For iPhone, without subscription to 3G data plan, it can still function like an iPodTouch and allows users to use free wifi to access the internet. How about the Droid? Will it require the users to subscribe for expensive plans from phone companies?
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Verizon Goes on Offensive Against iPhone Again With 'Droid Does' Teasers
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Sprint was never approached. AT&T (actually Cingular back then) took it sight unseen from what I have read everywhere,
Consultant
macrumors G5
It's FUD unless you have data to back up your speculation.
Let's see:
iPhone helps doctors
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2008719778_docphones08.html?sr=hotnews
bruinsrme
macrumors 604
in this case the iphone might be right for you. For many others connection to 3G is why we get smart phones in the first place. I can connect to the network at work but their firewalls and limitations make the internet useless.
i would speculate that the device would still play music and connect to wifi without a data plan. but you do raise a key point for those that utilize the iphone in that manner
out of 85000 apps how many are really useful?
maybe 15 to 20% just my guess I really don't know what all 85000 are
With cingular it was an oh by the way ATT we forgot to mention this.
I thought sprint was the first to be approached but turned it down to acquire nextel for the push to talk.
If that isn't the case I stand corrected.
Luckily Android is incredible, and in my opinion Apple has a lot to worry about. Having used WM6.1, WebOS, iPhone, BB Curve, BB Storm, Android is the first real contender to the iPhone. I don't really think it necessarily has to "kill" the iPhone in order to be a success though. Competition is good, and it'll push Apple to improve their product.
AtHomeBoy_2000
macrumors 6502a
If Verizon wanted the iPhone or some next generation product, it just shot itself not only in the foot, but right between the eyes with this ad. Apple will look elsewhere for a partner.
crackbookpro
macrumors 65816
Thank You for stating this!!!
This Motorola ad does not sway me at all to thinking the iPhone is not coming out on Verizon. The testing done with LTE on Verizon & an Apple iPhone is going on no matter what any ad will make you feel.
The 'droiddoes' ad is a marketing ploy by Motorola against the iPhone. It is not an attack on the iPhone from Verizon.
Verizon attacks AT&T with the '3G map' coverage ads.... and Motorola is attacking Apple here with the 'droiddoes' ads...
Most of you who commented need to get your facts straight! 😱
I hope you're wrong, but I definitely have that concern too, based upon owning a few Verizon phones at this point.
Likewise speculation about the overall usefulness and value of all the apps on the App Store is just that: speculation.
ChazUK
macrumors 603
Competition = Good news for all and anything that promotes Android OS is a good thing in my book.
Yes the iPhone is awesome at what it does but Android is also awesome being an open source OS. I can't ever imagine getting a phone which will not enable me to multitask again (Using last.fm and browsing the web at the same time for example).
Yes the iPhone is awesome at what it does but Android is also awesome being an open source OS. I can't ever imagine getting a phone which will not enable me to multitask again (Using last.fm and browsing the web at the same time for example).
AtHomeBoy_2000
macrumors 6502a
Yea, I noticed that too. It's all spin. But yea, widgets = apps by another name.
Consultant
macrumors G5
It *is* about usability, but ....
that's exactly what some of the Verizon commercial addresses, isn't it?
"Idont take pictures in the dark", for example? That's a usability flaw in the iPhone, having no flash built in (and certainly not compensating with a low-light capable lens and camera).
A lot depends on how well this new Droid phone handles everything else, from address book management to email to web surfing capabilities, to just plain old voice quality and ease of dialing numbers. But it's always easier to be a "copy cat" than a pioneer - so I don't think it's really SO difficult to steal ideas from the iPhone and get the "ease of use" thing mastered.
What this really does is push Apple to take things to the next level with their offering. Innovators can't ever rest, because everyone else can and will catch up eventually.
that's exactly what some of the Verizon commercial addresses, isn't it?
"Idont take pictures in the dark", for example? That's a usability flaw in the iPhone, having no flash built in (and certainly not compensating with a low-light capable lens and camera).
A lot depends on how well this new Droid phone handles everything else, from address book management to email to web surfing capabilities, to just plain old voice quality and ease of dialing numbers. But it's always easier to be a "copy cat" than a pioneer - so I don't think it's really SO difficult to steal ideas from the iPhone and get the "ease of use" thing mastered.
What this really does is push Apple to take things to the next level with their offering. Innovators can't ever rest, because everyone else can and will catch up eventually.
