Phone or Platform?
October 4th, 2007I should probably do a poll, but instead, make a comment on your thoughts; is the iPhone just a really awesome phone or the hint of a new platform?
I think it’s too soon to tell, but the ball is clearly in Apple’s court. o
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October 4th, 2007 at 10:34 am
New platform, I think. Perhaps entrance into subscription-based software (downloaded through iTunes) and other on-demand development. The phone is merely a vehicle in this case. If watches (also portable) made sense, it would be the iWatch.
October 4th, 2007 at 10:36 am
Sadly, a feature phone right now…
A feature phone missing features, and having extra features.
October 4th, 2007 at 10:41 am
You’re right… too soon to know for sure but if they open their API’s and allow 3rd party development then it clearly could be a great platform.
October 4th, 2007 at 11:01 am
Although I’m treating it as a mini-tablet that I can make calls on, Pete is right about the 3rd party stuff. Jobs will have to loosen the leash if it’s to become a (successful) new platform. The fantastic interface and usability make the platform a likely next step, but some of the features - as Chris said - are lacking. Deleting my Gmail one at a time is slow enough. Once I start forwarding my work email to it… [groan]
October 4th, 2007 at 11:34 am
platform, i think. or, i hope.
October 4th, 2007 at 11:59 am
That is exactly the right question.
It should be a platform, but seems to be veering sharply in the direction of “just a killer phone.”
Maybe by Macworld ’08, they will have figured out what they want it to be.
And Brian Faust, bite your tongue about that nonsense about subscription-based software. Therein lies madness. And ickiness. Rented software, gack.
October 4th, 2007 at 12:52 pm
I agree with Jon. If Apple knows what’s good for them, they’ll treat this damned phone like they would any other piece of computer hardware under their control — they write the OS, assemble the physical components, and when it comes to software, give developers and users some friggin’ respect. The important thing to remember is that it’s not an ipod, and it’s not a phone. It has pieces of both of those, but what they sold us on was the the platform, even if they didn’t promise anything. Let’s call a spade a spade — how many times did Steve-o blurt that the iPhone was built on top of Mac OSX — it was very much implied that this thing is a computer.
Apple has too frequently implied things, while fudging the facts.
October 4th, 2007 at 12:57 pm
I’m wondering, since I don’t have an iPhone, if someone might say a little about how it could be a platform. Especially given that I don’t have a touch screen I am having a hard time picturing the translation into a spreadsheet. Anyone care to school me?
October 4th, 2007 at 1:26 pm
Alyce,
It’s not that kind of platform. But the touch screen is screaming for other kinds of applications that go beyond calling, web surfing or reading and responding to email. Until you experience what it’s like to lie in bed and check your feeds or sit on a plane and watch a movie, both things using the same small device, it’s hard to explain the appeal.
The iPhone gets so much right. And it seems like it is Apple’s game to win or lose. They appear to be choosing the latter right now, but I want to believe that they’ll see this as a time to transcend cellular carriers and their desire to lock things down.
October 4th, 2007 at 2:11 pm
Since I don’t have one, either, I’m wondering if anyone can talk about the possibility of it being a knowledge-sharing platform.
We’re still looking for a handheld device that can provide “how-to” information for techs in the field, short videos of a process or procedure, and access to shared knowledge quickly.
While there has been lots of experimenting with different form factors, most of that “SmartPhone” area has not been very successful.
Since Apple, at it’s core (!) was built on the education market — could it be useful in that arena?
October 4th, 2007 at 2:12 pm
Clearly the potential is there for a platform, but even as “just a phone” it’s the best one out there.
Amid all the complaining about SDKs, and hacking, and third-party apps, I think a lot of people have forgotten how awesome of a device it is. Pick up a SLVR (which cost me $200 new w/contract a year ago) or Treo and be reminded.
This is not to say that I will not kiss the ground Jobs walks on if he gives developers an SDK with which to make my phone even better. I would love to have Delicious Library, Adium, Cha-Ching, and Twitter on my phone. But I never had them on any previous phone either, so I can’t really justify complaining. Maybe that’s just me.
October 4th, 2007 at 2:13 pm
It can’t be a platform until it’s open to 3rd party development. So for now, I would suggest it’s just a PlatPhone.
October 4th, 2007 at 3:54 pm
: P
http://flickr.com/photos/joshhelfferich/sets/72157601645189869/detail/
October 4th, 2007 at 4:12 pm
Phone. Safari’s a platform, but hamstrung by the phone.
Granted, kick-ass phone, but not yet a platform, because of how constrained developers are on it.
October 4th, 2007 at 4:50 pm
What a Future iPhone With WiMax Might Look Like
NOW you’re talkin’!
October 4th, 2007 at 5:43 pm
Oh Lordy, I’m hopin for a platform, chock full o third party software. I dont even have one yet, I sometimes go to ATT just to look at it, but I am waiting for G2…
October 4th, 2007 at 5:45 pm
Phone. Definitely phone. Since my husband bought me the phone for my birthday I now have the iPod, the iPhone, and a new iMac …. I’ve converted. All because of the phone. We’ll see where it eventually takes me. (I still have my laptop - I take it out at night after my husband goes to bed and play with it. Hey, we all have secrets right?)
October 4th, 2007 at 6:16 pm
Are those the only two options?
October 4th, 2007 at 7:45 pm
It is a platform, but you are right, it is up to Apple whether the platform will ever realize even a fraction of its capabilities. As it stands now, with the implied messages being sent from Cupertino, it is a heartbreaking waste of potential. That said, I love my iPhone and am probably biased toward the platform response because I rarely use the phone part of it and use Safari a lot.
October 4th, 2007 at 10:38 pm
really awesome phone and hint at a new platform.
October 5th, 2007 at 4:59 am
Weren’t you just saying something about, oh I dunno, drying marketing lube?
There’s no question in my mind, Apple is setting themselves up for a new platform. They don’t have to take it any further than they have, though, and they’ll probably keep it that way at every step. There’s a lot of risk involved, and the iPhone and the touchPod are offering a good, profitable excuse to test the waters. I assume, at least, that the iPhone is profitable, what with the pricetag large enough to need lube and all.
October 5th, 2007 at 10:22 am
I use my iPhone as a “mobile internet device with a phone tacked on for good measure.” So I’ll go with platform.
A Jobs-run Apple always seems to want to see how far it can stretch its products. But Apple does need to open the iPhone to third party developers and I think it will.
October 5th, 2007 at 10:41 am
I looked at an iPhone at my local AT&T store (i’m looking to upgrade my Razr) and the interface & Screen were far better than my beloved HP iPaq 2795. Granted I love my iPaq and won’t stop using it, BUT if I get a smartphone or even an iPhone but it would be sweet if HP put the iPhone’s screen on their iPaq’s….
I liked the look of the iPhone notepad but I would like it even better if it you could edit/view MS Office documents on it or sync with MS Outlook. (don’t hate me for saying that…)
October 5th, 2007 at 11:05 am
I vote for platform.
B/c that would make more money in the long run, yes?
October 5th, 2007 at 1:39 pm
I have to say that it is definitely a platform(all be it still in early stages of evolution) that has a phone built into it. I have seen many times when people no longer get up off the couch to look at IMDB and see who was that actor in that thing… or look at this funny thing on youtube or myspace or something. It has taken over basic times people go grab a laptop to look something up. it’s not finished as a platform for sure, but i think it’s more than a phone.