iPhone thoughts

[DarkSynergy]

With what Apple is treating as the second coming of Christ, the iPhone is dropping in what seems like just a few days. What are your thoughts on this new modern marvel (could be marketing.)

Personally, my feelings about apple aside, I like what I have seen so far. The one draw back that I find at this point, and it's a large one with me, is that you cannot sync it was exchange. If I want a smart phone, I want to send and receive real time emails... much like what Windows Mobile and Blackberry provide. Aside from that, it looks like a large iPod with internet browsing capabilities that you can make calls on. Don't get me wrong though, I would love to get one, but how long before the novelty wears off? Will the damned thing scratch as badly as my iPod? Can it Fold? Will it beat Christ by a day and rise on the second? All things will be revealed in time.

[MacMan]

With what Apple is treating as the second coming of Christ, the iPhone is dropping in what seems like just a few days. What are your thoughts on this new modern marvel (could be marketing.)

Personally, my feelings about apple aside, I like what I have seen so far. The one draw back that I find at this point, and it's a large one with me, is that you cannot sync it was exchange. If I want a smart phone, I want to send and receive real time emails... much like what Windows Mobile and Blackberry provide. Aside from that, it looks like a large iPod with internet browsing capabilities that you can make calls on. Don't get me wrong though, I would love to get one, but how long before the novelty wears off? Will the damned thing scratch as badly as my iPod? Can it Fold? Will it beat Christ by a day and rise on the second? All things will be revealed in time.

All I know is that I wish I had a penny for every time I have seen an article about the iPhone in the press. As cool as it is, the attention is just a wee-bit too much! Its just a piece of plastic and silicon after all, though a rather sexy piece at that. It seems that from the main press rooms of the world, to the bloggers of the world, everybody seems to have something to write or say about it, be it negative or positive.

I personally will probably buy one, but I will wait for the 'Real' iPhone which will be the second version. It should hit just before Christmas and by then, hopefully, any bugs in the first version should be worked out. New features, better prices and better reliability should be the hallmark of the iPhone's second version.

All-in-all, it looks absoulutely fabulous, but enough already with all of the articles, survey's, etc. That said, I bet, I will still write about it another ten times before it hits the streets. Its good for hits; its also good for the revenue generated with my Google ads. Why, its like having a Paris Hilton scandal to write about.... good for business! :)

[Rob Williams]

Nothing on the iPhone has impressed me really. What will make it is all of the third party applications. I don't care if it plays video or if it moves to landscape mode when I turn it... I wouldn't watch movies on something that small. The biggest bitch about the iPhone is the locked providers. If you don't like the provider you are going to be forced into (like me) then you are shit out of luck.

That also said, nobody seems to care that, for a phone, it's huge. Set it down beside a regular cell phone and you'll see it's twice as big. nGage anyone? Not to mention that the on-screen keyboard looks like a pain in the ass to use. That will all depend on how great the touch sensitivity works I guess.

So yeah, I am not impressed or see why it has so much attention. I'm looking more forward to Leopard to be honest.

[madmat]

I don't like that it's only available through one carrier. Why on earth hobble your product that way?

[MacMan]

Nothing on the iPhone has impressed me really. What will make it is all of the third party applications. I don't care if it plays video or if it moves to landscape mode when I turn it... I wouldn't watch movies on something that small. The biggest bitch about the iPhone is the locked providers. If you don't like the provider you are going to be forced into (like me) then you are shit out of luck.

That also said, nobody seems to care that, for a phone, it's huge. Set it down beside a regular cell phone and you'll see it's twice as big. nGage anyone? Not to mention that the on-screen keyboard looks like a pain in the ass to use. That will all depend on how great the touch sensitivity works I guess.

So yeah, I am not impressed or see why it has so much attention. I'm looking more forward to Leopard to be honest.

