Pogue's iPhone Frequently Asked Questions - Part 2

[Bosunsfate]

I wasn't trying to answer your question, I was pointing out that the question itself is meaningless.

I guess I was confused when you quoted my original post. My experience has been that when someone quotes your post they are responding to it.

I certainly didn't realize that you were not actually trying to answer what I had raised...

There is nothing that will match the iPhone, but there is nothing that matches the Blackberry or the Communicator either.

Outside of pushing email from an exchange server what do these phones offer?

But lets move beyond that for a moment.

Think about the market that Jobs presented as the growth potential for the iPhone.

That set of slides was right out of just about every coorporate marketing presentation I've ever seen...my company included.

IMO, it was done becuase it is what the Wall Investors understand..and you saw the success of that message in the stock price.

What we haven't seen is the real market Apple is going after...and that's becuase you can't define yet...much as you couldn't define the Mac market or the iPod market.

As a reference, I recall back in 2003 reports were saying that the iPod market was tapped out. Apple had 80% of the market and you just couldn't really gain much in market share..

What they missed was the addressable market, which is what we have here.

They are relating the market to the mobile industry..that's just becuase that's the only thing you can acutally measure....or more aptly, that is what many people can relate too...the real market has yet to materialize and is much harder to define.

And that is where I totally agree with you...the 2nd gen, 3rd gen, etc will be even better than what we see today.

But calling this 1st gen a flop is just short sighted becuase you have to understand the market that Apple is going after.

And if I could eloquently define that here...then I'd be working in the Apple Marketing department and not posting on macrumors.

 

[nFace]

Some of you are acting like if the iPhone is a revolutionary device.

This is nothing but an attractive encased piece of ****.

599.99? for a dervice that wont support 3rd party?

People where talking bout how crippled the zune was with its wifi
and people are not saying nothing about this?

Weak people fall for jobs RDF

I completely agree with this one. The only thing that is revolutionary about iPhone is its graphics chip. Nvidia and their subsidiary will be realising new chips for mobile phones shortly so around June you will be seeing several high end phones with thick coating of eye candy. This might be the reason why Apple announced the phone now. The graphics are revolutionary now but around June / July major players have announced their OpenGL ES 2.0 phones which will be amazing (do we actually need all that eye candy ) I have to say that without 3rd part support and applications, lack of Java or Flash and overall closed development environment iPhone isn't what I expected. This means there won't be GPS navigation (integrated gps and navigation will be more and more popular during 2007) or any cool apps or games that really could use the power of that great graphics chip. Think about it, even the mobile phone giants are relying on 3rd party developers to provide applications for their products. So how on earth relatively small company that is also manufacturing computers and now various other consumer products can produce everything internally. We also need to think ahead because in mobile phone business life span of the product is much shorter then in computer business. Apple needs to be releasing new products at least every three to four months if they want to keep up with the development and even then can they achieve the needed volume to make it profitable. If their US model of relying on one service provider is a hint what can be expected in other markets then they have chosen a rocky road that every single mobile phone manufacturer tries to avoid (service providers and their requirements are royal pain for all the manufacturers and single provider solution is big no no when you think about volumes). One could also speculate that Apple is relying on other market areas to sell the product unlocked but then the price might be too high for consumers (phone is consumer oriented) and might create a grey market in their local market. Anyway, even if iPhone flops one good thing will come out of it. Better graphics chips and OpenGL ES 2.0 will be implemented very soon to majority of smart phones and this opens up better possibilities for using mobile phones as real gaming platform (during 2007 there will be some interesting releases for Symbian (series 60 3rd edition, series 80, UIG) and Win mobile).

Unfortunately at its current state iPhone won't be joining my collection of Apple gear. In all honesty I don't expect any great "last minute" changes in the product since the hw development team needs to be finalising the rev. b if they want to hit their targets and without 3rd party sw developers what can we expect? Skype for iPhone

 

[mstecker]

deleted

 

[Stella]

There's a huge difference:

Mac -> Like any desktop OS, Apple allow 3rd party apps, restrictive.
iPod -> UI - yes.
iPhoto -> Nice UI - but once again, all other smartphones allow an open platform. When people think smartphones they ( who have used them ) think open platform.

5% world market share for Mac OS. If you want to view that as success, then by all means, do so.

