I’ve been sitting on the sidelines as a designer and watching as Apple created its first iPhone, then its next, and its next. Technically, it has changed but in design, hardly. If I were visually impaired, I would see the iPhone as not having changed much over time. Sure, it has gone from square to round edges and a better camera, but where has it not?

I’ll throw in a disclaimer now and say that this is not entirely based on facts or research but as much as I’ve looked at the iPhone as a technologist, I’m still held back from buying it. I use a Motorola phone, not because it’s an Android but because of its simplicity in staying committed to using one account. I use a Macbook Pro for design. I don’t need to see your fanboy comments. Even so, consider reading this and see how you can win over another percentage of customers, Apple.

Here are the two reasons that I’ll never buy an iPhone or iOS device. First, when you set up an iPhone you need two separate accounts, one for Apple (iCloud) and the other for iTunes. Second, that glass. I’ve seen Motorola develop a phone that can be dropped from 10 feet or more and their “glass” (plastic) does not crack or even scratch. If Motorola can do it, I’m sure Apple can figure out a way to do it. Every person that I meet always mentions how their glass has cracked in some way.

I’m a frugal person when it comes to smartphones and cell data contracts. I research out the best phone design among Android and iOS, then settle for it at full price with a GSM SIM card slot. I plan to use it for five years at the very least and pay for a no-contract plan. I used to pay large contract bills a long time ago, but then as pay-as-you-go evolved and several no-contract companies came out, I moved to them. I’m not a T-mobile customer but I like what their CEO, John J. Legere, (don’t approve of his foul-mouth YouTube talks) is doing to the industry and find it a bold step forward.

Thank you for allowing more Google products into your App Store and not restricting them!

Rumors of Apple using the Thunderbolt connector for audio, hopefully that’s only a rumor. I don’t see the audio plug/jack combo going anywhere. I’m not interested in using a special adaptor just for Apple products. I remember when Gateway was all about proprietary design for their internals.

If you’re still reading this, I have one more suggestion. Drop the prices by $200 on your phones for no-contract users.

To whomever took the time to read this critique, thank you! It is not meant to be harsh even if it comes off as so. Maybe there was something in this that you could take away. I’ve been wanting to write my thoughts about the iOS system (for a while) because I think it could be better received if the sign-in process was simpler and the phone physically lasted longer (more value) for the no-contract paying population.

Maybe it is time to step further away from just being “outside the box” and get a new perspective on the iPhone, start from scratch again and wow us. You are all a great set of people and I know you are more than capable of refreshing your design.