After lots of intense speculation, Apple Computer unveiled its "iPhone" yesterday at the MacWorld Expo. The device will play iTunes, show movies, display (and store) photographs, and take pictures. It also has a real web browser, Safari, (not the typical scaled-down version on some phones) for surfing the net. It has an intuitive touchscreen user interface, plus Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 2. Oh, it's also a phone. The only problem I see is that it uses Cingular phone service (which gets mixed reviews) and it isn't waterproof.
Since the announcement, Apple stock is up over 10%. This revolutionary technology will allow owners to further disengage from the 90% of people in the world who don't matter, and more easily network with those who do.
In related news, Microsoft has announced plans for its "Phune", expected to be released in the Spring of 2011.
Hardy-har-har. The Phune.
Seriously, Apple Computer is renaming the company to just Apple.
Posted by: Paul | January 10, 2007 at 12:43 PM
And are the Beatles OK with this now?
Posted by: Marty | January 10, 2007 at 01:19 PM
Rumor has it that The Beatles' music, which is the one glaring omission, will be available on the iTunes Music store in the near future. It also took the Stones a while before they finally signed on. Jobs played Beatles music during part of his keynote address yesterday.
Posted by: Chris | January 10, 2007 at 01:38 PM
Sorry, but I need all that crap in a phone like I need an extra butt-hole. I carry a cell phone for light personal (If Wanda needs to call me or vice versa) OR EMERGENCY use only!
My Cingular phone RARELY drops a call, and considering the hilly area where I live, I don't have signal problems. My Wife's Verizon phone is a piece of crap. But her company pays for it.
My Cingular bill is less than 35 a month. People are amazed!!! I have the cheapest plan with 250 prime time and 1000 weekend minutes, I NEVER use anywhere near the allotment.
I don't Text message--What the hell for?
I don't use it to listen to Music--that's what RADIOS,TAPE AND CD PLAYERS ARE FOR.
I have a computer at home for e-mail and internet, so what the hell do I need THIS freakin thing for---for that matter, what does ANYONE need this freakin thing for?
Posted by: hank kaczmarek | January 10, 2007 at 02:17 PM
Hey, Hank: Point taken, but to each his own. People say the same thing about gun nuts. Why would anyone need all those guns?!?
Around here, with lots of hills and valleys, the Verizon service is much less spotty. On the various service ratings (Consumers Union, others), Verizon gets the nod for biggest network, most coverage and best service. Cingular around here can be a bit spotty. Verizon covers us well. It's definitely a few bucks more.
Posted by: Marty | January 10, 2007 at 03:28 PM
Sorry, but I need all that crap in a phone like I need an extra butt-hole. I carry a cell phone for light personal (If Wanda needs to call me or vice versa) OR EMERGENCY use only!
/../
My Cingular bill is less than 35 a month. People are amazed!!! I have the cheapest plan with 250 prime time and 1000 weekend minutes, I NEVER use anywhere near the allotment.
Ummm ... Hank, I think that places you squarely in the 90% :-)
Posted by: Aaron | January 10, 2007 at 05:10 PM
People who have cell phones don't really need them and those of us who do can't afford them. I need one for emergencies and to keep in touch with relatives who cancelled their landline phone service, all of them having cell phones. There are no public phones anymore except those in museums.
The last †ime I had cell phones service it was a 100% ripoff, WorldCom, remember them? They charged air time for the so-called "free time" plus roaming and long distance charges in the "Home Area", even in my HOME. I haven't trusted cell phone companies since.
Oh, and by the way, our local 911 Operator was arrested today charged with murder. What's a body to do?
Posted by: JimboNC | January 10, 2007 at 11:05 PM
P.S. When you retire you have "free time" 24/7 365 days a year. Your only roaming charges are paid to BP or Shell and long distance charges are kept to a minimum by email. Who needd anything more?
BTW, what did those drivers talking on cell phones do BEFORE they got them, and just what is so important they have to discuss it while driving to work at 7:00AM?
Posted by: JimboNC | January 10, 2007 at 11:14 PM
Well I could use an extra butt hole. Gosh!
Posted by: Jimmy | January 11, 2007 at 06:45 AM
I carry a cell phone when I'm with my wife shopping, or when I'm doing some shopping for the both of us without her (usually the groceries or for a DVD). In the first case, the phone frees me up to go somewhere else like a bookstore while she's trying stuff on or whatever. In the second case, I can clarify what's needed at the store. But, truly, since I got family plan cell phones, my phoning habits have hardly changed. Most calls are still less than a minute. I guess I'm just so out of it. I can see hi-tech phones have a utilitarian advantage. How do I get there to make this delivery? Check online map with my phone. I'm expecting an important email from a client. I don't have to carry a laptop, just a phone. But to listen to music? Watch TV? Surf the net? Play games? I think people who use a phone to do this stuff all the time deserve the various maladies and injuries they're prone to because of it. And somehow, I feel free, not "superior", just free. I see so many professional people with walkie-talkies, Blackberries, pagers, etc. They seem like they're on a leash. I see so many young people talking on cells or diddling with them all the time instead of talking to who they're with, or reading, or taking in what's around them. Old guy walking, I guess. That's me.
Posted by: Marty | January 11, 2007 at 10:55 AM
Chris has emailed me that he got a link to this post from a comment on a blog in Argentina. They thought his joke at the end was phunny (ja ja ja!). But the comments link to a post another post in Spanish, the title of which translates into "10 Reasons Not To By The iPhone". My Spanish is a bit rusty, but to the best of my ability, the reasons are as follows (they go into a a good bit of detail about each one): (1) The touch pad; (2) The closed system, like iPod, not open to third party software; (3) No like-o Cingular; (4) Some complaint about vaporware - maybe stuff that isn't available yet, just promised; (5) Price (6) Battery is short lived and, like iPod, welded into the machine; (7) GSM-only, not usable in much of the world outside of "los Yankees"; (8) Crappy camera relative to what you can get on a Nokia; (9) No GPS. (10) Something about a crappy game interface; Bonus - Can't download iTunes via WiFi (?).
Also, Instapundit, on his post linking to us, has another link to a post that is critical of the iPhone.
Posted by: Marty | January 11, 2007 at 02:47 PM