Anxious for a new iPhone? Here are my September iPhone predictions.

We are all anxious to see what Apple has in store for us this fall. Rumors have been rampant about a new iPhone that will be more affordable and use a plastic back rather than the current aluminum and glass found on the iPhone 5. With that being said, here is what I predict: 

I think there will be an event on the 17th of September that will announce two new iPhones. I think the iPhones will be available for preorder starting on the 20th, and in store the 27th(maybe the 4th).  

1. The iPhone 5C. Not sure if it will be called this or not but that is what current rumors are speculating. It will be a 16GB model and come in 5, maybe 6 colors. It will basically be the same internals as the current iPhone 5 but in a plastic body. That means, the A6 processor, 8 Megapixel camera, bluetooth 4.0, LTE, and 802.11a/b/g/n Wi-Fi(no ac). The phone will retail for $449(free on contract).

2. Apple will keep the current iPhone 5 but drop the price $100, ditch the 32 and 64GB models, and continue selling a 16GB(There is the possibility that Apple makes the iPhone only available in 32GB in order to give someone more reason than just the aluminum back to pay the $99 premium over the color iPhone). The iPhone 5 will be sold for $549 ($99 on contract).

3. Apple will introduce an iPhone 5S. It will look the same as the current iPhone 5 but will have a faster chip, probably an A7, will have an improved camera(not necessarily a megapixel increase, but definitely other improvements), NFC, 802.11a/b/g/n/ac, and some sort of distinguishing feature. Rumors are that this feature will be a finger print sensor. I'm not 100% convinced that this will happen but I do think at this point that is the best bet. The 5S will continue to be sold in black and white, in 16, 32, and 64GB models, and prices will be $649, $749, and $849 ($199, $299, $399 on contract).

The color iPhones will be very attractive to a lot of people, especially in order to save $200. However, Apple is definitely going to do things to the 5S that will make you pine for it, almost anxious for them to take the additional $200 out or your pocket. The 5S is going to be one snappy bugger and it will be great with iOS 7. Oh, and as for iOS 7, I think it will be released sometime between the 20th and 26th of September. 

So if you are at the end of your life with your current iPhone, hang tight for 2 months and you'll have the chance to get it replaced. 

Hashtag Graffiti

Daniel Victor wrote a piece called Hashtags considered #harfmul and this was a priceless nugget at the end of the article:

I believe hashtags are aesthetically damaging. I believe a tweet free of hashtags is more pleasing to the eye, more easily consumed, and thus more likely to be retweeted (which is a proven way of growing your audience). I believe for every person who stumbles upon your tweet via hashtag, you’re likely turning off many more who are put off by hashtag overuse. We need not banish the hashtag, but let’s start putting more thought into when we’re using it.

I couldn't agree more. I don't think hashtags are always bad and that they can't be used, but like most things, they are best in moderation. Also, this hashtag graffiti concept is especially applicable on Instagram.  

iOS in the Car - "Very Important"

I wrote a piece called The Awful State of Infotainment Systems here on my site. Yesterday, at Apple's quarterly earnings, Tim Cook was asked about iOS in the Car and its importance in the Apple ecosystem. He responded that it is "Very Important." This is music to my ears! Knowing that Apple is concerned about the in car experience is the first important step in overhauling an absolutely terrible experience that currently exists. Next, we have to pray that the automakers get on board. Honda, Acura, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Infiniti, Ferrari, Chevrolet, Hyundai, Kia, Volvo, Opel and Jaguar are all listed as participating automakers but time will tell whether or not they actually put screens in their cars that can take advantage of iOS in the Car. My fingers are crossed. 

*Note: I really want the new Mazda 3 Hatchback but Mazda is sadly not on this list. Come on Mazda, get your act together. You, of all automakers, needs some serious help with your in car entertainment and navigation offerings. 

With Bangle long gone, where does BMW design go from here?

BMW had a problem on its hands. Chris Bangle had been a designer for the German automaker since 1992. During those years he rose to a more prominent position and ultimately, head of design. Bangle is infamous for the dreaded "bangle butt" of the 7 Series sedan released in 2001. Personally, I didn't mind the 7 series too much. In fact, it was far less polarizing than the even more prominent and hideous trunk of the 6 series coupe. The problem was simply that the 7 series was BMW's flagship sedan. Later the BMW 5 series took on some terrible lines in its skin as well as the Z4. I think during that decade, the Z4 was my least favorite.

