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Apple's Smart Phone Depends on OS X Tie-Ins
anaesthetica writes "According to AppleInsider, Apple is not only working on a cellphone + mp3 player iPhone, but is working on a second model designed to be a smart phone, highly integrated with Mac OS and .Mac. The smart phone has gone through several iterations, as the notoriously demanding Mr. Jobs ordered the elite team working on the phone to redesign and re-engineer their prototypes. Capabilities are reported to include Front Row interface, syncing contacts and iCal with .Mac, "call ahead", iChat video conferencing integration, WiFi, and a slide-out keyboard. Too good to be true?"
I think the parent was referring to the close tie-in between current Smartphones and Windows-- as a mac user, I'm basically told to get stuffed by my cell phone provider when I ask about a smartphone that can sync w/ my .mac mail, calender, etc etc. Apple opened up the iPod to windows (after the 1st generation, admittedly) in a way that MS will never, ever allow Smartphones to do w/ macs.
1984 was supposed to be a warning, not an instruction manual.
That's got a lot more to do with the fact that Steve wanted access to a larger market than he had at the time then any altruistic impulses to let Windows users in on the Ipod fun.
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It's not like the rumor is exactly new. There is the claim by a company that they received manufacturing orders from Apple, as well as other claims from the rumor-mill (e.g. Kevin Rose's claim that his friend at Apple has a 4GB and a 8GB phone).
.mac. It's not like I can actually afford the iPDA .. forcing me to pay a monthly subscription for owning a piece of hardware is too much.
I remember when buying my Macbook Pro there were all sorts of rumors not to buy one. That there would something to be shortly released that would supersede it (of course, at the time, the only thing that could be cooler was a iTablet). People claim that Apple enjoys these rumors, though I have to imagine to some extent it hurts their sales. Some speculate it is a good way for them to figure out what the public wants. Others that it is simply subterfuge to hide their real activity from their competitors.
I give this rumor *some* credence simply because it seems like the hardware is already there. It's not that large of a stretch of an imagination to think of a Nano being put together with a cell phone -- much like how many cell phone companies are putting ipod like devices with their cell phones. Which means the big question is whether Apple actually *wants* this. My suspicion is that easier access to the iTunes store is probably a large incentive to them.
Personally the iPhone isn't that appealing to me. If the only extra functionality I get from it is that it takes less space, I think I'll pass. However, as far as the iPDA -- that is something I'd want. The iPod already has a large HD (80GBs anyone?), a processor capable of playing music, games, doing calendaring, etc. Is it that big a of a stretch that it should be able to maybe do email? Maybe surf the web? Heck, if Opera can make a web browser for cell phones and DS, it's hard to see why not.
The big catch seems to be the input device. It's not clear how Apple feels about a stylus. However, things like the Blackberry seem to do well with just a keyboard and a scroll wheel. Sound familiar?
Also, please, really, PLEASE, if this does come true, don't make us subscribe to
That's one reason that I am a bit surprised if it is truly that closely tied to Mac OS. Apple has made wheel barrow loads of money on Windows Ipods. If they are to break into the hip and cool phone market, they will need as big a market base to draw from as they can acheive.
In serching for the exact workding, the first google hit is the /. discussion here. It's funny to scroll throught he comments from the initial ipod release.
They have proven, with the iPod, that if they can fix the abyssmal ui seen on typical device, they don't need to be massively innovative in hardware - simply "good" is enough. I've got to say that when it comes to cell phones, someone who can make them "just work" has a really good shot at the market. If they can make it "just work" with outlooks calendar, contacts, and email, as well as be a good phone and media player, they're in for a wild ride.
Is it just my observation, or are there way too many stupid people in the world?
I want an acceptable mobile browser (much like the proxied browser that the T-mobile Sidekick has). I don't want to have to scroll around the screen to see the entire thing and I don't want it formatted to look like ass. I certainly do not want WAP. I want to see the web page, as it was intended, on my device -- just smaller.
