iPhones are great!

In fact I’m writing this from it now, in the garden drinking Pimms Although it doesn’t seem to like making new posts through wordpress.

2008
07/26
CATEGORY
Thoughts
Uncategorized
4 comments
    • Kris
    • July 27th, 2008

    I bet there are quite a few things it doesn’t seem to like doing.
    Its got till February (when my contract is up) to release some updates that address some of the the more serious omissions like no ‘copy and paste’ before it can realistically become a more serious contender on my potential shopping list.

    But its more than likely going to be between the new Peal and the Bold (released in August).

    I think the iPhone is a fantastic personal device, but it’s probably going to take a few more generations before its tweaked enough to properly break the business market.

    p.s. I think you were going for ‘In fact’

  2. Well mine is a personal device so I can ignore all of the business arguments (I wouldn’t mind a pearl as a replacement to my current work mobile).

    I can’t believe they didn’t put cut and paste in after everyone complained about it in the first version and the lack of java and flash is a pain too. The app store is great but why can’t I install whatever I want not just what apple wants me to use. Why can’t I select an normal mp3 as my ring tone like you can on every other phone.

    And there are plenty of other stupid shitty things about it too like not being able to charge it from a normal USB charger, it has to be the apple one or from a computer WITH iTunes installed. So now I have to spend a fiver on fleabay to get yet another car charger.

    Having said that it’s an amazing device and I love it! The unlimited data plan has completely changed the way I use mobile computing.

  3. Sounds like Apple are the new Vodafone in terms of controlling what you’re allowed to do!

    Yeah, unlimited data plans are great although I still very rarely use the browser on my phone. Mainly down to the fact that heavy internet use will always require a monitor and a keyboard to be completely comfortable. But its nice to know I can look up the occasional thing when I need to and it won’t cost me a penny and of course I can send and receive as many emails (which is mainly what I use my data tariff for) as I like.

  4. Kris seems to be wanting my views on this thread, so here goes:

    - Copy and Paste: It is a massive omission from the phones software, but I don’t think is meant to be permanent. Originally, you could argue it wasn’t a requirement, but now with the App Store, and apps like those for blogging, I think the need is increasing. Now that Apple are obviously trying to entice enterprise users over to the platform, a more demanding audience in terms of what features they consider essential, I can’t see the iPhone being without Copy & Paste for much longer. Maybe v2.1, but possibly later.

    - As to the Ringtones, Apple has been unusually beholden to the music industry on this, but the situation is far far better than it was when they first announced ringtones for iPhone. I totally agree that this is not great, but there are a number of pieces of shareware you can find that will allow you to do this – or there used to be anyway.

    - Apple has along standing history of being arseholes when it comes to accessories. Backwards compatibility is just not in Apple’s DNA, unless it brings revenue with it (which in terms of hardware, it rarely does). So fully expect to have to buy a whole new set of accessories with the next version of iPhone, and one after that too (although, they have in recent years tried to ensure compatibility with various models of iPod and the iPod docks)

    - As to the App Store, and being a closed system as it is, yeah, I’m not sure how this will play out in the long term, it is still early days. I think part of the motivation here was to make adding applications as simple as purchasing music, as well as soften the security concerns (how real they are I don’t know). In the next few years we will learn if software development on iPhone will become more or less open.

    Apple isn’t a perfect company, but in many ways, it’s a perfect business – they don’t miss a trick when it comes to generating revenue, and usually it’s the customer that suffers. What I will say is, this is more than made up by the overall experience, as Mark has demonstrated here.

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