Jack Bauer will have to be getting himself one of these. Although ‘24’ switched most of their Macs to Dells after a couple of seasons, I don’t think it’ll be long until they’re back in the Apple camp and Jack’ll be screaming, “DOWNLOAD IT TO MY iPHONE! NOW” Although if it was a terrorist threat to Starbucks in San Francisco, he could handle it himself. Can’t believe we in Asia/Pacific will have to wait until 2008 to do the same. Though I guess that’ll be plenty of time for the US and European guinea pigs to iron out the bugs for us. Nice. :)
UPDATE: Watched the full keynote speech last night. Steve Jobs demoed the iPhone, and I've got to say it looks incredible. (Although technology writer Dan Warne raises some interesting points of concern in his article for APC magazine.) Also incredible was that Kate agreed to watch with me! No longer a thing of shame to be watched on your computer behind a closed bedroom door, the 'Stevenote' is out on the TV in the best room of the house where it belongs! Almost as amazing as the iPhone itself.
Oh, and also, please note that I titled this post 'iWant', not 'iNeed', demonstrating (I hope) that although my sense of perspective may be somewhat skewed at times, it's still mostly the right way round. Thanks. :)
UPDATE 2: Very funny ad for the iPhone from Late Night with Conan O'Brien. The same ad including Conan's intro is here.
UPDATE 3: Oh well, NBC have yoiked the Conan iPhone ad off YouTube as it was posted without permisson. Hmm, Conan the barbarian with an iPhone; now there's an image! Oh wait: the ad's back on YouTube! I wonder how long this one'll last?
UPDATE 4: Well, after a month of lawyers stamping around, locking horns and bashing heads, the winner in Apple v Cisco is... both of 'em! MacNN is reporting that an agreement has been reached, under which "...both companies are free to use the "iPhone" trademark on their products throughout the world." The terms of the agreement have been published here.
So, isn't that nice?! Apparently we can all just share the ball. :)
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Does it make you horny baby? Grrrr...
ReplyDeleteErr, not quite, Austin, but thanks for asking.
ReplyDeleteAlready Apple is being Sued by Cisco as Cisco was very smart and registered the iPhone as a trademark of theirs... infact they have a product on the market which is already called the iPhone.
ReplyDeleteIt may end up being called the iPod, with phone and other capabilities...
I think the gist (always good for legal debates) is that there are already a number of companies with products called 'iPhone' that Cisco haven't prosecuted, and when you fail to defend your trademark you lose the right to exclusivity. Apple are also saying they're the first company to use the name for a mobile phone.
ReplyDeleteI don't like the name 'iPhone' anyway. It seems too bland, too obvious, and not enough to capture all the device is. I think they should have resurrected Newton. It's already an Apple brand and it's not generic like 'iPhone'. It tickles the imagination. My imagination, anyway. ...Uh-oh, I feel another CK comment coming on... :)
I think Apple is being a little precious here on two counts. First, by saying that Cisco haven't defended their trademark - well, they're starting now, with the most egregious offender.
ReplyDeleteA judge may yet rule that Apple had good reason to believe that Cisco's trademark had lapsed, but it would be an interesting ruling, given that right up to Jobs' announcement, Apple were negotiating with Cisco for the use of the trademark they are now claiming they don't need Cisco's permission to use. (This from the company that files lawsuits against companies that use the word "podcast").
The point that Cisco's iPhone isn't a mobile phone is also a bit rich. It's a phone. If I marketed a new corded handset called the "V3 Razr" I'd expect to hear from Motorola's lawyers.
The product itself, well I don't expect it'll be a roaring success, for reasons touched upon in a very interesting article that I reread a few weeks ago.
Hey JJ. Is life miserable when you can't get excited about innovation and creativity, even if it isn't perfect? Also, Michael Jennings must have very big pockets (or a very small penis).
ReplyDeleteLook out; Killjoy was here. So is there absolutely nothing positive you can bring to this discussion, JJ? Is there nothing at all about this new device that excites you or interests you? Or is it all just about how much Apple sucks?
ReplyDeleteBecause despite the issues I have with the device and with Apple, I'm still excited by its innovation and its potential.
