Comments on: Thirteen reasons to doubt the iPhone hype

iPhone, you got some explainin' to do.

[chris10002000]

Understand the market iPhone is aimed at

How old is the author of this article? They seem to think iPhone is aimed at the tweenage market place.

The pricing is a bit cheaper than high end mobile phones ten years ago, before teenagers were targeted with high volume/low cost products. There was a heck of a lot of good business done at that price point during that time period.

Didn't you understand iPhone's positioning from the smart-phones it was being compared with? They're not cheap either.

The most striking thing to me is that conventional phone suppliers (and most telcos) have almost no chance of competing with this. (They simply can't get to where Apple is from their technical starting points). And they probably don't get it. (Lets assume the Cingular CEO who presented at the keynote is the most enlightened of the bunch. Hmmmm....)

[Wolfie2k5]

Horse feathers...

[b]The most striking thing to me is that conventional phone suppliers (and most telcos) have almost no chance of competing with this. (They simply can't get to where Apple is from their technical starting points). And they probably don't get it. (Lets assume the Cingular CEO who presented at the keynote is the most enlightened of the bunch. Hmmmm....) [/b]

Anyone can get anywhere they want. Once someone's come up with the means - reverse engineering something to see how it works is NOT that complicated. Granted, they can't directly copy feature X or Y - they have to make it different enough to keep from being sued.

For what it's worth - there are already Linux based phones on the market - ones that even sport touch pads. The Motorola A1200 is a prime example of this.

[chris10002000]

3G is a fools marketplace

Whether or not Cingular and other telcos pursuade Apple to do a 3G version of this phone, I think this is a very interesting test of whether 3G is of any value.

There's a huge difference of opinion between Telcos and the IT industry about 3G (I've worked in both). Many leading IT people think 3G is hugely flawed. Telcos dare not ever even think that because they have spent Billions and Billions of dollars in 3G spectrum auctions. Even hint at it being a dud and bang goes their share prices.

Forget the technology and think about the applications. What I saw demonstrated by Steve Jobs is way beyond the functionality that is promised by 3G network marketing people. And it is the WiFi part of iPhone that delivers it.

What Steve stayed a thousand miles away from is that other great application which WiFi enables - Skype and other near zero-cost forms of telephony. To promot iPhone as a VoIP device would definitely violate the Cisco patent, so Apple will keep that one on the back burner for now!

iPhone is actually a telco's worst nightmare. That's probably a big reason why in the US market there will be a monopoly on it, held by Cingular. Ah! Monopoly! Now that's something the Baby Bells DO understand!

[Tallcoolone]

I agree with you

While I think some people are overreacting a bit to this article, you hit the nail right on the head.

[Tallcoolone]

I apologize...

...this was supposed to be a comment on another post.

[elkjam]

Cingular Horible Net + No Feedback Keyboard = Pass

I have Cingular on a Palm Treo and it has really been horrible lately! I work/live in NYC where the coverage is supposed to be "great" but isn't. Cingular has high prices for everything as well. Finally a keyboard that doesn't give you feedback on the digits could really be a setback. 3G high speed network not coming anytime soon for Cingular - in fact it is now years(!) after they promised it.

You should pass until a better provider carries it (like Sprint high speed).

[geitda]

Apple Warranty

"If you can figure out how to do [replace] these things [componants] yourself,
you'll break the warranty."

This is not true.

"This warranty does not apply: . . . to damage caused by service (including
upgrades and expansions) performed by anyone who is not a representative
of Apple or an Apple Authorized Service Provider"
- http://www.apple.com/legal/warranty/hardware.html

The warranty only gets voided if you screw up and damage something.
Lesson? Don't rip up your computer (Mac, Dell, whatever), iPod (or other
music player) or basically anything else unless you're reasonably comfortable
about what you're doing such that you won't damage it.

