Comments on: iPhone wannabes or smart alternatives? You decide

iPhone madness is in high-gear, but there are other touch screen phones on the market.

[dbutters]

Sorry, but even with 3G the iphone isn't as good as my Kaiser, which has been out for quite a while now. But it is prettier, and I guess that's enough for most people.

[zarrik]

Everyone is going to compare similar phones to the iPhone because it's a well known product, but Apple was not the first to make a touchscreen phone and they won't be the last. (First touchscreen phone is IBM's Simon, circa 1993. It had email, games, address book, and other PDA functions).

[zarrik]

Two touchscreen phones to look forward too are Blackberry's Thunder and Garmin's Nuviphone.

[faia1]

You missed the big difference, Apple has awesome software being written by the best from all software companies. Hardware is half of the phone. What can it do and will there be software for it. Apple beats all of the knock offs by a mile.There is no contest.

[tr34cle]

"the best from all software companies" - you mean to say "anyone who wants to, best, worst, and all the rest", shurley? No different from Google's Android - except the iphone SDK isn't open source.

"hardware is half the phone..." - absolutley, and if you don't want MMS or HSDPA, bluetooth transfers or the ability to film videos maybe the iphone's for you. Seems like a lot of money to pay for a phone that can't do half the things my little sister's $5 phone can, but then of course it does come in a very nice box...

All depends what you want it for, really.

[thelemurking]

That's because the iPhone has a year start. We are just now seeing some active development take place with the Instinct. Out of the box, it's biggest problem was lack of MIDP support which prevents thousands of apps from being compaitable. Sprint realizes this NOW after a lot of complaints and is currently working towards MIDP support using the virtual keyboard. So that will give the Instinct access to tons of apps. The new SDK should be out today and that will also help get the ball rolling.

Apple has the hype machine behind it... Samsung does not. With Apple, it's like watching preteen girls getting excited over a boyband... and sadly that carries over into the news, even here.

[MaLvaDo39]

Exactly right, Apple dominates in software and is what makes the iPhone shine.
Samsung, LG, or any other phone maker simply can't compete on software. First they think about how to look like the iPhone and then cobble together slow and frumpy software.

Microsoft? No thanks, for decades they've proven they cannot write code.

[lifelonglego]

You Are so Right. That Is why I am getting Windows Mobile. It has so many more applications than Iphone will ever have. Not to mention full editing of Word, Excel, and Powerpoint 07 documents, including copy and spellcheck functions. Not to mention the fantastic outlook integration. Plus with the same rendering engine as safari on Iphone, Windows Mobile Is really a no brainer. Maybe the Iphone should be renamed to Icrap

[pcfish]

To: lifelonglego
Your phone has "same rendering engine", do you even know what is an rendering engine? Geez, ask anyone here which phone is crap (to use).

[Sniche]

With al these functions, still none of of these phones can be really be considered as a challenger. The iPhones fast processor along with its large screen with its wonderful graphics, the multi touch gestures that make other phones look as if they belong in kindergarten schools.
It could be another year or two before there is a real contender. But they said this of the iPod 4 years ago didn't they, .............. then it makes for good reading doesn't

[thelemurking]

Multitouch is just a gimmick. Sure it's cool, but it's only real use is with the web.

The fast processor was necessary to run the OSX port for the phone. So it's pretty impressive that these "kindergarten" phones as you call them, can do stuff the iPhone cannot with their slower processors.

I love my Instinct and it does stand up very well to the first gen iPhone. With unlimited everything an 3g rev a, wifi really isn't that big of a deal.

[tr34cle]

"al these functions missing", more like... ;)

processor is slower than BB bold...

"gestures" successfully replicated in Android...

graphics driven by open-source, 3d acceleration open-source - same implementations android uses, i believe.

just like the phone, they also said the pod had a duff battery (one that apple refused to replace as part of the warranty - even if it failed just after purchase - instead charging people about 80% of the price of a new pod to replace it... apple customer care...) Does it seem odd that they've had the same (income-generating) problem again?

[MaLvaDo39]

Multitouch a gimmick? LOL
When the keyboard and mouse fade away, you'll be doing touch. Lift your head up and see where the future is going with Apple leading the way.

Not having WiFi no big deal? It hands down blows 3G out of the water with speeds. I guess you can't miss what you don't have or just convince yourself it's not necessary. But once you have it, you'll always use it.

