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January 10, 2007
Some first-impressions of the iPhone...
So, supposedly the Apple iPhone will be available just in time for my birthday (or, maybe a little, late, but I won’t give it back if you offer me one)...
As you probably well know, the iPhone is all the buzz on the interweb right now. As well it should be. The thing is friggin’ sweet.
But, I have some initialy opinions about it, so I thought I’d post them here…
- Sure, it’s an iPod, but it’s a lot more, what with OSX on board. In fact, the iPhone seems like it’s more in the line of the Mac Pro series than the iPod series. Therefore, Apple should have given their new all-in-one device the moniker, MacPhone. (And, conversely, this would also solve all of those pesky lawsuit issues!)
- “Breakthrough Internet Communications Device”? Hmmm… Who cares? Why didn’t they call it a “Ground-Breaking OSX-based Hand-Held Personal Computer”?
- Ok, so it’s not really a “personal computer”? Sure you can do most computer-related functions (word processing, photo editing, etc.) via the web (in some fashion) now, but what if you’re in a completely offline capacity (like on an airplane)? What then? Will someone create a PowerPoint Widget? Or, a Mind Mapping Widget? I’m not so sure… Then, there’s also the ability to store and organize files. I guess there are still a few things that someone might want a traditional PDA for. (Although, using Mail for temporary word processing as well as — attached — file management isn’t so bad, is it?)
- Can someone tell me why the two first releases will only by 4GB and 8GB? Couldn’t they have fit a 60GB hard drive in this thing?
- In my opinion, the iPhone isn’t so all-in-one without an expansion card slot. How cool would it be to have a 60GB hard drive as well as an SD/SDIO slot?
- With OSX being used for the operating system, I would love to have seen the iPhone come with a USB port. This would allow the connection of a camera (or any other USB device) for easy file transfer and sync features. (I.e., want to load all of the photos from your camera to iPhoto? Just plug it into the ol’ iPhone and let ‘em rip!). Of course, Bluetooth would work for this too — only if camer manufacturers started aking phones with Bluetooth technology.
- I’m sure the built-in 2-megapixal camera supports video… Right? I can’t find any info about it, though… I’m assuming the iPhone comes with iChat AV, but I’d love to know for sure. In any case, how would you use iChat AV with the camera on the back of the device?! Couldn’t they have just as easily put the camera on the front? (Think iSight.)
- A phone and OSX... So, Skype works on it too… Right? It’s got to.
- OSX in general: Is it OSX like I have on my current Macs, or is it a specific iPhone brand of OSX (i.e., could I load Photoshop or another web browser on it?). I know the iPhone doesn’t have the amount RAM it takes to run apps like Photoshop or Final Cut Pro, et cetera — in fact, I’d put money on the fact that the OS is iPhone-centric. Anyone know the answer to this? (And, how much RAM do these things have on them anyway?)
So, in regards to my last post, I’m once again wondering what I should do… I was going to wait until March or April to buy a PDA, so would it be that difficult to wait until June for the iPhone.
I think I can. I think I can.
Update: Here’s a nice FAQ that talks about some of the things I brought up here.
Posted at 08:45 am
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Comments (4):
of course, its on the sorta-competition, cingular… :) and anyway, i thought you dumped your phone!??!?!!! it’s friggin sweet.
jason () - January 10, 2007 at 10:50 pm
Oh, man, especially with the Wireless/Wifi detection! That’s one of our “flagship” technologies! ( http://tinyurl.com/y5jtbj )
As for dumping the phone… Well, some things were made to bring me back!
As for dumping the phone… Well, some things were made to bring me back!
timsamoff () (URL) - January 11, 2007 at 10:43 am
Then again Tim, I’m thinking (although not 100% positive) that in order to get the $500 or $600 price tag, Cingular is going to make you buy their “unlimited pda data connect plan” at $39.99 a month. That gets a little pricey considering an already established $40 a month (minimum) phone bill…
And with the camera on back, no third-party applications, and an exorbitant price tag – I think I’ll wait a year or two until they make it better – and of course, less expensive.
Just a thought – considering I bought the Cingular 8525 with the intention of returning it three days later – $400 with a plan, $600 without….so are we looking at a $750 device without a two-year agreement for the iPhone (oh and I completely agree with the macPhone idea)? I did return that phone, no way on God’s green earth would I spend that much a month – unless of course my company paid for it…....
And with the camera on back, no third-party applications, and an exorbitant price tag – I think I’ll wait a year or two until they make it better – and of course, less expensive.
Just a thought – considering I bought the Cingular 8525 with the intention of returning it three days later – $400 with a plan, $600 without….so are we looking at a $750 device without a two-year agreement for the iPhone (oh and I completely agree with the macPhone idea)? I did return that phone, no way on God’s green earth would I spend that much a month – unless of course my company paid for it…....
jpierce (URL) - January 16, 2007 at 5:43 pm
You bring up a really good point about the Cingular plan, James… I wonder if they will, in fact, “force” the data connect plan. Hmmm… That would suck.
I’m thinking that Apple should go forward with the iPhone, though. Millions of “phone” users will gobble it up. But, I think that Apple should now reinvent the iPod — make it into a fully configurable handheld computer, with an open OSX architecture, a hard drive, and all of the stuff that one would get if they bought an iMac. Even if they set the price tag at $999, Mac lovers wouldn’t hesitate to buy it — I don’t think I would.
I’m thinking that Apple should go forward with the iPhone, though. Millions of “phone” users will gobble it up. But, I think that Apple should now reinvent the iPod — make it into a fully configurable handheld computer, with an open OSX architecture, a hard drive, and all of the stuff that one would get if they bought an iMac. Even if they set the price tag at $999, Mac lovers wouldn’t hesitate to buy it — I don’t think I would.
timsamoff () (URL) - January 18, 2007 at 07:32 am
