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What will the next version of the iPhone have that the current one doesn’t?
Will it have a keyboard for those who haven’t been touched — in a good way — by the iPhone’s touchscreen? How about GPS capabilities? Will there be iPhones in different sizes, similar to what Apple has done with its iPod digital music player?
With a recent shortage of the phones in U.S. stores, and indications that a new model may be released within the next few months, it’s natural to pose the questions.
Walt Mossberg, technology columnist for The Wall Street Journal, said 3G, a faster broadband connection, is coming to the new iPhone "in 60 days." He made the remark last week while speaking at a Beet.TV executive summit in Washington, D.C. A video clip of the statement was shared on technology blog Engadget.com.
What does Apple say? Very little. The company routinely declines to comment on products that are in development.
“They’re clearly one of the more secretive organizations around,” said Ken Dulaney, vice president of Gartner Research.
“They’re very, very tight with information on what they’re doing,” said Michael Mace of Rubicon Consulting, which recently surveyed 460 iPhone owners about their likes and dislikes of the phone.
From touch to tactile?
In that survey, 43 percent “strongly supported making at least one major physical change to the iPhone: making it larger or smaller, adding a keyboard or adding a keypad,” Rubicon said in its report.
“There are a lot of people who would like to have a 12-key keypad, because it’s easier for them to dial,” said Mace.
“You get that tactile feedback of actually touching the buttons, instead of just having the slippery screen.”
The Rubicon survey also found that the iPhone is used “less often for composing e-mail than reading it, since the device lacks a physical keyboard.”
Apple announced last month that its free iPhone 2.0 software upgrade, due in late June, will include Microsoft’s Exchange Active Sync software. The program synchronizes with a PC for e-mail, calendar and contact information. (Msnbc.com is a joint venture of Microsoft and NBC Universal.)
By doing so, Apple is aiming to grab a share of the business smartphone market now dominated by Research in Motion’s BlackBerry.
Rubicon said in its report that “if Apple really wants to target RIM…it will need to create an iPhone with a thumb keyboard, something that (Apple CEO) Steve Jobs has spoken against in the past.”
Dan Tynan, a PC World contributing editor, wrote a recent open letter to Jobs about the “top things to fix” in the next iPhone. Among them: the need for a keyboard.
“Yeah, the touchscreen is cool. And maybe the kids are down with doing the two-finger tango,” he wrote. “But we thumb typists are tapping our fingers in frustration.”
He suggested a “slide-out keyboard option,” and said, “even an add-on Bluetooth keyboard might work.”
GPS and a little light
Dulaney, of Gartner, thinks adding a GPS chip to the iPhone would be a “logical” enhancement to the phone’s location-mapping software. It lets users approximate their locations, using phone cell towers and local Wi-Fi networks.
“GPS would offer additional accuracy,” he said. “There’s enough evidence that this is a technology that Apple likes, and can make revenue from.”
Various GPS subscriptions are available for certain BlackBerry models. One, by TeleNav, costs $10 a month; another, by Garmin, is $100 a year.
“That’s cheaper than paying $500 for a GPS system, and with a subscription plan, users don’t have to shell out this big amount of money,” Dulaney said.
He also thinks it’s possible Apple might change the iPhone’s LCD screen to a more energy-efficient OLED (Organic Light-Emitting Diode) screen.
The difference, he said, is that although OLED is about twice as expensive as using LCD, it’s also more energy-efficient, takes less physical space in the device and would allow “for other technologies like GPS or 3G, without having an impact on battery life.”
3G speed bump
It does seems likely that the new iPhone will include faster wireless technology, known as third generation, or 3G, an upgrade from the current iPhone, which is 2.5G.
Such a speed bump is important to would-be iPhone owners, many of whom say it’s one of the reasons they’re waiting for the next model before buying.
Most smartphones that are capable of Internet and e-mail perform much better using 3G, which can transmit data at a rate of between 400,000 kilobits per second and 1.4 megabits per second.
In contrast, 2.5G has a transmission rate ranging between 144 and 384 kilobits per second.
Tim Bajarian, president of Creative Strategies market analysts, says 3G may be on the radar, but not GPS or OLED screens.
“Where the changes will take place will be in software, and in software specifically related to not only applications, but additional user interface issues.”
He cites voice recognition and voice command programs as examples.
How it shapes up
Both Bajarian and Dulaney say the size and shape of the iPhone likely will not change.
“From a physical standpoint, the iPhone is extremely well-designed,” Bajarian said. “The form factor itself presents great in its own right, with a big screen and touch interface. And more importantly, it’s viewed as a platform, so that you can clearly add more applications and potential features. But you would do that in the software, not the hardware.”