Its funny, Apple say they don't care about market share, yet SJ drones on about iTunes and iPod marketshares at every opportunity. Of course Apple care about marketshare - if OSX had none, no one would write apps. Without marketshare your product will die. Its just convenient for them to say that when it comes to OSX. SJ full well knows OSX will never make a significant impact on Windows. I'd guess OSX will never grab > 10% marketshare worldwide. It may come close, but not exceed it.

Hmm.

Reason Mac was successful - User Interface.

Reason iPod was successful - User Interface.

Reason iPhone will be sucessful - User Interface.

--They are, of course, not the only reasons...but pretty big ones..

 

[Hattig]

I'm hoping that in the long run that other applications will be available for the iPhone (and other iPhone OS X based systems).

I imagine that Apple will have the final say on all such applications.

Initially Apple will make iPhone optimised widgets available for download from the iTunes Store, possibly for a small fee, or to add value to the iPhone.

Then Apple will make certain Apple applications available in iPhone optimised form - iWork comes to mind. Again these will be available for a fee on the iTunes Store. iWork-based 'document viewers' will be free on the iPhone, again a value added proposition. Apple might even have to include it in the price - MS Smartphones come with Mobile Office (however craptastic and unusable on a 320x240 screen it is!).

Then Apple will allow third party development, not just anyone, and Apple will vet the applications so they meet a certain standard so that they don't affect the usability of the iPhone. Apple will sign the binaries and make them available on iTunes Store. This is what we had all better hope for anyway - whilst many corporations will lock their smartphones against third party application installs, individuals will desire this functionality.

Shame that 'iTunes' isn't really the ideal name for an iPhone synchronisation application. Music and video is only a fraction of the functionality of the iPhone. Still ... as long as it works reliably (better than ActiveSync, not that hard IMO).

I'm sure that a lot of the work that Apple put into creating an optimised compact necessaries-only version of OS X for the iPhone has also been put to use on the AppleTV too. Again a system I think V.2 or V.3 will be awesome, but has a good future...

As for success - Apple is very good at marketing, and good at making devices that people desire when they see them. It won't be an overnight success, but it won't be a dud. It is a limited appeal market (unless the contract plan is very appealing in terms of pricing) because most people make do with the subsided phone option, or maybe up to $100 above that. $600 is a tough sell for 98% of people. There will be a lot of buyers still. Not me though, I desire it but cannot justify it.

 

[weave]

Sync hassles

Gessh, no bluetooth syncing. So I'm guessing the only way to sync contacts and calendar entries is through itunes.

When Tiger came out, .mac and device syncing were separated into two separate processes, one through the .mac sys pref applet, the other through the isync application. So now we will have a third method of syncing.

Getting ugly...

 

[Xyl]

This is a device that will not take off. It's being sold at $600 plus contract. iPhone's successor may well take off, but this one will not. It's a concept device, not a product. Even Jobs knows that this'll flop. He's predicting 1%. I think he thinks it'll be more like 2, though I'm having doubts even 1% is achievable given the attempt to sell it the way it is.

I think this is an invalid argument. Before I get into it, this is my opinion: I don't think the iPhone will be a success, but it won't be a flop either.

Anyhow, you are talking as if the iPhone will always be selling at a $600 contract, and that this is the only revision that will ever come out. The first generation iPod wasn't wildly successful either, but now it IS wildly successful. If you are solely ONLY talking about the first revision iPhone and ONLY at the $600 price point, I don't know what's your point is of this argument.

Oh, I just saw this: "iPhone's successor may well take off, but this one will not." Great, end of argument, I don't know why you're arguing about how the iPhone at $600 won't take off, because undoubtedly a) the price will drop, b) new features will be added. Your argument is valid, but a waste of time, because THERE WILL FOR SURE be price drops, new revisions, etc. This is like arguing that ice cream won't sell in Winter - well DUH!? it's -20 degrees outside, but Summer DOES come, which means it will sell in due time.

Even Jobs said it himself with an interview (with forgot what news channel) - he said something to the likes of "I don't know who wouldn't want one of these in a couple of years when the price drops and the tech gets better".

 

[Hattig]

Another no-brainer features for the iPhone, or iPhone V.2: GPS.

According to http://www.theinquirer.net/default.aspx?article=36943 GPS chips are currently $5 apiece, and they'll be $2 in 2008. The iPhone's 480x320 screen is a great size for displaying maps in your typical in-car GPS mechanism, and the 8GB (16GB in 2008?) memory can hold a lot of maps! So maybe a $100 (mapping software, maps + hardware) addition to the price could add a lot of value to someone who would otherwise buy a dedicated unit for $300. Also you wouldn't leave it in the car to be stolen because it's your phone. Also a nice touch screen interface for hands-free phone call operation...

