“[Yesterday], I had meetings with with Steve Jobs and then Phil Schiller, Apple’s director of worldwide marketing. I basically played with the iPhone the entire hour,” David Pogue blogs for The New York Times.
Pogue mentions some of the things you can’t tell without actually handling and using the iPhone:
• It feels amazing in your hand. Not like an iPod, not like a Treo — but something new. It’s so thin, and the rounded stainless-steel edges are so smooth, you can excuse its larger-than-Treo façade. When you’re on a call, it’s so cool how the screen turns off to save power, thanks to its proximity sensor.
• The phone won’t be available until June, so some of its software isn’t finished yet. As I tapped my way into obscure corners of the phone, Mr. Jobs pointed out a couple of spots where only a placeholder graphic was available.
• I tried out the camera. It was really cool to frame a shot using the HUGE 3.5-inch screen; it’s rare to find that big a screen on any camera. The refresh rate felt typical of a camera-phone to me, but Mr. Jobs said that it would be much smoother by the time the phone is done.
Much more in Pogue’s full blog post here.
iPhone’s home screen sure has lots of space left for more things, doesn’t it? 
Related articles:
The only thing really wrong with Apple’s iPhone is its name – January 09, 2007
Is Apple building ‘The Device?’ [revisited] – January 09, 2007
Analyst Bajarin: Apple’s iPhone and Apple TV are industry game changers – January 09, 2007
Time: ‘iPhone could crush cell phone market pitilessly beneath the weight of its own superiority’ – January 09, 2007
Analyst: Apple iPhone should be given its own category – ‘brilliantphone’ – January 09, 2007
Cingular to use Synchronoss Technologies’ platform for Apple iPhone – January 09, 2007
iPhone photos from Apple’s Macworld Expo booth – January 09, 2007
Enderle: Apple’s iPhone is going to do very well – January 09, 2007
Apple debuts iPhone: touchscreen mobile phone + widescreen iPod + Internet communicator – January 09, 2007
I guess he likes it.
Is there ANY camera available wqith a 3.5″ screen?
“Is there ANY camera available wqith a 3.5″ screen?”
Samsung Digimax Pro815
I wonder if things like the iPod radio attachment will work with it?
Yeah this thing will be ground breaking and I hope I can justify spending $700 CAN on a Phone/PDA that would normally last bearly 2 years.
Ok so where is iLife 07 and all the other toys in the loop, is there going to be another Macworld demo or will we have to wait 6 weeks for the iPhone jazz to settle down if it ever does.
Snapper, don’t worry, there will be a special apple-event at the beginning of march. featuring Leopard. iLife, iWorks (with new spreadsheet app), improved .Mac, and the 11 inch widesreen MacBook nano. All available right after the event. You heard it here first.
Why weren’t iLife ’07 and Leopard demonstrated? Because Vista is due out in a few weeks. If Steve showed everything now, Vista would have nothing to compete with in the media for months. But, if Vista comes out and has a few notable public problems, which it certainly will as a new product in the wild, and Leopard is shown to the world in a special event, it’s going to make Vista look silly and behind again.
This is strategy.
I think everyone agrees this phone is pretty amazing.
But there is no way I can justify spending that much on a phone/ipod combo even the extra features.
What exactly makes phone technology so expensive?
I think we’ll be waiting for few weeks for iLife, iWork and a new computer of some sorts (redesigned iMac?). Phone is cool, but I was disappointed there wasn’t more “Mac” talk at “MacWorld”.
Regis and Kelly just talked about it again today. Kelly said she’s going to get one. Now THIS is the iPod halo effect in action.
New technology phones are always expensive. It won’t be long before this is affordable with a contract plan… If Apple wants to make iPhone a runaway hit like iPod, it will find a way to make it a no-brain purchase.
I assume it can stream music from the internet.
How do I get out of my verizon contract?
How much to cancel? OUCH!
Wait until this family of phones grows to cover a range of peoples needs (ie, shuffle, nano, etc..)
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I think Sony makes a camera with a 3.5″ screen, and it’s touchscreen to boot. Or was it Olympus? In either case, it’s a pretty neat camera.
“Regis and Kelly just talked about it again today. Kelly said she’s going to get one.”
It might not be simple enough for Kelly Ripa.
Apple — a real life “Q Branch.”
“Now pay attention, 007. This shouldn’t take more than an hour…”
People asking how iPhone can be ‘so expensive’ need to sit down and think HARD.