Of course it's not a weakness, and it definitely is a strength. However the sheer number of apps don't give an indication as to their value. After all there's only so much a fart app can do to enrich our lives.
ThunderSkunk
macrumors 601
Woah, a new device to compete with the iphone, and it looks like something straight out of 1995. I ought to send in a resume, because they need to fire several people from the designers on up.
Their "doesn't do" list is good, though I'm surprised they left off Tethering...
I'm glad to see public attention called to the handful of annoying shortcomings. I'm still holding out hope that eventually Apple will see the value in a tidy UI customization app (via itunes or appstore, w/ icon generator functionality?) that you'll be able to DL/Purchase themes for. People want customization, enough to jailbreak for it, and enough that it's popping up as a weakness in commercials. Better find a way to do it.
But the "iPhone Killer" is still the Jailbroken iPhone, which solves many of these issues and more.
Their "doesn't do" list is good, though I'm surprised they left off Tethering...
I'm glad to see public attention called to the handful of annoying shortcomings. I'm still holding out hope that eventually Apple will see the value in a tidy UI customization app (via itunes or appstore, w/ icon generator functionality?) that you'll be able to DL/Purchase themes for. People want customization, enough to jailbreak for it, and enough that it's popping up as a weakness in commercials. Better find a way to do it.
But the "iPhone Killer" is still the Jailbroken iPhone, which solves many of these issues and more.
eliotw
macrumors member
Plenty of customization
The iPhone's got rubber condoms and cotton socks. Who needs any more customization ?
😀
The iPhone's got rubber condoms and cotton socks. Who needs any more customization ?
😀
ChazUK
macrumors 603
The big difference between widgets and apps is that the information is fed to you on your main screen.
For example, to check the weather/twitter or facebook say on my HTC hero I can pull the phone out of my pocket, unlock the screen and the stuff I want is there. I can either pop the phone back into my pocket if i'm satisfied with what I've seen or interact with it..
With an application I have to find and run each app to get what I want.
It's not a killer but there are differences.
the I don'ts are mostly I don't care
what percentage of users are concerned about:
- Allow Open Development. This is similar to the stupid argument of the bunch of nerds who rave about how Linux should have taken the world years ago. Seriously. I can see people saying, "wait, I will get the Droid, it allows open development" 🙄
- Keyboard. This is, as mentioned before a 100 times, personal preference. Even RIM is still trying to provide a non-keyboard option.
- Simultaneous Apps. This is even funnier. Most people use the thing for what it is. This argument of "let users decide how they want to use their phone" is so stupid. Users are deciding: iPhone it is. Who cares about keeping 10 apps running while my battery drains like gas on a Hummer? I guess this is why they have the next one point.
- Interchangeable Batteries. I only had extra batteries for my first cellular phone, bought over 14 years ago. That was a time when a charge will not last 1 full day and the battery life was 6 months or so. These days, who cares about that. Oh, the road warriors you say, well let them have the Droid, or something else. They are not the majority.
- Widgets. I can see how people are furious for not having widgets in their iphones... Not.
- Customize. Yeah, people just trash the iphone for not being able to have a desktop picture that will be 90% covered by icons. This is, again, one of those that the few who have the time for that, try to make noise so that it sounds like they are the majority. Guess what, they are not.
- Take pictures in the dark. Most users, again, don't care about this Marketing BS. If you want good pictures in the dark, there is no Droid that will help you with that, unless you get a real camera.
The iPhone is not perfect, in fact, the bugs and problems I have had since version 3 are not fun at all and have given me enough headaches. But the issues mentioned in this ad campaign are certainly not reasons to change from an iPhone to a Droid, or whatever it is called.
what percentage of users are concerned about:
- Allow Open Development. This is similar to the stupid argument of the bunch of nerds who rave about how Linux should have taken the world years ago. Seriously. I can see people saying, "wait, I will get the Droid, it allows open development" 🙄
- Keyboard. This is, as mentioned before a 100 times, personal preference. Even RIM is still trying to provide a non-keyboard option.
- Simultaneous Apps. This is even funnier. Most people use the thing for what it is. This argument of "let users decide how they want to use their phone" is so stupid. Users are deciding: iPhone it is. Who cares about keeping 10 apps running while my battery drains like gas on a Hummer? I guess this is why they have the next one point.
