iPhone - Official Thread
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Smiles and Cries
Member
I may not wait til next year for this can't wait for the first impressions and reviews
Christopher
BDE (Big Dad Energy)
Terrell said:
The Wii wasn't 600 dollars with a contract...
Souldriver
Member
The Wii was an overpriced stupid gimmick though...Christopher said:
In conclusion: never take your purchase for granted when a product is hyped to space.
Kung Fu Jedi
Member
There weren't 3 million Wii's available at launch, and the iPhone arguably appeals to a much smaller crowd. Remember, most people who buy phones end up taking the free one or dn't end up spending more than $50 on their phone.
I still think there will be plenty available, and Apple and AT&T think so too.
I still think there will be plenty available, and Apple and AT&T think so too.
I love the idea of an iPhone, but I hate the execution. I think the Sony Walkman phones are perfect, with one exception; lack of iTunes support. I have literally become addicted to iTunes counting my song plays, so without the software updating when i sync I cant use any other system/software to play music.
Kung Fu Jedi
Member
painey said:
How are the Walkman phones better? I was totally unimpressed with the new ones Sony showed off a few days ago. What about the "execution" of the iPhone doesn't work for you?
Kung Fu Jedi
Member
painey said:
I'll give you that the price is up there, but not out of the norm for a smart phone. I was shopping for phones yesterday and saw several other smart phones in the same price range however. Now if it's out of your price range, and you don't want a smart phone, than I can understand why you personally wouldn't want one, but the price is competitive with other cutting edge smart phones.
Not sure why you would complain about the size. It's again on par with other smart phones, and the newer images on the web show that it's much smaller than those first images would lead you to believe. I've heard several people say they were surprised at how much smaller it was than they thought it would be.
I'm not even sure how to comment on "general ergonomics" since there has never been an interface like this one on a phone before.
As for storage space for music, 4 to 8 GB is better than nearly any other phone out there. Yes, I do know that one of the new Walkman phones has 9 GB (?) of space. Not sure how they got 9, but they did. But other than that phone, the iPhone trumps all others in storage.
Throw on top of that that it is likely to have the most full featured and capable browser ever on a phone, an approach to voicemail that's never been done before, and an amazing screen, I'd still have a hard time seeing how the Walkman phones are more appealing.
Kung Fu Jedi
Member
mrklaw said:
I stand corrected. But for the most part, it's pretty rare.
Kung Fu Jedi
Member
capslock said:
Ahh... I see. I can understand how that would be handy. I only go International about once a year. I really need to find a job that sends me abroad more.
WickedAngel
Banned
White Man said:
Could you guys explain it to those of us who haven't been introduced yet? My interest in smart phones is on the rise and I'm about to enter the market for one.
Kung Fu Jedi
Member
White Man said:
Very good point. I definitely agree with you on that. I do think the lack of 3G is one thing that you can criticize the iPhone on. I'm hoping that since it's EDGE, perhaps the data plans will be cheaper. We'll see.
scorcho said:
I've had my fair share of Apple 'enthusiasm' (lol), but saying the iPhone is just a touch screen iPod/phone is kind of missing the point. It's like saying an iPod is just an mp3 player, iTunes is just a music file manager, iPhoto is just a photo organiser.
Which of course, they all are. But the point is the unification of a everything Apple. They all work together pretty well, generally no muss, no fuss. Anyone who has used any one thing from Apple, be it software, hardware, or whatever, may look at it 'see' that it's nice, but just move on, wondering what the fuss was ever about. And this is true too. However, it's more than that for those who LIVE Apple products - and by that I don't mean Imastalker and me who, on the outside just seem like crazy mac fanboys (there's a reason for our madness). What I mean are people who use Mac OS X as their primary OS, their homebase and iPod/iTunes for their music playing needs, iPhoto for their photo management etc. All these tools come together remarkably well when you're not dealing with anything else. Of course, you can find other tools that do the same job, and maybe even better, but often these require a bit of tooling around, creating an unintuitive work flow or what have you. Only people who use all the programs and hardware begin to realise what the fuss is, and that's integration and general ease of use. Of course, anyone can do stuff like drag a music file or photo over to your media player, but what's easier than the Apple way, of doing nothing but plugging it in? I know there are a lot of control freaks out there wanting to handle their files their own way, but one of the best things ever for ME, was giving all that stuff up when I used iTunes and iPhoto. I just deal with the output, which is music and photos, not where they are on my drive.
