![LALC Vice President of External Affairs Raeanne Li (11) explains the International Phonetic Alphabet to attendees. "We decided to have more fun topics this year instead of just talking about the same things every year so our older members can also [enjoy],” Raeanne said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/DSC_4627-1200x795.jpg)
![“[Building nerf blasters] became this outlet of creativity for me that hasn't been matched by anything else. The process [of] making a build complete to your desire is such a painstakingly difficult process, but I've had to learn from [the skills needed from] soldering to proper painting. There's so many different options for everything, if you think about it, it exists. The best part is [that] if it doesn't exist, you can build it yourself," Ishaan Parate said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/DSC_8149-900x604.jpg)
![“When I came into high school, I was ready to be a follower. But DECA was a game changer for me. It helped me overcome my fear of public speaking, and it's played such a major role in who I've become today. To be able to successfully lead a chapter of 150 students, an officer team and be one of the upperclassmen I once really admired is something I'm [really] proud of,” Anvitha Tummala ('21) said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Screen-Shot-2021-07-25-at-9.50.05-AM-900x594.png)
![“I think getting up in the morning and having a sense of purpose [is exciting]. I think without a certain amount of drive, life is kind of obsolete and mundane, and I think having that every single day is what makes each day unique and kind of makes life exciting,” Neymika Jain (12) said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Screen-Shot-2017-06-03-at-4.54.16-PM.png)
![“My slogan is ‘slow feet, don’t eat, and I’m hungry.’ You need to run fast to get where you are–you aren't going to get those championships if you aren't fast,” Angel Cervantes (12) said. “I want to do well in school on my tests and in track and win championships for my team. I live by that, [and] I can do that anywhere: in the classroom or on the field.”](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/DSC5146-900x601.jpg)
![“[Volleyball has] taught me how to fall correctly, and another thing it taught is that you don’t have to be the best at something to be good at it. If you just hit the ball in a smart way, then it still scores points and you’re good at it. You could be a background player and still make a much bigger impact on the team than you would think,” Anya Gert (’20) said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/AnnaGert_JinTuan_HoHPhotoEdited-600x900.jpeg)
![“I'm not nearly there yet, but [my confidence has] definitely been getting better since I was pretty shy and timid coming into Harker my freshman year. I know that there's a lot of people that are really confident in what they do, and I really admire them. Everyone's so driven and that has really pushed me to kind of try to find my own place in high school and be more confident,” Alyssa Huang (’20) said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/AlyssaHuang_EmilyChen_HoHPhoto-900x749.jpeg)
Release date of iPhones 5S and 5C looms, eliciting mixed student response
Apple revamped its iPhone lineup on Sept. 10 with the introduction of two new phones, the iPhones 5S and relatively low-cost iPhone 5C. Several students seem to be quite enthusiastic about the new models.
“Apple’s awesome! Way better than Samsung! I hope Apple stays at the top.” Nicolas Bean (9).
The iPhone 5S is a minor update to Cupertino’s popular iPhone 5, which debuted last year. It boasts a new fingerprint authentication feature, a highly improved camera, and a new gold color. Also, the iPhone 5S is the first 64-bit smartphone, a feature that will allow many applications and services to run faster and more efficiently. This device was not available for pre-order, unlike all other Apple devices, and simply went on sale on Sept. 20 online and in store.
The 5C is the more budget-friendly model and the cheapest iPhone made yet. It is made of a polycarbonate frame reinforced with steel and comes in a variety of colors: pink, blue, green, yellow, and white. The iPhone 5C still maintains the design and four-inch Retina Display of the previous iPhone 5. It has an 8-megapixel camera and features LTE data connectivity. Rumor in the tech world has it that Apple launched the 5C in hopes of widening its user base in Asian countries such as China, where previous iPhones did not have much of an impact.
The 5S model and 5C model start at $199 and $99 respectively with a two-year contract. The phone is available on many carriers such as AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, and T-mobile.
Along with the new iPhones, Apple debuted a software update for its phones and tablets, dubbed “iOS 7.” iOS 7 brings a major user interface overhaul; the design of the software has been completely remodeled. The application icons now feature a flatter and more colorful look. The fonts, as well as the color schemes of the applications have changed.
The animations and transitions between apps have also been revamped, giving the software a very different feel compared to previous versions. In addition, the software brings the popular “Airdrop” feature to the iPhone, previously exclusive to Mac computers. AirDrop allows users to share photos, documents, and many other files wirelessly from one iPhone to another. iOS 7 also has improved multitasking: when a user switches out of one application and into another one, the one temporarily left will keep on updating itself so that it is ready to use once switched back.
Another new attribute of iOS 7 is iTunes Radio. iTunes Radio, similar to other music-streaming apps such as Pandora and Spotify, allows users to listen to their favorite music stations from their iPhones and iPads. This software update is available for the iPhone 4, 4S, 5, 5S, and 5C. It is also available for the iPad family; only the iPad mini and the iPad 2 and higher support the upgrade.
A myriad of students have already been talking about the new iPhones. Several of them see these devices as the best Apple phones yet.
“I love the new user interface of the iPhone 5S and the sleekness of the phone. It’s just beautiful” Shikhar Dixit (11) said.
However, some believe that Apple’s ideas are no longer innovative and fresh.
“I definitely like the fingerprint scanner, but I still was hoping for more improvements in the 5S and 5C. In my opinion, Apple’s slowing down.” Raveena Kapatkar (9) said.
For many, Apple’s iPhone launch foreshadows its future. Since the iPhone 4 launched back in 2010 with former CEO Steve Jobs at the reins, the design of the device has remained relatively the same.
Many students feel that Apple is not the same without Steve Jobs and that it was his creativity that made Apple one of the world’s most valuable companies. Since his death, many are wary of Apple’s success; the drop in the company’s stock price after the new iPhones were announced is only a small piece of evidence.
In spite of all this, many still believe that Apple is not headed on the path of decline. In fact, the company has many loyal followers who have always supported the Apple ecosystem.
“I [do not] think [Apple] is done because they’ve become a cult obsession. They will always have followers,” said Wei Wei Buchsteiner (12).
Apple is also rumored to enter the smartwatch market soon with its own device. There were also talks about the company building its own television set. Whether these ideas turn into finished products available to consumers or are simply shelved remains to be seen.
This piece was originally published in the pages of The Winged Post in September 2013.
Vedant Thyagaraj is the Science & Technology Editor for Harker Aquila. He is currently a senior and has been on staff for the past three years. Vedant...
Tara Parimi (12) is co-Editor-in-Chief of Harker Aquila, and this is her fourth year on staff. She has been involved with the upper school's journalism...