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iPhone: 6/29/07, Will it live up to the hype? — Brooklynian

iPhone: 6/29/07, Will it live up to the hype?

sevenoneeighty
sevenoneeighty
edited November -1 in The Lounge / Random Stuff
While I don't think I am going to get one just yet ( at $499-$599 retail) I do like the way this thing looks and what it may do to the telecommunications device/ cell market. Within 3 months we should know about all of the kinks and performance but from just the desin standpoint it beats all of those goofy -looking, keyboard devices ( blackberry, treo, etc). My fingers were always too big for them anyway and the product manual was too thick.

If this phone is HALF as good as I think it is going to be, I am looking forward to the future of mobile devices. The heavily patented navigation and interface alone are simply amazing.

I also read a rumor that Apple is releasing a full touch (and/or wide) screen iPod later this year modeled after the iPhone. While I may not get the iPhone, I will definitely get one of those ipods if they come out.

These are mock ups from some folks on the web:
http://www.mostofmymac.com/articles/could-this-be-the-next-ipod-video-touch-screen/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/methodshop/279277754/
http://news.com.com/2300-1041_3-6114514-1.html
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Comments

  • drano
    drano
    I don't know if it's even possible for the thing to live up to the hype at this point, but I would guess not. I know some people will just have to own it no matter what, but - cool though it might be - it's tough to see tons of people jumping through the contract hoop and shelling out $500 for a PSP that you can make calls on.

    As far as looks go, I may be the only crank out there that thinks all of Apple's stuff looks way too precious. If I care what electronics look like at all (not often) I want chunky and metallic.
  • sevenoneeighty
    sevenoneeighty
    Drano wrote: I don't know if it's even possible for the thing to live up to the hype at this point, but I would guess not. I know some people will just have to own it no matter what, but - cool though it might be - it's tough to see tons of people jumping through the contract hoop and shelling out $500 for a PSP that you can make calls on.

    As far as looks go, I may be the only crank out there that thinks all of Apple's stuff looks way too precious. If I care what electronics look like at all (not often) I want chunky and metallic.
    Ha! Yea it is pricey,

    But one counter point - it really is the SOFTWARE interface and navigation, not the shell alone, that makes this thing unique. While it may share similar physical qualities with the PSP, its functionality and touchscreen are like no other device-ever. Have you looked at the videos online? It is that attribute that will change the way devices are made - if it works.
  • drano
    drano
    Oh yeah, I've seen what it can do and it IS cool - I just don't know if enough people will be able to convince themselves that they need it at that price for it to live up to the sales end of the hype.

    I remember when they said it would play youtube videos, and I was like, "Sheesh. Don't I waste enough time watching those things at home? Now I gotta do it while I'm out and about?" Of course, others may feel differently. That's what makes the horse race.
  • idlewild
    idlewild
    The Iphone is great with interface, however, from what I hear it seriously lacks internet speed. It uses the old cell phone WAP instead of the faster 3G and the battery is non removable just like the Ipod. I'd love to know how the voice clarity and signal stregnth is.
  • armchair_warrior
    armchair_warrior
    over hype!! and you wont get guys like me to buy it. i txt and surf the net on my phone :p.
  • whyfi
    whyfi
    I still can't imagine how non-tactile texting/emailing can be effective...
  • sevenoneeighty
    sevenoneeighty
    I probably am NOT going to get a 1st gen one but this whole conversations reminds me of a conversation I had with a guy in 2001 when the iPod was hitting the scene.

    He couldn't understand why anyone would want all that music on one device and that the sound quality would never be good enough to attract enough serious music enthusiasts. "Only geeks will want it, everyone else will still use CDs for another 10 years"! Besides they don't work on PCs so forget it!! :)

    I also remember people saying no one would pay $249-299 for a palm or mobile device - its too expensive they said...

    I am honestly more excited about the 3rd generation iPhone in a few years- once all of the kinks have been worked out. On the big stuff, 9 out of 10 times I don't count Steve Jobs out. I also find the tactile keyboards too small for my fingers and a pain to use...
  • drano
    drano
    So I'm getting the feeling you think it will live up to the hype...

    It certainly is A LOT of hype.

    HYPE HYPE HYPE

    I never realized what a funny word "hype" is.