[peter969]

Missing the Point

While the author raises some valid questions, I think you are missing the point in regards to how this phone is going to change the ga
A malleable software interface to a mobile device, that requires only that the user have a finger and be able to read to navigate complex trees of information with utter ease - is industry-changing!
My phone came with a 300 page user manual. This is idiotic. Navigation and the relatively simple tasks that a phone requires should be self-evident through text or graphics on the screen. Even simple instructions such as press 7 to delete a message are inane and arbitrary. Other methods of functionality can be more obtuse and I've never had a pleasurable experience navigating a phone.
The iPhone promises to make the interface of an increasingly complex device - the phone - communicative to its user. And the move away from the clumsy control of devices through hardware to user-friendly software interfaces should inspire easy access to lots and lots of information in your pocket. Even those of modest means may well shell out the 500 bucks for asynchronous voice mail access.
The iPod and iTunes made managing and accessing one's personal library of media easy and fun. The iPhone promises the same and, hopefully, will change mobile phones forever - for the better!

[tek-ed]

What 3rd party apps?

Didn't you read? $Jobs said that there will be no 3rd party apps on the iPhone. This will be a locked down environment, only those apps personally blessed by pope Jobs will be allowed to exist on the iPhone.
Hmmm, locked phone, locked cellular carrier, locked apps...seems to me, this phone is the equivalent of cellphone jail.
Besides...wait until the iPhone comes out....most of the other manufacturers will have out their newer models that will most likely have most of the iPhone features and at half the price and available on any carrier...Heck...the Samsung BlackJack is almost an iPhone already!
Ed
web/gadget guru

[mdwilson1]

Missing the Point

Well put. Apple's ability to simplify is what makes people love Apple's products, wheras they may like their competitor's products. Simple elegance = Apple.

[agbertoni]

Reply to missing the point:

I don't understand your point... Ultimately what is the difference between hitting keys and hitting a screen. You sound as if it's a thousand times easier to hit a screen instead of a keypad. That makes no sense. Especially since you haven't had any experience yet with the iPhone. And as if the iPhone won't have a huge booklet as well. Your talking on specualtions and not facts.


BOTTOM LINE: Until Apple offers an unlocked version of the phone their sales won't be as high as they think they will. And HAVING to sign a 2 year contract is insane!!

[jtmd]

Yes--and more!

I totally agree, but talking about the iPhone as a "phone" at all is, in fact, missing
the point. The elegant stripped down Mac OS interface, with dazzling new touch
screen capabilities, plus the ultra-high resolution screen, makes the iPhone a
perfect gateway for true high definition mobile video and online computing. It is
a new sort of appliance entirely. Apple is of course a master at marketing, and
it's hard to believe they're really targeting the very, very high end phone market.
The real excitement will be what the iPhone morphs into--and that will only
incidentally be a "phone".

[ikiturso]

see beyond the hype!

The article raises good questions. I do understand that some fervent Apple-believers would worship a sardine box disguised as a phone if it only had the Apple-logo ;) but for the rest of us it's perfectly legitimate to try to see beyond the hype. There's no reason to get offended or invent ridiculous conspiracy plots.

I admit having the same initial WOW feeling than anybody else watching the demonstration, but soon began to crave something truly unique beside all that eye candy. Yes, it has a nice design, pretty graphic tricks and innovative (but also ergonomical and practical?) user interface, but that's about all really.

Almost all the other features or similar ones have already been seen in other smartphones (all of them not available in the USA though). From an European point of view a new supposedly high-end phone without 3G is simply unthinkable. It also seemed a little childish when the demonstration concentrated on features like Google Maps (which is available on almost any smartphone) while the competition (like Nokia) offers integrated GPS navigation and so on. The thing I find almost criminal is the lack of user replacable battery. The list could go on, but of cource no product (even Apple's) is ever perfect. And 6 months (or 12 for the European release) is a long time in this business, will be interesting to see what the i(or whatever)Phone will be against then.

Why, oh, why didn't they realease the thing without the phone and with a 80G harddrive ...

[gianpo]

you are a sheep

the point isn't that you can get all the other features in other phones its that you can't get the features to run well or smoothly there are always problems. I've owned four different smart phones and the user interface on all of them was crap. Why people are excited about the iPhone is that it promises to have a workable and fun UI.

