Video calling is a huge feature how can Apple be so stupid not to include it. I stay in the UK and every single day I see everyone making video calls. Its not unusual to see people being run over by buses whilst making a video call and not looking where they are going.
Now, I am obviously taking the piss. I made 1 video call on my Nokia N70 years ago and the experience was crap. Mobile video calling is pointless and purely a novelty. The only way video calling would take off is if the porn industry adopted it for sex chat calls.
That's the problem with the iPhone in that the looks won't ever change. It is basically a screen. Apple does not want to distract from the screen so they'll design out anything that does. Thankfully the case manufacturers make the iPhone/iPod Touch fun to use. I'd still like to see a flip version of the iPhone.
7. Physical keyboard in addition to on-screen keyboard?
8. On any carrier other than the POS from AT&T?
9. Higher resolution camera?
10. Front-facing camera for video chat?
11. Customizable home-screen?
12. AMOLED screen (aka, anything other than the POS original screen)?
13. Being able to navigate with zoom in/out with only one hand?
14. Alternate input for navigation such as optical scrolling?
Isn't this like owning a Jeep, then saying if only they could do 2 wheel drive with a lower roof line, better acceleration, and no low ratio. You should actually go buy something from Porsche instead of waiting for Jeep to change their design.
I wouldn't call it washed out, but OLED would definitely be an improvement but in brightness, color, and battery life.
LCD is definitely washed out compared to AMOLED. There's a picture right on the front page of Engadget today comparing an AMOLED phone next to the iPhone's. The iPhone's screen looks like complete sh*t in contrast.
LCD is definitely washed out compared to AMOLED. There's a picture right on the front page of Engadget today comparing an AMOLED phone next to the iPhone's. The iPhone's screen looks like complete sh*t in contrast.
Those pictures are useless, as are most comparison shots on the internet. You need to compare them in person. The angle the shot is taken at influences the outcome, and depending on what the person is trying to convey, the picture will be deliberately be shot in such a way as to make whatever they want to look better, look better. Up close, the difference isn't so great. It's interesting that with all the hype, the Nexus One isn't selling. 22,000 the first week, and no better since.
THe question really is, what do you gain by seeing the person you're talking to most of the time? I don't see any.
*Most* of the time you don't gain anything. But *sometimes* you do. For example:
You're away on a business trip, or maybe just out somewhere working late. Your kid is at home and wants to show you something. You have a video chat, and it's great.
If you only need to do this once a month it's worth having it handy.
What we need is a smaller iPhone that will actually not feel like a brick to your ear. I'll never use an iPhone as a phone, it's way to big. Maybe if they made one with a footprint with the size of the screen.
*Most* of the time you don't gain anything. But *sometimes* you do. For example:
You're away on a business trip, or maybe just out somewhere working late. Your kid is at home and wants to show you something. You have a video chat, and it's great.
If you only need to do this once a month it's worth having it handy.
:d
Yeah, if people actually did it. It doesn't seem as though they do.
What we need is a smaller iPhone that will actually not feel like a brick to your ear. I'll never use an iPhone as a phone, it's way to big. Maybe if they made one with a footprint with the size of the screen.
The iPhone is an average size for a full featured smartphone. If you want something smaller, buy a Palm.
There are phones that do this. There are tens of millions of laptops that do this. But the people owning these devices don't do this.
It has nothing to do with the number of devices out there, it's attitude.
I could say this about you:
Wow. It amazes me how the posters in this forum can't envision things that people other than themselves WOULDN'T use.
Just because a feature is there doesn't mean that people will use it.
How often do you do it?
My phone doesn't do that. I have an iPhone. If it had that feature, I would use it sometimes.
As for video chatting from computer to computer, I admit, it's a rare thing for me. But when I'm at a computer with a webcam at the same time my niece is at a computer with a webcam, we've done it and it was awesome.
Putting this feature in my iPhone and my friends and family's iPhones would make it a more common occurrence. No, it would never supplant normal phone calls. But it would enable video calls to be more spur-of-the-moment.
