Oh, iPhone, how I desire you. While I was distantly intrigued when first I heard rumors of the iPhone's future launch last fall, I have had to have this phone since seeing photos over the internet in January. The iPhone is everything: mobile phone, e-mail device, internet browser, iPod, movie viewer, photo sorter. The iPhone is beautiful. The iPhone employs a touch screen and has virtually no buttons. The iPhone makes me drool.
But let's get into the nitty-gritty:
What is it? The iPhone is a mobile phone that, like any good smartphone, does everything you could possibly need done while mobile, and does it with a touch screen instead of buttons (score two cool points, and one usefulness point). While no one but the hand models in the TV ads know exactly how easy to use this will end up being, let's recall that Apple, Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) does have a reputation for being more user-friendly than anyone else. Hence its ever-rocketing stock price. The iPhone does e-mail via IMAP, the only really sensible protocol for a smartphone to use (score one usefulness point); it plays music and movies (score two cool points), it takes photos (score one each on usefulness and coolness), it browses the internet.
How much? The iPhone is advertised at $499 for 4GB of storage, and $599 for 8GB, with a two-year AT&T (NYSE: T) mobile phone contract. Although it's certainly possible there might be larger discounts at launch (or thereafter), we'll stick with the base price of $499.
What are the cool features? What's not cool about the iPhone? I think the really revolutionary-and-fun things include the ability to view movies in a widescreen format (that's definitely a cool point), to move your photos around into albums with the touch of a finger (score another cool point), and -- if it works anything like it does in the advertisements -- the map feature (score a final two cool points, and two usefulness points). It seems that mobile phones are used more than anything to help you get somewhere, whether that be by calling for directions or finding your girlfriend in a crowded outdoor festival. I remember one awful very late night, after 10 hours on the road, when my husband and I were driving madly around Sacramento trying to figure out which street lead to his sister's house. Or that time last Saturday I just wanted to stop and get bricks somewhere (but where?) before we had to return a borrowed car. With the iPhone, I could have Googled "landscape" or "garden," found the nearest place, and with the touch of a finger called to find out if it was open past 5. Let me tell you: this would solve a large number of my family's arguments.
Why would I buy one? If you want a mobile phone that does all those things you always wanted a mobile phone to do, the iPhone is for you. If you haven't yet made the jump into smartphones, the iPhone is for you. If you want to be able to IM and e-mail and browse while you're out and about, the iPhone is for you. If you are disgusted with the limitations of your iPod, or your video iPod, or your current camera phone's capabilities: yep, the iPhone is for you. The very most useful part of the iPhone, that no other smartphone seems to have, is its ability to zoom in and out on web pages (score two final usefulness points). I can see that really coming in handy.
Why wouldn't I buy one? OK: the iPhone isn't cheap. If you already have a Treo, or a Blackberry, or if you don't care ever to use AT&T/Cingular, well, you probably want to steer clear. If you just spent a bunch on a video iPod and you have a cell phone that's early in its contractual life, you won't find this very useful. But if you're blessed with a few hundred dollars and an open contract, ohmigod you should run to the Cingular store nearest you by June 28th at the latest. If you're one of those people who is easily frustrated by the typical screwups present in early models of products, you'll want to wait; or if you'd rather hold out for the eventual discounts. But the only "don't buy 'em" reasons are in common with every smartphone: in my opinion, this baby is the superhero of smartphones launching this summer.
What's the final tally? Usefulness: Six points; Coolness: Nine points.
For more photos and reviews of smartphones coming out this summer, see our Smartphone/Superphone gallery.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
6-05-2007 @ 9:24AM
murph said...
how can you "review" a cell phone that no one has had their hands on?
6-05-2007 @ 9:51AM
Mark said...
Sarah, Why would you run to the store at the latest by June 28th if the iPhone does not go on sale until June 29th?
6-05-2007 @ 11:54AM
natef said...
You gave the touchscreen +1 for usefulness without actually trying it, it could easily turn out to be a pain in the ass, especially for typing (no tactile feedback).
Also, it's not really in the same category as other smartphones considering you can't' install 3rd party apps on the phone. It's a closed platform.