Years of development, 200 patents, ground-breaking in every way, 5 years ahead of its time..
And they can still say it’s expensive? It could be priced 3 times the amount it is and it would still sell – but of course it would be out of reach of some…
“I was disappointed there wasn’t more “Mac” talk at “MacWorld”.”
Newsflash: It’s not going to be called MacWorld next year.
This phone really is so the one I want.
It is everything and more than I hoped.
EDGE is good for now and the 3G model is coming soon.
Simply wonderfull thing. No I hope that FCC boys and girls but this thing fast through.
I’m simple enough for Kelly Ripa.
You have to think of how many people ARE willing to pay that price, not you you personally would, that’s irrelevant. Kind of how supply and demand works and all.
I happen think $600 is ridiculously overpriced for a game console…
Yet Sony won’t have any problem selling PS3s because millions of people find $600 a fair price for the amount of entertainment they get out of it.
Just because I think it’s too much doesn’t mean it’s not the *right* price.
An iPhone, however… THAT would be useful to me.
And, er…. productive! (shock!)
And gladly I’d pay $10,000 to never have to use a Motorola phone again.
Maybe more.
So, economics.
I think 600 bucks is a pretty good deal for something I will actually use, and enjoy using.
@Macaday
But most Apple products are much more affordable, most people wont care about development and patents.
This phone is far too expensive for the average consumer.
I hope this can be made as a CDMA phone. GSM has it’s share of problems; and my carrier is CDMA. Guess I’ll be waiting for a while.
It seems radio is so old fashioned these days, why no radio tuner build in?
This is clearly another reason why the phone is delayed until June. Not just for “approvals” but to actually finish the phone!
I really hope that FileMaker (mobile might be fine) will be able to run on the phone. Also need some other normal aps: word processing, maybe a spreadsheet, etc. The OS can handle it, unless it’s really stripped down, but there was not a word about including such productivity aps.
Expensive? 5 years ago, I think I paid $500 for a 5gb iPod the size of a Zune! I just paid $300 for a new RAZR. So I think it is just about right. Anyone want to buy a sligtly used RAZR with iTunes in June?
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Magic Word…no joke: PAY
Where is the iSight camera for video chat? What about VoIP??
I think the price is a bit high considering that you have to sign a two year contract. I think a $600 retail price with a $450 price tag after signing a 2 year Cingular contract would be much more reasonable.
I think a lot of people arguing the price are really just seeing the one big number and perhaps forgetting what it represents. As Steven said, a lot of people are willing to buy a phone, iPod, point & shot camera which, if added together would be more expensive. But when faced with that large number we think “for a phone?” without remembering it does all the other things too. I think $600 actually is affordable for the average consumer – basically a cup of coffee a day, but I agree on first look it is a large number. I fully believe Apple will sell a lot of these, and not just to the Treo / BlackBerry totting either (in fact, I’d say those people would be the minority of iPhone buyers).
@UKJim Even if they priced it at $200 it would be out of range for some peoples pockets.
As it is it represents great value for leaping out of the monstrous, ugly, mostly unuseable smartphones that exist today.
As someone said, Treo and Blackberries and Sony’s with Win CE all look like Commodore 64’s as of yesterday.
What price to not use yesteryears technology??
@sd
I dont see many business people buying this at all, IT Dept wont want iTunes installed everywhere. And it doesn’t really support all exchange/blackberry/domino features.
NOt really aimed at business or average consumers.
@Roberto
Podcasts are the new radio. ie what ‘broadcast’ you want, when you want it!
I own a BB 8700 Cingular now. I will buy this device ASAP with 2 concerns. I believe typing on the keyboard without tactile feel will be a major problem as David Pogue points out, and the ability to navigate my BB with one hand will be eliminated as the functionality essentially requires 2 hands.
“It seems radio is so old fashioned these days, why no radio tuner build in?”
Because you’ll be listening to internet radio through iTunes.
Duh.
@Macaday
Isnt a ‘Smartphone’ defined as a device which you can install 3rd party apps on. There appears to be a lack of that with the ‘iPhone’.
Can I read attachments on the ‘iPhone’, whether it be Word, pdf, open office etc?
Apparently Apple hasn’t learned from the iPod 3G mistake.
For the price point, considering that this could replace the laptop for some of us who have a desktop at home, it could be considered a bargain.
Not that I would mind if it were only $250.00….
Too expensive?
Go to Palm’s web site and compare this to the Treo 700.
It’s not just a phone/iPod. If that’s all it was then I would agree.
