“I am in fact truly in awe of what I witnessed Tuesday. Steve Jobs is the Salesman of the Century–nothing wrong with that. And Apple and Jobs have done everything right with the iPhone–so far. I certainly want one, and am rooting for Apple to dominate and transform the handset industry,” Mike Elgan writes for Computerworld.
Elgan writes, “However, I fear that the iPhone vision and the keynote were so flawlessly executed that Apple may have raised expectations that will be hard to fulfill. The things that might shatter this wonderful iPhone illusion are the things we do not know.”
Elgan’s 20 unanswered questions about the Apple iPhone:
1. How much will it cost to own an iPhone?
2. What will be the “unlocked” iPhone price?
3. How much will it cost to replace a lost or damaged iPhone?
4. How fast is the iPhone?
5. What did Jobs mean when he said the “iPhone runs OS X”?
6. How well will the iPhone sync with Windows applications?
7. Will businesses be able to use the iPhone?
8. Will the iPhone support Word, Excel, and PowerPoint documents?
9. Will you be able to use your iPhone as a modem for your laptop?
10. Will the iPhone scratch or peel?
11. Will the iPhone be called the iPhone?
12. Will people hate the on-screen iPhone keyboard experience?
13. Can you use the iPhone to make VoIP calls?
14. Will people accept iPhone’s slow Internet connection?
15. Will third-party software vendors be able to create applications for the iPhone? If not, why not? If so, what are they?
16. Will iPhone’s single-carrier model wreck the product for most users?
17. Will there be any way to wirelessly share files with the iPhone?
18. Will the iPhone kill sales of iPods?
19. Will Apple be able to fill iPhone orders accurately?
20. Will the iPhone really “change the world?”
Elgan writes, “The iPhone vision Jobs unveiled was bold, risky, and amazing. Now we can only wait and see what Silicon Valley’s master magician really has up his sleeve. If Jobs and Apple can produce the right answers to these 20 questions, they’ll make a believer out of me.”
Full article here.
Related articles:
Report: iPhone could be upgraded to 3G with software update if Apple wishes – January 11, 2007
Report: Rogers Communications to offer Apple iPhone in Canada – January 11, 2007
David Pogue: hands on preview of Apple’s iPhone, ‘gorgeous and so packed with possibilities’ – January 11, 2007
PC Magazine hands-on test of Apple iPhone: multi-touch UI ‘takes the breath away’ – January 11, 2007
Mossberg’s initial take on Apple iPhone: ‘radical and gorgeous’ with ‘brilliant new user interface’ – January 11, 2007
NewsWeek’s Levy interviews Apple CEO Steve Jobs about iPhone – January 11, 2007
Why Apple’s iPhone doesn’t do high-speed mobile phone networks (yet) – January 11, 2007
RealMoney: Apple just blew up the whole damn mobile-phone supply chain with its new iPhone – January 11, 2007
ZDNet: Hands on with Apple’s iPhone: ‘elegant, ravishing, simple, sleek; impeccable & intuitive UI’ – January 11, 2007
Apple iPhone FUD campaign begins – January 10, 2007
Nine ways Apple changed the face of consumer electronics yesterday – January 10, 2007
Analysts and investors applaud arrival of Apple iPhone – January 10, 2007
Top 10 things to love and top 10 things to hate about the Apple iPhone – January 10, 2007
How Apple kept the iPhone top secret for 30 months – January 10, 2007
Hands-on with Apple’s iPhone – January 10, 2007
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
FUD Alert: Analyst – I am pretty skeptical Apple’s iPhone can succeed – January 11, 2007
The Register’s Ray: Apple ‘iPhone’ will fail – December 26, 2006
Analyst: Apple iPhone economics aren’t that compelling – December 08, 2006
CNET editor Kanellos: ‘Apple iPhone will largely fail’ – December 07, 2006
Palm CEO laughs off Apple ‘iPhone’ threat – November 20, 2006
For someone who was in awe, he sure has misgivings.
Next article, “30 Unanswered Questions About the iPhone”
a lot of these answers are there. you just have to use your BRAIN.