In the past month, three more people in my workplace have 'made the switch'. None of them are strong, technically minded in the ways of computers, but each of them are loving (for the most part) the user experience of the software. The little details that most think are just 'cool' gimmicky touches that noone will ever use are actually really useful tools (like front row, dashboard). iLife has made sorting through photos and music fun. Stuff like that.
I may have gone a bit off point, but what I'm trying to say is that this philosophy in user interface and design is sure to carry over to the iPhone. Behind all the hype is a Apple's history of pulling stuff like this off extremely well. I know technically, the iPhone is a bunch of 'existing' tech. But it's more than the sum of its parts. Also, mark my words, the safari integration will prove to be one of the most important aspects to the iPhone.
And for the record, I'm not getting an iPhone for a number of reasons. First and foremost, is the fact I can't get it nor will it work here at the moment. Second, it's not really a product for me. I like my phone to e small, and unintrusive. The iPhone is slightly too large for my needs (and probably delicate). I have an iPod. I have a laptop (which I carry most places). I have a camera (which I also carry most places). While all the features are cool and all, the features I like most are the media storage/playback, which I'm sure will eventually make it to the iPod in some form or another. So, instead of waiting around for a product I have no real need for I just bought a Nokia 6300, which in all it's simplistic beauty is also a very capable phone that does exactly what I need (make calls, text) in an elegant package (and also has a fairly iPhone-ish design about it, which made me raise an eyebrow).
to be fairly sharp - an ipod is nothing but a well-designed mp3 player, and likewise the iphone is nothing but a well-designed multimedia phone. it's not a way of life or some tremendous paradigm shift in the industry, except if you own Apple stock or worship all things Apple. in that case, give me your bank account number.
Here are three more web apps designed for the iPhone:
http://www.gasapp.com/
http://www.publictivity.com/iphonechat/
http://dev.deanjrobinson.com/itweetr/
http://www.gasapp.com/
http://www.publictivity.com/iphonechat/
http://dev.deanjrobinson.com/itweetr/
Kung Fu Jedi
Member
xsarien said:
They haven't so far, but the rumors are that the iPhone will require a dataplan, and that there won't be options. The prevailing thought is that there will be "iPhone Plans" that may be something like $69.95 for 400 any time minutes, 5000 nights and weekends, and all the data you can.
As I've said before in this thread, I wisth to hell they'd give us the skinny on the plans already!
Ninja Scooter
Member
Kung Fu Jedi said:
you don't get unlimited nights and weekends with dataplans? I have the cheapest plan from ATT/Cingular and get that.
http://www.vnunet.com/vnunet/news/2191928/european-operators-grumble
Not surprising really. None of the operators in Europe are as desperate for a rebranding as AT&T, and the competition is far more advanced when it comes to competing phones over here.
Plus it's 3G the phone companies over here want to push, after having to pay a small fortune in the auctions for the licenses.
Found out today that the iPhone can't even do MMS, which is bonkers. Things like that just won't fly over here. No one uses email to send and receive photos, because 99% of users haven't even set their phone up to use email.
Apple really should have got their ducks more in line before going ahead with this. Developed a dual GSM/3G phone and gone for a worldwide launch. It may work in the US, but there is a real chance of it going a bit tits up in Europe now.
Not surprising really. None of the operators in Europe are as desperate for a rebranding as AT&T, and the competition is far more advanced when it comes to competing phones over here.
Plus it's 3G the phone companies over here want to push, after having to pay a small fortune in the auctions for the licenses.
Found out today that the iPhone can't even do MMS, which is bonkers. Things like that just won't fly over here. No one uses email to send and receive photos, because 99% of users haven't even set their phone up to use email.
