This year I didn't make it to CES but did have opportunity to attend Mac World in San Francisco. For all of us Mac Addicts and otherwise gadget geeks, IMO Steve Jobs hit an out of the park homer on the much awaited and ballyhooed "iPhone."

Absolutely gorgeous to behold and full of bells and whistles. Won't come cheap ($499-$599 depending on amount of flash memory). This one does everything except tie your shoe laces. It will even run Mac OS X. I posted it here because I know many of us are Mac nuts.



http://www.apple.com/iphone/

Damn straight it's gorgeous. I hear the shoelace thing is an optional upgrade.

sure beats my $49.00 Razr :)

Damn. I just bought a Razor too. Oh well, I don't *need* it, cool factor aside.

Damn. I just bought a Razor too. Oh well, I don't *need* it, cool factor aside.

Cingular has the exclusive and you have to commit to a 2 year contrat.

The iPhone weighs all of 5 oz and is at most 1/2 " thick.

It is drop dead gorgeous. Not available until June

Cingular has the exclusive and you have to commit to a 2 year contrat.

Whoops... I thought $499/$599 without any contract. This is a major drawback, especially for those of us who will use it in europe most of the time. I sure hope they will have UMTS support for the european model which will be available 4Q07. A 2 year contract would be a deal-killer, since there is only one provider that offers a full UMTS flat over here. We'll have to see who they pick as their european distributor. If they pick the wrong one, there's no reason to buy this at all, since costs will be so high, one could easily afford 10 phones and contracts from other companies.

I really love what this thing can do, but otherwise MacWorld was a little disappointing this year. No Leopard news at all, no iPod upgrades, no new processors for MacPros and iMacs, nothing... :(

OB,

I'm a Mac fan myself. The industrial design of this piece of consumer electronics should get the iPhone inducted into the Museum of Modern Art, next to the G4 Cube (and iPod, too, I believe). It is technically very challenging to get cellphone electronics in a package so slim.

This is great news for smartphones in general, and anyone who owns Apple Inc. stock :)

Did you get any hands-on experience with this phone? If the voice quality is good and reception is clear at home and at work, I will probably get this.

- Steve O.

Did you get any hands-on experience with this phone? If the voice quality is good and reception is clear at home and at work, I will probably get this.

No...nor do I think anyone did

no iPod upgrades

of course there was...it is called the "iPhone" :)

Am I confused or is the "iPhone" not a Cisco product? :D

Am I confused or is the "iPhone" not a Cisco product? :D

That's what Cisco is saying....

http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/cisco-sues-apple-over-use/story.aspx?guid=%7B05D79CF8%2D7767%2D48E8%2D82BD%2D508F15605 5EE%7D

Whoops... I thought $499/$599 without any contract. This is a major drawback, especially for those of us who will use it in europe most of the time. I sure hope they will have UMTS support for the european model which will be available 4Q07. A 2 year contract would be a deal-killer, since there is only one provider that offers a full UMTS flat over here. We'll have to see who they pick as their european distributor. If they pick the wrong one, there's no reason to buy this at all, since costs will be so high, one could easily afford 10 phones and contracts from other companies.

I really love what this thing can do, but otherwise MacWorld was a little disappointing this year. No Leopard news at all, no iPod upgrades, no new processors for MacPros and iMacs, nothing... :(

The price is high, but will likely drop quickly, or at least as quickly as other companies can find workarounds to Apple's patents. If it really does pack as much processing power as it appears to in such a small package, the price really doesn't seem that shocking. New ideas do cost more.

As for the lack of updates on anything else? My personal opinion is that Apple chose not to release any information during CES because it wouldn't be given the kind of attention that the iPhone has received. Let's face it, compared to that hting, who's going to pay attention to the graphical updates in Leopard, and even more so, a minor update to the iPods?

My prediction: We will soon see iPods that use the same screen style as the iPhone, perhaps with a virtual scroll wheel that appears when you touch the screen. And if that does happen, I'll be first in line to pick one up.

This year I didn't make it to CES but did have opportunity to attend Mac World in San Francisco. For all of us Mac Addicts and otherwise gadget geeks, IMO Steve Jobs hit an out of the park homer on the much awaited and ballyhooed "iPhone."

Absolutely gorgeous to behold and full of bells and whistles. Won't come cheap ($499-$599 depending on amount of flash memory). This one does everything except tie your shoe laces. It will even run Mac OS X. I posted it here because I know many of us are Mac nuts.



http://www.apple.com/iphone/
It is eye candy. I read that Cingular will be the initial carrier but I believe others will come on later. As much as I would like to have one I'm not going to switch carriers to get it. I think this phone will prove that people ARE willing to still spend money on things such as cell phones IF you give them a reason to. I see no reason Apple has to start selling it for $199 and I predict this phone will not drop in price as quickly as other cell phones.

The hard drive size is a bit disappointing to me - only 4 or 8 gigabytes. But, it is without a doubt the most beautiful device of its type. Microsoft could NEVER develop something like this.