Actually the iPhone will be rather small compared to the original photos as you can see from the link below; also, here's a link to a 3D view of the phone. Enjoy! :)

http://www.looprumors.com/article.php?apple-updates-iphone-imagery,2148346750

http://www.apple.com/iphone/technology/

[Rob Williams]

It's smaller to use, but it's still bigger than most cell phones for storage. I mean, throwing that thing into your pocket is going to hog up a lot of room. Of course, people could be douchebags and wear it on their belt.

It's still bulky to me. I might feel differently if I had one to hold onto.

[drewd]

I don't have a problem with the size of the phone - I have a Cingular 8125 now and actually wish that it had a screen more like my Palm LifeDrive (which is a catastrophe of its own). I thought that I would have a difficult time getting used to dialing on the touch screen, but it isn't a problem at all, at least for me.

I'm also not too put off with no 3G wireless - it's not in my area, so I can't miss what I don't have. Exchange sync would be nice, but it's not critical for me.

I like the interface as it's been described and shown. I can see that it will suffer from the same problem that my 8125 does - gunky screen if you use it like a phone. I think that a headset/earset will be almost mandatory.

What I really don't like is the price. I guess that I've become used to heavily subsidized cell phones and $500 for a video Nano and a (slightly) crippled PDA in one package seems too steep. I won't buy one this go around, but maybe when the next version comes out I'll take a look. I figure that I didn't get an iPod until the 3rd generation and it lasted until well into the 5th generation before I upgraded, so I can wait on the iPhone.

Incidentally, I'm still wondering just exactly what the iPhone is - a phone with a PDA and a media player or a media player with a phone and a PDA?

[Rob Williams]

Incidentally, I'm still wondering just exactly what the iPhone is - a phone with a PDA and a media player or a media player with a phone and a PDA?

You make a point here. One issue I have with a lot of phones recently is that the actual call quality is getting worse. Cell phones from even 8 years ago sounded so much better than todays phones. Phones are getting more sophisticated, while call quality lacks.

This is not just the iPhone of course, but all phones in general. I have a feeling 95% of the people who want an iPhone don't even have call quality in mind.

[DarkSynergy]

Macman, are you serious about the size differences? It quite literally looks like they just found someone with a larger hand.

[Rob Williams]

That's why I only date chicks with really small hands.

[DarkSynergy]

That's why I only date chicks with really small hands.

Classic.

[madstork91]

That's why I only date chicks with really small hands.

All jokes aside...

I await the fail/fall of the iProducts. I realize that it is a huge marketing ploy, and that fanboys of the products mean that it will sell, but seriously... How much longer will this ensue?

Call quality has been dropping. And Yeah... I agree, that is not a point some people will be considering when purchasing this phone. Why I cannot still have my analog signal phone boggles my mind, it had far better range and quality than anything I've had since. And it worked in buildings!

As I understand it, the initial launch will be more scarce than a PS3 launch and will not see a let up in that department for a LONG time. I think this too is a marketing ploy. A "keep up with the Jones'" type of thing. And personally when it comes to things like this, I cant under stand that mentality. This isn't like the car industry where there is a year in between car models; This is technology: The thing that grows and develops exponentially with disregard for years and dates. The one who leads the race is either the one who waits and buys a new hot thing sparingly and leads temporarily, or the rich guy who can continuously buy the new hot item and make us hate ourselves. Either way most of us are losing, so why be poor and lose the perpetual marathon?

iPhone = uStillSuckPenisFor$

[Rob Williams]

I await the fail/fall of the iProducts. I realize that it is a huge marketing ploy, and that fanboys of the products mean that it will sell, but seriously... How much longer will this ensue?

I wondered the same thing with they released their first <strike>giant ass plug</strike> iMac, so I agree. I believe the 'i' before all their products is ridiculous, but hey, that's marketing. As you say, people will buy it regardless. It's an Apple product, which is as good as God putting his stamp of approval on it.

I didn't hear about a shortage, but there are apparently many people who don't mind handing over $600 for a phone. I am not going to dismiss the fact that it's a cool piece of tech, but I'd rather wait until I can use one extensively before I make any conclusions. I paid $500 for the phone I have now, and it's nowhere near the iPhone, so I give it that.