Dulaney thinks the the next iPhone will have more capacity, perhaps 32 gigabytes. The phone now comes in a 16-gigabyte version ($499), and an 8-gigabyte model ($399).
More capacity would be a plus. Last month, Apple rolled out its software development kit for the iPhone, which will mean a torrent of third-party programs for the phone on the market in conjunction with the 2.0 software upgrade.
Both Bajarian and Dulaney think that a removable battery —something that is common on other cell phones, but not on the iPhone — will not be likely in the next model.
Apple’s “actions and history” about removable batteries — with iPods lacking them, as well as the MacBook Air, Apple’s newest laptop — indicate that, Dulaney said.
Here come the clones
Mace, of Rubicon Consulting, said it would behoove Apple to release iPhones in different shapes and sizes, similar to what the company has done with its iPods.
“One of the things I’ve learned from being in the mobile industry for a long time is that one size does not fit all,” he said. “If Apple doesn’t do different shapes and sizes of iPhones, that will leave holes in the market that other competitors can fill.”
Indeed, some of them are trying. A few of the candidates were shown last week at CTIA-The Wireless Association’s annual trade show in Las Vegas.
Among them was Samsung’s Instinct touchscreen phone, which will be available in June and sold by Sprint Nextel (no pricing announced yet). The Instinct will have a GPS chip, and its screen measures 3.1 inches, compared to the iPhone’s 3.5 inches.
LG also showed its $300 Vu phone, also with a touchscreen and iPhone-like appearance, which will be marketed by AT&T, which also exclusively sells the iPhone.
The Voyager, another iPhone look-alike by LG, is already on the market. It has a touchscreen, but also a slide-out keyboard. It retails for $299 and is carried by Verizon Wireless.
“Unfortunately, right now, what you see a lot of mobile phone vendors doing is trying to slavishly copy the current form factor of the iPhone, and I think that’s very likely to produce disappointed customers,” Mace said.
“Because if it looks exactly like an iPhone, people are going to expect it to work exactly like an iPhone, and when it doesn’t, they’ll get really disappointed.”
As to the next iPhone, Mace, like most, is not making any bets.
“Apple specializes in catching us all by surprise,” he said.
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{"commentId":1664321,"authorDomain":"2timothy42"}
GPS would be nice. But not a must.
I don't get the tactile argument. The keyboard is fine by me.
3G apears to be coming and in the works.
PLEASE APPLE make the speaker louder. The ringtones, even at their loudest, are woefully quiet. Who in their right mind at Apple approved of the volume level.
Most of my other suggestions will come about with software that will be released from the SDK. So I am not really worried about those (i.e. a To-Do list!)
{"commentId":1664321,"threadId":"246564","contentId":"1415919","authorDomain":"2timothy42"}
- 2 votes
#1 - Mon Apr 7, 2008 12:49 PM EDT{"commentId":1664446,"authorDomain":"greglujan"}
I'm thinking the 32 gb may be what does it for me; that way it becomes a viable way to consolidate Ipod and phone. It's the main reason I've not seriously considered the Iphone till now.
{"commentId":1664446,"threadId":"246564","contentId":"1415919","authorDomain":"greglujan"}
- 1 vote
#2 - Mon Apr 7, 2008 1:18 PM EDT{"commentId":1664935,"authorDomain":"acidreflux"}
3G is a given I think. EDGE is fricking painful.
I don't see a hardware keyboard happening: Steve-O hates buttons. I have no trouble typing on my iPhone, but then again, I've never owned a Blackberry, so my entire experience with thumb typing comes from doing tech support on my boss's.
I too, am hoping for something decent in the To-Do field from the SDK. Synching Notes to Leopard Mail Notes would also be nice.
I'd LOVE to see tethering as an option. That would rock.
{"commentId":1664935,"threadId":"246564","contentId":"1415919","authorDomain":"acidreflux"}
#3 - Mon Apr 7, 2008 3:01 PM EDT{"commentId":1668568,"authorDomain":"benb"}
I have owned a Blackberry, switched to the iPhone. It took a week or two to get used to using the iPhone's keypad - the only real adjustment is trusting the iPhone to make corrections for you, once people can get over that they'll type just as fast on an iPhone.
An iPhone with buttons would look clunky and old fashioned - I think the touchscreen keyboard stays.
{"commentId":1668568,"threadId":"246564","contentId":"1415919","authorDomain":"benb"}
- 1 vote
{"commentId":1665062,"authorDomain":"brianford"}
The iPhone is never getting a tactile keyboard. Accept it. Any "analyst" who suggests otherwise should probably lose their job.
From my own experience, there's no real downside to the virtual keyboard. Works just as well for me as any blackberry keyboard I've ever tried, with their tic-tac-sized buttons. Most of the people I know who complain about the keyboard haven't used one for more than a few minutes at a time.