It is eye candy. I read that Cingular will be the initial carrier but I believe others will come on later. As much as I would like to have one I'm not going to switch carriers to get it. I think this phone will prove that people ARE willing to still spend money on things such as cell phones IF you give them a reason to. I see no reason Apple has to start selling it for $199 and I predict this phone will not drop in price as quickly as other cell phones.

The hard drive size is a bit disappointing to me - only 4 or 8 gigabytes. But, it is without a doubt the most beautiful device of its type. Microsoft could NEVER develop something like this.

Apple is negotiating with other carriers

I agree that prices won't drop. Rather I predict that the evolution of the iPhone will go the same route as the iPod--IOW...same price but increase in memory and/ or features.

As for the 4 vs 8 gig memory bear in mind that it is "flash". You have seen what Jobs has done with the iPod Shuffle. Presently the iPhone guts are in a box only 1/2 " wide...it will evolve IMO the same way as his MP3 players

I could live with 4 or 8 gig. I suppose it's only a downer in the sense that I'm used to having so much more storage on my iPod. And if you prefer lossless as I do that space runs out a lot quicker than people who store everything at 128 KB. Regardless, it's lightyears ahead of anything else on the market and we need more good products of this type as opposed to the crap that gets spoon fed to us every day so no real complaints from me.

It looks like an amazing device, but I'll keep my BB Pearl until they come out with rev b or c.

It looks like an amazing device, but I'll keep my BB Pearl until they come out with rev b or c.


Rumor has it that Rev b will be the one that will tie your shoe laces ;)

The hard drive size is a bit disappointing to me - only 4 or 8 gigabytes. But, it is without a doubt the most beautiful device of its type. Microsoft could NEVER develop something like this.

Prices on flash memory are dropping like bricks. I'd expect that within a year you'll see 16 and possibly even 32 gigs of memory.

I could live with 4 or 8 gig. I suppose it's only a downer in the sense that I'm used to having so much more storage on my iPod. And if you prefer lossless as I do that space runs out a lot quicker than people who store everything at 128 KB. Regardless, it's lightyears ahead of anything else on the market and we need more good products of this type as opposed to the crap that gets spoon fed to us every day so no real complaints from me.

QQQ,

Another big change is phone OS itself. OSX as an embedded OS is in the mix.

Again - let's wait until these phones roll out in stores to see what other big factors shake out - call/voice quality and battery life. Dropped calls and overheating/quick draining batteries could make this a complete flop.

I wouldn't rule out a wireless link between a person's iPhone/iPod (hard-drive based), and online storage in the near future as well. You could have your cake and eat it, too ;)

- Steve O.

I agree Steve. You can't tell much from the demos on their web site BUT it does look like it also aims to improve the OS experience quite a bit as well.

of course there was...it is called the "iPhone" :)

I mean the other iPods. :)
iPhone is a replacement for the nanos, but not for the 30GB and 80GB iPods. 8GB is enough for me, but I know alot of people who fill up their 30GB and 80GB iPods with music.

Using it as an external HDD is another option which I really like, for simply storing data or booting up other Macs with your own OS X.

I wonder what's coming up next then, maybe 30GB or 80GB versions with a touchscreen (no phone, internet and so on). I was also expecting to see new nanos with 12GB to 16GB flash memory.

I had a look at the keynote again today and I really want that thing now... :D
This will be a long and painful wait for me, but I guess I'll grab a new 24" iMac and 15" MacBookPro before I can finally get my hands on the iPhone.



The price is high, but will likely drop quickly, or at least as quickly as other companies can find workarounds to Apple's patents.

It's not the price for the iPhone I'm complaining about. I'd happily pay $599 for the 8GB version, I'd probably pay even more. What I don't like is that it only comes with a 2-year contract. That's what can push the price. Some companies over here are charging mobile internet by volume or per minute. I don't really want to pay $20 for 5MB of downloaded data or $30 for 15 minutes of browsing. The whole point of this thing is, that I can go online where and when I want to check websites, emails and so on.

I can get a phone- and mobile internet flat from some comapnies for $65,- a month, so that's what I will most likely use with the iPhone. If I have to sign up to another contract with the iPhone, I'll have to pay for that as well. Even if it would be only $20 per month, it would be too much because I wouldn't be using it.

But no matter what they do, I'll probably buy this thing anyway, because I can't resist these kind of toys. :p

But no matter what they do, I'll probably buy this thing anyway, because I can't resist these kind of toys

A classic Mac Addict...Steve Jobs knows his business well.

Love the way it looks, but it's a little bit on the large side, don't you think? It appears to be about a half and inch taller than a Treo...

Phil, almost the entire front of the case is a screen. Why would you want a smaller screen given the usage model of the device?

So cool:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YgW7or1TuFk

We're so pathetic. I clicked the topic expecting hot women in various states of undress.

That's what Cisco is saying....

...And another round from Cisco on their position re iPhone trademark infringement:

http://blogs.cisco.com/news/2007/01/update_on_ciscos_iphone_tradem.html

We're so pathetic. I clicked the topic expecting hot women in various states of undress.

