Does anyone get the iPhone hype??

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davidcole

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#14275 25-Jun-2007 12:39

I haven't yet figured out what the iphone can do over my k-jam, or one of these newer ones.

Is it just because it's apple the they are hyping the snot out of it, to try and make it like an ipod (i.e. every one has them).

Or am I just out of touch with the kids??

For the record I don't use an ipod (or any mp3 player, i use my k-jam).

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#75860 25-Jun-2007 13:00

People are reading way too much into it.

Heres teh big_tony interweb low down on teh iphone:

It looks very smart, and it will do some very smart things. It will be at a premium price, and may have availability problems (i.e. lack of stock for first few weeks when launched).

Its no quantum leap, its just a new spin on an old concept that probably doesnt do much more than a Windows Mobile or Palm device, and in fact is completely missing at least one modern feature (3G).

Treat it just like any other phone, and buy it (or not) on its merits, feature list, and capabilities.

alasta

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#75870 25-Jun-2007 13:30

tonyhughes: Its no quantum leap, its just a new spin on an old concept that probably doesnt do much more than a Windows Mobile or Palm device, and in fact is completely missing at least one modern feature (3G).

You've hit the nail on the head here Tony. The iPhone won't do anything that can't be done with devices that are currently on the market. For that reason it won't appeal to gadget freaks, but the Apple's innovations on the user interface will ensure that the iPhone appeals to those who would otherwise not have considered buying a smart device.

Remember that digital music players already existed long before the iPod, but the iPod has been hugely successful because everything before it was perceived as being awkward to use and best left to those with a good understanding of the underlying technology.

simon14

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#75872 25-Jun-2007 13:37

I always thought ipod should of launched an iphone, it's taken them a very long time to do it...

Anyway, I don't get the hype either.... there are other phones that can do pretty much the same for cheaper price and available right now!! I think it's more a brand thing, people love ipod....

jpollock

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#75883 25-Jun-2007 15:00

I "get it". As soon as I saw the keynote, I knew I needed one. Unhappily, my wife was looking over my shoulder and now I need to get two.

Do I own a Mac? Nope.
Do I own an iPod? Nope.

Why am I getting an iPhone?

It's all about the software baby.

1) It's got a big enough screen to be used to watch video.
2) 24 hours of music!
3) The bounce when you hit the bottom of the slide.
4) Visual Voicemail.
5) Conversation based SMS (very IM-like in appearance)

Did I mention the bounce when you can't scroll any further?

This says that it is a phone that is designed to not abuse me. This is very different from every single other phone that I
have ever had the misfortune to use.

I write software for Tier-1 mobile carrier networks for a living, so I see a lot of them.

Does it do anything that no one else can? Probably not. But I can pretty much guarantee that it won't:

1) Make me want to throw it against the wall - Alcatel
2) Make we call the wrong person because it queues keystrokes and can't keep up - Motorola
3) Crash my PC when I install a required PC-sync tool (everyone)
4) Hide interface options where they can never be found.

In comparison, here's a famous quote from the ipod launch...

"No wireless. Less space than a nomad. Lame." http://apple.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=01/10/23/1816257

All true. And yet, here we are, with Creative de-listing from the stock exchange in the US.

Jason

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freitasm

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#75884 25-Jun-2007 15:19

You realise thereare network modifications required for the voice mail to work, and that this won't work with any other provider at this time but AT&T only?

jpollock

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#75890 25-Jun-2007 16:15

Yes, I realise that network mods are needed for visual voicemail and the push email.

Personally, I think that visual vm such a good feature that I don't think it will take too long for some variant to become standardised. Most carriers don't charge for VM access, so there's no reason to lengthen the experience. If I were a VM provider, I would be begging to start work on it.

Besides, I'm not talking about buying one on the 29th! ;) I am definitely not interested in taking a 2 year contract with AT&T (when I don't live in the US) just to get a phone.

I may be going fanboi for the phone, but I'm not that much of a fanboi.

Can anyone honestly say that they enjoy listening to the vm command menu?

All that and a kick-ass video playing ipod. Sweet.

Jason

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freitasm

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#75897 25-Jun-2007 17:21

More hype... Check TV One News for a segment on Apple iPhone tonight at six o'clock.

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sbiddle

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#75902 25-Jun-2007 18:21

jpollock:
Besides, I'm not talking about buying one on the 29th! ;) I am definitely not interested in taking a 2 year contract with AT&T (when I don't live in the US) just to get a phone.

It's not just the 2 year contract it's the "iPhone" 2yr contract which if you're to believe the speculation is way different to existing airtime plans and includes a data portion that's a lot more than existing data plans.

I just can't see it living up to the hype.

spazz

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#76076 27-Jun-2007 02:30

iPhone plans just announced..

All plans feature:

- Unlimited intra-AT&T calling (wow, that's almost inconceivable down here!)

- 200 SMS (because calling is FREE)

- UNLIMITED DATA (again, can you imagine any NZ telco offering that?)

- Specified number of other-network/landline minutes

Plans are:

$59.99 for 450 minutes
$79.99 for 900 minutes
$99.99 for 1,350 minutes

http://walkingisoverrated.com

alasta

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#76083 27-Jun-2007 07:14

All plans feature:

- Unlimited intra-AT&T calling (wow, that's almost inconceivable down here!)
- 200 SMS (because calling is FREE)
- UNLIMITED DATA (again, can you imagine any NZ telco offering that?)
- Specified number of other-network/landline minutes

Plans are:
$59.99 for 450 minutes
$79.99 for 900 minutes
$99.99 for 1,350 minutes

A minimum spend of $(NZ)80 with a minimum term of two years? Wow, you'd have to be pretty keen to want to take this up.

I wonder if unlimited really means unlimited. It wouldn't be so bad if you took advantage of the unlimited data by using it with your notebook or desktop, but then again the lack of 3G connectivity means that the speed would probably be unbearable if you did.

lduncan

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#76084 27-Jun-2007 08:31

Thats one thing I find interesting about the mobile market in the states. Because most have had no per minute charges on mobile calling within networks, sms hasn't really taken off. I think that's a good thing.

Considering at&t's least expensive plan is $39.99 without data, you're only paying a premium of $20.00 for unlimited data. Sounds acceptable to me.

Try and price up an equivalent plan here. First you'll probably find that you can't do it, second you'll probably find the closest match to the cheapest plan comes to over $200 / month.

I'm sure there are many people in NZ spending more than $80 / month on a cell phone bill, while getting a lot less services than these iPhone plans offer.

freitasm

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#76158 28-Jun-2007 07:15

The iPhone v1.0 does not use a SIM card, even though it's on a GSM/EDGE network.

It means you must use it with AT&T.

Just another evidence that Apple locks down everything...

lduncan

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#76159 28-Jun-2007 07:43

freitasm: The iPhone v1.0 does not use a SIM card, even though it's on a GSM/EDGE network.

It means you must use it with AT&T.

Just another evidence that Apple locks down everything...

That's rubbish according to AT&T:

"iPhone includes a pre-installed SIM card for your convenience."

From http://www.wireless.att.com/learn/iphone-faqs.jsp

Newer "enterprise" feature revealed recently include Exchange integration (ActiveSync) and PPTP and L2TP VPN clients.

Reviews are also out. Other than EDGE being "excruciatingly slow" they seem to agree it does live up to much of the hype:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB118289311361649057.html.html?mod=technology_main_promo_left

http://www.usatoday.com/tech/columnist/edwardbaig/2007-06-26-iphone-review_N.htm

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19444948/site/newsweek/page/0/

freitasm

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#76160 28-Jun-2007 07:46

Pre-installed means that you can't change it. You can't open the iPhone, it's sealed.

I have posted links to reviews and a video from The New York Times in my blog. Also check my linkblog for the latest, I am sharing my RSS feeds there.

lduncan

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#76161 28-Jun-2007 08:04

Are you sure "pre-installed" actually means you can't change it?

I'm fairly sure the keynote stated that the iPhone will have an accessible SIM slot.

This image from the keynote even shows it descretely on the top of the phone. Is there anything official that is doesn't anymore?

[Moderator edit (MF): hosted image]

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