iPhone - Apple Changes All The Rules AGAIN

Announcement: Steve Jobs has announced at the 2007 Macworld conference in San Francisco a new breakthrough device from Apple Inc. - the iPhone. This sleek new device is a Widescreen iPod, GSM Phone as well as an Internet device running the FULL OS X operating system and a 2 megapixal camera.

Rarely is there a technology announcement which truly catches the world attention. The closest thing in recent years was the announcement of the Apple iPod having video capabilities in October 2005. Not only was that cool, but it ushered in a whole new era in technology - the video webcast or vlog. Rumors have swirled since then that there were no more breakthroughs for Apple to conquer - except for maybe the phone. That was until now.

In Jobs' keynote presentation, the announcement was made how Apple had taken three proven devices - the iPod, the cellular phone and mobile computing, to not only the next level, but combined into one product - the iPhone.

On the iPod side, the specs are unbelievably sweet. The small tiny screen showing small tiny versions of Johnny Depp have now expanded to the full size of the unit with full blasting colour and a 3.5 inch screen. Navigation, the kingpin of Apple devices, is also a breeze with a new “multitouch” screen which you can “flick” you finger up and down to scroll VERY QUICKLY. Oh, and did I say there was NO stylus? That's right, Apple has chosen to create this device in the image of no device before it - everything is manageable with a flick or a scroll of a finger. Flick through songs or full album art. You'll find your song or artist just as fast as you did with your iPod. Amazing.

And the phone? Well, Jobs and company did the right thing by choosing the most popular technology in the world - GSM. Though it wasn't fully announced whether it is a locked or unlocked phone (meaning if it was unlocked you could get it to work with your GSM SIM card right away!), the path of least resistance and most familiarity will mean “non-techies” will take the phone's ease of use quickly - even if they don't download podcasts. Another VERY cool feature is the sensors it has built in - it's the only phone I'm aware of which will detect the fact the unit is up against your face (when you're talking) and shut off the screen automatically to save battery life. Sweet!

The Internet features? Well it's running a full OS X operating system - I repeat, the FULL operating system, and not a watered down mobile system like Windows CE / Mobile. This means it is essentially a full Mac computer in your pocket! To browse the Internet, a full version of Safari (naturally) is supplied (no word on the ability to install the Mac version of Firefox - yet!). Nothing but wow!

So should you run out and be the first to grab this little puppy? Well, while I am truly impressed and amazed by how many things this will do, the issues with computing and communicating with a mobile device still exist. My biggest worry? Battery life. I have already learned with my PocketPC Smartphone that trying to do it all with one device means sacrifices. If you plan to watch movies or listen to hours and hours of music on the device, forget about any life left when that all important call comes in. Your device will be dead.

Another concern I have is using it with my contacts and calendar. To my surprise, Jobs says all synchronization will be done through iTunes. Huh?! iTunes?! Do I have to export all my data out of Outlook into some obscure file then import it into iTunes? That's not going to happen. Also while Jobs says everything can be done with “the magic of your finger”, there're still things which may need to be done on the keyboard of the puppy, such as e-mail. While using free Yahoo! IMAP is a surprise with inherent push technology (watch out Blackberry!) , actually writing an e-mail or anything with this device WITHOUT a stylus would be a royal pain in the butt. Nice to read, but don't ask me to write you back a response. Hey wait, I think I'll just call you instead. Ya, that's what most iPhone users will say.

The branding and recognition of the iPhone will push it to be the number one device of 2007 and 2008 in the cell phone industry just as the iPod was for portable digital media. My concern is that most early adopters will get one for the “ooh-aah” effect on their friends, but will never really use all the services the device provides. Even the geeks, nerds and dorks of the world.

Let's wait and see… hold on, I'll finish this article later. My iPhone's ringing. Ciao!