Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak has said that the company's much-beloved iPhone is "somewhat behind" on rival gadgets from the likes of Samsung.
In an interview published on German publication Wirtschafts Woche and spied by MacRumours, the outspoken Apple originator said, "Currently we are in my opinion somewhat behind with features in the smart phone business.
"Others have caught up," Woz continues, opining that, "Samsung is a big competitor. But precisely because they are currently making great products."
The article is translated from German, but you can't miss the meaning of Woz's words -- rivals like Samsung are making huge advances on the smart phone battlefield, and Apple needs to keep up.
The iPhone 5 is a cracking mobile whichever way you slice it, but apart from a slimmed-down chassis there's little to separate it from 2011's iPhone 4S. Samsung meanwhile has enjoyed huge success with its 4.8-inch Galaxy S3, which is much larger and more powerful than the Galaxy S2. All eyes are now on Samsung, which is tipped to reveal the Galaxy S4 as soon as March.
Apple is still raking in enormous stacks of cash, as its iPhone and iPad continue to prove popular. Despite this, it saw its market value drop in January when it revealed that it hadn't made quite as much money as investors hoped.
Playing devil's advocate, it's possible that Apple feels it's getting close to perfecting the iPhone and iPad, and is struggling to find new ways to keep a solid device feeling fresh.
If that's the case, we may have to wait for an entirely new product category before we see anything surprising from Apple. What would you like to see the Californian company build next? Let me know in the comments, or on our Facebook wall.
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Damien2501 8 February, 2013 10:57
Im glad Woz see's sense here, Apple products are a right rip-off, and they don't really offer anything special from its predecessors and cheaper rivals.
anonymous 8 February, 2013 11:25
@ Damien2501 8 February, 2013 10:57
Except for its ecosystem, which sooner or later will be overtaken too
anonymous 8 February, 2013 11:44
What about changing iOS?! I have an iPhone4. I live with two guys, one has an S2 and the other is looking for a phone. He said he wouldnt get an iPhone because Android has overtaken iOS in terms of being a mobile operating system. Widgets!!!! Customisation!!! Being able to put music on your phone from your work computer and not having to send it home and put it on there!!!
I kinda agree with him....
anonymous 8 February, 2013 12:02
Absolutely disagree with the statement. Much as I love Samsung products, and my home has many, the Galaxy 3s does not come close to the Iphone 5 experience.
I bought both at the same time. The Galaxy is 'chaos' compared to the iphobe 5 'operability and functionality'
Dont get me wrong, i like both but for different reasons. But Apple really diednt have to worry just yet... its the small few percent difgerences that make the difference.
anonymous 8 February, 2013 12:21
From an iPhone 5 owner, and every previous iPhone model, I would like to see a larger screen and something better than Swype on the next iPhone.
anonymous 8 February, 2013 12:21
I've got to agree. I've only still got an iphone 5 because of the Apple ecosystem. At the moment it's the best
anonymous 8 February, 2013 12:25
Surely current hardware has peeked so its down to software and ui
Until the next wave of tech comes out - like folding displays - I don't think phones will evolve any more than screen size / chip power / camera function etc etc
Dominic Magliocco 8 February, 2013 12:39
I sold my iPhone 4 for £300 and got a Samsung Galaxy Ace for £110. I ended up with a phone that cost little but is as good as an iPhone in almost every way and £190 better off
anonymous 8 February, 2013 12:51
I love a bigger screen and more freedom to tweak appearance and with music, etc.
Thus I prefer Samsung and Android. iOS is getting a little outdated, in my opinion.
anonymous 8 February, 2013 12:53
I'm happy that at least someone is agree from APPLE to say these words out loud !!!
this is the situation PLC ( Product life Cycle) which is declining in my opinion :(
anonymous 8 February, 2013 12:56
problem apple has it takes years for them change minor things so when they do bring out new phone the differences are so small that you'll be hard pressed to find them so it dosnt really feel like you got new phone unlike android they bring out new refreshing updates every year which gets bigger, better, smoother,faster, cheaper list goes on, apple stick to what they know, they been using the same interface from day one with minor changes over the years, they still haven't fixed the map issues. apple only plus points its simple easy to use, great customer services and they market they product very well.
anonymous 8 February, 2013 12:56
I don't own any smart phone from iPhone or Samsung. But when iPhone 4s was released, I thought and I still believe SIRI is a great idea. That's if it really worked and with multi-languages. It'll be even more cooler to use it to control home appliances and TV which in my mind I thought apple will move in this direction, but it didn't.