[ccdarkness]

Nice phone. but i'm waiting for sony-ericsson P1. it will be best phone SE ever made...i'm a sony-ericsson fan...

[drewd]

Madstork, I'm not sure if your question was rhetorical, but I'll take a stab at it. You can't have analog anymore because everybody and their dog has a cell phone. The call density is just too great to process the number of simultaneous calls per cell that analog will allow. Add to that the power requirements for an analog signal and the features that everybody wants and you just can't do it with an analog signal.

But I agree - I believe that my old Motorola Startac had better voice quality, even if it was pretty doggone big. Still, I can't really complain about what I hear through my GSM phone. I understand what everyone says, they understand what I say and that pretty much satisfies my needs.

[DarkSynergy]

Madstork, I'm not sure if your question was rhetorical, but I'll take a stab at it. You can't have analog anymore because everybody and their dog has a cell phone. The call density is just too great to process the number of simultaneous calls per cell that analog will allow. Add to that the power requirements for an analog signal and the features that everybody wants and you just can't do it with an analog signal.

But I agree - I believe that my old Motorola Startac had better voice quality, even if it was pretty doggone big. Still, I can't really complain about what I hear through my GSM phone. I understand what everyone says, they understand what I say and that pretty much satisfies my needs.

Mmmmmm.... StarTac memories....

Yeah, analog is virtually impossible (or reasonable) from a technology standpoint. I do agree with drewd in the sense that as long as I can hear the person I am talking to, and they can hear me, I am happy. But this is becoming more and more rare and that makes me sad.

[Rob Williams]

I remember my first cell phone in 2000... it was fantastic. It was bulkier than what we see now, but it sounded perfect. My latest phone, which is probably close to two and a half years old, is absolute crap. It's really insane how many times I say, "Sorry, what?" during a conversation because I can't hear the other person clearly.

[DarkSynergy]

My first cell phone was a Nokia something or other. The ones that looked like bricks with an antennae on top that ever asshole who thought they were cool (me included) had. It also had snake, something that every phone should have. No exceptions. The iPhone is dead to me with out that game. Nothing like eating little 2x2 pixel blocks with a "snake" with the 2, 4, 6 and 8 keys. Take that Apple.

[MacMan]

My first cell phone was a Nokia something or other. The ones that looked like bricks with an antennae on top that ever asshole who thought they were cool (me included) had. It also had snake, something that every phone should have. No exceptions. The iPhone is dead to me with out that game. Nothing like eating little 2x2 pixel blocks with a "snake" with the 2, 4, 6 and 8 keys. Take that Apple.

My first cell was also a Nokia. Yes, I too remember playing Snake to kill the time. It was an el cheapo modal, but it worked better than my expensive Moto flip phone!

I too, with all the features of the iPhone, would have thought that Apple would have put Snake on the stupid thing. I guess Jobs forgot as I just read that he is busy buying a new multi-million dollar, 275-foot yacht from France. It must have slipped his mind?

Its amazing what you can buy when Apple pays you what amounts to $610,526 per hour! (And he even got a 90-million dollar jet and a free iPhone to boot!)

I think I'm in the wrong business! :mad:

[madstork91]

Umm... WTH?

Madstork, I'm not sure if your question was rhetorical, but I'll take a stab at it. You can't have analog anymore because everybody and their dog has a cell phone. The call density is just too great to process the number of simultaneous calls per cell that analog will allow. Add to that the power requirements for an analog signal and the features that everybody wants and you just can't do it with an analog signal.

But I agree - I believe that my old Motorola Startac had better voice quality, even if it was pretty doggone big. Still, I can't really complain about what I hear through my GSM phone. I understand what everyone says, they understand what I say and that pretty much satisfies my needs.

I understood/stand why we don't still use it. But isn't digital supposed to be an improvement in quality?

I have been up way to late tonight... er... morning.

[Rob Williams]

Umm... WTH?