Here's my positive contribution:
ReplyDeleteIf you read Michael Jennings' article, he opines (and I agree with his reasoning, which is why I linked that article) that mobile phones and other portable devices (specifically, for the purposes of discussion, music players) will not converge for two reasons: one aesthetic, and one practical.
I think that Apple will have no trouble solving the aesthetic problem Jennings describes as afflicting previous iPhone-like devices. The iPhone will look wonderful and have an intuitive and powerful user interface for all of its modes; whether it's being used as a phone, iPod or PDA.
It's that practical problem that's the killer, and not just for the iPhone but for any device that combines telephony and music playing; so I don't see that making this point, either now or in my earlier post, is in any way anti-Apple.
I did read Jennings' article. He seemed to make only two points that relate to the iPhone.
ReplyDeleteHis first, that “the more functions you put into the device the less simple it is to use, the more complicated the controls and the menu system, the more general a lot of its user interface becomes, and the less good the user interface is at any particular task”, is completely wrong, as Steve Jobs demonstrated in his keynote (and as you point out).
His second point, that a multi-function device will need a good battery, is an obvious criticism and hardly an uncommon one (even SNL are making jokes about it). Indeed, if you read the article I linked to in my first update, you’ll see it’s the second point raised there. And it is a good point, but I don’t think it’ll mean the death of the device. People complain incessantly about the iPod’s battery, and it hasn’t hurt their sales. I think it’ll just mean people will charge their iPhone (TM) at work as well as at home, while nerd-alerts in labs around the world strive to produce a better battery for the next generation.
Not that I know a volt’s worth about the science behind batteries and what the future might hold, but this situation seems like that in the computer game industry to me. Titles are always being released that require the next generation of hardware to run at anything more than two frames a second. But people want the game, and they want the hardware to run it at its best, and the market eventually responds and delivers.
”…so I don't see that making this point, either now or in my earlier post, is in any way anti-Apple.”
You’re being disingenuous. Your dislike of Apple and your love for getting the boot in whenever possible are well-known and well-endured. :)
I did read Jennings' article. He seemed to make only two points that relate to the iPhone.
ReplyDeleteLets give him credit for making any, given that the article dates from almost four months ago...
I should have made it clearer when I linked to the article that the only point I wanted to bring into the discussion was the battery life issue. My apologies.
Although, since you bring it up, I don't think he's "completely wrong" about the user interface issue. All he's saying is that user interfaces for multi-function devices must, by their nature, be more complex than those for single-function devices.
It's not an easy problem to construct a complex user interface that is at the same time easy and intuitive to use; which is the main reason Apple - who for more than twenty years have focussed on exactly this problem - have been so successful.
And by all accounts, it sounds like they've done it again. Good for them.
You’re being disingenuous. Your dislike of Apple and your love for getting the boot in whenever possible are well-known and well-endured. :)
I don't dislike Apple; I dislike (many) Apple users and (most) Apple enthusiasts.
To be more exact, I dislike some of the opinions and attitudes about technology and the technology business entertained by people in those groups. (Since I work in the technology business and have done for more than ten years, I feel that I am in at least a modest position to judge such attitudes and opinions.)
The company itself, I no more like or dislike than I do any other technology company; be it Microsoft, Google, Cisco or Amazon.com.
What prompted me to comment on this thread (and again, I could have been clearer on this point) was not a desire to bash Apple, so much as an interest in the legal maneuvering between Apple and Cisco over the 'iPhone' trademark.
Apple, I imagine, think that they will lose this battle and have to rename the phone; and no doubt there is another name (and set of marketing materials) standing ready to be switched in.
But they're happy to get a little publicity in the meantime, as indeed, are Cisco. Had you heard of the Cisco iPhone before this week? I certainly hadn't.
But you never know, there's always the chance they'll get a judge who will make a legally dodgy ruling in favour of the more powerful party - as happened in the Amazon.com 1-click patent application, and in "DOJ vs Microsoft".
As for enjoying "getting the boot in", well then yes, guilty as charged.
Now, the battery problem: I still think it's a killer, but for a more subtle reason that simply battery life length.