3G is almost certainly coming but, frankly -- if it's coming at the expense of battery life, I'll stick with edge, thank you. It's not super fast, but I've heard that 3G isn't really all that much better anyway, and I'm almost always close to a wi-fi network anyway.
The phone -could- stand to be louder, but I wonder if the tiny speaker can handle much more volume? Perhaps that's an issue they had to compromise on. If they can do it, they should.
The size isn't going to change much, at least for the iPhone. It's sized just about right for a phone.
I support any and all software changes, as they can be rolled out to my iPhone. :)
{"commentId":1665062,"threadId":"246564","contentId":"1415919","authorDomain":"brianford"}
- 2 votes
#4 - Mon Apr 7, 2008 3:29 PM EDT{"commentId":1665410,"authorDomain":"kyleb"}
The phone -could- stand to be louder, but I wonder if the tiny speaker can handle much more volume? Perhaps that's an issue they had to compromise on. If they can do it, they should.
That's about the only hardware change I'd like to see. The speaker sounds great, but just isn't loud enough.
{"commentId":1665410,"threadId":"246564","contentId":"1415919","authorDomain":"kyleb"}
- 1 vote
{"commentId":1665134,"authorDomain":"EPH289"}
How about a "reasonable price" as the next feature.
{"commentId":1665134,"threadId":"246564","contentId":"1415919","authorDomain":"EPH289"}
#5 - Mon Apr 7, 2008 3:56 PM EDT{"commentId":1665213,"authorDomain":"brianford"}
The iPhone is comparably priced to other devices in its class. So, you want the price of all devices in it's class to come down, or...?
{"commentId":1665213,"threadId":"246564","contentId":"1415919","authorDomain":"brianford"}
- 5 votes
{"commentId":1665426,"authorDomain":"kyleb"}
Oh, oops, I guess Apple didn't realize that $399 for the best mobile Internet device out there, best iPod, and a great phone was too much. What are you expecting?
And I guess they didn't realize that $399 for a device that costs $250 to manufacture alone, not even considering overhead, is too much. Silly Apple.
{"commentId":1665426,"threadId":"246564","contentId":"1415919","authorDomain":"kyleb"}
- 2 votes
{"commentId":1667702,"authorDomain":"gomezkat"}
when I entered the AT&T store the last thing on my mind was to purchase anything with the "Apple virus" but after looking at the prices and features on the other PDA type phone the iPhone was by far the best deal. Especially the $20 a month unlimited email/intenet data package. Believe me I am no Apple fan, but I can admit it's a reasonable price for all the features it offers. However, there are a few quirks I'd really like for them to address. 1- Native Outlook sync- all my appointments and meetings no matter what time i have them scheduled on Outlook will sync on my iPhone from 10 am - 1 pm. I have now been late or very early to a few meetings. 2- Txt messages should not appear on the screen for everyone to read. The iPhone is a gadget worth showing off. However if a txt shows up on the screen anyone holding it can read it. if it's docked anyone who enters your office can read your messages. NOT GOOD! 3- The camera feature is clumsy. Let's admit it most people who use a camera on a cell phone use it to take picture of themselves doing that on the iPhone is painful. I'm sure i can go on and one about silly little things but overall i am pretty satisfied with my iPhone.
{"commentId":1667702,"threadId":"246564","contentId":"1415919","authorDomain":"gomezkat"}
{"commentId":1669707,"authorDomain":"mike-berry"}
"The iPhone is comparably priced to other devices in its class. So, you want the price of all devices in it's class to come down, or...?"
Except Apple won't let the carrier subsidize the phone like other devices in its class so the iPhone ends up actually being $150 to $250 more expensive than "other comparably priced devices in its class."
{"commentId":1669707,"threadId":"246564","contentId":"1415919","authorDomain":"mike-berry"}
{"commentId":1670167,"authorDomain":"brianford"}
I simply don't think that's accurate.
And neither does the person who wrote the article I just linked to.
I suspect that part of the problem is that you and I have very different idea about what "in its class" means.
{"commentId":1670167,"threadId":"246564","contentId":"1415919","authorDomain":"brianford"}
- 1 vote
{"commentId":1670318,"authorDomain":"benb"}
The iPhone isn't the same as any other phone.
Apple invested a substantial amount of money into R&D for the iPhone, had to rewrite an operating system to work on the device, and included a substantial amount of hard drive space in such a small device.
When you take into the account that is functions as both an iPod (with a hard drive the size of a nano - which runs $199) using the interface of an iPod touch (which runs $299) and a phone (comparable smart phones that are subsidized by carriers are $100-$200), the price is fair. Apple is not obligated to make it cheaper than comparable iPods just because it's a phone.
