First iPhone Review from Walt Mossberg

[mambodancer]

Ringtones

If you recall the original Steve Jobs Demo of the iPhone, there was a Ringtone tab in iTunes. This lead to lots of speculation at the time.

Expect to see an iTunes update when the iPhone is released and hopefully this little issue will be addressed then.

Here's hoping.

 

[diamond.g]

Universal people, looking for the perfect beat
All the world nations, looking for the perfect beat
The Mighty Zulu Nation, they have found the perfect beat
Afrika Bambaataa, I possess the perfect beat beat beat beat

Looking for the perfect beat (Searching for the perfect beat)
Looking for the perfect beat (Seeking for the perfect beat)
I must get mine (I'm out to get it)
I must get mine (I'm out to get it)

Now in this world of music, there are many different tones (Tell 'em)
If there's no satisfaction, just pay for some action (Listen up)
On your radio, you hear perfect beats playing (Hey)
If it makes you satisfied, just get a pony and ride! (Giddy up!)

Hehe, that makes one... You don't live in DC do you?

 

[Digital Skunk]

So, no video recorder; anyone seen anything about whether there's an audio recorder?

Nope... probably not. The Treo 755 has both.

So you are saying you will never have a iPhone then? I can't see Apple making a CDMA version of the iPhone.

I might own an iPhone eventually (after 5 year Beta testing is over) ... Sprint may change their network or Apple may just innovate something some time soon.

 

[Padriac]

i can't let this go without saying something. i'm dumbfounded on so many levels. the fact that you can't have a terrible song blaring out of your gorgeous new phone is a deal breaker? if anything, i think iPhone would be doing you a favor by restricting your heinous musical taste to your earbuds only. also, the unintentional comedy inherent in calling "Marimba" childish, while referring to a good charlotte song as "perfect" is, well...perfect!

Ha ha.

Yes, if Good Charlotte is your ringtone, you have SO much more to be worrying about than whether or not you should get an iPhone.

Back in adult land: songs as ringtones is obviously common, so there must be a reason it's not here: a) iTunes wants to start selling ringtones b) AT&T wants you to have to buy their ringtones c) Some weird licensing issue with the music labels and Apple that hasn't been worked out yet, but will get added at some point. What do you think?

 

[clayfu]

Two things make the job tolerable. First, some very smart software offers to complete words for you, and, when you tap the wrong letter, figures out what word you intended. In both cases, tapping the Space bar accepts its suggestion.

Second, the instructional leaflet encourages you to “trust” the keyboard (or, as a product manager jokingly put it, to “use the Force”). It sounds like new-age baloney, but it works; once you stop stressing about each individual letter and just plow ahead, speed and accuracy pick up considerably.

Even so, text entry is not the iPhone’s strong suit. The BlackBerry won’t be going away anytime soon.

NY times article. http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/27/technology/circuits/27pogue.html?pagewanted=2&_r=1&hp

 

[Konradx]

I enjoyed his review. He was quite honest. Their is not one single phone out their that is perfect. People will always complain. Best thing to do is weigh in the positives and negatives and compare it to the competition. Sounds like for the most part the iPhone will be a hit

 

[clayfu]

Ha ha.

Yes, if Good Charlotte is your ringtone, you have SO much more to be worrying about than whether or not you should get an iPhone.

Back in adult land: songs as ringtones is obviously common, so there must be a reason it's not here: a) iTunes wants to start selling ringtones b) AT&T wants you to have to buy their ringtones c) Some weird licensing issue with the music labels and Apple that hasn't been worked out yet, but will get added at some point. What do you think?

i think you shouldn't judge people on what songs they like.

 

[King Crimson]

Quite right, but ...

i can't let this go without saying something. i'm dumbfounded on so many levels. the fact that you can't have a terrible song blaring out of your gorgeous new phone is a deal breaker? if anything, i think iPhone would be doing you a favor by restricting your heinous musical taste to your earbuds only.

... well, don't underestimate the education market

 

[clayfu]

I enjoyed his review. He was quite honest. Their is not one single phone out their that is perfect. People will always complain. Best thing to do is weigh in the positives and negatives and compare it to the competition. Sounds like for the most part the iPhone will be a hit

i honestly believe the iphone targets the Razr market, people who want the looks and aren't as concerned with the functionality or the needs of a power user.

 

[Tattoo]

Hehe, that makes one... You don't live in DC do you?

South Florida Bro! The MECA for Entertainment, Music, and the Lavish Life Style.

No matter how hard you try, you can't stop this now
No matter how hard you try, you can't stop this now

Renegades of this atomic age
This atomic age for renegades
Renegades of this atomic age
This atomic age for renegades

Prehistoric ages and the days of ancient Greece
On down through the Middle Ages
When the earth kept going through changes
There's a business going on, cars continue to change
Nothing stays the same, there were always renegades
Like Chief Sitting Bull, Tom Payne
Like Martin Luther King, Malcom X
They were renegades of the atomic age
So many renegades

Hand clap, hand clap, the renegades

 

[pale9]

It kindof makes sense that you can't use songs as ringtones.

Imagine listening to music, getting a call, the music fading out just for another song to come on? If you're not paying full attention, you'll totally forget that you have to answer a call.

A little sad about the lack of video recording.

i think you dont get it. they (att) will want to SELL you the ringtones. i am sure this was a bargaining chip that jobs had to hand over.

