Jan092007

Apple iPhone

Tagged: ,

Yes, the iPhone is real and it’s out.

Big photo

Apple iPhone

Apple iPhone

More photos here.

4GB model will be US$499 with a two-year contract.
8GB model will sell for US$599.
Available in the United States in June.

People are speculating that Australia won’t see it until 2008.

Specs

  • only one button
  • big ol’ touchscreen
  • wireless stuff
  • humane interface (it’s about time)
  • Safari web browser
  • magically senses when you turn the phone sideways
  • 2.0 megapixel camera
  • iPod functionality (music and photos)
  • on-screen qwerty keyboard
  • not available in white

Opinion

Admittedly, I didn’t believe the iPhone was coming out. Mostly because I wanted to pundits to be wrong. Even if it is naive to think that being wrong would stop the hype machine even a little.

From the web pages, this phone looks solid. You just know that Apple has been working on it for a looooong time. The user interface is amazing polished and they’ve worked extremely hard to differentiate themselves from so-called ‘smartphones’.

Smartphones?

Smartphones are phones with a zillion buttons and features that look ugly and have lots of hidden bugs you slowly uncover throughout your contract. They are really aimed at business people and geeks who need a high level of connectivity and rich information out of their phone.

Fashionable

Looking at the prices for the iPhone, it’s not really for the everyday teenager. For that money you could buy a high-end iPod and phone that looked fashionable enough to get you through at least one year of high school.

That being said, maybe this phone is just awesome enough to become a must-have fashion accessory. We’ll know once it ships in June (assuming it gains FCC approval).

More?
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6 comments »

Nathan

There is a camera. Also, it seems strange not to put in any sort of 3G connectivity, which is fine for the US but in places where mobile technology is a little more advanced, it might limit it slightly.
Jack

Oops my bad, there is a camera. Fixed.

Bah at 3G. I still haven’t seen it do anything cool.
karan

the lack of 3G got me too, and i wouldn’t be surprised if in 6 months to a year the 3G version was announced…

That said, the other thing that disappoints me is the current lock-in – it’s only available on one network over in America. I’m sure it will filter to the others after an exclusivity period, but it still suggests to me that Apple is playing by the phone company rules, at least for now. Inevitably, that’ll be the pattern for Australia too – and this is where the lack of 3G is a factor, because all the mobile operators here are hyping their 3G networks. So in Australian terms, this is already a generation behind…

Not that it’ll matter for the spiritual successor to the Newton. It is a slick package.
ME

I’m going to be more interested to see how many people buy versus how many people will actually use all the functions a phone like that is capable of. I can see the Apple or ‘i’ brand drawing in a lot of people who simply won’t need it and yet will buy it simply for the fashion statement. Not saying there’s anything wrong with that, it will just be interesting to see WHY people purchase this particular phone.
Nathan

Videophone jokes aside, if you’re going to put so much emphasis on Internet connectivity then you’d think you’d include the ability to use broadband speeds. EDGE hasn’t got anything on HSDPA.
Dennis

Pretty slick… this is exactly what I’ve been looking for in a phone. Something really well designed and easy to use. I’m so sick of typing stuff out on a crappy 4×3 keypad.. and having to navigate through endless menus.

Even without the internet and music features this would still have been a fantastic product.

I might have to upgrade my POS phone if $$ allows… :D

Also, I thought Steve mentioned in his keynote that ’3G is coming’… don’t quote me on that though. After a quick google: http://www.vnunet.com/vnunet/news/2169424/apple-iphone-two-models

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