As you say, battery life is already an issue with the iPod. However, if your iPod (or my cheap Chinese MP3 player) runs out of batteries it won't prevent you from receiving (or making) an important phone call.
If your livelihood depends on being reachable at all times, you may not want to compromise that by draining your phone battery listening to music.
re Battery Life..
ReplyDeleteThat's why God invented the 'add on sale'. When people buy their iPhone they will also be able to buy a small solar panel with a chin strap to wear on their head, so the iPhone can recharge as they walk around. It will be called the iMageek.
dood thatz awesome!! iTotallyneed one!!!
ReplyDelete"Lets give him credit for making any, given that the article dates from almost four months ago..."
ReplyDeleteI don't see how talking about something that lots of people have been talking about for years earns him the right to a special commendation, but whatever.
"...I don't think he's "completely wrong" about the user interface issue."
As Steve Jobs demonstrated in his keynote, he's completely wrong when it comes to the iPhone, which is all I was trying to say. He's completely right, of course, when talking about MFDs in general, which is part of what makes the iPhone so great.
"Apple, I imagine, think that they will lose this battle and have to rename the phone..."
Not according to Apple spokeswoman Natalie Kerris who's quoted as saying, "If Cisco wants to challenge us on it, we're confident we'll prevail."
"...and no doubt there is another name (and set of marketing materials) standing ready to be switched in."
I love it how you know this stuff!
"But they're happy to get a little publicity in the meantime..."
It seems a strange way to go about generating publicity. Especially as I'm sure the Apple phone was always going to generate massive publicity no matter what it was called. And from what I've read, Cisco were more interested in getting Apple to agree on interoperability than in getting the word on the Cisco iPhone out to Joe Public.
"If your livelihood depends on being reachable at all times, you may not want to compromise that by draining your phone battery listening to music."
So don't listen to music. Fixed. The iPod is only one component of the device anyway. Even without it, it's still a great device. Speaking personally, if I was to get an iPhone, I'd still keep my iPod, but that's because I like at least 20 gig of storage and don't like having to decide what music makes the cut and what doesn't.
And I was reading an interesting analysis of the iPhone by Bruce Tognazzini (founder of the Apple Human Interface Group), where he notes: "Reader Zach White points out that pin-outs in the iPhone connector may allow third parties to add such niceties as video out and a snap-on battery. No doubt the large community of iPod add-on manufacturers are salivating even more than potential iPhone owners at the prospect of the coming feast. They will, undoubtedly address each and every possible shortcoming of the iPhone." So, you know, who (besides CK) knows what's just around the corner?
He finishes with this quote: "iPhone is glorious, and it is only the beginning," which sums it up nicely for me. :)
And as an aside, I'm once again astounded by the confidence with which you're able to predict the behaviour of millions and the fate of a new device into the global market. How do you do it?
"Lets give him credit for making any, given that the article dates from almost four months ago..."
ReplyDeleteI don't see how talking about something that lots of people have been talking about for years earns him the right to a special commendation, but whatever.
You're the one who said he made points "related to the iPhone", not me.
"...I don't think he's "completely wrong" about the user interface issue."
As Steve Jobs demonstrated in his keynote, he's completely wrong when it comes to the iPhone, which is all I was trying to say. He's completely right, of course, when talking about MFDs in general, which is part of what makes the iPhone so great.
He can't possibly be completely wrong about a product he hadn't seen and isn't talking about!
He's describing a problem which was difficult to solve and which, at the time of his writing, had not been solved.
Come June, it may well prove to be true that the iPhone solves it; certainly I wouldn't bet against Apple on that score.
"If Cisco wants to challenge us on it, we're confident we'll prevail."
Erm, and what exactly would you expect her to say?
No, seriously. If Apple is going to court on this, then they have to say publically that they have no doubt that they are in the right, regardless of what they actually think.
I could be wrong, I could be right. But either way Apple's public statements would be exactly what they are now.
"...and no doubt there is another name (and set of marketing materials) standing ready to be switched in."
I love it how you know this stuff!
I don't know; nor did I claim to. The first two words in the sentence that quote is from were "I imagine."
But I think I'm right.
Unless Apple are 100% sure they will prevail over Cisco, then it would be prudent for them to have a contingency plan in case Cisco wins the case. In fact, it would be negligent of them not to.