Apple really should have got their ducks more in line before going ahead with this. Developed a dual GSM/3G phone and gone for a worldwide launch. It may work in the US, but there is a real chance of it going a bit tits up in Europe now.
scorcho said:
Probably true in the iPhone's case, but the iPod was part of a bigger picture as it was developed in tandem with the iTunes Music Store.
Apple kickstarted the legal downloading of music, and was most definitely a paradigm shift in that industry. You don't have to worship Apple to see that.
Kung Fu Jedi
Member
Ninja Scooter said:
The lowest plan on Cingular is like 500 any time/ 5000 nights and weekends. You also get rollover. For me, that's as good as unlimited. All of their higher plans are "unlimited" and it has nothing to do with the data plans, which come in a variety of packages.
As for MMS, a feature I have never used, most people suspect it was left out because of the fact that you have full access to e-mail and images can be sent as attachments.
Ninja Scooter
Member
Kung Fu Jedi said:
really? I have the 39.99 one and i get unlimited N/W...at least i think i do...i need to uhh...go.
Kung Fu Jedi
Member
Ninja Scooter said:
Perhaps it changed at some point, and you've been grandfathered in under an old plan, but the 500/5000 thing was what I saw when pricing plans on their site.
Kung Fu Jedi said:
But the people you will be sending to probably won't have full access to email on their phone.
Certainly this is true in the UK. I only know a handful of people who check their email by phone, and even they send photos by MMS as it's so simple and the equivalent to texting and you know the other person can get it.
From a UK perspective this totally cripples it as a camera phone. It's plain mad to leave it out.
Kung Fu Jedi
Member
Nash said:
I do agree that it's a surprising oversight. Perhaps they will add it with an update, I was just offering a reason why it MIGHT have been left off. Again, it's a feature I've never used on my current phone, so it means nothing to me, and since the phone can be connected to a computer to retrieve images, something that can't be done with my current phone, it makes it far more useful for me as a camera.
I would use e-mail more often then MMS even if it had it. I can send the image to someone on their computer and they can view it much more nicely than on the screen of their phone. There is seldom a time where I snap something and just have to share it that moment.
imastalker co.
Banned
http://www.apple.com/iphone/scorcho said:
there you go.
continue to call it an a "touchscreen phone and ipod" and prove your stupidity.
Christopher
BDE (Big Dad Energy)
imastalker co. said:
touchscreen phone and ipod
MassiveAttack
Banned
Christopher said:
:lol
So my final issues with the thing:
1) The fact that we don't have plan information at this point is tacit admission that it's going to be an overpriced hybrid data/voice plan designed specifically for the iPhone.
2) 4GB or 8GB. At best it has about 5x less space than I need, and that's assuming I never buy another CD or totally legally in no-way pirate another album.
3) Every phone I've ever seen or owned has been a magnet for face grease. Combine that with the touchscreen interface and the iPhone, in the real world, isn't going to look very pretty unless you wipe it down everyday.
4) Battery life: Between music, video, browsing and talking you better hope keep that charger handy. It sure would be nice, in this case, for Apple to have user-replaceable batteries.
5) EDGE is more than fine for the mobile Internet, but for maximum use of the series of tubes? 3G please.
6) The Google app no one seems to shut up about can't lock onto your location via GPS. If Nokia can jam something like that into a device that's cheaper than the iPhone, I'd like to think that Apple could too. Google supports the feature in the Windows Mobile and Blackberry builds of Mobile Maps as well.
7) If I lose it, break it or have it stolen, I'm out my iPod *and* my phone. That would suck.
Those are my reasons for waiting until the next one, I'm sure the Nighttrain - whom I just refer to now as The Last Train to Cupertino - will try and refute every single one of them. Now, give me a 6G iPod with the iPhone's new music software and UI and we'll talk...
1) The fact that we don't have plan information at this point is tacit admission that it's going to be an overpriced hybrid data/voice plan designed specifically for the iPhone.
2) 4GB or 8GB. At best it has about 5x less space than I need, and that's assuming I never buy another CD or totally legally in no-way pirate another album.
