Technologicology: An iPhone Column? Today? Yeah, No Shit.
After the jump Brian James Kirk investigates the nuances behind the latest iPhone launch.
Technologicology: An iPhone Column? Today? Yeah, No Shit.
I was having a discussion this morning with my pseudo-audience (which is basically me stepping out of the shower and pretending that this column actually has an audience) and I asked myself: “So Brian, what are you going to be writing about today? The iPhone?” Yes, I said with a sigh—the iPhone. And when my roommate asked me who I was talking to… well, let’s just say he’s a really great guy for continuing to live with me.
What did Apple bring to the table? Why do we get excited about products that barely innovate?
I wasn’t the only one who was bored yesterday refreshing the liveblogs at the 2008 WWDC conference in San Fransisco. It wasn’t until the one hour, 26 minute mark that we catch the first glimpse of what iPhone 2.0 even looks like. Regardless, Jobs knows how to make a spectacle, and its easy to be impressed by the new iteration of the iPhone. But features like 3G, A-GPS (that’s right kids, tower triangulation, not a dedicated GPS chip) and a flush headphone jack (the feature most applauded, and yet, was accomplished 10 years ago on a standard Walkman) were merely making up for lost time. iPhone 1.0 should have already had these features.
What is killer in this announcement is not the technology improvements, it’s the price drop. Apple has hit a sweet spot with the $199 price point and they are sure to be losing money on the device (don’t worry investors, they will make the revenue back with application downloads, their new MobileMe service, and their grip on music, movie and television downloads).
Considering that Apple is continually behind the analyst curve (yet always ahead in the consumer’s eye), by taking a look at this round of iPhone predictions that didn’t happen, one can figure out exactly what Apple will be doing for iPhone 3.0.
- Video Conferencing: iChat video support has been rumored since the first iteration of the iPhone, and why not? The 2.0 announcement was predicted to utilize the technology especially since 3G, which is certainly fast enough to deploy the feature, was planned.
- Really, Any Kind of Video Recording At All: Seriously, why doesn’t Apple support video? Considering they’ve teamed up with AP for some sort of prized citizen journalism experience, there’s no reason not to support video recording. The technology is there.
- Stereo Bluetooth: God, wireless headphones support is the most talked about, sought after feature since the fourth generation iPod was released two years ago. Granted, the audio technology hasn’t yet arrived, but if Apple would research and push for it, the tech could be easily within sight.
But my most important prediction? Consumers Will Realize That Many Cell Phones Have Been Doing Everything the iPhone Promises As Innovation For Years. Yes, it’s true. 3G was available on Motorola Razors released more than a year ago. Actual GPS chips are becoming a standard on many smartphones and any cell phone is capable of A-GPS with the right code. A-GPS is coming standard on many smartphones, even though many technology columnists have no idea what it really is. Contact searching? I don’t even know where to begin with this one… is it really a feature? Over-the-air syncing with MobileMe? See: Activesync. And lastly, let’s talk about that big price drop. That’s uhm, pretty much the standard price for this class of cell phones today (just ask any other device manufacturer). I’m just sayin’ Apple, back up that we-did-it-first attitude with something fresh.
Brian James Kirk is a writer and adventurer living in Philadelphia. By adventuring, he means occasionally to friends’ homes for games of Balderdash. If you know a Philadelphia technology scoop that would fit this space, you are graciously encouraged to get in touch.
Previously: Technologicology: Where’s Kevin Mitnick When You Need Him?
June 10th, 2008 at 2:32 pm
mmm, mr kirk, please tell me where you can find a $199 8gig phone that can do everything iphone 3G can at the price point of $199?? ( and i mean matching function by function/match by match )? I agreed that this time around is not earth shattering to be exact, but it is still certainly redefining how the mobile industry play the game!
maybe you don’t the money to throw at the iphone 3g or whatever your reason’s are. I still think you’re a bit too harsh on apple’s second time around to improve what’s already been one of the best invention in a while!
please, please, please, next time around (for iphone 3.0). do your research and also compare other phone before you shout out opinions like the one you just wrote!
here a little info for anyone who care to compare
nokia N95 - retail at $750 (yes you read it, $750!!)
htc touch - $499
htc diamond - the cheapest i can find online is $699.95
Moto Q - $399
samsung black jack 2 - $349
blackberry - the cheapest one start at $299
the list go on and on and on…
for as little as $199, you get all that you can with iphone, i don’t think it will be a hard to choose for anyone who’s looking for the coolest phone on the market.
June 10th, 2008 at 3:20 pm
JJKoh80:
Thanks for the comment. While I’ll concede that the iPhone’s capacity is something I overlooked, I’d argue that your comparison prices are slightly misleading. No one would argue that these phones are expensive, but let’s not compare apples and oranges: you are sharing the full retail prices of these phones.
