The Clockwork Mansion

What does everyone think about the new iPhone (http://www.apple.com/iphone) from Apple (http://www.apple.com)?  Please comment.

As for me, I think Apple has the most revolutionary phone out there.  Now if only there was a lite version...

However, Cisco has the trademark of "iPhone" and is suing apple over it. 

it's unnecessary, that's what it is.

Mind elaborating?

It's a phone, you use it to call people. :B

Maybe I should have elaborated :/  The iPhone has many features as the smartphones, such as music and video playback (much like the iPod) an internet browser (Steve Jobs boasts it as the best for mobile phones), Google Earth, an address book, and it is all driven by your finger.  Altogether, there are maybe 6 or 7 buttons on the phone.  What if you want to dial a number?  A keypad comes up and you "press" the buttons you want to dial.  Keyboard?  Same thing.  The keynote (http://www.apple.com/iphone/keynote/) really shows it off.  Unfortunately, it won't be available until June. :(

There's something cell phones don't need, and it's called "more features". This is something for laptops, or possibly other handheld devices.

But anyways, it's by Apple, it follows the trend(s), and it's probably way out of my price range. So, thumbs down from me.

Seriously, why can't they just make wristwatch phones? Or Star Trek-like comm badges? Concentrate on getting as small as possible, and stripping off any and all unneeded features. I'm sure they're more than capable of doing it...

The voice recognition, battery, and antenna power aren't advanced enough to do that yet  :< wait five more years.

As for me, I wouldn't mind having an iPhone lite, with only the phone features (none of the PocketPC) for $100.  But that wouldn't help sell the new and "better" features of the full iPhone.
Also, look at the keynote.  I dare you.  >:3

Oh God, Quicktime... bleh.

Well, I started listened to it, but I'm not going to waste my time suffering through the arrogance, idiocy, and hypocrisy. That and I wasn't too interested anyways...

... >.> ... <.< ...can the iPhone run KidPix? That was the coolest game back in the day...

And what features does this iPhone offer that are superior to my Bananaphone? It's the best, beats the rest, cellular, modular, interactive-odular.

You mean other than the innovative new features ? :B  To my knowledge, it's the only cell phone/PocketPC with Google earth built-in.
...

I will admit it.  I'm an Apple fan  :paranoid

Waste of plastic and waste of good breath...

feeping creaturism

I have a cellphone, it makes phone calls, and it does it well.

I have a computer, it accesses the internet, and it does it well.

I have no mp3 player, but it I did, it would play music, and it would do it well.

I have no need of a device that does three things together, but poorly.
(Or, put another way, three devices means I have to manage to lose all three things at once to lose all functionality.)

--edit--

also, touch screens + me = teh on noes  :B

--edit-edit--

also, it's apparently GSM only(ie: no CDMA or iDEN models, from what I can see) and Cingular, so you're not going to be using it with roughly half the cell phone carriers out there... assuming that it isn't locked to Cingular(who, by the way, are the only mobile company I know of that distributes thier phones permanently locked to thier network)

I make a living writing software for mobile devices, usually industrial PDAs like the DAP, Gotive or the Casio IT3000, but more recently mobile phones like the XDA and its HTC-designed brethren.

If it is true that this thing does not allow software to be installed on it, then it is about as much use to me as a chocolate teapot.  That's from a developer PoV.  Personally, I'll keep using my Nokia 3100 until it breaks.

First off, I'm a semi-Apple-fanboy. I use a Mac Mini for pretty much all computer work (except for burning DVDs, watching TV and doing the occasional IRC download), and I got a first-gen iPod Shuffle for my music needs. And as such a fanboy, the iPhone has a certain appeal to me (read: I squealed like a little girl when I first saw it).

However, there are a few things that will lead to me NOT getting it.
1) I rarely use my cellphone. Period. I make about... one call every two months, and I receive even less.
2) I'm no fan of X-in-1 devices. My current cellphone (which I only got because my father has a contract and thus gets a new phone every two years or so) plays MP3s, has a camera and can browse the Internet... what for? Listening to MP3s on the mono speaker is a horror (EDIT to add: And whoever came up with the bright idea of sticking a music player inside a cell phone should be SHOT. Kiddies all over the city are using it to play trash I wouldn't even buy for 1 Cent. At maximum volume, of course. URGE TO KILL - RISING! >:O), the camera quality is relatively low, and Internet browsing on that thing? You've gotta be kiddin' me. Just give me a phone, a camera and a computer. SEPARATELY.
3) Price tag. $500-$600? HELLO? That's the price range of a PS3!

