Comments on: Apple iPhone = Origami done right?

By: Joe

Joe — Sat, 03 Feb 2007 12:26:09 +0000

Question: What can the new iPhone do (other than the phone thing) that my Palm TX can't?

Answer: Nothing.

Seriously, the Palm has a great big, bright display, wifi, Bluetooth, MP3 player, document reader, wonderful synching with my laptop, and a ton of great third-part applications in a very easy-to-use package.
My cell phone is a very small, simple, basic PHONE, and it works wonderfully. Even though I'm a big Apple fan, I have absolutely no iPhone envy whatsoever!

By: Jason Howard

Jason Howard — Thu, 18 Jan 2007 11:52:06 +0000

Great article. I think MirandaKali is right on point. The next gen/version of iPhones hopefully wont be tied to just Cingular.

Personally, I would replace my iPod with an iPhone, if it has a camera as well. I hate lugging around my iPod and my cell phone when I go on trips. One device would be great. Not only that, but with wifi and peripherals that should come out for it, I should be able to use it for simple computing tasks while on the road.

By: rogier v

rogier v — Tue, 16 Jan 2007 00:16:24 +0000

I have been using some pda's and windows mobile based devices like the htc tytn. but now after a while i have had it with these devices. always there is something wrong, like broken hardware buttons and now i have problems with the screen alignment. i just had it with windows mobile. therefore i cant wait for aple to bring out this iphone (here in the netherlands end of 2007). i'm realy going to give aple a chanche to replace the dominating wm devices.

By: MirandaKali

MirandaKali — Mon, 15 Jan 2007 06:09:51 +0000

I hear so much about how if you want the iPhone, you're stuck with Cingular, so much about how Apple's made a deal with the devil to get this phone out there.
Yes, I'm sure that the iPhone will forever be bound to Cingular, but that does'nt mean that every phone Apple makes will also be under that contract.
The price point for the iPhone really does'nt make it ideal for mass marketing. This phone will do well with techies, Apple fans, and wealthier business people. It certainly won't be the success that the Nano or Mini were, and I don't think Apple expects it to be. It is, however, the first stepping stone (much like the first iPod).
Yes, the iPhone is forever tied to Cingular for all eternity. Alas, but the NEXT iPhone, (little brother? soon to be announced?), wont be.
Perhapse Apple did have to make a deal with the devil for the iPhone to be born, but don't forget...they've got a modern day Daniel Webster , for a CEO.

By: Ian Bell

Ian Bell — Sun, 14 Jan 2007 19:06:40 +0000

The real question is whether people will be trading their iPods for the iPhone? At least their music from iTunes will work on it, that's more than Microsoft would have done. PlaysForSure R.I.P.

By: RX8

RX8 — Sun, 14 Jan 2007 19:05:37 +0000

In my eyes, Apple has accomplished what Samsung, Nokia and Motorola could not do. Create a sexy device with true utility. Anyone can make an MP3 player, but Apple has made the iPod into a sex icon for the tech world, and the iPhone will do the same for the cell phone industry. Nothing out there is as good looking with as many features.

By: Brett Conrad

Brett Conrad — Sun, 14 Jan 2007 19:04:01 +0000

Origami/UMPC has been a miserable failure so far due to battery life, size and lack of practibility. I do really think the iPhone accomplishes everything the UMPC set out to do.

$600 is still a lot of money though, the real question (and we will need to wait for a review) is what exactly can this phone really do?

By: Ian Bell

Ian Bell — Sun, 14 Jan 2007 11:44:45 +0000

I stand corrected, looks like Apple signed a multi-year contract with Cingular:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/zd/20070110/tc_zd/198403

It also looks like Steve Jobs did not have much negotiating room either.

"When asked about a give-and-take leading to the Apple-Cingular partnership, Lurie said, "I'm not sure we gave anything." Later, he commented, "I think they bent a lot." That bending included allowing the phone to be locked to Cingular, just one of several restrictions on the new iPhone. Press reports today said the phone will not accept third-party applications, though Apple may allow third parties to program mini-application "widgets."

"If you want an iPhone, you are going to get the luxury of being on the Cingular network," Lurie said."

By: Ian Bell

Ian Bell — Sat, 13 Jan 2007 20:11:22 +0000

Correction: The iPhone is flash based, not HDD. Even so, I am suprised there are not more phones out there with this ammount of integrated storage.

By: Ian Bell

Ian Bell — Sat, 13 Jan 2007 20:08:01 +0000

There is no way that the iPhone is going to stay on Cingular. My guess is that Cingular will get it for 6 months before the other networks pick it up. There could be a reason why this phone is not fully 3G enabled – compatibility with multiple networks.

As for it changing the MP3 player industry, I really think the iPhone could do that. There is little reason why you should have both a cell phone and an MP3 player when a single device will do both. I am just suprised that there have not been more HDD based cell phones out there. People truly do want storage on their phones, plus they would love it to synchronize with their PC's. The networks have flubbed this with too many DRM issues – they are thinking their their bank accounts and not the consumer in mind. And like Apple has proven, it just takes one player to come in and crash the party.