Obligatory iPhone Thoughts
In the event that you have been living under a rock this week then you have probably been doused with far more Apple iPhone information than previously thought possible. There had been a firestorm of speculation surrounding the iPhone before the announcement but now that the device has been unveiled the rumours and questions continue to mount. Apple has not been too forthcoming regarding many aspects of the iPhone, and the fact that it will not be available for another 6 months means that there will disturbing rumour-mongering until the release in June.
In no particular order, here are my thoughts on the device that has been announced but is as yet unavailable:
- The device will not be released in Japan until 2008. This means that at the very earliest, availability is 6 months behind the United States. Since the underlying OS is the long rumoured embeddable version of OSX, which is obviously based off of the desktop OSX, then the reason for the delay is not related to language issues. That is, unless the touch screen input method editor for Japanese is not yet complete. Assuming it is, the only outstanding issue is which carrier Apple will partner with: DoCoMo, au or Softbank Mobile. Either way, why the major difference in release times between the US and Japan?
- According to local sources, the 4GB phone will cost roughly 70,000 yen once released in Japan. That is an almost $100 markup from the US version.
- The touchscreen interface scares me because every touchscreen that I have ever used was uncomfortable. The lack of tactile feedback is bad enough but in most cases it just did not feel “right” to be using my dirty and greasy fingers on a screen. I made a number of attempts to use my fingers on the various Palm touchscreen devices I have used throughout the years and not a single one of them produced a comforting or quality experience.
- I wonder how many scratches will show up on the touchscreen after 1 weeks worth of use. Anyone with anything that resembles “nails” on their fingers might find that their screen is far more scratched than those without nails.
- The iPod features look fantastic. I actually like the way that scrolling through the artist and song lists appears to function. If the demonstrations prove true then the iPhone’s functionality will far surpass the current iPod user interface. Revolutionary is not a strong enough word. I wonder how long before we will see standalone iPod’s based on similar technology. I will even go so far as to venture a guess that the “next generation” video iPod will be released before the iPhone is released en-masse.
- The device has the capability of changing how we think about our mobile phones. After all, the user interface on most of them are horribly inefficient, with the electronics companies not really interested in innovating. Apple completely blew away the “work” that the cell phone manufacturers have been doing for the last 10 years. The only thing that is stopping the iPhone from succeeding are consumers. If the early adopters find that the iPhone experience is far from a quality one then Apple might end up realizing its worst fears.
- I love how you can choose the order in which you can listen to your voicemail. The annoying manner in which voicemail is currently handled is archaic and outdated. Why did it take Apple to “fix” this? Are the existing handset manufacturers that comfortable in their positions in the market that they feel there is no need for user interface innovation or usability improvements? Think different is definitely something Apple is good at, especially if the thinking is simplistic in nature and considers the very features that we take for granted.
- The brilliantly coloured screen looks exquisite. Have I mentioned that I do not want to scratch it or break it? There really needs to be a way to protect the screen so that the iPhone can be shoved in to the same pocket that I put coinage, gum, breath spray and other seemingly innocuous objects in.
- The lack of a flash or zoom on the camera, which are extremely basic functions that every camera should offer, is a horrible decision. How does Apple expect people to take pictures at night, drunk, while stumbling downtown? Nobody is asking for SLR-like quality; just the basic features that everyone has come to expect. That actually sounds more like a rhetorical question.
- Smartphone’s are not all that special here in Japan, with an extremely small adoption rate. On the flipside, mobile phones that play music are rampant. It is hard to truly comprehend where the iPhone fits in to the Japanese keitai picture. I wonder what effect, if any, the iPhone will have on the mobile phone market here in Japan. My gut instinct tells me that the iPhone, assuming a successful adoption rate upon release in the US, will not see similar numbers in Japan. After all, most Japanese keitai’s have much of the functionality that the iPhone already offers, though not with the unique touchscreen interface. I patiently await to see how the launch will play out here.
- When launched, the iPhone needs to have a similar accessory eco-system to that of the iPod. Third-party manufacturers will need to make accessories for the device in order to make it a more attractive purchase, even though one will ultimately be spending upwards of $600 in order to be an early adopter.
- The inability to install third-party applications on the device is a potential major roadblock. If the iPhone is to truly be the convergence device that Apple is touting it as then it is critical that the device allows installable applications, such as is capable with the PalmOS based Treo. After all, if this is going to replace my current mobile phone, iPod and PDA then it needs to be able to perform the same functions as all those devices. I should be able to install a shareware password management application or simple financial application should I opt to do so, just like I can on my PDA. The lack of ability to install third-party software is almost a roadblock that will surely hurt the iPhone in the longrun. The exceptional shareware available for OSX surely helps sell people in to switching to a Mac. This will hold true for the iPhone as well. Embracing third-party development is a win-win for Apple.
So what are your thoughts on the iPhone? Is there anything in particular that stands out to you, which has not been mentioned? Plan to buy one once available?
I think the issue is that iPhone is a GSM phone and Japan doesn’t have any GSM networks. So Apple would have to develop a 3G or CDMA handset before release there.
As you say, I like the iPod features quite a lot.
I am cautious regarding the touch screen comfort, as I have difficulty with certain cell phones, other handheld devices, etc., due to problems with my hands.
And, I do think that they will need to find a remedy to control scratches, etc., on the screen.
I am going to take a wait and see attitude, and am not going to rush out and purchase one. What about you, when they become available??
You did hear about Cisco’s lawsuit, yes??!
http://blogs.cisco.com/news/2007/01/update_on_ciscos_iphone_tradem.html
Personally I love the features set for the iPhone, especially the revolutionary voicemail system (once again, sad that Apple fixes this).
I think we should also all start buying stock in companies that make tear-off screen protectors. Because yeah, I have the same concerns about greasy scratched screens.
All in all I am looking forward to seeing the true release of it with great anticipation. If I have the money I might even become an early adopter in Japan once it is released (I will be moving to Nagoya in a month).
Also, thank you Lori, for the link to that lawsuit. It will be very interesting to see how it evolves.
Chris, yes, it will be interesting to see how it evolves, and I will be definitely watching the situation.
From what I’ve seen so far it doesn’t do anything i really want it to do . Its a interesting idea but I’m not sure how well it will do . Smart phones with high price tags don’t seem to be doing that good here . You see a ton of music phones . Me personally will never buy a phone that doesn’t flip or hide the screen behind something .
Matt: Good point. Had not thought about the fact that there is no GSM here in Japan. Although, I would expect that part of the inner-workings to be somewhat pluggable, especially considering how many different carriers and networks that this baby is going to have to function on.
Mom: Indeed, I did hear about the lawsuit. While I am no Apple fanboy, I do believe that Cisco’s position is tenuous, because they have not rigorously defended the iPhone trademark. There are other companies using it for the exact same VoIP products that Cisco sells whereas Apple is using it on a mobile phone. Ought to be interesting to see if the lawsuit was used merely for leverage or not.
nightowl: The lack of a clamshell design, or ability to hide the screen behind something, does worry me. The current design definitely lends itself to major screen protection issues. Glad that the phone will be released in the states first, this way I can watch the lessons learned from others before making a decision to buy it in 2008 once it arrives here in Japan.
I am wondering the same thing, if the lawsuit is leverage-based.
From what I hear, through the rumor mill, Apple might make a settlement.
It will be interesting.
I am concerned, too, about the screen, and can see major problems. I am still going to wait and see…and watch any problems, etc., that arise, before buying.
iPhone is available with Cingular ONLY!?
And what if I am stuck under contract with a carrier OTHER
than Cingular but still want a iPhone?
Well, the only solution
I could fine was http://www.Cellswapper.com -
they get you out of any cell phone contract!
As an iPod, I think it’s got the functionality down-pat that it’s needed to have since their introduction. As we all know, the interfacing method of the iPod currently is quite primitive for the most part, but I think the iPhone quells that a lot. As a phone, I think it should be supporting some standards and features that it’s not, something I thought Apple being the product innovator that they’ve proved to be over the years would’ve done. As a PDA, as you mentioned, the lack of ability to install 3rd Party apps really is gonna knock them in the knees. For an embedded version of the desktop OS, I’d expect the same or at least similar functionality of it. That doesn’t mean all the bells and whistles the desktop has that are useless and essentially pointless on a portable device, but it does mean that the ability to use a range of products regardless of vendor should be implemented. As a whole, I think Apple really hasn’t done what I expected in terms of wow as they generally do, rather they’ve gone rather skint on the features to produce something with a few fundamental flaws I think they’ll pay for later on.
My phone already does all of this stuff, and I’ve got the tactile feedback of keys. I don’t think I’ll be switching anytime soon. ;)