HTC Touch and Diamond are off-limits, as no carrier has released contract prices yet. But for the rest of the pack, your numbers are exaggerated. A 3G MotoQ Global (with A-GPS) at AT&T is offered for $149 with contract. A 3G Samsung Blackjack 2 (with A-GPS) is $99 with contract. A Blackberry Curve, while serving up EDGE data, is also $99 with contract. A 4gb SD card which runs for about $50—while unsupported (each phone has a 2gb support cap)—has been proven compatible with these devices.
My point is not necessarily to say that the iPhone isn’t as good a deal as the rest of these phones, but to say that Apple’s iPhone marketing is aimed at saying “we completely blow away all the competition,” when other experiences are just as good.
June 10th, 2008 at 3:48 pm
I have to say that I was really looking forward to the new iPhone having 32 gigs, video conferencing, or hell…MMS, and was disappointed all around. I’ll get one because my old phone is falling apart and my contract ends a day after the iPhone comes on the market, but I’m already convinced I’ll be pissed when a revised version hits the stores in Xmas with one or more of those features, which undoubtedly will happen.
That said, you wrong on the AGPS knock. AGPS is a real GPS chip which is enhanced by cell tower information, not replaced by it.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AGPS
June 10th, 2008 at 3:49 pm
Very funny piece on the iPhone.
http://www.thebestpageintheuniverse.net/c.cgi?u=iphone
NSFW!!
June 10th, 2008 at 5:01 pm
brian
Well, again, I’m not here to argue that you’re wrong. nor am I a iPhone fan (personally, I’m in love with the new Sony Ericsson’s Xperia X1). but I can’t stop the urge to set some facts right. First of all, HTC touch is not off limit, it is offer by sprint (go check it out on their web page), and it is retail at $499 before contract. lets go back to the contract thing, shall we? Yes, you need to sign a new 2 year contract with at&t to get the new iPhone, as well as many other phones they offer, and the same goes with all the other carrier. I’m aware of what they announced, yes, you do need to activated at the at&t store when you buy it. But as for buying it directly from apple, it is still the same $199 and you don’t have to activated right there and then, and there are already ways on how to unlock the 2.0 firmware using Pwnage tool
OK, back to the price point. So you can get an iPhone 3g through apple for $199 without actually activated/sign a contract, which you can go back and unlock it. All of the above price point you mentioned, all have to sign a 2 years contract with a carrier first to get those price! I think i already make my point here.
Oh, one more thing. HTC diamond is not off limit as well, since you can buy it online! yes, it is not currently available through any of our half ass mobile carriers here in US of A, but that doesn’t mean you can’t get one. there’s a little thing call the “interweb” aka the Internet.
As for Nokia N95, it is not officially available from again, all the half ass mobile carriers we have here, but it is officially available through nokia north america, which you can get it through directly, again, a little thing call the “interweb”.
My point is, the aggresive price point apple offer for its iPhone 3G, should make all the other headset maker troublesome, and if i’m correct, apple simple just annouce the new product, but they certainly did not make it like “yeah, we’re going to blow everyone away. And if they did, so what? better for the mobile industry as a whole and set the standard higher, which at the end benefit all of us end user.
well, I rest my case.
June 10th, 2008 at 5:50 pm
JJKoh80
I’ll agree that the ability to snag an iPhone in the past was a contract-free process. But, if you’d had done your homework, you’d know Apple’s plan to change their business model for iPhone 2.0.
See: Engadget Mobile’s The iPhone 3G on AT&T: we ask the burning questions
“Will it be available as a Gophone (prepaid service)?
“No, only available with a two-year contract.” Pretty cut and dried there. We’re also told that there will be no contract-free price on postpaid service; the one and only way to get in on this action will be to re-up your commitment to AT&T. Unofficially, we’ve been slipped information that AT&T’s typical upgrade eligibility rules apply when signing the new contract, and there will be a separate (read: higher) pricing scheme for “non-qualified upgrades.” These prices have not yet been set.”
Apple/AT&T’s change in revenue structure is precisely why they are able to sell it so cheap. If you think about it, iPhone 3G’s pricing structure is in line with other contracted smart phones.
Compare:
HTC Touch: w/ contract: $250; w/o contract: $499
iPhone 3G: w/ contract: $199; w/o contract: TBD
All I’m saying is, don’t be snowed by Apple’s clever marketing campaign. I won’t argue the fact that Apple changed the game for manufacturers, because you’re right.
P.S. My bad on the HTC Touch with Sprint… I was thinking HTC Touch Pro, which looks too hot to handle.
June 11th, 2008 at 8:18 am
I think you misunderstand A-GPS. It does have a dedicated GPS chip, but it’s *assisted* by the cell-phone towers. Read this: http://artoftheiphone.com/category/iphone-agps/