Confirmed Sighting of the iPhone in the Wild

January 9, 2007 10:35 AM

Breaking News: Apple Announces Touchscreen iPhone. In this morning's MacWorld keynote, Steve Jobs announced the iPhone, a touchscreen smartphone with only one button. Two years in the making, it runs OS X, works as an iPod, displays video on a 3.5" screen, and has the usual bells and whistles (Bluetooth, e-mail, Google Maps, WiFi, etc.), plus some other slick features like: a proximity sensor that turns the screen off when it's near your ear, an accelerometer that detects whether it's in portrait or landscape, and an ambient light sensor to dim the screen accordingly. I'm not usually a gadget person, but this thing seems pretty damn cool. Now let's just see how much it costs...
More live MacWorld coverage available at: Engadget , MacRumors.
posted by EnormousTalkingOnion (406 comments total)

This looks ****ing amazing.
posted by alms at 10:36 AM on January 9, 2007

It's better than all the fake mockups. Wow.
posted by MythMaker at 10:38 AM on January 9, 2007

I think they outdid the rumor sites this time.
posted by strangeleftydoublethink at 10:38 AM on January 9, 2007 [1 favorite]

I'm impressed. Will buy stock in screen protecting film stuff.
posted by I Foody at 10:38 AM on January 9, 2007 [2 favorites]

iWant.
posted by padraigin at 10:39 AM on January 9, 2007 [1 favorite]

Oh, and one more thing...
posted by strangeleftydoublethink at 10:41 AM on January 9, 2007

everyone keeps missing the coolest feature: multitouch touch screen.

MULTITOUCH.

You can grab a picture with two fingers, "pinch" it, and pull it bigger.

fucking wow.
posted by Espoo2 at 10:42 AM on January 9, 2007

I'm particularly interested in the multi-touch UI; it seems to solve several problems at once- it introduces chording and direct manipulation of the onscreen objects in a way that it very difficult with a stylus / one touch screen. It also opens up some usability issues that would be challenging in a traditional computing environment, but makes all kinds of sense in a constrained, more or less single purpose environment.

It's interesting that Apple and Nintendo have had pretty good success at taking an existing product category (computers, mp3 players, video games), and rethought the UI for them (mouse, ipod, wii). These UI transformations have been far more important than the actual capabilities of the systems underlying them- so I guess we're back at form driving the perception of function.

And I'm really excited to have a phone that runs Unix :)
posted by jenkinsEar at 10:43 AM on January 9, 2007

The biggest surprise is that the thing runs OS X, rather than the proprietary and limited systems generally associated with smartphone and Blackberry type devices. Combined with the embedded sensors (proximity, ambient light, and an accelerometer), I imagine people are going to come up with some pretty amazing hacks for these devices. The fact that it seems capable of talking to WiFi networks is also a big plus, especially if it can be used to do VoIP in an elegant way.

The iPhone is a quad-band GSM + EDGE phone with WiFi and Bluetooth 2.0. A lot of people probably expected it to be 3G, but this is a better move for Apple. 3G has pretty much been a disaster for everyone who bet on it.

The mundane issues are more what concerns me: what will the thing cost, and how long can it sustain that bright screen and all that hardware on a battery charge? Also, will it prove more durable than the iPod Nanos?
posted by sindark at 10:44 AM on January 9, 2007

wow.
posted by Flashman at 10:44 AM on January 9, 2007

A quote from Jobs (via Engadget) on the multi-touch interface: "So let's not use a stylus, we're going to use the best pointing device in the world -- our fingers. We have invented a new technology called multi-touch. It works like magic, you don't need a stylus, far more accurate than any interface ever shipped ... and BOY have we patented it!"
posted by EnormousTalkingOnion at 10:45 AM on January 9, 2007

EDGE is pathetically slow.
posted by fet at 10:46 AM on January 9, 2007

I just got my new T-Mobile Dash yesterday and was feeling plenty slick, with the google maps, the MP3s, the video, the gmail applet, the qwerty keyboard, the 320x240 color screen...

But no accelerometer!!!

*glares at the stupid clunky thing*
posted by stupidsexyFlanders at 10:46 AM on January 9, 2007 [1 favorite]

Does it vibrate?
posted by bardic at 10:47 AM on January 9, 2007 [1 favorite]

Prepare for pricing...
posted by strangeleftydoublethink at 10:48 AM on January 9, 2007

They patented my fingers?
posted by Alt F4 at 10:48 AM on January 9, 2007

Six hundred dollars?
posted by matthewr at 10:48 AM on January 9, 2007

Yes, but how much is it???
posted by stenseng at 10:48 AM on January 9, 2007

...about the same pricing as Mac Minis. Available in June.
posted by strangeleftydoublethink at 10:48 AM on January 9, 2007

Hahahahha. $599. PASS.
posted by fet at 10:49 AM on January 9, 2007

i hate apple. they short-circuit my brain and make me want shiny new gadgets (a disease to which i am normally immune)

i wannn it
posted by jcruelty at 10:50 AM on January 9, 2007

Aren't we already talking about this? Admittedly, this link is better as it has, you know, content. But still.
posted by quin at 10:50 AM on January 9, 2007

Six hundred dollars?

And people will pay it, oh yes, people will pay it.
posted by elwoodwiles at 10:50 AM on January 9, 2007

$600 dollars??? (click / dialtone......)
posted by hal9k at 10:51 AM on January 9, 2007

Umm, does it make phone calls?
posted by JanetLand at 10:52 AM on January 9, 2007 [2 favorites]

...and that's with a 2 year contract. The only people who will buy this are abject fanboys. $599 is a lot of cheddar for a 1.0 Apple product.
posted by fet at 10:52 AM on January 9, 2007

In other news, 100% of internet users are now visiting digg.com
posted by ninjew at 10:52 AM on January 9, 2007 [1 favorite]

Big letdown on the price...$600 for a phone is tough to justify, no matter how cool it is. Normally that wouldn't concern me with consumer electronics since the price tends to drop quite a bit early on, but Apple seems to ignore the price drop trend that other gadgets follow, so I don't expect that price will come down too much anytime soon.

Also, on the battery life question: "A lot of these phones have low battery life. We've managed to get 5 hours of battery of talk time, video, and browsing. 16 hours of audio playback." Not horrible but pretty sub-par. Potentially having to charge more than once a day could be a problem...
posted by EnormousTalkingOnion at 10:52 AM on January 9, 2007

It's impressive, but a little pricey since I already have an MP3 player. I think cindular is the bigger winner than apple here.
posted by I Foody at 10:53 AM on January 9, 2007

So you are pinching something on 3.5" screen and you want to move it? Where? to the other side? Seriously, most people's fingers take up about an inch together. How useful is that really going to be?
posted by Big_B at 10:53 AM on January 9, 2007

$599 is a lot of cheddar for a 1.0 Apple product.

No shit! And let's not even get into how much American pasteurized process cheese food it'll buy.
posted by cog_nate at 10:53 AM on January 9, 2007

Umm, does it make phone calls?

