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January 09, 2007
The iPhone is Amazing
After years of rumors building up expectations for the Apple iPhone to a level that could never have possibly been met in reality, Apple has finally announced the product and it is as good, if not better, than the rumors predicted.
This device has everything. No really. Everything. Take the functionality of a conventional phone, add a stripped-down version of Mac OS X, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, audio and video playback, web-browsing, Google Maps, widgets, a 2.0-megapixel digital camera that can process video too, and a 3.5-inch multi-touch display. Wrap all this in an 11.6mm super-sleek case composed of pure Apple-ness and you've got the iPhone (tech specs here).
Now, to decompress a bit from my iPhone-induced Apple fanboy state, there are a couple things that the device is lacking. The most notable of these is expandable memory, followed by true 3G wireless data rates (through EVDO or something similar), and finally the ability to purchase and download iTunes Store content to the iPhone directly via Wi-Fi.
That said, the iPhone is really an incredible milestone in mobile technology. Check out some of these photos as well as some of the ones on Apple's site if you don't believe me. As an added bonus, take a look at this graph of Apple, RIM, and Palm stock prices today... notice a trend?
The iPhone will be Cingular-exclusive and retail at $499 for the 4GB model and $599 for the 8GB model. Unfortunately, it looks like we're going to have to wait until June for it to arrive in the U.S., but at least there's the Apple TV and new iTunes Paramount content to look forward to for now.
Posted by Alan Joyce at January 9, 2007 09:07 PM
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Comments
What's sad is that the iPhone is just like the Treo with a few minor additions. And the Treo has been out for more than 2 years. I've been enjoying watching movies, capturing video & pictures, web browsing, google maps, and high speed internet for almost the entire time. Ok, I don't have multi-touch (but I love my keyboard), I don't have wifi (which IS stupid); but I do have an SD card slot (and more storage in the form of various SD cards than the iPhone has), and you can get EVDO in the newer models.
Just shows how bad a job Palm has done promoting its products when Jobs can take the same features and claim they are new.
Posted by: Derek at February 16, 2007 01:29 PM
True. Palm could definitely use a reality distortion field of its own. I do admire Jobs' ability to make some older features appear revolutionary, even if it does border on deviousness.
Posted by: Alan Joyce at February 16, 2007 03:26 PM