iPod The Problems with the iPhone

[Chimpan-A]

Fine lets forget the stylus then, but are 'most' of the other ideas really a step in the wrong direction?

As for the the criticism that "This whole post is not very apple". Well I must admit I didn't believe posts here had to be "very apple". Do we really have to tow the party line unquestioningly? Are we really not allowed to suggest improvements for Apple products?

I didn't mean to spread 'propaganda', honestly. I was just trying to stimulate a discussion of what future improvements might be good.

I really thought we were allowed to question and critique, as such feedback is useful to many companies. If that's not the case with Apple then my bad.

Its just a silly idea. I doubt anyone is upset, it just dose not make sense. You say you think the phone is very cool yet you are cutting it down right here. Let me put it this way, would you have made a post saying all the things you thought were cool about the phone? No, I would hope not. Nobody really has any intrest. People click on your topic though to see the propaganda (for lack of better word) you are putting forward. Most of your complaints have either been addressed or are not logical. This whole post is not very apple. Most of these 'features' seem to be a step in the wrong direction. I can clarify if that does not make sense.



This is a perfect example. Have you tried using a stylus? I dont mean on a friends PDA or in a store... have you lived with one? I used a tablet for 6 months and I must say, stylus' seem a lot better in concept than use. Handwriting looks cool until you are writting a letter or an essay. You need to double check everything and correct most things. If it does not get it 100% correct it takes much longer to do. Editing the recognition is just to difficult.

EDIT: In addition, read up on how the phone was first invented. It is ALL based on the multi-touch, the whole thing based around that. Adding a stylus wouldnt make sense even as a 'why not' feature. The OS was designed as a use for multi touch, not the other way around. Stylus applictions use the latter concept.

 

[AppleGuy08]

a usb port would be nice if you think about it....especially for thumbdrives

are all you guys talking about a usb drive retarded? it already hooks up with your computer through USB! It cant sync wirelessly, and it sure as hell isnt a firewire cable that will come with it, so usb is the last option. the iPhone has an ipod cable jack at the bottom...remember?? lol, so stop worrying about USB, im sure it will pop up right on your desktop as an external drive so you can drag and drop all your lil' goodies.

Wirelessly posted (Vodafone/1.0/V705SH/SHJ001 Browser/VF-NetFront/3.3 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1)

List of improvements needed:
camera, at least 4 or 5MP
barcode reader
digital wallet
tv

That is a good start.

and if thats a route that you'd like to take, you'd probably have to cough up a few more hundred dollars. might as well just go buy a real camera, carry a wallet like everyone else, and leave your tv at home!! ahh

 

[jdisenberg]

cocoa

Didn't Steve have cocoa as a reason for using osx on the phone? Doesn;t this mean that one will probably be able to write software for it?

Maybe and maybe not I guess...

 

[Max Payne]

I thought there was a device with all of these components + others. Although larger, but it has a larger screen. The device name is

iMac ​

 

[jdisenberg]

I thought there was a device with all of these components + others. Although larger, but it has a larger screen. The device name is

iMac ​

no...no multi-touch

 

[asxtb]

and if thats a route that you'd like to take, you'd probably have to cough up a few more hundred dollars. might as well just go buy a real camera, carry a wallet like everyone else, and leave your tv at home!! ahh

I could. Or I could get a phone that has a 3.2MP camera, acts as a digital wallet, does video conferencing, and has a TV. And I can get it free with a 1 year contract. Most phones now do TV and are a digital wallet. And some phones have 5MP cameras already.

I'm just saying as inovating as the iPhone is, it still has a lot of work to do especially to be marketable in countries like Japan. Let's hope the Japan release is a version 2 or higher. Because as it is now, I think it would be a flop in Japan. Especially when released in 2008.

 

[Applespider]

Here's my list - and you can figure out from that which ones of yours I agree with. The key here is mass-market though and which features most people want.

Mini-SD card is useful. Means you can have a library of movies rather than just a few especially when that 4GB is also doing your music/photos. Then again, most people seem to cope perfectly well with the 512MB that comes with the phone and it's only serious users who pick up higher values. And I don't think that come June, other musicphone manufacturers will be throwing in 4GB flash cards as standard.

3G needs to happen - will just be a question as to whether its a new model or they squeeze it into the Euro/Asia launch version. But it does need another transmitter and uses more battery power so who knows. I have 3G on my current phone but to be honest, since I don't use video calling, I don't particularly notice. But on those big glossy comparison boards, it needs to be there.

