The Apple iPhone - A reality!!!!

[JoDo]

News just in.... Steve Jobs has today announced that Apple will be rolling out a new mobile phone/iPod hybrid.

There has been ongoing speculation on such a gadget for years now but it's finally been unveiled to the world at the Macworld Expo in the US today....

Have to say, it looks sweeet!!! 2 versions will be launched from June in the states; one 4 Gig and one 8 Gig with a retail price of $499 and $599 US Dollars (subject to a 2 year phone contract.... pah!)

So far, plans for Europe see it coming our way towards the end of 2007.... boo hoo.... sooo long to wait. Can't imagine how much they'll charge for it here...

Anyhoo, here's the link for the whole story with pics!

Enjoy!

Anyone out there waiting for this too? How much would you pay for it? I'd probably stretch to €400 Max.... What was that they used to say about "A fool and his money"......??

[mickoneill30]

Yeah it's a nice phone but it's got competition that's here now. I've got a two year old O2 XDA II mini that seems to do all that the Iphone does. I can play pretty much any format movie and sound format on The Core Pocket media Player. Disadvantages to my phone are slightly smaller screen (but it's also smaller than the Iphone) and only 1GB of SD card. But I'll be in the market for an updated phone this year so I should be able to get something way better now.

What format movies will it play. Can I play stuff I've downloaded myself or encoded myself?

I heard the crowd go wild when Steve Jobs was announcing the features. Where do they get those guys?

[cerebro]

i would certainly buy one. but then again I am a Mac evangelist.
But i do like it. I like it a lot. The only thing is the size. 8gb max? You wouldnt hold very many movies on it to browse as you felt fit. My 80gb iPod holds tonnes and tonnes... Anyway I'm sure the size will increase with time.

I love the widescreen ipod bit... doubles the size of the current ipod screen.

Well done apple...... Again!

[blacknight]

Adrian Weckler raises a couple of interesting points about it:
TechWire: iPhone 1.0 -- biggest flop in tech history?

[mrpotatohead]

Hello, I thought I'd bring this post back from the dead and say that the iphone is a bit of a disappointment, just can't wait to get my potato hands onto the gphone (google phone)

[cerebro]

Originally Posted by mrpotatohead

Hello, I thought I'd bring this post back from the dead and say that the iphone is a bit of a disappointment, just can't wait to get my potato hands onto the gphone (google phone)

i beg to differ. i was in the US in July and I got my hands on one. I have to say i was well impressed. The only thing stopping me taking my credit card out of my wallet was the fact it wont work over here. i still considered buying one though

its a joy to use, so inivitive, intuitive, so so easy to use. and the web (yes the REAL web) on a mobile phone. its a pleasure to use. with the integrated iPod (granted 8gbs is a little skimpy) its definitely top of my xmas list for santa this year. i know the us version did not include 3G funtionality but there is talk they are to include it in the european release. lets hope so!

Is there any word on the carrier yet? Early reports said Vodaphone were favorites to the contract, but in early July the BBC business website claimed o2 were now closing in on the deal to be the exclusive carrier stocking the units from novermber 2007, just in time for the xmas market.

TechJuicer » O2 Has UK iPhone Carrier Contract

BBC NEWS | Business | O2 'to get iPhone contract in UK'

[blacknight]

Talk about hype

[foggy_lad]

ha if o2 get their hands on it cant seee it being anything but an overpriced flop same as everything else they promote lately! their contract AND speakeasy rates are highest in ireland and in uk and their 3g modem is well overpriced unless your on their highest tarrifs WELL DONE o2

[Cormac1982]

Looks like O2 will have it aright - they'll have it in the UK so it's probably safe to assume the same here. Read a small atricle in the paper yesterday (Examiner I think) about hacking it or unlocking the sim lock, I'll see if I can find and quote it but it was along the lines of...... people who hack the iphone to be enable it use it on other networks may find their iphone will become permanantly unable.....
Doesn't sound legal really does it? Forcing someone to use a certain operator isn't exactly new I know but to disable the handset if it's unlocked is whole new kettle of fish isn't it? Very easy for them to do it tho, same idea as barring an IMEI from all networks if it's reported lost or stolen but I think that would be an abuse of that facility so couldn't see it going ahead.
It should be a class handset, I'd wait for a second edition to iron out the bugs though! It's bound to be riddled...

[miceal]

I was playing with one of them the other day and it is quite a tough phone to text on. I thought the interface was quite good. But i think i will still wait till the next version comes out

[Cormac1982]

Next version will have 3G too, current doesn't. I've used an iTouch aright, same idea as iPhone - pretty cool browser but keyboard does take getting used to.

[blacknight]

A number of people I was with over in LA a few weeks back had iphones and I was very impressed.

The only things that bugged me were:
- the camera - the interface is a bit odd and doesn't feel "real"
- lack of 3g etc., - one of the major weaknesses if you want to use it in Europe

[miceal]

Originally Posted by blacknight

A number of people I was with over in LA a few weeks back had iphones and I was very impressed.

The only things that bugged me were:
- the camera - the interface is a bit odd and doesn't feel "real"
- lack of 3g etc., - one of the major weaknesses if you want to use it in Europe

One thing to add is that if you have to travel to Japan you have to have a 3g phone as there network is completely 3g