If you want the technology at a cheaper price, wait 5 years - that's what people did with computers, that's what they did with DVD players, and that's what they'll do with future innovations.
If you're looking for a cheap phone, go find the 3 year old LG at the Cingular store.
{"commentId":1670318,"threadId":"246564","contentId":"1415919","authorDomain":"benb"}
{"commentId":1673664,"authorDomain":"mike-berry"}
Wow the iPhone is really cheap compared to other phones in it's class. Let me know when it gets the functionality of other phones in its class (or even the functionality of phones below its class) and I may get one.
{"commentId":1673664,"threadId":"246564","contentId":"1415919","authorDomain":"mike-berry"}
{"commentId":1674041,"authorDomain":"brianford"}
Let me know when it gets the functionality of other phones in its class (or even the functionality of phones below its class) and I may get one.
Well, first -- tell me what functionality you mean. After you do that, it'll be my turn.
{"commentId":1674041,"threadId":"246564","contentId":"1415919","authorDomain":"brianford"}
- 1 vote
{"commentId":1674146,"authorDomain":"benb"}
If the other phones have the functionality you are looking for, buy them. I don't think Apple intended to make the phone the phone every user would buy...
{"commentId":1674146,"threadId":"246564","contentId":"1415919","authorDomain":"benb"}
- 1 vote
{"commentId":1677708,"authorDomain":"mike-berry"}
"If the other phones have the functionality you are looking for, buy them. I don't think Apple intended to make the phone the phone every user would buy..."
That's exactly what I did. Unfortunately other phones don't have the awesome UI that the iPhone has, and also unfortunately the iPhone doesn't currently have the functionality I need.
"Well, first -- tell me what functionality you mean. After you do that, it'll be my turn."
Here is some of the functionality phones in the same class as the iPhone or below have:
1. 3G (seems like it's going to be solved soon though)
2. Voice dialing over bluetooth (hopefully someone will create this functionality now that the SDK is released)
3. GPS
4. A2DP Bluetooth audio
5. MMS messaging (possibly able to be updated with software)
6. Flash/Light for camera
7. Video recording (possibly able to be updated with software)
These are just a few of the things I can come up with off the top of my head.
{"commentId":1677708,"threadId":"246564","contentId":"1415919","authorDomain":"mike-berry"}
{"commentId":1679230,"authorDomain":"acidreflux"}
A2DP Bluetooth audio
You know, I've given that one some thought and I think it may actually be a bad idea unless you want a plutonium RTG in your pocket to give it reasonable battery life. The iPhone is essentially a microcomputer with a phone attached and already has far higher power requirements than phones with music players attached.
{"commentId":1679230,"threadId":"246564","contentId":"1415919","authorDomain":"acidreflux"}
{"commentId":1684460,"authorDomain":"The-Voice-of-Reason"}
1. 3G (seems like it's going to be solved soon though)
2. Voice dialing over bluetooth (hopefully someone will create this functionality now that the SDK is released)
3. GPS
4. A2DP Bluetooth audio
5. MMS messaging (possibly able to be updated with software)
6. Flash/Light for camera
7. Video recording (possibly able to be updated with software)
I like this list, but I must add
a user-replaceable battery for iphone
{"commentId":1684460,"threadId":"246564","contentId":"1415919","authorDomain":"The-Voice-of-Reason"}
{"commentId":1684520,"authorDomain":"mike-berry"}
A user-replaceable battery would be nice, but I haven't had to change any batteries on any of my cell phones except once. Being without your phone while they replace your battery is not cool though. Hopefully it can be done in an Apple store while you wait.
The most important things for me are 3G, Voice Dialing, and GPS. The rest of the list is just icing.
{"commentId":1684520,"threadId":"246564","contentId":"1415919","authorDomain":"mike-berry"}
{"commentId":1684626,"authorDomain":"kyleb"}
Other than 3G, the only thing on the list I really want is voice dialing. In July, it will be illegal in California to talk on the phone while driving without a handsfree device. I want to get a bluetooth speakerphone for my car, but it's not much use without voice dialing. I am hoping that Apple releases it as a software update.
{"commentId":1684626,"threadId":"246564","contentId":"1415919","authorDomain":"kyleb"}
- 1 vote
{"commentId":1665467,"authorDomain":"kyleb"}
"Yeah, the touchscreen is cool. And maybe the kids are down with doing the two-finger tango," he wrote. "But we thumb typists are tapping our fingers in frustration."
The touchscreen keyboard works great for me. I type with two thumbs, and I can type pretty damn quick with few errors. I think most of these complaints are coming from people who don't actually own the phone, which isn't saying much for the validity of the criticism.
Most smartphones that are capable of Internet and e-mail perform much better using 3G, which can transmit data at a rate of between 400,000 kilobits per second and 1.4 megabits per second.