That being said, I kinda wait for the next gen of real iPods to come with some of the features of the iPhone (larger screen, tilt sensing, etc.). Then I might consider getting one.

But the iPhone? Sorry, but no. :/

My idea of a good cell phone:

(http://www.frontiernet.net/~superluser/radio-scr-536.jpg)

I don't like these 500-in-one devices, and miniaturization just means that the buttons are smaller and more difficult to use.  And that no one can hear you because the thing's using bone conduction to pick up your voice.  Touchscreens go bad fast, but a nice buckling spring button can last for years.  Whenever I see a new cell phone with all these new features, what I see are all-new places where the thing can fail.

Design a cell phone that does one thing, design it to be stable from end to end, and then we'll talk.

It's only overpriced because of how much money they spent coming up with the name.

Anyway, not only can you not install non-Apple software, but it's been reported that it does not support Office documents. This is about as stupid as Sony not allowing porn on Blu-Ray. Even my Apple Newton MP2000 (kickass) could do MSOffice docs.

I'd rather wait for someone to come up with something better, something like a real-life version of the PET...

(one positive karma point for the ones who get the referrence)

Quote from: KarlOmega1 on January 21, 2007, 01:10:12 PM
I'd rather wait for someone to come up with something better, something like a real-life version of the PET...

(one positive karma point for the ones who get the referrence)

but, but... I don't wanna reveal my geekiness my acknowledging that I know what MegamanNT is  D:

Not that a phone really has much to improve on, but I'm a lot for a product focusing on what it's supposed to do. Like how Wii and Gamecube play games. That's what they play. Whereas PS3 and XBOX360 try to cram in 50 something odd features, and then end up with lackluster games.

Now, if they come up with those phones that hang on your ear and project a visor across your eyes with such capabilities... then we'll talk. ;3

Quote from: KarlOmega1 on January 21, 2007, 01:10:12 PM
I'd rather wait for someone to come up with something better, something like a real-life version of the PET...

(one positive karma point for the ones who get the referrence)

Commodore PET? Wasn't that Real Life anyway?

Quote from: llearch n'n'daCorna on January 21, 2007, 01:59:56 PM
Commodore PET? Wasn't that Real Life anyway?

That was my first thought too.  I was also wondering if he meant the communicator in The President's Analyst, but I believe that was called the 'CC'.

I think he means the Personal Electronic Thingie in Starship Titanic.

Personally I'd love to have one.  Many here are saying that the "x-in1" devices suck.  That's generally true, but this is the first time I've seen something that integrates it all nicely.  If I could choose to have any phone I wanted regardless of price, I'd get an iPhone.  (Also note: It has a full-blown web browser, not a mobile baby web browser.)  I just can't help but think "This thing is awesome." 

The problem is that there is no way I could afford it at $500.  Just not happening at my income level.  Someday, though...

PocketPCs have a bloody good browser in Thunderbird, though it's quite expensive. The main thing I don't like about it is the same thing I don't like about the iPod, and most PDAs. No tactile feedback.

Far too expensive for someone who owns a ten dollar cell phone and is one hundred percent content with it (It plays 'Snake!' That's good enough for me!). I can see the appeal, but I have a phone, a MP3 player, and a laptop so I declare it unnecessary for me.

I like the firekats idea....Give me my bluetooth ear pieces like on the rise of cyberman now!

That's way too expensive.  Seriously.

I wouldn't really call this phone revolutionary. With the exception of the high memory capacity the hardware brings nothing new.

The programs aren't really that special. My reaction is more like "why haven't this been done untill now?" than "wow, cool function".

What I do find intresting is the OS and how much you will be able to ad. I like a lot of functions in my phone but stupid coding and expensive (and stupid) programs really drags cellphones down.

Quote from: llearch n'n'daCorna on January 21, 2007, 01:59:56 PM

Commodore PET? Wasn't that Real Life anyway?

Wrong answer...

Tapewolf is also wrong...as well as Bill. I was referring to the devices in the "MegaMan Battle Network" games... the Personal Terminal (PET).

I'd rather have a PErsonal Terminator anyway.

"Go governate him." "YES."

