The iPhone is not a smartphone
by Ryan Block, posted Jan 9th 2007 at 9:41PM
And the reality slowly sets in about what the
iPhone is and is not. Noted analyst and Engadget pal Michael Gartenberg stated that the iPhone is first party software ONLY -- i.e. not a smartphone by conventional terms, being that a smartphone is a platform device that allows software to be installed. That means hungry power-users -- you know, those people ready and willing to plunk down $600 for an 8GB musicphone -- won't be able to extend the functionality of their phone any more than Apple (but thankfully not Cingular) dictates. Other unfortunate realities about the device:
- No 3G. We know you know, but still, it hurts man.
- No over the air iTunes Store downloads or WiFi syncing to your host machine.
- No expandable memory.
- No removable battery.
- No Exchange or Office support.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Phydeaux @ Jan 9th 2007 9:54PM
Somebody get me up to speed here... EDGE isn't 3G?
Karan @ Jan 9th 2007 10:43PM
Phydeaux: no, it's more like "2.5G", with data rates around 100kb/s. HSPDA, which is 3G, is more like 1.8Mb/s.
Phillip @ Jan 9th 2007 10:57PM
Gartenberg's observations aside, Apple could obviously offer a Parallels version for iPhone...but then again -- why shouild it? If not offering software products like "Snapperfish" or "Documents to Go" is a big "unfortunate reality" for the iPhone, then Gartenberg's measure of what's cool is really juvenile.
Also note the mega difference in the way Jobs intros his product and the way MS introed the Zune bomb. It ain't subtle.
iPhone isn't a mere smart phone. It's a brilliant phone.
Apple is undeniably the new technology benchmark against which all others are measured today.
ZODIAC @ Jan 9th 2007 10:58PM
Phydeaux, you could call EDGE 2.75G, to make it fit somewhere between 2 and 3G.
T Man @ Jan 9th 2007 11:47PM
The biggest "con" (in both definitions of the word) is the lack of a replaceable battery. All of the iPeople are going nuts over this device, but imagine if ANY other manufacturer tried to see a phone without a replaceable battery? That would not be a tolerable trade-off. So, what we really see is that Apple has secured a nice constant cash flow as the batteries start conching out and the sheep-like minions upgrade to the next version.
The lack of expandable memory also is the same con: force users to upgrade when the 16 GB version comes out next year.
I'd hate to do OTA downloads of music over EDGE, so that is not really a big con.
Lacking any real details on the OS I don't know if it will be expandable at all, or if you will be locked in to buying software apps through iTunes (likely).
So, let's see. An overall impressive device that probably has a great interface and an excellent external design, with some great features, but is hobbled by a few big gripes, at a very high price. People might call this the iPhone 1.0, but I call it the Newton 2.0.
Phillip @ Jan 9th 2007 11:54PM
The Zune fanboys are still smarting, so it seems. They'd love to see a Newton, but all they got is a Bob. Boo Hoo.
Jared @ Jan 10th 2007 12:18AM
EDGE is so far from 3G UMTS/HSDPA. Average EDGE speed is about 100kbps, slightly faster than a dailup modem. UMTS average speed is three times as fast (300kbps) with burst up seven times as fast (700kbps) when the network is not busy. Once Cingular finishes the upgrade to HSDPA, well can you say FAST?
The iPhone is truly a revolutionary device and it will stur up competition in the cellular market. This will surely help Cingular, or should I say the new AT&T, stay on top. People are already talking about switching from Do you hear me now? (Verizon Wireless) to the Most Reliable Dropped Calls (J/K). I love the fact that the phone allows you to talk, send a text, and surf the web at the same time. I thought that wasn't possible over EDGE. Guess the boys at Cingular were hard at work to make it possible for Apple.
Palm and RIM stock's fell before the keynote even finished. Steve Jobs does a real good job at selling this as a smartphone, but the iPhone is no smartphone. Having voice, music, videos and photos along with the internet does not make it a smartphone. Being able to add applications, customizing the unit to your personal and business needs, having a true email client that supports MS Exchange and EXCHANGE push email (not Yahoo! IMAP), calendar, notes, etc is what makes a smartphone. The real companies that should shit their pants are Motorola, Sony Ericsson & Nokia. Hopefully this means the last of the RAZR series.
