PDF link, and it would open in Chrome: do the same in Firefox, and it would save the PDF to disk instead. Incredibly annoying. The development of a built-in PDF previewer was welcome news to my ears, but having appeared in Firefox 15 Beta, it disappeared from the final version. The good news is that it’s there, and you can switch it on. If you know how.

If – like me – you’re desperate to view PDFs in your Firefox (or Pale Moon, or Waterfox) browser window, but you don’t want to use a third-party plug-in such as Adobe Reader, then this is what you need to do.

First, make sure you using the latest version of Firefox or Waterfox – download Firefox 15 FINAL here, Waterfox 15.0 here, and Pale Moon 15.0 here(or here if you want the 64-bit version).

Next, open the Firefox (or Waterfox or Pale Moon) menu and choose Add-ons. Select Plugins and see if Adobe Acrobat is present. If it is, select it and click its Disable button.

Now, open a new tab and type about:config into the Address bar, clicking I’ll be careful, I promise! if it appears. Type browser.preferences.inContent into the Search box and hit [Enter]. When it appears in the Preference Name list, check its Value: if it’s set to ‘false’, double-click it to change it to ‘true’.

Now type pdfjs.disabled into the Search box and hit [Enter]. This time, the default value is ‘true’, so double-click it to change the value to ‘false’.

Pale Moon users need to also switch the built-in PDF viewer on – type pdfjs.firstRun into the Search box, press [Enter] and double-click it so its value reads ‘true’.

There’s one final check to perform: open the Firefox, Waterfox or Pale Moon menu again, but this time choose Options > Options, then switch to the Applications tab. Check the Portable Document Format (PDF) setting – if it’s not set to “Preview in Firefox/Waterfox/Pale Moon” then click the current setting and choose Preview in Firefox/Waterfox/Pale Moon to complete the switch.

Once done, you should now find clicking on PDFs in your browser opens them in a new tab (you can test your new settings by opening this step-by-step guide to installing Windows XP by yours truly), complete with navigation controls and the all-important download button in the top right-hand corner of the window.

Photo Credits: Yuri Arcurs/Shutterstock
Will you buy iPhone 5?

Publié: septembre 13, 2012, 12:54am CEST par Joe Wilcox

Thanks to Tim Conneally's quips, I feel obliged to write this story today. But he knew I would ask: Will you buy iPhone 5? As usual, I've got a buying poll for you and opportunity to explain in comments why iPhone 5 is or is not just right for you or any member of the family (including cute Cubby kitty). As always, fanboys beating one another senseless isn't discouraged. There's nothing quite like Android-iPhone cat fights. So rake the claws, commenters.

If your immediate answer to the question is "Yes!", slow down, put your brain in low gear and think for a moment. You must understand the implications of that decision, particularly if you bought doodads for earlier models.

Let's start with the basics and work outwards. If you live in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Singapore, United Kingdom or the United States, preorders start in two days. Count them, one, two -- September 14. Seven days later, on the 21st, iPhone 5 goes on sale and in another 22 countries -- Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland -- on September 28.

Prices are unchanged from previous models, and Apple didn't increase storage capacities or provide SD-card slots to add more: 16GB ($199); 32GB ($299); and 64GB ($399) -- that's under carrier contract, which in the United States from AT&T, Sprint or Verizon is two-year commitment, assuming you qualify for the subsidy.

Apple will discontinue the 3GS and make iPhone 4 the freebee model, also lowering iPhone 4S price to $99. Remember, the discounted models are not the same as those available now. Apple typically only offers 8GB storage, which is what you should expect when iPhone 4 and 4S go cheap.

Both the older models remain good values, considering how few new compelling features there are in iPhone 5. Much of that value comes from iOS 6, which releases on September 19. Craigslist and eBay should fill up with older iPhones pretty fast and provide larger-capacity older models for anyone wanting them.

Why Not iPhone 5?

While prepping today's liveblog, Tim quipped: "The iPhone 5 is purported to have a new proprietary dock connector which will render all previous docks, chargers, and accessories obsolete, but keep the royalty stream flowing without interruption. We expect Apple to present some sexy reason for the swap that avoids the mention of dump truckloads of cash". That's exactly it.

iPhone 5 has a new dock connector and, unless you score some future adapter, isn't compatible with existing peripherals. Everything from the car charger to that fancy Bose SoundDock or competing model you recently bought. Really consider what this means if you've got beau coup bucks invested in iPhone peripherals -- or if you have other Apple stuff, since the connectors among devices are now incompatible, too. That's right, your iPad.

For anyone now owning or soon buying iPhone 4 or 4S, expect some good deals coming on old-connector gear. That's another reason to stay clear of iPhone 5. Do plan on spending even more, if you don't.

I call out the connector because Apple suddenly gives existing customers cause to switch. If, say, you've got 500 bucks invested in iPhone gear, competing handsets are less attractive. But if Apple connector changes demand reinvesting in new peripherals, there's good reason to look at all the options. Or even skip this upgrade opportunity and keep the existing iPhone longer.

Why iPhone 5?

So for what reasons should you consider iPhone 5? Not many, but there are a few.