It'd also make the Google Maps widget instantly useful.

And as for $600 ... look at the Nokia N93i (1GB flash) - http://www.theinquirer.net/default.aspx?article=36944 & http://www.allaboutsymbian.com/news/item/4737_Enter_the_Nokia_N93i.php
Yeah, nice camera functionality I'm sure, and wireless, but otherwise nothing. I'm sure networks will knock it down to $400 with contract, but if you're paying that much, $600 isn't that much more of a stretch. Oh wait, the N93i is €600, that's even more that $600...

 

[Bosunsfate]

There's a huge difference:

5% world market share for Mac OS. If you want to view that as success, then by all means, do so.

....I'd guess OSX will never grab > 10% marketshare worldwide. It may come close, but not exceed it.

The OSX market share has a very important relationship to what will be the potential and future for the iPhone.

One of the failures of Apple in the 80's was that they did not partner with IBM. At that time, despite how wonderful the Mac was, "Business" did not buy it. I'll spare the lecuture on why as that has been written about quite extensively.

This relationship, however, is why I think Apple ulitimately did not go on their own and did partner with Cingular. That bet being a transition of cellular users to a single system..from this fractured system we still have in the US.

What you have to see with the iPhone is not so much about market share, but as it being a product that does leap way ahead of what other companies are producing.

It doesn't have to be fully realized with the 1st gen..only the concept...and with this we can see a whole range of possibilities that no one else right now can come close too.

 

[amoda]

Don't know if this has been mentioned since i didn't read through the 3 pages but here goes.

Quote:
ONLY to skin touch. I couldn’t use my fingernail, for example. And you certainly can’t use a stylus.

From another source:
Input on the screen must be made using direct finger contact, and does not work with gloves or a stylus.

I see this as a huge deterrent for people in cold countries...like Canada. I just can't imagine pulling this out from my pocket and having to take my gloves off in order to answer/make a phone call and other stuff. I'd rather get a pearl and be able to keep my gloves on.

 

[Chupa Chupa]

you have to understand the market that Apple is going after.

And if I could eloquently define that here...then I'd be working in the Apple Marketing department and not posting on macrumors.

Yes, you would because I don't even think Apple's marketing team can define the iPhone's market. It's too expensive for teen set (except for maybe some very affluent pockets), overkill for the avg consumer, and yet too lacking in features business people depend on (like Exchange compatibility or true push email).

I'm a huge Apple fan, but not at the expense of productivity. Heck, I love Apple because their products help me to be productive because they are easy to use. But I just don't get the iPhone. It's pretty. It's cool. Lots of nice eyecandy. I was hoping it would kill the Treo in functionality. But when you start asking the hard questions you discover the iPhone lacks a whole lot. Maybe Apple is holding back until it gets FCC approval, but at a min. the iPhone needs a true bulletproof browser, not some poser web browser that freezes @ the first hint of java or flash.

 

[nFace]

Another no-brainer features for the iPhone, or iPhone V.2: GPS.

According to http://www.theinquirer.net/default.aspx?article=36943 GPS chips are currently $5 apiece, and they'll be $2 in 2008. The iPhone's 480x320 screen is a great size for displaying maps in your typical in-car GPS mechanism, and the 8GB (16GB in 2008?) memory can hold a lot of maps! So maybe a $100 (mapping software, maps + hardware) addition to the price could add a lot of value to someone who would otherwise buy a dedicated unit for $300. Also you wouldn't leave it in the car to be stolen because it's your phone. Also a nice touch screen interface for hands-free phone call operation...

It'd also make the Google Maps widget instantly useful.

And as for $600 ... look at the Nokia N93i (1GB flash) - http://www.theinquirer.net/default.aspx?article=36944 & http://www.allaboutsymbian.com/news/item/4737_Enter_the_Nokia_N93i.php
Yeah, nice camera functionality I'm sure, and wireless, but otherwise nothing. I'm sure networks will knock it down to $400 with contract, but if you're paying that much, $600 isn't that much more of a stretch. Oh wait, the N93i is €600, that's even more that $600...

The GPS features are are already becoming standard on smart phones. Manufacturers are in most cases using navigation software from Garmin, TomTom, Navicore etc. In future there will be more and more OEM deals between the navigation software and mobile phone manufacturers.