Stu Wood 8 February, 2013 13:00
Its good to see someone at apple stepping out the cash cow situation they got them selves into after Steve jobs death. 20% dip in shares last week might be a clue also.
Like Microsoft they got a little too comfy with what they had and forgot to push forward with innovation and taking risks. Hopefully they will update their OS now as that is what is letting the side down.
Bassam Al-Mawry 8 February, 2013 13:24
It's a shame they couldn't keep up with the race they kicked off!!
anonymous 8 February, 2013 13:49
I've worked for the nation's largest cell service provider for over 9 yrs - I remember when the only device on the market for doing anything other than making voice calls was the Blackberry - NO iPhones, NO Droids - GASP!!!! Apple is unfortunately limiting themselves, and sales, with too much of the same when they launched the iPhone 5 last yr. Many people who thought 'Finally, an iPhone I can love (these are Droid users mind you) purchased the 5 and then returned after a week - Droids out sell iPhones in droves! There will always be the 'core' Apple brand users but if you do not change you die in the cellular business. I'd be hard pressed to say which company is leading at the moment but the DROID DNA by HTC, the Samsung Galaxy Note II and the DROID RAZR MAXX HD are all selling well at this time.
anonymous 8 February, 2013 14:02
I'm an apple fan but I'm starting to think the other way around, i guess samsung is really pushing up, i wish apple could make a phone that has enormous battery life
anonymous 8 February, 2013 14:05
Apple should concentrate more on their devices than accusing other companies of copying from them.... They havent got anything that others might want to copy...
A week ago at my friend's house i saw the first iPad.... it's good undoubtedly.... but everything looks the same with the latest apple gadgets.... only the processor is a bit faster and devices are lighter
anonymous 8 February, 2013 14:16
"Somewhat behind" is a bit of an understatement! apple are so far behind last years top end andriod phones its embarrassing, never mind the new 5" 1080p 440ppi quad core monsters coming out this year! The note 2 is a perfect example of mobile innovation and shows the difference between Samsung and boring same old apple.
anonymous 8 February, 2013 14:19
Apple has the best ecosystem this is what makes the iPhone five is better than this galaxy S3. The galaxy S3 has the advantage of a bigger screen or this could be the disadvantage if you ever try and put it in your pocket. Both phones are very good but Apple has just a few things that are better ecosystem Siri and size If you like a 4 inch screen.
anonymous 8 February, 2013 14:19
I"m a iPhone 4S owner but will be jumping off the apple wagon when my next contract comes up. I'm looking at the Galaxy S4. I get so fustrated by the limited use of iPhone..
I'm on to bigger and better!
anonymous 8 February, 2013 14:26
Apple know they have an inferior product, as most of the i sheep are now starting to realise. I have owned both samsung and apple but after getting the first galaxy s i have not looked back and for the forseeable future iwill be a samsung galaxy owner and i would advise anyone to get one of these products. The customisation, size, power, well i could go on for ever. I love my S3 am not afraid to say it.
Apples core is rotting, which people did say this would happen, with steve jobs death. The innovator is now the catcher upper and they cant do it fast enough. Samsung release god knows how many phones a year and each one is better than its predecessor. There research and developement must be immense. In a couple of years time apple will probably be paying back all the money they have stolen from various companies by sueing them, as they will have no option but to mimic the likes of samsung and htc. Oh well only time will tell and we will see what the iphone 5s or 6 has got. As for siri, well that has now been surpassed by google now, imo i love it, so much better than s voice or vlingo.
anonymous 8 February, 2013 14:26
I have an iPhone 5 and I love the size of the screen, any wider then I think it's too big. I think other phones are just getting too big rather then one handed devices.
anonymous 8 February, 2013 14:58
I believe that Apple is hitting the same wall Blackberry hit a few years back.
When they entered the Iphone was the only fully touch screen phone on the market. Android basically used the same idea as the Iphone and ran with it. Today there's 4 os that could be great. Blackberry spent years on there's and windows has the potential to be automatically compatible with the majority of PC.
We will have to see but windows phones to me has the best potential and Blackberry is pushing the OS further.
anonymous 8 February, 2013 15:15
SIRI is not an advantage when compared to Google Now. Everyone who says otherwise had never used Google Now. Apple just has a few better apps
anonymous 8 February, 2013 15:35
There's an amusing statement familiar to anyone who has visited South East Asia, usually used by market vendors trying to sell something to tourists when trying to convince you that you should buy the (identical) thing they want to sell you rather than the cheaper thing you actually want to buy, which Apple should really consider as their new slogan:
"Same same, but different"
anonymous 8 February, 2013 15:42
I think there will always bee 2 segments ever since the PC vs MAC debate. Those who enjoy simplicity and those who enjoy power. Power comes with lots of instructions and simplicity comes with... Well simplicity. That's like arguing about I like green apples...no I like red apples.
