Apple Phone In August?

[peeInMyPantz]

Soo....let me get this straight.....clamshells are on their way out and eveyone will have a candybar for no reason????


Thank you for elaborating so deeply.

I'm saying nokia is on it's way out...
and candy bar is nice... nice design not good enough a reason? things doesn't have to be practical. look at apple.

 

[nem3015]

Just saw on the web that Verizon announced the ne "Chocolate". To me looks a lot like an iPod... kinda a mix of slide phone with the black iPod and a reminescence of the U2. Click wheel included.

http://cache.vzw.com/chocolate/index.html

 

[Ive]

No FCC Approval needed

So what if Apple makes a iPod nano with wifi support for in house and free public networks.
In your house and on a open wifi network it behaves as a normal phone
with aim/jabber/astrix support. Look at the google wifi networks,
that type of open networks/free internet will be common in the next few years.

No FCC Approval needed
No need for a gsm/.../etc. standards. Wifi IS the standard !

It's clear that Apple want's in the direction of videochat/communication with all the new products that have a isight inside.

So that's the logical direction for them.
How many "good" wifi phones are there out with a good interface, nice design and easy to use?
NON !

It's the same type of market as with mp3 players a few years ago, rio and creative where doing things but get totally overruled by Apple.

This is the next step!
The first one will be a device that will communicate with voice,
this is easy to use like a cellphone. The second one is with video.

That is the direction Apple will go, a new market:
No carrier needed: call almost everywhere on wifi.
Next hype in communication: Videophone

And if they wanna do it right (and look at Skype's success),
they give the user a way to make calls to a landline phone.

The iPod split
The iPod line will split in three lines:

1. A easy low budget player like the shuffle.

2. A device playing music and video on a small screen.
With the ability to call over wifi, like described above. (Nano form)

3. A bigger line the video player. Works with a video store.
Device can also call/videocall, sync all data from computer (big memory stick)
And can be used as a webpad around wifi networks.

But the most lovely function will be the map direction! (also part of 10.5)
Every salesman/guy want's a tomtom, so why not give it?
Make it sync perfect with a mac/pc address book/contacts, calendar to do etc.

You could even use widgets on this device.


That's all i have to say...

 

[rubberduck007]

Just saw on the web that Verizon announced the ne "Chocolate". To me looks a lot like an iPod... kinda a mix of slide phone with the black iPod and a reminescence of the U2. Click wheel included.

http://cache.vzw.com/chocolate/index.html

Hey notice the chocolate in the UK is different from the US version (square central navigation button) - it is model number KG800 - how come?

http://cache.vzw.com/chocolate/index.html

 

[Dr.Gargoyle]

The iPod line will split in three lines:

1. A easy low budget player like the shuffle.

2. A device playing music and video on a small screen.
With the ability to call over wifi, like described above. (Nano form)

3. A bigger line the video player. Works with a video store.
Device can also call/videocall, sync all data from computer (big memory stick)
And can be used as a webpad around wifi networks.

I seriously doubt that Apple will be able to successfully market a WiFi-only communication device today for an international market that doesn't have support for GSM. In 5-10 years time perhaps, but not today...
Moreover, as soon as you ventured out to less populated areas, you would be stranded like a fish on land.

 

[Cobrien]

On a completely different (but hilariously funny point - sorry I didnt know where to put it) have you seen the Microsoft voice recognition

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-1123221217782777472

 

[bigmc6000]

Ehh

Just saw on the web that Verizon announced the ne "Chocolate". To me looks a lot like an iPod... kinda a mix of slide phone with the black iPod and a reminescence of the U2. Click wheel included.

http://cache.vzw.com/chocolate/index.html

Personally I think it looks kinda ugly. I don't like the slide-phone deal and it looks like it cuts off easy access to the 1,2, and 3 buttons. i'm a flip phone type of guy so I'm not even remotely interested in that thing. Not to beat an old horse but flip phones have longer standby time if for no other reason than they don't have to illuminate the whole screen just to say someone is calling...

 

[aswitcher]

The iPod split
The iPod line will split in three lines:

1. A easy low budget player like the shuffle.

2. A device playing music and video on a small screen.
With the ability to call over wifi, like described above. (Nano form)

3. A bigger line the video player. Works with a video store.
Device can also call/videocall, sync all data from computer (big memory stick)
And can be used as a webpad around wifi networks.