You have to make the phone calls. All it does is connect you and, I have to assume by the price, fellate you with a good reach around.
posted by hal9k at 10:54 AM on January 9, 2007 [2 favorites]

If this thing works as good as it looks then as of today I am officially an Apple Fanboy. This is like something out of Star Trek.

Sure, someone's gonna chime in and point at the Blackberry or the Blackjack or the Dingleberry or some other device and say the iPhone is nothing new, but it is. This is all those things done the way they should be done.

Apple is like the guy on the camping trip who watches all the other hacks attempt to get the fire lit. One guy gets it lit but it dies out after a minute, another guy can't get more than a few puffs of smoke, another guy singes his eyebrows but nobody can do it right. Apple thinks about it for a bit, walks up and says "this is how you do it..." and proceeds to build a nice, stable fire that gives you the warmth you need and the smoke doesn't even get in your eyes and annoy you.

They just seem to always do things The Right Way. I say this as someone who just a year or two ago thought all Apple users should be given mandatory atomic wedgies. Just because.

Christ, I'm scaring myself here.
posted by bondcliff at 10:54 AM on January 9, 2007 [6 favorites]

iSwoon
posted by penguin pie at 10:54 AM on January 9, 2007

It's not $600. Where are you guys getting that?

Right at the top of the article it says $499 on contract.
posted by Baby_Balrog at 10:55 AM on January 9, 2007

*gives bondcliff an atomic wedgie*
posted by drezdn at 10:55 AM on January 9, 2007

quin: I guess this is sort of a double, but the info in the previous link turned out to be false anyway (that picture is either a digital fake or an imagined mockup by the magazine), so I thought a thread on the real specs would be useful...

Baby_Balrog: $499 is the 4GB version, $599 is the 8GB version. If they really are marketing it as a combo photo/video/audio appliance, that extra 4GB is pretty crucial.
posted by EnormousTalkingOnion at 10:56 AM on January 9, 2007

I'm one of those people who get really cheesed when the Apple evangelists start spouting exorbitant praise for every device that Apple releases, so I clicked on this ready to sneer and chuckle at the unwarranted fan-boy love that would be displayed...

Double dammit to hell, that thing looks COOL. Wicked cool. Make me drool in envy cool.

I give. Apple rules. I'm chucking this Dell out tomorrow.
posted by John Smallberries at 10:56 AM on January 9, 2007

It's $499 for a 4 GB, $599 for 8GB.
posted by drezdn at 10:56 AM on January 9, 2007

No, Apple is the guy that takes a burning log from your fire, puts a plastic apple on it, and starts a multi-million dollar ad campaign that tells people "If you don't own an iLog already, you are a loser."
posted by Big_B at 10:56 AM on January 9, 2007 [4 favorites]

Apple is like the guy on the camping trip who watches all the other hacks attempt to get the fire lit. ... stable fire that gives you the warmth you need ...

I smell smoke. Its coming from my ass.
posted by hal9k at 10:57 AM on January 9, 2007 [1 favorite]

Seriously, enough people will pay $599 for this thing to make it profitable. In a couple years apple will turn around and sell iphone mini for the rest of us.....
posted by elwoodwiles at 10:57 AM on January 9, 2007

Jimmy got a Treo for Christmas. Jimmy is going to have to wait three years before his contract is up. Jimmy is upset.
posted by jimmythefish at 10:57 AM on January 9, 2007

From the article: "The 4GB iPhone will go out the door in the US as a Cingular exclusive for $499 on a two-year contract, 8GB for $599."
posted by Partial Law at 10:58 AM on January 9, 2007

$600.00?!?!?!

To hell with the fire, I can buy a camp stove for forty bucks.
posted by bondcliff at 10:58 AM on January 9, 2007 [3 favorites]

I was going to buy an iPod this year, but I think I'll wait. It's a steep price, but I'll still likely buy one. I'm no fanboy either, I've never owned an Apple product before, but this is... Wow.

The next question is who will be the wireless partner in Canada? Is there a Canuck subsidiary of Cingular?
posted by WinnipegDragon at 10:58 AM on January 9, 2007

Steve Jobs doesn't need to start fires at campouts. The sun shines out his ass.
posted by cog_nate at 10:58 AM on January 9, 2007

IT LOOKS LIKE WINDOWS VISTA

*ducks*
posted by Pastabagel at 10:59 AM on January 9, 2007

Apparently the purchase price includes a 2-year contract? That's $25 / month, for the phone and the service. Right? What am I getting wrong?
posted by Alt F4 at 11:01 AM on January 9, 2007

I am guessing the 8GB is flash memory. I wonder if the camera is any better than the junky ones on most phones these days. The number of megapixels doesn't matter so much when you have a cheap lens and all sorts of other constraints.
posted by sindark at 11:02 AM on January 9, 2007

$600ish is the going rate for an unlocked PDA-style phone (though quite a bit more than what both US GSM providers offer for PDA phones with contract). this has more storage than most other things in that range (where you're pretty much looking at 128MB or so), so I'd be interested to see how much it is without the Cingular contract (if you can even get it w/out it).
posted by mrg at 11:02 AM on January 9, 2007

Convergence devices are going to suck until they get the battery life end worked out.

You get on a plane in New York, decide to watch some video on your iPhone, then a little mp3.

You get to Los Angeles, your iPod iPhone is dead... and so is your cell phone. This sucks, no?
posted by fet at 11:03 AM on January 9, 2007

Apparently the purchase price includes a 2-year contract? That's $25 / month, for the phone and the service. Right? What am I getting wrong?

Your arithmetic is bulletproof, but "includes" does not mean what you think it means.
posted by Kwantsar at 11:03 AM on January 9, 2007

I guess I'd pay $600 for a single super device if it was unlocked. I'm not changing cell providers just to get it.
posted by mathowie at 11:05 AM on January 9, 2007 [1 favorite]

it's a bit of a shame it's going to be on a Cingular network. I would have hoped for a more reliable Verizon network to make this equipment do it's job of being a PHONE.
posted by brinkzilla at 11:06 AM on January 9, 2007

Why the hell are they calling this thing a phone? That seems to be the least of its capabilities. For one thing, it has no raised buttons. That means that, unless this device has telepathy or voice recognition, I'm going to actually have to look at the darn thing in order to dial a number.

If I bought this thing (which I won't), it would be for everything else it does. I would keep my actual phone that I would actually use for talking to people.
posted by gurple at 11:06 AM on January 9, 2007

In other words, fork over $600 bones up front, and then agree to pay whatever the monthly service fee is for two years, on top of that...
posted by stenseng at 11:06 AM on January 9, 2007

This is going to be a tough product to bring to Canada, because data plans are so freaking expensive here, and there's no end in sight to that. This thing without a full data plan looks pretty limited at that price, but if the data plan is $60 or $100 a month (what it costs on Rogers for 25Mb or 200Mb plans), it pretty much takes this phone off the market.