1. $499/4 GB, $599/8 GB. or was this referring to the Cingular plan?
” width=”19″ height=”19″ alt=”smile” style=”border:0;” />
2. THERE WILL BE NO UNLOCKED IPHONE.
3. ???
4. ???
5. he meant it runs a form of Mac OS X. not the same as what’s on your desktop, but a derivative of it.
6. (i’m a Mac user. ask me if i care
7. why not?
8. NO…it’s not a laptop. it’s a PHONE.
9. ???
10. probably no more than existing phones. take care of it.
11. wait and see.
12. well, you’ll have to wait until after June for this one!
13. not when it’s introduced. maybe never.
14. you’ll have to wait until after June.
15. not when it’s introduced. i think one would have to partner with Apple to have the application created, tested and distributed through iTS.
16. you’ll have to wait until after June.
17. NO.
18. not likely.
19. you’ll have to wait until after June.
20. you’ll have to wait until after June.
According to a friend of mine at Apple, it will make Coffee for you every morning…
Lemmie guess, Elran didn’t get his 10 minutes with the iPhone.
This is one of those slightly more subtle FUD articles which raises question every one of which could be constued as a negative.
I wonder how many of these same questions can be answered for the other smart mobiles?
John
“10. Will the iPhone scratch or peel?”
I hear that it molts every 6 months.
1. How much will it cost to own an iPhone
If you have the money to purchase the iPhone, then I don’t think you will care on the cost.
2. What will be the “unlocked” iPhone price?
Apple never said anything about an unlocked iPhone.
3. How much will it cost to replace a lost or damaged iPhone?
Forget this one. no answer.
4. How fast is the iPhone?
As fast as your phone you have now.
5. What did Jobs mean when he said the “iPhone runs OS X”?
Just that it runs on OS X. get it.
6. How well will the iPhone sync with Windows applications?
Who needs Windows apps.
7. Will businesses be able to use the iPhone?
Yes why not.
8. Will the iPhone support Word, Excel, and PowerPoint documents?
Again same Windows crap question.
9. Will you be able to use your iPhone as a modem for your laptop?
Do you still use a modem…get a life
10. Will the iPhone scratch or peel?
will your car scratch?
11. Will the iPhone be called the iPhone?
Just could be called the iFone.
12. Will people hate the on-screen iPhone keyboard experience?
No
13. Can you use the iPhone to make VoIP calls?
Anything can and will be.
14. Will people accept iPhone’s slow Internet connection?
No and No
15. Will third-party software vendors be able to create applications for the iPhone? If not, why not? If so, what are they?
It will do everything and have everything, who will need third-party apps.
16. Will iPhone’s single-carrier model wreck the product for most users?
No and No
17. Will there be any way to wirelessly share files with the iPhone?
Most likely yes.
18. Will the iPhone kill sales of iPods?
No not at all.
19. Will Apple be able to fill iPhone orders accurately?
Only if Apple is using Mac’s. and not Windows.
20. Will the iPhone really “change the world?”
I think it has already done that.
Some of these are easy…some remain to be seen.
1. How much will it cost to own an iPhone? Less than it does to own a Treo or comparable level phone
2. What will be the “unlocked” iPhone price? Close to the present price..so close it won’t matter
3. How much will it cost to replace a lost or damaged iPhone? Unclear but clearly less than a new one
4. How fast is the iPhone? Not very fast on the Edge network…fast enough using Wi-Fi
5. What did Jobs mean when he said the “iPhone runs OS X”? It’s a limited version of the OS but one that can clearly be expanded as necessary
6. How well will the iPhone sync with Windows applications? It likely won’t
7. Will businesses be able to use the iPhone? Sure…but with limitations
8. Will the iPhone support Word, Excel, and PowerPoint documents? Why would you want it to? You want to look at a full Excel spreadsheet on your cellphone? Buy a laptop for gods sake.