3) Every phone I've ever seen or owned has been a magnet for face grease. Combine that with the touchscreen interface and the iPhone, in the real world, isn't going to look very pretty unless you wipe it down everyday.
4) Battery life: Between music, video, browsing and talking you better hope keep that charger handy. It sure would be nice, in this case, for Apple to have user-replaceable batteries.
5) EDGE is more than fine for the mobile Internet, but for maximum use of the series of tubes? 3G please.
6) The Google app no one seems to shut up about can't lock onto your location via GPS. If Nokia can jam something like that into a device that's cheaper than the iPhone, I'd like to think that Apple could too. Google supports the feature in the Windows Mobile and Blackberry builds of Mobile Maps as well.
7) If I lose it, break it or have it stolen, I'm out my iPod *and* my phone. That would suck.
Those are my reasons for waiting until the next one, I'm sure the Nighttrain - whom I just refer to now as The Last Train to Cupertino - will try and refute every single one of them. Now, give me a 6G iPod with the iPhone's new music software and UI and we'll talk...
It really IS just a touchscreen iPod with a phone crammed into it.
imastalker co.
Banned
those who are ignorant, will continue to ignore you.mrkgoo said:
SuperPac
Member
xsarien said:
I don't see this as a complete replacement for my iPod, but rather a good device to have when I otherwise wouldn't have my iPod with me. Like you go to get your oil changed, forget your iPod and they have to take longer than they usually would...whip out the iPhone, listen to some music or take in a video podcast. Since I generally have my cell phone with me everywhere, it'd be perfect for this type of usage. I often don't have my iPod with me. Or with pictures... let's say I sync it with my most recent roll or whatever (via iPhoto), if someone asks me about a trip or wants to see a picture of whatever... I can show them, and it's different than showing someone a photo on the cell I have now. Even photos I take with my other digital camera, not just talking about the iPhone camera. That's exceedingly handy.
I guess the good thing is that it seems to work with the iPod Dock Connector, which is USB. I have two dock connectors -- one at home and one at work, much better than the one charger I have for my current cell, which is always at home. I have one battery for my current (same as previous cell phones) and have barely ever removed it and have never needed to replace it. I already have an iPod charger for the car, too. I'm guessing it would work with the iPhone, so no need for me to buy another one.
I guess I don't care about this, especially when some places I'd be using the phone have free wifi. (Work, home) I don't anticipate looking at a lot of sites that have loads of multimedia when I'm on the road so... *shrug* As long as I can get directions, look up a restaurant, look at IMDB or traffic/weather I'm set.
Yeah, that will. I think the idea is that when you spend $600 on a phone...DON'T LOSE IT. I've never (knock on wood) lost my cell phone or left it somewhere. Also never had it stolen but I think that is going to be a problem with iPhones.
MMS is one of those things i don't really need, but it's really nice to have. i get a couple of MMS messages a day, usually random stuff from friends or family that they're sharing. Yeah, you could accomplish the same thing with email but pretty much no one uses email on their phone. That's almost like saying you could use email instead of texting. To think that i wouldn't be able to get MMS messages on a $600 smartphone when i could with a free-with-contract cell is maddening.
i'm in the US BTW.
i'm in the US BTW.
so that link proves to me that it's a touch screen phone with web features ipod functionality. great. until it learns how to jerk me off (negating the need for my girlfriend) and allows me to block horrible Apple-peddling shills, this isn't some transcendental piece of hardware.imastalker co. said:
and to reiterate Christopher - touchscreen phone and ipod. accept the bitter truth. (limited) functionality bundled in a smooth interface is nothing for excitement.
SuperPac
Member
scorcho said:
Well, that's really just two bullet points. And it's a nice iPod, for sure. I guess I'd enjoy having a phone I can sync with my Mac for photos, some music, a video or two, my calendar, e-mail, contacts, etc. The web stuff is really just icing. I am not gonna read The New York Times on a phone unless I'm really bored.
Just as with iPod there have been devices that do what the iPhone does and I'm sure there'll be plenty more in the future. I just don't think I've seen a demo of a similar device that looks as easy to use or as good as this -- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YgW7or1TuFk
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