Apple iPhone: Another feather in their cap
by Abhishek on March 14, 2008
I was positively impressed by this technology. I saw one in real life and was totally floored by the touch screen and the way it navigates through the web. I agree about the stunted access via GPRS (or ? EDGE- how does it really matter, it’s 2G anyway) and preloaded Safari. No wonder, people across the world are paying through their nose to get this marvel.
Apple announced opening up their development platform by releasing their Software Development Kit. Anyone with coding knowledge would be able to design the applications for the same. Apple being Apple, has also announced support for Microsoft Exchange; in effect it is aiming for a slice of corporate market for push email services aka Blackberry. (Read another excellent write up here)
I would risk my own set of predictions; Apple would be looking forward to upgrade the hardware and offer higher capacity drives and 3G compatible handsets. It would then kick some ass. And make it worthwhile for me to buy one too as a productivity tool.
Frankly, the current crop of handsets is disappointing. There is no doubt about the technological developments making mobile phones as a true convergence device but the proof of pudding is eating it. Frankly, their software is clunky and most of them have slow response times enough to make you yawn. With Intel’s launch of low power chips, that should make a difference.
Nokias lack the “cool factor” because they are seen around with everyone. There is no air of exclusivity with them. I’d rather be caught dead with a Chinese branded handset; although most of the lower end handsets from Nokia are rebranded Chinese or Taiwanese throwaways. Interestingly, Nokia and other handset manufacturers can easily sustain the price cuts over a period of time; they make a killing in the initial months of launch.
Apple iPhone would grow on the mania and frenzy created in the market place. If you have buckets of money and don’t have an Apple, it’s of no use. I’d agree about getting a diamond studded Vertu and getting a personal concierge on beck and call, but that’s too uncool and very very dry. iPhone is hip; much like the old world charm of listening to Black Sabbath and smoking grass. I endorse Black Sabbath but not grass though. Yes, you get the drift.
When would anyone get this here in India?
10 comments
so u were impressed by the mac phone?
by Sushubh on 14th Mar 2008 at 10:30 pm. #
Honestly yes. It’s cool. Although, it’s not worth the price.
by Abhishek on 14th Mar 2008 at 10:54 pm. #
not worth the price?
have you seen the prices of mobile phones in india?
in india people would spend 20-50K rupees on stupid nokia phones… the N-Series for example.
Apple iPhone at 300-400 USD is a great buy even if they launch it for 20-25 K rupees here in india.
by Sushubh on 15th Mar 2008 at 01:18 am. #
It’s a 2g phone.
It’s a closed architecture.
It doesn’t have GPS.
It’s a pure marketing hype.
It’s pushed by apple freaks/fans
HTC has better phones. HTC cruise is a better phone.
LG Prada entered the market before apple but Jobs is an intelligent person. He stole the show with his PR machine.
Guess all that matters is how one is better at selling the dung.
by ramesh on 15th Mar 2008 at 11:39 am. #
2G Phone. Agreed.
Closed architechture- agreed. Which is open anyway? Minus the probable launch of Android? Why would they open up their software for anyone? They have full right to remain closed and I see no diadvantage in that for me as a customer.
GPS: Why would anyone need it? So far, I have not required it at all. I have been able to find myself out in the jungle, if all that matters is this.
Marketing hype: Yes. You need a hype to sell Nokia’s crappy N series shit.
HTC being better? I have no clue about head on comparison. Please educate me more on this.
LG Prada was supposed to be a “me too” product and I am not very enamoured about their handsets. I have used one that they are awful.
Jobs being Jobs would do his bit for his company and steal whatever he can.
Apple iPhone being a “dung”? Hmmm. Your personal opinion.
by Abhishek on 22nd Mar 2008 at 07:24 am. #
HTC phones are powered with windows mobile. A mobile OS which is full of menus and sub-menus.
I am sure I can live a life without that.
by Sushubh on 22nd Mar 2008 at 07:37 am. #
Which is open anyway?
–None right now. But I love open systems. And Apple is not a champion for systems. Don’t get me wrong I am neither a MS fan nor an apple fan.
Why would they open up their software for anyone?
–So people can write third party applications. Apple’s record is worse than MS. There is untapped talent pool in the world. The best ideas come for bunch of kids sitting in front of a computer.
GPS: Why would anyone need it?
–Sorry. I live in USA and I use it heavily.
You need a hype to sell Nokia’s crappy N series shit.
–I concur.
HTC being better? I have no clue about head on comparison. Please educate me more on this.
–I compared iphone to HTC Cruise. And I haven’t compared it to HTC Shift, a UMPC.
LG Prada was supposed to be a “me too” product and I am not very enamoured about their handsets. I have used one that they are awful.
–I mentioned LG to say that it was a precursor to iphone.
Jobs being Jobs would do his bit for his company and steal whatever he can.
–I concur.
Apple iPhone being a “dung”? Hmmm. Your personal opinion.
–Sorry Abhishek. I did not mean that. I wanted to convey that iphone was not the best in its class. It takes a good PR even to sell dung/crappy product/ordinary product.
by Ramesh on 22nd Mar 2008 at 10:18 am. #
Ramesh, you concur on most of the things. The reason I mentioned this post was because of the Software Development Kit…in effect opening up the software, albeit in a controlled manner. Each of the new additions would have to be approved by Apple and they would monetise this via iTunes store. Some of it would be free and some of it would shareware or something; depending on the impact value of the widget…if you allow me to call the add ons as that.
GPS is a very cool innovation and I don’t deny that. I think one could easily map something of that sort in the hardware in the coming times.
The present iPhone is too stunted in terms of hardware. A BIG minus is the 2 G compatibility. I would wish for a 3 G handset and I clearly mention that.
I am a Linux fanboy…Neither Apple and definitely not MS. The whole sole reason I wrote about it was because of the potential of technology and that this is a cool innovation.
I’d concur with the marketing hype. Look at Virgin Mobile…
by Abhishek on 23rd Mar 2008 at 09:58 am. #
Ramesh, you concur on most of the things. The reason I mentioned this post was because of the Software Development Kit…in effect opening up the software, albeit in a controlled manner. Each of the new additions would have to be approved by Apple and they would monetise this via iTunes store. Some of it would be free and some of it would shareware or something; depending on the impact value of the widget…if you allow me to call the add ons as that.
GPS is a very cool innovation and I don’t deny that. I think one could easily map something of that sort in the hardware in the coming times.
The present iPhone is too stunted in terms of hardware. A BIG minus is the 2 G compatibility. I would wish for a 3 G handset and I clearly mention that.
I am a Linux fanboy…Neither Apple and definitely not MS. The whole sole reason I wrote about it was because of the potential of technology and that this is a cool innovation.
I’d concur with the marketing hype. Look at Virgin Mobile…
by Abhishek on 23rd Mar 2008 at 09:58 am. #
3g in india… who can use it at this moment? even gprs is mega expensive and practically useless.
gps on mobile phones. my friend has a htc p3000 and he is yet to find a use for the GPS functionality.
by Sushubh on 23rd Mar 2008 at 10:25 am. #