Last point is SDK. This platform will make give the iPhone millions of quality applications over the years.

[thelemurking]

But we still use a mouse and a keyboard, and it is a gimmick on a phone. WOW, you can resize pictures, that's ever so handy.

But hey, guess what... Apple did not invent multitouch. It's been around for years.
http://www.jazzmutant.com/ for more details! And let's not forget that Microsoft already has Surface.

Yes, not having wifi on my phone is not a big deal because I'm not going to be downloading movies, I'm not going to be playing COD4 online with it... I am mainly browsing pages, reading news and last time I checked, I can do that on 1.4mb just as well as 11mb and I don't have to be worried about being tied down to a hot spot. So I can get up from Smoothie King, walk 4 blocks and not lose connection.

Sprint/Samsung have a new SDK/WDK out today... but how many people know? Not a lot... why? Because once again, the Apple hype machine. As pointed out, there's close to 2000 hits on news.com when searching for the iPhone, but you get maybe 20 when searching for other phones. WHY? These other phones are great and worthy, but news.com takes the bait of the Apple hype and will post away like a preteen gossip girl site.

Doesn't matter what we say or how great a phone is, if it doesn't have an Apple logo stamped on it, it will never be good enough for people like you.

I hung out with one of my friends over the 4th and we compared my Instinct with his iPhone and by the end of the night he was really disappointed. Things like volume and brightness, the Instinct kills the iPhone. As pointed out, MMS, camcorder, integrated GPS, 3g and so on. Try it out if you do not believe me, find someone with an Instinct and compare your volume and brightness against the Instinct. Let's see your SDK fix that one :p

I had much better signal where his iPhone was lucky to get 1 bar. I joked that the brightside would be that he would have signal in Hong Kong where I would not. Not like we travel to Europe and Asia on a weekly basis, so big deal on that world signal crap...

Bottom line is the iPhone is great for some people, other phones will be better for other people. For me, I live in an area with heavy Sprint coverage, 3g rev a, so I always have great speed and signal with Sprint... where AT&T doesn't cover as well. So the Instinct works for me. My friend had moved to the middle of the state and AT&T works great for him there.

I'm happy with the Instinct and will be even happier when we get the MIDP support so pre-existing apps like Opera Mini 4.1 and AIM/YIM will work.

[amaechi]

Did I read that the Bold has a "touch screen"? Whoah! Since when? I think somebody has their bold/thunder rumors crossed.

[Universal_Indie_Records]

Just because these phones feature a "touch screen" doesn't make it a competitor. I've tested out a few of these touch phones and yes they feature "touch screens" but more along the lines of a bank's ATM.

You can resize things but opening your fingers or closing them or scroll through things by just moving your finger left to right. Most of these other phones aren't really that intuitive at all. Apple wins (for now) because it always pays attention to how the user interface.

None of these compare in that regard.

[tr34cle]

They just do loads more really advanced and complicated stuff. Like MMS.

[b_baggins]

MMS is a kludge technology because of crappy cell phone email support

[billeeyum]

I thought that mms was not a big deal till i actually had a phone that could only send photo's through email.
It was a pain, cause not everyone i know has smart phones, so i couldn't send pictures to lots of people.

[yacahuma]

If I cant program on it, for me it just another brick. Iphone has a cool sdk. Cant wait to start coding on it. BTW, cnet is forgetting the cool factor. I've seen all the other phones , and the iphone just put them to shame. Apple has created a phone very, very hard to match. I almost feel sorry for the competition.(NOOO)

[DrtyDogg]

several of the phones in the list have a mature SDK available for them as well as thousands of Apps available already.

[bubbalitz]

Reviews will always be slanted when they are performed by a fanboy. I've been using the Instinct for a couple of weeks now and I find the call quality to be superb - and of course, this is a function of where you are located and the network quality in that area; a fact fanboy conveniently left out.

[sevort]

It can't be "superb" for it's a CDMA phone. Sound quality on CDMA has alaways been subpar, and I can hear a clear difference now using GSM technology.

[lefty.crupps]

Where is the Neo? http://www.openmoko.com/

[Universal_Indie_Records]

"Reviews will always be slanted when they are performed by a fanboy."