The good news is that Samsung has been able to elevate their product to be a competitor which they never were before.
Stop arguing and tearing the other side apart and instead praise the two sides for the accomplishments. And contribution to society.
Namaste.
Damien2701 8 February, 2013 15:57
People whine about ios not changing much. How has android changed much? It's the same. Icons, swishy screens and giant clock widgets. The reason people can say ios hasn't changed much is because it is simple in its operation. The iphone design is what needs a change
anonymous 8 February, 2013 16:05
Jesus! People, how long one can argue about superiority of X mas over Easter or vice versa.?
Vote with your wallets or credit cards or at least use rational arguments. Don't be like those photomaniacs debating from 40 years if Canon is better than Nikon.
Justin Berkovi 8 February, 2013 16:16
I've had an iPhone for ages. And just got a NEXUS 4. iOS is STILL the better OS but only just. Android is a great and viable smartphone platform but it's still not tight. The presentation of decent html email rendering is just one aspect of Android's OS that shows it's infancy and lack of attention to detail. iCloud is still THE best all round simple sync solution for contacts, calendar and more.
I love the idea of widgets and realtime 'tiles' but actually Android's implementation of these is in fact far more basic that I thought. Apple could do a lot better than this and I believe will, blowing Android out the water again.
Don't discount Apple yet.
100wattbulb 8 February, 2013 16:29
Apple is way behind, but it always has been in terms of processor speed, price etc. ALWAYS.
They rely on perception and marketing, and for anyone from the brand to say anything off-script is a real blunder.
Damien2701 8 February, 2013 16:34
Sucker. Thinking processor speed amounts to faster usability. It's like when quad core processors started showing up on phones and almost all phone OS's only used two of the cores. It was to draw in the idiots that want specs to brag about. A more efficient OS is far better like Windows Mobile or ios
Damien2501 8 February, 2013 16:43
@Damien2701 This is how Android has changed over the years:
http://reviews.cnet.co.uk/mobile-phones/android-updates-guide-all-the-features-of-every-version-50003779/
Damien2501 8 February, 2013 16:53
And I'd rather brag about what my phone is capable of rather than brag about the higher price, name and logo of my phone.
LightXaber 8 February, 2013 16:57
Having used bigger POCKETABLE bigger screens, iPhone 5 is unbearable. Have written to Apple since the build quality & iOS is unbeatable so that they improve the versatility of their mobile devices. Currently lugging around an iPad is extremely inconvenient alternative. Dream devices based on products used and experienced;
For me: iPhone Note (love the stylus & drawing interface)
For my wife: iPhone S3 (bigger screen & fast hardware)
Since this is a request for future products, please include a 'curved screen' notification screen as well.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sJehexDPEsE
PS: Really hope this comment gets to Apple, if not what a dismay all the renewed innovation and success coming to a halt. There's still so much room for improvement and Apple innovators are getting lazy.
brackvakic 8 February, 2013 16:57
Anon 12.02; you're anonymous because you're lying. Who would buy an iPhone 5 at 'the same time' as a GS3? Why? Who are trying to kid?
brackvakic 8 February, 2013 16:58
Anon 12.02; you're anonymous because you're lying. Who would buy an iPhone 5 at 'the same time' as a GS3? Why? Who are trying to kid?
brackvakic 8 February, 2013 16:58
Anon 12.02; you're anonymous because you're lying. Who would buy an iPhone 5 at 'the same time' as a GS3? Why? Who are trying to kid?
brackvakic 8 February, 2013 16:58
Anon 12.02; you're clearly lying. Why would have bought both at the same time?
brackvakic 8 February, 2013 17:05
The same's happening with Macs...they're 'simple' and smooth, but look at where W8 devices are going...convertible ultrabooks with touchscreens for £500? Yeah, at the moment they're too slow to be usable but give it a couple of years and Macs will be irrelevant, much like iOS is becoming.
The Ecosystem? The Ecosystem is rubbish, it's a handicap. I don't WANT to be forced to 'sync' with iTunes, I don't want to have to use this stupid limited icloud thing to get the best of everything, I definitely don't want to have to install iTunes on my laptop just to get some mp3s on my phone...absolute nightmare. You don't NEED an ecosystem the way Android's going...with a big enough screen and a fast enough browser you can get everything from the web, you don't really need apps. No netflix app? Soon that won't be a problem. No BBC News app? WHy would I care, I can use their website.
