I've been putting off starting a new post for quite a while, because, and I believe this is a reasonable enough reason, I wanted to put through my thoughts on the just-announced Apple iPhone. This took time for two main reasons: first of all, the hype around the iPhone has been unbelievable and I wanted it to subside a bit. Also, it seems (after more than a couple of weeks) the first polls are in, and both journalists and fan-boys have cast their votes. Since I don't really have a chance in hell to get my hands on an iPhone, that's all I have to base my opinions on, to get to any substantial conclusions.
Well, let's do some pro and cons: beginning with the pro is easy – like most Apple products, the iPhone is gorgeous, and above all else fun and easy to use. Its underlying hardware, albeit still very much a mystery, is very powerful. That enables it to have both high resolution visual eye-candy, and some very impressive embedded apps (like Google Earth). Have a look at the phone's official site, click around, watch the demos, you'll see what I mean.
The con, on the other hand, takes a bit more imagination, and isn't a very clear-cut conclusion. Let’s start with this: I'm afraid of Apple - I've haven't had much experience with them, but I have noticed a few company policies that give me a reason to be concerned. The most obvious one, which has been the Apple guiding line since forever, is that they put out a lot of upgraded models, in a very short span of time. I just know that the moment I receive my iPhone, Apple will announce the next model, which will make my new gadget obsolete in every conceivable way. Not only that – it's obvious they will also stop making software upgrades for my "old" iCrap, to entice new users to upgrade to the new model. Already there's talks of a second generation iPhone, which will have more applications and will be a lot less of a phone, and a lot more of a PDA.
Another troubling Apple-policy, is to "lock" their users in: once you purchase your Apple gadget you will "have to" buy a whole bunch of proprietary add-ons, you will have to purchase music through iTunes, and you will obviously have to purchase software from only the official Apple retailers. The problem is that not only it will all cost about twice as it should, at the end of the day you will be stuck with all of what you've acquired since it will all be proprietary to Apple and to your gadget. Not only you won't be able to use any of it on any another competing player (I can understand that), chances are you won't be able to use half of it on another Apple gadget if you decide to upgrade! In case you need an example, just check the clip below – albeit it's a parody, it magnificently depicts the abysmal state of affairs surrounding all Apple products.
These are the two most compelling cons I can think of, but there are more minute ones, like the fact that a touch screen doesn't give you tactile feedback, or that I'm afraid it won't be very easy to use with one hand (which I currently do a lot with my phone), or that already there are other options for purchasing a phone with that form-factor.
1. This is an article from the NYTimes, about Apple's "iHandcuffs" policies.
2. This is a C|Net article, which lists 13 reasons to doubt the iPhone hype (I kinda disagree with at least half of them).
3. This is an article about "skins" for palmOS devices, which try to mimic the new iPhone OS.
4. This is an article from the LATimes, about how Japan will welcome the iPhone.
5. This is yet another article about reasons NOT to love the iPhone.
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