Chris Bangle left BMW in February of 2009. So why do I bring this up 4 years later? BMW announced the 2014 X5 SUV on the 30th of May. The new X5 is an evolution of BMW's current design concept. I don't think the new X5 is ugly. In fact, it is the best looking SUV in BMW's lineup. My question is, where does BMW design go next? Have they cornered themselves into a current design language that leaves very little room for interesting progression? Who knows, if BMW stays true to the design of the concept 4 Series, I could be swayed.

New 5th Generation iPod Touch 16GB

Apple quietly announced a new 16GB iPod Touch model yesterday. The new model comes in at $229. What I find interesting is the fact that Apple did away with two features the 32 and 64GB models have: the rear facing camera and the loop. I find this interesting because at $299, I always felt that Apple had priced the 5th gen iPod Touch too high for most parents looking to buy their kids (Ages 5-14) an iPod. So this new model makes a lot more sense. Except, having just spent a weekend with my niece and nephew who have the 4th generation iPod touch, they love the camera. We stopped outside the Willis tower one day and I looked over and they were posing, taking pictures in front of it. They take photos all the time, mostly of stupid stuff, but still, they love that feature. The second feature Apple omitted is the loop. Now I personally don't think this is a very used feature on the iPods but the one age group that probably does need an expensive device securely connected to their wrist are kids. So while making a smart decision to offer a more affordable iPod, Apple has essentially removed the two features that make the current iPod touch appealing for kids.

*The Product that could ditch the back facing camera and not be terribly missed? The iPad.

Infotainment Follow Up

Let's hope this is true.

Grand Cherokee or 4Runner?

Toyota chose to reveal its updated 2014 4Runner at a Country music festival in California this past weekend. Now that Nissan has relegated he Pathfinder to life as family hauler and Hummer has been defunct for 3 years, the 4Runners competition has narrowed. There's really only one other vehicle that prides itself in being as capable off road as it is on road: The Jeep Grand Cherokee. The design concept behind both is obviously very different. While the Grand Cherokee is round and has ditched hard lines from previous models, the 2014 4Runner exhibits about as hard edge of a design as possible. I think the edginess of the 4Runner looks tough and masculine and is somewhat appealing but in terms of overall beauty, I don't think it's even a competition. The Grand Cherokee really is a gorgeous SUV. Despite being a much bigger fan of the Jeep over the Toyota, I'm glad Toyota is sticking too its roots with the 4Runner and not selling out like Nissan did with the Pathfinder.

2014 Toyota 4Runner

2013 Nissan Pathfinder 

2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee

Note: The base MSRP price of the 4Runner and the Grand Cherokee is very comparable. The big difference between the two is that the Grand Cherokee can be configured in model that rings in over $63,000 whereas the 4Runner tapers off around $43,000.

Cadillac XTS Sedan - Hot? How about bulbous.

When I first saw the new Cadillac XTS, I really liked it. Then, at the Chicago Auto show a few months ago, I circled it a few times, sat in the front and back, and also thought I was quite impressed with Cadillac's biggest sedan. Then the other day I saw one and I'm not as sold on the vehicle as I once was. My biggest problem is that the sedan looks too bulbous. It looks like someone was given an assignment to pump the vehicle up with a bike pump and then overinflated. I understand that this vehicle is not intended to be a sleek sports car but I feel like the new CTS arriving later this year will be a much sleeker vehicle. If current photos of the 2014 CTS are any indication, it will anything but bulbous.

2013 XTS

2014 CTS 

*One additional thought. Current Cadillac interiors are looking great!

CLA Shooting Brake?

PLEASE OH PLEASE LET IT HAPPEN. 

Whatcar is reporting that Mercedes is working on a CLA Shooting Brake, similar to the CLS Shooting Brake. I'm actually not a huge fan of the CLS Shooting Break, probably because of how big it is but with the CLA being a much smaller car, I think they could really nail it on this model. Here's to hoping that they not only build a CLA Shooting Brake but also bring it to the U.S!

CLA250 

CLS500 Shooting Brake

Aston Martin Rapide S

This thing makes the Porsche Panamera and Maserati Quattroporte cower into the shadows. What an absolutely gorgeous sedan. But then again, when was an Aston Martin not gorgeous? Oh, I remember: The Cygnet. Ssshhh, let's not focus on that. Instead, keep those eyes on the Rapide S. For more photos, check out Autoblog.