Matt Winston. 8 February, 2013 17:18
@anonymous 12:02 Your an idiot.
@Damien2701 This is a tech site, people are supposed to brag about specs. One of the best selling phones of 2012 and January 2013 is the Galaxy S2. Most people realise that they don't need a super phone or a cool iPhone.
anonymous 8 February, 2013 23:06
I always check out this website for iPhone alternatives - www.microsoftapple.com - My personal favourite is the Nokia Lumia because of the camera and speed of the operating system.
anonymous 8 February, 2013 23:22
Getting Sick of IPhone 4/4S/5/5S..,.needed new design n styles
anonymous 9 February, 2013 00:40
I like the debate. Apples vs oranges etc. it's not even brand important. Spec important. There's no bragging rights here. Neither company gives a flying monkey what you actually think until you've made the purchase. Isheep or samsheep or fandroid are all irellevent.
To answer the actual question posed in this article that seems to have been mostly ignored....
A telly. I'd just be interested to see if they could really pull it off and be impressive given TVs historical realm and current market makers.
anonymous 9 February, 2013 08:10
I'ld like to point out Apple user problems that annoy most people that will never be FIXED :
1. Not being able to view sites that use flash
2. Abscense of mini usb
3. Abscense of memory card
4. iTunes slavery..
anonymous 9 February, 2013 08:11
I'ld like to point out Apple user problems that annoy most people that will never be FIXED :
1. Not being able to view sites that use flash
2. Abscense of mini usb
3. Abscense of memory card
4. iTunes slavery..
anonymous 9 February, 2013 08:12
I'ld like to point out Apple user problems that annoy most people that will never be FIXED :
1. Not being able to view sites that use flash
2. Abscense of mini usb
3. Abscense of memory card
4. iTunes slavery..
anonymous 9 February, 2013 08:14
I'ld like to point out Apple user problems that annoy most people that will never be FIXED :
1. Not being able to view sites that use flash
2. Abscense of mini usb
3. Abscense of memory card
4. iTunes slavery..
taz 9 February, 2013 08:15
I'ld like to point out Apple user problems that annoy most people that will never be FIXED :
1. Not being able to view sites that use flash
2. Abscense of mini usb
3. Abscense of memory card
4. iTunes slavery..
In3D Limited 9 February, 2013 11:39
(I hope that this Message doesn't spam, like the one before Me did.).
Hello CNET. Followers,
It is my observation that a lot of People are looking for, "The Ultimate Phone", while forgetting that it's going to be different for each and Every Person.
If You want longer Battery Life, that's always been BlackBerry's thing.
If You want to Jailbreak an iPhone, why not just buy a Phone running Android to start with?
If Your Mobile Phone has become a Status Symbol, much like the Pen used to be, iPhones are surely the, "Parker Pens", of Today.
Your problem is of course, that everybody has one.
(Companies give Parker Pens out for free, quite often... As They do with iPads, funnily enough.).
To comment on an Anonymous User, I think that to say, (I'm not really a fan of Apple, I just know that They DO have a target Market, and that target market swears by Them,) that the Apple iPhone 5 hasn't changed much at all, since the 4...
Was a mistake.
A Bigger Screen, Custom CPU, Triple Core GPU, and 4G(!!!) to name a few differences between the iPhone 5 and the iPhone 4.
Oh, and the controversial, "Lightning Bolt", Connection.
If Apple has made the Perfect User Interface, or can at least make subtle differences at a rate that People can learn without struggling, (or even thinking about,) I think that is a point for Apple.
It's also a Score, for People who don't want to have to read a Manual, about how to use a Phone, when They've been using a Landline for Years.
anonymous 9 February, 2013 15:11
I disagree with all comments. I have a note 2 and it rocks. Gorgeous screen 80 gb of storage. Whats not 2 like. F..king awesome.
anonymous 10 February, 2013 02:31
Woz is nothing short of a genius.
He knows sales have been slipping, (in major part because more and more people are starting to realize it's the exact same phone year after year after year). So he says they are falling behind in the smartphone race. Next he will come out and announce new features x, y, and z to make Apple a "leader" again. Sales go up because the apple sheep eat it up... and then they exceed Wall St.'s earning expectations, and he gets a billion dollar bonus in compensation and stocks.
anonymous 10 February, 2013 18:28
Even as an Apple fan, I'm surprised they can get away with calling iOS 6 "The worlds most advanced operating system" - It's not.
anonymous 11 February, 2013 02:25
I live tech, all day, PCs, Macs, tablets, phones and more.
