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Macworld SF 2007 Keynote Notes

One thing I'd like to see the Apple TV have is full DVR functionality so it can record live TV. I'm sure many people would like that.

I'm a little sad that only the Apple TV & iPhone were announced. What about iLife/iWork '07? I'm sure that some of their computers are up for an update soon, too. Nothing against the iTV & iPhone, it's just that Apple has other products, too. I wouldn't mind having a 3 hour keynote if it meant more stuff was announced. First hour could be updates to current software (iLife, iWork), 2nd hour being updates to existing hardware and the third hour being the "One more thing…" new products hour. Or something like that. Or maybe 30 minutes update on sales, market share, having sold the n millionth song and stuff. 45 Minutes on updated software, another 45 min. for updated hardware and an hour for new stuff. At least this wasn't like the press event they had when they announced the iPod Hi-Fi speaker. I was like "Uh… yeah, okay. Whatever." To me, the hi-fi isn't such an important product to have so much hoopla over it. Just my 2 cents.
 
whatever said:
And yes they did need to partner with someone, because they didn't want to release a typical phone.
Click to expand...
The point was already addressed and you appear to be deliberately ignoring it, unless you're saying that the ONLY think that makes the iPhone atypical is the voicemail...

Again, given the choice between an Apple phone available for any GSM carrier, and an Apple phone that only works on one carrier but has "picture voicemail", the former is unquestionably superior. Infinitely superior.

It is absolutely 100% false to argue that Apple was forced to partner with someone in order to produce an atypical phone. 100% false. It is bizarre anyone would continue to argue that.
 
The iPhone is not for me.

I was talking to a friend of mine last night about this, and here is why the iPhone is not the telephony product for me. You can put this down to being unreasonable or whatever you like; however that only proves the point that this is *not* the phone I'm looking for.

1. $599 or $699 -- I don't care how innovative the product is, I simply don't have a $6-700 need for a TELEPHONE.

2. Max storage of 8GB -- Considering the purchase price, I'm getting practically nothing for storage space. This is -- and let's be honest here -- a Video iPod on steroids. It's got a waaaaaay huge screen, it's designed to handle movies in a really big way; and then they hamstring it by not giving you more storage?

3. No 3G -- I mean, come on. Clearly for a device of this price range, such technology is a no-brainer.

4. Locked Phone -- For a phone of this price, I don't want to ever have to worry about not being able to switch carriers. And I refuse to give any cell carrier a $600+ leash to my neck. Uh uh, not going to happen.

5. No tactile sense for the keypad -- This is actually a major point that my friend raised. He works for a major ISP and has a company-issued "smartphone" which he uses to keep in close contact at all times. One of the tasks he performs is text messaging and emailing on it, and his point is that with a real keypad you can develop a kinesthetic -- or tactile -- sense, and this aids in allowing you to multitask as well as not having to stare at the keyboard. Yes, obviously this point runs in diametric opposition to the central design theme of the phone. Now, I don't own a "smartphone" (I actually own a RAZR), and I don't text message at all, but I can appreciate (and fully agree with) this particular point.

6. Battery Run-Time -- So, we're talking 16 hours of using the phone as an iPod; 5 hours of using it as a phone; and less than 5 as a Video iPod. That means for me I'd need to keep the d*** thing plugged in all the time. NO -- absolutely not!!! The battery runtime is (for me) 1/2 to 1/3 of what is acceptable. Period.

And I have to tell you folks, each and every one of these points (that is, not collectively, but each one by itself) is a deal-breaker for me.

To me, since the focus of Steve's keynote was the iPhone, yes, the keynote was a total disappointment for me.

Now, regarding the iTV (er, I mean the "Apple TV")...

Tell me if it's possible for Apple to f*** up a product name any worse? I mean, even Steve all but said that they should have left the name alone.

The price of the thing is within the bounds of acceptability for me. However, where the h*** is it's TIVO capabilities? Why is the darn thing so clearly neutered?

Also, on a strictly personal level, it's useless to me. It has no inputs on it that I can make use of with the entertainment equipment I have. Yes, I understand it's being geared to the "forward-looking" modern era of consumer multimedia electronics; nevertheless not all of us have swallowed the "let's switch to hi-def and HDMI" pill.

On a purely personal level (and you can probably figure this much out about me by looking at my sig), I don't watch very much of anything. I subscribe to minimum basic cable (for which I pay about $13 a month), and cable modem service. I wouldn't even bother to subscribe to minimum basic cable but for the other person who lives here who wants to watch network television without having to put rabbit ears on the roof and deal with analog broadcast "snow". And, frankly, neither of us has enough interest to justify spending money on another TV to replace the perfectly-working one we already own (RCA Proscan, vintage 1994).

And yes, I'm fully aware that one day in the future, when I'm so bored and so lacking in anything else to do that I actually turn the TV on to watch something, all that will be there is snow because they will have previously stopped broadcasting lo-def analog cable. And you know what my reaction and response will be? I'll be on the phone to the cable provider to go ahead and cancel my cable TV service and just have a cable modem.