9. Will you be able to use your iPhone as a modem for your laptop? No
10. Will the iPhone scratch or peel? No
11. Will the iPhone be called the iPhone? Yes…the Cisco thing will blow over.
12. Will people hate the on-screen iPhone keyboard experience? Probably…but like many things they will either get used to it..OR because it’s software it will be updated and improved. Try that with your Treo keyboard.
13. Can you use the iPhone to make VoIP calls? Unclear but I’d say no
14. Will people accept iPhone’s slow Internet connection? For some things yes… it depends on how much time they have and how vital the information is to them….for some things and people…clearly no.
15. Will third-party software vendors be able to create applications for the iPhone? If not, why not? If so, what are they? Not at first…It creates too much of a technical support issue for Apple. Maybe in a year or two after launch.
16. Will iPhone’s single-carrier model wreck the product for most users? No..Cingular may be crappy in some regards and in some areas…but things change..
17. Will there be any way to wirelessly share files with the iPhone? Probably..email works and since you can use a browser it will likely be capable of letting you use something like Pando or other file sharing services.
18. Will the iPhone kill sales of iPods? Ain’t no way. The price, storage, and feature set all differentiate it.
19. Will Apple be able to fill iPhone orders accurately? Probably based on the reports of 12 million units being ordered from FoxConn. Gen 1 of the iPhone is already being put together to be shipped instantly
when the floodgates open.
20. Will the iPhone really “change the world?” It already has. Ask Palm, Treo, Microsoft, Samsung, Sony, or RIM…they collectively dropped their jaws on this one.
He forgot number 21: Where are the goddamn buttons? Did they fall off?
Welcome to the social.
here’s twenty more desperately unanswered questions:
21. will it get hot after using it for extended periods?
22. will it make all other phones obsolete?
23. if i tried to fold it in half and broke it, would Apple replace it for free?
24. can it squirt songs to my Zune and back?
25. can it squirt addresses wirelessly to other users?
26. can i watch my satellite TV on it?
27. if you lick the back of it, will it stick to your forehead?
28. will using it give me cancer in my brain?
29. can i get that in cornflower blue?
30. if it could chuck wood, how much wood would it chuck?
31. how does it taste with barbecue sauce?
32. does it send text messages?
33. will it work on the Space Shuttle?
W. if i hit it repeatedly with a tire iron, would it damage the screen?
35. will it still work if it’s raining?
36. could you, would you, on a plane?
37. pants?
moof. what if i didn’t cut my nails for a few weeks, could i still use it?
40. what time’s dinner?
could they make a mini app which could use the iphone as a remote control for keynote or powerpoint presentations. that would be something. cause it has bluetooth. would b easy to make and very cool for students like me…
Call the device- iDo
Means new way of comunicating.
“9. Will you be able to use your iPhone as a modem for your laptop? No”
Is has BlueTooth – remember the earpiece – so assume yes.
“8. Will the iPhone support Word, Excel, and PowerPoint documents?”
Wait for the next version of iWork with MacOS and iPhone versions in the box.
“18. Will the iPhone kill sales of iPods?”
It might cause delays for some people who might otherwise get a video iPod.
Unlocked phone and applications? The customer ALWAYS will find a way – they put Linux on an iPod.
“could they make a mini app which could use the iphone as a remote control for keynote or powerpoint presentations. that would be something. cause it has bluetooth. would b easy to make and very cool for students like me…”
You can already do this with pretty much every blutooth phone on the market already.
I use the Salling Clicker software with my SonyEricsson phone and my Powerbook.
I believe that the 20 answers from the feed back responds very good to the 20 questions, but there still one un answered question…. What the hell was thinking this guy (elgan) when he writes this 20 question article, most of the questions can be answer just looking at the keynote (did every one noticed how fast it load pages in the iPhone?). Is he frustrated because he (and windows users) are the only one disconnected from the world