That will be available next year. It will be called the iCHICK....or iBABES

That will be available next year. It will be called the iCHICK....or iBABES

Correct. A $40 option will be the iSTRIP software that goes with those...

No...nor do I think anyone did

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1759,2082265,00.asp

Correct. A $40 option will be the iSTRIP software that goes with those...

....and it comes with a red velvet exterior.

Only the BRO-HAM model has the red velvet exterior.

this is yet another likely revolutionary product by this genius of SJ.

I am infinitely excited about it, for what it is and of course as a long long time Apple fan, for where it comes from.

And it raises one gigantic question, yet again - what will Apple be once Sj is gone ?? I believe this is one of the greatest question of this time, in this industry (the latter hard to define actually).

I'm flaccid with rage!

http://www.comedycentral.com/motherload/?ml_video=80781

EDIT: In cast that link doesn't give you the video:

http://www.engadget.com/2007/01/12/colbert-on-the-iphone/

I'm flaccid with rage!

typical Texan


"got Viagra" ;)

I have a cellular phone. It is capable of making phone calls. Tell me again why I need my telephone to do other things?

The point of the iPhone (I believe), is to cut down on the amount of gadgets one has to carry. No, it's not the first phone to merge music, web and calendar, but it's gonna' do it better than anyone else. It appears it may also have some PDA functionality, something Jobs has been opposed to in the past.

I have a cellular phone. It is capable of making phone calls. Tell me again why I need my telephone to do other things?

Chris..I used to share your attitude. The post above mine says it all. Don't be "perpetually confused" and start to think outside the box.

I have a cellular phone. It is capable of making phone calls. Tell me again why I need my telephone to do other things?

Evidently, you don't "need" to. And that ends it :)
I actually totally agree with your attitude - for instance I cannot find a damn cell phone w/o a camera (I don't need it, want it), but I do want a simple way for instance to sync my address book between phone(s), computer(s), web etc and the best way to do that is, in my experience, wirelessly via BT.
And the best way to do that in my experience was with phones compatible with apple's bt implementation. But again those phones typically have a number of other features I could not care less !!!!

So, my bottom line is ... sure there will be many things one does not "need", but one of those things might be so cool and "wanted" that it justifies the purchase. Plus, there's a good chance this phone will indeed improve the experience of making a simple phone call.

ww

Chris..I used to share your attitude. The post above mine says it all. Don't be "perpetually confused" and start to think outside the box.

Okay, you're right. In addition, my cellphone has the capability to send text messages, a feature which I utilize occassionally. ;)

I still use a calendar nailed to the wall. It is made of paper. I write on it with a pencil. It works great.

I definitely like having my calendar and contacts in pocket form. That doesn't mean it must be electronic, but it helps. Hence the Palm-based Treo is my smartphone of choice until the iPhone (or, possibly, the iPhone 2) comes out.

Correct. A $40 option will be the iSTRIP software that goes with those...

:D


I read the Time Magazine article about the product and looked at it on the Apple website.. Where do I sign? I am acquiring one the day it comes out.. What a beautiful piece of engineering and human interface?

Apple has for all these years( since the introduction of the short-lived Lisa 1982?) favored a better human interface.. While it culminates with products like the currently named iPhone ( seems really to be a Cisco Trademarked name).. Their whole products line have always had that simplicity of use... and spartan but beautiful design. It is a vindication. Apple has for all these years made the better products...
I also agree with QQQ, this is not a Razr, just a phone with a different look it is a better cellphone one that make more sense than anything everybody else has been using.... Sign me up Cingular!!!

So, is the entire purpose of this product basically to enhance phone-sex?

(If so, how come they keep making all these phones smaller and smaller?)

Interestingly, its camera positioning makes incompatible with videoconferencing.

This one does everything except tie your shoe laces.
OB,

I'm waiting for the one that DOES tie your shoe laces. Then I can stop wearing loafers. :)

Interestingly, its camera positioning makes incompatible with videoconferencing.

nuts.

Exactly: if you aim the camera right, that's what the other person would see. :)

Hmm, then again, if that's what you're into...

Interestingly, its camera positioning makes incompatible with videoconferencing.

I'm thinking about jumping into the iAfterMarket with my iRetroscope for this very reason.

http://pogue.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/01/13/ultimate-iphone-faqs-list-part-2/


.

do they sell iGirlfriends?

do they sell iGirlfriends?

No just iBlowups :)

iDammit.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hriAMxCinhg

That was very funny

now if it only does......:)

I am waiting for this Nokia Aeon touchscreen mobile phone whenever it gets released-

http://techepics.com/files/aeon-concept-2.jpg
http://techepics.com/files/aeon-concept-3.jpg
http://techepics.com/files/aeon-concept-1.jpg

http://www.privateline.com/war/Motorolabagbig.jpg

ChrisW,
We had one of those. Puts out 3 watts as I recall.

Still use it to heat coffee. :eek: