nickolas_g

I worked for Apple for years. The biggest speed bump for the iPhone will be the ball and chain contracts that every cell company ties us too. Cingular has a two year exclusive contract with Apple for this from what I understand.

As far as the issue with Cisco. This shows the internal arrogance of Apple management in not getting a detail cleared. I hope they stick it to Steve and company.

UUronL

I mean, this stuff is hardly revolutionary. For the true digerati, this shouldn't seem all that different from what has been around for months/years already. Just like with the iPod.

For example:


I have had a Motorola Q since it came out - since about April I believe.


I get EV-DO data on it, so 400+ Kbps.

With that, I can:

-Use IE to listen to Sirius and XM on Windows Media Player
-Connect to "IM" buddies on any messaging platform (free 3rd party client)
-NES emulator (yeah, I can play Nintendo game ROMs)
-Slingplayer (I watch my TV, change channels, watch OnDemand, and DVR shows - I can program the DVR too)
-Maps for PDA client (can use Google Maps, Yahoo Maps, AvantGo Maps, AskMaps)
-MiniSD slot, with 4GB of capacity for songs and video
-Tetherable to laptop for high speed access
-Can use any Windows Mobile for Smartphone apps
-Scroll wheel, smaller form factor, etc...
-Stereo bluetooth support
-Works incredibly well as a -phone-, something most all-in-one devices don't do
-$99


Aside from differences in the visual "pretty" factor, and large screen (unimportant to many), the iPhone really isn't that interesting. Even the gestures and chord input schemas have been seen before - just read the prior art in Apple's patent filing. My friend had a keyboard based on the technology several years ago.


Apple does a decent job of bringing last years' bleeding edge to the masses - and packaging it in a slick-enough, dummy-proof enough way to move it in volume. For this, they're known as innovators.


When you can watch live Monday Night Football on the underground Metro (while it's moving) on an iPhone, you let me know...

(I have done that on my Q in DC - Verizon Wireless is the only carrier that works on the DC metro)

I actually think one of the biggest challenges facing Apple will be fragility of the iPhone and screen issues. The chances of pixel defects on a screen of that size is pretty good. Look at the PSP - big issues with that. Also, it's normal to pay a fee to ensure PDA handsets - this kind of device is aimed at the kinds of users who probably aren't used to that idea, and might not really be able to tack on another $6 a month just to safeguard a big complex device that will likely get screwed up with use. I also think they're screwed if they didn't make the battery interchangeable.

ImolaRedM

I may be picking one up. My complaints are...

1. Contract term with Cingular (may get an unlocked phone and do without the very cool visual voicemail)
2. Lack of 3G (although EDGE combined with Wi-Fi may work for me 95% of the time)
3. Current lack of ability to add applications to the phone. (they need to open that up)
4. Small storage size for an iPod given video content or most music collections.
5. Kinda expensive (but then I'm a tech whore)

I'll also have to wait and see what the Cingular rate plans look like but I just won't sign a two year commit with anyone. I would (almost) rather pay the early termination fee up front and have the freedom. If Apple allows third party applications to be installed it would seal the deal for me. 8GB of space on a BSD based smart phone for applications (including xterm) would be sweet.

The state of mobile (and home cordless) phones in the US has me really down. <_<

DINAN530i

I will have access to unlocked versions for an estimated 650.00....I use tmobile had cingular, not sure how they managed that one....June is right around the corner. I have a feeling we will see if the start of next quarter...

UUronL

Good luck with that - I wouldn't touch one without a replacement policy. Aren't those hard to come by in the unlocked marketplace?

nickolas_g

Apple will not allow an unlocked version. This would be termed as 'grey market' and the Apple Lawyers are monsters. I would not even suggest it on this site at this point. Apple employees that read this site may have already notified the folks.

ImolaRedM

Just like Motorola won't allow unlocked phones?

AC_S5

I am sure if the phone comes to HK it will be unlock as no one buys locked phone here.

525iSE

Not a big fan of apple products are you? Hey care to explain the 20+ year old OS part? I'm interested to hear more, since I thought the iPhone runs on OSX, which is a new OS.

Anyways, Apple still rule for me!! iPod, iMac, MacBook, what more do you need in terms of multimedia and computer?

swajames

OS X is (essentially) Unix based, with an open source core. That's a very good thing, contributing significantly to the stability and security of the OS X platform as compared to Windows. OS X was built out from development at NeXT which was the company Jobs ran before returning to Apple.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mac_OS_X

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unix