MacDailyNews - Where Mac news comes first

Mar 29, 08 - 12:02 pm Comment from: Crazylegs

Comical. This guy just doesn't get it. Stick to Apple commentary and forget about stock predictions. RIM shareholders will not feel pain, but pleasure. The market is TOO BIG and growing TOO QUICKLY for just one company to succeed. iPhone will kill it, no doubt, but so will RIM. This just isn't simply a binary result, one or the other. Both can grow massively as the smartphone adoption curve kicks in over the next few years. April 2nd will be the first indication when RIM reports earnings. I wonder if MDN will carry the following headline: "Beleaguered RIM posts over 100% revenue and earnings growth." Flame away...

One word: Pathetic...

Crazylegs,

It's next April, not this April, that RIM and their shareholders need to be worried about.

iPhone SDK, Exchange support, iPhone 2.0 software, 3G next-gen iPhone - all coming starting in June.

SteveJack is right, as usual.

Mar 29, 08 - 12:07 pm Comment from: LordRobin

The full keyboard is to "iPhone-killers" what the FM tuner was to "iPod-killers".

------RM

@crazylegs

I am afraid you are in for a rude awakening soon enough. After Palm and Motorola, Nokia and RIM will be the next blood on Apple's iPhone touch screen.

Mar 29, 08 - 12:09 pm Comment from: ChrissyOne

WHO ARE YOU REALLY, STEVEJACK?!?!?!

Mar 29, 08 - 12:13 pm Comment from: Fred Mertz

ChrissyOne,

That's a good question. Who do you think SteveJack is?

Mar 29, 08 - 12:14 pm Comment from: Smeagol

It looks like it is running Leopard. Whacky!

Crazylegs,

Thanks for an intelligent comment. Once in a while, it's nice to read one.

Interesting that the endgadget reveiw was much more positive than Steve Jack's. I think Rim's cutomers and shareholders will remain very pleased (Currently, I own Apple stock, not Rim's).

Mar 29, 08 - 12:19 pm Comment from: ChrissyOne

I think RIM is probably the second best mobile outfit out there at the moment. Moto is spinning off, Nokia is uninspiring, everyone else is enslaved to Windows Mobile, which is never going anywhere. RIM is at least making an attempt at getting their act together, but they have the inertia of a huge installed base and more than a little hubris, though that is starting to wear off.

Now what might be interesting is if Apple licenses the iPhone OS and its multi-touch patents. It's pretty clear that no one can come up with a good touch interface, even thought they've have well over a year to copy Apple's. Remember what a Bad Idea it was for Apple to announce 6 months before release? The Competition Will Catch Up! they said.

This is all ya got?

Color me Not Terribly Impressed.

Mar 29, 08 - 12:19 pm Comment from: Journo

Who do you think SteveJack is?

Steve Jobs.

Mar 29, 08 - 12:21 pm Comment from: ChrissyOne

@ Fred Mertz

I have no idea. Funny how we've all been posting on this site for years and we don't know anything about the authors. I think the rough correlation between the rise of MDN and the complete disappearance of Jack Miller from AtAT was interesting.

Looks like an iPhone + keyboard. A missing keyboard is one of the things that irks some people about the iPhone.

Mar 29, 08 - 12:28 pm Comment from: Fred Mertz

ChrissyOne,

I liked your idea from last November:

I think it's a gestalt entity, created by crossing DNA from Steve Jobs and Jack Miller in a lab deep in the mountains of Buenos Aries. This "SteveJack" is nothing more than a grey, throbbing brain, resting in a pan of warm honey, attached with electrodes to a bank of X-Serves and plugged in to the world wide web. He may even have WiFi. From there, "SteveJack" plots the worldwide gangster computer-god living-death slavery takeover of the world's Windows user's identities and credit history, controlling their minds and making them buy iPods and computers with shiny screens. What an evil genius!!!

...or he might just be one guy who works at Kinney Shoes. Hard to say which.

Still makes me laugh!

Mar 29, 08 - 12:29 pm Comment from: Fred Mertz

Name,

Quantify "some."

@Name,

That "some" sum isn't nearly enough to benefit RIM.

Mar 29, 08 - 12:35 pm Comment from: ChrissyOne

@ Fred Mertz

Every time a shoe salesman eyeballs me...

...I wonder.

Mar 29, 08 - 12:41 pm Comment from: Fred Mertz

ChrissyOne,

LOL!

Mar 29, 08 - 12:43 pm Comment from: ChrissyOne

My iPhone isn't missing a keyboard. It pops up exactly when I need it, as if by magic.

Mar 29, 08 - 12:47 pm Comment from: TowerTone

I don't know if I really want to see pictures of a rim leaking blackberrys.....

Its all in the operating system, plain and simple. Fools who are happy with RIM's appliance can be happier knowing that when they walk fast, people will think they have an iPhone.

Mar 29, 08 - 12:55 pm Comment from: ChrissyOne

@ TT

eeeeeeeeeeew.

