Apple iPhone

[Kasuras]

Who does not own an iPod?

Precisely. Apple has announced the iPhone today, check it out here. http://www.apple.com/iphone/

Now, the only thought coming to mind right now is: 'why did I get a 2 year subscription for a Cybershot?'

Edit: oh, hi! too, long time no seen.

[Machinus]

Am I really the only person not hypnotized by all of this junk?

[Jacob Orlove]

Am I really the only person not hypnotized by all of this junk?

Nope!

[Godder]

Ipods are expensive, so I don't have one. Also, ITunes is really annoying software, so I don't have that either.

[Klep]

I'm a huge usability geek, so the iPhone really has me excited.  I love the huge touch screen it has, which removes most restrictions from software developers as to what controls their interfaces can have.  We've seen trends in this direction, from the old PDA stylus to more recently soft keys on cell phones, so this was an inevitable development, but it's still exciting for me to see this step taken.  I hope at some point I'll be able to get my hands on one so I can toy with it and see how good the error detection in the touch sensors is.

I wouldn't say I'm hypnotized by it.  The device has a number of issues it faces (such as screen scratchability and cleanliness and how wieldy it is as a phone), but I think it marks an inevitable convergence in personal electronics, and it definitely represents an important step in usability.

[Machinus]

Seriously? Proprietary music formats? Why do people buy into this?

[ELD]

The device has a number of issues it faces (such as screen scratchability and cleanliness and how wieldy it is as a phone)

I assume that a good bluetooth headset will make up for any issues with the bulkiness of this phone.  Since my I-pod is always hardwired into my car stereo, I may actually pick one of these up in time.  My current phone is supposed to play MP3's, but it's a huge pain work with, and the battery dies way to quickly.  The screen's durability is going to be an issue, unless it isn't that much to replace the screen every year or so.

[Kasuras]

I'm not an Apple missionary myself, you know me better, but it's impossible to deny the influence the iPod and Store have had in the past few years. You may dispute the reasons, but it's clear that their product and marketing was one never seen before. It had a near 80% marketshare in 2004, sure it dropped like brick; it was still a very innovative product.

The problem with the current iPod is that it scratches and gets greasy way too easily. However, MS fixed that with the Zune. That shouldn't be a problem for the iPhone anymore either. I've heard that the flash memory will only have 8GB thoughs, that's a lot for a phone but I can't ever get my music collection on that.

[Methuselahn]

Am I really the only person not hypnotized by all of this junk?

Oh yeah, and when you need a quick fix, you stop at your local vending machine.



It's good to have all these toys.  That's what the machines want you to think.

[Limbo]

Am I really the only person not hypnotized by all of this junk?

Oh yeah, and when you need a quick fix, you stop at your local vending machine.

It's good to have all these toys.  That's what the machines want you to think.

I sure hope that picture is taken i Japan...

[Methuselahn]

This same topic graced the front page of the tech section of one of the local papers here, It looked like the machines were set up outside a Starbucks in an airport terminal or at the university.   Very much among us.

[Klep]

Am I really the only person not hypnotized by all of this junk?

Oh yeah, and when you need a quick fix, you stop at your local vending machine.

It's good to have all these toys.  That's what the machines want you to think.

I sure hope that picture is taken i Japan...

It's not.  Note the packaging is all in English.  This sort of thing is starting to penetrate the US.  When I was doing some Christmas shopping at a mall near my mom's, I saw a vending machine where you could sign up for a cell phone plan and purchase a phone.

[Godder]

While I dislike ITunes software, I should give credit where it's due, and the ITunes Store is one of the most important things to happen to the media entertainment industry ever. It makes it legal and inexpensive to obtain stuff online, and Apple even manages to force the industry to keep to Apple's price structure, rather than the industry dictating prices.

[Dante]

Unfortunately the marketing and legal geniuses at Apple decided to take a name "iphone" that's already trademarked by two different companies, one of which is Cisco (Linksys), who they cannot bully with legal fees (the other is a smaller Canadian vendor).