It’s a phone, iPod, Palm, 2MP camera and many other little technologies. It runs OS X and has a big color screen. This initially is to compete with the SmartPhones and Blackberries. Down the road I see it being priced to compete with just the regular camera phones.
One can only imagine what Apple has in store for this phone in its present form-factor.
It boggles the mind to think of all of the third-party apps and widgets that are just over the horizon. Not to mention the hardware peripherals such as docks that extend the iPhone’s capabilities when parked at a desk.
Who knows, maybe a second generation iPhone will come equipped with a tiny iSight camera for face-to-face communication while on the road.
Instead of lugging around a laptop I could use this as a proxy Mac.
Touch sensitive screens are all over incar GPS boxes, my TomTom 710 has a touch keyboard, its not as ‘friendly’ as a proper keyboard, but it works and I get better and better with it. This will work, no doubts, it’s just a learning curve, compared to a Treo keyboard, it has to be better.
@TowerTone
How could you replace a laptop with this, do you only browse the web and send and receive email’s everyday?
In 9-12 months, expect there to be a true video iPod with the same form factor as the iPhone sans the cell phone capability that will be priced more in line with the current iPod lines (~$350). Apple is very good at designing new products that are revolutionary that then taking the great aspects of that line and migrating them to other products. Apple has an incredible amount of positive feedback between all of it’s design teams. Good designs get moved around and new products add other new great features.
Roberto this thing has wifi capability which means you shoud be able to stream your favorite terrestrial radio station and if you have a satellite radio subscription you should be able to listen in on this device as well So add the XM Nexus as another device this thing might obsolete.
@UK JIM
MS-Word .DOC is NOT a file exchange format. PDF is a file exchange format. This thing does run OS X so perhaps applications which can decode this unholy scourge of a format could be installed. We’ll see.
.DOC 01?
.DOC 02?
.DOC 03?
It doesn’t matter how many Microsoft Office users there are out there if the .DOC format is not independently sanctioned as an industry approved standard.
Large market share ≠ standard.
Yea, we will definately see a Mac, OS X and other software show. Theres no doubt in my mind about that. So relax everyone who keeps saying Apple is abandoning the computer market, jeez. I think they are right to wait until after Vista to release Leopard. Mafiasoft have to have Vista out by February according someone I know who works for them otherwise some people will be getting fired. This rush release (if it can be called that
” width=”19″ height=”19″ alt=”LOL” style=”border:0;” /> ) may leave it prone to some silly mistakes. Msoft will look foolish, then Apple will come out and blow them away with some features we didnt even know were going to be in Leopard imo.
@Myron P. Nerdlinger
Thats why I included Open office format
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OpenDocument
@UK JIM…
Obviously, the iPhone can’t replace the entire functionality of a MacBook Pro, but I carry my laptop in my briefcase almost everywhere so I have access to internet and mail apps. If I’m going where this connectivity is desired, yet real “computing” is not, then I can leave my bulkier/heavier MacBook Pro at home or office. This is what I think TowerTone meant by replacing a laptop.
I think investment people are targeting Apple at far too low a price. The really exciting news isn’t the iPhone, it’s MultiTouch. When Apple licenses that technology out, they will make huge royalties.
Good article here – http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/01/10/iphone_where_is_the_market/
“the iPhone will face an uphill battle in Europe, where 3G communicators are supplied for free. From this perspective, the iPhone looks like an expensive iPod that locks you into a utility contract you might not want. This year’s phones will run at 3.5G-speeds, (HSDPA) and several, like Nokia’s N95, will feature GPS mapping built in. Stuck on 2.75G, the iPhone begins to look like a rich man’s toy.
(We don’t know the level of Cingular’s subsidy, but it could be disguising a $1000 boondoggle).
The question then becomes, is the price right?”
I’d bet a few of my beautiful AAPL shares that we saw the first incarnation of Leopard yesterday on the iPhone.
IMHO there are reasons apple didn’t introduce Leopard, iLife, iWork etc.
First of all introducing all of those in one event will take the thunder of the iPhone spotlight. Look at what happened to AppleTV. Granted that it’s been announced before but not a lot of people are making a big deal out of it.
Second the changing name of Apple Computer Inc to Apple Inc. The iPhone will be available to both Macs and Windows machine. At this time, only iTunes is available to Windows. iLife ’07 in my opinion will be available for both platform (at least part of it) in the coming months so that windows counterpart will have the ability to sync all the photos, address book, calendar, bookmarks and email accounts. Think of it, Safari, iCal, iTunes, iPhoto and address books running on windows.