But the most lovely function will be the map direction! (also part of 10.5)
Every salesman/guy want's a tomtom, so why not give it?
Make it sync perfect with a mac/pc address book/contacts, calendar to do etc.

You could even use widgets on this device.


That's all i have to say...

This would rock.I would love wifi and GPS on my iPod.

 

[Deefuzz]

That Chocolate (or whatever it is called) looks kind of cool...I am a bit jaded however on Verizon right now. Well I am not completely sure if my animosity is warrented towards Verizon or if it needs to be directed towards Motorola.

When my Sprint contract expired, my parents talked me into switching to Verizon with them so we can all take advantage of free "IN" calling. So I snagged a RAZR V3c and joined the network. I would have to say that my cell service itself has been significantly worse than it was...Network busy try again errors, more dropped calls, paying more for less features (i.e. crappy plans). And the phone itself has a plethora of issues, an unresponsive and sluggish OS (you press the menu button, 30 seconds later you get the menu to pop up) and wretchedly horrid battery life...not to mention all the other functionality that is crippled. So whether it is Verizon or Motorola (or a combo of the two) to blame I am uncertain.

That being said, I am rather fond of the idea of an Apple phone not tied to a specific network...unfortunately I am still tied to this Verizon contract for a year and a half about. At least if this rumored phone comes out, and does it soon, it would allow for ample time for any needed adjustments and possibly more saturation.

 

[RichP]

Personally I think it looks kinda ugly. I don't like the slide-phone deal and it looks like it cuts off easy access to the 1,2, and 3 buttons. i'm a flip phone type of guy so I'm not even remotely interested in that thing. Not to beat an old horse but flip phones have longer standby time if for no other reason than they don't have to illuminate the whole screen just to say someone is calling...

ever look closely? most flipphones use the same backlight for both screens, if one screen is lit, so is the other.

that being said, I prefer flip-style phones better. Only slider phone I ever liked was in the original Matrix, LOL.

 

[guffman]

This might have been covered, but the FCC would have to give its blessing for any new mobile phone and no one has uncovered that proof yet? And i know there are folks scouring through the FCC for just this kind of thing.

Well, FCC filings are not always publically available, the only *hard* evidence right now is:

1. The patents, but Apple files for alot of those,

2. The website, but who knows what that means, and

3. The iPod updater - for what it's worth, allthough it seems to me that there wouldn't be a reason to release those functions with the updater until the product comes out, unless it was an accident.

However, Apple doesn't have a trademark for iPhone, so it will be called something else. Perhaps "Mobile Me"?

 

[bigmc6000]

Really???

ever look closely? most flipphones use the same backlight for both screens, if one screen is lit, so is the other.

that being said, I prefer flip-style phones better. Only slider phone I ever liked was in the original Matrix, LOL.

I've had my old school motorola t720 since 2002 and it doesn't have simultaneous backlight (for lack of a better term). Easiest way to tell? Turn the lights off and open and close the phone. When I close it it stops glowing from the inside. I really hope they haven't changed this in newer phones - that'd be a huge annoyance.

 

[guffman]

I wish Apple would hurry up with this, and make it SIM card compatable.

 

[Timepass]

I've had my old school motorola t720 since 2002 and it doesn't have simultaneous backlight (for lack of a better term). Easiest way to tell? Turn the lights off and open and close the phone. When I close it it stops glowing from the inside. I really hope they haven't changed this in newer phones - that'd be a huge annoyance.

a lot of phones are doing it because it means they can make them thinner and small (And us less power as well). Instead of having to have 2 backlights in there they can put one which mean thinnger cover lighter cover. less wiring and circutiy (less power) and it cheaper to only use one. Now instead of 4 pannals (2 lcd and 2 backlights) there is now 3 pannals (2 LCD and 1 backlight) This set up is imporant on color displays because of how much thicker it makes them.


For me personally it flip phones all the way. I dont like the candy bar set up. I like how flips phones make the phone almost full size when in use and is still has a small foot print in my pocket.

 

[Willis]

I saw those on macworld.co.uk. BTW the first and the third link of yours are the same. There's another fake commercial,too. Link. That one gave me the shivers in a good way. They're well done. Are they student projects?

ditto. thought i'd say them here.

oops, mistake.. must remember to check links...

