And why shouldn’t they? Apple is (arguably) the best option for durability and electronic safety, and their products are just so cute. When you buy an Apple, you know it’s going to work, you know there’s only a tiny chance you’ll get a virus, and you know you have purchased from the most recognizable, and perhaps most respected computer/mobile device creator.

But why all the hoops? Why must we buy adapters to charge our new devices with our old cords? Why won’t our old computer chargers work with our new computers – even when the hardware is the same shape? When wanting an unlocked phone, why must we pay hundreds? And even after our wireless contract is fulfilled, the phone is still attached to the service provider – does that seem fair? (Especially since a profit is still being made on the signing price.) But most of all, Apple, why is everything so secretive?

Consumers have proved loyal release after surprise release, yet every new piece of electronic is still kept under pinky-sworn secrecy until launch day. Surely you can imagine our disappointment when minimal changes are made – after all that to-do we wanted screen unlock with facial recognition, two-week battery life, or at least the option of a new color.

Even for the fans, it’s hard to get past some of these glaring issues, especially as the products remain massively expensive with few updates in between.

In an alternate, un-secretive universe, Apple could leak their own news to see the feedback before a product hits shelves. Then again, maybe they just don’t care. Because of all the loyal fan money coming in (even the money they earn from new adapters matters), the company is still making ends meet and then some. Maybe it’s time to get past the “Apple can do no wrong” phase and realize that, just like every company, without happy customers, there’s no business. Without making some changes, Apple can’t stay on top forever. Let’s just hope said changes come before the growing pains are too great.

The post Without making some changes, Apple can’t stay on top forever first appeared on Techerator.

Well, as you probably know, this particular keynote event didn’t actually have a “one other thing” part. Instead, the event concluded with a slide telling us that in 2012 there is “a lot to look forward to.” After my initial disappointment that we hadn’t been given a tantalising glimpse of the new MacBook Pro or iPhone 5, I got to thinking: what do I actually want to see from Apple this year?

With that in mind, here is my own personal wish list for the iPhone 5 (or whatever Apple decide to call it). I have tried to keep my list practical – I don’t need a waterproof phone. Instead, these are things that would make the best phone I have ever possessed even better.

1. A New Form Factor

The fact that there was no change to the iPhone’s shape with the release of the 4S was a disappointment to many. It’s time for a change that makes the device look more modern and that makes it clear that it is a NEW iPhone. I imagine case manufacturers dream of this too!

2. A Better Siri

Apple need to prove that voice control is more than a toy, and this starts with making Siri more useful outside the US. Siri’s voice recognition accuracy gives a glimpse of how exciting this technology could be – so let’s see an exponential improvement.

3. Improved Durability

A study by a UK company found that 40% of UK iPhone users are using devices with a cracked screen. If Apple could find a way to make the devices less fragile, it would clearly please a lot of people. While we’re at it – we need a practical alternative to plastic screen protectors – they are near impossible to stick on without huge air bubbles.

4. 32GB on the Base Model

If you compare the cost of a 16GB flash drive with a 32GB flash drive it’s not a whole lot. With Apple clearly wanting us to invest in HD video via the iTunes store, they need to drop a couple of dollars of profit margin and give us more storage as standard.

5. Better Earbuds

It is surprising that a company as image-conscious as Apple continues to dish our earbuds that are widely known to be dreadful. It’s time for a change.

If Apple could tick those five boxes, none of which should be too hard to achieve, I may take my Apple addiction to a yet higher level and go and queue at an Apple store on launch day.

What would it take to make you do the same? Share your thoughts in the comments section.

The post My iPhone 5 Wish List first appeared on Techerator.

For starters, the 2012 Macworld has been renamed to “Macworld | iWorld” to focus more on the iOS platform along with the Macintosh platform. And event general manager Paul Kent even said that this year’s expo is “not a trade show – it’s a lifestyle event.” Whatever that means.

Even with the attempts to keep Macworld as relevant as possible, attendance hasn’t been the same. The 2007 Macworld saw 44,000 attendees. That was the year that Steve Jobs unveiled the iPhone. At last year’s Macworld, the attendance was down to 22,000 — exactly half of the attendance from four years earlier. Is it because Apple hasn’t been there recently to show off its newest toys? Probably so.

However, some vendors say that the lower attendance isn’t such a bad thing. Veteran developer Christopher Allen says that recent Macworld expos have given smaller companies more of an opportunity to get their name out:

At its height, Macworld was starting to take on some of the challenges of CES, where it was getting so huge it was hard for a small company to get visibility. But now that we’re a smaller Macworld, it might be a little easier to get the word out.”

Still, this years Macworld is filled with nothing but accessory vendors and application developers. Don’t get me wrong, the accessories are definitely cool if you filter out all of the inevitable crappy ones, but there hasn’t been anything new ever since Apple was there — not even accessories that use Apple’s latest Thunderbolt technology. Well, except one: Western Digital’s first Thunderbolt drive, the MyBook Thunderbolt Duo. It made an appearance at CES earlier this month, but details were scarce at that point. It’s back at this year’s Macworld, but it still doesn’t have a release date or a price.

Maybe I’m being too harsh on Macworld. It does, in fact, take place shortly after CES, which makes it seem like somewhat of an afterthought, so maybe the lack of innovation and new products is expected at such an event. One thing’s for sure, though: Macworld is definitely not a news-worthy event any more. No longer will you see journalists lined up outside readying their laptops for a rigorous live blog that’s to come. It’s now simply a centralized place for companies and vendors to hawk their products to all of the Apple iFans puttering around.

The post Macworld 2012: Not what it used to be first appeared on Techerator.