And it doesn't take vision to imagine what people other than myself wouldn't use. But if you're implying that I'm the only person who would use this feature, then there's no point in this discussion.
For the examples you gave above, it's easy to do if you are on a 3G call. Just go to an app and take a pic, then send it via email or MMS.
You're right. That's an example of how to do that today, with a phone that doesn't have video chat. But if I had video chat, I'd probably use that instead.
Why should phones have MMS? You can always email.
Why should phones have email? You can always use a web client.
We didn't used to need cell phones. We had pagers.
People find workarounds for their needs.
Some people love their workarounds so much they refuse to see progress.
My phone doesn't do that. I have an iPhone. If it had that feature, I would use it sometimes.
As for video chatting from computer to computer, I admit, it's a rare thing for me. But when I'm at a computer with a webcam at the same time my niece is at a computer with a webcam, we've done it and it was awesome.
Putting this feature in my iPhone and my friends and family's iPhones would make it a more common occurrence. No, it would never supplant normal phone calls. But it would enable video calls to be more spur-of-the-moment.
And it doesn't take vision to imagine what people other than myself wouldn't use. But if you're implying that I'm the only person who would use this feature, then there's no point in this discussion.
:d
I see at least two points here.
One is that it's not important enough for you to find a phone that does it. Two is that you can do it with the computers, but do it rarely anyway.
I never said that you are the only one whose done it. I've done it with my daughter way out there in the UK, but only a couple of times. Fun, but not really worth the bother.
What it really amounts to is what percentage of people would do this if available, how many of those would do it more than a few times, just to experience it, but then would stop, how many would buy another product to get the feature, and so on.
Every time a feature adds cost to a device, the question has to be; "How many of our customers care enough for this feature that they wouldn't buy our product because of it?"
A lot of companies would say 20%. Others 5%. If it costs $5 per phone, and Apple sells 35 million phones this year; a good possibility, that's $175 million in costs. If only a very small part of the customer base cares, does it pay to spend that money? Only if they would lose more in profits by not having it than they would save.
You're right. That's an example of how to do that today, with a phone that doesn't have video chat. But if I had video chat, I'd probably use that instead.
Why should phones have MMS? You can always email.
Why should phones have email? You can always use a web client.
We didn't used to need cell phones. We had pagers.
People find workarounds for their needs.
Some people love their workarounds so much they refuse to see progress.
:d
I agree with you here. But there's a difference in adding software features which cost almost nothing once the development is done, and hardware features, which cost with every device they're included in.
You're right. That's an example of how to do that today, with a phone that doesn't have video chat. But if I had video chat, I'd probably use that instead.
For your examples, I don't think video chat would be the best option.
First of all, it sounds you just had a regular audio chat going but then wanted to switch to video chat. Does this require a hang up? I'd think so since we're talking about going from AT&T's cellular network to their IP data network for the video+audio. I don't think you can just add the one with them lining up correctly.
Then there is the issue of then having to turn the phone around to face the items you want to show off. In a video chat you are looking at the screen and can see how everything is formatted for the other caller, but your examples have you losing that ability if the items are in front of you in any way.
Then there is having the other person want the video chat and having a video chat capable device on hand. Finally, there is no record of this so the images can't be saved and edited.
It sounds like a problem for that usage. I expect a front-facing camera to be the norm for smartphones at some point, but I'd expect other smartphones and the iPad to get the option before the iPhone.
A higher res screen might be nice, but only to keep up with the Joneses. The pixel density (DPI/PPI) is fine for the current screen size and it only adds bragging rights for very little return. The iPhone already boasts 163 PPI (newspapers are typically 150-200 DPI and magazines typically use between 200-300 DPI). Unless the screen gets much larger I don't see much benefit to this. The sample hardware appears to have an identical screen size.