But if they can do some kind of deal with Rogers, I think it would be them for sure.
posted by mikel at 11:07 AM on January 9, 2007

Getting rid of the stylus is a big step and a real innovation... but I don't possibly see how it can work on such a small screen. Also the problem with such 'gesture based' interfaces is that all the pulling, pinching, shaking and dragging quickly becomes tiresome. There's a lot to be said for the old keyboard and mouse/stylus when you're doing actual work. (How could you even respond to email on this thing without a proper thumb keyboard?) I see this being popular with the kids but as a productivity tool it doesn't look like it'd fly. The corporate market for Treos, Blackberries and other traditional smart phones probably won't be affected.
posted by nixerman at 11:07 AM on January 9, 2007

Look, I'm a sucker, but I'm gonna be first in line.

Maybe second in line.

Probably first.
posted by kbanas at 11:08 AM on January 9, 2007

It's nice and all, but I just want a f'ing full-screen iPod without the phone.

I can't help but think Apple is missing the boat here. Are they effectively saying you can't buy a half-decent iPod anymore unless you get a phone with it? Pffffft.
posted by mkultra at 11:09 AM on January 9, 2007

$600 is pretty fair, I think. This is the very, very first device I've ever seen that makes "convergence" work at all, and it knocks it out of the park.
posted by TypographicalError at 11:09 AM on January 9, 2007

That means that, unless this device has telepathy or voice recognition, I'm going to actually have to look at the darn thing in order to dial a number.

As much as I have no interest in this device (my cell phone is currently sitting at home with a dead battery), I thought that having to look at the touch screen would be a problem when it was first mentioned (no raised buttons for no look dialing), but I think most people only use the buttons when they're dialing unfamilar numbers.
posted by drezdn at 11:09 AM on January 9, 2007

I am getting one next year, when it's cheaper and all the bugses have been worked out.
posted by By The Grace of God at 11:10 AM on January 9, 2007

My gripes:

1) For the asking price, it could've been called MacBook Nano
2) As it runs OS X, I can only imagine how (non-patch) updates will be handled, let alone
3) (Hardware related) planned obselescence

It'll be interesting to see how much of the MultiTouch tech makes its way into the iMacs.
posted by Smart Dalek at 11:10 AM on January 9, 2007

I am waiting for someone to port Skype (or something similar) to the platform, before I even consider buying it. Seamless VoIP seems like the big missed opportunity on this device.
posted by sindark at 11:11 AM on January 9, 2007 [2 favorites]

Oh, and I hate Cingular with every inch of my body, like I've hated no company before. I ooze scorn for them as I can't actually answer my cell phone in my apartment because of them. Not to mention the fact that the one time I tried to download a game from them, it didn't work.
posted by drezdn at 11:11 AM on January 9, 2007

Holy crap.
posted by killdevil at 11:11 AM on January 9, 2007

This does look like a very serious attempt at a truly new device.

It's expensive, but if it looks as cool as promised, I'll be finding a way to get one. It will replace three devices I own: a Palm T|X ($299), a cheap-ass Samsung cell phone (free with plan), and an 4GB iPod Nano ($200).

In that light, the price is not so bad. Actually, it's exactly on target.

This thing has amazing promise. I haven't seen anything interesting in the handheld computer realm in quite some time.
posted by teece at 11:12 AM on January 9, 2007

Way cool. But I'm with By The Grace of God on waiting for the patched version.
posted by eyeballkid at 11:12 AM on January 9, 2007 [1 favorite]

Don't count on it being cheaper...
posted by danb at 11:12 AM on January 9, 2007

Also, you have to wonder if they are missing out on a huge part of the market by not having a low end option. The device is unbelievable, but don't you think a lot of people would be happy with simply a well designed 4GB flash based music phone with a touch scroll interface?
posted by lovejones at 11:13 AM on January 9, 2007

I'm sure the full-screen iPods are forthcoming. Apple has the tradition of putting all the new features in the expensive new product and letting the technology trickle down once production is up and the manufacturing costs have fallen. It's the same thing every cutting-edge manufacturer does. The first adopters for the iPhone are essentially subsidizing the initial manufacturing costs of the screen for everyone else who will be getting it later.

Give it a year and there will be the full-screen iPods you've been wishing for.
posted by junesix at 11:13 AM on January 9, 2007

I think they mean you only pay that much for the phone when you purchase a separate Cingular contract of which you can decide the terms/prices. I am almost positive the price does not include 24 months of cell cervice.
posted by XQUZYPHYR at 11:13 AM on January 9, 2007

I love the Apple haters here and elsewhere. Green crocodile tears...

No matter what the eventual price of these babies are, it doesn't matter - they've just created something very, very cool with the phone (let alone the other stuff). I wasn't going to tune into the usual hysteria around the keynote - I had my fill of hype at the exhibit hall at last year's MacWorld expo. But something about what that company does makes me smile, infects me with that damned fever-from-Cupertino again. Oh yeah - I remember that feeling. It's called 'falling in love with a product'. Most of us have a love/hate relationship with technology, and by focusing on good product design Apple reminds us that good products *are* possible. What a nice feeling, that.

Thank you Steve - the highlights of the keynote look good. Can't wait to try it out in person :)
posted by rmm at 11:13 AM on January 9, 2007 [1 favorite]

I was excited, until I realized it doesn't have a keyboard or 3g. I guess I'll just have to continue streaming my music and video while I administer my servers with my smartphone's keyboard. :(

If they had built it like an 8125/8525 or a Sharp Zaurus with a slide out keyboard, I'd be much more excited.

For $600, I expect to be able to do real work on it to pay for the damn thing!
posted by wierdo at 11:15 AM on January 9, 2007

I just quit my job and dumped my wife so I can spend more time with this thing.
Christ, I guess I should get one now.
posted by hellbient at 11:15 AM on January 9, 2007 [1 favorite]

This is a beautiful thing. I'm a little disappointed about the price and the Cingular exclusivity, but I wonder how hackable this thing is. With so much attention on it, if there is any room to mess around with this thing, then you can be sure that there will be a thousand free apps and unlocking utilities all over the place within months of release..
posted by mariokrat at 11:16 AM on January 9, 2007

Apparently the purchase price includes a 2-year contract? That's $25 / month, for the phone and the service. Right? What am I getting wrong?

Doubtful. More likely, you pay $600 for the phone and sign a two year contract with Cingular.

The best part is that if you steal someone's Cingular phone, Cingular will happily hook you up with a new contract with the stolen phone*. So you don't really need to spend $600 at all. But watch out for muggers.

*And if you manage to really sweet talk the cingular rep, they will bill the former owner of the phone for your first few months of service!
posted by b1tr0t at 11:16 AM on January 9, 2007

"Jimmy got a Treo for Christmas. Jimmy is going to have to wait three years before his contract is up. Jimmy is upset."

Then Jimmy realized he can just pay to get out of that shitty contract and go get an iPhone. He doesn't mind paying $500+ for the iPhone, and he sure as hell doesn't mind paying to get out of his 3-year contract.
posted by matty at 11:16 AM on January 9, 2007 [1 favorite]

[just a little bit of hate]

Oh, for heavens sake, can we just ease up on the whole touch screen garbage?