[phillipperez]

1 small nibble for Apple, 1 giant bite for Users

I agree, I was hyped at the Key note speech Steve Jobs gave at the Mac World conference. It looked impressive and innovative and even came in a form factor smaller than the thinnest Smartphone...that's one BIG achievement.

The way it displays full webpages is yet another BIG achievement. I like the intuitive user interface it has for browsing web pages, not like the abbrevieted versions other Smartphones display.

The innovative user interface improvements are quite inviting, but not too compelling from a power user standpoint. It's a "Cool Factor" that sells to those who like that kind of stuff. I agree that 3G enabled phones are the way to go for video streaming, but that doesn't mean that Apple is not considering it.

Keep in mind that this is Apple's first wireless phone. It's expected to create a lot of hype to bring a new product to market for the first time. If they don't get the sales, the product dies. Don't fault Apple for the hype. That's just marketing.

As far as not having the features you desire, I understand, but what new innovations or killer apps have been found in Smartphones in the past 2.5 years? (That's the timeframe it took to bring the iPhone from concept to reality) The way I see it, Smartphone manufacturers have been spinning their wheels on changing the "look" of their phones without addressing the user interface problems. How smart can it be to design a phone that uses your largest finger to press on an increasingly shrinking plastic keypad? As long as that keypad is there, your display size will be limited. It's a poor use of the real estate on the face of the phone.

I'm not slamming you, I'm just disappointed in the Smartphone manufacturers for doing the same thing over and over, expecting different results. I've owned numerous Smartphones in the past and just recently got rid of my last one and went with a regular phone. I won't buy another one until someone can address the frustrations experienced with Smartphones.

In all fairness, I LOVE VoiceCommand, voice dialing without training and GPS Navigation. Those can only be found in Smartphones running Windows platform. I'll bet Steve Jobs wishes he had those killer apps on his iPhone.

Someone should start a Wiki that addresses User Interface ideas, from the public, for solutions to Smartphone keypads, TV Remotes, MP3 players, VCR Time Setting, etc. Don Tapscott would be pleased.

Thanks for your comments.

[eboy32]

CNET hates Apple

CNET is so up MS's ass it makes me sick...The IPHONE is 6 months away...so
before we call it bullsh*t let's see what happs...meanwhile install your stupid
vista and enjoy the spam..

[Wolfie2k5]

Yeah... But...

[b]The warranty only gets voided if you screw up and damage something. Lesson? Don't rip up your computer (Mac, Dell, whatever), iPod (or other music player) or basically anything else unless you're reasonably comfortable about what you're doing such that you won't damage it.[/b]

Feces occurs. Even the most savvy tech can make a mistake. Drop a screw into the works and short something out accidentally.

Bottom line: If it's under warranty, best leave the fixin' to the gear heads @ Apple or an authorized service tech.

[monkeymajic]

Stop Nitpicking you goons

can stop all this nitpickity rubbish, some of the points are fair but things like the attention demanding and price is just be stupid. lots of people can afford this seeming as its a phone, iPod and knid of internet device thats quite a resonable price at only £300 (or $500 for you moronic single minded americans) and attention demanding is exactly whats its made for! just look at the beauty! bunch of geeks trying to make a list of about 3 points of relevance into 13. get a life

[cdtphilpot]

Your a real first class guy, not

Hey you angry European, way to be a jerk and insult all Americans. Personally all the points are valid in one way or the other and $500 is a lot of money for a phone. I have a Samsung Blackjack that will do everything for the most part that the iPhone will do and it only cost me $275.

[treet007]

monkeymajic, you get a life...

I've read your posting, and you definitely don't get it. iPod and iPhone are great products but overpriced for what they offer, where Apple can charge for such devices because they can. May be for people who really want a BMW-like logo, fine. A lot of people still cannot afford such items. IMHO, I would rather put my money on family and investments, instead of purchasing the latest and greatest gadget which depreciates immediately after you purchase it. I'll stick with my MP3 player and Bluetooth cell phone, thank you, since they fit my requirements just fine...

