At 10 Jul 2007 09:31:25 -0600 none wrote:

> first cell device to use Coverflow - that's very new.


True- it's pretty, but it isn't a new FUNCTION. All music-playing phones
let you choose content by "album" or "artist." New look, old function.

This seems to be the theme of these online "debates" over iPhone's
merits. The pro-iPhone crowd confuses new methodology with new
functionality, and the anti-iPhone crowd dismisses new interface and
design far to easily, since ease-of-use is critical in the actual use of
all of these "new" feature that aren't really new.

> first cell device to be directly linked to YouTube - that's very new.

YouTube launched a mobile service just prior to the iPhone launch.
(m.youtube.com) making YouTube available on many mobiles now. Arguably,
the creation of their mobile service was in preparation for the iPhone,
so thanks for that! ;-)


>
> first cell device to show the Actual Web - that's very new.

Except for flash/java. It's closer than most devices, but still not the
"actual web."

> first cell device to have your actual emails - that's very new.

Huh? HTML e-mail has been available on other devices. I've had it for
over a year, although admittedly I needed third-party software (the free
QMail) on my WM phone. Now I have it natively (WM6) via software update
as well.


> > Play online games....no, also forbidden
>
> you got one right! no games sorry, kiddos... i guess this is a big
> person's toy.

While the anti-iPhone posts here have been ridiculous, it's equally
ridiculous to dismiss as feature the iPhone lacks as unimportant or
useless. A lot of adults play mobile games as well.

Besides, you can't have it both ways- it doesn't have games, so it's not
for kids- it doesn't have full Exchange support, so it's not for
business. Who then is it for? Unemployed adults?

> > Run Windoze software....oops, sorry.
>
> and why would you ever want to do that?

Agreed- it has it's own perfectly good OS. Imagine the possibilities if
an SDK is ever released!

> > Run MAC software....no, it doesn't do that, either, I'm told.
>
> ah, it runs Mac software, what do you think each of those buttons does?

Runs _iPhone_ software- not _Mac_ software, otherwise Safari would hook
flash and java support and download it, like a Mac can. It's not a Mac,
and it isn't running Mac software- unless Macs are now using ARM-based
processors...

> > Do Palm Pilot "things"....no, no, that's not new any more
>
> like what?

Isn't syncing one-way on iPhone? (I'm asking- I haven't used on yet.)
Do contact and calendar changes upload to your computer?


> > Hmm...It's not a HDTV....
>
> It's actually higher quality than HDTV, a 1660dpi screen, the first of
> any cell phone.

Huh? How does 1660dpi come out to 320x480 unless the iPhone screen is
1/3"?


The iPhone resolution of 320x480 is certainly sufficient, however VGA
phones (640x480) predate the iPhone (ETEN makes a WM PPC phone for
Euro/Asian markets with a 3.5" VGA screen.) I'm happy enough with 320x240,
but more is always nicer.

> I just put real time, moving radar on mine. How about your cell phone,
> can it do this?
>
> http://apple.accuweather.com/widget/iphone1/iphone.html
>
> Nope!

Animated radar maps hav been available on WAP browsers for years, and
downloadable apps (generally not free, however) have displayed it on PPCs
and Treos for quite some time. Sadly, it seems, this is another example
of "making it easy makes it new." How many current "dumb-phone" users
know the wealth of easy-to-receive information that's been available on
their phones for years?

> So Larry, we have now discovered you are an idiot. Thanks for letting
> us know.

Larry is just making a semi-valid point. The iPhone is certainly
breaking some ground in ease of use, but it doesn't actually DO anything
that hasn't been done before.
It's the iPod all over again- existing technology made easier. There's
nothing wrong with that- it's a perfectly laudable goal in and of itself.
I just remember watching the Pirates/calamari iPhone commercial a few
weeks ago and my wife saying "your phone does all that, doesn't it?" The
irony was
that I had to tell her "so does yours!" (She has a T-Mobile Dash- a WM
Smartphone with a "hard" keyboard rather than a touchscreen.)

I'd bet she'd like the iPhone- if only AT&T had coverage where we live...



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