Mar 29, 08 - 01:05 pm Comment from: ChrissyOne

"Fools who are happy with RIM's appliance..."

{shudder} That sentence just can't go anywhere good after that.

Mar 29, 08 - 01:13 pm Comment from: LinuxGuyAndMacProdigalSon

RIM is utterly screwed. They are trying to whistle their way past the graveyard, but the iPhone will destroy them.

The iPhone is like the Alien incubus in RIM's belly. Dinner time is coming and the iPhone is about to burst out. Bon Appétit.

Mar 29, 08 - 01:16 pm Comment from: Mister Snitch

It's a sad-looking thing. The consensus is correct - this is a company that has run out of ideas.

"It looks like it is running Leopard."

My thoughts exactly! It even seems to have a dock.

RIM doesn't need to inspire confidence in the Blackberry. Their millions and millions and millions of users already have that.

Seriously, RIM is OK. They're not going anywhere, nor should you wish for that. Not everyone who isn't Apple is the enemy. Grow up, the lot of you.

Mar 29, 08 - 01:46 pm Comment from: Willie G

@ Crazy Legs,

You are right in that the market is too large and growing too quickly for there to be just one company that succeeds, while all others fail.

However, RIM doesn't need to be blasted into extinction in order to taste the bitter pain of failure. This latest offering, which appears to be the same old blackberry in a new suit of clothes, demonstrates that RIM is currently not interested in innovating or evolving to embrace new technologies. Any company that does this will surely loose it's status amongst the top of the heap. No company is immune from this truth... if you want to be on top and stay there you MUST continue to push the envelope, or be prepared to be left behind.

So no, RIM won't go anywhere for some time to come... but, if they continue on their present course, the will see the eroding of their fortunes, and if they still refuse to adapt, then they very well may die.

Mar 29, 08 - 01:59 pm Comment from: Cubert

What do I predict for RIM? In the immortal words of James "Clubber" Lang: "Pain."

Steve Jobs does have the eye of the Tiger.

Mar 29, 08 - 02:06 pm Comment from: Crazylegs

@ Broker - did you read my post? You must have, but it did not sink in. My point is that the market is too big and more than one platform will prosper. Let's look at facts:

1. Smartphone sales globally in 2007 were roughly 130 million units.
2. Growth rate of smartphones is roughly 30% per year (compared to overall market of just under 10%)
3. Smartphone sales in 2008 will be roughly 160-170 mln units.
3. iPhone will sell at least 10 mln units in CY 2008.
4. BB will sell 18-20 mln units in CY 2008.
5. Global mkt share in 2008 for iPhone will be under 10%, for BB just over 10%.

Still tons of room for BOTH to grow massively. My holdings in each company are roughly equal, but over the last 2 years, RIMM has killed AAPL in performance (RIMM up 300%, AAPL up 130%) and I bet it continues. Can't wait until next April when both stocks are materially higher...

Mar 29, 08 - 02:08 pm Comment from: MikeK

'My iPhone isn't missing a keyboard. It pops up exactly when I need it, as if by magic."

__________

Exactly, that is the beauty of the iPhone.

However, as much as I like the ability to make the keyboard disappear when not needed, I do think there is something to be said for the tactile feel of a keypad. Sure, i know, i know, you can type just as fast on an iPhone as other devices, and honestly, I do much prefer the other benefits of having a full touch screen. But I wont deny that i do miss that real feel of buttons when typing.

Mar 29, 08 - 02:08 pm Comment from: Cubert

"WHO ARE YOU REALLY, STEVEJACK?!?!?!"

I don't know him. I've never seen or met him. I've never been in the same room with him. Wait a minute........

Mar 29, 08 - 02:14 pm Comment from: Cubert

@Crazylegs,
I've been saying the same thing, too - the iPhone will lead to a greater smartphone adoption rate, which will benefit both Apple and RIM. The market will probably shake out like the mp3 market with the iPhone and the Blackberry being the dominant players. I just wonder how long it will take before Apple sells more iPhones per quarter than RIM sells Blackberrys? It will be a LONG time until there are more iPhones in use than Blackberrys.

Mar 29, 08 - 02:24 pm Comment from: alansky

Reminds me of the old days, when transparent, fruit-flavored enclosures suddenly became all the rage after the introduction of the iMac G3. If RIM thinks that all it takes to compete with the iPhone is a bit of chrome and some jazzy wallpaper, they are sadly mistaken.

Mar 29, 08 - 02:25 pm Comment from: ChrissyOne

@ Willie G

RIM is just playing MS's game, circa 1990's. Spend as little as you can and go high volume. Great way to cash in on a commoditized market that you own, but not a very defensive strategy when there are other strong competitors in it. For defense, you have to have big pockets to buy out or vilify your competition (*ahem*) and a strong presence in the back room. RIM has some of this, but not as much as MS did to get where they are.