It's great for many things, but for being able to work a phone or portable music device in your pocket, it's useless without the tactile response of a lumpy, clicky button.

Anyone with a Treo knows how gross it is to try to dial using the buttons on the screen -- you have to stare at your phone to make sure you're hitting the right keys, and that they're not getting hit twice, etc.

At the very least, you shouldn't have to be looking at the device in your hand to make it do basic to intermediate functions -- think flip-lock blade or retractable pen coming out of your pocket and being activated in one motion without you looking at it to make sure it's 'open'. Older Nokias worked like that for almost every function and menu option.

Touch screens, bah. I've got touch screen controls on my 1982 Panasonic microwave oven.
posted by Extopalopaketle at 11:17 AM on January 9, 2007 [1 favorite]

All I know is I'm a gettin' one.
posted by spilon at 11:20 AM on January 9, 2007

I think Merlin Mann at 43folders totally called this. Or quoted somebody else who called it. It *is* the Macbook Nano.
posted by mecran01 at 11:20 AM on January 9, 2007

lovejones, it's classic manufacturing dilemma meets marketing. Apple has spent a lot of money to develop and manufacture this device and concurrently, the production levels just aren't high enough to build one for every man/woman/child on Earth yet. So while they tinker with the manufacturing operations and scale it up, they charge a heavy premium for the 1% adopters who are willing to pay it. These same people are comfortable with the device being buggy and limited in features in exchange for owning the top-of-the-line device first. They will be the ones essentially paying for the bulk of Apple's iPhone development costs.

In a few months, screen and device yields will have improved to the point where Apple can implement it in less expensive models and
posted by junesix at 11:22 AM on January 9, 2007

This would be awesome in a different country. Paying US cell plan + data rates on top of the $599 phone is not affordable.
posted by rxrfrx at 11:23 AM on January 9, 2007

Wait for 2nd generation.
posted by jeff-o-matic at 11:23 AM on January 9, 2007

Why all the sticker shock? The Treo 650 & 700 models cost $600 (or more) when they were first released, too.
posted by MaxVonCretin at 11:23 AM on January 9, 2007

then you'll have the screen in even the most basic iPhone/iPods.
posted by junesix at 11:23 AM on January 9, 2007

The funny thing about Apple is that no matter what year it is, no matter what product they have or have not introduced, all conversations about them are functionally identical.

The absurdly blazing love-fests, the willfully mindless nitpicking hate-fests -- we should really just cut & paste from prior discussions. It'd save everyone a lot of time.
posted by aramaic at 11:24 AM on January 9, 2007 [3 favorites]

It's not available until June. Jobs said in the address that they didn't have FCC approval yet, but were announcing it now because they didn't want the FCC to be the one's to announce it.
posted by matty at 11:24 AM on January 9, 2007

Looking at the spec, it's hard not to conclude that this isn't a pretty cynical piece of exploitation by Jobs. You can picture the scenario...

"Our customers want a phone Steve."
"No way. That's not on the product development plan and would cost too much to research and develop."
"So don't do any R & D. Just cobble together a bunch of existing technologies - we can even leave out some important ones - and call it the iPhone."
"What about a keyboard? Everyone knows that soft keyboards suck."
"Apple customers don't."

Over-priced, under-spec'd compared to most Windows Mobile devices.
posted by bobbyelliott at 11:25 AM on January 9, 2007

I think they just fucked every other phone manufacturer on the planet.
posted by Lord_Pall at 11:26 AM on January 9, 2007

Put me in the "as a phone I hate it, if they had made a friggin ipod with this interface (and it cost 300 dollars less) I'd buy it in an instant" camp. I mean can you imagine trying to text someone with a touchscreen keyboard on a 3.5 inch screen? Talk about pain.
posted by aspo at 11:26 AM on January 9, 2007

Very interested to see how well the touchscreen works - that will make or break it.

(oh, and pricing)
posted by Artw at 11:28 AM on January 9, 2007

I think it was a bad move to name it iPhone. It does so much more than simply what the name suggests and yet for months, people will be using the same "I won't pay $600 for a 'phone'" line.

Surprised Apple marketing didn't wise up and push harder for a name change.
posted by junesix at 11:28 AM on January 9, 2007

Over-priced, under-spec'd compared to most Windows Mobile devices.

Unless you count the interface and usability as a specification, which apparently microsoft doesn't.
posted by mecran01 at 11:28 AM on January 9, 2007 [1 favorite]

lovejones, I was just telling my girlfriend the same thing. I have no use or desire for most of the slick and high-tech features this thing promises. What I do want, though, is a 4G iPod/phone, maybe with a built-in camera, although its absence would hardly be a deal-breaker.
posted by saladin at 11:28 AM on January 9, 2007

So gorgeous. I drooled.
posted by loiseau at 11:30 AM on January 9, 2007

I just came in my pants.
posted by quadog at 11:31 AM on January 9, 2007

Amazing. I'll be in line in june.

I can't help but think Apple is missing the boat here.

Apple is the boat. Seriously, the zune will be going that direction also. Apple not jumping on this kind of device would have been missing the boat.

The biggest surprise is that the thing runs OS X, rather than the proprietary and limited systems

Only to those who don't follow apple. They'd rather keep as much as possible in-house. You're listening to the wrong people.
posted by justgary at 11:31 AM on January 9, 2007

I'm surprised that no one's making a bigger deal of the fact that they'll now be Apple, Inc. rather than Apple Computer, Inc.
posted by owenkun at 11:32 AM on January 9, 2007

At first I thought "So what?" I mean, it's a phone, right? No big deal.

Then I clicked on the link and my mind went all "hurrrrr."

I want one.
Now.
posted by CitrusFreak12 at 11:33 AM on January 9, 2007

"Our customers want a phone Steve."
"No way. That's not on the product development plan and would cost too much to research and develop."
"So don't do any R & D. Just cobble together a bunch of existing technologies - we can even leave out some important ones - and call it the iPhone."
"What about a keyboard? Everyone knows that soft keyboards suck."
"Apple customers don't."

Over-priced, under-spec'd compared to most Windows Mobile devices.
posted by bobbyelliott

If you think this is something they just threw together you didn't follow the presentation or are helplessly clueless.
posted by justgary at 11:33 AM on January 9, 2007

I agree with the comments about naming of the device. My girlfriend just had the same reaction:

Initial view: "Wow! That's cool!!"

Second thought: "$600 for a fucking phone!? Are they nuts?!"

Having said that, the early adopters will buy this in droves. The Palm Treo was $500 when first introduced and the Motorola Q sold for around $400 when first introduced as well.

Assuming Apple moves the pricepoints steadily downward as they have with iPod, this could very well set a new standard.

And, to echo the comments about mobile phone plans in the US being outrageously expensive: THAT could be the real deal killer for very wide adoption. This product is useless (read: infinitely less cool) without unlimited highspeed data plans which are usually outrageously expensive.
posted by tgrundke at 11:34 AM on January 9, 2007

It's exclusively cingular because cingular uses GSM that works in the rest of the world. I know this because the only reason I have a cingular blackberry is so I can use it in Europe without changing sim chips or performing similar silly acrobatics.