The screen has been the same since 2007 - it definitely needs a refresh at this point. Even though you wouldn't read a webpage at full zoomed out view on a phone browser, the crispness and the ability to actually decipher the small text on higher PPI smartphone screens is nice.
It's just eye-candy, but it's great to have. Apple can't continue to rest on its pre-established laurels on iPhone design, or it risks stagnation.
The screen has been the same since 2007 - it definitely needs a refresh at this point. Even though you wouldn't read a webpage at full zoomed out view on a phone browser, the crispness and the ability to actually decipher the small text on higher PPI smartphone screens is nice.
It's just eye-candy, but it's great to have. Apple can't continue to rest on its pre-established laurels on iPhone design, or it risks stagnation.
'Eye candy' isn't enough of a reason to add a feature IMO, if it just adds cost to the phone with no real benefit. I'm more interested in features with teeth. The pixel density on the phone is fine given the screen size, and the only benefit to a higher screen resolution given the same screen size is simply bragging rights. Unfortunately, Apple will eventually have to play the game as well or face public outcry for a feature bump that has questionable benefits. I could see a small bump to get the PPI in the area of typical magazine quality, but more than that is just wasted IMO.
If they eventually decide to up the screen size closer to 4", then a bump in PPI might be warranted but the sample screen posted in the article looks to be exactly the same dimensions as the previous screen size.
Comments
Video calling is a huge feature how can Apple be so stupid not to include it. I stay in the UK and every single day I see everyone making video calls. Its not unusual to see people being run over by buses whilst making a video call and not looking where they are going.
Now, I am obviously taking the piss. I made 1 video call on my Nokia N70 years ago and the experience was crap. Mobile video calling is pointless and purely a novelty. The only way video calling would take off is if the porn industry adopted it for sex chat calls.
That's the problem with the iPhone in that the looks won't ever change. It is basically a screen. Apple does not want to distract from the screen so they'll design out anything that does. Thankfully the case manufacturers make the iPhone/iPod Touch fun to use. I'd still like to see a flip version of the iPhone.
Ugh, what!? good grief
1. Dual microphone to cancel background noise?
2. Voice input for all text entry fields?
3. Higher resolution screen?
4. Larger screen dimensions?
5. Multi-tasking?
6. User-replaceable battery?
7. Physical keyboard in addition to on-screen keyboard?
8. On any carrier other than the POS from AT&T?
9. Higher resolution camera?
10. Front-facing camera for video chat?
11. Customizable home-screen?
12. AMOLED screen (aka, anything other than the POS original screen)?
13. Being able to navigate with zoom in/out with only one hand?
14. Alternate input for navigation such as optical scrolling?
Isn't this like owning a Jeep, then saying if only they could do 2 wheel drive with a lower roof line, better acceleration, and no low ratio. You should actually go buy something from Porsche instead of waiting for Jeep to change their design.
I wonder if anyone bashing AMOLED has used a Nexus One. The screen is beautiful, and so much better than the iPhone's washed out LCD screen.
Not outdoors. You can't use it at all there. At least, that's what every reviewer said. Thay can't all be wrong.
The LCD isn't washed out, and it works better outdoors.
I wouldn't call it washed out, but OLED would definitely be an improvement but in brightness, color, and battery life.
LCD is definitely washed out compared to AMOLED. There's a picture right on the front page of Engadget today comparing an AMOLED phone next to the iPhone's. The iPhone's screen looks like complete sh*t in contrast.
LCD is definitely washed out compared to AMOLED. There's a picture right on the front page of Engadget today comparing an AMOLED phone next to the iPhone's. The iPhone's screen looks like complete sh*t in contrast.
Those pictures are useless, as are most comparison shots on the internet. You need to compare them in person. The angle the shot is taken at influences the outcome, and depending on what the person is trying to convey, the picture will be deliberately be shot in such a way as to make whatever they want to look better, look better. Up close, the difference isn't so great. It's interesting that with all the hype, the Nexus One isn't selling. 22,000 the first week, and no better since.
