iTunes Phone Falls Flat, nano Goes Huge

[MacBytes]

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Category: Opinion/Interviews
Link: iTunes Phone Falls Flat, nano Goes Huge (http://www.macbytes.com/link.php?sid=20050908080036)

Posted on MacBytes.com (http://www.macbytes.com)
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[gwuMACaddict]

i don't think this is surprising at all

[DJY]

Couldn't agree more!
iPod nano - looks great!
Moto ROKR - looks terrible! (predictably!) Apart from the RAZR, I'm not a fan of the looks of Moto phones, and as for their GUI?!?!?!!?

[nagromme]

Here's the broken link in the article to flash RAM prices:
http://froogle.google.com/froogle?q=4%20gb%20flash%20memory&hl=en&lr=&client=safari&rls=en&sa=N&tab=wf

Makes the nano seem downright cheap!

[Bear]

The phone falls flat for a few reasons. It has a camera. There are many companies that don't allow cameras on their property. (Sometimes including their parking lot.) Also, cameras are prohibited (sometimes by law) in a lot of theatres. Who wants a cell phone you can only use at home? Not enough memory for music. Only one carrier in the US so it missing more than half the potential customers. Some people can't switch carriers due to local service conditions. And some people just don't want to switch to a new carrier.

[puckhead193]

that phone isn't really anything special just a normal phone with an extra button for itunes....
is anyone gonna get it?

[Stinkythe1]

Only one carrier in the US so it missing more than half the potential customers. Some people can't switch carriers due to local service conditions. And some people just don't want to switch to a new carrier.

I figure you could get an unlocked phone off of ebay and put in your sim card.

[1macker1]

Don't forget about a required 2 year agreement. I'd get the phone is it wasn't for this.
The phone falls flat for a few reasons. It has a camera. There are many companies that don't allow cameras on their property. (Sometimes including their parking lot.) Also, cameras are prohibited (sometimes by law) in a lot of theatres. Who wants a cell phone you can only use at home? Not enough memory for music. Only one carrier in the US so it missing more than half the potential customers. Some people can't switch carriers due to local service conditions. And some people just don't want to switch to a new carrier.

[Bear]

I figure you could get an unlocked phone off of ebay and put in your sim card.SIM card? I take it you don't know the cell phone issues in the US then? Only two of the four* US carriers use SIM cards and GSM frequencies. And T-Mobile has a worse coverage map than Cingular.

For various reaosns, I needs Verizon's covergae area for my phone, so that limits my choices a lot.

The four I'm counting are Sprint/NexTel, Verizon Wireless, Cingular and T-Modile. The rest are small companies and use the same frequency sets as one of these 4 major carriers and have that carrier as a roaming partner.

[fixyourthinking]

The phone falls flat for a few reasons. It has a camera. There are many companies that don't allow cameras on their property. (Sometimes including their parking lot.) Also, cameras are prohibited (sometimes by law) in a lot of theatres. Who wants a cell phone you can only use at home? Not enough memory for music. Only one carrier in the US so it missing more than half the potential customers. Some people can't switch carriers due to local service conditions. And some people just don't want to switch to a new carrier.

Which companies don't allow cellphones with cameras on property? Plain and simple argument against that is - NDA / breach of contract. I know of NO theatre that prohibits a camera phone nor is allowed to check your body for such Not enough memory for music. - it's upgradeable Only one carrier in the US so it missing more than half the potential customers. Cingular is the largest and best in my opinion (they all suck) - they have always been on the forefront of bluetooth and the more gadgety phones

The best arguments against it are - it's ugly and it's Motorola!

Not meaning to attack your whole post - but nothing in it was a valid argument.

[AlBDamned]

The phone falls flat for a few reasons.It has a camera. There are many companies that don't allow cameras on their property. (Sometimes including their parking lot.) Also, cameras are prohibited (sometimes by law) in a lot of theatres. Who wants a cell phone you can only use at home? Not enough memory for music.