I am an Apple fan and iOS fan, but I'm not a fan of the iPhone itself. That said, the Samsung products my staff comes to me with simply don't have the build quality of the iPhone or some of the Motorola phones I've seen. The Samsung phones literally come apart at the seams. Since most folks are changing out phones every 18 months or so, I guess build quality isn't important to them. I'm testing a Motorola Electrify M now and it is a great phone, solid build, lightweight, nice controls, but the Android OS fails where I need it most.
While Android has some nice features, I really don't like the on screen keyboard and the email client is terrible, just terrible. I need visual cues from a distance, and those cues simply are not there. And syncing with Exchange is more difficult with Android than iOS. Since I only use my phone for phone calls and email, those are the most important features to me.
I don't need a camera, I don't watch movies, I don't need "no stinkin' apps." If you do, that's just fine with me.
I prefer driving cars with manual transmissions when I can because I like the control, but not everyone does, and I don't insult folks who have never driven a stick. Android has a manual transmission, and iOS has an automatic. Drive the one you want, leave the other folks alone.
anonymous 11 February, 2013 10:43
IOS is too isolated from other applications and although I now have An iPHONE 4 s and the iPAD 3
which I hardly use,because of interaction in-ability with ie WINDOWS,& OFFICE programs.
Sorry but however much I prefer the MAC and I products, my next upgrade will be :BACK TO
1. NOKIA
2. WINDOWS
3. WINDOWS PC (DELL) which I think is being bought by MS.
anonymous 11 February, 2013 12:43
I don't see Apple behind at all. I love my iPhone 5 simply because I'm not desperately seeking a product with new shiny bells and whistles many tech junkies seem obsessed with. Take NFC for example, hardly any places take it yet Apple is slated for not having it within their phones. Samsung plays up well to feeding people with what feels like the latest thing yet whether they work well or not is another matter. Whilst Apple isn't perfect, it works well for my busy lifestyle and I have tried many alternatives to see what the options are. If you don't mind cheap and very experimental then android phones are great but if you want something more solid in quality build and works well then Apple does that very nicely.
anonymous 11 February, 2013 14:38
Woz speaks the truth.
Personal preferences aside Android has been ahead of iOS for a long time now. There has been some worrying problems coming out of Apple recently with major WiFi and 3G bugs and Apple Maps in iOS6. I think there are problems within Apple in terms of how to deal with the competition, some people are saying change the OS, some saying keep it simple (for the automatic Honda Jazz brigade) and others saying don't innovate litigate. I'm not sure they will get it right.
anonymous 11 February, 2013 18:28
CHECK THIS OUT - IPHONE 5S OR 6 !!!!! Click on the link below ...
http://www.gizchina.com/2013/02/08/next-generation-iphone-5s-photographed-in-foxconn-factory/
anonymous 11 February, 2013 23:20
Apple were virtually forced to increase the size of the iphone 5 because of the popularity of larger android devices. And still they're behind the curve of the apparent sweet spot for multimedia devices.
Other manufacuters (especially Samsung) have been able to flood the market with different sized devices to see what was more popular... but Apple could have seen that, after being so influential in popularising the smart phone, that as a multimedia device size will always matter.
anonymous 11 February, 2013 23:33
A really major issue for Apple is their lack of a varied price structure to suit different people's budget. With android there is a multitude of different devices for every budget. When people get used to an android device it is probably more likely they're going to stick with that
There is no doubt that the iphone 5 is a premium product and a beautifully elegant artifact... but if apple aren't careful that is exactly what it will be, a tombstone over a once dominant player.
Torashin 7 March, 2013 22:20
"The iPhone 5 is a cracking mobile whichever way you slice it, but apart from a slimmed-down chassis there's little to separate it from 2011's iPhone 4S. Samsung meanwhile has enjoyed huge success with its 4.8-inch Galaxy S3, which is much larger and more powerful than the Galaxy S2."
WTF the iphone 5 is HUGELY more powerful than the 4s, and if size is what you want, it's also bigger... so the only 2 pluses he's given for the S3 can also be applied to the iPhone!
What a load of rubbish.
anonymous 10 March, 2013 11:17
people are not stupid (well apart from the people that buy Ipads, have to give it to apple, sell an iphone with a big screen and no function and people rave about it, its doesn't even run Mac OS X , suckers!!!!).
iOS looks the same as it did 4 years ago, nothing has changed no new design either or killer function. Sorry correction there was one Apple maps and that was actually so bad it was dangerous.
This will only get worse as the next Iphone 5s looks the same as the 5, 4s and 4 and works exactly the same. Have to remember it worked for Nokia for a few years then even with the cash pile they had they went almost in to administration. This is the road apple are going down, I give it 2 years if they keep doing the same.