Apple iPhone Apps Coming, but Limited

[DTphonehome]

The more I think about the iPhone, the more I realize that it will never (in it's current form) replace Treos, WinMobile devices, or Blackberrys, despite Steve's assertions that the iPhone is "smarter" than they are.

However, the iPhone WILL still be a runaway success, as it will be marketed at all those people who DON'T have a smartphone, and currently use lackluster phones from Moto, Nokia, LG and others. That's a LOT more than 1% of the market (I would wager more like 80-90%!), which Apple is aiming for right now. So, even though it won't have the expandability of true smartphones, it will still have enough built-in and "Apple approved" apps to make it great for much of the phone-buying public.

 

[twoodcc]

The iPhone can kiss my iAss.

It's going to be terrible without any 3rd party apps.

LOL! sorry, made me laugh a little

but i can understand why Steve is saying this.

personally i'm getting tired of all the iPhone talk. i wish it would stop until it gets here

 

[jhedges3]

When is Arn going to rename this forum iPhoneRumors?

Here it is nearly the end of the premier Mac conference held once a year and guess what! Not one bit of interesting Mac news, updates, or new designed macs.

Instead we have dozens of lousey rumors on a vaporware phone that won't be released for 6 months. Not only that, the phone's name is in jeopardy, people are whining about the features, service plans, and 3rd party apps. Great!

People get a grip. It is just a phone and it hasn't even been made for sale yet.

Sad Sad Sad

Where has my "Apple Computer" gone? Where are the mac mini towers? Where are the new macbookpro designs, where is 10.5, where is the 8 core mac pro, where where where????

Please wake me when this nightmare is over!!

That's one way to look at it.

Another is to say that the announcement has generated an unprecedented level of excitement and discussion. People have moved past the obvious amazingness of the device and on to other, more minor, concerns, which they’re willingly going over with each other.

I feel like you’ll get your fill of towers, cores, 10s. In the mean time, you might ponder to yourself whether there is a dichotomy between nostalgia and longing for stasis or embracing change and welcoming evolution.

I, for example, do find it sad at times that we’re no longer living in caves and huts. But there is no time to lament the disappearance of these simpler living quarters and the progress that accompanied this change. I do like windows and central heating and being surrounded by rectangular patterns of dry wall...

 

[Stella]

You obviously haven't used many phones because EVERY SMARTPHONE OUT THERE CAN INSTALL 3RD PARTY APPS!!!!

Also a lot of non smartphones can also install 3rd party apps too - ie.., J2ME. Basically, any phone that supports J2ME can install 3rd party applications - and today, thats virtually EVERY phone.

Who the hell cares? How many of your phones right now allow you program and install any app you want? This is a cell phone! Not a mini computer.

He stressed the inclusion of OSX because it is what drives the phone. The animations, the menus, the security. He never implied it would be a mini computer. Its a cell phone!

And how many of you have iPods? Probably 95%, and you can't install whatever you want on that either, so why complain about this.

The unrealistic expectations people are putting on this phone is insane. Go read thread #500. You all sound exactly like the people on that thread.

 

[SiliconAddict]

You're joking right? With it's web-browsing and email alone, it's already superior to every other smart phone out there.

Not really. Windows Mobile in a PDA Phone is pretty much on par with this sans the UI and touching thing. I'm not saying that WM is superior in every category. Just in regards to app support. Also I would suggest you try out Opera on Windows mobile sometime. Its not great the BS that Jobs spouted out on stage about the first fully functional browser on a phone? BS.
To be fair to Apple though this is gen1. Get the underlying OS and core apps stable and robust then work on 3rd party support.
However they NEED to support 3rd party apps at some point or the very notion that they are a smart phone that can compete with Win Mobile or Palm that have a VERY robust set of 3rd party apps becomes a nonissue. Imagine what a Mac would be like if all you could use is iLife....ick.

 

[massiv]

i gotta say all this is amusing to me. there are like 3 of these things in existence and you are all freaking out about 3rd party apps and function. The apps will be there they just need to be certified. I love all the fair-weather friends in here. If you don't want to buy it, good, more chance i'll get my hands on one. But stop b**chin about something we still know little about and is obviously still in its final stages of development.

also, your opinion is just that...yours. the one thing i absolutely hate about the internet is the superiority complex it has given selfish individuals who think their needs dictate everyone else's. the same people crying 4 AAPL to release an iphone are know crying b/c its not good enough. these are the behavioral patterns of a child. i for one think this is a great step for apple and makes me proud to be a mac user. i seriously think some of us need to relax and get some sun or fresh air or something. this is not meant for everyone just those who do nothing but complain, all the time.

