Apple Phone in Early '07?

[ChrisA]

We know one feature already

Apple being a California based company certainly must know about the new law just signed that prohibits hand held cell phone use while driving a car. (Reasonable law if you ask me) with this new law we can assume the phone will have some kind of "hands free" interface. It would be very hard to sell a high end phone that can't be used in a car in California. Apple must know this, the law has been in the works for some time.

 

[rdrr]

what about enough built-in memory.

Most current phones have 64 MB of memory. According to actviity monitor, simple widgets like Gas, and Sol take between 6.2 - 8 MB of memory, where the more gui type of widgets take 20 - 32 MB of memory. Put that load on a typical phone with a OS and apps like iChat, iTunes, etc... It won't fly unless you can cram 1 GB into iPhone.

 

[QuarterSwede]

The biggest reason phones suck today is because the interfaces are horrible (SE's being the best of them all). Motorola's phones are nice but their UI's are awful. What I am expecting from Apple is an easy to use phone that looks great and has, nothing less than, an excellent UI. And of course it'll work with iSync ... that's just obvious.

 

[bdj21ya]

Apple being a California based company certainly must know about the new law just signed that prohibits hand held cell phone use while driving a car. (Reasonable law if you ask me) with this new law we can assume the phone will have some kind of "hands free" interface. It would be very hard to sell a high end phone that can't be used in a car in California. Apple must know this, the law has been in the works for some time.

It's a stupid law and not enforced. I talk on my phone all the time, while driving a stick shift with no problems. You just have to be willing to take the phone away from your ear when you need two hands.

That said, I really prefer using my bluetooth headset, and I hope Apple does include bluetooth with the phone, if only just for voice.

Also, Apple should look into the idea of wireless headphones/controllers while ignoring battery problems. Who cares if you have to double the size of the device as long as you're just leaving the device in your pocket or backpack, controlling it with a wireless remote, and experiencing it with wireless headphones. I'm not saying there aren't other problems with this, but I am saying that Apple shouldn't be afraid of the iPod getting bigger again to provide battery life for some new features (e.g. widescreen)

 

[dondark]

I'll be very tempted if it has;
3MP
All the display info in the latest iPods
BT
4-8 GB
Full iLife intergration (iSync, iTunes, iPhoto, iCal, Address book (with pictures), Mail)
Earphones (Pref BT and acts as hands free)

Desire
3G?
iChat with BT for Audio?
Widgets?
WiFi
IR remote feature
Light / Flash

Two Choices: Good design Apple Style with decent Camera and Music Quality
about $399
Or, Smart phone like with the feature above.(it means iLife , iChat for live video chat), they only need a good cpu,gpu and wifi for these.
about $599

 

[hondaboy945]

Most current phones have 64 MB of memory. According to actviity monitor, simple widgets like Gas, and Sol take between 6.2 - 8 MB of memory, where the more gui type of widgets take 20 - 32 MB of memory. Put that load on a typical phone with a OS and apps like iChat, iTunes, etc... It won't fly unless you can cram 1 GB into iPhone.

If the iPhone is half of the product that the iPod is, it should have a decent harddrive. I think that this would allow for whatever software, songs, movies,or whatever you want. Just take 2 gigsof the drive and partition it off for the OS. But, I could be wrong.

 

[bdj21ya]

The biggest reason phones suck today is because the interfaces are horrible (SE's being the best of them all). Motorola's phones are nice but their UI's are awful. What I am expecting from Apple is an easy to use phone that looks great and has, nothing less than, an excellent UI. Of course it'll work with iSync ... that's just obvious.

Hear hear! It bugs me no end that every time I use my Motorola phone's user interface I see obvious ways it could have been better, if anyone had bothered to put 5 minutes of thought into it. For example, menus should be able to be controlled by numbers. That way you can memorize a code to get to functions you use frequently, and you don't have to look at the screen or click up and down arrows all day long. (This is how my Samsung phone was)

 

[bdj21ya]

Most current phones have 64 MB of memory. According to actviity monitor, simple widgets like Gas, and Sol take between 6.2 - 8 MB of memory, where the more gui type of widgets take 20 - 32 MB of memory. Put that load on a typical phone with a OS and apps like iChat, iTunes, etc... It won't fly unless you can cram 1 GB into iPhone.

Cram 1GB? Have you seen the 8GB iPod Nano? What are you talking about? Isn't flash memory capable of being used for running processes, or is it too slow?

 

[hondaboy945]

Cram 1GB? Have you seen the 8GB iPod Nano? What are you talking about? Isn't flash memory capable of being used for running processes, or is it too slow?

thats whatI was thinking. But we could both be wrong.

 

[aswitcher]

Widgets would be a phone killer... Some of the widgets out there consume a lot of memory.

I figure they could sort that out. Widgets only activate when button pushed etc.

 

[aswitcher]

Wow...that would be ideal! Mucho $$ too.

Oh, and GPS of course

 

[aswitcher]

Two Choices: Good design Apple Style with decent Camera and Music Quality
about $399
Or, Smart phone like with the feature above.(it means iLife , iChat for live video chat), they only need a good cpu,gpu and wifi for these.
about $599

$599...I would expect at least 8GB, likely 16GB or a HDD (ala Nokia) to make that worth that price point for me ($1000 AUD roughly). Also video playback.

 

[etoiles]

It's a stupid law and not enforced. I talk on my phone all the time, while driving a stick shift with no problems. You just have to be willing to take the phone away from your ear when you need two hands.