What an idiotic comment. Too many of you on this site revert to the ole "fanboy" stick if someone likes a product by a certain company. "Microsoft Fanboy"... "Apple Fanboy".... come on get over it. We all use products in our daily lives so by the logic of some of you guys.. we're all fanboys of something.

The truth of the matter is that the interface of iphone is not matched by any of the phones currently shipping.

[DrtyDogg]

"The truth of the matter is that the interface of iphone is not matched by any of the phones currently shipping."

How many of those phones have you used?

[Chameleon81]

Brain washed :) You talk like a guy who is reading apple advertisements out in the radio . Apple iphone is a nice phone. I like the bigscreen OS x integration. But for me camera is more important then the touch screen. iPhone's camera is weak. Does not have flash . But for americans iphone is a good option since other phones in the market are usually rubbish. Rest of the world is dominated by other players with decent phones. If iPhone had at least 3.2 pix camera and video capability I would buy it ( .Mac -now me - service is very cool )

[digiprod--2008]

I own a Blackberry Curve, the camera has a flash and is rated at 2 Megapixels, my girlfriends iPhone takes much better pictures. The camera lacks video on the iPhone that will probably be easily added via the App Store, but the camera is NOT weak. Try it.

[thelemurking]

One of my friends has a hacked firmware which he claims allows him to do video with his iPhone.

[Thomas, David]

I think he means there are more powerful cameras on phones out there.

But seriously, the majority of people out there are simply not going to be choosing a device of this type based upon the camera. Think of it as more of a computer (which it it, period), than a phone, or camera, or mp3 player. Then think about the variation of things you can do with it, or make it do, even if the ability does not currently ship with it. The iPhone wins, and no Android is not out yet, but it would be another winner (if it lives up to it's promise).

If you are worried about where this is going, remember the first iPod, and remember the ... well, I guess there never was a last, you could argue that what was learned from the iPod has been used in more than one product at Apple.

[digiprod--2008]

you claim: For 450 minutes of talk time a month, unlimited data, which includes Web surfing and email, and text messaging, AT&T charges about $90 a month.

Not really see: http://www.wireless.att.com/cell-phone-service/specials/iphone-info.jsp it is more like $75 per month.

The iPhone 3G is NOT a plain touch screen as these have been around for years. It is multi-touch which screen that does not require a stylist, that is the innovation. Multi-touch is much different from a plain touch screen, The iPhone is innovative enough to make all the other phone makers that have been in the biz for many years, to stop and COPY whatever they could. I am not a fanboy, only pointing out the facts that seemed a bit overlooked and biased.

[vickivanv]

Is that comment about the Bold having a touchscreen an error? Even some limited touchscreen capability on the Blackberry would be a welcome addition to the physical qwerty keyboard.

[Perry_Clease]

"Sorry, but even with 3G the iphone isn't as good as my Kaiser, which has been out for quite a while now. "

Are you talking about a Kaiser automobile? If so that brings back memories.

[thelemurking]

I believe he's talking about the HTC Kaiser as an automobile would not make sense in this case :)

[thelemurking]

Imagine if all of these phones got as much coverage as the iPhone? We'd all be better off with the increased competition on the pricing fronts, on 3rd party apps and so on.

I don't understand the biasness here at cnet with close to 2000 hits on the iPhone and maybe an average of 20 for the other phones.

[benjaminstraight]

Wannabes.

[natsuissa]

the blackberry is the most serious product to compete with iphone

Nath
http://www.themostpowerfulcompany.com

[TV James]

You missed a rather huge shortcoming of the Samsung -- it's on the Sprint Nextel network.

In all seriousness, when I get new phones (yeah, I always gotta buy in pairs... one for me, one for the wife), it's gonna have to be an iPhone because of the iTunes integration. That's why we chose the RAZRs we currently have.

[RainCaster]

The iPhone won't do what I need, so I will keep my Kaiser. It is not as sexy (if you drink the Apple Koolaid), but it has a huge amount of software already debugged and shipping. I need a BT data connection for my laptop (iPhone doesn't have it), and I need full support for Calendar, email and Exchange. Pity those fatures will never be found on an iPhone.

[liven2]

Uhmm you may need to do some more research... It does have full support for Calendar, email and Exchange...
http://www.apple.com/iphone/enterprise/

Another alternative might be MobileMe... http://www.apple.com/mobileme/
But not for everyone...

Do not forget all the apps the will be available thru the App store that will offer even more functionality...