I understood/stand why we don't still use it. But isn't digital supposed to be an improvement in quality?

I have been up way to late tonight... er... morning.

No, it makes things cheaper and more efficient for the phone companies. Anything to degrade quality and improve $$ they are happy with. Let's just blame the lack of call quality from all the SMS messages that float through the air at $0.15 a piece. I think my sister sends about 700 - 800 of them per month, and I know she is not alone. It's ridiculous.

That, and the phones just generally seem to be made crappier lately. I picked up this 'top-end' phone two years ago for $500, and it was SO highly recommended to me by the salesman. What a sucker I was. Even at max volume, I can barely hear someone on the other line unless I am in a totally quiet room. If I am outside, I say "what's that?" every other minute.

[Rob Williams]

Well, as posted in todays news (http://techgage.com/news/iphone_reviews_are_here/), the iPhone reviews are starting to finally show themselves. The best review by far is this one by David Pogue: <object height="350" width="425">

<embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/VcRfAaIb2Ro" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" height="350" width="425"></object>

Other reviews can be had here:
New York Post (http://www.nypost.com/seven/06262007/news/columnists/dont_get_hung_up_on_buying_an_iphone_columnists_gl enn_fleishman.htm) - Glenn Fleishman
The Wall Street Journal (http://online.wsj.com/article/SB118289311361649057.html) - Walt Mossberg
MSNBC (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19444948/site/newsweek/) - Steven Levy
USA Today (http://www.usatoday.com/tech/columnist/edwardbaig/2007-06-26-iphone-review_N.htm) - Edward BaigI can honestly say, after watching the two video reviews available, I lost every last ounce of enthusiasm I had for the iPhone. Even before watching them, I was still intrigued, but for some reason afterwards, I could care less. Walt Mossberg said the call quality was "just ok", which is funny since it's a $500+ phone, but he still highly recommends it anyway.

No memory expansion to me, is ridiculous. 4GB or even 8GB of space is not a lot of storage, so an SD slot would have been ideal. To each their own though. I am sure a lot of people will love the iPhone once they get their mitts on it, I just can't be bothered to care anymore.

[DarkSynergy]

"Or you can get on AT&T's cellular network, which is slow and horrible."

Brilliance. He's got an iPhone!

[madstork91]

I look forward to the less expensive version that Apple will release in the next year or so for half the price...

oh... and the pinch out is classic... USE BOTH OF YOUR THUMBS YOU NOOB!

[Rob Williams]

CrunchGear is often controversial with their posts, but their latest iPhone post I can really agree with:

http://crunchgear.com/2007/06/28/iphone/

[DarkSynergy]

Brilliant. It walks the line of lame and genius but my distaste for the iPhone, more so the attention it's been getting simply because its an Apple product, makes me think of it as brilliant. The shit of it is is that there is actually an iPhone commercial on the TV as I write this. If it would only grant me the ability to sync it with Exchange..... and not cost so damned much, I would actually consider it. For my money, give me a Treo and I will be happy. It's as simple as that.

That is all.

[MacMan]

As cool as I think the iPhone is I'm getting so fed-up with the none-stop chatter regarding it!

I'm not sure Rob will let me get away with posting a story from my blog about my feelings, but I'm about to find out. Here's the piece from my blog about what I think about of all the iPhone dribble:



Its iPhone Friday and all one hears, sees and reads about, it seems, is the iPhone, iPhone, iPhone, iPhone and more iPhone! Enough iPhone already!

Since over 300,000 blogs are reporting on the iPhone; all of the major and minor newspapers are reporting on the iPhone; all of the major magazines have iPhone stories and since the major TV and radio programs all have their iPhone related dribble, I will refrain from writing anything about or related to the iPhone.

Why? Simple: For one thing, I've had it up to here with all of this iPhone hype and fooliness and I hereby refuse to write another word about the iPhone or to even mention the iPhone's name again. Well, at least, for this iPhone Friday. Maybe when all of the iPhone hype subsides a bit, I will yet again write about the iPhone, but not today - no iPhone related stuff here today, baby!

