[Review] The iPhone 5S (from an Android users point of view)

As an Android enthusiast, I constantly hear the strident call of those on the other side of the smartphone debate that I am “wrong” for bashing the iPhone and, along with it, iOS.  And I am happy to defend from all comers the Android platform and what I perceive as its superiority.  So it came as a great blow to my personal belief system when my daytime employer suddenly was to provide me with an iPhone 5S as my work phone.  This was to replace my trusty Blackberry which (let’s face it) was dying a slow hideous death.  So grudgingly, I accepted my new tech, and thought this would be an ideal chance for me to give it and Apple fan boys everywhere a fair shake by spending a weekend getting to know the “real” Apple.  Will I be converted?  Will my passion for all things Android taint my desire to use the 5S at all?  Read on to find out!

[Op-Ed] A completely unbiased Android users opinion of iOS 7 - it sucks

Image courtesy of Apple.com

So...yeah.  I'm an Android guy.  Have been for a long time, and its still my current phone.  But as many already know, I DO own Apple products.  Yes, even me.  For all my bashing of their not really being a tech company more than a marketing company and not having had an innovation since the iPad first debuted, I do like and purchase (or ask for as gifts) some of their devices.  This puts me in a unique position: to be on the outside looking in.  No "iSheep" fanboiness here...I'm looking solely at how the device works best for me.  And I have to be honest - I wish Apple would have left my iPod touch the way it was before iOS 7.

[Rumor] Could the next iPhone come in color?

Apple's iPod touch

Much like their iPod touch line, the latest rumors swirling about the interweb have it that the next generation of the iPhone (the so-called 5S) will come in multiple colors - not just black and white - for the first time ever.  Presumably the anodized aluminum chassis that debuted in the iPhone 5S will allow for the process to be ported from the iPod to iPhone line, perhaps even with different colors than are currently offered in the iPod by Apple.  We should know on or about June of 2013.  Who's excited for a shiny blue iPhone 5S?

*Source:  BGR

[News]First pictures of the iPhone 5S case leak out

This morning purported images of the iPhone 5S case leaked out.  They look remarkably similar to the iPhone 5 except for some minor changes inside.

It's probably safe to say that the iPhone 5S will be virtually indistinguishable from the iPhone 5 from the outside.  That's not necessarily a bad thing though, as the iPhone 5 design is fantastic.  Quite frankly I'm much more interested in the Jony Ives iOS7 makeover than the new hardware. I'm expecting a pretty major refresh and think iOS fans are in for a treat.  We'll find out soon enough.

[Special Feature]Fearless Predictions for 2013

Shawn and I thought it would be fun to do a predictions piece for 2013 so we would be able to come back and laugh at ourselves when none of it comes true.  These opinions are solely ours, and have not been put forth with any insider information from any OEM.  Most of these actually have no basis in fact whatsoever.  But with that in mind, here are our fearless 2013 predictions:

Sean's Predictions:

1) Apple will release an iPhone 5S that looks virtually identical to the iPhone 5.  The internet will decry the  new phone and say Apple has lost its way.  Tech sites and blogs will write editorials expressing their disappointment.  Apple will sell as many as they can produce.

Shawn's Response:
I'm probably on board with this one, considering the years and years of history we have of Apple to fall back on.  I'm really not sure where Apple takes their iPhone from here though...even thinnerer and lighterer?

World Exclusive: the iPhone 5S will look exactly like this