I'm a little skeptical about the touch screen functions, especially because Steve Jobs said "opps" one too many times while trying to operate the unit. The battery life is the next concern. Generally when Apple says 16 hours, they really mean 8 hours. So the 5 hours of talk time, video or wi-fi on that device probably means a weak 2.5 hours, still better than a RAZR, but for a multimedia multifunctional unit, that may be a problem. 5 hours in a 11.6mm, with Wi-Fi which is a battery killer, I have to see it to believe it. The fact that it keeps the 30 pin dock connector is a plus because if your battery is dying, you can go to any electronic store and pick up a charger.
The storage WILL be a problem if Apple uses a 4GB or 8GB hard drive. No one wants their phone freezing, espeically if its in your pocket and your unaware of it. Hopefully they will use the flash drives as they have been using in the 2nd gen Nanos.
The device is very sexy, very glossy, like an ipod of course. But unfortunately, this probably will come with scratches. I don't want that on my cell phone and I truly hate cases that adds inches to the dimensions of the phone. A cell phone goes thru a lot more wear and tear than an iPod, and with no keys there is the potential for serious damage to this device. Cingular is notorious for not offering insurance for expensive devices, namely "smartphones".
Like I said before, I really like this device, but not for me, for my girlfriend. If you have a blackberry and dont need it for business and Exchange server, buy the iPhone it is worth the investment. If your short on pocket/ purse space and want to combine your devices, buy the iPhone it's worth the money. If your tired of your RAZR, sidekick or similar multimedia phone, buy the iPhone it's worth the money. But if your a power user like me, if you have a Treo or a Blackberry and you know that your a power user, I would wait for the next one, and knowing Apple, I wouldn't be surprised to see a new device at the next MacWorld in 2008, six months after the original release.
Jon Williams @ Jan 10th 2007 12:35AM
No Exchange or Office support. -- Dude, we haven't heard anything about third party apps on this thing, but from the fact that it runs OS X, I would not be surprised to see 3rd party applications ported with just a replacement NIB and a recompile for whatever cpu this thing uses. We'll have to wait and hear what they're going to tell developers though.
Josh @ Jan 10th 2007 12:43AM
it looks cool, but i own a smartphone myself, and i will never will buy a regular "phone" ever again. its the greatest thing in the world
JimD @ Jan 10th 2007 12:49AM
"...Jobs said "opps" one too many times while trying to operate the unit."
I remember him saying oops once..when he made a typo.
"The storage WILL be a problem if Apple uses a 4GB or 8GB hard drive."
Not a hard drive....flash memory.
Do you people even listed?
David @ Jan 10th 2007 12:52AM
Just to pile on:
1) It runs OS X, how is that not a "platform device that allows software to be installed?" The fact it runs widgets, which are little JAVA applications, shows it can have 3rd party apps. Apple's own Pages can open and edit Word docs, I'm sure there will be a document viewing solution.
2) I would bet my left one that if you need a replacement battery, you could send it in to Apple and have it installed (just like iPods of today).
3) The WiFi abilities are far from final form, and it's likely there will be a mobile iTunes Store using it. It's a no brainer.
4) This is the FIRST GEN we're talking about. The iPhone is here to stay, and I'm sure if it is a success that Apple pump a lot more into it.
I hope Apple makes a CDMA version. As it stands Cingular service in D.C. is an abomination, and I'd hate to give up my rock solid VZW.
P.S. AT&T/CINGULAR: BUY SOME MORE DAMN TOWERS IN DC!
Nestor @ Jan 10th 2007 1:21AM
Too bad the Cingular 8525 gets no big MAC expo type exposure. It beats the pants of the iPod turned phone and has 3G to boot. Going by iPods, I suggest all you save your money and not buy these flashy gadget until Apple finally puts in removable batteries. That situation is the Achilles heel of the iPod players and I can't believe Apple is pulling this fast one on it's sheepish heard.