So, to all of my faithful readers, all two of you, were ever you may be, please forgive me if you wish to read about the iPhone on my little blog, this iPhone Friday. Today, iPhone Friday, I hereby declare to be iPhone Friday Free on this blog.

So, there you have it, my promise not to write or mention the iPhone again, so sorry if your looking for me to mention or write about the iPhone today, because I'm not having another thing to do with the iPhone today.

If you want to read about the iPhone, you will have to look elsewhere for iPhone stories, because I WILL NOT mention the iPhone. I also refuse to write about the iPhone, quote anybody about the iPhone, or even think about the iPhone. Enough iPhone already! Ok?

Ahhh.... I must say that I really love not having to write about the iPhone! So nice not having to mention what cnet.com is saying about the iPhone; what ZDnet is reporting about the iPhone; what macsurfer.com is saying about the iPhone; what techgage.com is saying about the iPhone, or anybody else, for that matter, is saying about the iPhone.

Apple has been getting a free ride on the iPhone for long enough. They have tons of more money than I, let them promote the iPhone, because I, for one, refuse to add any more hype about the iPhone and that's final.

So, despite the fact that I respect and look up to Paul Thurrot, I will not quote him when he states,"No The truth of the iPhone will be told in the coming weeks, not right now. We need a review that forgets the hype instead of wallowing in it."

Yes, even though I agree with him on this one, this is a iPhone Free blog, so sorry baby, no iPhone dribble to be posted here on this iPhone Friday.

If your looking to get your hands on a iPhone today, well, good for you, may the iPhone be with you, but just don't expect me to write or mention anything today on the stupid iPhone!

Maybe tomorrow an iPhone piece, but not today... no iPhone hype and that's a promise you can expect me to keep, because when I say no iPhone, I mean no iPhone!

And thats my 2 cents 4 this iPhone Friday, the 29th. of June, this year of the iPhone, 2007.

[MacMan]

Well, as posted in todays news (http://techgage.com/news/iphone_reviews_are_here/), the iPhone reviews are starting to finally show themselves. The best review by far is this one by David Pogue: <object height="350" width="425">

<embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/VcRfAaIb2Ro" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" height="350" width="425"></object>

Other reviews can be had here:
New York Post (http://www.nypost.com/seven/06262007/news/columnists/dont_get_hung_up_on_buying_an_iphone_columnists_gl enn_fleishman.htm) - Glenn Fleishman
The Wall Street Journal (http://online.wsj.com/article/SB118289311361649057.html) - Walt Mossberg
MSNBC (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19444948/site/newsweek/) - Steven Levy
USA Today (http://www.usatoday.com/tech/columnist/edwardbaig/2007-06-26-iphone-review_N.htm) - Edward BaigI can honestly say, after watching the two video reviews available, I lost every last ounce of enthusiasm I had for the iPhone. Even before watching them, I was still intrigued, but for some reason afterwards, I could care less. Walt Mossberg said the call quality was "just ok", which is funny since it's a $500+ phone, but he still highly recommends it anyway.

No memory expansion to me, is ridiculous. 4GB or even 8GB of space is not a lot of storage, so an SD slot would have been ideal. To each their own though. I am sure a lot of people will love the iPhone once they get their mitts on it, I just can't be bothered to care anymore.

I love David Pogue's reviews. They are always funny and witty! As for the iPhone, the second version is the one for me. 3G, GPL. Even one Apple expert said he would rather wait for it than current one. Oh well, he'll be getting the first one free anyway!

As for the New York Post, forget it. The writer claims it is a first review, it is NOT! Apple only sent four iPhones out and the New York Post wasn't one of them. The writer held an iPhone for 5 minutes or less last January, but acts like he has been using it for the past two weeks! I for one, wouldn't bother to list it; it's a very bias piece.

[Matt Serrano]

God dammit. I told myself I wasn't getting one. I knew it wasn't worth it. And I know, as much as I hate Verizon, Cingular wasn't going to be any better in the long run.