One problem that average users have problem with cellphone is synching them with the computer. Have you ever tried moto sync program? With iPhone, drop them in the cradle and you are good to go.
Just my $0.02
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I think the introductory price is spot on. It’ll come down as more carriers get with the program but I doubt we’ll see much reduction when it’s selling in volume. I’d expect any economies to be swallowed up by better batteries and increased storage capacity. Although it’s loaded with technology, most of the wizardry is accomplished by software, which is mostly fixed [sunk] costs.
To get data costs down, we’ll have to see carrier competition. As a phone, I’m completely sold, but I wouldn’t be much of a data customer unless the price comes down and it’s on 3G. Time will tell.
The form factor should influence the video iPod, which should use the same input technology. That would be overkill for a non-video nano but sweet for a multimedia player. A video iPod would require a larger storage bang for the bucks.
We might even added capabilities, which could turn it into an awesome universal remote control / garage opener / room controller. They missed out on an inertia charging device. Operating like an automatic watch, such a device could charge a spring to spin a micro generator (good for joggers and floggers). There’s lots of room for further development too: iChat and VOIP to name a couple.
There’s no underestimating this monster. Bill Gates is right when he said Apple’s closed model doesn’t get the variety of design, price points and distribution. We don’t need that crap.
U.K. Jim
I have a desktop for my heavy lifting. I need a lot of information that could easily be stored on an iPhone, mainly documents. Currently I have about 15 manuels for different equipment in my vehicle, and my current laptop takes WAY too long to boot up. With a device like this, I could just pull up the info I need that I have saved from my desktop. I can also get email and store contacts. I don’t have time to get on the internet, and many of my sites that I work at don’t have a strong enough signal anyhow.
I just saw a GM commercial on TV and guess what? – it only talked about GMC trucks.
My God, Why Why Why Why no mention of Chevy, Pontiac, and Saturn…. Sounds to me like General Motors is getting out of the car business!!!!! They are obviously leaving all of us faithful people behind because they didn’t mention every product that they manufacture in a 30 sec commercial…
I’m sure this means that this is the END of Chevy.. I’m SOOOO Disappointed!!!!! I guess I’ll have to buy a Kia now!!!!
Oh and buy the way, The GMC trucks didn’t even have every option that everyone in the world wanted.. This is the END!!!!!
Disappointed!!!
IS there any coincidence that the application buttons look like Widgets?
I expect Apple will be looking at 3rd party development hoses to write applications for this new little phone, which can be dowloaded from Apple’s web site (maybe via iTunes).
I too was a little disappointed by the lack of new Mac specific stuff. Here’s hoping for the following within 3 months:
1.) Leopard
2.) iLife 07
3.) iWork 07 (with spreadsheet)
4.) New Apple Cinema displays with HDMI input
5.) New Mac mini with HDMI output
:
:
And before Christmas – how about:
1.) iMac with a sleek ceramic case!!
2.) New universal remote with 3.5″ touch screen control to control all
the kit under the widescreen TV (including Apple TV). Again with ceramic case!
Anyne know what chip is inside the iPhone?
I see lots of other software being added as MDN has pointed out some of the blank spots on the screen.
Truely a Mac/Video iPod/Phone combination. This is so cool!
1- Instead of offering an optional unlocked phone it is tied to Cingular- now part of the ‘New’ AT&T (SBC) near Monopoly. The champion of a non neutral internet.
2- Instead of a PDA like version being offered- it only works with an active Cell contract.
On most of Cingular’s existing network this thing will be a high priced paper weight except to be used as a phone. As they say at a competitor- it’s the Network and Cingular’s sucks. Given that Cingular is now fully owned by AT&T, the champion of copper to the home and a tiered internet, I wouldn’t be encouraged.
P.S> Anybody else notice that the color scheme looks like a hand held version of VISTA?
Remember, pricing is also a psychological game. When the price is expensive it gives it a ‘luxury’ feeling. You’re paying for something ‘better’ because you’re paying more. Ferrari, Porshe, Gucci, LV and others cost a hell of a lot but are they worth it? Lots of people believe they are worth it even if they have the same utility as the bus or a plastic bag. That being said, lets see the the iPhone in action and we’ll probably all come to the conclusion that it’s worth every penny.
Other computer makers don’t get it yet. They’re not just in the computer industry, they’re in the fashion industry. Computers are everywhere and affordable. They’re a commodity. Just like cars. Cars have actually been in the fashion industry for a long time but some carmakers don’t recognize it yet.