THe question really is, what do you gain by seeing the person you're talking to most of the time? I don't see any.
*Most* of the time you don't gain anything. But *sometimes* you do. For example: If you only need to do this once a month it's worth having it handy.
:d
*Most* of the time you don't gain anything. But *sometimes* you do. For example: If you only need to do this once a month it's worth having it handy.
:d
Yeah, if people actually did it. It doesn't seem as though they do.
What we need is a smaller iPhone that will actually not feel like a brick to your ear. I'll never use an iPhone as a phone, it's way to big. Maybe if they made one with a footprint with the size of the screen.
The iPhone is an average size for a full featured smartphone. If you want something smaller, buy a Palm.
Yeah, if people actually did it. It doesn't seem as though they do.
Do you think maybe it's because they don't have that ability on their phone?
Wow. It amazes me how the posters in this forum can't envision things that people other than themselves would use.
Here's another example:
Honey, look who I just ran into! It's our old friend from college, we haven't seen her in ten years! Doesn't she look great? Say hi!
or
Which of these shirts should I buy?
:d
Do you think maybe it's because they don't have that ability on their phone?
Wow. It amazes me how the posters in this forum can't envision things that people other than themselves would use.
Here's another example:
Honey, look who I just ran into! It's our old friend from college, we haven't seen her in ten years! Doesn't she look great? Say hi!
or
Which of these shirts should I buy?
:d
There are phones that do this. There are tens of millions of laptops that do this. But the people owning these devices don't do this.
It has nothing to do with the number of devices out there, it's attitude.
I could say this about you:
Wow. It amazes me how the posters in this forum can't envision things that people other than themselves WOULDN'T use.
Just because a feature is there doesn't mean that people will use it.
How often do you do it?
There are phones that do this. There are tens of millions of laptops that do this. But the people owning these devices don't do this.
It has nothing to do with the number of devices out there, it's attitude.
I could say this about you:
Wow. It amazes me how the posters in this forum can't envision things that people other than themselves WOULDN'T use.
Just because a feature is there doesn't mean that people will use it.
How often do you do it?
My phone doesn't do that. I have an iPhone. If it had that feature, I would use it sometimes.
As for video chatting from computer to computer, I admit, it's a rare thing for me. But when I'm at a computer with a webcam at the same time my niece is at a computer with a webcam, we've done it and it was awesome.
Putting this feature in my iPhone and my friends and family's iPhones would make it a more common occurrence. No, it would never supplant normal phone calls. But it would enable video calls to be more spur-of-the-moment.
And it doesn't take vision to imagine what people other than myself wouldn't use. But if you're implying that I'm the only person who would use this feature, then there's no point in this discussion.
:d
My phone doesn't do that. I have an iPhone. If it had that feature, I would use it sometimes.
For the examples you gave above, it's easy to do if you are on a 3G call. Just go to an app and take a pic, then send it via email or MMS.
For the examples you gave above, it's easy to do if you are on a 3G call. Just go to an app and take a pic, then send it via email or MMS.
You're right. That's an example of how to do that today, with a phone that doesn't have video chat. But if I had video chat, I'd probably use that instead.
Why should phones have MMS? You can always email.
Why should phones have email? You can always use a web client.
We didn't used to need cell phones. We had pagers.
People find workarounds for their needs.
Some people love their workarounds so much they refuse to see progress.
:d
My phone doesn't do that. I have an iPhone. If it had that feature, I would use it sometimes.
As for video chatting from computer to computer, I admit, it's a rare thing for me. But when I'm at a computer with a webcam at the same time my niece is at a computer with a webcam, we've done it and it was awesome.
Putting this feature in my iPhone and my friends and family's iPhones would make it a more common occurrence. No, it would never supplant normal phone calls. But it would enable video calls to be more spur-of-the-moment.
And it doesn't take vision to imagine what people other than myself wouldn't use. But if you're implying that I'm the only person who would use this feature, then there's no point in this discussion.