    Hey, BTW, here's a related question: Did anyone here spring for the Apple TV? If so, what do you think?
  • armchair_warrior
    armchair_warrior
    according to reviews. it sucks. no replaceable batteries, you gotta send it in. no keyboard which is a huge draw back for txting and messaging. no memory slot to stick a memory card in.
  • 8thandprez
    8thandprez
    I think it's a fantastic device, but Apple's decision to go with AT&T for service means I won't be getting one of these for a looooong time. First, their coverage is pretty spotty when compared to other carriers. Second, the iPhone only runs on their sloooooooow EDGE network, so internet will be like dialup. Third, Apple says battery will only hold charge for 500 charges (I think that's the correct number, they may have said 600), after which you have to mail it in for a replacement, for a fee.

    What I'm really hoping is that this stimulates the OTHER phone designers to get off their lazy asses and start trying to compete. Then we'll finally get some decent phones on Sprint.
  • armchair_warrior
    armchair_warrior
    8thandPrez wrote: I think it's a fantastic device, but Apple's decision to go with AT&T for service means I won't be getting one of these for a looooong time. First, their coverage is pretty spotty when compared to other carriers. Second, the iPhone only runs on their sloooooooow EDGE network, so internet will be like dialup. Third, Apple says battery will only hold charge for 500 charges (I think that's the correct number, they may have said 600), after which you have to mail it in for a replacement, for a fee.

    What I'm really hoping is that this stimulates the OTHER phone designers to get off their lazy asses and start trying to compete. Then we'll finally get some decent phones on Sprint.
    some body already design a better phone LOL.

    http://ptech.allthingsd.com/20070510/helios-new-ocean-has-a-clever-design-for-phone-and-email/
  • whyfi
    whyfi
    I will say this - after seeing 'live' videos of it in use, there's a lotta nice eye candy going on - very fluid. The thing's gotta have some decent processor horsepower.
  • sevenoneeighty
    sevenoneeighty
    armchair_warrior wrote: [quote=8thandPrez]I think it's a fantastic device, but Apple's decision to go with AT&T for service means I won't be getting one of these for a looooong time. First, their coverage is pretty spotty when compared to other carriers. Second, the iPhone only runs on their sloooooooow EDGE network, so internet will be like dialup. Third, Apple says battery will only hold charge for 500 charges (I think that's the correct number, they may have said 600), after which you have to mail it in for a replacement, for a fee.

    What I'm really hoping is that this stimulates the OTHER phone designers to get off their lazy asses and start trying to compete. Then we'll finally get some decent phones on Sprint.
    some body already design a better phone LOL.

    http://ptech.allthingsd.com/20070510/helios-new-ocean-has-a-clever-design-for-phone-and-email/

    Not even close.

    The keyboard is on the way OUT and NOT a necessity for all communication. Gotta Think outside the box. I work with a lot of images and graphics also.

    This is what I am excited about in reference to the iPhone software:
    http://tinyurl.com/32xvzk

    Its what is about to happen with the way we communicate and interact with these devices. QWERTY is going to be around but the communication options are more dynamic than just what you can do with a keyboard, i.e., LOL. The iPhone is not an "end all" device but a promise of what is to come in the near future.
  • armchair_warrior
    armchair_warrior
    for me keyboard is a must the whole touch screen typing is too slow. i can use that on my current phone both touch screen and keyboard. and i never use touch screen for typing cause its not as fast as two of my thumbs for typing.
  • sevenoneeighty
    sevenoneeighty
    armchair_warrior wrote: for me keyboard is a must the whole touch screen typing is too slow. i can use that on my current phone both touch screen and keyboard. and i never use touch screen for typing cause its not as fast as two of my thumbs for typing.
    um okay:
    http://www.apple.com/iphone/usingiphone/keyboard.html
  • drano
    drano
    Eh. I'm more practical than fantastical. I wanna know if it can survive a moderate drop. That trick with the battery rubs me the wrong way too - although I suppose IF it lasts as long as they say it will, you'll have bought something else by the time it shits the bed.
  • carnivore
    carnivore

    Subject: How far we've come

    image
    http://www.engadget.com/2007/06/29/how-far-weve-come/
  • carnivore
    carnivore
    Drano wrote: Eh. I'm more practical than fantastical. I wanna know if it can survive a moderate drop. That trick with the battery rubs me the wrong way too - although I suppose IF it lasts as long as they say it will, you'll have bought something else by the time it shits the bed.
    PC World drop test and scratch test:
    http://www.pcworld.com/video/id,545-page,1-bid,0/video.html
  • drano
    drano
    Cool. At least it won't break in the first week or two - they must have learned a few things from the iPod. Still, the smart money is gonna wait a while to see what shakes out.