jackspratt,
17. NO – On the other hand I don’t know why not, its got 802.11 wireless networking protocol built in… hhhmmmm?
My two cents. Most of the complaints I’ve seen raised against the iphone do not take into account the ecosystem that will develop around the iphone. The iphone has the same type of expandability that the ipod does. I can only imagine that when the iphone comes out in June, one of the first add-ons to be sold by Belkin or some other manufacturer will be a keyboard that fits into the docking port of the iphone. Also, itunes has already become a marketplace for games of other developers. This will undoubtedly expand to become a marketplace for apps for the iphone. The benefits to developers will be substantial. Games on the ipod retail for $4.99, when the equivalent games retail for up to $19.99 if bought as shareware? Why? The developer can make far more money selling to an audience through itunes, which has a captive audience and easy sales mechanism, and no piracy due to the closed nature of the ipod. Finally, and this simply a guess, I can’t image that a version of TextEdit or something similar won’t be either included, or available at a price, to allow iphone users to view office documents.
Also, as many others have pointed out, this is simply the beginning. What we have been shown is v.1 of a new platform, that will grow and expand. Of course the iphone is not for everyone, and in its initial incarnation, it will not take over every niche. But as an initial foray into the cellphone market, its jaw-droppingly impressive and the various iterations of this device will undoubtedly capture more and more market share.
Why must these guys always through all of the academic masturbation and BS. The product is great and it will only get better over time.
Jeeesh!
Question #1 (cost of operation) was the first thing going through my mind when I watched streaming video of Jobs’ presentation.
If I used its Web access capabilities as much as I’d like to — and text messaging too — I’d imagine I’d be receiving $150 monthly bills from Cingular. This is too much for me because I’d be doing it for recreational use; it’s not justifiable. But…
I can imagine that many companies wouldn’t bat an eye at such a line item expense from the slew of salesmen and execs who will be clamoring for the iPhone. Imagine: Flying into an unfamiliar city at night and renting a car (a Non-Hertz car without NeverLost). With GPS built into the iPhone, you can look up an address (via the Web) and can use maping software to help you navigate unfamiliar roads at night. What an awesome product for those who put all that functionality to good use.
All these questions are completely irrelevant.
Even if every single answer to them was the wrong one (i.e. the one that you don’t want to hear), Apple will still sell every single iPhone it can make for the next 2-3 years.
By that time lessons will have been learned, new models will be made with refinements and the Cingular exclusivity will be over. Apple can then go to all the other carriers and claim the lion’s share to “allow” them to include the iPhone in their offering.
“Unlocked Phone” that’s going to be a joke. We’re gonna start seeing a new concept : “Unlocked providers” or those who have the privilege to hop on the iPhone bandwagon (or die). I predict that Apple will be calling the shots with the providers and that unlocking the iPhone is not even going to make any sense.
With a techonlogy that’s 5 year ahead and an exclusive contract for 3 years, Apple’s got a theoretical two years to do an “iPod” to the whole mobile phone market.
You see these people don’t get it.. You can’t think of it in todays backwards cell/internet device specifics. This is a Paradigm shift these questions mean nothing to the iPhone as it is a completely new device.
jackspratt: LOL!
I also wondered if it is rated for use on top of Mt. Everest.
That could be a HUGE dealbreaker.
21. Does the iPhone have vibrate ?
“29. can i get that in cornflower blue?”
LMAO
“what if i didn’t cut my nails for a few weeks, could i still use it?”
Since I always wear acrylics I was seriously thinking about this. I use my nails to type, but of course that won’t work on a touch screen. Will the pad of my finger be too fat (your fingers..are too… fat… please contact Apple for a… crappy… stylus…)
Answers, Apple, the women of the world want answers.
-c
Ya know… the Mac community used to always get pissed that no one paid attention to us. Now we get pissed when they do. There is nothing this guy said in his article worthy of some of the venom I see in these comments. Does the guy have to masturbate with the product to make everyone happy?!
Enough with the questions already!
Show a little patience. Have these guys considered that perhaps there’s a reason there was no mention of Leopard or iLife ’07 at Macworld? Think an iLife application or two end up on the iPhone? And what about those secret Leopard features? If Steve had said in August that Skype was included, what would people have thought?
No, there’s more than meets the eye in the amazing transforming iPhone. Mark my words…
“Does the guy have to masturbate with the product to make everyone happy?!”