Okay, math was never by strong suit, but isn't 400,000 kilobits something like 390 megabits? That's pretty damn impressive. Might want to correct the typo.
{"commentId":1665467,"threadId":"246564","contentId":"1415919","authorDomain":"kyleb"}
- 3 votes
#6 - Mon Apr 7, 2008 5:14 PM EDT{"commentId":1666023,"authorDomain":"alan-2"}
i've never understood why there's no landscape mode for texting and email. that and cut and past (some sort of word program) would be what i'd like. LANDSCAPE MODE FOR TEXT AND EMAIL though is a must!
{"commentId":1666023,"threadId":"246564","contentId":"1415919","authorDomain":"alan-2"}
#7 - Mon Apr 7, 2008 8:14 PM EDT{"commentId":1670354,"authorDomain":"benb"}
There wouldn't be much space for the keyboard, though. And it would probably require a completely separate keyboard "application" which would take up more space on the hard drive.
{"commentId":1670354,"threadId":"246564","contentId":"1415919","authorDomain":"benb"}
{"commentId":1666090,"authorDomain":"hamajane"}
I would like faster internet. Picture messaging through text would be a plus. That radio included into iPhone sounds remarkable, and let's face it, better camera options is always a strong point. Thanks!
{"commentId":1666090,"threadId":"246564","contentId":"1415919","authorDomain":"hamajane"}
#8 - Mon Apr 7, 2008 8:37 PM EDT{"commentId":1666264,"authorDomain":"jtb1999"}
A browser that actually did something besides looks cool. Like Flash enabled, Adobe enabled. So we could visit the other 75% of the web we currently cannot. The ability to take a picture, and text it/mms service. It's old technology and you didn't even include that. You have to email pics, not everyone checks their email on their phone instantly. The ability to Forward emails is a must. The ability to Erase multiple things at once in the message area is a must. IT has so many cool features but lacks all the basics. It's silly to spend 600 bucks on a phone, with a sub par web browsing experience and lacking basic features. Come on Apple. I like the phone, but I won't buy another one (I returned mine) until Apple ads the basic cellular features this phone lacks for communication.
1. Email Upgrades
2. MMS to send pics and to even take videos would be important
3. A Flash
4. Better browser or capability to download opera or sky fire, something Flash or Adobe compatible
5. Ability to clean house or erase things more efficently. Not one at a time.
6. Removable battery that won't cost 200 bucks and a lack of cell phone when it has to be mailed in yearly.
7. Speaker needs to be louder.
And some others, but those are all so impt. to me. I had to list them.
{"commentId":1666264,"threadId":"246564","contentId":"1415919","authorDomain":"jtb1999"}
#9 - Mon Apr 7, 2008 9:45 PM EDT{"commentId":1666379,"authorDomain":"kyleb"}
A browser that actually did something besides looks cool. Like Flash enabled, Adobe enabled. So we could visit the other 75% of the web we currently cannot
Mobile Safari is fully HTML/CSS/Javascript capable, which is what the vast majority of the web runs off of. The only site I cannot use because of flash is Google Analytics -- everything else I visit on a daily basis works perfectly on the iPhone. Mobile Safari is the most useful cell phone browser out there. Your rhetoric has no basis in reality.
The ability to Forward emails is a must.
Mail already does that.
The ability to Erase multiple things at once in the message area is a must.
That's coming in the free 2.0 software upgrade in June.
It's silly to spend 600 bucks on a phone
The 16GB model is $499, and the 8GB is $399.
with a sub par web browsing experience
...Relative to what, exactly? The iPhone simply has the best mobile web browsing experience out there. The web is actually usable on it, so I have no idea where you get off claiming its browsing experience is "subpar."
6. Removable battery that won't cost 200 bucks and a lack of cell phone when it has to be mailed in yearly.
We're rapidly approaching the 1 year mark for the iPhone's release, and I have had no noticeable drop off in battery life with mine. You certainly do not have to replace it every year, and even so, you are flat-out wrong on the price. It costs $80 to replace the battery.
You might want to check the phone out again. Your perceptions of it are radically different than reality.
{"commentId":1666379,"threadId":"246564","contentId":"1415919","authorDomain":"kyleb"}
- 3 votes
{"commentId":1667558,"authorDomain":"acidreflux"}
No Flash is definitely a feature for some of us: since I don't use Analytics, there are no sites that I care about that I cannot browse with Mobile Safari.
In fact, an excellent sign that a site sucks is a "Flash required" message.
{"commentId":1667558,"threadId":"246564","contentId":"1415919","authorDomain":"acidreflux"}
{"commentId":1672070,"authorDomain":"kirklennon"}
A browser that actually did something besides looks cool. Like Flash enabled, Adobe enabled.
Adobe is a company; they own Flash. Since you list them as two separate items, I'm guessing maybe you're talking about PDF? If so, it's already supported.
The Rubicon survey also found that the iPhone is used "less often for composing e-mail than reading it, since the device lacks a physical keyboard."
Perhaps they should study causality more. I get email on my iPhone all the time, but, aside from pictures, I've never sent an email on it. Is this due to some inferior keyboard? No, I just don't send email, nor do any of my friends or family. The emails I get are notifications from my bank, Facebook, etc. I'd venture to say there are quite a few iPhone owners out there who don't use email for personal communication, and thus never actually send any.
{"commentId":1672070,"threadId":"246564","contentId":"1415919","authorDomain":"kirklennon"}
{"commentId":1667822,"authorDomain":"jankyouverymuch"}
The new iPhone should have a sound monitor that simultaneously measures the volume of your voice and compares it to the noise level in the area you are in. If you exceed to the point where we can all hear your ridiculous blather about how airport security sucked and you didn't get to stop by Starbucks, the iPhone automatically shuts off. You can call it a Jerkometer, and it should be compulsory in all new iPhones.
{"commentId":1667822,"threadId":"246564","contentId":"1415919","authorDomain":"jankyouverymuch"}
#10 - Tue Apr 8, 2008 10:16 AM EDT{"commentId":1668665,"authorDomain":"jeffreyfort"}
I need to be able to search the contacts DB, just like in Address Book. I also need to be able to voice dial. I'll kill myself trying to dial while driving. A real GPS is necessary, too. I just want to be able to do what I have been doing on a Treo for years.
{"commentId":1668665,"threadId":"246564","contentId":"1415919","authorDomain":"jeffreyfort"}
#11 - Tue Apr 8, 2008 1:34 PM EDT{"commentId":1672574,"authorDomain":"kyleb"}
Well, you got your wish. Contact search was just revealed in the latest iPhone 2.0 beta.
Pretty neat.
{"commentId":1672574,"threadId":"246564","contentId":"1415919","authorDomain":"kyleb"}
- 1 vote
{"commentId":1669924,"authorDomain":"jaoson4188"}
Lets see, what should the next iphone have..... A vagina, yeah I am going with vagina. That would be sweet.
{"commentId":1669924,"threadId":"246564","contentId":"1415919","authorDomain":"jaoson4188"}
#12 - Tue Apr 8, 2008 7:10 PM EDT{"commentId":1670936,"authorDomain":"snookie"}
I would love MMS, video, and Bluetooth file sharing like all other phones not used in the US, but that last one will definitely not happen.
{"commentId":1670936,"threadId":"246564","contentId":"1415919","authorDomain":"snookie"}
#13 - Wed Apr 9, 2008 2:18 AM EDT{"commentId":1670985,"authorDomain":"dustyd64"}
Ok, let's come back to reality....
For those of you out there who swoon over the iPhone, let's just say that you deserve to pay full price on the next piece of shiny junk Steve Jobs thinks of.
What's to swoon about? The current iPhone is slow, it does not have video share (an option several other AT&T phones have), it's email delivery service is terrible, it is restrictive on video formats, it has a severely sickening battery life (with no option to carry a spare), it does not have musicID, XM Radio, napster, CV, Office Mobile, Live TV, or TeleNav.....but you know what device does....the BlackJack, both 1 and 2.
I'm not here to tout the BlackJack, however, I do have to say that the iPhone killer is coming, and it's made by nVidia. Of course, that's not to say that more than 300 other devices worldwide aren't more functional than an iPhone...
{"commentId":1670985,"threadId":"246564","contentId":"1415919","authorDomain":"dustyd64"}
#14 - Wed Apr 9, 2008 3:01 AM EDT{"commentId":1675025,"authorDomain":"cmdred1"}
1. 3G
2. 2nd video camera on front behind glass (for ichat videophone capability)
3. cut, copy, paste
4. open to all apps
5. video mail
{"commentId":1675025,"threadId":"246564","contentId":"1415919","authorDomain":"cmdred1"}
#15 - Thu Apr 10, 2008 2:15 AM EDT{"commentId":1677515,"authorDomain":"mbarrows"}
A phone this expensive should include MMS picture messaging. I had it with my Motorola RAZR and my daughter cannot believe I can't receive her pictures sent by MMS without a cumbersome trip to another web site to open them.
When they get Microsoft Exchange e-mail, that will go a long way to making me happy I doled out the money for this phone and if MMS picture messaging is included, I'll be a happy camper.
{"commentId":1677515,"threadId":"246564","contentId":"1415919","authorDomain":"mbarrows"}
#16 - Thu Apr 10, 2008 4:41 PM EDT{"commentId":1678341,"authorDomain":"kirklennon"}
A phone this expensive should include MMS picture messaging. I had it with my Motorola RAZR and my daughter cannot believe I can't receive her pictures sent by MMS without a cumbersome trip to another web site to open them.
I think Apple's position is that MMS is a dead-end stop-gap measure for phones that don't have real internet access. Most carriers charge a fortune for MMS if you don't sign up for a messaging plan.
Incidentally, there's an easy workaround. You can email a picture to phone#@mms.att.com (for example; every carrier has their own messaging domain that's easy to find), and AT&T, in this case, will turn it into an MMS for that user. Conversely, a phone that uses MMS should be able to send it to an email address instead of a phone number, and the carrier will turn the MMS into a regular email.
{"commentId":1678341,"threadId":"246564","contentId":"1415919","authorDomain":"kirklennon"}
{"commentId":1677836,"authorDomain":"mattlaffredo"}
I have had many other smart phones. HTC x7500 and others. At first I didn' like the Iphone but after I got used to the browser and got a software upgrade. I think it is the best on the market. It does need improvement though..
1. LOUDER SPEAKER!!!!!!! Can you hear me Apple. I miss too many calls because I never hear the ringer. Not to mention being late cause I can't hear the alarm.
2. 3G would be nice.
3. Flash
4. Video
5. Slightly larger screen to allow for better typing. I have fat fingers.
Still probably the best smart phone out there. Anyone have a phone that they feel is better???
{"commentId":1677836,"threadId":"246564","contentId":"1415919","authorDomain":"mattlaffredo"}
#17 - Thu Apr 10, 2008 6:26 PM EDT{"commentId":1677921,"authorDomain":"dorseysa"}
Access to other wireless carriers other than AT&T.
{"commentId":1677921,"threadId":"246564","contentId":"1415919","authorDomain":"dorseysa"}
#18 - Thu Apr 10, 2008 6:54 PM EDT{"commentId":1677924,"authorDomain":"dorseysa"}
Access to other wireless carriers other than AT&T.
{"commentId":1677924,"threadId":"246564","contentId":"1415919","authorDomain":"dorseysa"}
#19 - Thu Apr 10, 2008 6:55 PM EDT{"commentId":1680918,"authorDomain":"drbdl"}
How about a removable battery? The ability to cut and paste? 3G? The ability to delete all e-mails at once? More e-mail delivery options? IM? A video camera?
{"commentId":1680918,"threadId":"246564","contentId":"1415919","authorDomain":"drbdl"}
#20 - Fri Apr 11, 2008 2:33 PM EDT{"commentId":1681052,"authorDomain":"acidreflux"}
You know, I've never been in a situation where a removable battery would have been helpful. Not just with my iPhone, but with any of the four cell phones I've carried previously. Your next three features appear to be imminent from the looks of things.
IM is going to be a challenge due to the nature of the iPhone OS. When an app doesn't have focus, it is suspended. Video may well be in the next software upgrade as well.
In fact, think about that. Not once on any of those other phones did I get OS upgrades that brought me meaningful new features. I've already gotten several on the iPhone. From an investment perspective, it sure seems like Apple is willing to give me some value in return for those monthly fees. Nokia, LG, and Motorola sure weren't. They wanted to sell me a new phone.
{"commentId":1681052,"threadId":"246564","contentId":"1415919","authorDomain":"acidreflux"}
{"commentId":1684543,"authorDomain":"The-Voice-of-Reason"}
if your iphone should ever stall like my ipod and blackberry had in the past, you which it had a removable battery to reset it.
{"commentId":1684543,"threadId":"246564","contentId":"1415919","authorDomain":"The-Voice-of-Reason"}
{"commentId":1684715,"authorDomain":"brianford"}
IM is going to be a challenge due to the nature of the iPhone OS. When an app doesn't have focus, it is suspended. Video may well be in the next software upgrade as well.
I don't think this is the case. I think IM will simply come in the form of iChat. I think Apple will probably work with AOL on that, because AOL has already said at the iPhone 2.0 event that they've been working on a chat program for the iPhone. Steve invited them on stage to talk about it. (Or maybe it was a video, I don't recall.)
{"commentId":1684715,"threadId":"246564","contentId":"1415919","authorDomain":"brianford"}
- 2 votes
{"commentId":1685918,"authorDomain":"The-Voice-of-Reason"}
I meant to say
if your iphone should ever stall like my ipod and blackberry had in the past, you'll wish it had a removable battery so you can take the battery out and reset it.
{"commentId":1685918,"threadId":"246564","contentId":"1415919","authorDomain":"The-Voice-of-Reason"}
{"commentId":1686348,"authorDomain":"acidreflux"}
Well, the iPhone does have a hard reset, and the Blackberry no longer requires the removal of the battery for one. Technology marches on.
