It's been possible for years to isolate and skip over commercials with a pc-based PVR. Programs like BeyondTV, ShowAnalyzer and various DVRMS Toolbox implementations with Vista MC,W7 MC or MythTV conveniently purge commercials from the show you're watching AND you waste less time watching the show you wanted rather than sit through obnoxious advertiser messages.
The only time I watch commercials is with live sports - since I'm squarely in the target demographic for these type of broadcasts- in general I'm not that annoyed (compared to a commercial for tampons on Mad Men, for example).
As a member of the mobile telecoms industry, I have mixed feelings about the iphone- logistically speaking, I don't think it's going to be a great move for Apple. A number of factors will bite them in the ass- which should be fixed by the 2nd or 3rd generation (a la ipods).
Here's why:
Form factor While the Iphone is pretty, it's going to be a nightmare to keep clean and scratch free. Ipods are ridiculously scratch-prone, and the fact that there is an entire secondary market to keep what is otherwise great product from being damaged b/c apple can't figure that out is silly. I never had to get a 'skin' for my walkman in the 80s.... The iphone will have the same problem. I predict an entire secondary market to keep people's face-grease off that shiny beautiful screen.
Size Treos are too big. Most blackberries are too big- the iphone is also too big for mass adoption. The RZR is a crappy phone, but people like it for the size- it fits in your pocket well. The iphone will not.
Network You can say what you want about Cingular, but going with them is a good idea. They have extensive if not mediocre coverage across the entire country and are spending bucketloads to roll out a HSDPA 3G data network. Unfortunately, Apple screwed up the second half of the equation and decided to not offer 3G on the iphone. Imagine your surprise when you buy a $500 device that downloads stuff from the apple store on EDGE (56k-ISDN speed).
Cost Ridiculous. Phones are expensive and many of them are subsidized by carriers in return for contracts (the phone really DOES cost that much without the contract). I'm not sure if there is a subsidy involved in the iphone, but you can bet your bottom dollar that EVERY SINGLE OTHER MANUFACTURER IS FRANTICALLY DEVOLOPING AN IPHONE KILLER RIGHT NOW. They will ALL cost less than $500.
Music Capability 4 GB sucks.
I have no doubt that this will all be fixed in time- but I contend that the 1st gen is going to have to surpass some pretty huge handicaps to gain wide acceptance. Admittedly, that's not going to stop the fanbois, but I'm willing to bet that for $500 people are going to do some SERIOUS research before picking one up.
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It's been possible for years to isolate and skip over commercials with a pc-based PVR. Programs like BeyondTV, ShowAnalyzer and various DVRMS Toolbox implementations with Vista MC ,W7 MC or MythTV conveniently purge commercials from the show you're watching AND you waste less time watching the show you wanted rather than sit through obnoxious advertiser messages.
The only time I watch commercials is with live sports - since I'm squarely in the target demographic for these type of broadcasts- in general I'm not that annoyed (compared to a commercial for tampons on Mad Men, for example).
As a member of the mobile telecoms industry, I have mixed feelings about the iphone-
logistically speaking, I don't think it's going to be a great move for Apple. A number of factors will bite them in the ass- which should be fixed by the 2nd or 3rd generation (a la ipods).
Here's why:
Form factor
While the Iphone is pretty, it's going to be a nightmare to keep clean and scratch free. Ipods are ridiculously scratch-prone, and the fact that there is an entire secondary market to keep what is otherwise great product from being damaged b/c apple can't figure that out is silly. I never had to get a 'skin' for my walkman in the 80s.... The iphone will have the same problem. I predict an entire secondary market to keep people's face-grease off that shiny beautiful screen.
Size
Treos are too big. Most blackberries are too big- the iphone is also too big for mass adoption. The RZR is a crappy phone, but people like it for the size- it fits in your pocket well. The iphone will not.
Network
You can say what you want about Cingular, but going with them is a good idea. They have extensive if not mediocre coverage across the entire country and are spending bucketloads to roll out a HSDPA 3G data network. Unfortunately, Apple screwed up the second half of the equation and decided to not offer 3G on the iphone. Imagine your surprise when you buy a $500 device that downloads stuff from the apple store on EDGE (56k-ISDN speed).
Cost
Ridiculous. Phones are expensive and many of them are subsidized by carriers in return for contracts (the phone really DOES cost that much without the contract). I'm not sure if there is a subsidy involved in the iphone, but you can bet your bottom dollar that EVERY SINGLE OTHER MANUFACTURER IS FRANTICALLY DEVOLOPING AN IPHONE KILLER RIGHT NOW. They will ALL cost less than $500.
Music Capability
4 GB sucks.
I have no doubt that this will all be fixed in time- but I contend that the 1st gen is going to have to surpass some pretty huge handicaps to gain wide acceptance. Admittedly, that's not going to stop the fanbois, but I'm willing to bet that for $500 people are going to do some SERIOUS research before picking one up.