Apple Phone In August?

[dhollister]

Man, I hope once and for all these rumors are true. The phone market has gotten extremely crappy. Even Sony and Nokia are making mostly ugly-ass phones. Symbian has gotten out of control. Really, in my opinion, the only interface that isn't awful is Motorola's (which I used to hate) and the only phones that aren't butt-ugly are the SLVR and that new black slim flipphone under Sprint.

 

[EternalTL2k3]

one of my favorite phones back in the day were those small nokias which had one of the best menus I have tried. Currently I have the sony T616 which has a decent menu system but not great. I've tried the motorola ones and am not impressed at all which is why I stay away from the SLVR and RAZR. Hopefully the iphone or whatever it will be called will look great, have a great menu system, and play at least 1GB of songs --- thats just my wishlist

 

[Dalriada]

Nice piece of work over at www.floatingpears.com

 

[aswitcher]

Nice piece of work over at www.floatingpears.com

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Almost perfect. I think it needs one more button below the screen for dedicated shortcuts so I can personalise my access.

Also add in an IR port in the top so I can use it as a remote with Frontrow (when BT isn't a good choice) and more easily eschange files with older phones.

4GB and 8GB options would really bbe iPod subs.

 

[infobhan]

If nothing else, Apple getting into the phone business will give Microsoft some competition. These Windows "smartphone" OS based phones are popping up everywhere.

 

[tigertrainer]

iPhone

OMG, I hope this happens. My credit card will leap out of my wallet like a spawning salmon if:
*it had serious iPod functionality
*it had a normal minijack for headphones instead of some annoying proprietary one
*Wifi for use with VoIP like Gizmo Project
*Bluetooth
*iCal and adressbook mobile versions with sync
*Video and Camera with flash, mobile iPhoto
*Imagine built-in camera used in iChat!

I hope Apple goes with their own new network. This way we can tell those greedy-a$$ comunications companies who give us crappy phones, expensive service, and crippled features to f*ck off. YES!

 

[arnizzlewhizzle]

do you think they'd make it work with cingular and the rest, or do think they'd make their own service like helio?

 

[jsalzer]

ExpressCard/34 Phone

i think i'll buy a Macbook instead

Ah, but the new iPhone can be purchased as a part of the package with a MacBook Pro - as it will conveniently fit into the ExpressCard/34 slot. It can be pulled out and used as a stand-alone phone, or it can be left in the slot to allow the user a full iChatAV phone experience from anywhere on the road.

That slot had to be put there for a reason - and the remote doesn't fit. Right?



OK, maybe not.

 

[netdog]

do you think they'd make it work with cingular and the rest, or do think they'd make their own service like helio?

I would bet it will come out as GSM initially, though perhaps they will release a CDMA as well.

 

[scibry]

Apple's Voice chat solution

I stated this exactly in a previous thread but I could change my stance if I could be convinced of one or more of the following were possible.
1. Could Apple improve their iChat to compete with the likes of skype, etc?
2. Could Apple provide such a service?
3. Could Apple create an iPod tele without removing what is already available in an iPod?
4. Could there be a iTel AV to connect to iChat AV.

Even if the photographer's visit was legit from the sound of it, it is an entirely new product so I'd have to assume that it was just another phone. Whomever they jump into bed with (service provider) would have to be big, really big. Another thing detracting from the story is that the telephone companies are notoriously slow getting product into their stores whereas when Apple releases something it is in store (Apple store that is) rather quickly. AND I don't see Apple selling another company's cell phone service in-store.

All I have to say is that Apple will ideally solve the voice chat market's needs, connecting us to any person with a phone or computer cheaply or for free and offering a beginner wireless to wireless service perhaps through an iPod accessory. I use Skype from my Mac to talk unlimited and free to a friend in Nederlands (also on Skype) unlimited and free because not everyone uses AIM (or has a Mac with iChat). He for example uses MSN. Adium is an example of software that unifies the IM experience and iChat is not. iChat's best features are not usable by my foreign PC using friends with other IM services like Yahoo! and MSN (which are now apparently merging). If Apple can support Microsoft Office they can surely support MSN and they already do in Address Book. So not only do they need to offer voice chat to homes but they also need to offer voice chat to EVERY modern computer/PC.

Will there be a cell phone? I was thinking maybe a walkie talkie built into an iPod.

 

[ddrueckhammer]

I hope Apple goes with their own new network.

