Under the revamped schedule, Tech Stuff will now appear twice a month on Fridays. And how convenient that the iPhone 5 was announced by Apple this week? Their announcement also included the release of IOS6, new iPod Touches and Nanos, and a revamped iTunes. Was there anything to be excited about?

I’ve long lusted after an iPhone, but I just can’t justify one. I want a mobile phone that makes phone calls. I like that it has a clock and maybe some countdown timers. An alarm clock feature is great. An audio recording capability is good. A large, easy-to-read color screen is also nice. I don’t care if it plays music. I don’t want it to access the internet. I don’t want it to play games.

I. Just. Want. A. Phone.

The iPhone doesn’t meet those criteria. That said, some nice features appeared with the iPhone 5. A 4″ diagonal screen without a wider footprint so the phone still fits into the hand comfortably is a winner. The A6 chip is another plus as well as three microphones and better cameras front and back. Mobile social media types and people who conduct a lot of interviews were salivating. LTE on all US iPhone carriers as well as a significant number of international carriers.

Here’s where I’m tempted. Assuming I could get LTE, no additional cost tethering, and a shared data plan for the iPhone 5 and the MiFi, we might be talking. I still need the MiFi, because hubby wants it when I’m not around, and I wouldn’t be able to give him my iPhone (for, I hope, obvious reasons), but with a shared data plan, data costs might be borne more easily and less might go to waste (assuming the LTE is as speedy and data hungry as I’ve heard). Of course, we don’t have LTE at the Central TX house, so that wouldn’t be a problem.

One thing I DO like on my phone is a camera. Even hubby uses his. Our phone contract is up in November. He hates his current phone, but I suspect he also might detest an iPhone. On the other hand, he does like to check weather, and he does use the camera. I’d be tempted to get him the no cost iPhone 4, because there are a couple of apps he might use, and he would use the camera. The Pantech Crux is a touch interface, which he isn’t fond of, but he is moderately comfortable with the iPad interface. Or, maybe we’ll just stay with the Cruxes for now. As long as they work.

It’s worth some evaluation. I did a little checking at the Verizon site, and the new Share Everything plan appears to take effect when we make any changes to our account. Tethering is no longer an additional charge to activate. That means we could get two smartphones with mobile hot spots and turn in the MiFi. Hubby is attracted to that idea, because he claims I always have the MiFi when he wants it.

I didn’t follow much of the news about the iTunes update. I figure iTunes is what it is. I hope it isn’t too bad when it rolls out, because I’m stuck with it no matter what. The real excitement came with the Nano and Touch announcements. I think they did some very nice things here.

My Third Generation iPod Nano (8G, black) still works just fine, but I am envious of the generous screen on the new Nanos. It’s also a touch screen with a home button. It looks very practical. The fifth generation iPod Touch is particularly impressive. It’s on the iPhone 5 form factor, cameras are upgraded, and it has some really cool capabilities. The Shuffle has new colors.

Everything also comes with new EarPods (except the Shuffle, apparently) and a new 8-pin dock connector, which, sadly, is still not micro-USB compatible.

All in all, Apple seems to have done a nice job with their new offerings. I predict they will be wildly popular and sell rapidly. I’d be tempted by the new music devices, but the two old ones I still have (even Dying on the Vine iPod from 2002 is still hanging in there after a battery replacement and a week’s worth of wrestling with it) are doing fine.

What did you think of these latest releases?