Larger Screen, now 4 inches up from 3.5 inches. Display resolution jumps to 1136 by 640 from 960 by 640; both 326 pixels per inch. Androids from HTC, Samsung and other manufacturers typically have larger displays -- 4.5 inches or more -- and higher resolution (1280 by 720).

4G LTE. Apple is so late to fast data, it's laughable. But for anyone holding out for real 4G, iPhone 5 has got it. LTE really removes a reason not to buy iPhone. So go get it.

Appearance. iPhone 5 is pretty, and Apple goes way over the top telling you why: "Never before has this degree of fit and finish been applied to a phone...Look at iPhone 5 and you can’t help but notice the exquisite chamfer surrounding the display. A crystalline diamond cuts this beveled edge. It’s what gives iPhone 5 its distinctive lines. Fitting for a phone so brilliant".

Dual-band Wi-Fi. It's faster, so Apple claims, and many other smartphones already offer the capability. Say, isn't my Galaxy Nexus one of them?

AppleCare+, which you can buy for iPhone 4S, too. Give Apple 99 bucks, and the company will replace your busted phone for another $49. It's a huge value, and probably a big money maker for Apple.

Will you buy iPhone 5?

By the Specs

It's worth comparing iPhone 5 to the 4S and some Androids before making that big purchase decision:

iPhone 5: 4-inch multitouch display (326 ppi) with 1136 x 640 resolution (800:1 contrast ratio); Apple A6 dual-core processor; 1GB RAM; 16GB, 32GB or 64GB storage; UMTS/HSDPA/HSUPA (850, 900, 1900, 2100 MHz), GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz), LTE (bands vary by model and region); 8MP rear-facing and 1.2MP front-facing cameras; LED flash; image stabilization; 1080p video recording (back), 720p (front); accelerometer; ambient-light sensor; gyroscope; GPS; proximity sensor; digital compass; Bluetooth 4.0; Wi-Fi a,b,g,n; carrier locked; iOS 6. Measurements: 123.8 x 58.6 x 7.6 mm, 112 grams.

iPhone 4S: 3.5-inch multitouch display (326 ppi) with 960 x 640 resolution (800:1 contrast ratio); 1GHz dual-core processor; 512MB RAM; 16GB, 32GB or 64GB storage; UMTS/HSDPA/HSUPA (850, 900, 1900, 2100 MHz), GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz); 8MP rear-facing and VGA front-facing cameras; LED flash; image stabilization; 1080p video recording; accelerometer; ambient-light sensor; gyroscope; GPS; proximity sensor; digital compass; Bluetooth 4.0; Wi-Fi a,b,g,n; 1432 mAh battery; carrier locked; iOS 5. Measurements: 115.2 x 58.6 x 9.3 mm, 140 grams.

Galaxy S III: 4.8-inch Super AMOLED display (306 ppi) with 1280 x 720 resolution; 1.4GHz quad-core processor; 1GB RAM; 16GB or 32GB storage (64GB in future), expandable with microSD card; HSPA＋ 21Mbps (850/900/1900/2100), 4G LTE, GSM/EDGE (850/900/1800/1900); 8MP rear-facing and 1.9MP front-facing cameras; LED flash; zero shutter-lag; 1080p video recording; accelerometer; ambient-light sensor; gyroscope; GPS; proximity sensor; digital compass; NFC, Bluetooth 3.0; Wi-Fi a,b,g,n; 2100 mAh battery; carrier locked; Android 4.0 and TouchWiz "nature" UI. Measurements: 136.6 x 70.6 x 8.6 mm, 133 grams.

Galaxy Nexus: 4.65-inch Super AMOLED display (315 ppi) with 1280 x 720 resolution (100,000:1 contrast ratio); 1.2GHz dual-core processor; 1GB RAM; 16GB or 32GB storage; HSPA+ 21Mbps/HSUPA (4G LTE from Sprint or Verizon), 5.76Mbps (850/900/1900/1700/2100), EDGE/GPRS (850/900/1800/1900); 5MP rear-facing and 1.3MP front-facing cameras; LED flash; zero shutter-lag; 1080p video recording; accelerometer; ambient-light sensor; barometer; gyroscope; GPS; proximity sensor; digital compass; NFC; Bluetooth 4.0; Wi-Fi a,b,g,n; 1750 mAh (HSPA+), 1850 mAh (LTE); carrier unlocked; Android 4.0, or 4.1 (HSPA+ model from Google). Measurements: 135.5 x 67.94 x 8.94 mm, 135 grams.

The Question

Will you buy? I wouldn't, even if I wasn't boycotting Apple. By all important measures, iPhone 5 plays catch-up to a wide assortment of Androids.

Wayne Williams asks the right question: "Hey, Apple, where's the innovation?" He writes: "I can’t be alone in wanting to see something more daring and diverse come out of the Cupertino, Calif. corporation. A little invention to go with all this iteration...Really? Is this all you’ve got for us these days Apple? Larger and smaller variants of the same products?"

Do you agree? Is iPhone 5 right for you? If buying, will you move up from another model?

Please take the poll above and/or answer in comments below.