Yes, I dislike the entertainment industry that much.

</rant>
 
MikeTheC said:
1. $599 or $699 -- I don't care how innovative the product is, I simply don't have a $6-700 need for a TELEPHONE.
Click to expand...

That's not the point at all. These days, everyone has a telephone in their pocket. What this does is give you an incredible multifunction device without adding any additional bulk to your pocket. In other words, the phone is an added bonus, not the core function. A Mac can run VOIP software and act as a phone too, but nobody complains about their Mac being a $1000 phone (though, if you think about it, for most people, their computer is really just a $1000 e-mail and web-browsing device).

Also, the phone that you do get with the iPhone is not just a phone. It is fully integrated into the other apps. How many other phones let you search the businesses around your present location and call one of them with a very minimum of effort? Conference call with two touches? E-mail to the person you're talking to? Let you switch off speakerphone without any effort? And so on...
 
MikeTheC said:
The iPhone is not for me.

1. $599 or $699 -- I don't care how innovative the product is, I simply don't have a $6-700 need for a TELEPHONE.

3. No 3G -- I mean, come on. Clearly for a device of this price range, such technology is a no-brainer.

4. Locked Phone -- For a phone of this price, I don't want to ever have to worry about not being able to switch carriers. And I refuse to give any cell carrier a $600+ leash to my neck. Uh uh, not going to happen.

</rant>
Click to expand...

1. I am in the market for a nice new phone and video capable iPod so I was looking at $300 plus so if I could get all those and more for a little more than I don't think it is too high a price.
3. Perhaps as a Time Lord :) you have access to a good 3G network but 3G is not everywhere I want to be yet. I think Steve said 3G is coming? I have been a Cingular customer for years for the GSM capability for use in other parts of the world so I am used to not having 3G and have been OK with that.
4. All phones you get from phone providers are locked to that carrier. I have bought several phones and had them unlocked to whomever I wanted to use. Whether that is a sim card in another country or another carrier. Do we know that the iPhone bought from the Apple store will be locked? I might guess so as long as the Cingular contract is in effect with Apple but after that Apple/Cingular partnership is over than the phone will either be unlocked or multiple carrier options will be offered? Don't know yet. I have speculated that the folks who unlock phones will come up with a way to do the same to this phone. Again don't know but hope so.
 
guzhogi said:
One thing I'd like to see the Apple TV have is full DVR functionality so it can record live TV. I'm sure many people would like that.

I'm a little sad that only the Apple TV & iPhone were announced. What about iLife/iWork '07? I'm sure that some of their computers are up for an update soon, too. Nothing against the iTV & iPhone, it's just that Apple has other products, too. I wouldn't mind having a 3 hour keynote if it meant more stuff was announced. First hour could be updates to current software (iLife, iWork), 2nd hour being updates to existing hardware and the third hour being the "One more thing…" new products hour. Or something like that. Or maybe 30 minutes update on sales, market share, having sold the n millionth song and stuff. 45 Minutes on updated software, another 45 min. for updated hardware and an hour for new stuff. At least this wasn't like the press event they had when they announced the iPod Hi-Fi speaker. I was like "Uh… yeah, okay. Whatever." To me, the hi-fi isn't such an important product to have so much hoopla over it. Just my 2 cents.
Click to expand...

If there are too many things announced, then Apple will have the problem of it's own products competing against themselves. He's got to save surprises for a few weeks down the road when things quiet down. My guess is that iLife and iWork will be announced together with Leopard with a few bonuses to people who use them with Leopard.
 
failsafe1 said:
3. Perhaps as a Time Lord :) you have access to a good 3G network but 3G is not everywhere I want to be yet.
Click to expand...

Well, yes of course, we have total 3G network coverage. Actually it's 20G, but it is backwards-compatible with 3G. (Well, OK, *technically* there is no cell coverage in the Death Zone, but nobody goes there anyway. ;) )

You should come here and try it sometime.

Somehow this reminds me of a line from Hitchhiker's Guide:

"Oh, for heaven's sake, mankind. Alpha Centauri is only 50 lightyears away."
 
Sad Day!

:(

It's a sad day indeed when a MacWorld convention is nearly at a close and the only thing dominating the rumor mill network are discussions of a vaporware phone that is at least 6 months from release.

Why couldn't they give us hard-core "Apple Computer" users at least one update to one actual computer. At least they could have hinted at one new computer upgrade or re-design.

Sad:( Sad:( Sad:(

Oh well, I guess I will have to read one of the threads about the iPhone name convtroversy. Oh joy! :rolleyes: :rolleyes:
 
Toe said:
That's not the point at all. These days, everyone has a telephone in their pocket. What this does is give you an incredible multifunction device without adding any additional bulk to your pocket.
Click to expand...

Actually, it is entirely the point. Steve, IIRC, did say something to effect that any kind of this sort of product needs to be a good PHONE first. And I'm not saying that this isn't an awesome *phone*. Apart from the battery runtime, arguably this is the nicest *phone* of any description ever made.


