Apple Announces the iPhone
Posted on Jan 9, 07 12:15 PM PDT
Apple has finally announced its iPhone despite last minute reports that they would not. The device is an iPod-shaped phone that uses the touch screen for all the user-interaction.
The phone specs are rather mild: the wide screen display is certainly the highlight, but from a connectivity’s perspective, it fails to impress. With WiFi and EDGE, it’s similar to entry level phones like the T-mobile Dash. The lack of 3G data connect is a disappointment for a “breakthrough internet device”
The software is where Apple shines. The user-interface, web browser and widgets have the potential of improving the user experience. The storage capacity could prove to be an advantage as well.In my opinion, the iPhone can win the hearts (and wallets) of users who wants a read-only smartphone (little to no text entry) or for users in quest of a social statement. In short Apple positions itself to make a second ipod-style “boom”, by using a platform strategy that nobody has rivaled yet: provide good software, great design, hardware, and content (iTunes).
Has Apple re-invented the phone? I don’t think so – Phones like the Neonode explored the concept years ago, although in a less extreme form. I think that Apple should have done something smaller (this is PDA-sized), more dumb (less functions) in short a nano-phone.
Update:
The iPhone has a sensor that will turn the touch screen display off when the user is on the phone to avoid the unintended activation of phone functions. It also has an ambient light sensor to adjusts the brightness to current conditions. Finally, an accelerometer senses when the device is in landscape or portrait mode and switches the user interface accordingly.
Release date:
US: June 2007 through Apple and Cingular
Europe: Late 2007
Asia: 2008
Prices:
499 for the 4GB version, $599 for the 8GB one
Compatibility:
Mac OS and Windows
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Legacy Comments
By Cimmerius , 16/02/07 1:57 PM (CommentID #102158)
w00t! Looks great and has awesome features (runs Mac OS X, etc.). Only problem is, 4 GB of memory will barely hold two movies! Hopefully future iPods will take this design and improve upon it's multimedia features.
To Mark: I highly doubt other manufacturers will be able to copycat this design (try to get by over 200 patents!), and if they do it will definately fall short.
By Mark , 11/01/07 4:06 PM (CommentID #083936)
To me it's a great phone, but not great enough as there are some key features missing to be worth 500.
- No outlook synchronisation,
- No 3rd party software
- Apparently no upgradable memory
- Only 8GB of memory doesnt cut it for photos, films AND music. Not even close.
- No USB connection
All in all i am very worried about how this phone will be upgradable over time. Due to the apparent lack of any slot (USB, MicroSD, anything), it would be very hard to 'hang' extras on the phone (think GPS module, extra memory, etc.). I recently saw a GPS module to fit in a SD slot (i think), great great idea, but it wont work on the Iphone.
Apple tried comming up with what i see as the ultimate phone, but they ended up a bit short still. It will be interesting to see how this product will develop and if other manufacturers will be able to copycat and upgrade it.
By Hubert , 10/01/07 8:38 AM (CommentID #083551)
to JL: I'm sure that there will be a line-up with several storage capacity in the future. I hope that 3G will also be in the high-end by next year.
By LazyApple , 10/01/07 4:28 AM (CommentID #083477)
We should see this phone as a techologic window. It still can improve a lot i think (3G, GPS chip, more storage capacity...) but we'll see in 3-4 years who will be the leader...
Apple, I love you
By JL , 10/01/07 3:31 AM (CommentID #083460)
Is this the only model?Any future plans for wider range of phones like what they have for ipods
By Hubert , 09/01/07 7:22 PM (CommentID #083349)
To Jay: Surprisingly, I don't think that Apple ever claimed to have re-invented the MP3 Player, but they did claim to have re-invented the (mouse) wheel. Toyota is the dominant car-maker, it doesn't mean that they re-invented anything.
By Hubert , 09/01/07 7:18 PM (CommentID #083347)
To Skidmark: Nop, I still have my Treo 700w. I've been looking at replacing it, but the competition either lacks the battery life or doesn't have a QWERTY keyboard. I'll look again when the BlackJack comes with 3G.
By Skidmark , 09/01/07 5:46 PM (CommentID #083316)
Fails to impress? You must have just renewed your Chocolate through Verizon for the next 2 years.
By jay , 09/01/07 5:14 PM (CommentID #083303)
Apple didn't reinvent the mp3 player either, but they did..
By Hubert , 09/01/07 3:05 PM (CommentID #083271)
When the Neonode came out the concept of largely using the touchscreen was very new. Apple extended it by removing the few buttons left. I'm not saying that they *look* alike but that Apple does not *re-invent* the phone.
Also, I don't do crack, it's too expensive :)
By Jacob , 09/01/07 2:16 PM (CommentID #083243)
The apple phone is nothing like the neonode. you are on crack.
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