I'm no fanboy by any means (have never owned an apple product) but it's obvious that Apple is taking over.

The stock of RIM (the blackberry company) is down by the same percentage that Apple is up.

And we all should realize that if multi-touch works well on this device and is well received by the users, we should expect a multitouch MacDesk giant tablet at some point.
posted by Pastabagel at 11:34 AM on January 9, 2007

This is the first time since the original iPod I've thought "oh fuck, I'll buy it at any price". It looks genius. It looks like it solves every single daily gripe I have about my supposed "smartphone".

Now to get a UK carrier to sell the thing without trying to cripple it. And a decent data plan. Oh god. I'll have to move to the US.

Seriously though, this is what the Newton wanted to be, and it means I don't have to carry a camera, an iPod and a phone. Though I might need to carry a power supply, from the looks of it.
posted by bonaldi at 11:35 AM on January 9, 2007

< / apologies profusely for overly fangirlish post>
posted by rmm at 11:35 AM on January 9, 2007

Apart from the beautiful interface and the touch screen, this does not do anything the Nokia N-Series multimedia computers (don't call them phones) couldn't do for the last 1.5 years.
posted by cmicali at 11:36 AM on January 9, 2007

No longer Apple Computer, now just Apple, Inc.

Sic transit gloria mundi. The big announcements? An overcomplicated TV box and an overcomplicated phone.

Ye. Fucking. Ha.
posted by eriko at 11:37 AM on January 9, 2007

For me the million dollar question is: will it sync properly with my Exchange server? That would be a real deal killer for me if it didn't.
posted by tgrundke at 11:37 AM on January 9, 2007 [1 favorite]

Does anyone have the original iPod thread handy (was there one)? Everyone bitched and bitched about the price then, too.
posted by mkultra at 11:38 AM on January 9, 2007

If you think this is something they just threw together you didn't follow the presentation or are helplessly clueless.

I think he was making a joke. (Ever read the slashdot thread on the original iPod.) Well that, or he actually is clueless.
posted by chunking express at 11:40 AM on January 9, 2007

will it sync properly with my Exchange server?

It will sync with iCal and Address Book. If you get those to sync with Exchange, then yes.
posted by mkultra at 11:40 AM on January 9, 2007

600 bucks phone lol

/owner of two iPods -- one of them first generation -- and one iBook
posted by matteo at 11:41 AM on January 9, 2007

mkultra -

Right on, but I was referring more to the fact that Apple's Mail has had notorious problems for not syncing properly, especially under certain SSL/assorted security settings. Time will tell.
posted by tgrundke at 11:43 AM on January 9, 2007

Hark! Captain obvious doth approacheth!

"Then Jimmy realized he can just pay to get out of that shitty contract and go get an iPhone. He doesn't mind paying $500+ for the iPhone, and he sure as hell doesn't mind paying to get out of his 3-year contract."
posted by jimmythefish at 11:45 AM on January 9, 2007

Later today, Steve Jobs is planning on taking an iDump in the iToilet. Apple fans plan to iJaculate with iXcitement.
posted by jonmc at 11:46 AM on January 9, 2007 [4 favorites]

Apple vs Palm and RIM.
posted by danb at 11:48 AM on January 9, 2007

It's exclusively cingular because cingular uses GSM that works in the rest of the world.

The "exclusive" and the "GSM" dont jibe well together in that sentence. I live in the U.S. and use T-Mobile GSM, for example.
posted by vacapinta at 11:49 AM on January 9, 2007

fellate you with a good reach around.

You can grab a picture ______ with two fingers, "pinch" it, and pull it bigger.
posted by ZenMasterThis at 11:49 AM on January 9, 2007

i want it iwant it i want it!!!!!
posted by mds35 at 11:49 AM on January 9, 2007

Someone should link to the original slashdot discussion of the first ipod. It has every variation of:

1. Too expensive;
2. Not really new technology;
3. Missing key features;
4. Too big;
5. Not enough battery.

Those slashdotters can really spot a successful product!

/me jams out on Rio Nomad Mp3 player.
posted by Mid at 11:50 AM on January 9, 2007

Interesting device. I wonder about their patents on the multitouch touchscreen interface... i've seen this multitouch thing somewhere before.
posted by freq at 11:51 AM on January 9, 2007

fixy linky oops
posted by freq at 11:52 AM on January 9, 2007

160 DPI LCD is schweet. I have that on my Samsung A900 and I love it.

For me, making DHTML apps (via Safari and/or Dashboard Widgets) is what I've been waiting 10+ years for.

I also have an HTC Apache device that cost $400. WM2005 is clunky and drain bamaged in dozens of important details (Micorsoft cites security reasons for not doing WiFi sync).

Looks good to me. If it's too expensive for you, consider yourself not the target market at this time.
posted by Heywood Mogroot at 11:52 AM on January 9, 2007

we should really just cut & paste from prior discussions. It'd save everyone a lot of time.

So it's just a nicer looking nomad? This was supposed to be a big deal?
posted by Greg Nog at 11:53 AM on January 9, 2007

It will be fun to watch the 3 big mobile phone carriers here in Japan battle it out to see who gets to carry it....

... for they will sell a gazillion of them here.
posted by gomichild at 11:54 AM on January 9, 2007

Here's the slashdot original ipod thread.
posted by Mid at 11:54 AM on January 9, 2007 [1 favorite]

Can someone explain why a "$600 phone" is laughable, but the idea of a $500 MP3 player was not? Keep in mind that the $500 MP3 player made Apple billions and billions of dollars.
posted by Justinian at 11:58 AM on January 9, 2007 [1 favorite]

Apart from the beautiful interface and the touch screen, this does not do anything the Nokia N-Series multimedia computers (don't call them phones) couldn't do for the last 1.5 years.

A beautiful interface isn't enough for you? Fuck, it is to Symbian what the Mac was to DOS. It also multi-tasks (which the N80 won't do with Java apps) and appears to not crash every few hours (which the N80 will do).
posted by bonaldi at 11:58 AM on January 9, 2007

What do you think an unlimited data plan is going to run monthly?
posted by Divine_Wino at 11:58 AM on January 9, 2007

iPods cost $400 when they came out.

I can get an iPod for $59 now from Apple. The price will come down, it always does.

Available in June means it's ready for the school year in September. and hello, Christmas market!
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 11:59 AM on January 9, 2007

All the naysayers here are HIGH.
I've paid $600 for every cell phone I've ever owned. Last time I bought a $2000 handheld computer for the html-internet feature to go along with it. This thing is CHEAP.

And I can't understand what people are talking about having a hard time 'dialing' numbers on a touchscreen. I never dial any number more than once..[often times never]..because I use the contacts list to dial..which on this is probably going to be very iPodish in interface and so especially easy to use.
posted by Osmanthus at 12:00 PM on January 9, 2007

Meh. have fun salivating over a cellphone, I guess.