Toe said:
In other words, the phone is an added bonus, not the core function. A Mac can run VOIP software and act as a phone too, but nobody complains about their Mac being a $1000 phone (though, if you think about it, for most people, their computer is really just a $1000 e-mail and web-browsing device).
Click to expand...

The phone *is* the core function of this product. Why else would it be called an iPhone?!?!?!?!? And for that matter, the *phone* is the only part most people actually *need*. Everything else is simply extra bells and whistles.

Yes, you're correct that a computer is an expensive phone (via VOIP), and an expensive e-mail and web-browsing product (to say nothing of being an incredibly expensive text messaging device.) However, a Mac is not sold as an email or web-surfing product. It's sold as, and treated as, a computer. It's purpose is to be a multi-function device. With all due respect, you have it the other-way-around.

Toe said:
Also, the phone that you do get with the iPhone is not just a phone. It is fully integrated into the other apps. How many other phones let you search the businesses around your present location and call one of them with a very minimum of effort? Conference call with two touches? E-mail to the person you're talking to? Let you switch off speakerphone without any effort? And so on...
Click to expand...

I've never said otherwise. What I have said is that the thing has drawbacks which I feel are universal, and it has certain specific drawbacks which are personal; and any or all of which serve as a dis-incentive for me in regards to buying one.
 
iPhone not vaporware

digitalbiker said:
... a vaporware phone...
Click to expand...

Vaporware: "Vaporware is software or hardware which is announced by a developer well in advance of release, but which then fails to emerge, either with or without a protracted development cycle. The term implies unwarranted optimism, or sometimes even deception; that is, it may imply that the announcer knows that product development is in too early a stage to support responsible statements about its completion date, feature set, or even feasibility."

The phone's not vaporware until they fail to deliver on any of its promises (especially release date).

The 3GHz G5, on the other hand, could be considered vaporware.
 
BillyShears said:
Vaporware: "Vaporware is software or hardware which is announced by a developer well in advance of release, but which then fails to emerge, either with or without a protracted development cycle. The term implies unwarranted optimism, or sometimes even deception; that is, it may imply that the announcer knows that product development is in too early a stage to support responsible statements about its completion date, feature set, or even feasibility."

The phone's not vaporware until they fail to deliver on any of its promises (especially release date).

The 3GHz G5, on the other hand, could be considered vaporware.
Click to expand...


OK I'll be a little bit more careful with my rants in the future. I agree that the iPhone won't be vaporware until July if/or when Apple misses the first promised delivery date.
 
That's cool, sorry if I came across like a jerk. I've been seeing the word "vaporware" thrown around a lot with regards to the iPhone is all.

I understand the frustration you feel, though. We're so used to things being shown to us and then it's available either right off the bat or a month or so after the keynote. It is kind of lame that lately things have been announced (AppleTV, iPhone) but not made available to us quickly.
 
MikeTheC said:
6. Battery Run-Time -- So, we're talking 16 hours of using the phone as an iPod; 5 hours of using it as a phone; and less than 5 as a Video iPod. That means for me I'd need to keep the d*** thing plugged in all the time. NO -- absolutely not!!! The battery runtime is (for me) 1/2 to 1/3 of what is acceptable. Period.
Click to expand...

It's 5 hours of talk-time! 5 hours is quite typical, Nokia's usually run between 2-7 hours, depending on the model. 5 Hours Jobs quoted was NOT the standby-time!

Sheesh....
 
MWSF - what a bore...

I generally look forwards to the bi-annual Jobs keynotes in January and August. This has nothing of interest to me: a phone and some video gadget.

Phones are, well, phones. Just a bit of kit that sits in the pocket. The iPhone is a long way off and will be expensive. Sure, it'll be good looking and highly desirable as executive jewelry, but it's still just another phone/PDA.

I just don't get the iTV video thing. It doesn't record from the telly; it can't play DVDs; it doesn't play games... But it will play videos downloaded from the iTunes store. Call me strange, but I've yet to buy anything from iTunes as I find them more expensive than purchasing the CD/DVD - plus there's all the DRM restrictions and low quality rip to put up with. As regards downloading an enormous video... calling a download "video on demand" is really pushing the boundaries of credibility.

What's next from "Apple Inc" - the iBox to play video games? Or the iCarRadio? Or the iGPS?

Please wake me up in six months when there's something interesting and relevant to see. Particularly if it's Mac related - MacRumours = phones & video gadgets, nah.
 
Movies

I just watched the keynote, and at least one of the Paramount films that were shown in the keynote are not in the iTunes store, The Hunt for Red October caught my eye, and its still not up there, any one have any clue why?
 
Don't frown tulip, make a smile!

Straight from Steve himself at 9:20 during the keynote - "2007 is going to be a great year for the Mac. Over the next several months we're going to roll out some awesome stuff for the Mac. The first thing I'd like to do is give you an update on our music business."

So don't be sad... we've got stuff coming to us... we just need to be patient..

x_X
 
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