It would be extremely difficult for them to start their own new network. Since they have billions in the bank, I wouldn't doubt that they could build it, but I doubt that the FCC would provide them a license. There may be some loopholes in FCC regulations allowing this if they provided data services as well, such as presence information (think instant messanger only on a cell where you would know in advance if the person you are going to call is available) or Voip/VoWiFi services... More likely, I could see them being an "MVNO" Mobile Virtual Network Operator like Disney or ESPN who basically resell Sprint service...I see becoming a mobile provider as being a distraction from their primary business goals and even being an MVNO is more trouble than it is worth. They need to get one of the major cell providers to support their phone for it to be a success. Unfortunately, the iPhone goes against the strategic interests of most of these companies...

 

[fishtank22]

and by now, that photographer has been killed ... or more likely been fired by Apple

 

[naco]

iPhone

" While I'm sure if it is true..."

it is true, i saw a add for it in a magazine. it gave the website: www.iphone.org,
but when i typed that in, all it gave me was the apple website with the .org URL. and its not a flip phone. its made by Sony Ericson. I believe this is why an Apple logo showed up on that one thing Sony was showing.

i saw the real one on the back pages of a "MacBook" magazine. would have bought it, but it was $30.

it was this add

 

[matznentosh]

...Verizon was reliable, although their network has been terrible. As I've said, I never get 3 bars or above, and I live in Denver! The service will constantly go out whenever I'm in NYC. The phones do seem to be cheap. My Samsung A670 is probably the only non-joke phone they had, and I've been pretty happy with it.

I have Verizon, my wife T-Mobile. T-Mobile works fine in New York City, and so does Verizon. Especially in the past year Verizon has spent literally a fortune improving their reception, so that dead spots are much fewer than they used to be. I believe this is why they ignore "cool" phones, they are going for reliability with companies who buy in bulk for their employees, not really for consumers - go to a Verizon store if you want to be convinced they don't really care about the common man -

but what I am trying to say is, that I disagree about reception of Verizon: it's very good, and especially so outside of the major business cities like NYC and Washington. My wife's T-Mobile often is out of range when we travel, and we have to use my Verizon phone.

That said, Verizon rarely, with the exception of the recent Treo 700p, gets the really cool phones, so will probably bypass Apple as well.

 

[jabooth]

I'm with the few who feel it will be SIM free.

Think about it - cracking into the cell phone market is a complex business. I know apple has money but setting up their own service??

Thats a serious gamble....

Seems much more likely to me that they would make a phone that you can just order from the apple store and shove your SIM card in.

People think nothing of spending £200+ on an ipod - why would buying an ipod with intergrated phone features seem any different?? (if properly priced).

Also, with simply making the hardware apple can easily sell overseas - UK networks are GSM just like USA and the rest of Europe. They can mass produce one product and sell it at both sides of the Atlantic - then they can sign on with individual providers and sell the 'iphone' it the more traditional light with contracts.

 

[iMacZealot]

I have Verizon, my wife T-Mobile. T-Mobile works fine in New York City, and so does Verizon. Especially in the past year Verizon has spent literally a fortune improving their reception, so that dead spots are much fewer than they used to be. I believe this is why they ignore "cool" phones, they are going for reliability with companies who buy in bulk for their employees, not really for consumers - go to a Verizon store if you want to be convinced they don't really care about the common man -

but what I am trying to say is, that I disagree about reception of Verizon: it's very good, and especially so outside of the major business cities like NYC and Washington. My wife's T-Mobile often is out of range when we travel, and we have to use my Verizon phone.

That said, Verizon rarely, with the exception of the recent Treo 700p, gets the really cool phones, so will probably bypass Apple as well.

I do agree that Verizon does not care about the layman, but I never get very good service here in Denver or if I visit my sisters in the bay area. I don't know why, but I just never get three bars or above usually at my house. Whenever I go to NYC, I spend most, if not all my time in Times Square and it just seems to constantly go in and out. I think T-Mobile is actually the best choice when it comes to international travel. Sprint is $1.50/min. and didn't even work in Rome, T-Mobile is $.99/min., and let's not even think about VZW's plans. T-Mobile worked for me from Here to LAX to TPE to SIN to KUL to even REP. Besides, they have a better minutes/dollar ratio than any of the other three major carriers and the coverage checker I checked works in every city I visit normally which are NYC, the Lamorinda Area, Vail, Boston, Denver (my home), and of course, everywhere else in the world.

 

[foureyedsoul]

But then the acronym would iPP

True - but in order to make long-time Mac users feel like they're the "in-crowd", they could call it the "Wild iPP" (pronounced: "eep")!

All it would take for me to become seriously interested in an Apple-branded phone would be for it to have an easy way to sync iCal and Address Book with my Mac, although if they're actually making one I assume they'll put some nano-sized music storage on it to keep it in line with the iPods.