CLShortFuse @ Jan 10th 2007 1:35AM
in a quick summary
EDGE = 2.5G
UMTS = 3G
HSDPA = 3.5G
mario @ Jan 10th 2007 1:42AM
Just watched the Stevenote, the iPhone supports MS Exchange IMAP. I do think there will 3rd party apps available for this device.
Billy Bear @ Jan 10th 2007 1:46AM
Please - this is a nice toy and won't be used by serious email/biz users. No Exchange/Outlook sync is a joke. So my 2000 contacts get loaded and more importantly synced how? I get my Outlook email how? I type faster by moving my hand all over a smudgy screen instead of using one thumb? Doubt it.
Don't get me wrong, this looks like a great device if you are a student, for your wife, kids, but it won't/can't be picked up by the biz crowd. That's if they can afford it. Of course his goal was only 1% of the market so perhaps that's intentional. Although it is odd that OSx runs Outlook but the phone, which runs OSx, can't.
istefano @ Jan 10th 2007 1:50AM
The interface is phenomenal. Apple has turned the Berkeley Infopad - a grail of the wireless technology community for more than a decade - from a concept to a product. As far as 2.5G vs. 3G, I don't relish paying a provider the high price of 3G when I can use Wi-Fi instead. I envision using this phone mostly in the 802.11 space. In fact, I'm disappointed that it is sold bundled to a carrier.
One other disappointment - Video iChat could see its user base multiply with iPhone - but apparently not this iPhone.
Still - I think Jobs just hit one out of the park. Good for us.
emigre @ Jan 10th 2007 2:07AM
since when does a true email client have to support exchange? that's like saying to be a true car it has to be a ford. microsoft doesn't own the rights to email. and why would an apple product with a port of the FLAWLESS mail program want to run the competitors email? hey zune, why don't you download songs from itunes... that would make you a true music player. :)
if you think 3rd parties will be excluded from developing for this thing you're crazy. it runs widgets as well as full apps. apple is so tight lipped with new products that the entire industry just saw this thing 12 hours ago. did you expect to see 3rd party software available right now? not unless it's crucial to the release - yahoo/cingular/google. joe's shareware shack wasn't going to get a pre-release version so jobs could say "and check out this program for turning yourself into a dancing elf."
as for edge, i agree it would be great to have edge, but wifi G should be good enough. you can use your hspda/3g 10 billion bps download speed to max out your wap browser and $2 a pop mms and brag about it for all i care.
...and how many replacement batteries do you carry around for your smartphone? anyone who's actually smart enough to need a smartphone should have no problem opening this thing up and replacing the battery. this is the way the world ends. cutting edge today, bargain basement in 12 months. every gadget you own will be obsolete before the battery is dead in this thing anyway.
...lack of expandable memory? how big of a micro sd card can your phone support? ohh 2 gigs. sweet. you can wait in line with the minions to upgrade to that nanoSD phone next year that should hold 8 gigs, and the 32 gig picoSD sportin' treo in '09 when they break the 1/2 thickness barrier. toss out that huge form factor tiny capacity transflash while you're at it, along with the smartphone and your compactflash vga digicam from '97. my iphone will be on ebay for 200 bucks in '08 when i order v3.0. maybe by then i'll have dumped cingular... err at&t... err philip morris or whoever my wireless provider is by then.
erik @ Jan 10th 2007 2:38AM
Who the hell cares about Windows apps? This thing isnt for business people. Stick to you suit and tie Blackberry.
Jobs just scratched the surface on this. Wait intill the Developer Confrence for more info on this.
Gordon Cooper @ Jan 10th 2007 2:41AM
I think this is going to be revolutionary for a number of reasons.
Think of an insurance company accident investigator going to an accident site, taking images, emailing them into a report, dropping in the coordinates for a Google map and putting in some brief comments via voice mail.
You could use this to build a walking tour commentary with images of any place that had cell service that supports this carrier.
With a software tweak, this thing could even become the hand held equivalent of an aircraft black box--it has an accelerometer and almost certainly will support gps. Shouldn't take much to bring this to market.
I hope that the carrier and Apple are going to put actual strong battle-tested front end encryption into the device, and not just some "security by obscurity" junk.
