Apparently, judging by every other technology related tech blog or website on the planet Earth, we're legally obligated to post some bit of news about the release of the new iPhone 3G.
OK, here goes: Apple released the latest version of their multimedia phone, the iPhone 3G earlier this month. It improves upon the last version by adding nearly half of the features the old one should have had on day one, sells for the price last years' model should have sold for given it's feature set, and is sure to sell millions and millions of units to people who needed a combination iPod and phone, or want to impress other patrons at Starbucks, in one thin sleek-looking device.
Wait- could I be "dissing" the iPhone? Not really- it's a great little device for what it is- a multimedia feature phone with a great web browser and relatively decent e-mail support. But what it ISN'T is a "Smartphone." But it's not really a "Dumbphone" either- it's more of a
"Savantphone"- an autistic phone that does a few tricks REALLY well, like Dustin Hoffman in "Rainman."
Could the iPhone replace your Windows Mobile device in a small business/home office situation? That depends, I guess, on what functionality you require from a mobile phone. In my case, I see the Smartphone as a substitute for a laptop- a "palmtop" if you need a label. In my mind, there are certain functions a "computer" needs to perform to be a computer in this day and age. The iPhone meets SOME of these tasks- the ability to surf the web and check e-mail, for instance. OK, that list is pretty much done for the iPhone. For my needs, the device also needs the ability to store, edit and create documents I might need to review or edit when out of the office. The iPhone can view documents when received as e-mail attachments but not store them on the phone or edit them. A friend of mine who travels often for his business (and uses and LOVES his iPhone) has to e-mail himself dozen of documents prior to traveling, so he has access to the documents on his iPhone when out of town. Hardly the "ease-of-use" or "convenience" Apple wants to associate with their uber-phone is is it? I find there are very few laptop computing tasks that I CAN'T do with a Windows Mobile device, although some are certainly more awkward to perform on a phone! (Think "Swiss Army knife" when you think of Windows Mobile- nobody would PREFER to use the scissors or screwdriver on the knife to their full size counterparts, but if you only want to carry one small tool the Swiss Army knife is your tool!)
I can trot out the tired laundry list of "features" the iPhone is missing compared to other Smartphones that anti-iPhone blogs love to list, but that isn't necessary- I don't dislike the iPhone any more than I dislike a screwdriver. It's a tool for a job- in the case of the iPhone, that job is entertainment, and it does it very, very, very well. For business, however, it isn't the right tool for me, any more than the screwdriver is the right tool when I need to drive a nail.
OK, here goes: Apple released the latest version of their multimedia phone, the iPhone 3G earlier this month. It improves upon the last version by adding nearly half of the features the old one should have had on day one, sells for the price last years' model should have sold for given it's feature set, and is sure to sell millions and millions of units to people who needed a combination iPod and phone, or want to impress other patrons at Starbucks, in one thin sleek-looking device.
Wait- could I be "dissing" the iPhone? Not really- it's a great little device for what it is- a multimedia feature phone with a great web browser and relatively decent e-mail support. But what it ISN'T is a "Smartphone." But it's not really a "Dumbphone" either- it's more of a
"Savantphone"- an autistic phone that does a few tricks REALLY well, like Dustin Hoffman in "Rainman."Could the iPhone replace your Windows Mobile device in a small business/home office situation? That depends, I guess, on what functionality you require from a mobile phone. In my case, I see the Smartphone as a substitute for a laptop- a "palmtop" if you need a label. In my mind, there are certain functions a "computer" needs to perform to be a computer in this day and age. The iPhone meets SOME of these tasks- the ability to surf the web and check e-mail, for instance. OK, that list is pretty much done for the iPhone. For my needs, the device also needs the ability to store, edit and create documents I might need to review or edit when out of the office. The iPhone can view documents when received as e-mail attachments but not store them on the phone or edit them. A friend of mine who travels often for his business (and uses and LOVES his iPhone) has to e-mail himself dozen of documents prior to traveling, so he has access to the documents on his iPhone when out of town. Hardly the "ease-of-use" or "convenience" Apple wants to associate with their uber-phone is is it? I find there are very few laptop computing tasks that I CAN'T do with a Windows Mobile device, although some are certainly more awkward to perform on a phone! (Think "Swiss Army knife" when you think of Windows Mobile- nobody would PREFER to use the scissors or screwdriver on the knife to their full size counterparts, but if you only want to carry one small tool the Swiss Army knife is your tool!)
I can trot out the tired laundry list of "features" the iPhone is missing compared to other Smartphones that anti-iPhone blogs love to list, but that isn't necessary- I don't dislike the iPhone any more than I dislike a screwdriver. It's a tool for a job- in the case of the iPhone, that job is entertainment, and it does it very, very, very well. For business, however, it isn't the right tool for me, any more than the screwdriver is the right tool when I need to drive a nail.