Pretty much every cell-phone you buy these days has a camera. Pretty much every movie theatre in the world will let you in with your cell-phone 'camera'. And you'd have to be a visitor at the Pentagon or Area 51 for someone to remove it while visiting a company.

What planet is Sol Terra III? :rolleyes:

As for the article, I'd say exactly right. Phone is pants, Nano is cool and the name is a bit misleading.

[AlBDamned]

Not meaning to attack your whole post - but nothing in it was a valid argument.


adzoox types faster than me.. ;)

[fixyourthinking]

The rest are small companies and use the same frequency sets as one of these 4 major carriers and have that carrier as a roaming partner.

Wrong ... Suncom and Alltel are two that I know of that have their own towers (but do use the big 4 for better coverage)

Suncom is a Cingular / SIM card type / Alltel is a Verizon type service.

TMobile automatically (and free of charge) roams to Cingular and vice versa.

SIM card phone services FAR FAR outweigh the advantages of all the others - the main reason being security, the other being freedom of phone / freedom of price of the phone, and activation charges.

As long as you have a SIM card - you don't have to pay for activation amongst multiple phones

[Paul O'Keefe]

If apple wanted to trully shake up the cell phone world they should have designed it themselves.

The nano does look good though.

http://www.okeefedesign.ca/images/cp9002_sq_web.gif

[fixyourthinking]

The commercials ROCK! WOW!

[wrxguy]

no suprise here...phone is a peice of ****....nano is pretty cool, a bit small for my taste...personally I thought that a thing the size of a deck of cards that can hold 10,000 songs is plenty small

[DTphonehome]

Not enough memory for music. - it's upgradeable



No, it's limited by software to 100 songs.

[technocoy]

thats driving me nuts is all the articles calling an iPod phone.

it is NOT and iPod, it was not designed by apple, and i hope people realize this before they go and buy it and then think it's apple design.

[combatcolin]

WTF WITH THE AMERICAN FOOTBALL GUFF AT THE END?

Seems that there as as many people in the states who can't grasp life without sport as there is in the UK.

ITS A TECH SITE!!

:eek:

[mkaake]

Pretty much every cell-phone you buy these days has a camera. Pretty much every movie theatre in the world will let you in with your cell-phone 'camera'. And you'd have to be a visitor at the Pentagon or Area 51 for someone to remove it while visiting a company.

What planet is Sol Terra III? :rolleyes:

As for the article, I'd say exactly right. Phone is pants, Nano is cool and the name is a bit misleading.

well that's funny, because you're not allowed to carry them where I work, and I don't work at area 51 or the pentagon.

It's actually fairly common in many lines of business to not allow cameras, and most of those folks have put a ban on camera phones. If you come to where I work, and want to get inside, security will hold your phone while you go inside. If you refuse, you don't get in - simple as that.

[ITR 81]

SIM card? I take it you don't know the cell phone issues in the US then? Only two of the four* US carriers use SIM cards and GSM frequencies. And T-Mobile has a worse coverage map than Cingular.

For various reaosns, I needs Verizon's covergae area for my phone, so that limits my choices a lot.

The four I'm counting are Sprint/NexTel, Verizon Wireless, Cingular and T-Modile. The rest are small companies and use the same frequency sets as one of these 4 major carriers and have that carrier as a roaming partner.

I don't know about you but I think Cingular has the one best coverage area in the US now. I know here no one uses Sprint or Verizon. Most folks just use Cingular or Nextel and a few may use T-Mobile.


Verizon coverage is first and Cingular/AT&T coverage second.

[AlBDamned]

well that's funny, because you're not allowed to carry them where I work, and I don't work at area 51 or the pentagon.

It's actually fairly common in many lines of business to not allow cameras, and most of those folks have put a ban on camera phones. If you come to where I work, and want to get inside, security will hold your phone while you go inside. If you refuse, you don't get in - simple as that.

