Yep. I agree with all of this. I did think the iPhone 4S event was way too long, but I honestly can’t think of anything I’d want in a phone that isn’t inside that iPhone 4S.

Exactly… I can’t stand the rumor mongers that put out rumors of what they want their iPhone to be (tapered end, larger screen, etc..). I never listen to them. I always wait for Apple to tell us what they’re putting out. I don’t expect anything. I let Apple tell me what they’re doing.

Yes, event length might be my only complaint. Otherwise, I thought the mix of information was good and the new iPhone itself is good. I don’t understand the bellyaching that it isn’t upgraded enough. It has a faster processor, world phone capability, integrated Siri (an actual AI assistant, for god’s sake), coming with the new iOS, and some more. And everyone is crying that it looks the same?

I wish I could get one. I can’t afford the service. Even Sprint’s service—the carrier I would consider the most—is $70 a month plus the fees I’m going to have for international calls and texting. I’m not to the point of affording $100 or more a month service.

I would have liked Tim Cook gotten a little bit more coaching so that the pace would have been slower. Also, he needs to maybe show a little bit more happy. Even when he smiles his face looks a little sour. The actual presentation was just a little flat and I think that had an impact on how the content was perceived. It really wouldn’t take much for him to get over the hump between good job and great job. Yesterday was merely good.

Actually, I would do the same as Apple ...

There are times to consolidate, mature and strengthen a design
and not always be living on the bleeding edge.
There was a time to do this with OS X
and now was a good time to do it with the iPhone.

Geeks can’t see further than the latest spec du jour.
As one blogger said, they were planning on a pony for Christmas,
and whine because they got a bike.
Remember, they are not your real market.
The people buying ipods, ipads and iphones by the millions are.

Good one Gareth

Breaking news! They are reporting Steve Jobs has died!

I am trying to find a news link. It was on our local NBC affiliate

See http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/Steve-Jobs-Dies-131184193.html

Hear, hear, Gareth. 

Too many people waste too much time listening to the FUDsters.

Perhaps Apple brass knew Steve was near death and that affected their Keynote demeanor.

In light of the passing of Steve Jobs and given that each of Apple’s senior execs, who presented yesterday at Apple’s Let’s Talk iPhone event, must have know that Steve Jobs was dying, it is easy to understand why they couldn’t muster any enthusiasm for Apple’s products.  It is amazing that they could do a presentation at all without losing it.  Their leader, their mentor, the man who saved Apple, turning it into the world’s riches and most successful tech company, and who launched them on their fabulous careers was at death’s door, while they had to do products introductions, with their iPhone 4Ss set to receive the inevitable and dreaded message that Steve has died.

I think in light of the foregoing, yesterday’s event was a remarkable example of the discipline and fortitude of Apple’s senior executives and of their being able to follow through as Steve would have wanted them to do.  But asking them for enthusiasm too, that is too much.

I sure that I can speak for us all in offering our heartfelt condolences to Steve Jobs’ family and to his larger family at Apple, and particularly to his mentees and friends at Apple, many of whom had to show us yesterday the face duty, while experiencing deep grief at the impending loss of their friend and leader, Apple’s great CEO, Steve Jobs.

http://www.apple.com/

”...yesterday’s event was a remarkable example of the discipline and fortitude of Apple’s senior executives and of their being able to follow through as Steve would have wanted them to do.  But asking them for enthusiasm too, that is too much.”

Thank you, Nemo. 

Your eloquent view here of yesterday’s somber Apple presentation by Steve’s grieving mentees and friends at doing noble and heroic “face duty” is poignant for me.

sorry for duplicating my post just now - my browser was frozen, and I thought nothing was being submitted.

Spot on, John.

I’ve proudly (though somberly) ordered my iPhone 4S, and I’m following the trend of saying the 4S is “For Steve”. Long may his genius enrich us, and may his memory be for a blessing.