 

[Analog Kid]

I don't know what rock you've been living under, but this was announced to be similar to a mini-computer.

No, it was announced as an iPod, a phone, and an internet communications device.

An iPod, a phone, and an internet communications device.

An iPod, a phone... I think you're getting the point.

 

[voidptr]

Apple just grabbed defeat from the jaws of victory.

The iPhone shows SJ control freak nature.

I actually think it shows there are companies even SJ can't break, despite what he said on Tuesday. This is bad spin on the fact that they can make the best phone in the world, but Cingular still demanded concessions to let it on their network. I think most of these limitations have far more to do (at least initially) with Cingular holding onto their business model than SJ's ego trying to keep the phone "perfect".

Apple's learned the value of their developer and content communities in the last 5 years or so. Cingular can't imagine a world where they don't control everything and just become another TCP/IP provider to the internet.

 

[DTphonehome]

No, it was announced as an iPod, a phone, and an internet communications device.

An iPod, a phone, and an internet communications device.

An iPod, a phone... I think you're getting the point.

Then why all the talk about how it's "smarter" than current smartphones?

 

[Stella]

No, it was announced as an iPod, a phone, and an internet communications device.

An iPod, a phone, and an internet communications device.

An iPod, a phone... I think you're getting the point.

He also called it a smartphone.

A smartphone it most certainly is NOT.,

 

[DTphonehome]

I actually think it shows there are companies even SJ can't break, despite what he said on Tuesday. This is bad spin on the fact that they can make the best phone in the world, but Cingular still demanded concessions to let it on their network. I think most of these limitations have far more to do (at least initially) with Cingular holding onto their business model than SJ's ego trying to keep the phone "perfect".

Apple's learned the value of their developer and content communities in the last 5 years or so. Cingular can't imagine a world where they don't control everything and just become another TCP/IP provider to the internet.

Which is why I'm really dissapointed that Apple didn't go the MVNO route. Apple could have had ANYTHING they wanted on the iPhone...mobile iTunes purchasing, VOIP, etc. But they went with a major carrier, and now that have to play by their rules.

 

[j-a-x]

Widgets?

What about WIdgets? Steve talked about Widgets being able to run on this phone didn't he? I wonder if slothcam will be able to run on it, or will that be off limits to developers.

One of the thinks I like most about my Symbian based Nokia 6620 is the fact that I can install all kinds of software on it. I am running Opera on it as well as a POP mail client and a IM client and some games. If it wasn't for that I wouldn't be as excited about this phone.

...I think Opera for mobile phones is the first true cell phone web browser (not Safari, although I'd rather be running Safari).

Anyways, my point is, I think it would be a shame to lose the ability to install custom apps on the iPhone. One of the best things about OS X is all the great freeware available for it. If only we could install Adium or Vienna on the iPhone...

EDIT: It's not a 3360, I forget the model number. It's a 6620!!!!

 

[SiliconAddict]

You obviously haven't used many phones because EVERY SMARTPHONE OUT THERE CAN INSTALL 3RD PARTY APPS!!!!

Also a lot of non smartphones can also install 3rd party apps too - ie.., J2ME. Basically, any phone that supports J2ME can install 3rd party applications - and today, thats virtually EVERY phone.

Mine does.

This is what I ordered last week from TMobile through my company. Its no iPhone but app support alone makes this a winner. Pocket Informant Alone makes WM worth it. Don't know when it will arrive though. :\ Dang backorder.

 

[voidptr]

The apps will be there they just need to be certified.

Imagine a world where Apple "certified" all the apps for the Macintosh. Imagine a world where Apple "certified" all the Podcasts you could put on your iPod.

Central control of content is a dying model, and Cell phones are the last stronghold of that model. That despite comments to the contrary at the Keynote on Tuesday Apple couldn't put a bigger beachhead into breaching that model is sad, and ultimately will hurt the iPhone from achieving it's true potential.

Maybe this is a start, and maybe in 5 years it'll have been the initial shot needed to bring the cell phone world into the 21st century as promised. But it may also be the failure that dooms us to their current model for decades to come.

 

[bigjohn]

SlingPlayer!


I won't buy an iPhone without it...