9 Points for cool, yeah I can agree with that. But it's not nearly as useful as a Windows Mobile 6 phone.
6-05-2007 @ 12:18PM
KenC said...
Don't expect "discounts". Think about iPod pricing. They kept the price points, and just released more defeatured iPods at lower price points.
6-05-2007 @ 12:35PM
sarah gilbert said...
As I'm reviewing phones that aren't available yet, I can *only* review them on advertised features -- so that's what I'm doing. I certainly reserve the right to change my opinion of the touch screen's usefulness once I get the phone ;)
And June 28th because I have a feeling this will be a camp-out-in-line-overnight sort of purchase!
6-05-2007 @ 12:38PM
sarah gilbert said...
Oh, and finally, natef, the phones I'm comparing are vastly different from one another in so many ways so I'm entirely unconcerned about the open vs. closed platform (although that's certainly a knock against the iPhone's usefulness -- you'll note that I *did* give the Foleo an extra point for having an open platform).
6-05-2007 @ 4:27PM
iris said...
Is the iphone 3G??????????????????????????????
6-06-2007 @ 9:01AM
MosquitoControl said...
Yeah, this just seems like a bad idea. What if Autoblog did the same thing, reviewing cars based on claims rather than actual achievements?
You're basing it all on Apple's own press releases. Which is exactly what every company wishes you'd do for their products. And it's a terrible idea. Products fail to live to claims and expectations quite often.
It's too early to tell, but the iPhone looks to be nothing more than a vastly overpriced Sidekick. Businessmen will NOT want this as its application choices are far more limited than what they're already using. Beyond that the lack of tactile feedback will likely make the touchscreen poor for typing (and terrible for blind texting, an important skill.) It'll be great for application choices but terrible for complex input.
Most likely.
I can see this catching on with the Apple faithful and those desperate to have the "sexiest" product on the market. But it seems to be seriously lacking in practicality, especially given the price.
Not to mention the lack of 3G.
This should have been the next-gen iPod, not an iPhone. They're going into a market they aren't well prepared for and that the product can't truly compete in. But this is Apple, odds are they'll succeed despite that. People will be seduced by the touchscreen and ignore all the downfalls beyond it.
6-07-2007 @ 6:01AM
Shoe addict said...
Prada and mobile phone. Hmm. Sounds cool - way to go for us commoners to get something designer which does something (the price for the phone is about the same price for a skirt) - very practical. While you have your uber-stylish supermodels marketing this phone (or so I have assumed), you have good ol' Stanley Kubrick for the iPhone - and a href="http://www.myiphoneevolution.com/">this, I haven't assumed. OK, well, I gathered it wasn't his choice to be part of this Apple phenomenon, but a fan's. Old-ish? Yes, but stylish nonetheless...just in a different way.
6-07-2007 @ 3:28PM
ALARMTEK said...
Gonna buy one too. But point of interest, the Motorola Q can also zoom web pages.
Cons: not the best voice recognition system/dialer
(LG is better) and battery power is crap.
But I like this iphone too. Want it. Must have.
6-08-2007 @ 1:11AM
Neil Tucker said...
Before anyone runs to the nearest Cingular store they should check with any Lightyear Alliance independent representative. We do offer Cingular service and the buzz is we will offer the iPhone at a discounted rate. No standing in line, and you will still be a Cingular customer. I just get paid for my word of mouth and from the looks of this blog you ladies and gents should too. Check me out here .... www.mylightyear.com/hummer ... If you want to work your whole life, that's your business. If you don't, that's my business. If you are already doing your life's work ... congratulations.
6-11-2007 @ 8:30PM
yogisp said...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h0loo3330as
"iPhone U DON'T ANSWER"
6-12-2007 @ 9:16PM
m said...
You'll only be able to purchase the iphone at an AT&T store or at Apple. No agents & no discounts.
6-15-2007 @ 9:58AM
David Smith said...
Treo 750 also has zoom feature. However, I think that windows mobile generally sucks. Besides the wmp, I feel that going to window's mobile was a step down. Can't wait to try the iphone. Don't see messing with Prada just for looks unless there's a happy ending.