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2008 in review: The iPhone comes of age
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#2
MacTechAspen 
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Posted 30 December 2008 - 01:32 AM
As I sit here in the Beijing airport lounge reading and replying from my iPhone, I can help noticing how much this little gadget has changed my life.
I am going around the world for a year and while I have a 17" MacBook in my carryon it is the iPhone I reach for to kill the time.
Even in Airplane mode I can check emails and catch up on Mac and other news. This is the device I have so long wanted while traveling. Granted I am not writing any of my work pieces on it, but I sure have no problem writing this!
Here is to 2009, may it bring us even more Apple joy.
I am going around the world for a year and while I have a 17" MacBook in my carryon it is the iPhone I reach for to kill the time.
Even in Airplane mode I can check emails and catch up on Mac and other news. This is the device I have so long wanted while traveling. Granted I am not writing any of my work pieces on it, but I sure have no problem writing this!
Here is to 2009, may it bring us even more Apple joy.
#3
matbrady
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Posted 30 December 2008 - 03:03 AM
Where do we go from here?
Well, I have a few ideas... I give you the iPhone ELITE! http://planetmat.blo...hone-elite.html Tada! :)
Well, I have a few ideas... I give you the iPhone ELITE! http://planetmat.blo...hone-elite.html Tada! :)
#4
maddoguk
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Posted 30 December 2008 - 05:28 AM
"Where do we go from here?" - I think sorting out the functionality. Popular as it may be at the moment, there are some gaping holes that need fixing.
But then the competition is only just waking up and the market will only get better for the buyer. Will be interesting to see how the free "Comes with music" sells the new Nokia range, something Apple will need to address.
Being a fan of selected Apple products, I cannot get excited by the iPhone.
But then the competition is only just waking up and the market will only get better for the buyer. Will be interesting to see how the free "Comes with music" sells the new Nokia range, something Apple will need to address.
Being a fan of selected Apple products, I cannot get excited by the iPhone.
#5 Guest__*
Posted 30 December 2008 - 06:00 AM
"As I sit here in the Beijing airport lounge reading and replying from my iPhone, I can help noticing how much this little gadget has changed my life."
I too find myself reaching for my iPhone, rather than my MacBook Pro for quick replies to e-mails and to look up stuff on the web. The iPhone is an amazing device that if you do not have one and have not used one for awhile it may be hard to understand.
It has it's shortcomings though, but those will be addressed by Apple, Inc. over time. Safari needs to be more stable - still quits occasionally. It would be nice if Safari had a button that disabled all links so that when a page is loaded and you are magnifying text with the pinching motion or scrolling that one does not have to be so careful not to accidentally hit a link and be taken to another page -- perhaps it is in there, however I have not found such a feature. Cut & paste would be nice.
Apple needs to add the best voice recognition engine in the world to the device at the system level so that voice dialing and voice composition can be done on the device. If they had great voice recognition and transcription in all of the supported languages then the keyboard would not have to be used so much or maybe not at all. After all what are all the Billions in cash and cash equivalents sitting there for if not to do "insanely great" voice recognition on the iPhone?
I too find myself reaching for my iPhone, rather than my MacBook Pro for quick replies to e-mails and to look up stuff on the web. The iPhone is an amazing device that if you do not have one and have not used one for awhile it may be hard to understand.
It has it's shortcomings though, but those will be addressed by Apple, Inc. over time. Safari needs to be more stable - still quits occasionally. It would be nice if Safari had a button that disabled all links so that when a page is loaded and you are magnifying text with the pinching motion or scrolling that one does not have to be so careful not to accidentally hit a link and be taken to another page -- perhaps it is in there, however I have not found such a feature. Cut & paste would be nice.
Apple needs to add the best voice recognition engine in the world to the device at the system level so that voice dialing and voice composition can be done on the device. If they had great voice recognition and transcription in all of the supported languages then the keyboard would not have to be used so much or maybe not at all. After all what are all the Billions in cash and cash equivalents sitting there for if not to do "insanely great" voice recognition on the iPhone?
#6
adobephile
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Posted 30 December 2008 - 06:59 AM
So many commenters on iPhone-related articles have addressed various capabilities or the lack of them on the device.
But the "forest for the trees" metaphor with respect to the iPhone phenomenon seems to be that of the significance of the overall iPhone system, as well as its potential "Trojan Horse" effect on turning iPhone users into Mac users.
The iPhone is running OS X--a flat statement with huge implications! There are countless pluses and advantages the iPhone system has in its own right, but what is there from any competitor that even vaguely compares? Sure, there's open-source and the myriad bits and pieces of hardware and software. But what about overall integration and interoperability?
I see the iPhone as one gargantuan "frog" which has only begun its leap over the whole mobile phone industry. Even though the other frogs in the pond now know what they have to try to leap over, which, if any, of them have the legs to do it?
But the "forest for the trees" metaphor with respect to the iPhone phenomenon seems to be that of the significance of the overall iPhone system, as well as its potential "Trojan Horse" effect on turning iPhone users into Mac users.
The iPhone is running OS X--a flat statement with huge implications! There are countless pluses and advantages the iPhone system has in its own right, but what is there from any competitor that even vaguely compares? Sure, there's open-source and the myriad bits and pieces of hardware and software. But what about overall integration and interoperability?
I see the iPhone as one gargantuan "frog" which has only begun its leap over the whole mobile phone industry. Even though the other frogs in the pond now know what they have to try to leap over, which, if any, of them have the legs to do it?
#7
maddoguk
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Posted 30 December 2008 - 07:35 AM
"Even though the other
frogs in the pond now know what they have to try to leap over, which,
if any, of them have the legs to do it?" - A great thought but - the legs of the whole market are now very wobbly and analysts have given dire warnings about the growth and sales over the next year or possibly longer. The market is about to get very tight and shops are already reporting a major take-up in free phones, likewise the use of Pay-As-You-Go has risen.
