With rumors of the next Apple smartphone likely being named "iPhone 5S," an expert familiar with Apple is calling out the Cupertino-based organization on their naming capabilities.
Ken Segall, who has worked with Steve Jobs for 12 years as Apple's creative director, wrote in his latest blog post about how Apple "stubbornly" kept the numbers to their iPhones even though devices such as the iPod, iMac, Mac Pro, MacBook Air, and MacBook Pro were "living in a world where numbers had become excess baggage."
He does understand that older models of the iPhone is still on demand and the numbers help distinguish one from the other.
"Consider it a necessary evil," wrote Segall. "But once you accept that iPhone models can't live without a model identifier, the question becomes: what should that identifier be?"
According to the former creative director, he wished Apple never created the awkward signature "4S." Further, it could send a weak message to consumers that their latest "S" smartphone is Apple's "off-year" product with small feature improvements.
An interesting example was provided, comparing car models. Segall stated the consumer would look for a 2013 model than one named 2012S.
"The simplest path is to give each new iPhone a new number and let the improvements speak for themselves. If anyone wants to say that the [iPhone] 7 isn't as big a leap as the [iPhone] 6, that's their business. Attempting to calibrate 'degree of innovation' in the product name seems like a needless (and self-diminishing) exercise.
Overall, Segall believes the upcoming iPhone 5S should be called iPhone 6. Since Apple hasn't confirmed the iPhone 5S name in the first place, perhaps Segall's wish will come to fruition.
According to the Wall Street Journal, Apple could be producing the iPhone 5's successor during this quarter for a possible summer launch. The next smartphone, according to their report, is will be similar size and shape to the iPhone 5.
MacFan has stated Apple will hold an event on Thursday, June 20, to showcase the next iPhone. In addition, they also stated the iPhone 5S is expected to go on sale in early July. A June 20 event would come around Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), which is set to take place in June as well. Apple did use the WWDC to announce the iPhone 4, iPhone 3, and iPhone 3GS.
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