Comments on: Apple to sell lemons? http://www.tomrafteryit.net/apple-to-sell-lemons/ Tom Raftery, social media consultant, speaker, blogger and podcaster Sat, 30 Aug 2008 06:43:07 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: The iPhone - what a gadget. » Blog Archive » BifSniff http://www.tomrafteryit.net/apple-to-sell-lemons/#comment-99016 The iPhone - what a gadget. » Blog Archive » BifSniff Fri, 26 Jan 2007 16:05:44 +0000 http://www.tomrafteryit.net/apple-to-sell-lemons/#comment-99016 [...] iPhone. Why did nobody design a phone like this before? Yes, it has issues and the pros and cons are being debated all over the gaff. But just look at the [...] [...] iPhone. Why did nobody design a phone like this before? Yes, it has issues and the pros and cons are being debated all over the gaff. But just look at the [...]

]]> By: Eric Stern http://www.tomrafteryit.net/apple-to-sell-lemons/#comment-98965 Eric Stern Thu, 25 Jan 2007 10:36:00 +0000 http://www.tomrafteryit.net/apple-to-sell-lemons/#comment-98965 Just wondering if anybody has tried CellSwapper (http://www.cellswapper.com) to get out of their phone contracts without paying any early termination fees? Just wondering if anybody has tried CellSwapper (http://www.cellswapper.com)
to get out of their phone contracts without paying any early termination
fees?

]]> By: Mark http://www.tomrafteryit.net/apple-to-sell-lemons/#comment-91386 Mark Tue, 16 Jan 2007 20:39:48 +0000 http://www.tomrafteryit.net/apple-to-sell-lemons/#comment-91386 That really isn't anything new. NEXTSTEP ran on x86, PA-RISC, 68000 and SPARC processors more than ten years ago. One of it's greatest strengths was that everything from the Mach Kernel upwards was insanely portable. The System 7 Toolbox and QuickTime threw a monkey wrench into that on the desktop side, porting Carbon to x86 alone for OS X on Intel must have taken a phenomenal effort. About as much effort as it took to create Carbon in the first place. No such effort needed on the iPhone so it probably moved to ARM pretty smoothly. The lesson here, and with Apple TV from what I can see, is that Carbon probably has a gun to it's head inside Cupertino. Love it or loath it it's all Cocoa all the time. That really isn’t anything new.

NEXTSTEP ran on x86, PA-RISC, 68000 and SPARC processors more than ten years ago. One of it’s greatest strengths was that everything from the Mach Kernel upwards was insanely portable.

The System 7 Toolbox and QuickTime threw a monkey wrench into that on the desktop side, porting Carbon to x86 alone for OS X on Intel must have taken a phenomenal effort. About as much effort as it took to create Carbon in the first place.

No such effort needed on the iPhone so it probably moved to ARM pretty smoothly.

The lesson here, and with Apple TV from what I can see, is that Carbon probably has a gun to it’s head inside Cupertino. Love it or loath it it’s all Cocoa all the time.

]]> By: Branedy http://www.tomrafteryit.net/apple-to-sell-lemons/#comment-90711 Branedy Tue, 16 Jan 2007 14:36:10 +0000 http://www.tomrafteryit.net/apple-to-sell-lemons/#comment-90711 Something more interesting is the notion that OS-X now runs on an ARM chip inside an embedded device. Treo, Palm and many smart phones with windows mobile 5 mobile phones and PDA's are all running ARM cpu's. That means OX-X running on just about anything. It may also be the reason that third party apps will not run, as there is no ARM/OS-X development environment (I'm a registered Apple developer). At best you need a compiler in the current developer package that can compile an ARM application. The current duel compile app (intel/PPC) could be used to deploy such a thing, but in a small embedded system would be wasting the environment. Wait for for a developer Appet development package, then you will see third party apps. Better yet look for a kit to break network lockin! Something more interesting is the notion that OS-X now runs on an ARM chip inside an embedded device. Treo, Palm and many smart phones with windows mobile 5 mobile phones and PDA’s are all running ARM cpu’s. That means OX-X running on just about anything. It may also be the reason that third party apps will not run, as there is no ARM/OS-X development environment (I’m a registered Apple developer). At best you need a compiler in the current developer package that can compile an ARM application. The current duel compile app (intel/PPC) could be used to deploy such a thing, but in a small embedded system would be wasting the environment. Wait for for a developer Appet development package, then you will see third party apps.

Better yet look for a kit to break network lockin!