 

[dashiel]

I'm sorry but I don't understand what the appeal is to have sound clips from your favorite songs as your ringtone...especially for this type of phone

no flippin kidding. every where i go now i'm inundated with people's ****** taste in music! at least for the moment the iphone won't be an offender of this travesty... so listen you 40 year-old, midlifed crisis moms -- having ac/dc's 'back in black' on your cell phone is not fun and trendy, it's as pathetic as your fake tan and botox, and you lame white kids co-opting black youth culture, having 'this is why i'm hot' does not make you 'street'.

that's one of the reasons i have an ipod so i don't have to listen to anyone else's crappy taste in music, i get to listen to my crappy taste in music.

 

[Digital Skunk]

I enjoyed his review. He was quite honest. Their is not one single phone out their that is perfect. People will always complain. Best thing to do is weigh in the positives and negatives and compare it to the competition. Sounds like for the most part the iPhone will be a hit

The Treo (in my opinion) is as close as it gets to perfect. If Palm had made a Linux based UI and not that damn Foleo they would be going some where. Then all they have to do is increase the internal storage to 4GB and still have the expansion slot....

BAM!!! Perfect phone.

 

[RnSK]

Raises Hand

I have some Afrika Bambaataa that I want as my ringtone. (I mean come on how many people here even know who they are???)

Heh.

The funny thing is tho, I have the Apple Sci-Fi ringtone as the ringer on my Blackjack , lol...so don't everybody go usin' it.

And um, yeah, ringtones will be a revenue item...

And if my Appledar is working right, they will have "revolutionary pricing" at 49¢

 

[sfwalter]

I'm a tad shocked that no games are available. I would have thought at least current iPod games would work, but I haven't seen any acknowledgment of this, so the answer is probably no.

 

[Padriac]

Nope... probably not. The Treo 755 has both.

I might... Sprint may change their network or Apple may just innovate something some time soon.

Digital Skunk is the new ng17!

You want innovation but then bitch about features already on other phones. What features do you want? All features of all phones ever released? This is NOT the Apple way... they always carefully consider which features are in and out to avoid clutter and improve usability. I think audio and video recording are more "niche" things on a phone: some people love it, but the vast majority don't care. Just like FM and audio recording on an iPod.

Obviously if you want a featuere the iPhone doesn't have, then don't get an iPhone. Since when were all products all things to all people?

 

[RnSK]

that's an ad, lol

that's one of the reasons i have an ipod so i don't have to listen to anyone else's crappy taste in music, i get to listen to my crappy taste in music.

"This is your crappy music...on your new iPhone..."

 

[rdrr]

Note to self... Don't complain about the keyboard after only using it for three days.

Since I haven't used a phone network for data since the sidekick version 1, I don't think I'll be disappointed with the network speed. Speaking of which, I heard an AT&T commercial on a Boston radio station saying that they have kept their promise to improve the wireless network speeds in the area. I wonder if the timing of that spot has anything to do with the upcoming launch.

 

[Padriac]

The Treo (in my opinion) is as close as it gets to perfect. If Palm had made a Linux based UI and not that damn Foleo they would be going some where. Then all they have to do is increase the internal storage to 4GB and still have the expansion slot....

BAM!!! Perfect phone.

The Treo interface is NOT perfect.

 

[Digital Skunk]

Digital Skunk is the new ng17!

You want innovation but then bitch about features already on other phones. What features do you want? All features of all phones ever released? This is NOT the Apple way... they always carefully consider which features are in and out to avoid clutter and improve usability. I think audio and video recording are more "niche" things on a phone: some people love it, but the vast majority don't care. Just like FM and audio recording on an iPod.

Obviously if you want a featuere the iPhone doesn't have, then don't get an iPhone. Since when were all products all things to all people?

And you are the go to guy when some one needs a yelling screaming cursing guy that comments on someone else's opinions the manner that only a selfish "know it all" fight picking computer nerd knows how.

I will continue to ignore you before I curse you out and get blocked by the Admins... who are actually quite nice when you send them enough emails.

The Treo interface is NOT perfect.

I know... I meant to add that the new Linux OS should have been run on the Treo.. the interface and UI sucks royally... but it is as close to a good smartphone with practical features as you can get.

And for those that say video recording is useless.... you know nothing of history and the way the market is moving toward the full inundation of multimedia. The video shot of JFK's assassination was worth $500,000 in 1970's cash and only one guy had the footage. I am pretty sure the people in that crowd wish they had cameras then.

 

[clayfu]

Digital Skunk is the new ng17!

You want innovation but then bitch about features already on other phones. What features do you want? All features of all phones ever released? This is NOT the Apple way... they always carefully consider which features are in and out to avoid clutter and improve usability. I think audio and video recording are more "niche" things on a phone: some people love it, but the vast majority don't care. Just like FM and audio recording on an iPod.

Obviously if you want a featuere the iPhone doesn't have, then don't get an iPhone. Since when were all products all things to all people?

last time i checked, the ability to do a search of your contacts isn't exactly "niche" nor are custom ringtones

 

[RnSK]

Kinda, and no

i honestly believe the iphone targets the Razr market, people who want the looks and aren't as concerned with the functionality or the needs of a power user.

It targets the iPod market market more than anything else.

 

[Matthew Yohe]

Jobs Q&A also posted on allthingsd.com

http://mossblog.allthingsd.com/20070626/jobs-qa/

 

[clayfu]

ummm nah

It targets the iPod market market more than anything else.

kinda hard to compare a phone with a music player when its supposed to be phone first...

 

[RnSK]

I agree...

last time i checked, the ability to do a search of your contacts isn't exactly "niche" nor are custom ringtones

but i mean look at the way contacts are in most phones...you kind of HAVE to have search to get at them quickly.

The ringtones thing is a little lame tho.

As for the no video...a bit of a headscratcher there.