What do I think? I'm smitten. Sign me up baby.

Truth be told, I tried stopping by an Apple store a while after they opened at six expecting to at least see one. I knew Apple was hiring security for their stores, but I assumed they would have sold out sooner. They actually had a line extending down at least 20 stores in the mall, zig-zagging back and forth. After people yelled one-by-one when they bought one, I have to admit apart of me died inside. Jealousy? Yeah, whatever.

The biggest draw to me is having a two-in-one device. I always have my cell phone and my iPod (and don't count me as a fanboy just yet - I've tried my fair share of players) in my pocket, so having both would be the perfect solution. Just really really expensive.

Then again, if I don't have one in a week, I probably won't be interested until the next version hits.

[DarkSynergy]

I honestly have no desire to even entertain the thought of getting an iPhone.

[b1lk1]

No no no never never never never.

[Matt Serrano]

That's your prerogative.

Steve may have put up some reality distortion fields at the Apple store, so I'll get back to you in a week, if not less.

[Rob Williams]

I love the iPhone. I was so tired of reading about it, that I actually spent near the entire day off the computer, it was fantastic. God what it feels like to actually go outside once in a while. Great stuff!

Seriously though. Reading through my RSS feeds yesterday of about fifty websites, there were eight iPhone related stories in a row, followed by some IBM story, then another eight iPhone stories. It was with that, that I got up off the computer and found something else to do.

BTW, the new Die Hard movie is good, non-stop action. Over the top, but good. Justin Long isn't even that bad of an actor, either.

[Enigmachine]

As far as I can tell, the iPhone is a rebranded/repackaged Samsung phone.

Most of the chips inside are made by Samsung in any case, so apart from the software there isn't really anything to set this phone apart from the other phones it copies...

[MacMan]

As far as I can tell, the iPhone is a rebranded/repackaged Samsung phone.

Most of the chips inside are made by Samsung in any case, so apart from the software there isn't really anything to set this phone apart from the other phones it copies...

If the iPhone is indeed nothing more than a re-branded Samsung, pre-tell what model number would that be? Just because the Xbox 360 uses an IBM Power Pc cpu doesn't mean that the Xbox 360 is just a re-branded IBM, or does it?

[Matt Serrano]

Seriously though. Reading through my RSS feeds yesterday of about fifty websites, there were eight iPhone related stories in a row, followed by some IBM story, then another eight iPhone stories. It was with that, that I got up off the computer and found something else to do.
We can all relate to that. :mad:

[MacMan]

Engadget has a really cool HD Video Demo of some extremely cool iPhone effects!

As sick as I am of all of the iPhone hype, I must say that based on what I am seeing and reading..... I WANT A iPHONE NOW!

Wow, if the first version which we all know always has a few gliches is indeed this good, just imagine what the second version which will have G3 etc. comes out some time before Christmas. First verision owners are going to feel ripped off!

Enjoy Engadget's video; I did:

http://www.engadget.com/2007/06/30/hd-video-iphone-on-screen-effects/

[b1lk1]

Like Rob, I have been spending the majority of my time outside, in the sun playing with my kids and getting some much needed exercise. Since I have turned the PC off and lived real life, I have lost 22lbs and can now walk a few miles without feeling like the end is near. I have my trusty little Nokia 3220 in my pocket should I need to call someone. Some people are gadget freaks and that is their choice. But just looking at this device, I see something else I personally can easily live without. If I need an internet fix, I just pop online for a few minutes and poke around. Lately, that has been not very much. Enjoy your iPhones, I am just gonna enjoy the sunshine, and set my cellphone to "silent".....

[Matt Serrano]

As the iPhone fire was dwindling, I hear about this. Great job Gizmodo! :mad:

If you have bad credit and fail the credit check, you can get a "ToGo" plan with the iPhone. They're actually cheaper (for my needs, anyway) than the standard plans, with no early termination fee if you decide to cancel.