Only if he also wears a clown suit and brings me a good bottle of wine. This will be on YouTube tomorrow.
Why isn’t the iPhone telepathic, free and loaded with cancer fighting nanobots?
Slackers.
WE NEED AN UNLOCKED PHONE!
Actually the 1st Gen won’t be available; but 2nd gen and other models will
be offered unlocked.
Apple will do it.
It will change that loser mobile phone biz in the US.
FINALLY.
Patience my friends, patience.
I think it will be able to open word and excel files. Why not, after all?
Since it uses WiFi, I am sure you will be capable to transfer files wirelessly. It’s just a matter of the software allowing you to see the computer nearby.
I have a few more questions that need answering:
1) Will the iPhone let me call other people? (“i” Phone . . . get it? …ha ha)?
2) Will the iPhone be able to provide screens on both sides?
3) Can I place it in my back pocket and still sit down without damaging it?
4) Will it send information back to Apple Inc. whenever I use the washroom?
5) Will it be of any use to me if I sprain my fingers?
6) Will it be available in white?
7) Can I attach my own keyboard?
8) Will it be possible to play “Cisco Kid” by War on it without getting sued?
9) Will it still work if I drop it into the toilet by mistake?
10) Can I get a keyboard in Swahili built in?
Frequent iPhone usage will thicken some bones and strengthen some muscles of your hands.
#21- Will the iPhone be able to “Squirt” songs to my Zune?
WILL IT BLEND!!!
WILL IT BLEND?
ROFL!! That is just perverted!
A few more unanswered questions…
21. Given that the iPhone contains a FULL WORKING VERSION of OS X (as stated in Steven Levy’s interview with SJ), is the device in fact a tiny Macintosh – in which the full OS can be utilised when the phone is connected to a ‘dumb-terminal’?
22. Is the recently rumoured ’10 inch MacBook’ in reality the ‘dumb-terminal’ for the iPhone to run its full version of OSX on? – A super-thin (eg: a quarter-inch thick) fold-out device containing little more than a screen, a slim keyboard and some flash memory?
23. If the above is true, will the iPhone connect wirelessly to it and its multi-touch screen become a scroll pad – in the way a MacBook scroll pad is traditionally used?
24. Is the recently rumoured ‘Keyboard with built-in iPod Dock’ that was mistakenly delivered to 10 Mac users (Think Secret/November) in reality a Keyboard with iPhone connector? – which can be used as above but with ANY modern screen that is to hand (for example: in TV in hotel rooms, back of airline seats, etc)?
“2. THERE WILL BE NO UNLOCKED IPHONE.”
Yes there will. Outside the US.
What a brainfart!
> 20 unanswered questions about Apple’s iPhone….
You’ll know the answers at Apple’s convenience, not yours. Full stop.
norm e.
To JackSpratt,
I like your questions the best of all.
While some questions do make sense (insurance replacement etc and cost of plans) some are really stupid. What will it be called? If its not called “iPhone” is that a deal breaker??? LOL
Hey, they call it an Apple Phone, I want my money back.!!!! Actually some of these writer questions that I am seeing in print are quite funny, once I quite complaining about the writer being a moron. LOL
N.
i think this article raises some very good questions. i am a mac user and have been for quite a few years. but the reality of the matter is the iPod didn’t make – and wouldn’t have made it – with mac user’s alone. they needed windows user’s and so will the iPhone. this is a brilliant phone, and i plan on purchasing it, and switching to Cingular from Verizon in the process, but i do it with a very nervous heart. i’ve tried phones with touch sensitivity before and haven’t been very successful at keeping one. i have pretty big fingers. anyway…gotta wait for it to come out to answer these very applicable questions. Some i hope will be answerable early on in the positive include 3rd party apps (even if worked out thru iTS), using as computer modem on the EDGE/3G networks (once it becomes 3G capable), and hopefully the keyboard can go horizontal for those of us with fat fingers. Eagerly waiting for June!!
Ok what the heck is an ‘unlocked iPhone’?
Oh and whats it gonna cost?