 

[thejedipunk]

Let's be realistic here. The iPod is Apple's #1 whore. Everyone wants to have a go at her. Thus, it's the biggest money maker. Are they willing to sacrafice that in favor of mergeing it with a phone? If the iPhone indeed turns out to be real, Apple is not going to allow more than 250 songs. Same as the 1g Shuffle. Think about it: what are children going to do with such sophisticated pieces of hardware? Sure, alot of kids today have cell phones, but the main purpose of those phones are for emergency calls and a way of parents tracking their kids. Furthermore, the phone would be marketed towards business users, who are the ones who have the most use for them.

If the phone is real, like I said, it would have limited song capacity, because Apple will not want it to compete with the iPod. So expect the business analysts, psuedo techno-intellectuals and the indie/hipster darlings to raise hell over that.

 

[Timepass]

Let's be realistic here. The iPod is Apple's #1 whore. Everyone wants to have a go at her. Thus, it's the biggest money maker. Are they willing to sacrafice that in favor of mergeing it with a phone? If the iPhone indeed turns out to be real, Apple is not going to allow more than 250 songs. Same as the 1g Shuffle. Think about it: what are children going to do with such sophisticated pieces of hardware? Sure, alot of kids today have cell phones, but the main purpose of those phones are for emergency calls and a way of parents tracking their kids. Furthermore, the phone would be marketed towards business users, who are the ones who have the most use for them.

If the phone is real, like I said, it would have limited song capacity, because Apple will not want it to compete with the iPod. So expect the business analysts, psuedo techno-intellectuals and the indie/hipster darlings to raise hell over that.

Umm the phone main market does not have to be bunissess people. There is a huge market in the college age market who will go for it. College students dont have the cell phone for being able to keep track off and emergencys. The Emergencyis part is a little bonus not the main reason. For college students the cell phone quite offen doubles as there personal phone and heck is there personal phone for all phone useage. My roommate and I dont even have a land line for our house we consinder that a waste of money since our cells are also our personal phone.

College students also happen to be among one of the largest targets for the ipod and among the largest buyier of that stuff. The music side would work great for college students and they would be a prim market it to sell if for. Heck I veiw a lot of the ipod commerional and iTunes phone target 18-24 year olds (aka college students and fresh grads from college). That is the market I think the iPhone make target would be.

not HS students. Those phones are more used to keep in touch with parents and emergcenys but quite offen are used a personal phones.

 

[guffman]

Umm the phone main market does not have to be bunissess people. There is a huge market in the college age market who will go for it. College students dont have the cell phone for being able to keep track off and emergencys. The Emergencyis part is a little bonus not the main reason. For college students the cell phone quite offen doubles as there personal phone and heck is there personal phone for all phone useage. My roommate and I dont even have a land line for our house we consinder that a waste of money since our cells are also our personal phone.

College students also happen to be among one of the largest targets for the ipod and among the largest buyier of that stuff. The music side would work great for college students and they would be a prim market it to sell if for. Heck I veiw a lot of the ipod commerional and iTunes phone target 18-24 year olds (aka college students and fresh grads from college). That is the market I think the iPhone make target would be.

not HS students. Those phones are more used to keep in touch with parents and emergcenys but quite offen are used a personal phones.

What I think thejedipunk was saying was not that there is no phone market for college-aged kids, but that combining the iPod with a phone would be a stupid idea for Apple becuase there are still a ton of people who aren't going to want a phone/ipod combination -- the iPod will stay becuase of this. I'm not sure what your phone market rant means, but it doesn't really have much to do with what thejedipunk was saying.

 

[bigmc6000]

hmm

a lot of phones are doing it because it means they can make them thinner and small (And us less power as well). Instead of having to have 2 backlights in there they can put one which mean thinnger cover lighter cover. less wiring and circutiy (less power) and it cheaper to only use one. Now instead of 4 pannals (2 lcd and 2 backlights) there is now 3 pannals (2 LCD and 1 backlight) This set up is imporant on color displays because of how much thicker it makes them.


For me personally it flip phones all the way. I dont like the candy bar set up. I like how flips phones make the phone almost full size when in use and is still has a small foot print in my pocket.