Anyone want to spot me $600?

[madstork91]

So... on my on my drive back home today I had a revelation.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16868100016
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16868110001

The above links are to one Nintendo DS (129.99) and one Sony PSP (169.99)

Now as I was driving I realized something... What exactly does an iPhone have that puts its value at $600?

The Nintendo DS can play video with the right adapters... It wasn't built with that in mind, but it is capable. (The parts are ~ $100 - 150 depending on what exactly you get) These parts turn your little portable into a portable emulator, an mp3 player, and a Video player... Total cost for this set up, $280-330.

The Sony PSP only lacks a touch screen in this area, well... once it has a memory card. But once a flash stick is acquired... Well... the touch screen is all it lacks to equaling the DS contraption mentioned above. Hell, they even make movies for the PSP!

So what do these two things lack from the iPhone? Oh yeah the Phone part!

So... um... You could be paying $170-2??(depending on the card for the PSP and DS) for simply the phone function, the ability to have all of these things on one object, and lets not forget that one video's mention of that Apple logo.

Why does this cost so much?

Hell if I know... I did hear that Nokia is coming out with one similar to the iPhone though. Knowing Nokia the thing will be able to take a #$%&ing beating and will cost a lot less. But even if it is "less," How much less?

[Rob Williams]

The iPhone is more than just a DS with a few minor add-ons, so that's not an appropriate comparison. The iPhone is more like a PDA, with built-in map software, MP3 player, video player, phone, calender, note-taking, web browsing and so-forth. Like other PDA's, it has numerous features that one would need/want on the go. As much as I am tired of hearing about the iPhone, compared to other PDA's, it's not overly expensive. Most decent Palm hand-helds cost between $500 and $700.

[madstork91]

I can see google maps with the PSP if I am not mistaken. And all the DS lacks to take notes is a way to store something in pictochat.

Combine these two things are you are still only looking at ~< $300 + a mem stick.

So I will add again... You are paying for what exactly?

I actually wonder how hard it would be to turn a DS into a phone...

Like other PDA's, it has numerous features that one would need/want on the go. As much as I am tired of hearing about the iPhone, compared to other PDA's, it's not overly expensive. Most decent Palm hand-helds cost between $500 and $700.

I kinda wonder why those cost as much as they do... What does Microsoft charge them for that OS?

Edit: A friend of mine just mentioned to me that the iPods have a 40% markup at launch and that figure usually grows as the manufacturing becomes cheaper.

Last I heard most electronics were not quite that high.

I'm just going to copy pasta the convo:

Kunan: the iPod line from apple has a 40% markup at the launch of a product
Kunan: and it grows as it becomes easier to manufacture
Kunan: it only costs about $60 to make the DS a movie player now
Kunan: get a 1 gig micro SD and a M3 DS Simply which goes in the DS Slot
Kunan: $10-20 and $40-50
Kunan: there's homebrew pda software for ds
Kunan: that uses the movie player

That takes the high end of those figures I was throwing around a post or so ago down.

[Kunan]

and another thing: You can get the DS PDA homebrew software for the M3 DS Simply, which with 1 gig of micro sd costs around $60-70. Still not an iPhone but look you've got functionality for much less. Buy a PSP and 4 gigs of Mem Pro Duo for $190 and a BlackBerry Pearl for less than an iPhone and be done with it :/

Here's the real kicker about the iPhone though. All those internet browsing advertisements are a lie. They use EDGE, not 3G, so they get worse than Dial-Up internet unless at a wifi hotspot. This in comparison to other phones that are running at around 380kbps downloads is terrible. It's supposed to take TWO MINUTES to load Yahoo.com alone, let alone play a youtube video. Anyone who buys the first iteration WILL BE BONED.

Another issue is the onscreen keyboard, it just isn't good for anyone with big fingers.

[madstork91]

Its about time you registered on here ;-p

<3 teh Tifa

[Enigmachine]

If the iPhone is indeed nothing more than a re-branded Samsung, pre-tell what model number would that be?

