Apple Phone.

[Izze]

Looks really cool, but no 3G in a new multimedia telephone??
This makes the Iphone more or less unsellable (in Europe) i'm afraid.
Perhaps the hardcore IPodders will go for it?
How long will it run on battery? That nice display will probably consume some power?
Also it is lacking GPS.

Otherwise, cool

[lendaddy]

It doesn't have a camera does it (is that low brow?)? I really like the ability to record images for work.

[stomachmonkey]

An iPhone has been vaporware for YEARS. The early vapors looked very different.

Those early rumors were about the iTunes branded Motorola Rockr which moto f'd up beyond belief.

Rumors surrounding a pure Apple developed phone did not start to circulate until 06, after the Rockr fiasco.

[stomachmonkey]

Originally posted by Izze
Looks really cool, but no 3G in a new multimedia telephone??
This makes the Iphone more or less unsellable (in Europe) i'm afraid.
Perhaps the hardcore IPodders will go for it?
How long will it run on battery? That nice display will probably consume some power?
Also it is lacking GPS.

Otherwise, cool

Agreed, 3g is required for the Euro market. I wonder if the lack of a Euro model (initially) may have a bit to do with the strict materials restrictions that hardware manufacturers (RoHS) must comply with in Europe.

Several electronics manufaturers pulled some of their existing product lines from the euro market after the July 06 implementation of RoHS.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RoHS

[stomachmonkey]

Originally posted by lendaddy
It doesn't have a camera does it (is that low brow?)? I really like the ability to record images for work.

Yes it does but it's only 2 megapixel. Gotta give it a ding for that.

[lendaddy]

Originally posted by stomachmonkey
Yes it does but it's only 2 megapixel. Gotta give it a ding for that.

No, that's fine. As long as they are viewable for utility that's enough for me.

[msk1986911]

Originally posted by stomachmonkey
Those early rumors were about the iTunes branded Motorola Rockr which moto f'd up beyond belief.

Rumors surrounding a pure Apple developed phone did not start to circulate until 06, after the Rockr fiasco.

I'd agree with that wholeheartedly.

[}{arlequin]

this mac vs pc thing is always fun w/ you guys. personally i like it. will get one eventually but let's hope it works as well as it looks. being forced to switch networks sucks though.

another benefit, maybe nokia will now start bringing all the good phones that europe/asia get over here to try and compete, and, even make a clone of this. no phone i've ever owned was more intuitive and user friendly than my nokias. apple being apple, they have a chance to top them. all the other stuff is great, but if i need extraneous keystrokes to find a number and dial it, it will be a pain- as a phone. prolly great at everything else, but i ain't carrying multiple gadgetry w/ me.

[nostatic]

3G is now available in parts of LA (my 8525 is one of the few Cingular 3G phones). But in most parts of the city you're still on Edge or regular GPRS. I'm not sure why they didn't go 3G, although by June Cingular still won't have great 3G coverage. I'm sure v2 will have it, and in the meantime they are depending on 802.11 to cover most multimedia things. The initial scenario they are assuming is a user syncing with their home media library and view on the road as opposed to trying to stream or download away from an 802.11 signal.

Most US customers are not used to mobile media beyond mp3. Apple pretty much enable the transition from the clunky walkman to largescale mobile comsumption of music despite other mp3 players being on the market when the ipod first came out. I'm sure that Apple is looking at this phone to be somewhat the same change agent. Things like vCast have not taken off here, mostly due to the user (although the technology has some issues as well).

The US is a 3rd world country when it comes to cell phone issues.

[motion]

An interesting point is that Apple is loading this thing with tech and features that would appeal to the younger crowd... but pricing the device for the 30-40 crowd. Will the older crowd adopt? Me thinks they need a $199 version out SOON with limited capabilities to get it in the hands of the demographic that will truly adopt it.

[stomachmonkey]

The US is a 3rd world country when it comes to cell phone issues.

Without a doubt.

When I switched to my E62 I was torn that it did not have 3G. i am aware of the inititative by Cingular to get it rolled out. They will readily admit they won't be there nationally for at least another year.

Eventually I will swap for a 3G phone but only when the network is ready and the bugs worked out.

The biggest problem with brining all those cool phones out of Europe is the behaviour of US cell carriers.

My E62 is a modified E61 (euro only model). It lacks wifi and the Cingular firmware restricts you using any Java based network apps.

