I want an iPhone killer to come out because...

[cWeems]

Look, another iPhone killer, this time on AT&T:

http://tech.yahoo.com/blogs/patterson/30228

na its horrible man, its not even a pda, its basically the instict jus renamed.

one they may consider is the LG insite we just got in, but hey, its windows based, so we can throw that out the window!

as for iphone needs:
-sliding keyboard
-3 headphone ports(for friends to listen too)
-external antenna


...totally kidding.

 

[JPIndustrie]

There will be another iPhone next year, and it will revolutionize the industry as the first one did.

I always thought the iPhone 3G was just a carry-over design from the 2007 model. It would be stupid for Apple to not have another team working on a true next-generation iPhone.

 

[kolanut]

The iphone killer will come from Apple.

 

[jlwillia]

A true iPhone killer would be great. Apple gets some competition, forcing them to come up with new great features to retain market share, and we all benefit. Competition breeds excellence!

 

[Alisstar]

Apple does need the competition so they stay on their toes, but I don't think that they obsess over what the competition is doing as much as we do. They (Apple) do what they do, and others do what they can do about it. This has been especially true with the iPod and the mp3 player market. I still remember when Microsoft announced the Zune. Some wondered if it was the end of the iPod as we know it. We all know how that has turned out.

 

[jayenh]

no WM device will be an iphone killer, no matter how much crap they put on top of it to try and cover it up. its down to blackberry and android phones, but based on the storm's reviews BB will not be beating it any time soon.

i want a strong competitor for the same reasons, but until a phone comes out with the same ease of use as the iphone (and an amazing touchscreen to match) apple don't need to even consider worrying.

it's a shame really, apple are clearly holding back on features, saving them as press and party killers for any future phones that might compete with the iphone (just like they did on the day the storm was announced).

the only feature they will struggle to implement is mms because this would need to be organized with the carriers as well since the iphone tariffs do not include mms. what would they do? throw in x ammount of mms messages per month? make an mms worth 4 or 5 text messages from your allowance? mms isn't as simple as people seem to think. copy and paste though... better sms functionality (delete/forward single messages)... more bluetooth functionality...

i'm not really complaining. i bough the iphone despite having these missing features, but knowing they could be added via a software update? i'd like to see a phone come out that forces apple to improve the phone more.

 

[Alisstar]

mms isn't as simple as people seem to think

What do you mean by is not as simple as people seem to think?

 

[question fear]

Here's my take:

There will not be a feature for feature "iPhone killer". There will probably be a phone in the future that becomes the hot phone to carry, whether it is an updated iPhone or a competitor's phone. This is the nature of the cell phone market.

A phone that dethrones the iPhone as the hot new thing doesn't have to be a touchscreen, multimedia heavy phone. Look at how the iPhone usurped the RAZR and various smartphone devices. The iPhone brought a fresh perspective to cell phones and it had a very aggressive, very smart marketing campaign.

So will there be a phone that pushes the envelope beyond the iPhone? Of course there will be...but looking to every phone with a touchscreen and mp3 software as "the iPhone Killer" isn't the most apt comparison.

 

[kas23]

The only feature they will struggle to implement is mms because this would need to be organized with the carriers as well since the iphone tariffs do not include mms. what would they do? throw in x ammount of mms messages per month? make an mms worth 4 or 5 text messages from your allowance? mms isn't as simple as people seem to think. copy and paste though... better sms functionality (delete/forward single messages)... more bluetooth functionality...

But can't they just easily enable MMS for Wifi only, as a 3rd party app? This would bypass all the hassle with the individual carriers. And why does it seem so easy for other POS phones to have MMS?

This weekend, my wife received her first MMS from one of her friends. I swear, explaining to her that the iPhone could not do MMS was like trying to explain the death of a family pet to a child. It's just the way God intended it to be, honey.... And, I hadn't seen that horrid viewmymessage website yet. Talk about a solution that rubs salt into the wound! Apple should make AT&T shut that site down because that made the whole situation even worse. We couldn't go to the website from the iPhone, so had to use a laptop to view it. But, it wasn't that simple because the username and password was on the iPhone. Talk about a cluster****!

 

[kas23]

no WM device will be an iphone killer, no matter how much crap they put on top of it to try and cover it up. its down to blackberry and android phones, but based on the storm's reviews BB will not be beating it any time soon.

But, I don't really think it's the iPhone's functions that make it the cell phone to beat. In fact, it's missing many functions (natively) and this doesn't seem to stop people from buying it. Heck, even when Safari was crashing every other time you used it, the iPhone was still flying off the shelf.

It's the presentation, the App Store, and the Apple name brand that make the iPhone the hot product. Look at the device, it's sleek and beautiful. And it doesn't have a big "AT&T" painted across the phone. The App Store makes it very easy to add games (another great selling point in our video game addicted society) and other functions, all in one place - no searching around the web like Win Mo. And finally, it comes from the maker of the iPod. Now, the word "iPod" has become synonymous with "mp3 player." When someone expresses the desire to have a device that plays mp3s, they don't say "Zune" or anything else, they say "iPod" even if they don't intend to buy an actual Apple iPod. Apple has great name power.

So, the iPhone killer could be running Win Mo, but it's going to have to be developed, implemented, and marketed extremely carefully. Currently, I can't see any of the current cellphone makers actually doing this (with maybe the exception of HTC - at least the have recognized the blandness and limitations of the native Win Mo interface).