]]> By: Mark http://www.tomrafteryit.net/apple-to-sell-lemons/#comment-89607 Mark Mon, 15 Jan 2007 20:15:43 +0000 http://www.tomrafteryit.net/apple-to-sell-lemons/#comment-89607 Eoghan: I'd bet an optimised version of Google Docs will be made available for iPhone/Safari, chances are more likely that Apple will look to flog a mobile version of their iWork suite. General comments: Which reminds me, no mention of iLife at all. One thinks Jobs has ditched the Digital Hub concept for a new life in consumer electronics. What was interesting was how Jobs put the boot in Java (No one uses it, too bloated, and so on) but gave us a maybe (Which is a yes in Jobs speak) on Flash. I'd be interested to see if Apple include the Adobe Apollo Framework in iPhone. They have the QuickTime and Cocoa Frameworks in there all ready, (No Carbon so all apps will now have easier portability between CPU architectures), but if they included Apollo they'd have the capability of running Flash apps without a browser. We've seen Flash video become a standard with the rise of YouTube, could cross platform Flash apps succeed where Java apps failed so miserably? Eoghan: I’d bet an optimised version of Google Docs will be made available for iPhone/Safari, chances are more likely that Apple will look to flog a mobile version of their iWork suite.

General comments: Which reminds me, no mention of iLife at all. One thinks Jobs has ditched the Digital Hub concept for a new life in consumer electronics.

What was interesting was how Jobs put the boot in Java (No one uses it, too bloated, and so on) but gave us a maybe (Which is a yes in Jobs speak) on Flash. I’d be interested to see if Apple include the Adobe Apollo Framework in iPhone. They have the QuickTime and Cocoa Frameworks in there all ready, (No Carbon so all apps will now have easier portability between CPU architectures), but if they included Apollo they’d have the capability of running Flash apps without a browser.

We’ve seen Flash video become a standard with the rise of YouTube, could cross platform Flash apps succeed where Java apps failed so miserably?

]]> By: Mark Evans - Did Apple Blow the iPhone’s Launch? http://www.tomrafteryit.net/apple-to-sell-lemons/#comment-89514 Mark Evans - Did Apple Blow the iPhone’s Launch? Mon, 15 Jan 2007 17:18:32 +0000 http://www.tomrafteryit.net/apple-to-sell-lemons/#comment-89514 [...] So, what happened? Did Apple jump the gun too early - something that has some credence given the iPhone is six months away from actually seeing the light of day. What couldn’t Apple have waited another two or three months so that many of the sticky issues that have popped up in the past week couldn’t have been resolved? Did Jobs/Apple believe something dramatic had to be produced MacWorld? I don’t know about you but the iPhone backlash seems so, well, un-Apple. For more, check out Gizmodo, Michael Parekh and Tom Raftery. [...] [...] So, what happened? Did Apple jump the gun too early - something that has some credence given the iPhone is six months away from actually seeing the light of day. What couldn’t Apple have waited another two or three months so that many of the sticky issues that have popped up in the past week couldn’t have been resolved? Did Jobs/Apple believe something dramatic had to be produced MacWorld? I don’t know about you but the iPhone backlash seems so, well, un-Apple. For more, check out Gizmodo, Michael Parekh and Tom Raftery. [...]

]]> By: GerryOS http://www.tomrafteryit.net/apple-to-sell-lemons/#comment-89437 GerryOS Mon, 15 Jan 2007 15:21:54 +0000 http://www.tomrafteryit.net/apple-to-sell-lemons/#comment-89437 From David Pogue's Ultimate iPhone FAQ(part 2): <blockquote>“No 3G is almost a deal breaker. EDGE is horrible for a device this advanced…how did that get overlooked?â€? –It wasn’t overlooked. 3G (HSDPA) is available only in a few cities. Apple says that when it’s more prevalent, the company will upgrade the iPhone.</blockquote> <a href="http://pogue.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/01/11/the-ultimate-iphone-frequently-asked-questions/">FAQ Part 1</a> <a href="http://pogue.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/01/13/ultimate-iphone-faqs-list-part-2/">FAQ Part 2</a> From <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/12/technology/12apple.html?ex=1326258000&en=905b9e9dd858350d&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss">an interview with Steve Jobs in The New York Times</a>: <blockquote>“We define everything that is on the phone,â€? he said. “You don’t want your phone to be like a PC. The last thing you want is to have loaded three apps on your phone and then you go to make a call and it doesn’t work anymore. These are more like iPods than they are like computers.â€? The iPhone model, he insisted, would not look like the rest of the wireless industry. “These are devices that need to work, and you can’t do that if you load any software on them,â€? he said. <em>“That doesn’t mean there’s not going to be software to buy that you can load on them coming from us. It doesn’t mean we have to write it all, but it means it has to be more of a controlled environment.â€?</em> [my emphasis - GOS] </blockquote> All from <a href="http://daringfireball.net">Daring Fireball</a> From David Pogue’s Ultimate iPhone FAQ(part 2):

“No 3G is almost a deal breaker. EDGE is horrible for a device this advanced…how did that get overlooked?� –It wasn’t overlooked. 3G (HSDPA) is available only in a few cities. Apple says that when it’s more prevalent, the company will upgrade the iPhone.