...this law just got passed (today?). It won't be enforced until July next year, I think.

I wouldn't say it is stupid. The other day, I saw a woman driving a big SUV, a cellphone in one hand and an icecream in the other

 

[dondark]

$599...I would expect at least 8GB, likely 16GB or a HDD (ala Nokia) to make that worth that price point for me ($1000 AUD roughly). Also video playback.

Did you see any PDA phone couldnt play video? $599 actually is a very low price. Many high-end PDA phones are selling close to $1000 even without a hard drive.
BTW, $1000 aud is $755 USD

 

[miketcool]

why is the US so far behind Europe with this kind of technology?


(edit: maybe it isn't i haven't shopped for a phone in nearly a year)

GPS, whay arent you accurate? Oh right, security issues....

Higher resolution cameras are a security problem for the time being.

 

[Chundles]

...this law just got passed (today?). It won't be enforced until July next year, I think.

I wouldn't say it is stupid. The other day, I saw a woman driving a big SUV, a cellphone in one hand and an icecream in the other

It's been law in the whole country here for many years, not a stupid law at all and I've seen it enforced many times. If you're driving that's where 100% of your attention should be, just because you've got away with it before doesn't mean you always will.

 

[IlluminatedSage]

I think the iPhone is going to beat out G5 powerbooks for the most annoying front page rumor.

You are sooo right!!

of course if apple keeps us going with the merom laptops or holds out too long on blu-ray. those will come up close also.

 

[etoiles]

It's been law in the whole country here for many years, not a stupid law at all and I've seen it enforced many times. If you're driving that's where 100% of your attention should be, just because you've got away with it before doesn't mean you always will.

I agree.
I should have said: the law has just been passed in California, sorry.

 

[asphalt-proof]

Ok I think Steve is just playing with the rumor sites. First is was "G5 Powerbooks next Tuesday" Now its "iPhone next Tuesday, quarter, macworld, whatever." I think its just his way of palying a practical joke on us plebes. Probably sits back, snorts derisively whenever he sees this and throws a towel at his personal servant (whose name is Steve Ballmer).

 

[HecubusPro]

Cram 1GB? Have you seen the 8GB iPod Nano? What are you talking about? Isn't flash memory capable of being used for running processes, or is it too slow?

It may raise the price of the phone, but putting 8GB flash memory into an iPhone would be awesome. I just held one of the new nano's at my local Apple Store today and it's size is perfect as is the weight. The storage portion of the phone is not going to be a problem from that perspective.

 

[GregA]

I believe this is because of the pricing. Europe is much cheaper when it comes to price-per-minute.

Also in the US and Canada, you pay to receive a phone call. Not so in Europe, or Australia... if you only answer calls it costs you nothing.

Many people here buy a cheap phone on a cheap plan and say "It's for others to contact me, and for emergencies". Of course in reality someone pays to call them, and when they make their occassional call it costs a lot... still, the concept removes the barrier to people buying a phone.

The main thing I've noticed travelling is there's far more young people with cell phones here than in the US. btw... Australia has more active cellphones than people now.

 

[HecubusPro]

Apple being a California based company certainly must know about the new law just signed that prohibits hand held cell phone use while driving a car. (Reasonable law if you ask me) with this new law we can assume the phone will have some kind of "hands free" interface. It would be very hard to sell a high end phone that can't be used in a car in California. Apple must know this, the law has been in the works for some time.

As a Los Angeles resident, this makes me very happy. I've been following it, and I'm happy Arnold gave it his go-ahead.

I'm sure Apple will also be selling loads of peripherals including hands free headsets. I have a bluetooth headset and I love it. Anyone who use's cell phones these days and doesn't use a cell phone is an idiot, IMO.

Want to hear me really rant about this subject, go here...
EDIT: I took the URL out becuase the link had a naughty word in it (and I don't want to get in trouble ). If you're interested in seeing my rant, feel free to PM me.

 

[funkychunkz]

I think if anythingm it could hurt apple's image. I don't really see why they should tangle themsleves in the phone buisness. What's out there is good enough, and unless they make more of a blackberry than a cell phone with great features, I really don't care for any rumors regarding it.

 

[dmelgar]

'07? They've been planning for for years is seems like and '07 is the best they can do? I figure the biggest issues are dealing with the US telcos. They want the UI to look like they dictate. They want to charge for music download/transfer to the phone. Apple has not succeeded in getting movies studios to back iTV and iTunes. They may not have luck with telcos either.

Seems like all the good products are being delayed or havent happened. iTV, 07, iPhone 07, new video ipod... missing.

 

[iMacZealot]

If, for example, someone is using Verizon Wireless, would the Apple Phone work for them? In other words, how "universal" would this phone truly be? Would it be able to compete in international markets?

(edited: clarification)

There are two main types of cell phone system: CDMA and GSM. The Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) was created in France throughout the 80's and the EU endorsed it as their official system, which caused it to spread globally. Meanwhile, across the pond, we were sitting on our little keisters and our brick analog phones and then a company called Quallcomm decided to do something six years after GSM had publically been out and they created a popular version of CDMA. CDMA is currently used by Sprint and Verizon (and I think a few Canadian carriers) and is pretty much only existent here in America. GSM is present in 78% of the world's markets.

With that said, GSM phones will not work on CDMA networks and vice versa. If Apple does make a phone, I think it would be GSM in order to capture most of the international market as well as the US. CDMA is very limited because it is not used anywhere besides a few carriers here in America.