This is basically a tablet PC without a keyboard, with a phone, and with a new "multi touch" interface. It's also pretty.
posted by delmoi at 12:01 PM on January 9, 2007

Put a fork in J2ME.
posted by Armitage Shanks at 12:01 PM on January 9, 2007

I can get an iPod for $59 now from Apple. The price will come down, it always does.

Yeah, but that cheap one'll be the iPhone Shuffle, which calls your friends at random.
posted by brownpau at 12:03 PM on January 9, 2007 [35 favorites]

At 8 GB, it's really not an iPod replacement, is it? I suppose there isn't room for a hard drive, but I would have liked to see at least 30 GB...
posted by mr_roboto at 12:03 PM on January 9, 2007

Can someone explain why a "$600 phone" is laughable, but the idea of a $500 MP3 player was not? Keep in mind that the $500 MP3 player made Apple billions and billions of dollars.

The $500 MP3 player has an 80 GB disk and its own battery.

With the iPhone, listening to music will kill the battery. Your calls will crap out because you listen to too much music. The lack of physical buttons will make it even more dangerous to dial while driving.

There will be a big surge of people buying the iPhone, but no one will buy the second generation device.
posted by b1tr0t at 12:03 PM on January 9, 2007

I just want a phone that works well and has a long battery life. I have a non-apple MP3 player that's about the size of a pack of gum and I'll never understand why anyone would want to watch video on a 3 inch screen.
But hey, consumer whores and fanboys are what keeps our economy humming, so buy away!
posted by 2sheets at 12:03 PM on January 9, 2007 [1 favorite]

With the iPhone, listening to music will kill the battery. Your calls will crap out because you listen to too much music. The lack of physical buttons will make it even more dangerous to dial while driving.

I think they said there were two batteries: one for the phone, one for music.
posted by Alt F4 at 12:06 PM on January 9, 2007

Someone should link to the original slashdot discussion of the first ipod...

Here's the Macrumors discussion.
posted by TheDonF at 12:07 PM on January 9, 2007

does it have a volume control on the side, or is it in the touchscreen? how would you change the volume when it's in your pocket?
posted by mrgrimm at 12:07 PM on January 9, 2007

"What do you think an unlimited data plan is going to run monthly?"

In the UK (T-Mobile) an unlimited data plan costs £7.50 / month on top of your calling plan. I'm paying £35 / month for unlimited data, 500 minutes (any time, any network) and 100 text messages.

It will be interesting to see if a carrier maintains this price, especially on the data side, for an iPhone.
posted by Mutant at 12:08 PM on January 9, 2007

I hate Cingular! hate hate hate hate hate! They charge for the most incredibly stupid things my current provider doesn't. Once iPhone's available for providers other than jerkface ripoff Cingular, I'm in. And by then, all the first-gen kinks will be worked out. Awesome.
posted by bitter-girl.com at 12:08 PM on January 9, 2007

Can someone explain why a "$600 phone" is laughable, but the idea of a $500 MP3 player was not?

I think it would come from perception, people already have a rough idea of what they think a cell phone should cost (for most people I'd put it at between free-$200), so $600 for a phone seems overally inflated. With MP3 players, most people didn't have any idea of what they should cost.
posted by drezdn at 12:08 PM on January 9, 2007 [1 favorite]

The $500 MP3 player has an 80 GB disk and its own battery.

The original iPod was $499 for 10GB.

no one will buy the second generation device.

I imagine that's what a lot of people said about the original iPod too.
posted by Armitage Shanks at 12:10 PM on January 9, 2007

Remember back when dialup was all the rage and you had to pay by the hour and remember now how everyone has cable modems and unlimited plans? I'm waiting for that to be universal on cell phones before I start checking nytimes.com just for the hell of it. Data plans are stuck in 1995.
posted by mattbucher at 12:11 PM on January 9, 2007 [1 favorite]

Beautiful device. I guess now when I experience the usual dropped calls on Cingular's network I won't want to fling it across the room.
posted by hojoki at 12:12 PM on January 9, 2007

Gates gives CES keynote promising convergence.

Jobs gives Macworld Expo keynote delivering convergence.
posted by smallerdemon at 12:13 PM on January 9, 2007 [8 favorites]

I wonder how accessible this device is? With a traditional phone, I guess (but don't know) that a disabled user could at least feel the keys to navigate around and make a call. As this is pure touch screen, unless it's got OS X's Universal Access features, it's going to be useless to someone that's blind.
posted by TheDonF at 12:14 PM on January 9, 2007

The original iPod was $499 for 10GB.

The original iPod wasn't something I felt any need to buy. It was just too much money for what it did.

I wonder how many people defending a 600+2 year contract price (so closer to 800 dollars) think that the ps3 costs too damn much.
posted by aspo at 12:15 PM on January 9, 2007

Interesting in a number of ways:

1) UK has flat rate plans for data (T-Mobile), and phones are given away as part of monthly plans. Price = no problem.

2) Touchscreen. I'm currently playing with a Nokia N800 with full screen touch keyboard and it rocks. Totally great with a decent sized screen.

3) How long will such a large screen in an 11cm body last in the average pocket?

4) Edge = slow. Hope it gets an HSDPA uplift before it hits Europe.

5) iTunes integration = killer app.

6) 2 mpixel camera is not enough. Hope the lens is decent.

7) The new N95 from Nokia will blow it away in terms of performance and features (in-built GPS etc), but the iPhone UI is simply stunning!
posted by Duug at 12:16 PM on January 9, 2007

I have a year left on the contract for my stupid Cingular 8125--that should be about right for them to get the bugs out of this and for the price to drop a little. Then I'm on it, because is sure looks sweet.
posted by LarryC at 12:16 PM on January 9, 2007

People will pay $600 for a turd with "Apple" stamped on it.

*borrows $600*
posted by Mister_A at 12:16 PM on January 9, 2007

That said, the second generation (or maybe third) iPhone may very well rock a llama's ass and if so I'll buy one then.
posted by aspo at 12:16 PM on January 9, 2007

I can't wait to smear my greasy hands all over its sleek cutting edge design.
posted by boo_radley at 12:18 PM on January 9, 2007

She will be mine. Oh yes, she will be mine.
posted by cowbellemoo at 12:19 PM on January 9, 2007

How long will such a large screen in an 11cm body last in the average pocket?

Good point. That's the reason I haven't bought anything remotely like a Treo. I just know I'm gonna break the screen eventually.
posted by mrgrimm at 12:19 PM on January 9, 2007

It's too bad that hardware is controlled by the cell carriers so much in the U.S. (versus the rest of the world).

Imagine if the iPhone was released with Verizon -- it would be sad to see Verizon cripple all the features of the phone and force their own UI like they do with every other cell they carry.
posted by jca at 12:21 PM on January 9, 2007

Apple is very clever. They'll make sure their customers understand that this is an iPod that makes phone calls (not a cellphone w/MP3 player). You savvy?