It was a figure of speech, but I'd say it's definitely not the norm in the UK and I can't believe most offices in America would hold your phone. Where do you work? It would put your comments into perspective. :)

I suppose America is fairly backwards when it comes to cell phones but that 'rule' in the UK would be very difficult to police.

[dejo]

Verizon coverage is first and Cingular/AT&T coverage second.

Where did you get that map of Cingular coverage? Nothing in all of Colorado? Yeah, right!

[ITR 81]

Where did you get that map of Cingular coverage? Nothing in all of Colorado? Yeah, right!

It came from a rent a phone site...so it could be a older map.

The Verizon map came from Verizon's website.

[rjwill246]

This phone is not THAT bad, folks, come off it! Until Apple does one, and perhaps we should hope that is a long way off, they will all be a bit utilitarian in appearance. What is the phone for? it's a utility piece with evermore trappings being added. Camera included a problem? Take it out and hear the moaning- "stupid Moto left out the camera."
Made by Moto- therefore must be crap. Opinion only, not based on fact. I have yet to see anything better than the Razr but hey, I like the M-B SLK 500 over the Lexus- it's just an opinion.
Cingular has poor coverage? Not where I live or where I have traveled recently- from the Bay Area to Reno to SLC and Phoenix ( well, SOME parts of Scottsdale were not good, granted).
SIMM cards not needed.. yep, if you travel overseas they are a must have item otherwise you pay through the nose if you can't get the local service.
Limited song capacity--- then take your iPod with you, don't buy this phone, get one with no camera and one that looks stunning to boot. Good luck!

[ITR 81]

Where did you get that map of Cingular coverage? Nothing in all of Colorado? Yeah, right!

Here is the updated Cingular Coverage map from their own site.

[dejo]

Here is the updated Cingular Coverage map from their own site.

Thanks!

[ITR 81]

Thanks!

NP.

I've been with Cingular well forever. I had it before the name change.(Use to be call BellSouth Mobility) Even back then it was better then anything else in the area.

[Stella]

Companies that do not allow camera phones is a very small minority so that is a mute point for people.

I don't think any cinema checks its customers for camera phones, so again, a mute point - in fact - has ANY cinema ever checked for camera phones?

Your list of criticism can cover almost any phone on the market today.

Overall, I do agree, the moto itunes phone is one giant turkey, but not for the reasons you point out.



The phone falls flat for a few reasons. It has a camera. There are many companies that don't allow cameras on their property. (Sometimes including their parking lot.) Also, cameras are prohibited (sometimes by law) in a lot of theatres. Who wants a cell phone you can only use at home? Not enough memory for music. Only one carrier in the US so it missing more than half the potential customers. Some people can't switch carriers due to local service conditions. And some people just don't want to switch to a new carrier.

[mrsebastian]

without getting into a phone/carrier debate, i've been skeptical like many, but watching steve's presentation and with a very good marketing campaign, this could be so huge! go apple go!

[Stridder44]

that phone isn't really anything special just a normal phone with an extra button for itunes....
is anyone gonna get it?

I've been saying this since day one of this stupid phone! Of course it's a flop, it just stores music.....like just about every phone already does.

[wedge antilies]

I really don't find the phone that ugly. I mean its not beautiful, but it just looks like another stock standard phone to me.
The problem is that we are used to Apple superlative industrial design, and we expected the phone to look as beautiful as an iMac or the iPod nano.
Personally, I've yst to see a cell/mobile phone that I think is "beautiful", at best a few Nokias and the RAZR look slick, but nothing more. Also I know people who HATE the RAZR, so no accounting for taste.
To me the more important thing is that Apple has finally put iTunes on a mobile device, and that hopefully it means that they can put it on to more devices, including ones that aren't made by Motorola.
The iTunes phones will get prettier, I promise.