I'm thinking the minor advantage of having less circuitry is trumped by having a smaller backlight since the external displays are always smaller than the internal ones. Also, my phone just has B/W external so that helps a lot too. While it may be thinner I'm quite sure it doesn't help battery life at all seeing as how my phone has longer life than the new Razr.

But yeah - I'm totally with you on the flip phone - I hate holding a candy bar phone and having to choose if I want the reciever to be near my mouth or near my ear...

 

[thejedipunk]

Umm the phone main market does not have to be bunissess people. There is a huge market in the college age market who will go for it. College students dont have the cell phone for being able to keep track off and emergencys. The Emergencyis part is a little bonus not the main reason. For college students the cell phone quite offen doubles as there personal phone and heck is there personal phone for all phone useage. My roommate and I dont even have a land line for our house we consinder that a waste of money since our cells are also our personal phone.

College students also happen to be among one of the largest targets for the ipod and among the largest buyier of that stuff. The music side would work great for college students and they would be a prim market it to sell if for. Heck I veiw a lot of the ipod commerional and iTunes phone target 18-24 year olds (aka college students and fresh grads from college). That is the market I think the iPhone make target would be.

not HS students. Those phones are more used to keep in touch with parents and emergcenys but quite offen are used a personal phones.

What I was getting at is that this phone, if it exists, will be an actual smart phone. Considering that people want something that will seamlessly connect to Address Book, iChat, and iCal and whatever other program that is getting them wet. That's why I said that it would be marketed towards business users. That is my estimation at least. Rather, I should have said that if it exists, the group that would benefit from it the most would be business users.

I can see how the college group would make use of it. But consider this. There obviously has been a great rise in the laptops for college students. Tons of students carry their laptops practically everywhere they go, so they wouldn't need such a sophisticated phone. Also, Apple's back to school program where you get a free iPod nano or discount on the G5 iPod. They would overlook the phone in that case. Futhermore, parents are usually the ones who purchase and in many cases, pay for the phone use. Lastly, not all, but most college students rank amongst the poverty class, which means that even if they wanted to, they wouldn't be able to buy the phone. This is on the educated guess that if the phone does exist, and if Apple doesn't tie the phone to a carrier. Remember, for many college students, the parents are the ones who are paying for everything. Even iPods.

As I said in my post, Apple is not going to merge the devices. iPod is too big to get rid of or even merge. It's their #1 money maker. And there is still a market for those who just want a music player and nothing more. If this phone comes out, it's going to be marketed as a phone or smart phone.

guffman probably explained what I just said here better though.

 

[poppe]

10 Years later. We bring back what you all want. The newton with a cell phone cabibilities.. OH yah...

 

[amin]

I'm actually pretty happy with the Q. I keep it synced to Outlook on the work PC, and it really excels as a phone - great reception, microphone, and ear speaker. I would not ditch Verizon for any phone, even the iPhone of my dreams, because the other cellular providers have sh***y coverage in my area. That said, if it kicks ass, syncs with Outlook (unlikely, I know), and Verizon carries it, goodbye Q!

 

[eric_n_dfw]

All of the sudden, I care

I've been pretty much taking a "ho-hum" attitude about this, but my Sony/Ericsson T637 just bit the dust this past weekend. (as nice as it is, it's not a strong swimmer!) So I'm in the market all of the sudden.
I'm planning on borrowing a friend's phone for a couple weeks to see if anything comes of this rumor; hopefully, if Apple does release something it will be:

1. Cingular compatible
2. Have BlueTooth (seems an obvious feature)
3. Offered in a "bar" format (have had a couple flip phones break in the past)
4. Under $200 (doubtful)

If they don't, I'll probably go get a SLVR

 

[gekko513]

If they release the iPhone in August, I think it'll be US only.

 

[nem3015]

OK here is the dream-wish:

a "device" (you can call it iSuper) with:
60 Gb Flash memory for songs, pictures and videos
at least 3.5 to 4 inches screen
PDA capabilities (all them) with syncro in both windows and mac
5 megapixel camera with 12x zoom
phone an all possible bands including SIM cards
same size of actual ipod video (OK maybe a tad more)
Price: $399

Remember before you jump... is just a dream wish
ohh... I forgot... wireless web browsing (Mac OS X MObile maybe?)