Purely hypothetical iPhone thread
Say Apple were going to rebadge the efforts of someone like (ohidon'tknow umm) Sony Ericsson for example, and produce an iPhone.
Do you think they'd base their phone on something like the T68 or the P800?
One would be cheap and small (and sexy).
One would be expensive and powerful (and sexy).
One would be a phone with small-screen calendar.
One would also be a PDA -- without Steve having perjured.
Do you think you could legitimately say you were "running Aqua" on a T68, or would you need a P800 sort of dealie?
Do you think Apple would bother releasing "just" a phone or would they plump for something category breaking?
More umm inspiration as it comes to me.
Do you think they'd base their phone on something like the T68 or the P800?
One would be cheap and small (and sexy).
One would be expensive and powerful (and sexy).
One would be a phone with small-screen calendar.
One would also be a PDA -- without Steve having perjured.
Do you think you could legitimately say you were "running Aqua" on a T68, or would you need a P800 sort of dealie?
Do you think Apple would bother releasing "just" a phone or would they plump for something category breaking?
More umm inspiration as it comes to me.
Comments
What do you think?
This hypothetical iPhone would be digital hub-friendly and would be built to exploit iApps.
It would seem likely that it'd have a camera built in and that the thing would sync with iCal.
If it was properly 'running Aqua' it would need all that lovely P800 real estate; it wouldn't just have Aqua-like icons instead of those SE phone management icons.
It would be a 'lifestyle' thingie.
It would be like the P800.
[ 02-25-2003: Message edited by: Hassan i Sabbah ]</p>
the base would double as a PDA and maybe have a computer cradle (or sync via BT). input could be either voice recognition or some manual form of input.
<img src="graemlins/lol.gif" border="0" alt="[Laughing]" />
<strong>One would be cheap and small (and sexy).
One would be expensive and powerful (and sexy).</strong><hr></blockquote>
It's interesting that you mention two phones, Harald. I don't think Apple would further increase its risk by introducing two groundbreaking, but risky, new devices. But who knows?
With the release of <a href="http://www.versiontracker.com/moreinfo.fcgi?id=18500&db=mac"; target="_blank">Sony Ericsson Clicker</a> two days ago, I've come to appreciate the T68(i) even more. In my opinion, Apple is more likely to introduce a compact, T68-sized device, but drastically improve usefulness and useability by boosting integration with iApps. SE Clicker shows how much functionality you can add with a simple software application. My hunch is that Apple will leverage its User Interface and Open Standard know-how to keep the device small and pocketable.
One additional thought: Even though entering information via a mobile phone keypad is less than efficient, I think it still makes more sense on the go. That's why we've seen PDAs with small keyboards gain in popularity. The other day, I saw my first P800 "in the wild." A kid on the metro was playing Tetris with the stylus. An analog/button-based interface, like on the iPod, can be significantly more efficient than a stylus-based one, especially for information-retrieval. Finally, you need two hands to use a device with stylus. With a keypad and scroll-wheel, you can do it all with one hand. If you need to enter more data, use the nearest Mac and connect via Bluetooth.
PS: Has anybody tried out the "proximity" funtion in SE Clicker. It basically lets you run an AppleScript when you get within range of your Mac. That's way cool! Imagine you Mac telling you that you have new mail and need to complete items on your to-do list only when you are near it.
As with PowerBooks, I say: Make it small and light!
Escher
[ 02-25-2003: Message edited by: Escher ]</p>
<strong>
It's interesting that you mention two phones, Harald. I don't think Apple would further increase its risk by introducing two groundbreaking, but risky, new devices. But who knows?</strong><hr></blockquote>
I don't think they'd introduce two phones ... I was just doing a bit of analysis.
At first I thought, "Yeh, P800! Fran will be happy, AND he gets a phone."
But now I think you're right.
<strong>My guess would be this fall... (after Iraq war)</strong><hr></blockquote>
Well now that is a point. Assuming World War III gets kicked off on schedule it could put everyone's release schedule off.
I'd guess early summer.
Hypothetically.
