Did you buy iPhone 4S, and was it 'for Steve'?
Today, Apple's newest smartphone goes on sale in seven countries -- Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, United Kingdom and United States. We'd like to know: Did you buy one? If so, did you preorder or stand in line? Perhaps you're in line somewhere right now reading this. Do tell us. Maybe you're home, taking a day off from work, waiting for FedEx to deliver you preorder -- and wondering why not a day early like iPhone 4.
I didn't buy the new smartphone. As I wrote last week, "You can have iPhone 4S, I'll take Galaxy S II". (By the way, the S2 is simply the best smartphone I've ever owned. I haven't enjoyed a gadget this much in years.) Meanwhile, my colleague Ed Oswald preordered iPhone 4S. He received it minutes ago as I write. Look for his unboxing photos and first-impressions review later today.
What's your story? What are your first impressions? Where are your photos -- say, that glowing self-portrait holding your new phone? Please share in comments below or email joe at betanews dot com.
Last week, we took a poll asking: "Will you buy iPhone 4S?". There are more than 6,300 responses right now. It's a good sample size, but what people say they will do isn't often what happens. The question really measures desire -- what you want to do. Now we want to know what you did.
More than 63 percent of respondents said they would buy iPhone 4S -- 15.56 percent of iPhone 3GS owners and 12.91 percent who have iPhone 4. Only 8.86 percent are moving from Android phones. Among those answering "No", 20.62 percent don't find iPhone 4S compelling enough, while 12.99 percent are satisfied with what they have got. A surprisingly small 3.11 percent don't qualify for discount pricing.
Betanews reader dougau answers the question: "Yeah sure, Why not! The heck with my mortgage".
Hayden Kirk writes in comments: "I've got a 4. Love it, best phone I've ever had. I like solid phones and the 4 is much more solid that the 3 or 3GS. The 4S doesn't offer enough to switch, but then again, it was never meant to make iPhone 4 users switch. Not sure if it's just me, but I've found most android phones laggy. The interface lags".
Apple announced iPhone 4S on October 4. By the end of business the following day, the world learned that Apple cofounder Steve Jobs had died of complications related to cancer. Preorders started October 11, with Apple touting 1-million units during first 24 hours. Sales begin in 22 additional countries -- Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Mexico, Netherlands, Norway, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland -- on October 28.
Jobs is an iconic figure, with rock star-like appeal. It's not unusual for a rock star's album sales to soar following an untimely death. Amy Winehouse, who died in July, is example. Already, social networks are buzzing with people claiming 4S is "For Steve" in memory of Jobs. If you bought iPhone 4S, please explain why. If it was for Steve Jobs, we'd really like to know. Please answer in comments below and take both our polls above.