Regarding the pricing the n93 is 600€ unlocked. In Europe you can have n93 even free with two year contract but then again subsidised pricing is always open to debate (nothing is free...). Anyway, the Nokia counterpart currently for iPhone would probably be Nokia n95. Anyway, I could roughly say that iPhone design and GUI with n95 feature set would truly make an ultimate smart phone.

 

[imacdaddy]

I see this as a huge deterrent for people in cold countries...like Canada. I just can't imagine pulling this out from my pocket and having to take my gloves off in order to answer/make a phone call and other stuff. I'd rather get a pearl and be able to keep my gloves on.

This is very true. I'm also curious if I were stick a layer of protective film over the screen will prevent the touch-screen to work properly.

Anyway, I'm sure Apple has figured all of this out. And I'm sure they have something up their sleeves like some new state-of-the-art voice command/recognition /navigation app where you won't need to touch the phone. They did say their apps for the iPhone is "5 years ahead".

 

[stealthman1]

Wi-Fi + Bluetooth + GPS? Do you really want to carry an extension cord everywhere you go? Why not just add an electric razor to the bottom so you can keep that baby soft look all day long??? With Google Maps do you really need GPS, surely you can read the sign on the corner you're standing on! I don't think the unit is meant to help you through the wilds of the Amazon. Sure it would be nice, but I think you're looking 2015, not 2007. Most people I know with Treos don't open excel docs on them, sure some do, but most don't. Most switchers find out quickly that they very, very rarely need MS Office at home, hence why most home computers don't come with it. Treos have become the trend phone for people who just want a tad smarter phone than the free ones with service contracts. This phone will sell like hot cakes, it does everything a large segment of the cell phone customer base needs. No doubt people will adapt to the higher pricing, because they are getting more. $600 is a lot of money for a significant market segment, but there is a big niche market that $600 for a phone is no different than a nice pair of shoes. 1% market share, at these prices is billions in revenue. Apple is very smart to stay in these niche markets and not try to compete in the 'commodity' phone markets. I can't wait to get mine.
While I personally will have no problem charging with the 30 pin, I do believe it is an oversight to not allow for mini-USB charging. I have tried very hard to reject all products that don't allow me to charge via mini-USB. Apple has to realize (as Motorola finally did) the endless maze of chargers is a problem...

 

[bmoseley07]

It's kind of funny, because there are plenty of phones out there that are unlike everything else. Nokia's Communicator series. The Blackberry. etc. No product on the market today can equal these, because nothing delivers that they deliver.

The question at the end of the day for most people is going to be "Here we go again. Is this particular combination of technologies something that'll suit me".

The really interesting question, for me, is how much of this will trickle down to regular phones. My Motorola and my wife's Motorola are nothing like the first phone I had, which at the time was a mainstream Motorola phone. I've had various phones since, and certain features have creeped into them, and then become a part of them. My 9290 seemed pretty radical when I got it. Flimsy piece of crap though, and curiously I'm just not that upset about the fact it doesn't work any more, because my V635 does the important things it did. But the former is a communicator, a smartphone, and the latter... well, it's just a phone.

It's a very strange market. I think at $5-600 locked and subsidized, and being larger than a full size iPod, the iPhone, quite honestly, is a dud. It'll fail miserably as a product. Anyone who believes otherwise is seriously delusional. If the iPhone itself succeeds, it'll succeed only because the price has been dropped to below $250 before the end of the year. It will not succeed at its current price point.

As a technology demo though, its utility remains to be seen, and it may well inspire some great things in the mobile phone industry. I hope it does. It might even be iPhone 2 that it inspires.

Wow, that started off kind of rational and unpartronizing in the beginning until you got to the part where you call people delusional for thinking it will succeed.

I don't know if you know anything about the Ipod or the Thread #500. I do and I just joined the forums. The Ipod didn't sound like the greatest thing ever at the time and people like you didn't think it was going to do well because it was too expensive and too big or not enough memory.

Hm.. what again happened to the Ipod? Oh yea, that's right.

A lot of people that I've talked to said they want to get one of these. Here's some of the reason it will succeed.

-It's Apple. That right there will get some of the shelves.
-It's looks like nothing else out there and works like nothing else out there. The combined beauty and ingenuity or the iPhone is amazing, and I was completely astounded by it upon watching the Keynote.
-Apple puts thought into every aspect of everything they make, so you know you're getting above top of the line quality.
-Features: what phone has visual voicemail? or full-view browser? or widescreen video? or is as simple to use as the iPhone?