:d
I see at least two points here.
One is that it's not important enough for you to find a phone that does it. Two is that you can do it with the computers, but do it rarely anyway.
I never said that you are the only one whose done it. I've done it with my daughter way out there in the UK, but only a couple of times. Fun, but not really worth the bother.
What it really amounts to is what percentage of people would do this if available, how many of those would do it more than a few times, just to experience it, but then would stop, how many would buy another product to get the feature, and so on.
Every time a feature adds cost to a device, the question has to be; "How many of our customers care enough for this feature that they wouldn't buy our product because of it?"
A lot of companies would say 20%. Others 5%. If it costs $5 per phone, and Apple sells 35 million phones this year; a good possibility, that's $175 million in costs. If only a very small part of the customer base cares, does it pay to spend that money? Only if they would lose more in profits by not having it than they would save.
You're right. That's an example of how to do that today, with a phone that doesn't have video chat. But if I had video chat, I'd probably use that instead.
Why should phones have MMS? You can always email.
Why should phones have email? You can always use a web client.
We didn't used to need cell phones. We had pagers.
People find workarounds for their needs.
Some people love their workarounds so much they refuse to see progress.
:d
I agree with you here. But there's a difference in adding software features which cost almost nothing once the development is done, and hardware features, which cost with every device they're included in.
You're right. That's an example of how to do that today, with a phone that doesn't have video chat. But if I had video chat, I'd probably use that instead.
For your examples, I don't think video chat would be the best option.
First of all, it sounds you just had a regular audio chat going but then wanted to switch to video chat. Does this require a hang up? I'd think so since we're talking about going from AT&T's cellular network to their IP data network for the video+audio. I don't think you can just add the one with them lining up correctly.
Then there is the issue of then having to turn the phone around to face the items you want to show off. In a video chat you are looking at the screen and can see how everything is formatted for the other caller, but your examples have you losing that ability if the items are in front of you in any way.
Then there is having the other person want the video chat and having a video chat capable device on hand. Finally, there is no record of this so the images can't be saved and edited.
It sounds like a problem for that usage. I expect a front-facing camera to be the norm for smartphones at some point, but I'd expect other smartphones and the iPad to get the option before the iPhone.
A higher res screen might be nice, but only to keep up with the Joneses. The pixel density (DPI/PPI) is fine for the current screen size and it only adds bragging rights for very little return. The iPhone already boasts 163 PPI (newspapers are typically 150-200 DPI and magazines typically use between 200-300 DPI). Unless the screen gets much larger I don't see much benefit to this. The sample hardware appears to have an identical screen size.
The screen has been the same since 2007 - it definitely needs a refresh at this point. Even though you wouldn't read a webpage at full zoomed out view on a phone browser, the crispness and the ability to actually decipher the small text on higher PPI smartphone screens is nice.
It's just eye-candy, but it's great to have. Apple can't continue to rest on its pre-established laurels on iPhone design, or it risks stagnation.
The screen has been the same since 2007 - it definitely needs a refresh at this point. Even though you wouldn't read a webpage at full zoomed out view on a phone browser, the crispness and the ability to actually decipher the small text on higher PPI smartphone screens is nice.
It's just eye-candy, but it's great to have. Apple can't continue to rest on its pre-established laurels on iPhone design, or it risks stagnation.
'Eye candy' isn't enough of a reason to add a feature IMO, if it just adds cost to the phone with no real benefit. I'm more interested in features with teeth. The pixel density on the phone is fine given the screen size, and the only benefit to a higher screen resolution given the same screen size is simply bragging rights. Unfortunately, Apple will eventually have to play the game as well or face public outcry for a feature bump that has questionable benefits. I could see a small bump to get the PPI in the area of typical magazine quality, but more than that is just wasted IMO.
If they eventually decide to up the screen size closer to 4", then a bump in PPI might be warranted but the sample screen posted in the article looks to be exactly the same dimensions as the previous screen size.