- Interchangeable Batteries. I only had extra batteries for my first cellular phone, bought over 14 years ago. That was a time when a charge will not last 1 full day and the battery life was 6 months or so. These days, who cares about that. Oh, the road warriors you say, well let them have the Droid, or something else. They are not the majority.
- Widgets. I can see how people are furious for not having widgets in their iphones... Not.
- Customize. Yeah, people just trash the iphone for not being able to have a desktop picture that will be 90% covered by icons. This is, again, one of those that the few who have the time for that, try to make noise so that it sounds like they are the majority. Guess what, they are not.
- Take pictures in the dark. Most users, again, don't care about this Marketing BS. If you want good pictures in the dark, there is no Droid that will help you with that, unless you get a real camera.
The iPhone is not perfect, in fact, the bugs and problems I have had since version 3 are not fun at all and have given me enough headaches. But the issues mentioned in this ad campaign are certainly not reasons to change from an iPhone to a Droid, or whatever it is called.
I think Google and Apple are going to get a little nasty now. With Google basically blocking out Verizon from Apple, Apple is going to get bottle necked slowly.
With the ChromeOS coming, I really think Google is going for the Apple jugular (all they have to do is release a reliable OS that doesn't get viruses that is dirt cheap or even free).
With the ChromeOS coming, I really think Google is going for the Apple jugular (all they have to do is release a reliable OS that doesn't get viruses that is dirt cheap or even free).
I'm not sure about others' impressions, but I don't think this ad's points are that compelling for the most part. iPhone doesn't have widgets?!? Who cares?
I'm sure Android will have its fans for some of the reasons mentioned, but I don't see this ad persuading many undecided consumers by itself, though it may spark people's curiosity in Android.
The "there's a map for that" ad highlighting AT&T's inferior coverage was better.
I'm sure Android will have its fans for some of the reasons mentioned, but I don't see this ad persuading many undecided consumers by itself, though it may spark people's curiosity in Android.
The "there's a map for that" ad highlighting AT&T's inferior coverage was better.
Huh? You're not making sense. AT&T was indeed called Cingular back when negciations between them and Apple were going around. They were in the process of re-branding themselves as AT&T at that time, but that doesn;t change anything to begin with.
Verizon was considered first because of their subscriber base. When they turned Apple down, they went to the next largest carrier - AT&T. At the time, Sprint was still reeling from the acquisition of Nextel and I believe they were hemorrhaging customers too.
herbalizer
macrumors member
I've used android and it's like using linux. Feels unpolished and clunky. It's great for twenty year old guys who like to tinker around with crap. I'm not looking for a hobby platform. Yes it's way more customizable, but I'm not interested in being able to hook my phone up to my homebrew segway. I'm glad Android is around for people who are into that kinda thing.
The vast majority of people want something that is simple and easy to use. Apple understand this better than anyone else.
The vast majority of people want something that is simple and easy to use. Apple understand this better than anyone else.
3N16MA
macrumors 65816
Verizon does not get it at all. The general public could care less about what the iPhone can't do, all they care about is what it can currently do. While people on this forum and and users who read tech blogs might care about what the iPhone can't do the majority don't really care. The iPhone is the "it" gadget/phone to have, many people buy it for that reason alone. This is the same thing that happened to the iPod it was the "it" gadget and no matter how many features the competitors packed in their device at a lower price none could dethrone the iPod. Apple also has the killer app that it used with the iPod and it's called iTunes, not a single piece of software attached to any phone will come close to toppling iTunes it worked for the iPod and it's working for the iPhone. As long as apps are being pumped out (no matter how much garbage comes along with it) people will be happy. Apple's brand image is so strong that they released the same phone (only faster) one year later added a "S" to the name and had people forming lines outside of AT&T and Apple stores. The iPhone 3GS has had supply problems since it was released here in Canada.
I do enjoy competition and I am interested in what device Verizon releases but this campaign won't sway the average iPhone user. It seemed like a new device was released monthly that was supposed to dethrone the iPod and they all failed. I think Creative had a similar ad campaign and had a website that listed all the things the iPod could not do.
I do enjoy competition and I am interested in what device Verizon releases but this campaign won't sway the average iPhone user. It seemed like a new device was released monthly that was supposed to dethrone the iPod and they all failed. I think Creative had a similar ad campaign and had a website that listed all the things the iPod could not do.