Hacker Newsnew | past | comments | ask | show | jobs | submitlogin

NFC and wireless charging? Who promised you that?

Sorry, false dilemma and totally disingenuous. Just because no one promised it doesn't mean that one couldn't hope for it or be disappointed at its absence. Similarly, having big deal features like those are reasonable expectations for comparison to the original Iphone for "bigness" which I interpret as "important new features that will change how most people use phones in a radical way".

It would in fact be a really big deal if Apple included those - NFC is a fantastic idea that the Iphone could really launch into big-time use. It would in fact be a really big deal if they had wireless charging. Both those would more or less require all the other phones did it too, drastically changing the landscape for a lot of things.



>Sorry, false dilemma and totally disingenuous. Just because no one promised it doesn't mean that one couldn't hope for it or be disappointed at its absence. Similarly, having big deal features like those are reasonable expectations for comparison to the original Iphone for "bigness" which I interpret as "important new features that will change how most people use phones in a radical way".

And I'm disappointed that Apple isn't giving everyone a pony. They never promised it, but I'm disappointed that it's not there. I was going to call mine Bob.

I fail to see how being disappointed when features that were never promised aren't delivered is valid disappointment. Apple never promised it because they aren't doing it for this device. It could be coming in the future, or it might not. If, for example, Apple had made official statements about including NFC or wireless charging(not the "rumors" that seem to be the replacement for actual journalism in tech), then disappointment would be warranted. But Apple hasn't done that at all. Would it be nice if they included it? Sure. But they didn't.

This happens just about every time a new piece of tech is announced by everyone, and, quite frankly, it's getting annoying. People complaining about how Samsung isn't doing retina-style displays on their midrange tablets. Or complaining that Nokia is making Windows phones. Or that Apple hasn't included everything that everyone has ever wanted in a phone. With a cherry on top.

There are valid complaints about the new phone and news today: I'm skeptical of the reported battery life, considering all the new tech in the device, and that they made it that much smaller. Or that the majority of the iOS6 features won't be available to the pre-4S iPhones. Or that iTunes is still going to be a resource hog. Or that there's a new connector.


So you think it is stupid of people to want manufacturers to make good technology. Got it. In the mean time, I am going to go ahead and keep hoping that tech gets better, and that manufacturers put good things in new devices - because you know what, they are my dollars, and I get to say what I want in a device before I spend them.

You know what is equally tiring, companies saying "you want existing tech in the products we build? Too bad, you will take what we give you and like it", instead of you know, building things people want to spend money on.


No, I don't think it's stupid of people to expect that manufacturers make good technology. As a matter of fact, I expect manufacturers to make good products. I expect manufacturers to produce what they promise to produce. I don't expect companies to deliver on things they don't talk about, though. If they produce something new, that's great!

What I think is stupid is people(mostly tech "journalists") that go "I'm disappointed that this device doesn't have this thing that isn't on the spec sheet and was never announced by the company that makes it as a feature". That's the rough equivalent of being disappointed that you don't get everything you wanted for Christmas as a kid. It's silly.


It's not stupid. When people are vested in an ecosystem, they want devices in that ecosystem to be able to satisfy their specific use cases. This is why I wanted a waterproof iPhone: I play a lot of water sports, and it would be awesome to not have to rely on a second device to take photos/videos. So, as a dedicated Apple user, I started imagining how I would use such a device. When it didn't come, I was disappointed.

Seriously, it's appalling that you are having trouble understanding this, and are strawmanning it down to "wanting a pony."


Do you have any idea how hard it is to waterproof electronics? Not only do you need to keep water out of the device, but you also need to make sure that it can't collect anywhere and corrode away parts. There's a reason that hardened waterproof electronics are the way they are: big and heavy.

On the weekends, I go fly fishing. Full waders and everything. And I take my phone with me. In a plastic sandwich bag, which has kept the phone completely dry even after I accidentally submerged my bag. I could invest in a case if my phone spent more time in the water, but I don't feel the need to.

So yes, I understand your entire point, and yes, it IS pretty much down to wanting a pony.


>>Do you have any idea how hard it is to waterproof electronics?

It is hard, but Apple has $117 billion in cash. They could make an elegant and waterproof smartphone if they wanted.


Yes, and if a significantly large portion of the market was clamoring for a waterproof smartphone, Apple probably would make one.


I believe it was Steve Jobs who said that people don't know what they want until you give it to them.


A waterproof iPhone is definitely the equivalent of a unicorn that shits Skittles.

If you seriously thought that was even a miniscule possibility with the iPhone 5, then you are in for a lot of disappointment.


A MacBook that fits in a manila envelope? Ha ha unicorns and rainbows!


You are raging about some random person on the internet being disappointed that reasonable (and existing in other phone) features not being available in the new IPhone, not about some tech journalist. Scope matters.

Further, you are comparing someone who hoped to see NFC and wireless recharge in his phone to a kid not getting everything he wanted. It could very well be that the kid asked for a dog, got an ant farm was disappointed. You're the father shouting "it's a pet dammit" when sure, it is, but missed the point that the features really wanted aren't fulfilled by the ants.


Apple hired Benjamin Vigier a few years ago. Their mobile payment solution is Passbook which is currently not NFC based.




Consider applying for YC's Fall 2026 batch! Applications are open till July 27.

Guidelines | FAQ | Lists | API | Security | Legal | Apply to YC | Contact

Search: