Hands on the iPhone, and History of iPhone?

[Digital Fury]

Plus I get WIFI which is awesome since I have wifi at home and work and don't have to use stinking Cingulars slow 3G network, plus I can go to any starbucks or airport and connect. Wifi is 10x more important then 3G

As most people already have access to the Internet both at work and home, the high-speed aspect of 3G is important for those who, between work and home aren't at Starbucks or an airport all the time and that don't have an opened Wi-Fi network nearby and/or don't want to pay for spot Wi-Fi access.

The poor quality of 3G offerings in the US is a US-specific problem. In Europe 3G coverage in quite excellent and you can get unlimited bandwidth access at a reasonable cost. I have been using Google Maps (along with TomTom and a Bluetooth GPS) and Gmail for Symbian 3rd edition for a while and 3G data rates helps a lot.

 

[Maestro64]

Where did you hear that one cannot replace the battery? One can replace the battery on an iPod--either Apple or 3rd-party vendors will do it, or even send you a new battery to install yourself--so why wouldn't this device be similar?

There was a few years ago a complaint that iPods did not have replaceable batteries, and they're not the easiest to replace, but that complaint proved to be false (but it did spur Apple to introduce their battery replacement program).

Notice I used the word "YOU" meaning you and I not Apple to replace the battery.

The other reason to have "user" replaceable batteries on a Cell phone is because it become business critial unlike an ipod. I do not do this buy I work with people who do and who use their cell phone all the time which have 1 or 2 extra batteries on a charger/dock to swap into the phone when the phone they are using dies after talking on the phone for hours during the day.

Like I said, this is a Gen 1 product and will get better.

 

[Zzzoom]

I think the phone is absolutely gorgeous. If the phone handles half as well as Steve wants us to believe it might even be the next big thing. Even the price of the phone itself seems to be reasonable, given the technology behind it. However, the dealbreaker could still be the 2 year contract that comes with the phone. First, the monthly fee migth be prohibitive. Second, as others have already pointed out, 2 years are a mighty long time (especially for gadget geeks).

 

[dinojedi]

multi touch screen

To see the tecnology behind iPhone go to Google and type:

multi touch screen video

there are some videos on YouTube that show this technology on a 23 inch screen. Maybe in a short future we will see the MacBook no-tablet because has not stylo! Now I discovered who buy that technlogy!

 

[mi5moav]

Keys do magnify when you hover over them just like in the dock.

 

[b3beater]

3rd Party Apps

Sorry if this has already been address but Apple seems to be smart enough not to leave the iphone as simply driven by 1st party software.

Being that it is OS-X and developers will have no problems learing new code to write apps for it they more than likely kept the third party developers out of the loop so no one leaked information about the phone.

It's running on OS-X for god's sake. Do you have any idea how many third party apps could be designed between now and June...? hell, how many apps could be designed between May and June....?

 

[slffl]

C'mon, do you really think Cingular is doing this for the fun of it? The free wallpapers and ringtones you'll have now with the iPhone will be replaced by Widgets, Music, and SMS messages you'll be paying for.

 

[dAlen]

You seem to be forgetting the Wii

The problem with the Wii is its doesnt compete as a home entertainment center. (i.e. HD movies with blue ray or HDDVD, or connecting to the internet, or playing music on your t.v., etc.)

the wii is only for games, thus the price and the lower graphics quality.

Peace

dAlen

 

[Rustus Maximus]

The big thing to remember is that this phone will last longer than most other phones. Like Jobs said, If they want to add features just update the OS. This is more like a computer than a phone.

Hmm, software isn't going to change the resolution of the camera, add more storage or add 3G or GPS.

Software doesn't change those hardware aspects on your Mac either. I think Starflyer was referring more to the ease of upgrading the phone's UI and OS. Which given the nature of Apple's approach here is going to be considerably easier than any cell presently on the market or in the near future.

I think many are also overlooking something else here. Look beyond the phone itself...beyond the product. Look at the UI. Maybe I am making too much of it but Multi-Touch is the real story here. The way we interact with a device is about to be changed again and once again it is Apple leading that revolution. Add voice interaction with the computer to this mix and goodbye keyboard and mouse. The next phase of computing is about to begin, this phone is just a peek of things to come. As Steve said, there are some incredible Mac products coming in the next few months. MAC...pro stuff...they have not forgotten who they are they've just added a missing piece of their puzzle for technological domination .

 

[sososowhat]

Ugh, isn't it obvious? We're not talking about a phone here, and it's not dead on arrival - this is a tablet PC.

The bloody thing plays HD movies! Did you see how fast cover flow was? Can you say multi-tasking?

You all realise that the processor in this thing is going to be 800Mhz+ right? And it's got to have at least 256mb of ram.

It'd be funny if it got as hot as a MacBook Too hot for a lap is definitely too hot for a pocket!

 

[Torajima]

No third party development? Count me out...

IMO, you can't be a smartphone without the ability to install new apps.

This thing just become a lot dumber than a Palm or WINce based phone. As a full fledged pda/smartphone hybrid, the iPhone was definately worth the price of admission. Now, no freaking way...

 

[sishaw]

Notice I used the word "YOU" meaning you and I not Apple to replace the battery.

The other reason to have "user" replaceable batteries on a Cell phone is because it become business critial unlike an ipod. I do not do this buy I work with people who do and who use their cell phone all the time which have 1 or 2 extra batteries on a charger/dock to swap into the phone when the phone they are using dies after talking on the phone for hours during the day.

Like I said, this is a Gen 1 product and will get better.

I agree that it will get better and probably have more varied offerings (an 80 gig hard drive version? A Skype phone version? Who knows) in the future. But I'm still not convinced that the back cover doesn't pop off to reveal the battery and SIM card, just like on any other phone. I note that the back has two colors--metallic and a band of black at the bottom. Might not that be where the cover comes off?

The point is, we don't know. Battery details weren't covered in the keynote and are not listed in the tech specs. Let's not assume things.

 

[MonkeyClaw]

Software doesn't change those hardware aspects on your Mac either. I think Starflyer was referring more to the ease of upgrading the phone's UI and OS. Which given the nature of Apple's approach here is going to be considerably easier than any cell presently on the market or in the near future.

I think many are also overlooking something else here. Look beyond the phone itself...beyond the product. Look at the UI. Maybe I am making too much of it but Multi-Touch is the real story here. The way we interact with a device is about to be changed again and once again it is Apple leading that revolution. Add voice interaction with the computer to this mix and goodbye keyboard and mouse. The next phase of computing is about to begin, this phone is just a peek of things to come. As Steve said, there are some incredible Mac products coming in the next few months. MAC...pro stuff...they have not forgotten who they are they've just added a missing piece of their puzzle for technological domination .

Thank you. The iPhone is a revolutionary piece of technology, just look at Apple stock. But the big story yesterday, is multi-touch. This technology will, WILL change the way we use the computer. I can see myself using this stuff on a future tablet Mac with a special version of Aperture and Photoshop.

I can use Aperture with my hands to reshape the photos, crop, redeye, etc etc etc, then go to Photoshop with an actual pen and use it as if it was a piece of paper. Yes you can do this already with Waccom tablets, I know, I use them every day. But to be able to hold the computer, write on it with varying degrees of angle and pressure, then being able to take your hands and shape and manipulate whats on the scree, its just amazing to think of the possibilities.

People complain, ooohhh the MACworld keynote wasn't even about Mac's, whine whine whine. If people would open their eyes and their minds and, for lack of better words, think different, they would see that this keynote offered greatly focused on the Mac, specifically its future, and quite possibly, the future of data manipulation.

The iPhone is awesome. Expensive, yes. Uses Cingular, I know I just threw up in my mouth. 3G, well Steve said its on its way and if you read the article by David Pogue, Steve and Paul said that some stuff isn't even finished yet. 6 months is a lot of time to change things and from what it sounds like, a lot will.

But in the end, the iPhone aside, the interface we saw, IS the future and I can't believe more people can't see this.

 

[Digital Fury]

Sorry if this has already been address but Apple seems to be smart enough not to leave the iphone as simply driven by 1st party software.

It would be nice but that's not Apple's game plan.

Then again this is only a 1st generation device, maybe the v2 of the iPhone will feature some upgrades.

- 3G support
- Removable battery (to allow quick swaps if you can't recharge)
- User installable 3rd party applications
- Removable slot for additional media
- Integrated GPS
- High res camera

A slick interface is nice, but you also need applications and the hardware to support your requirements.

If Nokia could fit a N95 in a 770 tablet form with a tactile screen and upgrade the Symbian interface with something slicker, IMO it would make *my* perfect phone.

 

[Maestro64]

I agree that it will get better and probably have more varied offerings (an 80 gig hard drive version? A Skype phone version? Who knows) in the future. But I'm still not convinced that the back cover doesn't pop off to reveal the battery and SIM card, just like on any other phone. I note that the back has two colors--metallic and a band of black at the bottom. Might not that be where the cover comes off?

The point is, we don't know. Battery details weren't covered in the keynote and are not listed in the tech specs. Let's not assume things.

I would agree I might have jump to a conclusion on the battery, but form the pictures it looks too tightly integrated to be easily removed. I'll wait an see.

I doublt you will ever see a HDD in a cell phone, again this is for a number of technicial reason such as shock. Cell phone tend to get dropped more often than another hand held product, just the nature how it is used. Plus flash prices are continue to drive down.

Right now I see 2 or 3 variants of the current offering showing up in the next 2 yrs. one being slimmer and and music only since the asia markets does not like the wider phones.

Case and Point

 

[gotohamish]

Time.com was given some information about the development of the Apple iPhone. Of particular interest, especially to those who follow Apple rumors, is a tidbit about how the iPhone interface came to be. According to the author, "a few years ago" Steve Jobs noticed all the research money spent into Tablet PCs and had a team of Apple engineers working on a tablet interface with touch screen.



And so, the iPhone was born. What is interesting is that around this time, rumors of an Apple tablet had reemerged. Whispers of an Apple Tablet project began to resurface in late 2002 and peaked prior to Macworld SF 2003. No tablet came, but the description was an 8-inch multimedia device running Mac OS X. It appears that these rumors were likely true and based on this project.

This author as well as David Pogue had some one-on-one time with the device, and provides these additional details and observations:

- Can't download songs directly from iTunes Store
- Can't sync iPhone with a computer wirelessly.
- "Web speed was OK—not great, but OK."
- "Apple went through numerous iterations of the glass surface, trying to find one that’s not too slick or too rough, or that shows grease and fingerprints too much. "
- "It feels amazing in your hand"

According to Engadget, the iPhone is not open to 3rd party development at this time. Only Apple is providing (built-in) applications for the device.

Most small handheld devices seem "difficult" to type on at first. But you adapt and get used to it. Look at the Blackberry's SureType—a nightmare at first but then a must-have once you trusted it.

 

[sishaw]

Maybe I am making too much of it but Multi-Touch is the real story here. The way we interact with a device is about to be changed again and once again it is Apple leading that revolution. Add voice interaction with the computer to this mix and goodbye keyboard and mouse. The next phase of computing is about to begin, this phone is just a peek of things to come. As Steve said, there are some incredible Mac products coming in the next few months. MAC...pro stuff...they have not forgotten who they are they've just added a missing piece of their puzzle for technological domination .

You are not making too much of multi-touch. On this very site is a thread somewhere about the patent drawings that came out a while back, and people were very excited then. Multi-touch has the potential to make tablets more than just a niche product, which would be a great next step in personal computing. Not only that, but you could use this technology in all kinds of embedded devices. The only limit is the imagination.

 

[dr_lha]

Anyone have any idea if they will even sell this thing without a contract or with a 1 year contract?

Cingular only do 2 year contracts now.

bastards...

 

[ChrisA]

Anyone else feel no wireless syncing is a letdown?

Wireless syncing would be useful only if there was also wireless re-charging. If you have to plug it in to charge, not having to plug it to sync doesn't get you much.

 

[Krevnik]

It only has EDGE which would be a reason for slower speeds.

I should note that even over WiFi, the browser isn't gonna be terribly fast. This thing is running 'desktop-class' apps which means desktop-class requirements, on a mobile-class device. I would not expect WebKit to render that quickly on a 400-500Mhz device with a low RAM ceiling. Pocket IE on Windows Mobile doesn't do that well on the HTC Universal either.

 

[Stella]

For now.

Your needs will grow and iPhone won't be able to meet your expectations because Apple disallow 3rd party software. Unlike traditional smartphones.

Wifi is more important to *you* because you live in the states were the infrastructure isn't mature as Europe and elsewhere.

What I need my smart phone to do and what iPhone offers

IMAP/POP Yes
Push email Yes
Stock Quotes Yes
WAP or better Browser Yes
Calendar To-Do list Yes
Read PDF Yes
Instant Message/SMS Yes
World Phone Yes
SpeakerPhone Yes
MP3 capability Yes
Bluetooth Yes
iSync Compatible Yes

Plus I get WIFI which is awesome since I have wifi at home and work and don't have to use stinking Cingulars slow 3G network, plus I can go to any starbucks or airport and connect. Wifi is 10x more important then 3G

\


hate to tell you this, but its already been done. HDD have been put into cell phones!!
http://www.infoworld.com/article/05/10/17/HNsamsungcellphone_1.html

The first being Samsung SPH-V5400.

I doublt you will ever see a HDD in a cell phone, again this is for a number of technicial reason such as shock. Cell phone tend to get dropped more often than another hand held product, just the nature how it is used. Plus flash prices are continue to drive down.

 

[Digital Fury]

I doublt you will ever see a HDD in a cell phone, again this is for a number of technicial reason such as shock. Cell phone tend to get dropped more often than another hand held product, just the nature how it is used. Plus flash prices are continue to drive down.

The Nokia N91 has one and has been engineered to handle the risk you describe - it works just fine.

Hard drives do hit the battery harder than solid-state storage and as you mentioned the prices have come down and their capacity have increased.

 

[mtrctyjoe]

iPhone in it present form:

What it is:

1. An expensive phone with not enough memory to replace an existing ipod+phone stand alone - cool screen and touchy interface - (which better be easy to text on!!)

What it is not:
1. A viable alternative for the masses (in it present form - value is not there).
2. A replacement for a Lap Top (which it should be at these prices!!)

What it will be:

Here is the cool part - I hope anyway. This is indeed the 1 st gen of the future folks. When in its present form the price drops - and the next gen turns into the tablet we have all dreamed about - slightly larger display / laptop replacement - Apple will rule the world.

 

[wizzerandchips]

I think Apple need to up the specs before release.

Lack of 3G (and HSDPA for data) seems like a problem even now. The tie in with that Cingular contract is 2 years. Imagine how dated a lot of those features are going to feel even a year into that contract.

A expected the interface etc seems to be nice and I bet it's a lovely thing to hold but as it stands I have major reservations about the whole thing and I'd say I'm pretty much bang on the target audience for this.


By the time this lands in the UK (October maybe), just a 12 month tie in will give you a HSDPA phone with all those specs for free. In fact that's almost possible now. Granted it's not an Apple etc etc but not everyone thinks like us nerds on here.

I have just purchased an O2 Xda orbit, after waiting so long for the iphone. I think the I phone is great but, my orbit does the same as the iphone, and has sat nav included on a 18month contract for £50. I love it, I also love the iphone, but in 18 months time when iphone is on its 2nd or 3rd generation. I am sure it will have all that my orbit does and more, Cant wait.

 

[kotovasii]

Translation please? (on everything but the OS X option...)

You are 1/2-God ...surely you should be able to work it out!