Apple's iPhone Yea or Nay?

[TiKiMaN1]

Those who know me find out rather quickly that I am not a huge Apple fan.  I am a PC builder and almost always love every OS Microsoft puts out and for that matter every MS product (Xbox 360 etc. ).

Although my loyalty is almost always to PC manufactures and their products, I must admit the iPhone does seem to sport a bit of innovation.

I worry about the large touch screen that it has potential of being problematic (sweat, dead pixels etc.)...time will tell I suppose.

I MEAN JUST LOOK AT HOW BIG THAT LCD IS!!!




http://www.apple.com/iphone/

[Jonathan]

I agree in that the Iphone does seem like it's going to be a pretty nifty product.  However, i'm afraid i'd break it.  It looks way to fragile, and i like to always like to have my phone on me.  So i'd probably destroy it.

And what an expensive toy to break.  In my opinion I'd rather have an ok, but durable phone, and a nice PMP with a screen the size of the iphone's.  Let me keep them seperate and i'll be a lot happier about it.

Also, I kinda like the idea of a real keyboard like on this phone coming out:
Sprint Mogul

[prestor]

I hear that, Jon - I couldn't operate without a real keyboard. I'll be interested to see how people react to it but I honestly can't imagine it being any good...

[TiKiMaN1]

I hear that, Jon - I couldn't operate without a real keyboard. I'll be interested to see how people react to it but I honestly can't imagine it being any good...

Well I'm positive there will be lots of feedback come June 29th.  $600 for a phone.....for a video card I can understand but not a phone.

Hahaha.

[sam-i-am]

Apple just announced yesterday (or was it the day before?), that the screen on the iPhone will sport an optical quality glass face instead of plastic.  That means less smudges and scratches, as well as a lot tougher face.  I would think the iPhone would already be much more durable than my 8525, which looks a lot like that Sprint Mogul.

Tikiman - do I detect a little surprise that an Apple product actually "seems" to have a "bit of innovation?"  What do you call the mouse, dynamically-spaced fonts, drag and drop applications install, plug and play printer install (yes, mac had it first), built in clocks with battery backups (yes, mac had it first), built-in audio (yes, mac first), the first popular networked multi-player game (MazeWar), AppleTalk, plug and play peripherals, multi-monitor support, accelerated video cards, masking/dithering/antialising images built in, photo-realistic images (32-bit quickdraw), multiprocessing, the first popular portable computer, etc. etc. etc.  That list only covers the 80's, if you want to look more recently, how about magsafe connectors, double finger scroll/right click, etc.  It's not hard to imagine Apple as an innovator.  They had ALL that stuff FIRST.

As far as the iPhone goes, I have mixed feelings.  I won't buy it until it has support for 3G data networks.  Besides, I've learned my lesson with 1G Apple products - they're good, but 2G is always great.

I think the main problem with soft keyboards has always been feedback and speed.  You can't type fast because you have to lift up each finger between typing and wait for the click to register.  With the multi-touch, autocorrect, and some other bells and whistles Apple has built in - I think half the problem will be fixed.  Still no tactical feedback, but I wouldn't write off the soft keyboard yet.

Of course, only time will tell.  It will be exciting to see what problems people run into when trying to use the iPhone every day. 

The thing that I am MOST excited about the iPhone is that it has given the phone industry a kick in the pants (yes, already!) and more focus is already going into interface design.  Even Microsoft seems to have realized they had it all wrong and is now working on a new front-end for windows mobile that you can use with your finger rather than a stylus.  The next year will be very exciting for phones, and I think Apple is responsible for making it happen - even if the iPhone flops.

[Ryan]

It may be cool but I think it's going to be way to expensive for a cellphone for me.  I would rather have the money for something else.  And if I wanted to get a really cool expensive phone I think I would invest it in a different phone that has similar features.

[prestor]

i-am-sam - did you seriously say the mouse? So stealing technology from xerox and making it popular is innovation? No wonder ms thinks they're so innovative...

[Ryan]

I just saw the commercial for the iPhone and I have to say that I was a little impressed with the layout and I believe the touch screen technology is going to spread.  I heard Jonathan talking about some similar touch screen technologies that are in the works and all sound pretty cool.  I just don't know how well the phone would work if I had it in front of me but it looks cool.

[mark]

I think they are cool.  I use microsoft based computers most, because they are cheaper (for equivalent hardware) and have fewer compatibility problems.  But I'm not a mac hater... honestly I think the phone would be a cool place to have a mac.

Compatibility isn't an issue, cause what are you going to plug into your phone.  But I would want a robust OS on a handheld.  (I've used palm... it was OK, but not super)

Mac OS also does well with a simple, easy to navigate design.  I think they could do the touchscreen well.  And if you get insurance through the cell phone provider, you wouldn't have to worry much about breaking it.

With so much innovation... I'm worried that there will be significant bugs, (Switching to your phone in the middle of an email, letting your keys change settings in your pocket etc.)  But if they can cover that... I'd be really interested in getting one.

Oh wait.  Only cingular/AT&T.  That starts a whole new debate.

[TiKiMaN1]

This is an interesting read:

Verizon CEO: No need for iPhone killer

"We just added four new devices in the past month," he said. "The new BlackBerry is flying off shelves. The way we see it, our customers have price points and service packaging that is different."

Specifically, he pointed to Verizon's V Cast music service that allows consumers to download songs over the air, and mobile video services including the new V Cast TV that uses the MediaFlo network built by Qualcomm to broadcast live TV.

When asked if he thinks the company will take a hit from subscribers ditching Verizon Wireless' service for AT&T's, he said he believes Verizon is in a very good position. Verizon Wireless has long enjoyed strong customer loyalty with one of the lowest churn rates of any major wireless operator in the country.

"The way we come at this is to let the iPhone hit the market," he said. "I don't think it changes the game plan for how we approach the market. But we need to see the impact. The burden is on (AT&T and Apple) to prove the market will change."

The Big Picture

[Kris]

I'm excited for the iphone.  I hope it does so well that mac decides it doesn't need to meddle in the pc market anymore.

[mark]

So, I guess it's pretty old news by now... But I finally got to toy around with an iPhone... it was cool, but not amazing.  The screen wouldn't flip orientation like it was supposed to, and the owner had to take it back and pound on it tinker for a while to get it to switch.  I didn't actually think that the functions were intuitive, but I'm sure that I would get used to it quickly.  Definitely not worth $600 at this point.

Honestly the only thing I thought was really innovative was the easy (and fast) image/map resizing with two fingers.   That's a slick feature, but otherwise the touch screen wasn't much different than my Palm TX.  (I would have to recalibrate the TX if I used my fingers rather than the stylus but once I did it worked pretty well)

Everyone also talks about Safari, but we were in the sticks and the download speed was way too slow.  I got bored waiting for more than a page or two.  (even google was slow loading)

So here's what I'm waiting for... a couple hundred off the ticket price, a removable storage slot, and 3G support.  Maybe the 3rd Generation iPhone.  (oh, and PLEASE don't make me install iTunes, please.)

[Ryan]

While on my way back from California there was a girl sitting next to me with the iPhone and it looked pretty cool but I have to say that it took her about 5 trys to push a button some times so that kind of turned me off to it a little bit.  But it does look cool.