[jhorvatic]

Only the stupidly ignorent would consider the iPhone dead before they even know what it actually is and does. First of all they apparently forgot the fact that Apple took two years after MP3 players were out before creating the iPod which then took over the market and still is the number one player with nothing, not even the Zune that can touch it.
The iPhone could in fact come out several years after the traditional cell phone market has been developed and then take the best of all the phones out there and putting in Apple's traditional ease of use interface and simply dominate the cell market as well. The only thing that may hinder them doing so is what the actual price point of there iPhone will be. To high a price and it may sell well but not dominate because of the high cost. However if they sell it competatively with the right features and Apple adds its flair to it they could easily take over.

[Dan Frakes]

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I look at the iPod, and I see a triumph of style, marketing, and product design. Probably in that order.

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I would say the order is product design, style, and then marketing.
When the iPod was first released, there wasn't really much marketing; it wasn't until much later that we saw the ubiquitous billboards and TV ads. It was the great design (which addressed many of the shortcomings of other players on the market at the time, such as small storage capacity, large physical size, and poor interface), integration with iTunes, and attractive appearance that made it such a compelling product from the start.
It's easy (and a backhanded compliment) for people to say that the iPod has been such a phenomenal success because of "marketing," but as Microsoft will zune -- er, soon -- tell you, marketing rarely makes a mediocre product a phenomenal success.

[sigma8]

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It's easy (and a backhanded compliment) for people to say that the iPod has been such a phenomenal success because of "marketing," but as Microsoft will zune -- er, soon -- tell you, marketing rarely makes a mediocre product a phenomenal success.

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Actually, MS has a several success stories with marketing blitzes and ho-hum products.. Like Windows 95 and the Xbox. I didn't mean to call the iPod primarily a marketing success. I did list "style" first, and I think that's key.
I guess breaking style and product design apart is maybe a bit of a silly thing to have done. However, having done so, I should have defined them. I was considering "product design" to basically be the feature-set and hardware specs... And "style" to be how everything worked together, as well as the UI experience. Sony and Creative both made players that competed strongly with the iPod for features, and to be honest, some of them looked pretty nice too...but they all fell flat with their lack of a cohesive user experience.
And to address marketing.. I agree they didn't blitz with marketing very early on, but it didn't take them too long to start. Almost as soon as it was on PC's, the marketing went full bore.. It was maybe a later development, but compared to the beginning of the silouhette ads, they have a lot more of the market now, or at least, they've grown the market. Marketing might not be why Paris Hilton, Moby, and Bono wanted iPods...but it IS why my dad already knew what one was when I gave him one for Christmas.
When you get right down to it, the iPod is a pretty plain MP3 player..as far as the hardware goes. It's the whole owner-experience that sells it, starting with the gorgeous packaging. Like I said, I apologize for any overlap between style and product design.. Using the vagueness there, I can just paint myself on whatever side of "right" that I want.. >.<

[djgamble]

Wow that's a premature ejaculation if I ever saw one. Apple hasn't even announced the product let alone its features or marking strategy. If it does see the light of day then who is he to know what it will be and how it will go in the market?
We'll wait and see... don't get excited yet boy /forums/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

[warlock7]

When is somebody going to mention that Apple isn't going to be able to use the name "iPhone"? Cisco has announced their iPhone, a name they copyrighted back in the '90s. It's an ugly Linksys thing.
Check it out.
Kind of scary.

[hillstones]

I don't get why people are so excited and/or annoyed about a product that is merely a fantasy. I am wondering who started the "iPhone" rumor so long ago.
The photos on the UK website are ridiculous. Wasn't hard to take a stock photo of the silver iPod Nano and stretch the screen to make it look like a display with phone buttons. One thing they forgot...the earpiece and mic for actually using the fantasy product as a phone! I don't think people would scramble for earbuds to try and answer a phone, or constantly walk around with them in. It is bad enough to see people with the current bluetooth devices over their ear. I guess they don't realize how stupid they really look!
I don't think cell phones are that difficult to operate. It is pretty easy to make a phone call, or find someone in your address book. That is their primary purpose.
If this fantasy product becomes a reality, most rumor sites are now reporting that Apple will not subsidize the price with a provider contract. So they estimate the fantasy iPhone will cost in the neighborhood of $300-$500. Since you can get a good quality phone for free with a contract, I don't think anyone will be willing to drop $500 on something they can get for free.
Of course when Macworld January comes and goes, I am sure people will be ready to complain that it sucked because there was no iPhone announcement. Or if there is an iPhone, and if it really does cost $500, people will complain that it is too expensive or it doesn't do this or that.
In other words, it seems to take a lot to make people happy...especially about something that doesn't even exist yet. Very strange.
All I want is a phone that can make and receive calls. I can care less about anything else.

[Scorp_56]

Xbox a success? Hmm, I guess it depends on how you look at it. While the No. 2 U.S. gaming console, it has yet to generate a profit.

[solipsism]

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I don't think cell phones are that difficult to operate. It is pretty easy to make a phone call, or find someone in your address book. That is their primary purpose.

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WHo said making a call was hard to operate? The difficulty is using the other features that many now come with, as well as trying to correctly sync your phone with your computer.

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If this fantasy product becomes a reality, most rumor sites are now reporting that Apple will not subsidize the price with a provider contract. So they estimate the fantasy iPhone will cost in the neighborhood of $300-$500. Since you can get a good quality phone for free with a contract, I don't think anyone will be willing to drop $500 on something they can get for free.

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The terms "free with contract" is something I avoid. I'd rather pay for a phone and then have the freedom to choose my wireless carrier. I am holding off getting a new phone until Apple releases it's version so I guess that makes me one willing person, and teh fact that the buzz on this concept is so strong clearly means that other people are not happy with their current cell phones and/or aware of the increased "user experience" that Apple brings to their products.

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Of course when Macworld January comes and goes, I am sure people will be ready to complain that it sucked because there was no iPhone announcement. Or if there is an iPhone, and if it really does cost $500, people will complain that it is too expensive or it doesn't do this or that.
In other words, it seems to take a lot to make people happy...especially about something that doesn't even exist yet. Very strange.

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What's even more strange is that you are bitching about peoples desire to have a cell phone that is actually completely compatible with their Macs and offers functionality that exceeds current multimedia cell phone standards. All with a UI that is as simple as and sleek as an iPod.

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All I want is a phone that can make and receive calls. I can care less about anything else.

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Then you are not the target customer. Obviously, an Apple cell phone is targeted toward people who are interested in using their cell phone in conjunction with their computer, as a mobile internet device, and as a multimedia player.

[RobK]

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The photos on the UK website are ridiculous

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Totally. I presume that would have to to be a touch screen (ala Palm) and that would last about 2 minutes in my pocket up against my keys.
Very pretty but uh uh.

[robb1068]

If I remember correctly, the author makes the comment that he hasn't been flooded with e-mails from the Mac faithful in a while, so I think there is a bit of flame bait associated with the article as well. I'm not familar with Michael Kanellos, but we all know that there are some tech writers who love nothing better than to say something absurd just to get the angry e-mails.