TECHNOLOGY

Apple’s iPhone 5C  - rainbow of stupidity?  

This week’s long awaited and splashy announcement of Apple’s new iPhone 5C – which has been rumoured for a year to be super cheap and challenge the plethora of discount smart phones flooding Asia and the rest of the world – has been a TOTAL and UTTER disappointment, making Apple the laughing stock of the smart phone industry and ensuring its stock price will not only plummet today but for the foreseeable future!

First, at US$550 the iPhone 5C is NOT, NOT, NOT cheap at all compared to the competition. And even with a cell phone plan, Apple’s iPhone 5C will cost US$100 a unit when their newest and far faster, better camera and geek-cool fingerprint recognition model, the new iPhone 5S – is a mere US$100 more for a multi-year plan. (Pricing from G&M, Sept. 11, 2013, B1 and B4)

As well, no one on the internet or from the company has commented on the most basic issue.  Is the iPhone 5C with a plastic frame easily damaged when dropped  -- or not!

The Apple Insider website says the plastic ‘looks durable’ but he has clearly never dropped one or more to find out.

What he says is:

“The new model's back has a ruggedized feel that appears much more likely to survive a fall unscathed than the glass back introduced on the iPhone 4 or the crack-prone, thin plastic shell of the iPhone 3G/3GS. The face of the iPhone 5c is still glass of course (Corning's Gorilla Glass), but being wrapped in a plastic shell should help to mitigate its fragility.” [My underlining.]

Not a very rousing endorsement of previous iPhone body casing!!! [http://appleinsider.com/articles/13/09/12/hands-on-with-the-new-iphone-5c-color-cases]

In fact, iPhone retailers and internet evaluators always recommend a protective shell and even a screen guard for current or older iPhones because of the thin metal body units, and advise buying the ‘Apple’ insurance package – one free replacement – for an addition $100+!!!

 The Apple units are all that fragile and dentable!!!

Not so for Samsung’s Galaxy line or other manufacturers who have sturdier –if heavier – casings.

 

So, if I choose the iPhone 5C in Blue, Pinky Red, Green, Yellow or White, will I still need to spend extra cash for a protective cover-up case?

If the answer is yes, well then, what is the point of 5 colour choices when I will need to cover up 95% of the casing?

I already have close to a zillion protective case patterns and colours on the market, so what was Apple thinking?

 

PS: The cost to Apple between using aluminum or plastic for the casing is less than 5 in all probability -- even if made in the USA let alone cheap China.

So the ‘new look’ is all cosmetic and silly – if you still need to buy that $10 to $50+ protective case of your choice.

 

PS: Apple already is selling, I just found out from http://appleinsider.com/articles /13/09/12/hands-on-with-the-new-iphone-5c-color-cases, plastic body cases in matching colours with rows of 35 round holes – so you can mix and match and create composite looks.

Of course, it will cost you another US$29 !!!!

Oh well, cell phones are just pricey bling toys anyway.

Right, Apple?