The gmail mobile client and gmaps for instance. Cingular require an onnerous security signing process for network apps. If the app is not signed you can still install and use it. BUT, every single time it makes a call to the network you need to authorize it. So imagine this in an email app where every email you read requires an access session, or gmaps where every update of the map is a network access. You spend the entire time mashing the OK button so it can retrieve the data.

Purely Cingular firmware. They say they are working on a solution which is pure BS, they crippled the firmware themselves. What it really is is they have pay per use services that do the same thing. They do not want you to use these apps. Cuts their revenue potential.

I know it's an easy fix for them. I got my hands on the Generic product code for an E62, flashed the phone with it and then ran Nokias firmware update. The firmware update determines which firmware to give you based on the product code.

I now have an unbranded E62 that funtions w/out the Cingular certificate "feature".

I could easily turn the phone into a Rogers Cellular phone by the same method, Rogers does not have the limitations either.

[HardDrive]

Originally posted by nostatic
and the windows guys don't miss many opportunities to say how lame macs are (icirclejerk anyone?). For most users, iApps are the best choice for creating content. iMovie is the easiest/best video editing software in existence.

I'm a network engineer. Do you have any idea how many times I have had to mac users b!tch and moan over the years? Or worse yet, you get to hear 'The Speach'.

'The Speach' involves them launching into an attack of the rest of the world for being 'Microsoft lemmings', and if people would just 'wake up', they would all be buying macs. Real frothing at the mouth, kool-aid drinker stuff.

[MichiganMat]

David Pogue chimes in:

http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/01/09/some-hands-on-time-with-the-iphone/

Its on the NYT for all you wingers, just to give warning ofcourse

[lendaddy]

Originally posted by MichiganMat
David Pogue chimes in:

http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/01/09/some-hands-on-time-with-the-iphone/

Its on the NYT for all you wingers, just to give warning ofcourse

I'm guessing they love it?

[Izze]

Originally posted by stomachmonkey
Agreed, 3g is required for the Euro market. I wonder if the lack of a Euro model (initially) may have a bit to do with the strict materials restrictions that hardware manufacturers (RoHS) must comply with in Europe.

Several electronics manufaturers pulled some of their existing product lines from the euro market after the July 06 implementation of RoHS.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RoHS

Yeah, the RoHS might be a reason for the delayed introduction to Europe. But frankly i doubt that there are any non RoHS compliant parts in a new mobile phone. Like 99.5% of the new parts that the semiconductor manufacturer ships/designs today are RoHS compliant due to the requirements from Europe but also Japan. Usually BGA packages are tricky to do without lead but they do also have relaxed requirements (if i remember correctly).

I would bet that the reason is the lack of the 3G

[MichiganMat]

Originally posted by lendaddy
I'm guessing they love it?

LOL

[stomachmonkey]

Originally posted by HardDrive
I'm a network engineer. Do you have any idea how many times I have had to mac users b!tch and moan over the years? Or worse yet, you get to hear 'The Speach'.

'The Speach' involves them launching into an attack of the rest of the world for being 'Microsoft lemmings', and if people would just 'wake up', they would all be buying macs. Real frothing at the mouth, kool-aid drinker stuff.

I've seen that behavior. A lot of times preceeded by "must be an Appletalk issue, it's chatty you know" or " I don't know anything about Macs so you are on your own" or "are you sure Macs can even do that?"

Not saying you are guilty of it but a lot of IT guys are.

[nostatic]

yeah, I've never heard an IT person complain about Macs...or never had a Windows user tell me, "but I can get 14,000 different spreadsheet applications!"

[arcsine]

Originally posted by island911
Oh Man owned! ...and just what I was thinking.

What is with the knee-jerk reaction with the "Mac guys"? . .Someone says "look, new iProduct" . .and the k-j reaction is "Let me tell how lame MSFT is."

I mean wow, you "Mac guys" are just like the commercial spots. So cool and secure.

An iPhone has been vaporware for YEARS. The early vapors looked very different.

You got me glenn.

But then again I do not own a cell phone, or a mac and do not plan on buying either in the near future. But thanks for telling me how wrong I was to say what I did. Hope you got some pleasure out of it.

[JavaBrewer]

I think the iPhone is beautiful. Like Todd mentioned the US is a 3rd world mobile phone country and I personally am still on the prarie with 1/2 pint and Michael Landon...I hate folks/phones with the stupid ringers. Ring Ring is fine no? Yes I am getting old and crotchy...

I want a phone that doubles as a music player that that can also offer GPS and sync with outlook. I will never download games or services that the service provider is all too eager to provide - for an additional monthly fee.

I'm no wireless industry expert but I think the iPhone is going to sell HUGE.