<strong>Has anybody tried out the "proximity" funtion in SE Clicker. It basically lets you run an AppleScript when you get within range of your Mac. That's way cool! Imagine you Mac telling you that you have new mail and need to complete items on your to-do list only when you are near it.</strong><hr></blockquote>
Oh my God that's cool. And very mac-like; come back to the office ... get close to the machine (which under OS X is only asleep not turned off) and have it wake up, check the mail, say "Hi" and open forums.appleinsider.com ... and obviously hit the sync button.
That rules.
<strong>Oh my God that's cool.</strong><hr></blockquote>
Harald: Try it and report back to us.
Regarding phone-style (e.g. T68i) versus PDA-style (e.g. P800), have a look at the <a href="http://forums.appleinsider.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=8&t=000614"; target="_blank">z1010 thread</a> in Digital Lifestyle. I really like the flip-phone form factor (provided there is an external display for caller ID). IMO, opening up your flip-phone to make or take a call is a better user interface than pushing a button. Of course, a flip-phone might not do as well as the T68i when it is on TV/Mac remote duty.
The following dilemma is bothering me right now. I want to get two mobile phones, one for me and one for my wife in the next two weeks. We can get the T68i free from Amazon.com with T-mobile service. But I'm concerned about GSM coverage in rural US areas and I would hate to be locked into a particular service plan if Apple introduces an iPhone this summer. What am I to do?
Escher
[ 02-25-2003: Message edited by: Escher ]</p>
[ 02-25-2003: Message edited by: New ]</p>
<strong>with all that's happening right now, you definitely don't want to go out getting a T68i...
[ 02-25-2003: Message edited by: New ]</strong><hr></blockquote>
Well if you can get it for free then I'm not sure I see any down side to it... Given what we know it would seem Apple is going to go with Cingular (that is the cell provider right?) so why not just grab the free T68i deal for now and then upgrade to a new iPhone (if and when it makes its debut)...
Murphys law:
If you buy a T68i now the iPhone will be available on or before MWNY...
If you wait to buy then the iPhone wont be available 'sometime this fall'.
Dave
<strong>With the release of <a href="http://www.versiontracker.com/moreinfo.fcgi?id=18500&db=mac"; target="_blank">Sony Ericsson Clicker</a> two days ago, I've come to appreciate the T68(i) even more. In my opinion, Apple is more likely to introduce a compact, T68-sized device, but drastically improve usefulness and useability by boosting integration with iApps. SE Clicker shows how much functionality you can add with a simple software application. (...)
PS: Has anybody tried out the "proximity" funtion in SE Clicker. It basically lets you run an AppleScript when you get within range of your Mac. That's way cool!</strong><hr></blockquote>
WOW! I just tested this app. and it's fantastic!!! You can basically run any script on your mac from your phone... how cool will it look runnig powerpoi... err... keynote presentations from my phone!
This opens new dimensions for the "digital hub" strategy...
Purely hypothetically of course.
[ 02-26-2003: Message edited by: RodUK ]</p>
[ 02-27-2003: Message edited by: Hassan i Sabbah ]</p>
<strong>Is it known that the iPhone is actually a physical device (assuming it exists)? Couldn't it be some form of video-conferencing software?</strong><hr></blockquote>
Everything you've written sounds like an utterly fantastic idea. I wouldn't be surprised (but have absolutely no idea) if Apple were to extend the usefulness of their hypothetical future hardware product using the Bluetooth capabilities of their device ... in ways we've not thought of.
<strong>Is it known that the iPhone is actually a physical device (assuming it exists)? Couldn't it be some form of video-conferencing software? You 'phone' someone, perhaps using an existing phone blue tooth connected to your Mac, and the phone number is translated into some form of web/IP address to enable a connection to be established over the internet. You then chat to each other verbally using the Mac's inbuilt mic (rather than iChat style typed text) and see each other using a Webcam, via the iPhone application running on your Mac.
Purely hypothetically of course.
[ 02-26-2003: Message edited by: RodUK ]</strong><hr></blockquote>
that would be great!
i love the way that with bluetooth when my phone rings it pulls up address book, and tells me who is calling and if i want to refuse/sms/answer.
*but* if i want to answer i still have to go and grab my phone from my bag to actually speak to them...