The iPhone could also be the perfect target for corporate or government espionage or privacy right violations. Step one--go overseas and get a mailing address. Step two--import a couple of dozen cell phone capable broadband receivers from the US and set up shop outside of a target location. Step three--anything you can think of to do with email, phone messages, etc. from your target.
Captainmicahp @ Jan 10th 2007 2:43AM
If it doesn't have a replaceable battery, What are we going to put our sim cards under?
Shane @ Jan 10th 2007 2:44AM
This product will revolutionize the way that big cellphone manufacturers look at mobile devices. To say that this product is anything other than a quantum leap in mobile phones is ludicrous!
No 3G? It's the 1st version!!
No expandable memory? It's got an 8Gb HD!!
No Office support? That's a software remedy that Apple can fix!
No removeable battery? My first thought is that, that is a little silly, but come to think of it, I have never replaced a battery in the the 20 or so cellphones I have ever had!! I just replaced the phone!!
I am not an Apple fanatic. As a matter of fact, I own ZERO apple products (other than my V3i with iTunes), but I proudly say that I WILL buy this product.
Thank you Apple for moving this market in the right direction.
Dan @ Jan 10th 2007 3:10AM
i think they should have wait on this little bit longer cuz really for me
i hate cingular i think there crap sux ive had t-mobile for years and there more international or just make them unlocked which would really change the cell phone industry . The video ipod was released in 2005 hello APPLE and also too i know first ipod was only 4 gigs but this is 2007 and for video with widescreen thats not a lot and i think i can say for all the real ipod video people out there 30 gigs is ok for anyone . I really love apple they are the best but today i think wasn't really that happy what they did was amazing hands down but too soon and kinda made me feel left out for all standard ipod people . Personally i think they should keep everything way it is but more storage and the provider should be no one unlocked for everyone then apple would make millions and since they didn't update normal ipod , sales might slow down for apple ?????? also price is very high and before you start yelling for what u get out the box couldn't go wrong come on people a full version of OSX !!!! stupid Windows mobile doesn't come close it shouldn't be called iphone should be icomputer with phone etc .........
George @ Jan 10th 2007 3:33AM
I have used UMTS in both Europe (UK, and Germany) and Asia (Hong Kong), and trust me, UMTS 3Git's much slower than you would hope. It shines when you steam content, but when you deal with multiple connection (i.e. loading a web page), it doesn't really perform well.
OTOH, Cingular's HSDPA (3.5G) network is pretty fast by any reguard I am using a HTC Tytn in the Bay Area. It feels like I am on Wi-fi most of the time.
Just don't buy into the 3G hype. EDGE + Wi-fi is a great combo for iPhone as a 1.0 product.
Jeff @ Jan 10th 2007 4:42AM
The day that the Zune came out, I was standing by a MS rep in my local Best Buy who was almost wetting his pants to get one. I asked him about it, etc. and he accidently told me that the firmware is able to bridge VOIP w/ WiFi on the hardware. Just think if a Skype client was integrated into a firmware update for the Zune!! No 2-year Cingular/iPhone contract!! I'd buy the Zune in a heartbeat if MS enabled WiFi/VOIP.
True, the UI isn't the greatest on the Zune BUT I don't have to get my greasy fingerprints all over the screen to do anything. The MS points system needs some tweaking.
I really think the Zune is a 'sheep in wolf's clothing' - Gates is no dummy!
GermanQR @ Jan 10th 2007 4:44AM
Saw and heard the keynote address, visited Apple.com's site devoted to the thing, read quite a few comments on blogs... there's so much hype around I can hardly believe it.
The iPhone is a cool, beautiful gadget (Apple style, of course), but please guys: Version 1.0 is still six months off, with no 3G while Nokia and others already have 3G multimedia smartphones out there that outstrip iPhone's capabilities. I mean, seriously, no 3G? How can this be touted as an "internet phone"?
Cool looks aside, I can't see anything that this (still unborn) baby can do that can't be done by other handsets in the market today. Unfortunately for Apple, in six months Nokia will have a couple of fine additions to its N Series and SonyEricsson will keep improving their Walkman branded line-up (the W850i is impressive). That, on the Symbian 60 side. There is a lot going on on the Windows Mobile side and in six months I doubt there won't be some serious, 3G contenders.