    I'm kind of annoyed www.smashsomestuff.com is falling down on the job - no iPhone smashing video up yet and the thing has been out a whole day now.
  • carnivore
    carnivore
    For the record, the first gen iPod was incredibly durable. I've since gotten an 8GB Nano because of the smaller size and longer battery life, but my 1st gen still works fine, despite getting totally beaten to hell (dropped many times, being bounced around for years in my bag stuffed with other metallic items, etc.).
  • whyfi
    whyfi
    Priceless.
  • drano
    drano
    Carnivore wrote: For the record, the first gen iPod was incredibly durable. I've since gotten an 8GB Nano because of the smaller size and longer battery life, but my 1st gen still works fine, despite getting totally beaten to hell (dropped many times, being bounced around for years in my bag stuffed with other metallic items, etc.).
    As always, your mileage may vary. A lot of people I talked to must have had terrible luck - as an extreme example, one unfortunate friend of mine went through 3 in 10 months - and 2 of those were within 2 months. At the time (~4-5 years ago), there was a lot of bitching on forums too. Normally I'd take that with a grain of salt, but I'd known a lot of the people who were dissatisfied IRL a long time. Of course, I know people who haven't had problems, but..eh, I went a different route and it's worked out well.

    Somebody must have this thing already - we ought have a happy hour one of these days so's the rest of us can check it out.
  • erikka
    erikka
    I touched one the other day. It was so, so pretty.

    Me want.
  • whyfi
    whyfi
    The interface does look nice, but I'm still not sold on the touch-screen typing, the battery thing, the AT&T thing... Maybe a generation or two down the line...
  • pitu
    pitu
    Since AT&T took over Cingular, isn't the coverage not a problem?
    My best friend is promising to get one, but not until after vaco so it'll be a few weeks before I get to paw the thing. I don't need it, but I want it!
  • alafairnadia
    alafairnadia
    cingular/at&t coverage is great for gsm - way better than t-mobile.

    and all reports I've heard about the iphone have seriously tempted me to get rid of my (2 month old) krazr and go to teh-pretteh.

    I'm haunting a partner's office right now - he has one - so I can touch the iphone.
  • erikka
    erikka
    alafairnadia wrote:
    I'm haunting a partner's office right now - he has one - so I can touch the iphone.
    It is so slim and pretty...sigh! When the owner took it out in a crowded bar there were literally gasps and everyone freaked out. It is so unbelieveably fly--smaller than an iPod, user friendly, good picture quality. But I never buy first generation and I'm locked into a sprint contract.

    I didn't try the keyboard function, but did use the video and camera--worked well. totally lives up to the hype.
  • whyfi
    whyfi
    pitu wrote: Since AT&T took over Cingular, isn't the coverage not a problem?
    I don't have any specific complaints against AT&T, I just don't like the, "you can have it in any color you like, as long as it's black," approach to service providers.
  • pitu
    pitu
    WhyFi wrote: [quote=pitu]Since AT&T took over Cingular, isn't the coverage not a problem?
    I don't have any specific complaints against AT&T, I just don't like the, "you can have it in any color you like, as long as it's black," approach to service providers.

    yeah, but at least one need not go to a cell phone store to make the hook-up.
    Online registration and plan comparison shopping!
  • sevenoneeighty
    sevenoneeighty
    I had one in my hand the other day for the first time (a friend bought one).
    I have to say, the positives far outweigh the negatives.

    this is by far the coolest digital device I have ever held in my hand (this is going all the way back to coleco-vision in 1982...)
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ColecoVision

    seriously, I know there are some kinks to be worked out ( the entire system can be upgraded because...it is essentially, again, a hard drive).

    Whatever hardware shortcomings this thing has seem to be overlooked by most users because this thing is so damned seductive. I keep waiting for the 'gotcha' moment for this first gen device( fatal, tragic flaw rendering it useless) but so far the negatives have been fairly manageable..I don't like the battery replacement but that is STILL not enough to make me get a new blackberry or nokia instead aftger seeing this thing...plus the third party apps are coming.

    Apple launched an iphone developer site:http://developer.apple.com/iphone/

    I am still going to wait for at least gen 2 to see advances...but after that, if I get this thing, it really may be... the LAST gadget I buy.....it has that potential. If apple adds GPS, a larger hard drive (20G min), a better battery/ replacement and a card slot- that's it for me. I will get one.
    Until then I will only dream.
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