Di9it8 said:It is those features that the Apple phone will have to beat as the ROKR was a disaster, partly due to Motorola's poor UI
Every Motorola phone is a disaster.
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Apple and Softbank to develop Cell Phone iPods?
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Every Motorola phone is a disaster.
It seems like accessing internet content through a celluar network in the United States has been kept regulated to techies and business users. I've check the cost for decent speed data plans and they're too costly even for a techie like me. The average consumer definately won't sign up for it.
That makes me question when it's coming to the US. People aren't going to pay what they pay now for cell service and pay an additional load for data service. If they had a $9 unlimited plan, that would be better but sadly the only thing close is T-Mobile's sidekick plan and that's SLOOOOW.
That makes me question when it's coming to the US. People aren't going to pay what they pay now for cell service and pay an additional load for data service. If they had a $9 unlimited plan, that would be better but sadly the only thing close is T-Mobile's sidekick plan and that's SLOOOOW.
I'm not sure why apple didn't use nokia. Much like Apple OSX the Nokia phones OS is soo simple everyone can use a nokia with ease.
On another note people complain about battery life now on their iPods... batteries can only get soo good and that's a matter of chemistry. Sometimes it's good to have more than one device.
On another note people complain about battery life now on their iPods... batteries can only get soo good and that's a matter of chemistry. Sometimes it's good to have more than one device.
iJawn108 said:
I think Japanese "keitai denwa" are much easier to use. That's probably why nobody here buys Nokia phones.
Apple wants to release a phone and Vodafone/SoftBank needs something to get people's attention...
Currently, Vodafone offers phones from Sharp, NEC, Toshiba, Nokia, and Samsung. Later, when SoftBank will change it's name from "Vodafone", Masayoshi Son said that new phones from "Panasonic Mobile Communications, and new phones from overseas companies" will be released. He also stated that "We will have a lot of surprises ready."
http://k-tai.impress.co.jp/cda/article/news_toppage/29070.html
....I wonder what he ment by "overseas companies" and "surprises"
From what I remember from Japan, jack-knife phones were the big thing there, or ones that swiveled to form a camcorder-like (screen turned 90 degrees and horizontal, body of phone vertical and lens on the side). Perhaps Apple will improve upon that sort of design, with their own set of controls, somewhat reminiscent of the iPod, but obviously incorporating a numerical keypad and probably a slight variation on the click-wheel idea.
jW
jW
skywalker said:
Oh ya, the Camcorder like thing... that's pretty old though.
There's also a "Cycloie" style phone: http://k-tai.impress.co.jp/cda/article/news_toppage/28493.html
It does this so you can view One-Seg Digital TV broadcasts in full screen.
I would imagine it would be something like the Vodafone 803T (http://www.vodafone.jp/japanese/products/model_3G/v803t/index.html)
An LCD and ClickWheel on the back side of the main LCD... but I do hope Apple will make something more innovative.
Likely. Since Japanese people like clamshell style phones.MrCrowbar said:
I personally hate "bar-type" phones that don't cover the dialpad. I always put my keitai in my pocket, but those phones tend to call people "automatically" (Presses a few buttons in my pocket and dials someone in the addressbook)
suntzu said:
This is what I have,
http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview.aspx?catid=40&threadid=1760933&enterthread=y
Don't all phones have keyboard lock? On Nokia phones for example, pressing "Menu" and "*" will lock the keyboard until you press those keys again. Most recent phones can lock it automatically after a given idle time. Some people might complain about scratches in the display, but my 4 year old Nokia has no real scratches. Maybe Apple should partner with Nokia for durable handheld devices, i.e. Nokia makes phone and iPod Cases or something.
MrCrowbar said:Don't all phones have keyboard lock? On Nokia phones for example, pressing "Menu" and "*" will lock the keyboard until you press those keys again. Most recent phones can lock it automatically after a given idle time. Some people might complain about scratches in the display, but my 4 year old Nokia has no real scratches. Maybe Apple should partner with Nokia for durable handheld devices, i.e. Nokia makes phone and iPod Cases or something.
I don't know if my Nokia 3650 had the lock on idle feature or not, but I did run into forgetting to lock the keyboard occasionally and having it dial out from in my bag.
But I agree with the rest... I went with a RAZR just recently, but primarily because it was (A) hot pink, and (B) small, in that order, and not because I didn't like bars. Mmmmm, so this is tangential, since Softbank will probably not be offering a GSM phone in Japan. But I wonder... as also mentioned above, "cracking" phones is technically illegal.
BUT...
In the US, as far as I know, it is *not* illegal to buy a GSM phone and use it with a GSM provider, even if the phone wasn't sold to you by the provider. But in the US, the system of selling subsidized phones through service providers is highly entrenched, and no one does this (unlocked phones are really only available by eBay, etc).
If Apple, or another party, were to start to sell an unsubsidized, unlocked GSM phone (that works with T-Mo and Cingular, with a number of smaller US providers, and in general with a huge number of North American and European cell accounts), then wouldn't that be a "change everything" move? That is, if they could actually make a phone good enough that it would overcome the entrenchment of subsidized phones? Even if the cell companies initially balked, it could be like refusing to recognize the iPod, eventually, and Apple's market presence and favor with consumers could eventually sell the phone companies on supporting it....
There already is a new iTunes phone coming out soon
It's called the Razr V3i, not very creative but still. It hasn't been launced in America yet, but it has been introduced quietly in some Asian markets. Unfortunately not all the markets were licensed to have itunes installed, so Motorola also created it's own mp3 playing software to go with it (if not itunes, then no aac).