The problem with RIM and Windows Mobile is that they're still trying to stuff a desktop computer into a phone, and they just don't seem to realize that they have an opportunity to create something new and better suited to a pocket device. They'll make plenty of money doing it, but they can't turn back the clock. MS achieved near complete market dominance in a computer-unsavvy world. These days the bar is significantly higher.

Mar 29, 08 - 02:35 pm Comment from: Petey

I wont be buying this - the screen is too small and there are buttons on the phone.

Nice try at copying Apples style, but no sale from my business and it's 100 employees.

We'll stick with our iphones.

Mar 29, 08 - 02:36 pm Comment from: alansky

...the iPhone will lead to a greater smartphone adoption rate, which will benefit both Apple and RIM. --Cubert

The increasing popularity of smartphones will benefit both Apple and whoever has the chops to actually take on the challenge of competing with the company (Apple) that is currently blowing the competition away. It may be RIM that succeeds in this endeavor, or it may be some other handset maker. Regardless of who wins the contest, customers benefit. Customers do not benefit when companies trot out the same old products, season after season, sporting nothing more than a new coat of paint.

Mar 29, 08 - 02:36 pm Comment from: ChrissyOne

@ alansky

You know you've hit the big time when you get your own vacuum cleaner. They even make a 'pod' now.

Mar 29, 08 - 02:37 pm Comment from: BiZarRo BaLlmEr

the iPhone already has amazing success considering it's limited accessibility. It's entering new markets and crazy exciting software is coming out this year via SDK. This phone has it's best days ahead of it. Not to imply RIM will shutter it's doors but as someone above said the pressure will be on. They'll be feeling the pain.

Mar 29, 08 - 02:46 pm Comment from: Petey

Since owning my iPhone not once has the thought of "I wish it had a keypad" ever came into my mind.

Just goes to show, somethings you may think you need but in reality you never miss it.

A classic example of fantastic design and intuitive user experience.

It's a iPhone with a real keyboard!!

There are some people who really text a lot and need the advantage of two finger typing.

Now if Apple would allow a third party keyboard plug-in option to the iPhone...

...or perhaps a stylus?

...and a pair of reading glasss to see the small screen?

The iPhone is not perfect, nether is this new BUNGBERRY!!!

Hahhahaha fooled you!!!

Mar 29, 08 - 02:57 pm Comment from: ChrissyOne

@ Petey

I never had a smartphone with a keypad, so I'll never know. But I certainly don't wonder.

That said, there is value to tactile feedback. I like to have a regular iPod in my car (as opposed to a touch screen), because I can feel the touchwheel and navigate without looking at it. The benefits of a touch screen on the iPhone VASTLY outweigh this for my needs, but it would still be nice to have. Ideally some sort of touch feedback should be engineered into the design, and I know Apple and others are working on this. But if it never comes... ah.. no big deal.

Mar 29, 08 - 03:01 pm Comment from: ChrissyOne

@ RE: the Rim Appliance

"Your friend didn't realize that here in East Germany we use 220 Volts current. He was found in his hotel room impaled on a large electrical device. Our surgeon did what they could but it took them 2 hours just to get the smile off his face."

Mar 29, 08 - 03:10 pm Comment from: Fred Mertz

ChrissyOne,

http://code.google.com/p/iphone-haptics/

Mar 29, 08 - 03:13 pm Comment from: ChrissyOne

*GREAT* link. Thanks!

Mar 29, 08 - 03:22 pm Comment from: ChrissyOne

I wonder if they could use something like ultrasonic vibrations to create a sense of texture to the screen. Like a virtual braille. Then you could feel around for controls before you actually press them.

Which brings up another problem - 'The Next Major Computing Platform' seems poised to really piss off blind people.

I bet Roddenberry has this all worked out somewhere...

How is it any different from before? Who's gonna want to play games on that thing? Who's gonna wanna surf the web? Browse photos? Watch movies? Read maps? Books? Show patients what their medication looks like? Sign for a package? Who's gonna wanna develop for that thing?

When presented with the iPhone as an alternative, no one.

We don't know what RIM is working on now as far as a device with a worthwhile screen, but I doubt that with the lack of the ecosystem Apple builds around their products that it will be able to compete with Apple who went from no phone to best phone just like that.

People forget that when the iPod came out, it was Mac only. Making it a PC device as well gave it wings. This latest SDK gave iPhone it's wings.

Oh dear, why do the gormless suits in all these companies order their "designers" to knock off the competition with a me-too???

Pathetic. RIM deserves to belly-up on this.

And it doesn't even run OSX either

Mar 29, 08 - 04:27 pm Comment from: Dave H

I wouldn't write RIM off yet folks. This thing has stopgap written all over it. I bet it'll sell like mad.

I hope their follow up is kick ass. iPhone needs some serious competition or it'll stagnate.

Mar 29, 08 - 04:31 pm Comment from:  Genius

Have you noticed how many comments have been posted for one single subject. We know no one will buy it. Who is SteveJack?