{"commentId":1686348,"threadId":"246564","contentId":"1415919","authorDomain":"acidreflux"}
- 2 votes
{"commentId":1686951,"authorDomain":"kyleb"}
Yep. No need to remove the battery to restart it -- just hold down the top button.
I've had it since the iPhone was released, and that method has worked every time it needed restarted.
{"commentId":1686951,"threadId":"246564","contentId":"1415919","authorDomain":"kyleb"}
- 1 vote
{"commentId":1688539,"authorDomain":"The-Voice-of-Reason"}
Geez I'm lagging behind in technology... :)
{"commentId":1688539,"threadId":"246564","contentId":"1415919","authorDomain":"The-Voice-of-Reason"}
{"commentId":1690637,"authorDomain":"kj7u"}
The iphone keyboard is fine, especially when turned to the horizontal position. I'm 70 years old and find the iphone easy to operate.
I would not pay extra for gps. I don't need it that often. I can read a map.
I have gps on my laptop for $99. Works fine when I need it. If they want to have gps with no monthly charge, then go for it.
3g would also be fine as long as it doesn't cost more per month. I can remember when phone service was available for under $10 per month, so these $50 plus bills are more than I want to pay. I can live without adding more services for more money.
Besides I need all my extra money for gas. ha!
{"commentId":1690637,"threadId":"246564","contentId":"1415919","authorDomain":"kj7u"}
#21 - Mon Apr 14, 2008 2:40 PM EDT{"commentId":1690671,"authorDomain":"kj7u"}
Whoops! I forgot. I have trouble hearing the ringer most of the time. At the same time though I can hear the little ring when receiving a voice mail or text message. What's with that? Lets turn up the volume some more for standard ring Apple.
I have mine up to max volume all the time and still miss over half of all calls.
Good thing is I never need to turn down the volume when in a group which would otherwise require muting.
At this point I have become addicted to having my iphone and when I forget it, I feel awful.
Withdrawal from it would be hell.
{"commentId":1690671,"threadId":"246564","contentId":"1415919","authorDomain":"kj7u"}
#22 - Mon Apr 14, 2008 2:51 PM EDT{"commentId":1691500,"authorDomain":"frank501a"}
1. LOUDER SPEAKER
2. "DELETE ALL" button on the email app. Annoying to do it 1 by 1
3. MMS picture messaging. That viewmymessage nonsense is SLOW and extremely annoying
4. Browser that supports Flash
{"commentId":1691500,"threadId":"246564","contentId":"1415919","authorDomain":"frank501a"}
#23 - Mon Apr 14, 2008 6:52 PM EDT{"commentId":1691572,"authorDomain":"acidreflux"}
5. Way to turn off Flash support to save battery and my sanity from stupid monkey punching ads.
{"commentId":1691572,"threadId":"246564","contentId":"1415919","authorDomain":"acidreflux"}
{"commentId":1692314,"authorDomain":"mike-fl-20"}
Well the 3G would definately be a nice feature. The most annoying reason I won't buy an iphone is the lack of a RDP client to access remote systems. Hence why you will rarely (if ever) see IT staff with iPhones. If we can't access our servers, we can't sit at the beach and play hookie. No one likes carrying a laptop around. The 8525 (now sold as the Tilt) still has the best all around functionality for IT staff but it is SO BIG and the iphone is just plain sexier. Oh well, that is my 2 cents.
{"commentId":1692314,"threadId":"246564","contentId":"1415919","authorDomain":"mike-fl-20"}
#24 - Mon Apr 14, 2008 11:05 PM EDT{"commentId":1698705,"authorDomain":"slidh"}
Personally, I didn't have a lot of trouble adjusting to the keyboard. As soon as I realized that it was quick in anticipating what I was trying to type, I was off to the races. Maybe the few hundred polled don't use it that much. I used it a lot every weekday. As for MMS, I never use that feature since I sent all my photos from the email app (palm, windows mobile). I realize that others totally rely on MMS and that's ok. It's funny that iPhone has pushed the data envelope where no other device could go, that is with EDGE, even. Safari is better than any wap browser out there, hands down. I have done the Blazer (Palm) and Pocket Internet Explorer (WM) and there is no comparison. As for the Blackberry, it is conceivable that Apple will never topple them for rapid email. But, for those that can take advantage of Exchange without RIM interference, iPhone will prove to be the way to go. Can it be improved? Without a doubt but, the sampling for a poll like this needs to be broader.
I keep trying to go back to my Tilt and just can't make it stick. Looking forward to the new software and Activesync Exchange this summer.
{"commentId":1698705,"threadId":"246564","contentId":"1415919","authorDomain":"slidh"}
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