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UK iPhone - disappointing launch?
- Thread starter benfilan
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The best advertising for iPhones is the exuberant demonstrations by happy owners to everyone around them every time they pull it out of their pocket. It's very, very viral in that respect.
No you don't.
Oh you do! I get it all the time from my mate: "you only got the iPod as a fashion thing, else you would've got a (creative zen or whatever) with more features for less cost"
My counter-argument is that yes there's a small factor of having something that you're not embarrassed to be using in public, which could be attributed to fashion, but mostly I use Apple gear for the joyful user experience (and eye candy) that it gives *me*, not others
And with the Touch, this is a moot point - there is no other MP3 player out there which can be used as a web browser that I know of, and even if there was, there's no other portable web browser out there which renders everything like a desktop browser and is still almost as easy to use as a desktop. The Nokia tablet thing looks close, but not close enough.You don't think Nokia or Samsung would love to be able to drum up the publicity that Apple got for the iPhone? Do you think the media is in cahoots with Steve Jobs?
Everyone tries to create this much hype. It's only because the iPhone is something very new and completely different that the hype-machine succeeded.
It depends what you regard as a dissapointing launch.
If I had a queue of 40 people outside my small town shop at 6 o'clock on a Friday night who were going to give me £269 and sign up to an 18 month contract on pretty much nothing more than one weeks advertising I don't think I'd be too dissapointed.
Frankly I wasn't expecting there to be huge queues everywhere, it really has had very little hype in the UK. Now that the phones are out for people to see I would expect the momentum to build, by christmas they will be selling like nothing on earth.
If I had a queue of 40 people outside my small town shop at 6 o'clock on a Friday night who were going to give me £269 and sign up to an 18 month contract on pretty much nothing more than one weeks advertising I don't think I'd be too dissapointed.
Frankly I wasn't expecting there to be huge queues everywhere, it really has had very little hype in the UK. Now that the phones are out for people to see I would expect the momentum to build, by christmas they will be selling like nothing on earth.
I reckon the N95 was a hyped device in this country. Nokia had posters on just about every bus stop along with heavy TV and Cinema advertising. Sony pushes its phones quite heavily in the media as well.
Rarely from a mobile phone
More of a geek thing that.Not a deciding factor though, just a minor annoyance.
Then ask them to open a web page, and see what crap they can pull up, if anything.
Then ask them to Google a nearby restaurant and be able to call it with two instant touches - no need to load a new page to get the number.
Then ask them to pull up their desktop calendar.
All these arguments against the iPhone are so silly because it can do so much that other phones can do, and it does most of what they can do, better. Yes, it has major flaws such as the camera features and limited texting, but it shreds at almost every other task because of functionality and the interface. When they add texting to multiple recipients, MMS capability and the native third-party apps start appearing, there will be very little griping left to be done.
Except over the price. But you don't see me slagging off Aston Martins just because I can't afford one!
The vast majority of phones can send emails these days - its nothing new or special. Most cell phone owners don't realize their phones can. As soon as you start using email your using data connection and most owners don't want to extra pay for internet connections.
Its easier to type in a phone number, attach an image and send ( aka, MMS ).
You're not asking for much then.Im sorry apple but I think its just too much at the moment. Maybe if 3G, slightly thinner like ipod touch, 16Gb and £25 a month...but currently only the die hardest of gadget lovers are gonna be buying
No, it does not.
But, do I spend my day sending sms and mms?
No, I don't.
Fine, so why do you think it's sour grapes from the people who think the iPhone is crap?
Some people are awfully uppitty about having the precious iphones dissed.
If you like yours and think it's worth every penny then good on you.
There are many more people who think the opposite. Deal with it!!
Wow! Sorry to have offended! Jeez!
Please bear in mind it is only a piece of electronics no need for you to go about being insulting
Open forum? Rings a bell?
Hope your day gets better
Perhaps it is really early in the day for me
But I don't quite follow your logic.
People say the iphone isn't worth it. Someone said it's sour grapes. You agreed.
Why is it sour grapes?
No logic. Just a simple question.
Yes, they can. I used to on my P910. But on an iPhone, email is just as easy as MMS on something else. Would you want to MMS from a computer? No, because email is better. MMS was developed because email wasn't possible. Then it was possible but awkward. Now it's easy. And when I email someone they have it on their phone and computer. MMS should be redundant, but I admit it won't be for a while for legacy reasons.
So, you can easily email an image to another persons phone, if their phone doesn't do emails or they have no email account set up?
No, which is why I admitted MMS will stay for legacy reasons. If you need to do this, then lack of MMS is an issue.
And we all watch as Apple drags cell phone users kicking and screaming into the "Age of Email"
I know it's scary folks, but this email thing..I think it just might catch on if we give it a chance!
That is very true. In fact I read The Reg less ad less these days.
They whine on about Apple not talking to them so slag them off instead.
I think the truth of the situation lies somewhere between mass hysteria (in some places) and indifference in others. There were tonnes of places to get an iPhone on Friday night.
I turned up at 6.02pm at the Arndale Apple Store in Manchester and walked out with mine maybe 10 minutes later.
Just to add some perspective to this: O2 have today gone on record in the British Press saying they are extremely pleased with the launch and that it is their fastest selling device ever. Estimates of up to 70,000 sales over launch weekend are being used, and 2/3rds are to new customers.
Not bad for a "flop"
Not bad for a "flop"
Just to add some perspective to this: O2 have today gone on record in the British Press saying they are extremely pleased with the launch and that it is their fastest selling device ever. Estimates of up to 70,000 sales over launch weekend are being used, and 2/3rds are to new customers.
Not bad for a "flop"
Imagine what the sales would have been like if the tariffs were more reasonable!
QFT.
You can't apply American mobile phone prices to the UK... this is one of those areas where the "ripoff Britain" principle is reversed and we're the ones who normally get the better deal for once... over there they actually charge you for receiving calls on many networks!
Try to apply expensive American mobile pricing here, and the result is predictable... Brits are not averse to "voting with their wallet" (and often complaining loudly) when they feel there is a blatant attempt to rip them off.
(We're also suckers for what appears a good deal even if it isn't. 2 year contract and "free" iPhone, people would snap it up)
one of these days, my work will be done and people will slowly begin to grasp the fact that the monthly charges are inextricably linked to the cost of the phone.
People completely misjudge what Apple's goal is.
They are in the process of penetrating an entirely new market.
This is a process that carries risk. Companies and shareholders do not like risk.
They like sure things.
The price of the phone and the contracts offered reflect the goal of penetrating markets while minimizing risk and maximizing profits.
It's a bird in the hand versus 2 in the bush.
Maybe by iPhone version 3.0 people will start to realize this.
But this is not that day.
People completely misjudge what Apple's goal is.
They are in the process of penetrating an entirely new market.
This is a process that carries risk. Companies and shareholders do not like risk.
They like sure things.
The price of the phone and the contracts offered reflect the goal of penetrating markets while minimizing risk and maximizing profits.
It's a bird in the hand versus 2 in the bush.
Maybe by iPhone version 3.0 people will start to realize this.
But this is not that day.