I want an adequate QWERTY keyboard. The Treo is not acceptable. The first few iterations of the T-mobile Sidekick SK -> SK2 were good. The new individual keys of the SK3 are not as good but remain superior to the Treo.
I want it to have wifi, GPRS and EDGE (or whatever advanced radio networking they have on other providers), as well as the ability to tether for free. I don't see why I should be paying higher rates because I have it hooked to a computer.
I want it to work with all OSs. I don't want to be tied to one or the other.
It should be available as a USB mass storage device and not require anything other than a USB cable.
The applications should be easy to use, understand, and modify to work regardless of provider.
It will remain a dream.
Personally, I look forward to seeing the iPhone. I have a RAZR, and it leaves a lot to be desired. I suspect Apple could do a very good job designing a cell phone and making it functional.
...It's actually easier to return Windows than an OSX license for example...
Probably because OSX doesn't require any registration to install and use.
You're also free to make all of the mp3 players, or players that use your own DRM.
You can also listen to all the iTMS music you want on 5 machines and dozens of iPod variants.
Some won't be satisfied until Apple gives everything away for free.
First of all if Apple is going to make a smart phone they have a lot of cathing up to do with Motorola, Nokia, Samsung and other big mobile phone manufacturers. There are a lot of things that go into a mobile phone. It's not as simple as an mp3 player. For example what radio technologies will the phone support? GSM, CDMA, WCDMA, HSDPA...
With smart phones one of most important thing for me is 3rd party apps. A smart phone is not much of use if there are no apps for it. Other manufacturers already have operating system that they have been using for a long time and there are a lot apps for them. Maybe Apple will have midp support, which is OK, but not quite like running native applications.
Well if you look at what they did with iPods, they didn't release them for Windows initially. Instead they waited until the iPod had already become a success with Mac users, and then released both the iPod and iTunes for Windows.
I suspect if they had released a Windows iTunes+iPod at the very beginning, it might not have done as well as it did, released a year or so later, with a lot of traction. I expect they probably would have gotten a lot of flak for not having it work with WMP or whatever the dominant Windows music player software was in 2001. By holding off until later, they could not only sell the device, but sell a solution that was part of an entire application/product/service "stack": iTunes, the iPod, and the iTMS.
Apple's fan base within the Mac market provides them with a perfect test audience for their products, before they go on to release them to the rest of the world. I wouldn't be surprised if they released their phone as Mac-only initially, and then if it's a hit, made a PC version of the Mac's software so that PC users could get in on it. But that way they allow PC demand to build first, and then respond to it, rather than trying to create demand first.
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When they released the iPod there were already lots of MP3 players on the market, but that didn't seem to prevent them from making a success of it. There are lots of style-conscious people out there who will pay a premium for a cell phone with an Apple logo on it regardless of whether it has cutting edge technology or not.
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I think the idea would be that a great phone that only works with Macs helps Mac sales. It's like an additional feature for Mac users.
I think that he is very smart in offering a Mac-only device. First off, there is a definite need for a nice smartphone that ties in with the full world of Apple. I personally don't know a lot about the lack of devices, as I am still using ol' Windows, but some of my Mac friends have griped about it. So, there is a market need, then a delivery of a product.
Secondly, Apple has become known for sexy design. Most people, even if it is begrudgingly, will admit that their products are very sleek and very simple (some see that as a detractor, I guess). So, Apple creates a product that adds just a bit more appeal to their larger product line. Maybe they make a few converts out of the folks in the new-computer market because hey, check this out, it integrates with that awesome new smartphone (admittedly, probably going to be few converts because of a smart phone).
So, what do you have? You have a small section of the market talking about this killer device. It does the dishes, tucks the kids in, and is great in bed. Everyone who has it is better because of it (or so they will say), and everyone who doesn't, well, they just aren't 'in' like these ultra-hip folks. So demand goes up. The PC market demands access. Oh, look a port over to the Windows world, tada, now you can have one, too, you drooling consumer.
They did it with the iPod, they will do it with the iPhone (not a fan boy, just a Windows-based fan).