I think you mean Vista looks like Front Row.
sry, that was to Great Product- Poor Plan
@ Pricing is also a psychological game
“Other computer makers don’t get it yet. They’re not just in the computer industry, they’re in the fashion industry.”
Actually, Dell is in the cat box industry.
Another good article – http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/01/10/iphone_will_fail_again/
“Several readers have been in touch to ask if I’ve revised my opinions of the iPhone, now we’ve seen prototypes and heard the spiel, but the basic premise remains the same: the iPhone needs to appeal to operators, not customers, to be successful.”
Wow, it’s right there in the very first paragraph. The Reg does NOT understand this market. At ALL.
Considering that a 10GB iPod with monochrome screen cost $400 in 2002 and did just one thing, the iPhone looks like an awful lot for $499. Savin’ my pennies for June…
A MAC Fan: You get it!
Everybody: Think for a minute. If you listened carefully to the Keynote there is only one reason why we learned about the iPhone yesterday. The cover is going to be blown because it has to get FCC approval. Steve wanted to be the one telling us about the iPhone, not some leak from the FCC. Makes sense.
But it presented it’s own problems. First of all, the thing is not done, not ready for prime time. Second, what they could show was exposing the next OS to us. Remember? It runs OS X. Now why would it run OS 10.4? Hum??? YOU DID SEE OS 10.5 yesterday! But only as much as Steve would allow. There is more to this iPhone than we saw if you can believe it.
GSM is the future in America – get over it. And by Rev. B this will be G3.
Games will come, shareware will come. And, shudder to think of it, MS Doc. will come if you must.
Count on it.
The revolution has begun.
Where are the Games? Where is the games icon? Something glaring about that, an iGame handheld coming????
@ UK JIM (what’s with capitals?)
No doubt you said all these things about the iPod when it first arrived – like so many did.
This phone will more than likely be 3G by the time it gets to Europe and contrary to the rubbish in the Register article you refer to as ‘good’, the European operators will compete like hell between them to to get it, offering Apple a fantastic deal just as Cingular will have.
Just because its Europe and “so advance” that the operators will be happy to let a competitor get a sole iPhone license in Europe???
Wake up boy.
the “average” and the “best” are two different categories. the ability of the “average” consumer to possibly afford the “best” technology at inception, is what makes the price of the iphone so amazing. most new, advanced technologies are only within the price range of under 5% of consumers, the iphone is within the grasp of at least 40% of the people. when you consider that software upgrades will add virtually unlimited functionality via ‘desktop class’ apps, you are essentially, for once, getting far more than you paid for.
can you say Newton?
The keynote was two hours long and still was not long enough to showcase what I am sure Apple had ready. As it was, the Apple TV was almost lost in the stunning iPhone announcement. Next week Apple goes public with its holiday quarter results. That should keep Apple in the news and very positive news at that. Then I am sure Apple will hold events announcing new Mac products, hardware and software, keeping Apple in the news and boosting its positive public awareness.
Remember when the first iPod came out….people thought it was too expensive. Still sold well. I would say that the iPhone…will do even better…it is far cooler than the first iPod. People are going to snatch these up like hot cakes and flaunt it.
Come to think of it…I think the inspiration was from the Kameleon 6-in-1 Universal remote just smaller.
http://www.mykameleon.com/
I think we’ve just seen the Leopard finder UI
@UK JIM
OpenDocument
– = – = – = – = – = – = – = – = – = – = – = – = – = – = – = –
From the Wiki:
The OpenDocument standard has been developed by a variety of organizations and is publicly accessible. This means it can be implemented into any system, be it free software/open source or a closed proprietary product, without royalties. The OpenDocument format is intended to provide an open alternative to proprietary document formats so organizations and individuals can avoid being locked in to a single vendor.
ODF is the first standard for editable office documents that has been approved by an independent recognized standardization body.
– = – = – = – = – = – = – = – = – = – = – = – = – = – = – = –
Now that’s what I’m talking about. Thank you for the link.
Notice that the people who are drooling over this are those who carry Blackberries or Treos. There are right, it is unbelievably amazing, but Apple is just not going to sell this to the main phone market as I believe they think they will. Now if an iPhone Nano comes out…..
I guess this was never mentioned before..The price you are going to pay is for the hardware, software AND the experience. You can’t buy THAT Multi-Touch experience anywhere (on a phone at least).