“The iPhone has been the subject of speculation for quite a while and I thought I would drop what I know. I will try to not drop enough information as to reveal my source,” one Mr. or Ms. “wiseassoffice” writes for NoHeat.com.
The iPhone is a black device that is nearly featureless on the front except the dock and a couple of other buttons. On the bottom is what appears to be a standard dock. The most remarkable feature of the iPhone is the display which is I hear breathtaking as it emerges from behind what appears to be black plastic. The whole front with exception to a couple of millimeters along the edges of the iPhone are touch sensitive and that allows the customer to select from objects on the screen, such as the phone’s keyboard. This feature was widely described for the nebulous full screen iPod and will instead be found in the iPhone. It was the patents that were acquired for the iPhone that started that speculation…
… This product is the Zune killer that has been held back and will likely leapfrog over cell phones, PDAs, and MP3 and video players that are out there. I have heard that iPods will likely take on most of the non phone features of the iPhone including the new screen technology.
More in the full article here.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “Bill C.” for the heads up.]
Zune doesn’t need to be killed, it’s already dead.
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Will switch phone carrier to get this thing, if it
a) is all that it is rumoured to be, and
b) has a snowball’s chance in hell of being available in Canada
My current phone is 4 years old, but is sensibly designed and sized for my big mitts. thank you audiovox! ( I hate flip phones)
critic – heheh. nice one.
I was talking to a friend the other day and she was trying to convince me to finally get a cell phone. I laughed and laughed. Then she pulled one out and said she already bought one for me. Then she went over what I needed to do to activate it and pay for it. And I laughed some more.
My point: If Apple gets into the cell phone business and becomes a reseller, they could make a killing simply by applying their usability design and tendency for liberal licensing to the market. Evidently the cell phone racket is run by a bunch of greedy assholes.
But I don’t think I would get one, still. A cell phone would just mean it would be easier for work to get in touch with me. No, never, thank you.
effwerd, I’m totally with you. Although SJ is (I think) going to make it very tempting to be “in touch” all the time. *Sigh*
And here I thought I was the last person on the globe NOT walking around with a cell phone attached to his hip.
The Apple patent referred to by the poster covered multiple uses of a device with a touch screen interface, so it is clearly possible that the iPhone will have multiple functions using different interfaces. A second Apple patent application specifically covered a remote control that controls many living-room-entertainment devices via changing interfaces. Obviously, the most important thing about the remote is that there no more than six “buttons”!
It’s possible the poster is just connecting the dots of all these Apple patent applications. Though I hope that it’s not just that.
The first thing that comes to my mind is how the cell carriers will screw it up – or try to. I use Cingular and my mobile is locked into their menu system – which is screwed up enough to be a MS reject. The mobile companies are going to have a hard time letting Apple use a better menu system as they want to lock the phone into their system. (Does anyone know how to unlock a bloody mobile?)
On the iPhone design side I believe that the interesting potential is if Apple puts a small HD in in. That provides plenty of room to include a “lite” version of OS X which would blow past the competition for a long time. I can see being able to move between the mobile, iPod and Mac Jr for iPhoto, Address Book, iCal, etc. That would also open up a huge potential for third party developers to add some of their small OS X apps to the iPhone. Would be wild!
Soembody likes to see themselves quoted on the ‘net. get a life.
I for one never tire of the endless rumors and speculation about the fantastic Apple-branded cellphone. How many years has this been going on now? Maybe “Santa” will leave one in my stocking this year for Christmas.
Wooohhhhh!!!
That’s all I’ll say.
Let the battle of the vaporware commence!!!!
….AND THE ZUNE IS DOWN!!!! OMG THE iPHONE WINS IN ONE PUNCH!!!!
Damn that didnt even last as long as a Tyson fight….
I always saw the iPhone as a Nano shaped (black + white of course) phone with all the buttons on the front (including an iSight) and a touch sensitive screen would slide up.
But hey, I’ll take anything that Apple makes.. 😀
~Caleb
A year or so ago I was walking through some retail store when I saw a non-iPod that did the screen out of nowhere thing.
When the screen was dim the whole front was just a seamless sheet of black plastic, but when the screen came on it emerged from seemingly nowhere. I thought it was one of the coolest things I’d seen in a while. I have no doubt that Apple could perfect it.
Have you ever sat at your computer and wished you could iChat someone’s phone? Bet on the fact that this phone and Leo’ X.5 are sleeping together.
{fred_sanford}
Elizabeth! I think this is the big one!
{/fred_sanford}
I think this is the real deal, guys.
Discuss.
-c
MW: “above” (100 by 1/15)
Hey,
anybody know how many users Apple have? And an estimate of how many the iPod users are?
thank you!
P.S.
just guessing whichmarket could be, considering just the ones that already like/own Apple products
Will those remote functions be useful with “Asteroid”
They mean something like this.
<a href=”
“>iPhone picture</url>
Although SJ is (I think) going to make it very tempting to be “in touch” all the time.
I’ll be tempted but I am a very reluctant consumer. I’ve yet to buy an iPod even though I have plenty of use for one. And an iPhone would have even more functionality and it might justify the purchase with every feature except the phone, and I can finally have a mobile phone in case of emergency (which is the only reason I see to have one). But this would only be if the terms of service are reasonable.
And here I thought I was the last person on the globe NOT walking around with a cell phone attached to his hip.
Heh. I’m sure there are at least one or two more of us.
Here’s the right link.
Just like apple not to put a finger stop on the dial.
The iPhone will have:
1. .mac integration and iSync
2. iLife, iTunes and Quicktime Mobile
3. Safari Mobile
4. Mail, iCal and iWork Mobile
5. WiFi, 3G, BT2, USB2, headphone port
6. OS X features like Spotlight and Expose
Here’s the best feature: Dashboard Mobile
Basically take everything we like about OS X and throw it into a cell phone. It’ll leave the mobile companies and MS (Windows Mobile) scrambling for years trying to copy. Windows Mobile is the only thing that could come close and it’s a total joke, I should know, I own a WM5 device. OS X Mobile would blow away WM5.
Ack!…Cough…Ar-r-r-g-h…Cough…
Sorry. I’m choking on the drool. If this is half-true I’ll be replacing my RAZR as soon as the iPhone hits the streets.
I had one of the prototypes, and it does all that the author says. But the surface got tiny scratches on it, so I gave it back. Why do Apple products get scratches? I can’t stand scratches!
Fred, to prevent scratches on your phone, stop inserting it in your ass after leaving it on vibrate mode.
I WANT ONE!!
WOW!
Eric24601:
I’ve done it. Now CALL ME.
-c
MW: “move” (over bacon)