Apple Announces The iPhone

[MacVault]

Keynote went from AMAZING to $%#^&%$ dissapointment...

Apple showed us the handheld device of our dreams - ABSOLUTELY AMAZING DEVICE! And then they have the $%#^&%$ nerve to say we can get this device ONLY if we sign a $%#^&%$ TWO YEAR contract! ! !

I am absolutely beside myself??? I can't have the "Widescreen Video iPod" without being LOCKED IN with a two year contract???? $##@%@! Am I the only one TOTALLY P1$$3D? Not to mention not a word about Leopard!

WTF!

 

[echeck]

It'll be interesting to look back on this thread in a few years, much like we do today with the famous Thread #500, and see how people's gut reactions match up with reality.

I LOVE reading this thread from time to time, especially around events such as this. It's so funny that so many people wanted the iPhone to be released, and then when it does a vast majority of these folks tear it apart because it's not EXACTLY what they wanted!

Anyway...

I think this is absolutely incredible! Just incredible. My little Treo looks like garbage compared to this beauty. The price is a little high for a typical phone, but this isn't anywhere NEAR a 'typical' phone!

My only concern is that it's Cingular exclusive, but I guess I have six months to save up the cash for the phone, and to cancel my Verizon account and get with Cingular.

Congrats to Apple, Inc. for once again revolutionizing another aspect of our daily lives!

 

[turtlebud]

how much space will os X take up?

the question i'm wondering is how much of that 4gb or 8gb drive will be available - how much space will the OS take? i'm sure it has to be a mobile version of OS X cause i think even the base install of Tiger is 2gigs or more.

 

[Edge100]

I thought it was interesting that Jobs played the Beatles and showed Sgt. Pepper on the iPhone screen. For a moment I thought he would bring Paul and Ringo out and announce the Beatles on iTunes... Interesting choice and maybe a clue of things to come?

Exactly what I thought. I agree, this has to be a clue of things to come.

 

[joepunk]

Wow!

Can't believe I haven't recieved a server full message yet on MR.

Love the phone. Was not shocked at the prices. I was also expecting a widescreen iPod since now we know they could do it. Looks like I will have to wait.

Is it possible that ones minutes would get used up when surfing the web?

 

[DUCKofD3ATH]

Tablet computer?

So I was convinced that there'd never be an Apple tablet computer, but if you double the size of the iPhone, isn't that what you'd have? Is the Newton about to be reincarnated, followed by the iTablet?

 

[sweet160]

Revolution!

This looks a great new way to use a phone, again apple doesnt stuff it with all the features but take those which apple think that will work + add some new tricks et voila: the iPhone is born.

First I thought no clickwheel, but hey for this thin a clickwheel would be obstructive and unhandy.

Great progress I think it is hope it works with Proximus

 

[Machead III]

Wow, I'm amazed, they actually managed to announce the iPhone.... and yet walk away from MacWorld as a failure.

12 month wait for the two largest phone markets in the world, EU and Asia, and even a 6 month wait for the US, plus the total lack of any products available today, turned a showstopper into a pointless teaser, or more accurately, MacWorld San Francisco 2008.



And am I right in thinking that it's 499/599 and then the monthly contract fee on top? Because if it is, that makes the iPhone the single most expensive mainstream mobile phone in recent times - and it's good, but not that good.

 

[Jo-Kun]

I'm really not impressed with the iPhone...