The phone is pretty good, it's cool having music on my phone but the main thrills are the 1.23 mp camera, micro sd slot, and new voice recognition software. You no longer have to train the phone to each name. You simply state the name and it prompts you for which number (home, cell, office). The new software can also let you dial by number. Basically if you saw an add, or calling a buddy while in the car but haven't included him in your phone book, then just say "digit dial" then "555-555-5555" and it calls. It is the best phone I've had yet.
It's called the Razr V3i, not very creative but still. It hasn't been launced in America yet, but it has been introduced quietly in some Asian markets. Unfortunately not all the markets were licensed to have itunes installed, so Motorola also created it's own mp3 playing software to go with it (if not itunes, then no aac).
The phone is pretty good, it's cool having music on my phone but the main thrills are the 1.23 mp camera, micro sd slot, and new voice recognition software. You no longer have to train the phone to each name. You simply state the name and it prompts you for which number (home, cell, office). The new software can also let you dial by number. Basically if you saw an add, or calling a buddy while in the car but haven't included him in your phone book, then just say "digit dial" then "555-555-5555" and it calls. It is the best phone I've had yet.
Right, so the big thing is that 1) Apple is going to be making the phone, and 2) users will be able to download songs straight from the phone.
Sounds nice. I'll definitely be buying one of these.
irmongoose
Sounds nice. I'll definitely be buying one of these.
irmongoose
Firstly, Softbank is just a telecommunications provider in Japan not an OEM maker of mobile phones. If Apple should come out with a mobile phone, they will develope their own handsets without Motorola or Nokia or SE, and will directly deal with OEM makers directly like Foxconn (FIH). Foxconn (FIH) is already producing phones for Motorola and Nokia. Apple already has a relationship with Foxconn Electroncs (the other subsid) currently making iPod Shuffles, Nanos and Mac Minis for Apple.
So this rumor of Apple and Softbank is not of "making" handsets but to offer some sort of content distribution and carrier service for Apple's upcoming "rumor" mobile phone? That's just my two cents worth.
So this rumor of Apple and Softbank is not of "making" handsets but to offer some sort of content distribution and carrier service for Apple's upcoming "rumor" mobile phone? That's just my two cents worth.
I doubt Apple will build/design a cellphone from scratch. You might be right regarding FIH, but I do think Apple will buy the platform from a manufaturer like SE. Building a cellphone from scratch would impose huge R&D costs. There is absolutely no need to reinvent the wheel. (Just consider how Apple buys GPU, CPU, HD,... from different manufacturers for the computers.) The "Apple experience" isn't about hardware, it is about design and a brilliant UI. Consequently, judging from Apples previous gadgets, I believe they will release a stripped down iPod/cellphone without any whistels and bells. Basically an iPod with calling capabilities with the same brilliant UI.imacdaddy said:
Dr.Gargoyle said:
In the end, yeah. So Apple will develop an iPod-containing phone that will also have to do all the things other phones are expected to do, like take pictures. And unfortunately, they're stuck with Vodafone instead of the classier AU. Candybar, flip, slide, touchscreen, cube, triple-sliding maglev cyber phone, it doesn't matter. It's all been done. I'm curious to see if they'll be able to take established hardware and mold it into their own form, and then, where they're going to go with that. Probably, they'll make a really good phone that will be successful for just any phone, but capture less than 3% market share. Why should I buy one? I'd rather just have an iPod, and my current phone is fine.
(L) said:
Classier? How can you describe a mobile service provider as "classier' than another? Besides, Softbank will be disbanding the entire business model of Vodafone (including the brand), so it will be another animal altogether.
irmongoose
imacdaddy said:Firstly, Softbank is just a telecommunications provider in Japan not an OEM maker of mobile phones.
So this rumor of Apple and Softbank is not of "making" handsets but to offer some sort of content distribution and carrier service for Apple's upcoming "rumor" mobile phone? That's just my two cents worth.
You could be absolutely right, but I'd like to say that in Japan, phones are sold by the providers. Unlike the unlike most other countries, (where you sign-up for a service and buy a phone of your choice) a phone maker (such as Sharp or Hitachi, etc) would supply the phones to the provider (Like NTT DoCoMo, au, Vodafone) and the provider would sell the phones. The phones are "Sim-locked" to the providers, and is why you can get a full-featured Keitai for just 1 Yen, dispite the fact that they are worth a whole lot more.
I have a "Vodafone 703SH by SHARP", and in the same way the new phone by Apple could be something like "Vodafone iPhone by APPLE". Apple makes the phones, Vodafone/SoftBank sells them.
It seems like the news is spreading here in Japan... On the train back home, the girls sitting next to me were talking about buying a new keitai, and one of them said "But did you know a new "iPod Keitai" is going to come out soon!" "Oh, then I'm going to wait for that to come out". Unfortunately, their Keitai didn't look like it was a Vodafone...
First of all, I dont think Apple will integrate a camera in the "iPhone". One reason for that is that many places (Gyms, Embassies, R&D facilities,...) just doesnt allow people to bring a camera with them.(L) said:
Buying a platform from a manufacturer like Ericsson Mobile Platforms (EMP), does by no mean result in a phone that looks like a SonyEricsson. EMP are currently licensing their platform (actual phone) to SonyEricsson, LG, and Sharp; cellphones that are very different in both appearance and handling from a customers point of view.
The actual phone in a physical cellphone is very small. More or less the entire physical cellphone constitutes of battery, keyboard, display, ... i.e. something that is already included in the iPod. That is, adding phone capabilities to an iPod shouldn't increase the size of the iPod.
A phone capable iPod would minimize the effort from Apples side, such that they could concentrate on the design and UI of the iPod/phone. As I see it, an iPod with phone ONLY would be the best bet for Apple at this point. I mean how many of you guys actually use all that crap you have in your cellphones? For example, I have had a sorry excuse for a camera in my cellphone for years now and I have used it perhaps once or twice. It just doesn't cut it.