And if they were 100% sure they would prevail over Cisco in a lawsuit, then they would not have bothered to attempt to negotiate for rights to the name. Which they did.
For this and other reasons, I personally think Cisco has a better than even chance of winning; and since I don't think Apple's management is criminally negligent, I'm confident that they have an alternate name for their product standing by.
"If your livelihood depends on being reachable at all times, you may not want to compromise that by draining your phone battery listening to music."
So don't listen to music. Fixed. The iPod is only one component of the device anyway. Even without it, it's still a great device.
Hmmmmm.
Without the iPod, isn't it just a mobile phone?
A mobile phone with a fantastic interface, to be sure; but that has to be offset - at least in North America - against the fact that it is only going to be able to connect to one of the US mobile networks.
In terms of functionality, what does the iPhone have that is better than comparably-priced offerings from say, Nokia or Motorola? And is it so much better that people will not mind being locked into a single mobile phone provider by their choice of hardware?
I don't know. By the end of 2007, I expect to find out.
And as an aside, I'm once again astounded by the confidence with which you're able to predict the behaviour of millions and the fate of a new device into the global market. How do you do it?
I'm intelligent.
I'm well-read in the technology field, and also make my living in it.
I'm well-read in general.
I have had some experience in my professional life with the products and customer service operations of Apple, as well as those of several of their competitors. Other of their competitors, I have dealt with as a customer or user in my personal life.
I like to think that all of that qualifies me to indulge in a little informed speculation regarding the future of technology products.
“You're the one who said he made points "related to the iPhone", not me.”
ReplyDeleteYeah, I said that while discussing MFDs in general he made two points that could also apply to the iPhone.
“He can't possibly be completely wrong about a product he hadn't seen and isn't talking about! He's describing a problem which was difficult to solve and which, at the time of his writing, had not been solved.
Um, I know. I wasn’t saying he was wrong back then, I’m saying he’s wrong now. Apple has addressed his concern, and now his point is no longer valid.
“Come June, it may well prove to be true that the iPhone solves it; certainly I wouldn't bet against Apple on that score.”
Why wait until June? If you don't want to watch the Stevenote, go and watch the QuickTours. You don’t need an iPhone in your hand to see the power and simplicity of its interface.
“Erm, and what exactly would you expect her to say?”
I was more making a comment on your certainty about how Apple was thinking. Something we’ve since addressed in RL. :)
”I don't know; nor did I claim to. The first two words in the sentence that quote is from were "I imagine."
And another two words in that sentence were, “no doubt”. :)
”Without the iPod, isn't it just a mobile phone?”
It’s not just a mobile phone, it’s an exceptional mobile phone! And since it’s moving up trademark-napping, you should be more polite! Hehe. Melons aside, even without the iPod, it's far more than just a mobile phone as you can see if you watch the QuickTours.
”A mobile phone with a fantastic interface, to be sure; but that has to be offset ... against the fact that it is only going to be able to connect to one of the US mobile networks.”
I tend to look at it the other way: that the drawback of being locked into one service provider is offset by the iPhone being the most sophisticated and advanced device of its kind available. But then I would say that. :) I think my enthusiasm for the device means I'm happy to be a little more forgiving of the areas of concern. But not too forgiving: for a "breakthrough internet device" I find it astounding that it has no 3G capability. (Although Jobs has said that will come eventually, but still.)
“In terms of functionality, what does the iPhone have that is better than comparably-priced offerings from say, Nokia or Motorola?"
Once again, go and watch the QuickTours. In particular, watch the Safari one and how it handles web pages. I've never seen that sort of functionality on a Nokia or Motorola. And then of course for Mac users the seamless integration with OS X is another bonus not offered by Nokia or Motorola.
”I don't know. By the end of 2007, I expect to find out.”
That's the spirit. :)
"But ... [Apple, and indeed Cisco, are] ... happy to get a little publicity in the meantime..."
ReplyDeleteIt seems a strange way to go about generating publicity...
But it's worked. Here we are, a month or so down the road, and we're back to the status quo ante, except that lots of people have spent that month talking about both companies and their products.