 

[cWeems]

the touchscreen is the biggest thing for me, its far more advanced than any other phones ive messed with... responsiveness and reliability is insane!! what other phone can u get and never have to align or re align the screen?? every other phone u get, that is the first step when the phone is first turned on, align screen.

closest so far is the G1, has the best feel other than the iphone.

 

[Pared]

Yes, of course. They are prioritizing, based on the importance of potential feature enhancements. For instance, look at the new Safari address bar/search field layout. This was obviously a critical need for the iPhone, something in high demand. Thankfully, Apple saw this, and took action to rectify the situation.

Much anger I sense in him. Not ready to begin the training is he.

 

[kas23]

the touchscreen is the biggest thing for me, its far more advanced than any other phones ive messed with... responsiveness and reliability is insane!! what other phone can u get and never have to align or re align the screen?? every other phone u get, that is the first step when the phone is first turned on, align screen.

closest so far is the G1, has the best feel other than the iphone.

I agree. The touch screen on the HTC Touch Pro was sluggish for me. In addition, when panning around it would frequently click on a link without me wanting it to.

But, like you, I thought the G1's touch screen was just as responsive as the iPhone. I came from Sprint, you know, with the CEO who said that Android wasn't good enough "to put the Sprint brand on." Well, Mr. Hesse if Sprint had an Android-based phone about 1 month ago, I would have likely stayed on with Sprint. But, of course, Sprint has to be like the GM of cell phone carriers.

 

[kas23]

Much anger I sense in him. Not ready to begin the training is he.

Yes, definitely. He needs some much needed re-education. Maybe some medication perhaps.

 

[scaredpoet]

I really want a better phone than the iPhone to come out so they make a new iPhone next summer.

I think the ONE thing we've learned from the iPhone is that trying to "innovate"
in order to keep up with a competitor is the worst way to "innovate."

Let's look at this problem from the other perspective: RIM and other handset makers have seen the iPhone shoot way past them in sales, and have clamored to "innovate" by coming up with their "iPhone killers."

The end result: they all rushed to market phones that try to emulate the features that they thought would keep up with the iPhone: a touch screen, a media rich interface, lots of memory, applications.

But despite the efforts, ALL of these competitors and supposed "iPhone killers" have stopped short. They aren't iPhone killers. They're merely iPhone-keeper-uppers. And they don't even do that very well.

Trying to emulate someone else's success isn't innovation. For that reason, I don't care if an "iPhone killer" comes out. And neither should Apple.

Apple already knows what people would feel is an improvement to the iPhone. They don't need an "iPhone killer" to make that happen, just the suggestions of their user base, their own ideas and a bit of common sense. The day the folks at Apple feel they must look over their shoulder and "catch up" on features, is the day they stop innovating, and the day their products enter the downward spiral of being perpetually yesterday's news.

 

[kas23]

But despite the efforts, ALL of these competitors and supposed "iPhone killers" have stopped short. They aren't iPhone killers. They're merely iPhone-keeper-uppers. And they don't even do that very well.

But, maybe that's all they need - to be able to supply a clone-like experience for much cheaper, just in order to keep the person on the carrier. As far as phone innovation/quality go, the carriers don't care - they just want to fool you any which way to keep you on their service.

The average person probably wouldn't even know the difference between these phones either. For example, I was at the Sprint store looking at the Instink and my wife asked the salesman; "does it have an iPod on it?" (I know I should educate her better, but it's a lost cause). Of course, the Sprint salesman replied "yes."

Maybe the concept of an "iPhone killer" only exists on forums like this and in the media. The general public probably doesn't care. If you add up the sales of all the clones and compare it to the iPhone, I bet the clones have sold more and kept more people on the carrier. I know a lot more people who have these clones than iPhones.

 

[AlmostJosh]

Isn't the G1 and Storm the "iphone killers''?

No, the iPhone kills them while still being able to have a donut, read the paper, and get some coffee

 

[citi]

No, the iPhone kills them while still being able to have a donut, read the paper, and get some coffee

this whole thing is just silly. Are you that insecure about your life? Do you need constant positive validation to support your purchases? How do you get dressed in the morning, or figure out what to eat?

A phone, is a phone. Iphone is a great phone, the Storm is a really good phone once you get passed all the hate. Just be happy with what you have...and in all honesty, if an Iphone killer comes out, will you cry? Because obviously your Apple loyalty will not allow you to leave the hive.

Your phone will still be great.

Like I said, this whole mine is bigger than yours thing is silly.

 

[Indy21]

it's a shame really, apple are clearly holding back on features, saving them as press and party killers for any future phones that might compete with the iphone (just like they did on the day the storm was announced).

Agreed!

I've got to get out of these forums for a couple months JEEZ!

I was planning on getting my iphone 3g in january of 09, now i'm being persuaded by the forums that it may be a better idea to wait an additional 5 months to see what's next! I've already waited 2 years for my TMo contract to deplete, what's another 5 months eh?

Oh Just STOP IT!



(p.s. so do you really think there will be an upgrade come wwdc??? )

 

[svndmvn]

Agreed!

I've got to get out of these forums for a couple months JEEZ!


(p.s. so do you really think there will be an upgrade come wwdc??? )

I doubt it,maybe July but then September would be close enough..in my opinion the iPhone isn't lacking many hardware things or at least not many enough..a lot of people are happy with their purchase and can wait to upgrade..hell,every firmware update feels like an upgrade..
In my opinion we'll see updated iPod touches before new iPhones