Also it will probably break every year just like an iPod. This thing is for young uncircumcised people with too much money who need to get off my lawn!
posted by Mister_A at 12:21 PM on January 9, 2007 [1 favorite]

they'll probably be on the third generation one when they get to canada anyways so i won't have the temptation to drop pints of blood just to get one.
posted by dflemingdotorg at 12:21 PM on January 9, 2007

Wow. Pretty. I was all set to hate this.
posted by Skygazer at 12:21 PM on January 9, 2007

just popped in to throw in my quick comment
I am a multi year Blackberry user, using their Enterprise software so this is coming from a business perspective
I have tried ALL other devices, Palm, Windows Mobile, all geared towards business class service

they all sucked in comparison

Blackberry has it's issues but it's prime usage, making calls AND doing email has not yet been surpassed and my concern w/ this iPhone is the lack of real buttons. I used some of those new fangled Windows Mobile devices and trying to call by FEEL is impossible. When you are a tech making a billion calls a second, tactile touch is pretty important. Trying to dial a customer by feel (so you don't drive off the road) and sun glare to find the keys was impossible. All driving while talking on the cell phone issues asside, I felt dangerous using one of those phones while in the car. It was frustrating to do when I could pay attention.

Anyway, maybe they solved that issue but I found my super slick touch screen pad phone pads on cell phones to suck major ass. I went back to the good ol Blackberry that always works.
posted by evilelvis at 12:22 PM on January 9, 2007 [1 favorite]

It looks like an awesome handheld computer, but I'm not convinced that having a phone and PDA in the same device is a great idea. It's too big and expensive to want to take with you on a night out, and the camera will be quickly outclassed by much cheaper phones. Also, will you want to use it when you haven't just washed your hands? Even being careful it seems like wiping the fingerprints off that beautiful interface would get tedious.

No doubt it will be popular enough, but I don't think Nokia, Sony Ericsson etc will be losing too much sleep over this just yet.
posted by teleskiving at 12:24 PM on January 9, 2007

Don't worry, Verizon should have the phone available in 2010.
posted by dr_dank at 12:26 PM on January 9, 2007

It looks like the phone will be wildly popular, but how many people will actually own one? As people have mentioned before, the price is a major hurdle, as is its Cingular-only status.

Now, remove the phone functionality and eliminate the camera, and you've got one spectacular 6th gen iPod.
posted by roomwithaview at 12:30 PM on January 9, 2007

I predict that both the phone and the AppleTV thing will fail miserably. Sell your stock now in anticipation of the forthcoming price drop.
posted by tadellin at 12:30 PM on January 9, 2007

Initially I thought it was nifty, but on reflection the battery issue is decisive. Until there is a major increase in rechargeable battery capacity per size, "convergence" is a dead letter.

Also -- touchscreen for phone buttons? Don't they realize that many people can type phone numbers without looking at the keypad?
posted by graymouser at 12:31 PM on January 9, 2007

Apple said they are shooting for 1% of the market . . . in 2008.

Seems about right.
posted by Heywood Mogroot at 12:32 PM on January 9, 2007

Visual voicemail. That's pretty sweet.
posted by Alt F4 at 12:34 PM on January 9, 2007

Does anyone know what material the phone is made out of? There were late-breaking rumors that it would be made from zirconia, a zirconium-based alloy that is EXTREMELY durable and radio transparent. Essentially a ceramic phone.
posted by mkultra at 12:34 PM on January 9, 2007

I just realized that this would mean I would get to play music in my car like I do now, but I'd get to charge my phone while it is plugged into the dock connector sending songs to my stereo.

Plus, no more phone plus ipod to carry around. I really hope someone unlocks it so I don't have to switch carriers over it.
posted by mathowie at 12:34 PM on January 9, 2007

I concur with the iPhone hata's on the touchscreen. The lack of tactile feedback for ANY function on a handheld device is a risky move. Didn't Apple learn from the UI problems that the 3G iPod had?

The basic functions of messaging and dialing really ought to have *some* kind of shortcut that doesn't require eyes on the screen. This becomes especially problematic when outdoors; the video I saw of the device leads me to believe that sunlight will be completely wash out the display, require users to rely on spatial memory without any feedback whatsoever.

There are ways around these problems; you can add in a headset with one or more buttons (which they have), or you can have very, very good voice recognition, or you can try some fancy tricks to add touch feedback to the screen itself.

Apple has often sacrificed a bit of usability for aesthetics (which is fine), but this appears to me to be a fundamental problem with the product. Apple has built a palmtop that requires the user's full attention and engagement for every interaction, which is not how most people use their mobile phones. I expect that the 2G iPhone will either add buttons or some kind of haptic feedback integrated into the touchscreen.
posted by xthlc at 12:34 PM on January 9, 2007

All driving while talking on the cell phone issues asside...

Yeah, you know, all practical and meaningful issues aside... grrr...

I can see the iPhone being basically what the iMac has been, which is the consumer answer to existing corporate technologies. The iPhone will pick up the consumer market that the Blackberry has had in the corporate market. Price be damned.

I am always amused how there's always someone who can chime in "But I can pay less can get more with product X!" Yes. Yes you can. You go ahead and do that. When by "more" you mean something a lot different than I do. You mean quantity, always. Me, well, I'm willing to pay more for less quantity and more quality in a lot of cases, and this will likely be one of them.
posted by smallerdemon at 12:34 PM on January 9, 2007

the second generation (or maybe third) iPhone may very well rock a llama's ass

circumsized llama or uncircumsized? and does the llama like "elaborate" sexual practices or not?

Still. I want one, the second they come to T-Mobile Town.
posted by bitter-girl.com at 12:37 PM on January 9, 2007

What's the deal with the iPhone trademark? I thought Cingular or somebody had that?
posted by Alt F4 at 12:37 PM on January 9, 2007

It will never replace my old rotary dial.
posted by Iron Rat at 12:38 PM on January 9, 2007 [1 favorite]

People will pay $600 for a turd with "Apple" stamped on it.

No, they won't. Laser etched, on the other hand...
posted by pardonyou? at 12:39 PM on January 9, 2007

frankly, I'm geeked out about a phone with a real OS, that has some horsepower behind it.

That's going to be the real game changer. Trust me, you ain't seen nothin yet.

Don't like their email system? Some geeks will write their own. Don't like their PIM? see above.
Dont like their Sync? Ditto.

freeBSD/Darwin on a phone. That's the real story here.
posted by Freen at 12:39 PM on January 9, 2007 [2 favorites]

I own an iPhone. It's called a Palm Treo.
posted by _aa_ at 12:40 PM on January 9, 2007

How long will such a large screen in an 11cm body last in the average pocket?

Do you mean the new zirconia-ceramic iPocket? For $600 they'll even throw in one of those black suede cases!
posted by mattbucher at 12:42 PM on January 9, 2007

If these are like the ipod then they will break on schedule after 6 months .
posted by Liquidwolf at 12:42 PM on January 9, 2007

From DonF's link to the original iPod announcement, here is a somewhat typical response from the Mac faithful:

"It's now at the online Apple Store!

$400 for an Mp3 Player!

