Apple iPhone
Now that the excitement’s died down a few thoughts on Apple’s upcoming iPhone:
- I’m still amazed so many Apple pundits thought the iPhone was a long shot, some up to the minute it was announced. This was a no-brainer for Apple. The choices were jump in now or risk falling behind and watch iPod sales dwindle. Getting the iPhone out now before sales dictate the need gives Apple a chance to make a few mistakes along the way.
- We now know why iPod innovation had slowed. Remember when critics were slamming Apple for creatively stagnating while Microsoft hit the market with a wide screen, wifi capable knockoff? Apple had bigger fish to fry, and hopefully iPhone features will now trickle down to the iPod line.
- The Apple iPhone exceeding my expectations and almost everyone else’s. Instead of taking the basic cell phone, adding some mac features and branding it an iPhone, Apple challenged the concept of how a cell phone looks, acts and feels. Success or failure, they’re going for it.
- I was initially surprised by the naming of iPhone applications. I was expecting to hear mobile mail.app, iPhoto, iChat, but that wasn’t the case. For the iPhone to be a success Apple needs to reach not only their own fans but also PC users, as they did with the iPod. This precludes using names that only make sense to Mac users.
- Though Apple fans are disappointed, I’m not surprised, at this point, Apple isn’t allowing third party applications. Before the iPhone announcement those who doubted it’s existence often pointed to the difficulties in developing a mobile phone, something Apple had never done. Now those same people are surprised Apple doesn’t immediately open up their not yet released iPhone to anyone who wishes to develop mobile applications.
Apple will certainly allow third party applications for the iPhone in the future. They may have have tight restrictions, developers might have to jump through hoops, but I have little doubt mobile Omnifocus will eventually be on an iPhone.
- The choice to push Yahoo Mail on the iPhone instead of Apples’s own Dot Mac Mail was disappointing. I’ve always had great hope for Dot Mac, but I’ve finally come to the conclusion that Apple simply has no serious interest in realizing it’s potential.
- While the ability to choose any mobile carrier would have been nice, I’m not surprised Apple chose to begin with one (though choosing Verizon would have been nice). Working with one company on such a new product line makes sense, and kudos to Cingular for giving Apple the room to create the iPhone.
- Expensive? Yes. Worth it? For many people, yes. 500 bucks buys you a cutting edge phone, a video iPod, and, in many ways, a micro mac. 80 percent of the things I do on my MacBook could be done on an iPhone, which means the majority of the time an iPhone is the only device I would carry. If the iPhone works as advertised, that’s pretty cool.
- That said, I’m hoping Apple comes out with cheaper, scaled down versions of the iPhone. My original iPhone wishes were much more moderate than what Apple delivered. As great as the iPhone is, a 200 dollar version would probably meet the needs of many people (including me) and give Apple deeper penetration into the market. If the iPod is any indication, I’ll get my wish.