For the same reasons I don't see the OS X making any market gain. The sales of Mac's have been flat for the past year and in fact the desktop sales plummeted by 38% on last year. Apple would need to go a long way and make Mac's really affordable to the masses at a price they would pay. The lack of sales proves that "just working" and negative sales campaigns are not enough.
People are starting to tighten their belts and the luxury items, at luxury prices, will be hit hard. I hope I am wrong.
frogs in the pond now know what they have to try to leap over, which,
if any, of them have the legs to do it?" - A great thought but - the legs of the whole market are now very wobbly and analysts have given dire warnings about the growth and sales over the next year or possibly longer. The market is about to get very tight and shops are already reporting a major take-up in free phones, likewise the use of Pay-As-You-Go has risen.
For the same reasons I don't see the OS X making any market gain. The sales of Mac's have been flat for the past year and in fact the desktop sales plummeted by 38% on last year. Apple would need to go a long way and make Mac's really affordable to the masses at a price they would pay. The lack of sales proves that "just working" and negative sales campaigns are not enough.
People are starting to tighten their belts and the luxury items, at luxury prices, will be hit hard. I hope I am wrong.
#8
montgomery_burns
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Posted 30 December 2008 - 03:37 PM
Apple will not make a mobile phone.
There will be no iPhone SDK. iPhone doesn't need third party native applications. Web apps are really, really SWEET.
There will be no iPhone SDK. iPhone doesn't need third party native applications. Web apps are really, really SWEET.
#10
SkateNewYork
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Posted 31 December 2008 - 03:25 AM
Just as you're not excited by the millions or worldwide iPhone owners, none of us care that you're not excited by the iPhone?
Gaping holes in the iPhone? Well, based on sales alone -- including App Store downloads -- "gaping holes" has proven to be a very poor metric for succes.
You wanna know about gaping holes? It's called the iPhone's nominal competition.
You seem angry -- probably miserable -- that so many millions of people enjoy a product that's lost on you. Best thing you can do? Don't go away mad; just go away.
Gaping holes in the iPhone? Well, based on sales alone -- including App Store downloads -- "gaping holes" has proven to be a very poor metric for succes.
You wanna know about gaping holes? It's called the iPhone's nominal competition.
You seem angry -- probably miserable -- that so many millions of people enjoy a product that's lost on you. Best thing you can do? Don't go away mad; just go away.
#11
SkateNewYork
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Posted 31 December 2008 - 03:29 AM
"For the same reasons I don't see the OS X making any market gain."
If you've read anything about market share since the introduction of the iPhone, then you'd know that the Mac OS is making significant strides. Let's give some kudos to Windows Vista, the OS that landed on the Island of Broken Toys.
The fact that you're incable of seeing something, will never mean that this something doesn't exist. Or didn't you know that?
It truly isn't a difficult thing to research. Ever hear of Google? They'll offset your intellectual laziness by providing factual information...but only if you look for it.
If you've read anything about market share since the introduction of the iPhone, then you'd know that the Mac OS is making significant strides. Let's give some kudos to Windows Vista, the OS that landed on the Island of Broken Toys.
The fact that you're incable of seeing something, will never mean that this something doesn't exist. Or didn't you know that?
It truly isn't a difficult thing to research. Ever hear of Google? They'll offset your intellectual laziness by providing factual information...but only if you look for it.
#12
Neil_Anderson
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Posted 01 January 2009 - 11:02 AM
The iPod touch is making great strides as well ... expect newcomers to Apple to be smitten and when they're in the market for their next computer they'll consider a Mac.
#13
SkateNewYork
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Posted 01 January 2009 - 11:16 AM
Hi Neil. Nice to hear from you. I was a MacWorld reader when it first came out in print many years ago. I saved all of them until my girlfriend gave me the ultimate ultimatum...it's either me, or magazines.
I very much agree about the impact of the iPod Touch. Though I tested each version and bought a few as gifts for others, I never bought one for myself. My girlfriend, who abides by the philosophy that gift-giving means buying something for someone that they'd never buy for themselves, got me a Touch for Christmas. I can't tell you how ecstatic I am. I love gadgets and gizmos, but usually in a vicarious way. This thing is the bomb in so many ways. It is a virtual truth that it's PC in your pocket. Wi-Fi on the iPod Touch is so incredibly cool. And fast. Real Internet. Email. Games. Television. Movies. Contacts. Calendar. And that says nothing about what a beautiful piece of hardware it is, starting from the sleek design, the beautiful screen and the touch screen technology. Not to mention the external speaker.
If you don't want or can't afford one of these things, please don't ever play with one for more than an hour or so. Just like a dog-lover "just looking" in a local shelter, you'll have to take one of these puppies home.
Looking forward to your future posts.
I very much agree about the impact of the iPod Touch. Though I tested each version and bought a few as gifts for others, I never bought one for myself. My girlfriend, who abides by the philosophy that gift-giving means buying something for someone that they'd never buy for themselves, got me a Touch for Christmas. I can't tell you how ecstatic I am. I love gadgets and gizmos, but usually in a vicarious way. This thing is the bomb in so many ways. It is a virtual truth that it's PC in your pocket. Wi-Fi on the iPod Touch is so incredibly cool. And fast. Real Internet. Email. Games. Television. Movies. Contacts. Calendar. And that says nothing about what a beautiful piece of hardware it is, starting from the sleek design, the beautiful screen and the touch screen technology. Not to mention the external speaker.
If you don't want or can't afford one of these things, please don't ever play with one for more than an hour or so. Just like a dog-lover "just looking" in a local shelter, you'll have to take one of these puppies home.
Looking forward to your future posts.
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