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Why the iPhone Keynote Was A Mistake

Posted by Zonk on from the should-have-worn-a-hat dept.

jcatcw writes "Mike Elgan at Computerworld lists six reasons why it was a mistake to make the iPhone keynote at Macworld. He argues that extremely high expectations can only lead to disappointment for consumers and investors. The focus on the phone during the keynote also took away from the Apple TV announcement, put iPod sales at risk, gave competitors a head start, and (perhaps worst of all) ruined the company's talks with Cisco over the iPhone name. From the article: 'The iPhone, despite its many media-oriented virtues and its sweet design, will do far less than most existing smart phones. The problem Apple now faces because of Jobs' premature detail-oriented announcement is that of dashed expectations. When customers expect more and don't get it, they become dissatisfied.'"

5 of 507 comments (clear)

  1. FCC leaks by zero-one · · Score: 5, Informative

    Right at the start of the presentation, Jobs says something like "When's it going to be available? We're shipping them in June -- we're announcing it today because we have to go get FCC approval... We thought it'd be better to introduce this today rather than let the FCC introduce this".

    Judging from all the rumours about the Zune the future iPods that have been helped along by FCC documents, I think they made the right call.

    1. Re:FCC leaks by timeOday · · Score: 4, Informative

      How much the FCC documents have revealed? Apple putting its name on a phone, in itself, isn't a big deal. They already did that a couple years ago.

  2. Re:still by mrchaotica · · Score: 5, Informative

    The trouble is that Apple apparently had no choice, because it needs FCC approval which would have made the device public anyway.

    --

    "[Regarding the 'cloud,'] ownership was what made America different than Russia." -- Woz

  3. Re:As Jobs Said... by The+Bungi · · Score: 4, Informative
    As for Microsoft Outlook... who uses it these days anyway?

    Just about any Fortune 1000 firm in the US, for starters. Why?

  4. cell phones are PORTABLE by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Informative

    This has to be the least impact and most important cellphone news of the past year, and no one seems to be able to remember it. New rules got passed last december. It was covered here and on most of the major tech sites. The telcos can't as in "NO", restrict the use of any phone as along as it is frequency capable. You can unlock them, they are now portable if you so choose. Apple saying it is cingular only is mass consumer FUD now. That might be their contract they have with AT&T, but it isn't the law for individuals. Tell your friend he shouldn't have to switch if the iPhone hardware is compatable. Scroll to section five, clear as day, cellphones are now portable, legally, they can't stop you

    http://www.copyright.gov/1201/index.html

    "5. Computer programs in the form of firmware that enable wireless telephone handsets to connect to a wireless telephone communication network, when circumvention is accomplished for the sole purpose of lawfully connecting to a wireless telephone communication network."

    I have posted this a few times now on cellphone theads, hopefully it will stick this time

    With that said, I would encourage anyone to support open moko and the neo1973 instead of the iPhone,it is pretty close to half the price, totally open, no restrictions of note, free as in speech.

        Support hardware vendors who support open source (and it is a sharp looking phone, and there will be a ton of apps for it, unlike apple's big FU to consumers and devs)