Camera - 2MP is barely enough in Jan 2007. The top-end phones are already at 3MP and going up to 5MP. Now we could argue that since the lenses and flashes are usually pants (incidentally, does the iPhone have a light/flash on the back?), the MP resolution doesn't matter. I'm not sure I see much difference between my old SE k750 2MP and my current Nokia 3MP. And does it support video?

SMS - I like the conversation idea but it seems to assume small messages are the norm. And can I send the same message to multiple people? And how easy is it going to be to type things in.

Synching - it has to offer Bluetooth synching as a minimum.

3rd party apps - you'd think you'd allow them on there? But then again, most people download a few games (and they could allow iPod style games) and not much else. But for the geeks out there who are likely the core audience, you need to let them on there.

Was surprised when Steve talked about encouraging people to use contacts more on their phone since most people dial the number or use the recent numbers. Really? Most people I know in the UK (including my mother and her friends who are hardly techies) complain that they can't remember anyone's numbers because they're all programmed into their home and mobile phones.

Aside from the iPod part, I don't think the iPhone offers much new functionality (I can sync Contacts, email, have a Webkit based browser and take better pics/video on my current phone) but it does it with more style and a better UI.

 

[Passante]

I'm surprised no one has mentioned this yet

The iPhone doesn't support Ogg Vorbis!

 

[Goldfinger]

Wirelessly posted (Vodafone/1.0/V705SH/SHJ001 Browser/VF-NetFront/3.3 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1)

List of improvements needed:
camera, at least 4 or 5MP
barcode reader
digital wallet
tv

That is a good start.

lol; barcode reader. Good one.

Why on earth would you need that ?

 

[emotion]

Sorry, it cannot sync wirelessly even with bluetooth and wifi. Doesnt make sense but thats just the way it is.

How do you know?

This device isn't finalised yet. This thread is 6 months too early.

 

[aristobrat]

How do you know?

This device isn't finalised yet. This thread is 6 months too early.

I read an article on one of the bigger tech blogs where it appeared that Phil Schiller said that during an interview (about no sync'ing over BT or WiFi).

 

[emotion]

I read an article on one of the bigger tech blogs where it appeared that Phil Schiller said that during an interview (about no sync'ing over BT or WiFi).

Honestly, I believe it when I see it (in 6 mnths time). I can understand the wifi limit but no bluetooth syncing? Come on, my 3 year old se t610 can do that.

Maybe it's Cingular trying to flog you americans more ring tones or something?

 

[aristobrat]

Honestly, I believe it when I see it (in 6 mnths time). I can understand the wifi limit but no bluetooth syncing? Come on, my 3 year old se t610 can do that.

Maybe it's Cingular trying to flog you americans more ring tones or something?

FWIW, the gist of the article I was reading was about iTunes synching.

 

[emotion]

FWIW, the gist of the article I was reading was about iTunes synching.

Ah ok, different things I guess.


I'm still reserving any kind of judgement until I can actually buy an iPhone though

 

[Jack1991]

im suprised they didnt put the camera on the front so you could video chat with other iphone owners on your phone. talk about revolutionizing the phone.

 

[echeck]

im suprised they didnt put the camera on the front so you could video chat with other iphone owners on your phone. talk about revolutionizing the phone.

It'd be a little difficult to take regular photos then, wouldn't it? You wouldn't be able to see what you're taking a picture of, unless you always want to take a picture of your face.

Now if there was a screen on the back, then you'd have a point. Of course this is all just "wish-list" stuff, so I guess anything's possible!

 

[emotion]

It'd be a little difficult to take regular photos then, wouldn't it? You wouldn't be able to see what you're taking a picture of, unless you always want to take a picture of your face.

Now if there was a screen on the back, then you'd have a point. Of course this is all just "wish-list" stuff, so I guess anything's possible!

Most high end phones/pdas like this solve this by having two cameras. The vid conf one on the front doesn't need to be that high a resoltion.

 

[Benjamindaines]

Sorry, it cannot sync wirelessly even with bluetooth and wifi. Doesnt make sense but thats just the way it is.

You do NOT know that unless you have some magical inside info from steve

 

[asxtb]

lol; barcode reader. Good one.

Why on earth would you need that ?

A little closed minded, aren't we?

You use the bar code to access websites and email addresses. If you're reading a paper/magazine/advertisement anywhere and want to visit the website for more information YOU can go ahead and type 'http://www.iwishihadabarcodereaderonmyphone.com/advertisement' I'll press a button for the camera. Press a button for the barcode reader. Press a button to scan. And I'm at the website.

