iPhone 3G, The Mobile Computer That Time Forgot
Another Apple WWDC is in the books! Another Stevenote address and yet another iteration of iPhone that almost makes it as a legit 21st Century Smartphone. There is a lot of talk about the new Apple Smartphone really being a mobile computer. But without basic functions like Flash and copy/cut/paste it's a computer that time forgot.
Apple has a couple of nice surprises in the iPhone 3G but the device remains locked down like Riker’s and bereft of a few of the most common 2008 Smartphone conveniences.
The biggest surprise during Job’s iPhone 3G presentation was its price. It’ll run for a comparative bargain at $199 for the 8GB and $299 for the 16GB models. Apple had to seriously roll up its sleeves to make it affordable, but there are strings attached - a two-year plan with AT&T. That oughta’ make it hacker-proof.
The iPhone comes with the built-in Apple caste system that includes a non-user replaceable battery and memory. How else can Apple charge $100 for 8GB of memory? Thankfully the Apple phone will now sync with Exchange and even use push email right out of the box. An explosion of new third party developments at Apple’s new App Store should help patch up the holes in Apple’s development.
But here is where iPhone 3G fails to live up to the standards of a true 2008 flagship Smartphone.
- iPhone doesn’t copy/cut/paste and it still can’t. The was popularized by Apple with early renditions of its Mac OS and is now part of any text/messaging Smartphone.
- Still no Multi-media Messaging. You can’t text anyone with an MMS only through your iPhone 3G.
- Still no Flash support for its Safari browser. Most video online is Flash. ‘nuff said. Jobs maintains Mobile Flash is inadequate yet Adobe says iPhone isn’t powerful enough to run full Flash.
- You can’t perform iTunes music downloads via 3G. iTunes Wi-Fi is still… iTunes WiFi.
- iPhone’s unlimited 3G data rate would make a nice 3G modem for your laptop. The feature is called tethering and many cutting-edge Smartphones today stream broadband via Bluetooth (or USB) to your laptop. Another sad oversight for iPhone.
- Sill no Bluetoooth stereo or A2DP Bluetooth profile. Bluetooth is limited to your headset only.
Apparently Apple stock was as unimpressed with the new iPhone as many in the industry. It actually went down 4% during Steve Job’s keynote.
Recent Forum Posts:
Now seriously, what is going on with everybody? Just because it's Apple and it's so popular seems to make everybody go off on every little (or not so little) problem/short coming the phone has. You can say whatever you want it's way cooler than any other smartphone out there. Surfing is just awesome on it. I don't have one yet, and that is primarily because it didn't have 3G. When my Verizon contract runs out I'll probably get one.
With regards to it being available on other networks, I doubt that that will happen in the near future. I'm pretty sure they have a hardcore contract with AT&T.
You can’t perform iTunes music downloads via 3G. iTunes Wi-Fi is still… iTunes WiFi.
Are you sure about that? I thought he said anything under 10mb you can download over 3G.
Apple had to seriously roll up its sleeves to make it affordable, but there are strings attached - a two-year plan with AT&T.Have you ever seen prices for other smart phones without a 2 year contract? Having a 2 year contract with a price like this is nothing unusual.
iPhone’s unlimited 3G data rate would make a nice 3G modem for your laptop. The feature is called tethering and many cutting-edge Smartphones today stream broadband via Bluetooth (or USB) to your laptop. Another sad oversight for iPhone.I agree, that would be cool to have.
Now with all that said the biggest thing that I want the iPhone to have is AirTunes. Think about how awesome that would be!
edit:
and here :
http://www.iphoneatlas.com/2008/06/12/did-steve-jobs-demo-a-flash-enabled-iphone-3g/ [iphoneatlas.com]
Although there are a few innovations, it's hardly what I'd call a "Jesus phone" as it's been sarcastically nicknamed.
The upgrades for Corporate integration are huge when compared to other phones. Just because you only get a few things on the consumer side of the things the Corporate features alone are worth the price of the phone. I think I will be replacing my Blackjack next month.
Although there are a few innovations, it's hardly what I'd call a "Jesus phone" as it's been sarcastically nicknamed.
