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So, if I (hypothetically) wanted a large screen iPod, with touch-screen UI, that had the ability to browse the internet and receive email through WiFi, so I bought an iPhone and cancelled the contract - I'm stupid.

But if I wanted all that and paid 59 dollars per month for 2 years, it would make more sense?

Uber-supersizing your McDonalds meal for 10c still isn't good value if you don't want to eat that much - paying for what you don't want or need is never good value.

If people just want the functionality listed above, it makes no sense NOT to cancel their contracts.

If it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck... it must be a duck :D
 
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So, if I (hypothetically) wanted a large screen iPod, with touch-screen UI, that had the ability to browse the internet and receive email through WiFi, so I bought an iPhone and cancelled the contract - I'm stupid.

But if I wanted all that and paid 59 dollars per month for 2 years, it would make more sense?

Since when did you equate yourself to being an "iPhone thing?"
 
I'm sure there are people more than willing to pay $649 to get a full screen video ipod with multitouch and wifi internet. The contract has been a killer for some who have minimal mobile phone needs.

arn

yes right - it's a timing thing. Those features will be incorporated in the new iPods anyway. There are a lot of willing for whome $650 is nothing, but they are not all stupid :)

Now, as to my situation, I don't know: the iPhone addition to my current contract (cingular/att) would at $20 to my plan, which I hardly feel is a killer given that currently I have no data plan whatosever.
 
if you are one of these people who actually does this to your iphone you are crazy. I think that apple will come out with a widescreen ipod that has touch features soon enough, and there is not need to kill your glorious iphone.

Right. And what if Apple decides that the iPhone is selling well enough that they see no reason to offer such great features in an iPod? From a marketing position one could ask why they'd sell you an iPod at a lower price if everybody's gonna plunk down more cash for an iPhone?
 
It isn't $600 for a mediocre iPod & Wifi device...it's $600 for a sneak peek at the 6th gen iPod.

Too risky though - Apple and AT&T could pull the plug on these loopholers at any moment.

I imagine that Apple already has beta prototypes of a new iPod based on the iPhone - we should see it soon!
 
Why not just wait for the 6th gen iPod that is certainly going to be a WiFi, widescreen, multi-touch, hard drive based, Internet communication wonder? I would. When they release it you're modded iPhone will seem really lame. But then again, why wait? :) Enjoy it now, then sell it on Ebay and get the iPod. :p

The point is, even the "uncrippled" iPhone is going to look like a lame duck if your iPod can do all that minus the phone part for a lot less money...
 
hey I agree whybwould you not want to activate and pay for the service? You didn't just drop 650 on the phone like I did only to not activate it...thais stupidity at its best...LOL plus arn may be right on this one
 
The point is, even the "uncrippled" iPhone is going to look like a lame duck if your iPod can do all that minus the phone part for a lot less money...

Exactly.

And I really don't understand why so many people are convinced the 6gen iPod will have wifi anyway. JUST wifi is going to be limiting to a LOT of people, and unusable in most places. If you're going to have a true internet device, you're going to need some kind of cellular connection (for now) to browse the web in most areas.
 
Actually, I see the next step by Apple is to actually offer a iPod/Widget/Web combo with wifi and BT DUN....it wouldn't surprise me. They would sell a ton of these too. I need at least a 40GB one. I could then replace my IPod video/Nokia 800 combo... and use my Treo 755p as a modem.
 
Perfect for UK testers

An iphone with no contract would be awesome for those of us in the UK who want one for software testing.

Can anyone tell us if the $49.98 "Pick Your Plan" scheme requires an American address?

And, if so, do they check it?

Would I get away with using my hotel address?

And how quickly can these "Pick Your Plan" contracts be canceled?

Does anyone in the UK want to pool together to buy a bunch of iphones in this way?
 
I'm sure there are people more than willing to pay $649 to get a full screen video ipod with multitouch and wifi internet. The contract has been a killer for some who have minimal mobile phone needs.

arn

Or, you know, wait three months until Apple comes out with the new iPod.

My guess: You lose the phone capability but pick up a bigger HD, better battery life and (wild guess/fingers crossed) an iTunes Store app that will allow you to buy tracks over WiFi and sync them back to your main iTunes database.

40GB/$299 and 100GB/$399.
 
Or, you know, wait three months until Apple comes out with the new iPod.

My guess: You lose the phone capability but pick up a bigger HD, better battery life and (wild guess/fingers crossed) an iTunes Store app that will allow you to buy tracks over WiFi and sync them back to your main iTunes database.

40GB/$299 and 100GB/$399.

Yeah right, sure... the same functionality of the iPhone (sans the phone) and Apple will be able to (and want to) sell this device for much, much less than the iPhone.

Dream on.
 
Does the 49.98 include iPhone service or is it only a GoPhone minutes plan. If the 49.98 includes the unlimited data and visual voice then I'm going to get an iPhone on Saturday when i get my Macbook Pro.

Can anyone verify if that's true?
 
An iphone with no contract would be awesome for those of us in the UK who want one for software testing.

Can anyone tell us if the $49.98 "Pick Your Plan" scheme requires an American address?

And, if so, do they check it?

Would I get away with using my hotel address?

And how quickly can these "Pick Your Plan" contracts be canceled?

Does anyone in the UK want to pool together to buy a bunch of iphones in this way?


Mine is en route - so i will try this method once it gets here at the weekend :)
 
Until the iPhone and iPod converge, and that won't happen for YEARS, the iPod will never have WiFi beyond the ability to sync with your local computer.

As stated previously, Apple will want to keep the iPod and iPhone markets as distinct as possible. Phone cababilities and WiFi go hand-in-hand. To me, the iPhone put the last nail in the coffin for ever seeing WiFi for the iPod.

You WILL see widescreen and multitouch. Hopefully before October, but more than likely, MW2008 in San Francisco.
 
Unlocking?

Ok, it frees the iPhone from AT&T, but it is still NOT unlocking!

Unlocking = Ability to pop in any SIM card from any GSM carrier in the world and have it work.

Can't wait for that.
 
Throwing phone companies on their heads...

Have you considered that Jobs et. al. might release a widescreen ipod with wifi etc specifically to throw the phone companies on their heads?

Apple has likely had a hell of a time getting to the point where they have locked in AT&T, but that's only in the US. If they want to offer something world-wide, they have to jump through lots of hoops to do it, even if they play hardball. Jobs wants to run things his way; he has vision. He likely can't stand the various monopolies he's having to deal with right now (music, movies, and now cell carriers). You can bet he's looking for ways to continue to throw the three 'industries' on their heads. Look at the recent posturing from Universal Music as an example of the problems with dealing with these monopolies.

A wide-screen iPod with wifi ... they could release that world-wide! Think of how many of those they would sell. Then imagine them offering VOIP software (skype, or their own). Then consider the number of major cities either implementing or pondering city-wide wireless hotspots... It doesn't seem to make sense for them NOT to release a wifi ipod, when you look at it from a world-wide standpoint, rather than a US-centric one.

I will wait patiently (well, somewhat impatiently, I suppose), as a Canadian on this one...

-t
 
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