-------Red 2

[Savage Henry]

The iTunes phones will get prettier, I promise.
It really has to cos this one is guff. I won't convinve me and I won't recommend it the way I do other Apple products. I realise that I am not the only person the market looks to to guage the strength of any Apple product, but ... there really is nothing there. It's life will be briefer than the Cube.

[AlBDamned]

without getting into a phone/carrier debate, i've been skeptical like many, but watching steve's presentation and with a very good marketing campaign, this could be so huge! go apple go!

Steve's presentation? He looked at that phone like he'd just stepped in it...

Someone on the main thread was right, if that phone was all they had launched yesterday, Steve would have been silently laughed out the building. I suspect it's not the first time Apple has said, 'thank god for iPod'.

[AoWolf]

Steve's presentation? He looked at that phone like he'd just stepped in it...

Someone on the main thread was right, if that phone was all they had launched yesterday, Steve would have been silently laughed out the building. I suspect it's not the first time Apple has said, 'thank god for iPod'.

Yeah I wonder how motorola is taking all of this the iPod nano really stepped on there phone yesterday.

[wdlove]

Verizon has much better coverage than Cingular here in Boston. Verizon is also has the highest rating according to Consumer Reports.

[Bear]

Companies that do not allow camera phones is a very small minority so that is a mute point for people.Except if you work for one of those companies.

I don't think any cinema checks its customers for camera phones, so again, a mute point - in fact - has ANY cinema ever checked for camera phones?I said theatre and not cinema for a reason. Live theatre usually has stricter rules, and come to think of it, so do some concert venues. And some municipalities have laws against cameras in theatres. (Whether or not police apply the law is a different story.)

Your list of criticism can cover almost any phone on the market today.There are fortunately some decent phones without cameras available. I'm thinking my next phone will probably be an LG VX4650.

[Bear]

I don't know about you but I think Cingular has the one best coverage area in the US now. I know here no one uses Sprint or Verizon. Most folks just use Cingular or Nextel and a few may use T-Mobile.You showed the Verizon enhanced services map. That is not their calling area map.

Here is the America's Choice calling area map (see lots of coverage):

http://cache.vzw.com/images_b2c/maps/national/ac_neast/nym.gif

[Bear]

I don't know about you but I think Cingular has the one best coverage area in the US now. I know here no one uses Sprint or Verizon. Most folks just use Cingular or Nextel and a few may use T-Mobile.Sprint and Nextel are now one company.

I know a lot of people who use Verizon and a bunch of people who moved away from Cingular due to coverage issues.

Everybody will have a different story to tell about the various cell phone companies.

[cwtnospam]

The ROKR will be successful in at least one important aspect; it will force the other carriers to cut prices for song downloads. :D

[Stella]

Classic case of divided by a common language, English.

When some people say theatre they mean cinema, or sometimes theatre as in threatical - i.e., plays and stuff like that - i.e., non movies.

So, you really meant the Theatre.

:-)


I said theatre and not cinema for a reason. Live theatre usually has stricter rules, and come to think of it, so do some concert venues. And some municipalities have laws against cameras in theatres. (Whether or not police apply the law is a different story.)

[iGary]

*snore*

Ugly phone.

Crappy carrier.

Ho hum.

Now, if they would have launched this:

http://www.ooops.pl/makowskiundpepe/images/iPod-phone-concept.jpg

I would have dumped my carrier and paid the surcharge in a minute. :D

[SPUY767]

Companies that do not allow camera phones is a very small minority so that is a mute point for people.

I don't think any cinema checks its customers for camera phones, so again, a mute point - in fact - has ANY cinema ever checked for camera phones?

Your list of criticism can cover almost any phone on the market today.

Overall, I do agree, the moto itunes phone is one giant turkey, but not for the reasons you point out.

If another person says "mute point" . . . IT'S moot people, moot point. Mute point is the point where a sound is considered to have reached silence a.k.a. -? dB.