FAQ Part 1

FAQ Part 2

From an interview with Steve Jobs in The New York Times:

“We define everything that is on the phone,� he said. “You don’t want your phone to be like a PC. The last thing you want is to have loaded three apps on your phone and then you go to make a call and it doesn’t work anymore. These are more like iPods than they are like computers.�

The iPhone model, he insisted, would not look like the rest of the wireless industry.

“These are devices that need to work, and you can’t do that if you load any software on them,� he said. “That doesn’t mean there’s not going to be software to buy that you can load on them coming from us. It doesn’t mean we have to write it all, but it means it has to be more of a controlled environment.� [my emphasis - GOS]

All from Daring Fireball

]]> By: Milan http://www.tomrafteryit.net/apple-to-sell-lemons/#comment-89434 Milan Mon, 15 Jan 2007 15:20:45 +0000 http://www.tomrafteryit.net/apple-to-sell-lemons/#comment-89434 I thought the killer app for the iPhone would be routing calls over the cell network when nothing better was available, but using free VoIP whenever a connection could be found through WiFi or Bluetooth. Given the supposed ban on third party applications, this now seems unlikely to transpire, at least on this device. I thought the killer app for the iPhone would be routing calls over the cell network when nothing better was available, but using free VoIP whenever a connection could be found through WiFi or Bluetooth.

Given the supposed ban on third party applications, this now seems unlikely to transpire, at least on this device.

]]> By: Eoghan McCabe http://www.tomrafteryit.net/apple-to-sell-lemons/#comment-89412 Eoghan McCabe Mon, 15 Jan 2007 14:44:13 +0000 http://www.tomrafteryit.net/apple-to-sell-lemons/#comment-89412 I says here they plan to add 3G to the phone: http://www.appleinsider.com/article.php?id=2396. If Google Docs work with the iPhone-based Safari, you'll be able to work with spreadsheets, etc. I says here they plan to add 3G to the phone: http://www.appleinsider.com/article.php?id=2396.

If Google Docs work with the iPhone-based Safari, you’ll be able to work with spreadsheets, etc.

]]> By: Tom Raftery http://www.tomrafteryit.net/apple-to-sell-lemons/#comment-89408 Tom Raftery Mon, 15 Jan 2007 14:37:53 +0000 http://www.tomrafteryit.net/apple-to-sell-lemons/#comment-89408 <blockquote>There’s nothing “smart� about a GSM phone which doesn’t have 3G connectivity, MS Exchange integration, doesn’t allow for viewing of docs, spreadsheets, or presentations.</blockquote> Ouch! I hadn't realised there was no 3G in the phone. That has to be a big boo boo. 3G hasn't taken off here yet due to the extortionate pricing but that will change soon and Apple's iPhone will be high and dry if they don't have it then.

There’s nothing “smart� about a GSM phone which doesn’t have 3G connectivity, MS Exchange integration, doesn’t allow for viewing of docs, spreadsheets, or presentations.

Ouch! I hadn’t realised there was no 3G in the phone. That has to be a big boo boo. 3G hasn’t taken off here yet due to the extortionate pricing but that will change soon and Apple’s iPhone will be high and dry if they don’t have it then.

]]> By: Eoghan McCabe http://www.tomrafteryit.net/apple-to-sell-lemons/#comment-89390 Eoghan McCabe Mon, 15 Jan 2007 13:54:09 +0000 http://www.tomrafteryit.net/apple-to-sell-lemons/#comment-89390 I'd guess Cingular don't want third-party software running on it to prevent VOIP apps. using the integrated WIFI and cutting-out the network. I’d guess Cingular don’t want third-party software running on it to prevent VOIP apps. using the integrated WIFI and cutting-out the network.

]]> By: Mark http://www.tomrafteryit.net/apple-to-sell-lemons/#comment-89337 Mark Mon, 15 Jan 2007 12:49:26 +0000 http://www.tomrafteryit.net/apple-to-sell-lemons/#comment-89337 No they won't. This is an iPod nano bundled with a phone and aimed at the mass market. (Price tag be damned) There's nothing "smart" about a GSM phone which doesn't have 3G connectivity, MS Exchange integration, doesn't allow for viewing of docs, spreadsheets, or presentations. As such it won't be bought by Blackberry or Treo users as it doesn't even attempt to match the feature set of those products. The people who'll buy this will be people who don't give a damn about smartphones, which currently is 98% of the total mobile market. No they won’t.

This is an iPod nano bundled with a phone and aimed at the mass market. (Price tag be damned) There’s nothing “smart” about a GSM phone which doesn’t have 3G connectivity, MS Exchange integration, doesn’t allow for viewing of docs, spreadsheets, or presentations.

As such it won’t be bought by Blackberry or Treo users as it doesn’t even attempt to match the feature set of those products.

The people who’ll buy this will be people who don’t give a damn about smartphones, which currently is 98% of the total mobile market.

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