iLove the iPhone
Tuesday, January 09, 2007
The iPhone is finally here. Well, the announcement is here, and the product pages are here, but the phone itself is only on display behind a glass case. So many years of speculation, so many bizarre fan made product mockups, and the real thing is years beyond our expectations. This is really what Apple's hardware/software combo is about. They can make a fixed function device better than Microsoft or Palm can throw their generic software at generic hardware makers.
What's really exciting is that this is the death knell for phone manufacturers. Motorola, Samsung, Palm... nobody's going to want their pieces of junk anymore. Of course, they won't have that much to worry about even when the iPhone launches in June. It's a seriously expensive toy, just like the iPod was back when it was introduced. But if Apple has learned one thing, it's how to aggressively cut costs to shut out competitors. Isn't that right, $250 neé $275 Zune? All it takes for them to win is time.
What I'm most excited about is the interface. With only one button ("Home"), I'm thrilled to death to see Apple pick up Tog's Starfire interface concept, even at a small scale. Multitouch ("multipass") is very exciting for all us human-computer interaction boys. I can't wait to scroll and zoom with my finger.
Or maybe I can wait. Apple makes shiny toys better than anyone, but my lovely ivory iPod is encased in a boring white enclosure because it's almost too fragile to be held by human hands. How on earth are we going to get along with something that's 100% touch? Will the Apple iPhone come with 30 Apple iWipes? Better buy stock in screen protector manufacturer companies while you can.
I'll admit that I was put off a little by the curves of this thing. The corners seemed a little too rounded, like a return of the Newton. But the more I look at it the more I like it. It seems like something from Star Trek. It knows if you're holding it in portrait or landscape mode? It has sensors that know when it's close to your face (and dims the screen)? It's a full computer that runs OSX in the palm of your hand? Oh, sign me up.
Speaking of which... T-Mobile? We're through.
7 comments
sunshine
October 01, 8:36 AM
I would talk you out of it.. after all it will eventually be available to other carriers for less money. But if you get one that means I can play with it. I’ll spend the daytime minutes for that.
Jordan
October 01, 9:06 AM
Eventually, yes. But “eventually” in this case means “after Apple’s multi-year exclusivity contract with Cingular is up.” Which, if Cingular knows what’s good for them, won’t be for quite a while. I can wait a few more months to get an iPhone, not a few more years.
MagnoliaFly
November 01, 12:37 PM
Thats hardcore that you’ll deal with Cingular to get an iPhone. It’s not worth it to me.
Jordan
November 01, 2:15 PM
See, I must be weird. Or lucky. I haven’t had these big problems with my wireless carriers, even when I was with Cingular back in the day. Stuff like 3G and CDMA means very little to me. Certainly the contract termination fee at T-Mobile is going to sting, but that’s just par for the course.
I’m quite ravenous for the iPhone, but iCan wait a little past the launch date. This is no Wii for me; you won’t see me lining up at the mall to buy one in June. I’ll just be there immediately after work to paw on their display model.
sunshine
December 01, 10:23 AM
well… which feature is most exciting to you?
I don’t care about surfing the web or watching videos on my phone. That’s cool but not worth 500 dollars. Likewise with viewing pictures, playing music, or even the super hot map and call function. So why then does sunshine want this phone? Anyone hazard a guess?
MagnoliaFly
December 01, 1:24 PM
Cuz its pwetty? Looking at the Engadget photo page of the presentation does make me drool…
They need to send them out with gloves however. I can only imagine the amounts of buildup… germaphobes beware.
Mom
February 01, 1:25 PM
Wait a minute, wait a minute! Where does that leave me and my sexy, slim Samsung? Are you buying Mommy a new iPhone? Mommy loves you.
About
Jordan Roher is a 26 year-old web developer in Tallahassee, Florida. His love of technology, video games and anime has resulted in this website. Expect game critiques, anime reviews and the annual journey to the Penny Arcade Expo.