Jesus... 500 dollars can go a long way in a different direction. If I want to call someone, I'll use Skype!

A Closer Look at the iPhone (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YgW7or1TuFk&mode=related&search=)

You have to admit, it is pretty nifty.

I'd rather buy a DS and Flash Card and then get/write homebrew software for it. It'll do everything an iPhone does and still play kickass games.

Quote from: Netami on January 22, 2007, 06:23:53 PM
Jesus... 500 dollars can go a long way in a different direction. If I want to call someone, I'll use Skype!

Same. If I had that sort of money for a crappy iPod phone, I'd rather use it on a PS3.

There's a rumor going around that Cingular may offer current Verizon customers 18 months free service for switching and buying an iPhone.  I have *severe* doubts about the validity of that rumor, but if it was true then it would be easy to justify that purchase.  18 months of Cingular's cheapest plan is $720.  If they include a larger plan, it just goes up from there.

$500 is a bit much, yes, but if I sold my old iPod, Palm, and phone, and got free service for 18 months, well, I'd call that a pretty damn good deal!

Except that unlike the Palm, you don't get third party apps. Or Office support. Though I do have faith that Apple will realize how dumb having no Office support is.

iMsickofextracellphonefeatures. Seriously people, what happened to "Ring ring"? You don't need all that stuff.

Quote from: BillBuckner on January 27, 2007, 08:43:19 PM
Except that unlike the Palm, you don't get third party apps. Or Office support. Though I do have faith that Apple will realize how dumb having no Office support is.

Either that, or someone will create a port of OpenOffice.org (http://www.openoffice.org) for it...

Quote from: Boogeyman on January 27, 2007, 10:43:57 PM
iMsickofextracellphonefeatures. Seriously people, what happened to "Ring ring"? You don't need all that stuff.

Yes I do!

I get a great musicplayer with an equalizer and 2 gig memory.

Also, I use my phone's wi-fi waaay more than the phone feature.

It's more of a PDA, really, but why carry two things?

Quote from: ITOS on January 28, 2007, 10:50:27 AM

Quote from: Boogeyman on January 27, 2007, 10:43:57 PM
You don't need all that stuff.

Yes I do!
I get a great musicplayer with an equalizer and 2 gig memory.
Also, I use my phone's wi-fi waaay more than the phone feature.
It's more of a PDA, really, but why carry two things?

It can't be used as a PDA, therefore it's not one.  Even the Psion Organiser could run third-party applications and that's twenty-two years ago.  So if you need to do PDA stuff, you'll have to buy a PDA, or a phone that can do both.

While I'm not opposed to a phone that is just a phone per se, the price for such a thing is shocking.  Of course, one of the reasons I'm bitter is that I was hoping it would force work to buy me a Mac for the porting work  >:3

Quote from: LionHeart on January 28, 2007, 10:32:05 AM
Either that, or someone will create a port of OpenOffice.org (http://www.openoffice.org) for it...

That's easy enough, but there's no point since unless things change, you won't be able to install it...

What is this rumor that there will be no third-party software? There probably will be a way to add third-party software.  You forget that it is basically Mac OS X Lite.  You can add features to OS X, so you can probably do the same with the iPhone.

Quote from: Madd the Sane on January 31, 2007, 12:47:12 PM
What is this rumor that there will be no third-party software? There probably will be a way to add third-party software.

Oh, it's something Steve Jobs said.  It might be that he's being taken out of context - I hope so.  Here's one of them:  http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16566968/site/newsweek/page/2/

QuoteYou forget that it is basically Mac OS X Lite.  You can add features to OS X, so you can probably do the same with the iPhone.

Now I've never used a Mac since they went BSD, but I think you're forgetting how locked-down phones can be.  How about Orange?  Their recent devices run WM2005, but you can't install or run anything unless it's been digitally signed by them.  It's an OS feature - part of the right management subsystem.

If Apple wants to stop people running apps on the device, they can remove the shell (which they probably already have), stop the file explorer from being able to launch apps and remove any autorun facility it has on whatever removeable media it supports.  Or they can use cryptographic signing.

**EDIT**
It looks like they are allowing apps - if they've been 'blessed' by Apple.  Don't know if it's going to have enough impact for me to persuade anyone... still need to get the Symbian codebase operating properly first.

It's starting to make me wonder if I can score a cheap Mac on ebay or something, though...
(EDIT:  Apparently not  :erk)