 

[jsw]

The primary purpose of any phone is to be a phone. Making calls is, as SJ said, the killer app. The main weakness on many smartphones is their vulnerability to software bugs in both their internal OS, in 3rd party software, and, in particular, with the combination of many 3rd party apps. Often, such phones can crash or get hung, the result of which is a need to reboot the phone, which can take over a minute to finish.

While this is often an inconvenience, it can sometimes be dire. People must be able to depend on a phone acting as a phone at all times.

By limiting the software, Apple can best ensure that the phone will always be available and, one would hope, stable. To me, that is far more important than any 3rd party app.

Let us not also forget that, with a real browser, Java applet capabilities, SVG and Javascript support, and WiFi as well as EDGE, there is no real need to keep the apps on the phone itself.

 

[Stella]

I hope your happy with it. Its instantly better than the iPhone - you like installing apps - it can keep up with your needs.

Its a proper smartphone.

How can Apple be so dumb?

Mine does.

This is what I ordered last week from TMobile through my company. Its no iPhone but app support alone makes this a winner. Pocket Informant Alone makes WM worth it.

 

[RichP]

Arn should freeze all iPhone threads until late spring, its pointless to argue about it right now.

Apple is a control freak company. That is one of the main reasons their products work so well.

I think this thing for web-browsing and other demo'ed functions blows away whats on the market. I have had 2 smartphones; my Blackjack is a complete UI MESS. Its like a moron designed some of it. While the Blackberrys arent as cool, at least they have a decently sorted out UI that works.

I dont think Apple is going to make dumb mistakes with this phone. Ill wait till its released, then pass judgement.

And about the battery: The phone appears to have a rear cover on it, I cant imagine it has that just for the SIM card.

 

[DTphonehome]

What about WIdgets? Steve talked about Widgets being able to run on this phone didn't he? I wonder if slothcam will be able to run on it, or will that be off limits to developers.

Oh please...they LOOK like widgets, but they are mini apps designed for whatever stripped-down version of OS X the iPhone is running. No way the iPhone can run ANY widget that has been designed for (regular) OS X.

 

[voidptr]

The primary purpose of any phone is to be a phone. Making calls is, as SJ said, the killer app.

It's the app that has to work right, or it's not a phone. But I already own a phone that can make calls, and it costs a hell of a lot less that $600.

It may be the killer app, but it's not enough to sell this phone by itself.

 

[SiliconAddict]

I hope your happy with it. Its instantly better than the iPhone - you like installing apps - it can keep up with your needs.

Its a proper smartphone.

For now. For now. I'm 100% certain this will come to the iPhone. Eventually.

 

[Analog Kid]

Running a version of Skype would basically mean a circumvention of ‘voice minutes’?

It means that everyone in the office or at home who uses their cell phone would be using WiFi instead of Cingular's network. I don't know enough about the pricing to know if using VOIP as data would be cheaper than voice as voice...

 

[QuarterSwede]

I hope your happy with it. Its instantly better than the iPhone - you like installing apps - it can keep up with your needs.

Its a proper smartphone.

Dude, we all get your point. You don't need to quote everyone and say that IT ISN'T A SMARTPHONE!!!!!!!!!!

Ok, calm down.

 

[dan-o-mac]

i gotta say all this is amusing to me. there are like 3 of these things in existence and you are all freaking out about 3rd party apps and function. The apps will be there they just need to be certified. I love all the fair-weather friends in here. If you don't want to buy it, good, more chance i'll get my hands on one. But stop b**chin about something we still know little about and is obviously still in its final stages of development.

also, your opinion is just that...yours. the one thing i absolutely hate about the internet is the superiority complex it has given selfish individuals who think their needs dictate everyone else's. the same people crying 4 AAPL to release an iphone are know crying b/c its not good enough. these are the behavioral patterns of a child. i for one think this is a great step for apple and makes me proud to be a mac user. i seriously think some of us need to relax and get some sun or fresh air or something. this is not meant for everyone just those who do nothing but complain, all the time.

Isn't the point of a message board to express your opinion? You take someone saying a product sucks for a specific reason as crying. I take it as a point of view of someone who's so not satisfied that he or she took the time to express it. Nothing wrong with that, right?

 

[voidptr]

Oh please...they LOOK like widgets, but they are mini apps designed for whatever stripped-down version of OS X the iPhone is running. No way the iPhone can run ANY widget that has been designed for (regular) OS X.

Widgets are HTML and Javascript.

First class Cocoa apps won't work without porting to the iPhone (although SJ did say it had the Cocoa framework on it.), but there's no reason they can't put a widget engine to run existing widgets on it.