I'd call it the Cube 2.0 as it wont sell, and be killed off in a short time...and it's not really functional.

Uuhh Steve, can I have a PDA now?"
posted by The Deej at 12:44 PM on January 9, 2007

As much as I am impressed with what they have managed to do with the thing - there are times that I wish my cell phone was just a cell phone.

Of course, by the time I am ready to pick up a new phone, maybe this will be in the running. So far have been pretty pissed at the shitty selection that Cingular has right now for everyone not willing to shell out $400 or more.
posted by caution live frogs at 12:44 PM on January 9, 2007

All the people hating on this new and shiny toy....

Did you look at it?!?!?!?!

I've never wanted to physically make love to a gadget before, but I see myself buying flowers and making reservations for a fancy restaurant in June for this baby.
posted by Bageena at 12:47 PM on January 9, 2007

roomwithaview wrote "It looks like the phone will be wildly popular, but how many people will actually own one? As people have mentioned before, the price is a major hurdle, as is its Cingular-only status."

That reminds me: Wasn't the Moto Razr close to $500 when it first came out? And wasn't it exclusively carried by Cingular at the time, too? 'Cause everyone and their grandma has a Razr these days...
posted by caution live frogs at 12:47 PM on January 9, 2007 [1 favorite]

Multitouch patent - US Patent Publication No. 20060197750

(go here and type in the number to see - install alternatiff to see the images)
posted by caddis at 12:51 PM on January 9, 2007 [1 favorite]

I see myself buying flowers and making reservations for a fancy restaurant in June for this baby.

Babyfucker.
posted by rxrfrx at 12:51 PM on January 9, 2007

this looks like a fine addition to the battery on powerful handheld computers with various uses in the home. I applaud those plunking $600 for one, and will now begin trawling for mods of that computer.

can you can stream iTunes via wifi? (saving local space on unit)

I think we've just been introduced to the PSP-killer.
widescreen video with better interoperability? hmmm

all a person needs is backup batteries, since you're using it for everything you do...
posted by Busithoth at 12:52 PM on January 9, 2007

freeBSD/Darwin on a phone. That's the real story here.

Dubious. The Widget DHTML API most like. With the Canvas extension if we're lucky. Outside chance of Quartz. But I'm just guessing here.
posted by Heywood Mogroot at 12:52 PM on January 9, 2007

'Cause everyone and their grandma has a Razr these days...

Probably because a lot of people, like myself, got a Razr for free with a new phone contract. Just like how I got an iPod Nano when it finally dropped under $200.
posted by rxrfrx at 12:53 PM on January 9, 2007

just been introduced to the PSP-killer

Doesn't really go into that quadrant, alas. No D-pad, doubt it will have eg. OpenGL ES.
posted by Heywood Mogroot at 12:54 PM on January 9, 2007

I also have an HTC and I would never want to iPhone as my replacement until there's a keyboard. Not having and and attempting to do work on the phone would drive me insane.
That said, mine has a pull-out keyboard so I have to use the touchscreen for dialing. As a phone, it sucks without the raised keypad. Period.

The lack of physical buttons will make it even more dangerous to dial while driving.

Dang, people are bad enough driving with and talking. Maybe they could, ya know, wait to talk until they're not driving? Safety first!
posted by jmd82 at 12:57 PM on January 9, 2007

The original iPod was $499 for 10GB.

The original iPod was actually $399 for 5GB. The 10GB model came later.
posted by bshort at 12:58 PM on January 9, 2007

A handheld computing device is disclosed. The handheld computing device includes an enclosure having structural walls formed from a ceramic material that is radio-transparent.

US Patent Publication No. 20060268528


A touch panel having a transparent capacitive sensing medium configured to detect multiple touches or near touches that occur at the same time and at distinct locations in the plane of the touch panel and to produce distinct signals representative of the location of the touches on the plane of the touch panel for each of the multiple touches is disclosed.

US Patent Publication No. 20060097991


An electronic apparatus, such as an electronic mixing apparatus and an electronic keyboard apparatus, and associated methods are disclosed. The electronic mixing apparatus or the electronic keyboard apparatus is provided on a touch screen that provides user input and display capabilities. In one embodiment, the touch screen is a multipoint touch screen so that multiple user touch inputs can be simultaneously acquired. In another embodiment, surface guides can be provided on the touch screen to assist with user input.

US Patent Publication No. 20060022956

And there are more. Yeah, they have patents.
posted by caddis at 12:59 PM on January 9, 2007

Dang, people are bad enough driving with and talking. Maybe they could, ya know, wait to talk until they're not driving? Safety first!

You are absolutely right. However this comment ignores the reality of life - people use their cell phones ALOT while driving. Requiring you to look at the pad is even worse than someone who can call by touch and at least keep there eyes on the road.

I will assume it was kinda sarcastic so that's all I am saying.
posted by evilelvis at 1:07 PM on January 9, 2007

I think we've just been introduced to the PSP-killer.


The DS?
posted by ZippityBuddha at 1:08 PM on January 9, 2007

What's the deal with the iPhone trademark? I thought Cingular or somebody had that?

W$J: Apple will likely have to pay Cisco Systems Inc. for the right use "iPhone" as the name for its new cellphone. Cisco, which owns the rights to the name and unveiled a line of Internet-based phone devices using the brand last month, said it has been in talks with Apple about the trademark and expects to sign an agreement later today. (Read more in the WSJ Law Blog.)

"Given Apple's numerous requests for permission to use Cisco's iPhone trademark over the past several years, and our extensive discussions with them recently, it is our belief that with their announcement today Apple intends to agree to the final document and public statement," said a Cisco spokeswoman.

posted by alms at 1:09 PM on January 9, 2007

Color me impressed. A lot of comments have focused on problems—battery life, keypad, camera res, etc. My guess is that we'll see software and accessories to address these problems.

The phone will have jacks on it; someone like Griffin might make a snap-on tenkey flip-pad, qwerty keyboard, battery pack, whatever. It also has bluetooth, so serious texters could carry one of the already-available folding keyboards. The phone almost certainly has enough processing power to do basic speech recognition, and I'd be surprised if people don't start working on voice navigation as soon as the SDK is released.

Sure, I'm disappointed that it's so expensive/Cingular only/not available yet/pony-deficient, but it looks like a hot little slab of technology, and I'm looking forward to the trickle-down.
posted by adamrice at 1:10 PM on January 9, 2007

Triumph of design and for designers -- Hire us now you slobs!! However, touch screen phone = ick.
posted by gorgor_balabala at 1:10 PM on January 9, 2007

3 people in my office have committed to getting one.
posted by paulinsanjuan at 1:15 PM on January 9, 2007

this does not do anything the Nokia N-Series multimedia computers (don't call them phones) couldn't do for the last 1.5 years.

Except hold more than 2 GB of data, run OSX, etc. Smaller screen, poorer colour depth, shorter battery life.

I have a Nokia, and the iPhone is a heckuva lot cooler.
posted by solid-one-love at 1:17 PM on January 9, 2007