It will succeed. It may not succeed at exactly $500-600 but it definitely won't have to get down to $250 before it does. Take off a hundred or maybe 150 and it'll do more than fine.

Yes, the contract sucks, but people will look over that. Almost all phones come with 2 year deals and most people end up using their phones for two years, so I can't really see it flopping like some people think.

 

[nFace]

Wi-Fi + Bluetooth + GPS? Do you really want to carry an extension cord everywhere you go? Why not just add an electric razor to the bottom so you can keep that baby soft look all day long??? With Google Maps do you really need GPS, surely you can read the sign on the corner you're standing on! I don't think the unit is meant to help you through the wilds of the Amazon. Sure it would be nice, but I think you're looking 2015, not 2007.

GPS navigation allows automatic routing so you can use your phone as car navigator. This is very much 2007 (actually its been here before then that but not as integrated application). Q1 2007 sees several phones with GPS / integrated navigation being released. Unfortunately automatic routing in Amazon is bit more difficult since there are no accurate mapping data available let alone vector maps with routing data... Anyway, Google maps is like a yellow pages but it won't get you there like a real navigator does.

 

[stealthman1]

GPS navigation allows automatic routing so you can use your phone as car navigator. This is very much 2007 (actually its been here before then that but not as integrated application). Q1 2007 sees several phones with GPS / integrated navigation being released. Unfortunately automatic routing in Amazon is bit more difficult since there are no accurate mapping data available let alone vector maps with routing data... Anyway, Google maps is like a yellow pages but it won't get you there like a real navigator does.

If you can afford a $600 phone you can afford an OEM navigation system. Using a 3.5 inch screen for navigation while driving is dangerous. God forbid people are using maps on the 2.5 inch screens to drive by, I've used maps on my MDA and I sure as hell wouldn't feel safe squinting at them while driving. The rest of us would feel safer if you got a map! Seriously even the 7 inch screens associated with OEM Nav are problematic from a safety point of view. HUD would be substantially better. God forbid people are driving around looking at their phone in the passenger seat....

 

[ddubbo]

Copying

Why would Apple announce the iPhone 5+ months in advance? Wouldn't that give the competition 5+ months to copy it?

Of course. At 2007 it's just a time to change mantra "MS copying us" to "Nokia copying us"
I see only the reason that they introduced it half an year before its release because this product so far from completion, but Jobs have nothing other in the sleeve to hold a media attention on the Apple.

 

[timb]

Am I the only one seriously bothered by the whole "lack of modem connectivity"? If I can't connect this to my MBP via BT and get online, well, that's a SERIOUS problem that needs to be fixed.

 

[ccn]

Am I the only one seriously bothered by the whole "lack of modem connectivity"? If I can't connect this to my MBP via BT and get online, well, that's a SERIOUS problem that needs to be fixed.

It will connect automatically to a Wireless Network from the EDGE network so that you don't use up your Cingular data limits. Bluetooth would be much slower than WiFi, but than it could more easily support wired houses. For me personally, this is definitely not a serious issue because I have wireless everywhere I go.

 

[nFace]

It seems that Amazon.de is already taking pre-orders. The price for unlocked version in Germany as follows: iPhone 8 GB 999€ and iPhone 4 GB 899€ (around $ 1291 for 8 GB and $ 1162 for 4 GB version).

 

[3282872]

It seems that Amazon.de is already taking pre-orders. The price for unlocked version in Germany as follows: iPhone 8 GB 999€ and iPhone 4 GB 899€ (around $ 1291 for 8 GB and $ 1162 for 4 GB version).

Wow... wow... that's rid-ic-u-lous. I like the thing, but $1,000+, no way.

 

[3282872]

Scratching

If the iPhone is anything like the iPod screens but "improved", and as the iPod screens scratch just by breathing on them, how much improvement are we talking for a touch screen system? Since it only responds to the human touch (no materials, etc.) it seems that putting a film over the screen may not be an option. Apple must have worked this out, otherwise if this thing scratches even 1/10 of the iPod screen, I'm not buying.

 

[3282872]

The last question sums it up for me

“Why is everyone missing the fact that this phone/device will seamlessly switch between Edge and Wi-Fi saving big $$$ on data rates?” –Because nobody bothers to post about what they LIKE. If Internetters can’t say something disparaging, they say nothing at all.

EXACTLY

 

[firewire2001]

----____----

wow, considering all of its java features, it really sounds like the iphone is running os x. this is pretty pathetic.