To sum it up, I think the iPhone won't be mature until a 3G version is launched. By then the competition will be cut-throat and, in this market, Apple is a new entrant. We'll see whether the iPod's success can be repeated here.
Mark Nelson @ Jan 10th 2007 5:56AM
I'd really love to see this with EVDO-like speeds and with "phone as modem" support.
There will probably be a host of 3rd party apps for this ... and they'll all be sold via iTunes. That way Apple can keep control of what's available and closely track sales figures.
Using iTunes for everything also helps unify the "iXXX" product line.
The initial iPhone euphoria is wearing off for me. After swearing to everyone I know that I'd drop Sprint (and my PPC6700) to get this phone, I actually think I'll wind up waiting until next year, or at least until the next versions of iPhone and Cingular wireless data services.
Roy @ Jan 10th 2007 6:32AM
In summary, it's great for people upgrading from a normal phone, but disappointing for people (myself included) who currently own top-end smartphones.
So HTC won't be worried. Motorola et al will have to up their game though.
Woz @ Jan 10th 2007 8:39AM
Listen to the keynote again - 3G is coming. Obviously not in this v1.0 iPhone, but iPhone 2.0 perhaps?
noodle @ Jan 10th 2007 8:47AM
I am majorly dissapointed...I love the concept, but for the reasons laid out, mostly, that its got no 3g and is on cingular(Ghetto).
I switched from cingular to verizon's evdo and ot a treo 700p. This iphone, while almost there, just doesn't cut it for me. But I'm sure all those non smartphone using people will like it.
I'll wait till it is on evdo, and someone has learned how to manipulate the software to add functionality. Good concept, but falls short of my standards for the "best"
Arnold @ Jan 10th 2007 8:52AM
I just hope the iPhone inspires HTC to make their new phones thiner. And I realy like the multi-touch screen. Besides that the iPhone doesn't do anything new.
Erik @ Jan 10th 2007 9:00AM
It's bigger than my Treo.
No HSPADA.
$500
I question the soft keyboard. I don't think a tightly spaced keyboard with no tactile feedback will work. I bet the add a stylus.
I'm betting real world 90-120 minutes talk time, 24 hours standby.
pr0xie @ Jan 10th 2007 9:49AM
I really question the full web page idea......
I mean who would want to browse full web pages at Edge speeds? That is just wrong.
I'm taking the view that is is a wide-screen iPod Video that you can talk on and sometimes surf the web with.
Seven @ Jan 10th 2007 9:54AM
I have used WM5 and while impressive in its capability, it falters in stability. I put a VX6700 on eBay to go back to a BB and paid full retail to go back to the BB.
I am a heavy BB user and will be switching to this phone. I am a bit concerned about the lack of 3G but wi-fi (seamless switching) will improve this over time, especially at home or places I frequent for lunch.
I will be upset if there is not a removable batter that I can supplement with an extra one as 5 hours does not seem like long. The more I think about it, the more I know I can charge this phone while at work or at home, JUST LIKE I do with my BB.
The integration of chat, email, iPod, Safari, etc looks to be very, very impressive. I am a Mac user with a .mac account and have all my data sync'ed so this could be very good for folks like me.
And on the free push Yahoo mail, you can always foward from a client such as Gmail to this push-Yahoo client to get true push from whatever account you want. I don't even use the BB Web Client to add accounts, I just forward to the BB WC and let Gmail accounts filter out all the spam.
Can't wait to get mine.
Seven @ Jan 10th 2007 9:54AM
erik,
nothing is stopping you from using a stylus....and compared to a BB qwerty keyboard, this will be nice. I am curious as to the lack of tactile...
RumpyPumpy @ Jan 10th 2007 10:41AM
I just love Apple Computer fanbo...ooops! Did I just say Apple Computer? Exsqueeze me, I meant Apple; new name, you know (a rose by any name...). Somehow, I always feel like playing 'Lemmings' everytime I read anything from the iPod zombies.