 

[emotion]

A little closed minded, aren't we?

You use the bar code to access websites and email addresses. If you're reading a paper/magazine/advertisement anywhere and want to visit the website for more information YOU can go ahead and type 'http://www.iwishihadabarcodereaderonmyphone.com/advertisement' I'll press a button for the camera. Press a button for the barcode reader. Press a button to scan. And I'm at the website.

Nah what you need then is an RFID reader. Similar idea but more modern (and controversial) equivalent.

 

[GFLPraxis]

I wish they replaced EDGE with 3G and added an iChat mobile for chatting when you're in a WiFi hotspot....

I think they can add the iChat mobile through a software update or once it's released it will fulfill that capability

I also hope Cingular responds to the iPhone by setting up an "iPhone" plan where you get an all-in-one data plan that suits the iPhone moreso then other phones.

If Cingular does that and the iChat is added I can see myself purchasing this phone...if not then I'll possibly wait until the second version

Uh...the camera faces the wrong direction for video chatting. You can't watch and be seen at the same time.

 

[GFLPraxis]

It'd be a little difficult to take regular photos then, wouldn't it? You wouldn't be able to see what you're taking a picture of, unless you always want to take a picture of your face.

Now if there was a screen on the back, then you'd have a point. Of course this is all just "wish-list" stuff, so I guess anything's possible!

I had been hoping for a rotatable camera like some phones have, where you can point it in front or in back. But those are ugly.

 

[supersuperga]

Hmmm

Lots and lots of problems:

1. Fixed battery - this is retarded for a smartphone. Ask anyone with an early Series 60.
2. Battery life - if you see a day with reasonable use it'll be a miracle (the CPU and the graphics chip it'll have will eat power)
3. 2G - a phone with a 38K connection is gonna look sweet up against the 3.5Meg connections phones will have in europe by then (1.7meg is where it's at on the new phones now .. there is no EDGE in most of europe because of our 'real' 3G). The last premium 2G phone to be released in europe was probably the Nokia 8800 ... in early 2005. The networks here are trying to get people off 2G.
4. Touch screen - will force 2 handed operation. Try doing anything on a device that big 1 handed ... why do you think SonyEricsson have the clip-on keyboard on the 900s?
5. Touch screen .. just like the crappy 3G iPod it will force you to take it out of your pocket to do anything.
6. Cost .. you'll be able to get a similarly featured Nokia or SE with the same memory on contract here for free (though the 8800 was about 250pounds on contract at launch)
7. It's their 1st phone. It's not an easy thing to make a reliable radio stack (Just ask Microsoft .. this might explain the GSM choice as it was probably easier to buy in).

It looks sweet, but it's gonna be a better PDA/iPod than a phone.

Oh, and stop all this 'real' OS-X and 'desktop' app BS. It's about as close to that as Windows Mobile phones are to XP. All because it looks kind of the same and has the same name doesn't make it OSX.

Just my tuppenys worth.

Still want one though ;-)

 

[darwen]

Fine lets forget the stylus then, but are 'most' of the other ideas really a step in the wrong direction?

As for the the criticism that "This whole post is not very apple". Well I must admit I didn't believe posts here had to be "very apple". Do we really have to tow the party line unquestioningly? Are we really not allowed to suggest improvements for Apple products?

I didn't mean to spread 'propaganda', honestly. I was just trying to stimulate a discussion of what future improvements might be good.

I really thought we were allowed to question and critique, as such feedback is useful to many companies. If that's not the case with Apple then my bad.

Posts questioning apple's intentions and bringing to light features that should have been added are welcomed, I myself have posted many. That is not what your post was though.

I used the word propaganda because I could not find a better word. As the word is defined by dictionary.com most of this site and forum is propaganda (information, ideas, or rumors deliberately spread widely to help or harm a person, group, movement, institution, nation, etc.). I look at this with a slightly different definition (chiefly derogatory information, esp. of a biased or misleading nature, used to promote or publicize a particular cause or point of view.)

You were not suggesting features that should be added, you were ragging on the device for not having things you wanted. Your tone puts a very negative light on a product many people around here are really looking forward to.

This board is full of apple fans. You are going to have a hard sell with any anti-apple propaganda. If you are wondering why the responses are negative, that is why. It is the same reason as why Microsoft boards have a Windows spin on everything.

 

[darwen]

You do NOT know that unless you have some magical inside info from steve

No magical insight needed. Refer to time.com for the answer. In the recent article they mentioned this. It has also been on quite a few other websites.