Agree with you about all the crappy unnecessary features: the purpose of a camera to take photos with cellphones is indeed pretty ridiculous.
Opinions differ on this one though...
Although I personally don't really use my cellphone camera yet (resolution too low and no bluetooth on my computer, so can't transfer my pics), I would if picture size goes up to 2 MP, and I already have quite some (non-geek) friends who use theirs quite often.
It does not replace or come near a dedicated camera, but often can come in handy on those occasions you didn't bring a camera but wished you had..
edit: Oh and I can vividly remember some years ago when many people (including me) considered cellphones themselves to be a "crappy unnecessary feature"......
Agree with you about all the crappy unnecessary features: the purpose of a camera to take photos with cellphones is indeed pretty ridiculous.
I have up until recently been a phone purist but cameraes are actually handy now they have moved into the megapixel era. Let me give you a few examples where they come in handy:
I know that many truck drivers are equipped with them now. If anything happens to the load or the truck they can document it for their office via the phone and MMS or the email client. It takes less than a minute to do so. I worked for a telcom up until recently and our largest customer in the transport business made it a condition to stay with us that we delivered them 2 mpixel phones for that purpose exactly.
Another VERY useful purpose is for documenting crimes. For instance: We had an incident between some football fans and the police at a game. THe police is now investigated for use of excessive force based on pictures and video made by mobile phones.
They may not be useful as a replacement for holiday pictures or the like. But cameraes have many other purposes, especially when they are not another item you have to carry...
The problem isn't the phones so much as the carriers. For example, Verizon Wireless disabling Bluetooth features on the phones so they can rip people off for ringtones. And no matter how people try to make excuses for phones locked to carriers, whitewashing poop doesn't make it smell any better.
The regulatory environment in the US is terrible because the FCC isn't doing its job, and the carriers get away with whatever they want. The greedy, arrogant RBOCs deserve a big round of being kicked in the teeth.
Look at this new LG ultraslim slider phone: LG-KV5900
Sold under the LG KTF Cyon range, only in Korea as for now
Specific features: 512MB integrated memory, MP3/WMA/OGG player, a CMOS cam (exact resolution unknown). And 15mm (0.6") thick.
It feels like some cross between a mobile phone, an Olympus m:robe MR-100 and a black iPod nano... I think its glossy black, slim and simple design, and the undercover screen, are gorgeous and very Apple. Just add a clickwheel on top and it would be the perfect iPhone!
Here is my idea for the iPod phone. Nano size except that it's an extra inch
taller & a couple millimeters thicker...
Care to take a crack at that Nano-based design in a slider model? I'm envisioning something approximately the size of two Nanos stacked on top of one another, and would in fact look exactly like the Nano when closed. It would require just one LCD and still be about as thin as a RAZR.
I'd try it myself, just don't have your mad photoshop skills.
Care to take a crack at that Nano-based design in a slider model? I'm envisioning something approximately the size of two Nanos stacked on top of one another, and would in fact look exactly like the Nano when closed. It would require just one LCD and still be about as thin as a RAZR.
I'd try it myself, just don't have your mad photoshop skills.
It may take me some time. I'm currently swamped with Thanksgiving &
Christmas pics at work. Did you want the white polycarbonate on the front &
back or did you want the metallic back?
I just had a little thought with the slider version. The back half of the slider can
be all battery. The front half can replace the smaller battery with the cellphone
Please not the RAZR keypad. I can't stand the feel or look of it - the physical 'feedback' from pressing the keys is poor, as is the feel for the buttons as you move your thumb over it since they're not raised. However the slide design is probably the way to go, although I've always bee a flip fan.
he holds a fatter-than-normal looking ipod nano up,
.."well first thing we did for the new ipod was put a better scratch resistant coating on it...
yeah..who carries keys anyways??...
and we increased the storage to 8 GB....baterrey life is up 50%....
and this geat new entry will only cost.....$350"
-the crowd kinda does the "WTF??"
Steve sets the ipod on the table and waits for effect...
the ipod lights up and magically starts playing some catchy song with lyrics like "times are a ringing" or "ding dong the brick is gone" and Steve says
"Oh I guess there's one more thing..." and slides the iPod/phone open, and answers Maddona's (or whoever's) call....
Next quarter iPod sales start to look like cell phone sales #s.....Moto sues....Apple Laughs...B. Gates moves to Philanthropy fulltime....
yeah but it's a UI nightmare especially for selecting numbers. I could never imagine trying to drunk dial somebody... Think of how hard it would be to call somebody drunk.
Quote:
Originally posted by PeePeeSee
Actually the scroll wheel is a great idea - most of the time when people make phone calls it isn't by dialing the number out it's by going into your contacts and finding a number. Also people love the scroll/click wheel. I think it's a really great idea, I would buy one - in black of course.
he holds a fatter-than-normal looking ipod nano up,
.."well first thing we did for the new ipod was put a better scratch resistant coating on it...
yeah..who carries keys anyways??...
and we increased the storage to 8 GB....baterrey life is up 50%....
and this geat new entry will only cost.....$350"
-the crowd kinda does the "WTF??"