Apple's all over "ease-of-use" strategy implies that they could definitely be the first company to make something that's a PDA, phone, and music player in one that doesn't look like a prop from an old cyberpunk B-movie - and is priced for consumers rather than business users, of course.

 

[arnizzlewhizzle]

i think cingular would be their best bet as a serious partner. their sim cards would be ideal for this.

 

[Tommyg117]

Verizon has the "in" network though. Everyone that I talk to has verizon, so I get to talk to them for free. Come on Apple for Verizon.

 

[SilvorX]

-At least 5 megapixel camera, I'd love to minimize the amount of things in my pocket by combing my camera and my cell phone ( i hate the beast but my mother makes me carry it) but there isint a camera phone good enough to actually use to take a picture other than an imac G5 in an elevator.

- The inablilty to do "texting " although there would be an option for "texting" but if someone were to select it a dialogue would come up , "YOU ARE RETARDED, just call them." the only option would be, "get hit by a bus"

5 megapixel seems unrealistic for a cellphone camera right now, but it would sure be nice, I have a 1.3 megapixel camera on my phone, just because it's 1.3 megapixels doesn't mean it's good quality, how do we know that the 5 megapixel camera will be any better? could be as grainy or worse as a low end VGA/megapixel camera but knowing Apple, some people will pay a shiny red cent for high quality camera anyways (esp Apple fans)

I disagree for inability to do texting, say if you are in a different country, where it costs say $3/minute just to call someone, or 50c just to send a text message (receiving is usually free), big difference if you just want to send a message of "I'm at the door" or "I'm leaving right now", I'm currently paying for long distance since I'm in a part of Canada that is not my home region, any time someone not from the area I'm in calls ME, I pay for it, and any time I call someone from home, I pay for it as well, so text messaging has really cut down on bills, I don't go over my minutes as much anymore with texting, since 90% of my calls were 1 minute or less calls, so thats where text messaging comes in handy. Although I would rather use a blackberry-like device with free email (if there was such thing, or have an email-only plan that doesnt require a data plan, like text messages)

 

[skochan]

verizon chocolate debut aug. 7th?

Some rumors for the Verizon Chocolate (http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/cellphones/lg-vx8500-chocolate-to-verizon-confirmed-187461.php) suggest an AUGUST 7TH Release Date. That's the same day as the start of WWDC, when Apple's new products will be announced! Just a coincidence?

 

[kev0476]

i get 3g data for 12.75 a month, unlimited.

Just with the sprint = cheapest internet.

That deal is through my dad's work. sprint seems very interested in salt lake city, best coverage in slc, entire university of utah is full reception, even underground.

but then again, i did just buy the samsung a-900 a month ago. wow, karma is still kicking my ass. (i've done some bad things in the past )

 

[mackiwi]

umm....that magazine add looks rather real to me. WTF?

on another note, Vodafones 3G network here in NZ has video calls as standard on every phone they sell for the network. Its not revolutionary, they have had it since December last year. It doesnt cost any more than a regular mobile to mobile call. oh, and the person calling is the only one who pays (the fact that americans pay to answer a call is insane).

They also have an itunes sized music library that you can browse and download to your phone ( its 3.50NZD per track, which is about $2 USD). Its quite popular seeing as Apple has chosen not to have an Itunes store in New Zealand. They have sold hundreds of thousands of ipods, but there is nowhere to download songs legally. stupid huh?

We pay full retail for most phones, but we aren't locked into any sort of contract. And to the person who said txting should be banned from apples phone: why call someone for ten times the price of a SMS text when you dont need too?

 

[RichP]

Why would it be advantageous to ban texting? All these features on phones are simply functions of software, not requring excessive hardware technology, so its not like the phone would benefit from not having it.

Also, 5MP camera? Thats just ridiculous. The issue with all these phones is the lenses involved, not the resolution. Give me a 1.2MP that has some decent glass with it to take a picture rather than some bumped up resolution that is junk when I iSync the iPone to iPhoto Beside, the nokia phones that do actually have high resolution cameras are THICK. Over an inch. Im not saying we need the next razr here, but over 1" thick makes it uncomfortable to keep in your pocket.

And I think it will be SIM free too. As posted, we all go blow 200-400 on ipods, why not phones. Beside, if Apple just releases unlocked GSM phones, the carriers have no say. iTunes, iChat, VoiP when the wifi is available, its all open season if this thing isnt branded to a particular carrier.

 

[DTphonehome]

Some rumors for the Verizon Chocolate (http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/cellphones/lg-vx8500-chocolate-to-verizon-confirmed-187461.php) suggest an AUGUST 7TH Release Date. That's the same day as the start of WWDC, when Apple's new products will be announced! Just a coincidence?

There's signs all over NYC saying 7/31/06 for the chocolate.