[cdtphilpot]

Don't you crybabies have something better to do??

So Cnet is critical of the iPhone, that's no reason to call their journalism bad. Also $500 for a non-3G phone is expensive, yeah I can afford it but why pay that much when I have a Samsung Blackjack that can do pretty much everything I need for half the cost. I have the Sirius Stiletto for my music device so I don't even use that function on my Blackjack. Also will all the Cingular haters just shut up? I've had Cingular for 6 years and I travel and I have very little issues. Seldom do I drop a call, and my bills are reasonable for the service I get. I'm so tired of everyone whining about Cingular and how Cnet is anti-Apple. I'm anti-Apple, both my Ipod's screens went out two weeks after their warranty expired. So as far as I'm concerned they put out crappy products. So if Cnet is really anti-Apple then let them be, their not hurting you, it's their opinion. To the guy who called this crappy journalism its an opinion article and everyone has a different opinion so just because you don't like what they have to say doesn't mean it's shotty journalism.

[nick.bates]

RE: Don't you crybabies have something better

Yes it DOES mean it's shoddy journalism, becuase he wasn't simply stating his
opinion, he was reporting as if it were factual and he got the majority of his
facts COMPLETELY WRONG! Just the basic thing of what this mobile device is
all about, multitasking, he claimed it "may not do it" even though Jobs
demonstrated live that it does it seamlessly and elegantly. So maybe YOU
should do a little bit more research instead of being a mindless sheep and
listening to a Microsoft paid Apple basher.

And indecently, I've had the second generation iPod for years now and it still
works fine so if you are not lying and actually had two iPods go out on you,
then you got some bad KArma man, you may want to look into that...

[natejohnstone]

iPhone is NOT expensive--Apple is targeting yuppie

Look, this is NOT a regular cell phone, pure and simple. It's a PDA phone. A
good PDA costs $400 (at least) add a great camera phone to that and now
you have the iPhone price but in one nice integrated package.
$600 is NOT a lot of money for what this does.
It's a TON of money for some kid who wants a cool phone, and a ton of
money for the average user. But Apple chose not to cater to the average
user--for better or worse--the instead made a yuppie uber-mobile-device.
The potential initial market is rather small (smaller still if Cingular retains
exclusivity), but Apple is banking that if moble computing is cool now, uber-
mobile computing will be cool in the near future. Some people may not need
to buy a laptop if the iPhone ends up being all it's cracked up to be! My
Pocket PC is, for example, very much a super-mobile computer. In that
regard, the iPhone is not expensive at all.

[AirStrike X2]

I hear ya!

You did a good job pointing out the mistakes of CNET's "complaining post." I think you make the most sense.

[Rasci]

Tastier cheese today, better mousetrap tomorrow

This IS a better mousetrap for the fortunate few! I?d love to buy the iPhone, but like 95% of mobile users, I simply want to find what I need at my fingertips TODAY, using my cheapo web-enabled phone. http://a1r.mobi (guys) and http://a1r.mobi/me (gals) delivers live chat, forums, news, email, resources and topics most important to people via ANY web-enabled mobile phone. So while the iPhone is a better mousetrap for tomorrow, what us RATS really want is tastier and cheaper cheese TODAY.

[mrcamuti]

Check your facts

I could not be less impressed with your reporting. First, 3G availability from Cingular/ATT has nothing to do with the iPhone. Second, there is no Cingular Wi-Fi plan. There are AT&T hotspots, like at most airports, which could be argued to be Cingular Wi-fi, but the over the air network (GPRS) is a seperate technology altogether. Third, an unlimited media net plan is TWENTY DOLLARS! Not 45. An unlimited data plan with basic talk coverage will run you less than 80 dollars a month, including taxes. Check you facts before you write a story next time. I am thoroughly disgusted that you purport to be a reporting agency and don't bother looking into basic fact checking. How sad.