Sorry, rebranded wasn't the correct word. My point is that there's nothing special about the iPhone's hardware (apart from the full-length touch screen) that is special, only the software makes it "better" than other phones.

[madstork91]

Yeah, I'm thread-grave digging.

So I recently got my DS and my hands on a G6 16M card. It does everything I said previously that it could, and much much more.

With 2GB of storage on that chip I can store movies, ROMS (If I choose), and several homebrew applications for the NDS.

Some of these homebrew apps include PDA's, MP3 players (one looks like an iPOD lol), Linux ports, and one that lets me play the guitar. Yes, the guitar. (there is a game coming out soon that is 100 times better than this homebrew app, but this was the first)

So what would it take to turn this thing into a phone? Some sort of GBA cartridge that let you plug in a SIM card and had the capability to send the phone call digitally. Yeah, that's it. Granted getting support by a phone company or cell phone manufacturer for this would be a feat worthy being permanently chronicled on every web page there is, but hey... It's possible! And to take it further, Id buy it.

Total cost of the DS and this miracle chip that lets me do all of the above -phone?

$129.99
+ 88.95
U do the math...

[madmat]

I've got a Treo 650 (no the OS is not from M$, it is a Palm OS) that ran about $350 new. It does (almost) everything the iPhone does but doesn't look as slick doing it. I personally can't justify the price of the iPhone nor the fact that it's tied to Satan... sorry, AT&T out of the box. Yes, it can obviously be unlocked but still, it'll have to come down in price to make me want to get one.

[Rob Williams]

Total cost of the DS and this miracle chip that lets me do all of the above -phone?

$129.99
+ 88.95
U do the math...

It's already public knowledge that the iPhone costs under $250 to make, so yes, they are really reaming people. But many Apple fans would love nothing more than that.

[madstork91]

I still question why it costs $250 to make. I paid less than that for everything minus the phone. I suppose being able to flip it on its side to view things in a wide screen resolution was worth the $30-40 extra maybe?

Even still I know that it didnt cost Nintendo $129 to make the DS and it sure didnt cost the makers of the chip $88.

Seriously... People must really like anal.

[Rob Williams]

Even still I know that it didnt cost Nintendo $129 to make the DS and it sure didnt cost the makers of the chip $88.

The iPhone has higher quality parts than the DS... for one thing. The DS Lite feels cheap to hold, while the iPhone is sturdy and designed to laugh. Secondly, you bought some unauthorized cartridge off the black market, I am sure Apple has to pay for the robust software their product is using.

If anyone misunderstands me, no, I am not standing up for the iPhone.

[madstork91]

um... Black market? I don't know if I should be mildly insulted or strangely appreciative of the suggestion that I am in the know on of such pirative actions as the leader of some Mafia.

:-D

[b1lk1]

It's already public knowledge that the iPhone costs under $250 to make, so yes, they are really reaming people. But many Apple fans would love nothing more than that.

I cannot be from Apple unless it is highly overpriced and hardly worth the money. Period.

[madmat]

The iPhone has higher quality parts than the DS... for one thing. The DS Lite feels cheap to hold, while the iPhone is sturdy and designed to laugh. Secondly, you bought some unauthorized cartridge off the black market, I am sure Apple has to pay for the robust software their product is using.

If anyone misunderstands me, no, I am not standing up for the iPhone.

Actually it'd be the grey market. The black market is for goods of an illicit nature such as drugs, guns or even flesh but stuff like chips or things of that nature (as long as it's not stolen) is grey market because there's still some doubt as to the legality of it. It's still quasi legal.

[Rob Williams]

How 'bout I give you a grey eye for calling me out like that.

[madstork91]

Better than a white eye.

[moon111]

Haven't the Finns over at Nokia copied the thing with their own version?

[madstork91]

Aye... still wanting a price check on that.

Actually... they are releasing a new n-gage like product as well... Will be interesting to see if the thing has a touch screen.

then my gaming machine/phone will be there.