Steve sets the ipod on the table and waits for effect...
the ipod lights up and magically starts playing some catchy song with lyrics like "times are a ringing" or "ding dong the brick is gone" and Steve says
"Oh I guess there's one more thing..." and slides the iPod/phone open, and answers Maddona's (or whoever's) call....
Next quarter iPod sales start to look like cell phone sales #s.....Moto sues....Apple Laughs...B. Gates moves to Philanthropy fulltime....
Would Apple really make a phone themseleves? What is the advantage of becoming a phone manufacturer for Apple?
While I do like the Nano that slides open to be a phone, creating a phone isn't just a cool piece of hardware with iTunes on it... you have to get a carrier to support it (most phones are subsidize by the carriers so they have to think it will sell). I doubt Cingular is jumping up and down to get an iPhone with the ROKR's dismal results. Plus Cingular and the other networks want to make money off music purchases and downloads... Apple hasn't seemed willing to share this revenue stream with them, so there is no incentive for the cell carriers to play nice with our friends in Cupertino.
Apple like to control the whole experience and by creating an iPhone they will be losing part of the control (the phone part itself)....
From a cool MP3 player / phone... it's great. But from a business standpoint... it's a hard sell.
Would Apple really make a phone themseleves? What is the advantage of becoming a phone manufacturer for Apple?
equally at one point im sure someone said "whats the advantage ofbecoming an MP3 player manufacturer for Apple?"
personally i cant see them doing it, but BOY would i like to be wrong on that point.
also re cingular (the WORST name ever??) dont forget theres a bigger market out there than america...its called the rest of the world... im sure apple would sell more than enough handsets (should it bring to market a phone) in the rest of the world.
as i said before RE the Nano phones (more so the sliding ones)
Comments
Originally posted by Cosmos 1999
Agree with you about all the crappy unnecessary features: the purpose of a camera to take photos with cellphones is indeed pretty ridiculous.
Opinions differ on this one though...
Although I personally don't really use my cellphone camera yet (resolution too low and no bluetooth on my computer, so can't transfer my pics), I would if picture size goes up to 2 MP, and I already have quite some (non-geek) friends who use theirs quite often.
It does not replace or come near a dedicated camera, but often can come in handy on those occasions you didn't bring a camera but wished you had..
edit: Oh and I can vividly remember some years ago when many people (including me) considered cellphones themselves to be a "crappy unnecessary feature"......
Originally posted by Cosmos 1999
Agree with you about all the crappy unnecessary features: the purpose of a camera to take photos with cellphones is indeed pretty ridiculous.
I have up until recently been a phone purist but cameraes are actually handy now they have moved into the megapixel era. Let me give you a few examples where they come in handy:
I know that many truck drivers are equipped with them now. If anything happens to the load or the truck they can document it for their office via the phone and MMS or the email client. It takes less than a minute to do so. I worked for a telcom up until recently and our largest customer in the transport business made it a condition to stay with us that we delivered them 2 mpixel phones for that purpose exactly.
Another VERY useful purpose is for documenting crimes. For instance: We had an incident between some football fans and the police at a game. THe police is now investigated for use of excessive force based on pictures and video made by mobile phones.
They may not be useful as a replacement for holiday pictures or the like. But cameraes have many other purposes, especially when they are not another item you have to carry...
Liquid Lens
3+ megapixel
Advanced image processing so pics are not grainy, muddy, full of jpeg artifacts, etc.
Originally posted by Anders
Is it really so bad in US?
The problem isn't the phones so much as the carriers. For example, Verizon Wireless disabling Bluetooth features on the phones so they can rip people off for ringtones. And no matter how people try to make excuses for phones locked to carriers, whitewashing poop doesn't make it smell any better.
The regulatory environment in the US is terrible because the FCC isn't doing its job, and the carriers get away with whatever they want. The greedy, arrogant RBOCs deserve a big round of being kicked in the teeth.
construction that isn't shoddy, great reception, & long battery life.
If Apple can make an iPod phone like that, I'll be first in line to pick one up.
Sold under the LG KTF Cyon range, only in Korea as for now
Specific features: 512MB integrated memory, MP3/WMA/OGG player, a CMOS cam (exact resolution unknown). And 15mm (0.6") thick.
It feels like some cross between a mobile phone, an Olympus m:robe MR-100 and a black iPod nano... I think its glossy black, slim and simple design, and the undercover screen, are gorgeous and very Apple. Just add a clickwheel on top and it would be the perfect iPhone!
A lot of photos here:
http://review.cetizen.com/lg-kv5900/
Also spoted at Engadget and Gizmodo
And the official page
Does somebody here speak Korean?
Originally posted by mello
Here is my idea for the iPod phone. Nano size except that it's an extra inch
taller & a couple millimeters thicker. iPod on front, cellphone on back with
lazer etched buttons like the motorola razor. No camera. If you want pics on
it you can upload pics from iPhoto. There is so much crap on my cell that I
never use now.
