It's definitely a disappointment, most of all for those who were eagerly awaiting an upgrade. It is indeed true that after 16 months Apple should have come out with something much better. Apple dropped the ball on the iPhone but maybe you're right that it's limited by the ability to adapt the iPhone to newer tech. 4G takes up too much power (and space?) to fit in current designs.

The dual core A5 processor is a nice improvement but maybe it's just me, my iPad 2 is not all that much better speed wise compared to my iPad 1. Perhaps it's my apps that don't demand too much CPU power but really, I didn't go "oh wow" when I got my iPad 2.

I think the bigger, and much cooler, announcement is iCloud. That is what I want to get going!

What exactly were people expecting? If they were expecting an upgrade then that's exactly what they got. If they were expecting a "NEW" phone then what were they looking for? :dunno:

Exactly! For those with a 3G the 4S is great. A colleague asked me if she should upgrade to which I advised no, until she told me she has a 3GS. Then I told her to definitely upgrade.

For 4 users, I don't think the upgrade is worth the extra money.

I also think that the hype is overblown by bloggers and Interweb prognosticators and I find great amusement in their wild guesses and "predictions" ahead of the official announcement. I enjoy their disappointment. (This includes a couple of my friends and my father-in-law.)

I find that criticism funny (from whoever it was written by) because it is likely the same person who would have been equally captivated and entralled if Apple had debuted a sleek new form factor. It's easy to be so earnest in hindsight.

It was all the hype by bloggers and tech writers who posted all about "sources" in China and Taiwan that swore that they had inside information about bigger displays, thinner profile, etc. I think that's what people were expecting. They were expecting a "NEW" phone.

I think it's disappointing because the competition is heating up and pressure from Samsung and HTC are increasing and Apple isn't as revolutionary as they normally are. I guess it's that Apple created a really great smartphone that is still a class leader in many ways so the expectation is that in the face of improvements by competitors, Apple would have reset the bar.

As I have stated, I am not running out to replace my 4. I'm rather happy with it.

Believe me I understand exactly what you mean. I wasn't one of those who went for the hype. I believe Apple knows that the competition is heating up and pressure from Samsung and HTC are increasing and personally I'm glad to see it happen.

It's just my opinion but I honestly don't think 16 months is enough time in the face of improvements by competitors, for Apple to reset the bar the way they usually do and introduce a "NEW" phone.

As far as the previous comment I posted: I believe some people have much lower expectations from a form factor perspective and are earnest about that from a honest standpoint. Personally I'm fine with the way my 3G is in that regard. If I had an iPhone 4 I might not look to upgrade either but I wasn't looking for a new form factor just additional Carrier options,increased speed,
the new OS, and some of the additional options the 4S has.

Imo if the 4S doesn't offer anything significant the that's money in a persons pocket. No need to follow the cell phone Jones by jumping on a new device every time one comes out.

I have been anxiously waiting for new hardware iPhone, as I want to move away from AT&T to Verizon. Did not like the iPhone 4's sharp edges brick look so held on to my 3GS. Now, I may just go to the dark side and get a Android smartphone. ;) :(

The sleek phone Corning shows in the video below is the future.

It appears in the last 16+ months Apple has just been concentrating on software functionality and hardware improvements to "existing form factor", not to a "new form factor" or they have been and the new form factor is still not ready for prime time yet. They could have still increased the screen size by little and rounded off the edges on the iPhone 4.

Marketing has taken a back seat.;)

You might be right about the new form factor not being ready. I can't imagine them re-tooling
just to increase the screen size by little and round off the edges. That to me would have been
disappointing and non productive from a production perspective.

Some of your previous post have demonstrated translucent phone bodies
which some of us have seen in movies and on TV and that may be where the future lies.
But i'm sure you would agree that although that would attract a lot of attention it wouldn't
do much good if the hardware and software didn't live up to the exterior design.

I may be wrong and you can correct me if you wish but except for a serious speed
bump and an updated camera, twin antenna's iOS5 should give iPhone 4 users pretty
much everything that was demonstrated which to me means a better phone for "NO MONEY".
It's people like me that have to decide to shell out the dough for the new 4S because the new OS will not work on my iPhone.

(EDIT) Apple will pay $200 for your gently used iPhone 4 | Phones | Macworld

I use VZW as well and have no plans on changing service providers. I have a Droid X and it is working just fine. Given that I have no need to get a new phone I will wait. If the 4S offered 4G speed on VZW I would purchase it but since it does not I will wait.