[AlBDamned]

Except if you work for one of those companies.

I said theatre and not cinema for a reason. Live theatre usually has stricter rules, and come to think of it, so do some concert venues. And some municipalities have laws against cameras in theatres. (Whether or not police apply the law is a different story.)

There are fortunately some decent phones without cameras available. I'm thinking my next phone will probably be an LG VX4650.

In the last 18 months I have been all round Europe and in countless industrial sites, factories and areas where cameras could be a problem. You know what the people say who are taking you round these sites? "Please don't take pictures". Simple. It IS a moot point for the vast majority of people and the fact that the Rokr phone has a camera is something that will attract buyers, not scare them away, except for you, of course.

I can't think of a theatre that would whip your mobile away from you either. Most go with the good, old fashioned 'photography is forbidden' rule or similar if they are that anal.

[Savage Henry]

Now, if they would have launched this ...[img]... I would have dumped my carrier and paid the surcharge in a minute. :D

Totally hear that. ... Hell, I'd have even moved to the US to use it! ;)

[20rogersc]

*snore*

Ugly phone.

Crappy carrier.

Ho hum.

Now, if they would have launched this:Now that would definately be a different story. Not surprised about the outcome of the iTunes phone at all.

::20ROGERSC::

[DJY]

Hell, I'd have even moved to the US to use it! ;)

Thats a pretty big call!
(no offense is meant to any USA members)

[cwtnospam]

If another person says "mute point" . . . IT'S moot people, moot point. Mute point is the point where a sound is considered to have reached silence a.k.a. -? dB.

Yes, it's moot. There are also important differences between the words 'to,' 'two,' and 'too' as well as 'then' and 'than,' and let's not forget 'there,' 'they're,' and 'their.' Unfortunately, reading almost anything on the web today requires excellent editing/translation skills. :(

[Josh]

Most people who have camera phones don't walk around waving them in the air, saying, "Hey look at me and my camera phone! It's a phone, and I can take pictures!!!"

People keep their phones in cases, on their belts, in their pockets, and in their bags...no movie theatre searches you when you go in. You can get in anywhere with a camera phone, just keep it in your pocket like a normal person.

Who the heck keeps their phone ready for action at a movie anyway?

I think in general, people need to realize it's perfectly OK to go a few hours without their cell phone, and that being less dependent on them really isn't so bad as it sounds.

[cwtnospam]

People keep their phones in cases, on their belts, in their pockets, and in their bags...no movie theatre searches you when you go in. You can get in anywhere with a camera phone, just keep it in your pocket like a normal person.
Try to take one into a courthouse.

[robcts]

Wasn't that impressed with the phone. The nano, however... well, I picked up a white 4GB and love it :)

[Lacero]

Yeah. :rolleyes:

My mini positively looks ancient and massive in comparison. Should I sell my mini and put the funds into a new nano?

[robcts]

Yeah. :rolleyes:

My mini positively looks ancient and massive in comparison. Should I sell my mini and put the funds into a new nano?
Go for it. :D

[JeDiBoYTJ]

the phone is pointless IMO. the only this it has going for it is the fact that it can play iTMS protected aac's. but even thats not a big selling point

I just bought a Nokia 6255i that can play both mp3s and aacs. all I have to do is transfer the file over with bluetooth, and it works great.

but the nano = :cool:

[Josh]

Try to take one into a courthouse.
Funny you say that, as I was just at the courthouse the Monday before last.

Cell phone in my pocket the whole while, no problems had, no questions asked.

Cell phones aren't the big deal people are (suprisingly) attempting to make them out to be.

Not taking your cell phone were supposedly it is not "allowed" is like following the signs that say to keep your hands down while riding roller coasters.

Last time I saw a coaster go down the hill, 95% of the riders had their arms up, waving, having a ball. Were they punished or even questioned about it at the end? Nope. It's normal behavior to do that.

Just like taking your cell phone with you wherever you go. :)