Seven @ Jan 10th 2007 10:54AM
Apple fanbo.....
Hmmmm, let me download some anti-spyware, oh, I don't need it. Let me buy some anti-virus, oh, don't need that either, let me make sure I have the drivers for this new device I bought, oh, probably don't need those drivers either.. How about ensuring that my default firewarll settings are settign me up for trouble, yup, all is good. Oh, let me see if I can organzize all my media so I can find it,..oh I think looking under Music, Photos and Videos will do.
When Windows makes ANYTHING that is halfway stable and doesn't require hardware and memory upgrades to stay current, give us Apple fanbo... a call. INCLUDING WM5.
Seven @ Jan 10th 2007 10:56AM
if WM5 can help my spelling in that post, maybe I will consider..jk Maybe I need that Apple touch keyboard after all..
DJ @ Jan 10th 2007 11:08AM
Three comments regarding the iPhone
1. Revolutionary? Hardly I seem to remember the Newton using gestures, but I guess Jobs would prefer to forget about that. Also Sun introduced a Human Interactions Concept back in 1997 at the Sun Developers Conference at Moscone which showed the sun fire architecture (not the hardware SunFire), but software which modeled the gestures interfaces on workstations, PDA and cellphone style devices.
2. 3G? please are we really so wrapped into the cellphone company's way of thinking we should do wireless networking? one word WiMAX will be the watchword for 2007 and 2008 (well I least I hope so)
3. iPhone is pretty, nicely done and I like the fact it uses OSX, but thats just me :)
Kevin @ Jan 10th 2007 11:09AM
The phone is incredibly beautiful but not for me. It will appeal to those whole love ipods, razr like phones, sidekicks, and the trendy.
Beefs
1.lack of 3G. Since I have been using 3G, going back to EDGE seems painfull
2. battery. not because i am worrying about the battery becoming useless. Just because the way i use my phone it will be dead before noon. Guess I won't be recieving phone calls for the rest of the day cause I can't plunk in a backup battery
3. i love touch screen. i had my 8525 stolen. used a blackjack to replace and find myself hitting the screen and nothing happening. annoying. but using a touch screen keyboard blows. ok for a really short message.
4. i have yahoo mail but don't like to use it. do i want to forward all my mail accounts. no. my inbox will look like crap.
phone is darn sexy though. makes my old 8525 look like the old brick that it is. but a very talented brick. heck even the treo i had way back when could have its infared used as a universal remote.
markymarkcirca @ Jan 10th 2007 11:11AM
@ T man: Apple is not forcing consumers to buy their device. I agree it's a pretty sneaky way of Getting consumers to upgrade more frequently but "forcing" isn't the correct word you were looking for..
Kenny T @ Jan 10th 2007 12:24PM
Let's face it... 3G will take another year or more to be mainstream. The 3G mobiles today are so underused and the mobile data plans (in Asia at least), are still not affordable enough to make it a ubiquitious hit.
Steve Jobs did say during the Macworld keynote that 3G technology is in the roadmap. He's never big on making a product that the market and technology is not ready for. Seriously, credit has to be given when it is due because the iPhone WILL revolutionize the way people design smartphones. When Steve Jobs was throwing out the disadvantage of a "smartphone", I felt a definite connection and a painful truth about what we consider smartphones today.
This is the first iPhone, i don't expect it to be perfect. There's the question of where's the productivity suite? If only google could work something out on it's new spreadsheet and word processing module to fit the iPhone, it could spell a real threat to Windows Mobile.
But as far as emails, phone calls and digital music go, there's nothing sexier than the iPhone. The Dopod C720W comes close. But Sheesh... have you seen a Nokia N91 lately? It would make a sperm whale look like a Brad Pitt.
aalqadaffi @ Jan 10th 2007 12:42PM
Nice shiny cool package. But I think it's lacking any real features I would want. I'm not going to drop $600 for a "cool" phone. I've got a BlackBerry 8700 and an N71. I'm fine using them both b/c together it's an unbeatable combo. And as far as this thing giving Nokia any serious competition. That's laughable.