Simplicity in design.
ps. The game Time Pilot would be perfect to control with the scroll wheel.
a GREAT work of art that!! I'd buy one in a shot!
LOVE IT!!
Rod
Originally posted by Trendannoyer
a GREAT work of art that!! I'd buy one in a shot!
LOVE IT!!
Rod
Thanks for the props.
Originally posted by mello
Here is my idea for the iPod phone. Nano size except that it's an extra inch
taller & a couple millimeters thicker...
Care to take a crack at that Nano-based design in a slider model? I'm envisioning something approximately the size of two Nanos stacked on top of one another, and would in fact look exactly like the Nano when closed. It would require just one LCD and still be about as thin as a RAZR.
I'd try it myself, just don't have your mad photoshop skills.
Originally posted by Reid
Care to take a crack at that Nano-based design in a slider model? I'm envisioning something approximately the size of two Nanos stacked on top of one another, and would in fact look exactly like the Nano when closed. It would require just one LCD and still be about as thin as a RAZR.
I'd try it myself, just don't have your mad photoshop skills.
It may take me some time. I'm currently swamped with Thanksgiving &
Christmas pics at work. Did you want the white polycarbonate on the front &
back or did you want the metallic back?
I just had a little thought with the slider version. The back half of the slider can
be all battery. The front half can replace the smaller battery with the cellphone
tech.
imagine Steve's Keynote of the iSlider..
he holds a fatter-than-normal looking ipod nano up,
.."well first thing we did for the new ipod was put a better scratch resistant coating on it...
yeah..who carries keys anyways??...
and we increased the storage to 8 GB....baterrey life is up 50%....
and this geat new entry will only cost.....$350"
-the crowd kinda does the "WTF??"
Steve sets the ipod on the table and waits for effect...
the ipod lights up and magically starts playing some catchy song with lyrics like "times are a ringing" or "ding dong the brick is gone" and Steve says
"Oh I guess there's one more thing..." and slides the iPod/phone open, and answers Maddona's (or whoever's) call....
Next quarter iPod sales start to look like cell phone sales #s.....Moto sues....Apple Laughs...B. Gates moves to Philanthropy fulltime....
Originally posted by PeePeeSee
Actually the scroll wheel is a great idea - most of the time when people make phone calls it isn't by dialing the number out it's by going into your contacts and finding a number. Also people love the scroll/click wheel. I think it's a really great idea, I would buy one - in black of course.
Originally posted by waytogobuddy
nice (dirty) mockup
imagine Steve's Keynote of the iSlider..
he holds a fatter-than-normal looking ipod nano up,
.."well first thing we did for the new ipod was put a better scratch resistant coating on it...
yeah..who carries keys anyways??...
and we increased the storage to 8 GB....baterrey life is up 50%....
and this geat new entry will only cost.....$350"
-the crowd kinda does the "WTF??"
Steve sets the ipod on the table and waits for effect...
the ipod lights up and magically starts playing some catchy song with lyrics like "times are a ringing" or "ding dong the brick is gone" and Steve says
"Oh I guess there's one more thing..." and slides the iPod/phone open, and answers Maddona's (or whoever's) call....
Next quarter iPod sales start to look like cell phone sales #s.....Moto sues....Apple Laughs...B. Gates moves to Philanthropy fulltime....
Nice prediction of Steve's keynote
While I do like the Nano that slides open to be a phone, creating a phone isn't just a cool piece of hardware with iTunes on it... you have to get a carrier to support it (most phones are subsidize by the carriers so they have to think it will sell). I doubt Cingular is jumping up and down to get an iPhone with the ROKR's dismal results. Plus Cingular and the other networks want to make money off music purchases and downloads... Apple hasn't seemed willing to share this revenue stream with them, so there is no incentive for the cell carriers to play nice with our friends in Cupertino.
Apple like to control the whole experience and by creating an iPhone they will be losing part of the control (the phone part itself)....
From a cool MP3 player / phone... it's great. But from a business standpoint... it's a hard sell.
Originally posted by macmike
Would Apple really make a phone themseleves? What is the advantage of becoming a phone manufacturer for Apple?
equally at one point im sure someone said "whats the advantage ofbecoming an MP3 player manufacturer for Apple?"
personally i cant see them doing it, but BOY would i like to be wrong on that point.
also re cingular (the WORST name ever??) dont forget theres a bigger market out there than america...its called the rest of the world... im sure apple would sell more than enough handsets (should it bring to market a phone) in the rest of the world.
as i said before RE the Nano phones (more so the sliding ones)
I'd Buy one
that is the single most un-apple like and unnecessary thing in the mockup.
otherwise i think it shows some clever thinking regardless of whether or not using it would be an elegant experience.
***about the bluetooth...sprint does the same thing. The sprint reps looked at me like I was crazy when I wanted to sync my phonebook.