I hate all these all-in-one overpriced phones... really 499 & 599 for a phone... with a 2y contract (will be different here in belgium and price will be higher in euro's wich never makes sense )

I would like to see a light version of this phone... same interface but less blabla, less is more ;-) let say for 200 euro (that's the price of my most expensive phone ever...) no iPod no WiFi no Internetfunctions, but with the nice interface and BT and no 2y contracts for any provider please!!

and then apple will sell a lot more phones yes then I would even think about getting one ;-)

AppleTV... not waiting for it since my Macmini is doing that allready (and I don't have a HDTV ) I have a frontrow remote and a hack to use frontrow on my G4 Macmini...

the most interesting thing today is the one they forget to announce... then new airport extreme... better range, ethernetports + possible to add USB storage... only downside: pricy...

funny thing I was joking about the 'computer' in the apple name... and 1h later... they announce it has been removed lol

 

[Tomaz]

Apple showed us the handheld device of our dreams - ABSOLUTELY AMAZING DEVICE! And then they have the $%#^&%$ nerve to say we can get this device ONLY if we sign a $%#^&%$ TWO YEAR contract! ! !

I am absolutely beside myself??? I can't have the "Widescreen Video iPod" without being LOCKED IN with a two year contract???? $##@%@! Am I the only one TOTALLY P1$$3D? Not to mention not a word about Leopard!

WTF!

I'm sure soon there's gonna be a widescreen video ipod without the phone part and with a reasonable HD in it.

 

[Romanesq]

of course

I am wondering how this works now that it wont be launched until June. I bet more providers will be allowed starting Jan of 2008 (perfect timing for MacWorld ).

Also, ThinkSecret tends to not always be reliable. Take it with several grains of salt.

Granted, and the story of course is from last year too.
But we'll learn more no doubt shortly on what the "exclusive" means.

 

[slicecom]

I love how all the people on the Cingular network are saying to stop complaining. I think the design is pure genius, but I can't get one because Apple decided to make it exclusive to Cingular and i'm not with them, so I have the right to complain! This is not like the 500 thread!

 

[j26]

Again, the 5h and 16h that Apple is talking about is talking-time and audio-time, NOT standby. Standby is much longer.

Your phone has one week on standby time, not talking-time !!

Is that so hard to understand....

The issue I was responding to was the personally insulting tone of the posters response, not the battery life. If I was wrong, so be it, but I will not accept being called retarded. That's what I was responding to.

Edit: In general I think it's a great phone, so I'm not raining on the parade. But battery life is a big concern to me, and I'd like to know more about standby time. If it's 16 hours, there's no way I'd buy one, but if it's 4-5 days I'm in when it comes to Ireland at the end of the year.

 

[Object-X]

cry babies

Man, I can not believe all the cry babies on this post. This device is amazing! It is so much more than a phone. I can't wait to see Leopard now. Core animation is going to completely change the OS X GUI.

So Cingular gets exclusive dibs on it initially; I wonder how much they paid for the privilge? No worries, this thing is going to be mind boggling popular and all the service providers will be begging Apple to let them support it.

I mean, how do you people exist in life being so negitive and pessimistic? Whatever. I can't wait to get one; and I'm sure I won't be alone.

Apple is smart to announce it now and ship it in six months. That gives developers and accessory makers time to come up with all kinds of add-ons for it. I see a whole slew of new applications built for use with the iPhone. It''s going to take on a life of it's own; a whole new breed of Mac. It truely is going to revolutionize Apple and the phone industry.

Hey Microsoft, Apple has the real Halo!

 

[Project]

Im completely in awe at this thing. I was a bit sceptical til I saw the videos. Completely in shock.

 

[yoak]

I was very impressed. They will sell like hot cakes (do anyone still use that expression?)
I´m dissapointed about the long wait. End of the year?
At least it gives me time to save.

I don´t mind that it´s only 8gig, how often do I need my whole music collection for a trip? Not often.

It´s still enough for alot of music, some pics and video of my daughter that I can llook at when far from home.
Just the way I use my W800i now, but this will be soo much better

It looks great, and I want one.

 

[dante@sisna.com]

Apple showed us the handheld device of our dreams - ABSOLUTELY AMAZING DEVICE! And then they have the $%#^&%$ nerve to say we can get this device ONLY if we sign a $%#^&%$ TWO YEAR contract! ! !