CBall @ Jan 10th 2007 2:15PM
Did any of you that are whining about not supporting Exchange actually watch the Keynote??? It does support MS Exchange. Now granted, we don't have many details on it, but in plain letters up on the screen it said, MS Exchange. Apple is smart enough to know that business users will want this phone...the last thing they're gonna do is alienate the big spenders.
JR @ Jan 10th 2007 2:53PM
Iphone is overpriced mobile phone wich has nothing new. High price phone for hippies.
Scott @ Jan 10th 2007 3:30PM
Some thoughts the day after-
Defending the iPhone:
1. If Microsoft or Apple doesn't bring out something to allow users to work with MS Office docs, Google's tools should fill in the gaps.
2. The lack of push e-mail will put off some BB users, but push was built to make a pager and ultra-low bandwidth pager network work for e-mail. With Edge and WiFi (and 3g relatively soon), you have many options for receiving and checking your e-mail.
3. Apple sells more ipods than anyone else does smartphones, and for outrageously high prices/margins. Version 1.0 only needs to appeal to ipod upgraders to be a big success. Smartphone use is just gravy to them. But, if it proves to be a popular niche, they will have a good platform to build on.
4. Who says this won't be a platform that 3rd party apps can't be developed for? I'm sure standard Mac apps won't run, but it shouldn't be hard to port. Have I missed something saying it would be locked down?
Criticisms:
1. No 3G is very lame, especially since it won't be coming out for 6 months. You would think that constant access to the iTunes store would have driven this.
2. I love touch screens, but with a stylus for writing. We'll have to wait and see whether it is possible to actually use this for writing anything. I think they were more concerned with browsing song catalogs and selecting from bookmarked web sites than with using it as a PDA.
3. 6 months until release!!??! There will be a lot of cool smart phones out by then.
4. Proprietary lock-ins. It is supposedly an internet device, but the net and net devices have only really taken off when they have been open. Right now, I'd rather have a small cool phone and the Nokia 770.
Roy @ Jan 11th 2007 6:36AM
Apple are just doing to mobile phones what they did to mp3 players - taking a very average piece of kit, and adding a nice user interface.
Expect it to sell by the bucketload to exactly the same sort of consumers who think the iPod is the greatest thing in the world. (And there are clearly plenty of them still around)
The people who know better will just continue using more capable devices.
David Sternlight @ Jan 11th 2007 4:27PM
Cingular has an all you can eat plan for $19.95 internet (with a voice phone contract) which includes 3G at no extra charge. Thus the iPhone's lack of 3G cannot be rationalized away by an "3g is too expensive) argument.
I can think of only two remotely acceptable excuses for lack of 3G, speculating. 1. If it would take longer to get FCC approval. 2. If Cingular's 3G networks cannot handle that huge influx of iPhones until they have more time to add capacity.
As I said, these are excuses, if valid. But they don't change that the phone lacks 3G.
Unless Apple has taken leave of their senses, they will find a way to include 3G/HSDPA in the phones before they ship.
Otherwise there will be a lot of users who bought because of the WOW factor that will be cursing their iPhones and that won't be good for Apple.
Ramey @ Jan 12th 2007 12:32AM
This phone looks bad a double s but I have a sony ericsson p990i that does all the iphone does and alot more I use the internet on my home wifi and it blazes watch movies listen to music,play hundreds of games dowload and change excel and word documents. Landscape mode with html and flash even streams video from my computer I have hooked to my digital box It also comes with a optional flip I love the look of the phone and love apple but I am lost on the whole revelutionary thing not revelutionary at all if the phone is no unlocked I sure am not gonna switch my 350 employees to another carrier just to play with a cool new screen I know the 3rd party support will be their but I like to be in control with synbian and sony ericsson ther is endless options I hate to see apple cutting off some of that right out of the gate but here here to cingulair for working this deal out Im sure they see no problem with it
V.I. @ Jan 12th 2007 8:47PM
You would be a untechno educated clown to pay $600 for something "I" related from Apple knowing that versions .5, 2.0, 3.0 etc are not long behind!
I'd rather have a HTC brand device than this...
brian @ Jan 13th 2007 12:27AM
not tossing the treo for this....will get it for my girlfriend.