Things to remember about Apple’s new iPhone
I wrote this earlier today in mid-air on my way back to Vegas to finish out CES, now that I’ve had a little bit of time to digest what we witnessed this morning in San Francisco with the launch of the iPhone.
Apple has hailed it as a monumental landmark in mobile technology, one that will change the face of the cellphone industry forever, and I do agree with one, but not the other. I don’t believe it’s really the landmark landmark they claim, but I think it’s clear that things in the CE industry just won’t quite be the same. A powerful and determined new entrant has arrived on the scene, one unencumbered by conventional mobile device design. But there are a few things I still think it’s important for people to note about the iPhone:
- There are other “tablet” style cellphones without keypads or keyboards; just look at HTC. Yes, they require styluses and don’t have multi-touch input, but this isn’t a new device category.
- There are some usability issues even Apple can’t solve — touchscreen technology is one of them. Tactility rules. Our minds require our bodies to feel the way we interact with interfaces. When we don’t feel that, our senses get confused and we ttypee liiikethiss.
- Despite their claims, Gartenberg says it won’t be a smartphone. That is, going by the traditional definition of smartphone, which says you can’t install apps. Meaning their “mobile desktop OS” won’t work like a mobile version of OS X, with apps going back and forth.
- It’s not the first *nix-based mobile. For that you need look no further than Motorola, ACCESS, etc. for that. It may, however, be the first to market in the US.
- What’s more, I understand the prices quoted are for two year service agreement only — they aren’t allowing out of contract sale. This is a huge annoyance for customers, but somehow seems typical.
However:
- It is the first device built in years that puts the user experience at the forefront. People seem to think I hate Palm. I don’t, I think it’s a great 2003 smartphone experience (just like WinMo5 is a decent 2005 smartphone experience), but it’s aging and tired. We need something new.
- It may also introduce the concept of smartphone OS upgrades. Apple’s second business is selling you software upgrades every year or two for your hardware in between upgrades.
- I’ve never seen Cingular bow down to a partner like this before. They claim they’re two companies together (but separate) working to facilitate Jobs’s vision of the iPhone. That is highly unusual, especially for the typically phone-castration-happy Cingular. (MVNOs were mentioned regarding what the iPhone release is not. One would think Apple didn’t have to go MVNO because Cingular didn’t put limitations on their product goals.)
- I can’t help wondering, are we likely to see the “true video iPod” to follow shortly? Granted, this thing does pretty everything we could have ever ever expected the video iPod to do: play movies, utilize a wide touchscreen interface, add Bluetooth with A2DP and WiFi, but it does all this in the context of a cellphone, which is drastically different than a media player. Some people don’t want to sign up with Cingular to get a better iPod.
- That “rich browsing” experience won’t seem quite as rich when you’re not on WiFi, and are limited to only EDGE speeds. Trust me, I know, I only have EDGE on my phone right now.
I could go on as you might imagine, but I think you probably understand what I’m getting at. Today is a watershed moment for Apple and a looking-glass moment for the industry even though I’m not really convinced that this is the end all be all mobile device.
Co-founder of 
I haven’t had time to blog my thoughts yet, but they pretty much exactly echo yours.
(IMHO) Good things:
- Thin, looks nice
- Sexy looking UI
- Big screen
- ‘Safari Mobile’ looks good
- Decent suite of preloaded software
(IMHO) Bad things:
- Thin = small battery + big screen = problem
- Non user replaceable battery
- Not an extensible OS from the end user perspective
- Expensive
- Not available SIM free
- Puts Apple in conflict with themselves if they want to launch a real video iPod
- no 3G
- NO TACTILE FEEDBACK SUCKS
I, like most, was blown away by the first impressions, but, I suspect for many the ‘wow’ factor is becoming ‘hmm’ as they delve deeper into the device and compare to more on function rather than form against it’s competitors.
Finally, have Apple announced too early? Shipping in June could easily slip (you know what carriers are like!), and some of the OEMs making devices for competitors can do a lot in 6 months!
P
Allow me to interact, as I don’t have where:
- You know that, eventually, a Phone-less device with this same aspect will emerge, probably to be accomodated in the $350-$450 range that Apple has free for flash 4gb-8gb devices.
- There will be more widgets offered, in the same sense as games are offered via Itunes. Hope they will be free. Don’t know if games can be put in Itunes by 3rd parties (can’t have Itunes account in my country), but if they allow that, it can be called a smartphone.
- It is screaming for spreadsheet, word processor and file organizing capabilities that weren’t show, but it’ll have some day.
- Remember that they still have a year prior global release, these software things can be polish a lot.
- With a cap -perhaps not- going to Cingular, it will we capable to buy music and other stuff (widgets? software? ) from the iTunes Store. It will.
- Maybe not in the US, but I bet they sell it unlocked for a big premium in other countries when they don’t arrive to an agreement with carriers. Hope that Jobs future meeting with Telefonica CEO (as GZMD reports) will open the door for a Latin America release, as it’ll sure mean that iTS will be open here. Maybe, as things are usually managed in South America, we’ll have one of the first regional iTS.
- There will be a lot of touchscreen devices to come from every manufacter (if this one is successfull), and some will be really crappy.
Ok, thanks for the space, I’m lighter now
About the input feedback; I think I’d be alright if there was some type of clicking noise when typing (even MORE typewriter-ish), maybe similar to the current click-wheel sound.
I’m not going to give you a point by point breakdown… but I’m truly upset at the exclusivity of the iPhone. Especially since I live just next door (Canada) and I won’t be able to get one for at least 6 months. Ridiculous… I wish more companies offered their cellphones unlocked.