I am absolutely beside myself??? I can't have the "Widescreen Video iPod" without being LOCKED IN with a two year contract???? $##@%@! Am I the only one TOTALLY P1$$3D? Not to mention not a word about Leopard!

WTF!

No you are not the only angry one, but this is just the way the system works: this phone is worth a lot more than $499 and $599 -- Most people would not spend more than this -- Apple had to use a partner to subsidize the cost of this phone and they picked Cingular. All cell phone companies lock us into a 2 year contract for a hot new phone -- all of them.

You'll find unlocked versions on ebay -- but they will sell for about $1200 -- Will you pay that much?

 

[jblodgett]

I recently purchased a Cingular 8125 phone.

When I bought it -- the purchase price (with a 2 year subscription) was $399. The phone qualified for a $150 rebate - making the price $249 for the phone.

BUT -- the only way I could qualify for the $150 rebate was if I purchased Cingular's dataplan for $39.99 a month.

Luckily --- you only have to keep the data plan for one month to get the rebate.

This pricing philosophy of using the contract to subsidize the cost of the phone has been going on FOREVER in the cellular world in the United States - and will probably continue for some time.

This looks like a pretty nice device from apple-- obviously it is still not a finished product -- I'm not sure its worth the high price tag it currently has -- but then, I bought the first generation iPod photo (40 meg) for $499 - and got good use out of it.

 

[Machead III]

Im completely in awe at this thing. I was a bit sceptical til I saw the videos. Completely in shock.

Don't worry, you've got 6/12 months for it to get old.

 

[TheAnswer]

The more I look at the interface videos on apple.com, this thing is really at least 10 steps ahead of the dinky camera phone I have now. The price is a little high for me now and I'm not really interested in being an early adopter for the iPhone, but it or it's successors are definitely my next phone/ipod/etc.

 

[ipodstreamer]

WiFi iphone question

May be premature, but I would like to know if this phone, because it is WiFi capable and will have OSX, wil be able to load Itunes on it?

I have a powermac that stores all of my music and currently I use an ibook that I use the 'share ' music function to stream music to my airport express that is hooked up to my home stereo.

I would love to be able to use the iphone with intunes in the same fawshion so instead of lugging my laptop around I can be cool and all and access my music library from the phone.

Or will the WiFi capability on the iphone allow me to stream my ipod tunes directly to my airport express connected to my home stereo?

Best yet, any rumor that the regular iPod will be made with Wi-Fi capability?

 

[motulist]

I've been with sprint since I got my first cell phone many many years ago, and I am very seriously thinking about switching to cingular just for the iPhone. I had no desire for an iPhone yesterday, but that's because after the rokr I didn't imagine it would be as amazing as it is. The buzz on this product is infectious, even my non mac, non techie friends are wowed by the iPhone.

The iPhone is beyond a winner, it's a champion.

 

[b0tt094]

Why Cant it be for Verizon

 

[Romanesq]

Data connnectivity options

Sooo...internet browsing....
Do I need to be in a wi-fi area to browse the internet? Or can you browse the net anywhere you can use the phone? and what is edge? I use sprint...i dont know this stuff.

and if the price indeed includes 2 years, what kind of plan are we talking about? Loads of mins? free nights and weekends?

I mean, the phone....is amazing...but its the monthly plan that will make or break the product.

Well if you are around lots of open networks like a university or a city park that is hooked up the connection will happen automatically.

The other option I'm told is to get a data connectivity package for $20 a month. Then you can get directions in your car, find a Starbucks, google pictures of places around the globe wherever you want.

Of course you can get and send email as well.

 

[cynerjist]

i couldn't believe the 499/599 was the subsidized price. that seems high, but the phone is like no other.

i hope they consider dropping the price after release, which often happens, as the component costs decrease. on the other hand, this is apple and their pricing structure is fairly rigid.

this would be a home run at 299/349 subsidized, exclusivity to cingular for 6 months and then release to other providers.