I'm not convinced by this device. I'm not even sure if this thing is even a true smartphone. Other forums say you can't add software to it i.e. its a closed machine. The iPhone web pages don't mention the ability to add applications so perhaps they are right?
The email is only HTML so I don't think its going to support any push email services such as Blackberry. It talks about displaying photos within email but does not mention support of other attachments.
I'm also not convinced by the lack of keypad. Touch screen only phones have been tried before and have not been popular. I doubt if it could be used to send an SMS single handed which has proved to be an issue for some devices in the past. Also the position of the joypad is far too low for one handed use.
It looks like they are being conservative with the telephony function as it does not support 3G (hence videocalls) or MMS. In fact I think this could be one of their biggest problems. Getting and OS to work well with telephony functionality is a very difficult task and Apple have little experience in this area. I suspect that there will be delays in the release of this device.
It does look pretty though but I wonder if this is at the cost of true functionality?
I see the iPhone as more a MEDIA phone than a SmartPhone.
OSX software just isn't as slick for managing my schedule and contacts as is Outlook - of course nothing was better than my 5mx - so I don't really see this taking business from the real SmartPhones, but when you get into the media-intensive S60 phones...well there's no 3G. Does it have WiFi?
This is for listening to music and showing baby pictures. Not editing documents.
Watch the key note -
Yes, it does support push email - free Yahoo service for iPhone users.
AT the moment the iphone is still in development, not software complete, so because SJ didn't demo MMS you can't assume its not there. Likewise for other functionality.
Remember, this is Apple's first stab at a cell phone, compared to other companies attempts, its pretty damned good.
lack of 3rd party software support tho... ouch!
langdona wrote:I'm not convinced by this device. I'm not even sure if this thing is even a true smartphone. Other forums say you can't add software to it i.e. its a closed machine. The iPhone web pages don't mention the ability to add applications so perhaps they are right?The email is only HTML so I don't think its going to support any push email services such as Blackberry. It talks about displaying photos within email but does not mention support of other attachments.
I'm also not convinced by the lack of keypad. Touch screen only phones have been tried before and have not been popular. I doubt if it could be used to send an SMS single handed which has proved to be an issue for some devices in the past. Also the position of the joypad is far too low for one handed use.
It looks like they are being conservative with the telephony function as it does not support 3G (hence videocalls) or MMS. In fact I think this could be one of their biggest problems. Getting and OS to work well with telephony functionality is a very difficult task and Apple have little experience in this area. I suspect that there will be delays in the release of this device.
It does look pretty though but I wonder if this is at the cost of true functionality?
So i am guessing Google maps and Yahoo Go 2.0 were the java versions? You can use them on Razr V3 too.
The main OS cant be closed as it wont be a smart device.
Supposedly some years ago Steve Jobs was going wow! at the SE 800/900 phone. So it should be no surprise that his idea evolved from the original "All-in-One". It seems to me that the iPhone is where the current P series should have been today in terms of interface, style and size. Using a 910i without the flip (for the last 3 years) proves his comments about the best pointing device being a finger.
If they get some 3g going on it (without killing the size or battery) then SE has a real competitor. How did SE not progress? Maybe too much design by committee!!
Also being a late comer, they have all the syncing done, channels to market and some image momentum to help kick-off - I am not sure you get 4000 people at an SE phone launch!!
Only shame is, no unlocked versions!
So for now the trusty 910i gets to stay!!
I don't see what all the fuss is about. The device isnt even a smartphone. I can't see why there has been a comparison of any kind drawn between Apple and Symbian.
You can't install third party applications, the device isnt even 3G capable, and it has the same stupid design flaws that exist in the current ipods - a non removable battery.
Apple does have one thing right, and that is UI and design. This is primary factor to their current success in the ipod market. Other than that, its just another product for apple fan boys and lemmings.
A must-read analysis about the possible impact of the iPhone:
mobileopportunity.blogspot.com/2007/01/impact-of-apple-iphone.html
In a nutshell:
- the iPhone is the next phase of the Ipod (Apple needs it to compete in the converged phone/mp3-player market)
- the main target market and competition affected are the music/video/entertainment phones (Nokia 5300, N91, SE alike, ROKR, ...) not the smartphones. Although it remains to be seen how much the internet/email feature of the iPhone attracts other segments. Note also that the user-segment of rich-enough people buying a phone for its looks/popularity/status symbol is definitely going to be affected by the IPhone too.
- due to the availability schedule, all this is to happen first in US. Europe and Asia may only be really affected by the iPhone v2 or other siblings.
- The UI (if it really works, and that's a big IF) sets a new standard everything else will be compared to.
Looks like a great phone. But lets look beyond the gloss... we still don't know much about the iPhone. My main concern would be text input. How easy would the virtual keyboard be to use? And lets not forget that thats the only text input option you gonna get (for standalone phone mode). Steve Jobs may think that styli are yucks, but why not have it as an option for the user together with the capability of touchscreen handwriting recognition? A well hiddened stylus is not gonna make the iPhone ugly.
And as steve mentioned, how will the screen perform in sunlight and how tough or fragile is the screen going to be? Also, i read somewhere that there is no user removable cover for the battery. That means replacing a new battery won't be as easy as going to the shop to get one and popping it in. And what about having a spare battery? No option for this too.
One more concern of mine... no 3G? Yes, it may or may not be a big deal in the US (frankly, I am not sure), but what about Europe and Asia, where 3G usage is, I think, comparatively more widespread?
And lastly, I would be very concerned about software and their pricing. Thinking about this raises many question marks for me. People who use PDAs or smartphones have a myriad of uses for their gadgets. From PIM functions to GPS applications to sms apps to VOIP. How well can Apple develop all of the mobile apps that are in demand in-house?
And Steve Jobs did not mention anything about voice commands. Can the iPhone have such a capability? Can an application simply be written for it or it just can't be done at all? Can you imagine trying to fiddle with a touchscreen alone with no option for voice commands while you are driving but you are not really sure whether you have pushed the right "button" on the screen without having to look at it?
However, the multi-touch technology is a great idea! Its gonna make many things more intuitive. I am just not so sure about what the iPhone doesn't have!
elp wrote:We don't yet know whether the iPhone is a smartphone or not. AFAIK Steve has carefully avoided the issue of third party application and the web site doesn't mention anything about it. I haven't even seen mention of Java support. The fact that it runs OS X doesn't mean that it will allow the installation of third party apps. If it doesn't, i don't see the iPhone competing with high end business phones such as the SE P-series or Nokia's E-series (business users buying high-end smartphones would at least want push-email and PDF/Office support) but rather with the mid-to-high end multimedia devices such as the Nokia's N-series and SE K-series.
Well, the news is that there is no support for third party software at all, not even Java (source: http://mobileopportunity.blogspot.com/2007/01/impact-of-apple-iphone.html) (posted in another comment I cannot get at from here 😡 ).
A pity, as it will indeed make the device much less attractive for the target audience, I think.
svdwal wrote:Well, the news is that there is no support for third party software at all, not even Java (source: http://mobileopportunity.blogspot.com/2007/01/impact-of-apple-iphone.html) (posted in another comment I cannot get at from here 😡 ).A pity, as it will indeed make the device much less attractive for the target audience, I think.
Well, this means its nothing more than a 3310 mixed with a touchscreen ipod.
Concerns about the features and third party support are getting grave now. Sounds a bit odd but let me ask, does it even allow to set mp3 songs as ringtones?