[pablo1215]

check facts again

check the cingular website the reporters facts seem right on to me

[BJR2]

Weak at best

Some of these are just dumb. What's under the hood? are you telling me the downfall of a phone that was released 3 days ago and is scheduled for release 6 months from now is that you don't know the technical specs yet? really? that's the best you could do? As for, 'will it be called iPhone' firstly, if you researched your article at all you'd know that Cisco's claim to the iPhone name is tentative at best. Cisco had to prove that they were actively using the trademark before december was over in order not to lose their legal claim completely so they slapped the name on a product that had already been released under another name. furthermore the fact that their legal submission to keep said name contained a product with iPhone nowhere on it except for a sticker on the box is shaky evidence of active use of a trademark in court. Cisco only threw this together after Apple had already approached them regarding the trademark and most intelligent people see this as simply ploy on Cisco's part, the predictable goal of which is to force apple to give Cisco rights to develop hardware or software for some future Apple product.

Come on, I agree that 13 i a nice number and has a certain symbolic significance but if you only have 8 or 9 shaky arguments please don't further insult us by tacking on some complete trash to round it out.

[johnyguy]

I DO AGRY WITH C.NET ABOUT THE IPHONE

THEY RIGHT !! CNET MAY HAVE SOME FALLS INFO ABOUT CINGULAR RATES BUT THAT IS NOT THE POINT.

i AM NOT A IPOD FAN I HAVE A OTHER BRAND OF MP3 PLAYER AND IT IS ACTUALY MORE USEFUL THAN THE IPOD.

ANYWAY I AGRY WITH PEOPLE WHO SAYS IPHONE IS EXPENSIVE AND ,THAT IS A GOOD POINT WI FI DRAIN THE BATTERY BECAUSE I HAVE A WI FI PHONE ,SO ALL THOSE THINGS YOU CAN DO WITH THE IPHONE IS ALMOST USELESS BECAUSE YOU CAN DO IT FOR SHORT PERIOD OF TIME ONLY .UNLESS ALL YOU DO IS LISTENING TO MUSIC WHAT YOU CAN DO WITH A REGULAR IPOD WITHOUT SPENDING 500 -600 DOLLAR

PLUS IF YOU HAVE TO WORK FOR 500 OR 600 DOLLAR YOU SHOULD KNOW THAT IS ALOT OF MONEY FOR SOMETHING LIKE THIS ,UNLESS YOU 18 19 OR 20 AND YOU HAVE A RICH DADY WHO FILLS YOUR POCKET WITH MONEY AND ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS SPENDING IT ,AND HAS NO CLUE ABOUT HOW TO MAKE IT OR WORK FOR IT SO ALL THE KIDS OUT THERE SHOT THE HELL UP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
GO CNET GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[jayduke]

Me like no english

Dude, try making a point. The fact that you agree with c-net's horrible review
speaks volumes.

[Jotas]

Yes these are good points....

After the initial ooh and ahh period ended, I'm becoming more realistic about the iPhone and the possiblity of even purchasing one.

A lot of good points were brought up and one in particular of having to always look at the phone is a big issue. Unless of course you program it with voice dialing and talking caller id like some home phones offer now.

That would be a nice touch, especially for those with a headset as I'm sure the rest of us would rather not hear any of your incoming call names unless it happened to be say Salma Hayek, but that's another story.

Overall, these are mostly solid points. I guess I won't be part of the bleeding edge this go round. I'll wait and see....

[rccgd]

I Dig You Good Sir

You had me at dialing blindly. How soon did I forget that I do this a lot with my Treo.

[xxdesmusxx]

Well said and thank you

Very well said, and thank you for finally voicing some actual logic to quite possibly the most over hyped product of this decade. Apple keeps making the ridiculous claim that it's the "most advanced cell phone every created" which is rather funny considering if you look at the phones available in Japan ....YEARS AGO they offered all the same features.

Lets completely ignore the part where Apple infringes on not only one copyright, but they infringe on a second one also with it's self proclaimed new invented visual voicemail. It's so new that it was blatantly stolen from Citrix as seen here:

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/01/11/apple_citrix_visualvoicemail/

So yeah, Apple crams a lot of technology into a phone, a lot of stolen technology. Way to go.