opinion Archives

Saturday, June 14, 2008 -- 11:07 a.m. -- on my couch

Caller Brad asked me a great question in a recent comment. He asked what happened to that extra buzz we've grown so accustomed to regarding the new iPhone. That got me thinking.

You know, the iPhone 3G is turning out to be less revolutionary despite the 3G (been around for years) and GPS (which is in all fairness is very good). The other features will operate on the first version iPhone.

I'm thinking that the iPhone 3G is an intermediate step to get the handset in the hands of millions around the world. And then, next time, look out. Then, it's a shocking amazing reinventing on the phone. Like it was the first time.

Think about this for a second ... you love the iPhone because you have an iPhone, right? You (and I) are part of the iPhone lifestyle and world. And so are about 5 million others, depending on what numbers you read and believe.

OK. Fast forward past July 11 and through the holidays of 2008. Now, there are say 15 to 20 million people in 70-or-so countries that are in the same exact boat as us. They have an iPhone (model isn't important) and they love their iPhone.

And now ... they can't imagine being without an iPhone.

That above paragraph is the key. I think Steve Jobs' ultimate goal is not to reinvent the iPhone every year. He doesn't really have to. What he has to do is get people to buy into the fact that they can't be without it. And if he does that, by getting it into as many hands as possible, then he can sell it to every single one of those people and then some every single time he upgrades it.

It's the same idea as the Mac. Get a Mac into as many hands as possible, so, when the time comes to buy a new computer, a PC makes you laugh. And, for the people who aren't buying computers at this very instant, open a retail store within 50 miles of their home and introduce them to the beauty of the Mac so they know where to go next time they need a computer.

In my mind, the iPhone sales model is built the same way. iPhone 1 was revolutionary and a game changer. iPhone 2 is just a step with some new features to keep current, a few designed to wow and iPhone 3 is a shocker. iPhone 3 is a shocker because it comes AFTER 20 million people -- perhaps more -- are holding it, using it and loving it. And look at all of the job postings we've seen/heard about from Apple for the iPhone that couldn't possibly be completed in time for this version -- camera engineers, video engineers -- the list goes on and on.

Remember ... the cell phone industry is expanding faster than ever. Part of that is because of Apple. It has to be, because if the other cell phone manufacturers don't offer anything better than what the iPhone has, they'll all crumble. They have to try to at least beat the iPhone while the iPhone is between product cycles so they can steal some limelight (Instinct, anything from HTC, Voyager and even, in some ways, Android, although that last one will eventually prove to be Apple's biggest competition).

So ... after a long post, I guess what I'm saying is that Apple is being purposely cautious here to get the iPhone out there. That's first and foremost. Market share. While it's growing for the Mac, it's obviously a thorn in Steve's side. Do it the other way with the iPhone. The features are important and ultimately a key, but for now, build the market share. Make the iPhone a household name more than it is now and then build the features.

Does that mean you shouldn't buy an iPhone 3G. No. You probably should, if you really enjoy staying current. It's a revolutionary phone in its own right, even if it's not the amazing video conferencing cut and pasting behemoth we all wished and hoped for. It is faster, if you happen to be in a 3G area, the GPS is great (really is) and there is a white version if that's a deal breaker for you.

That said, if you have a first generation iPhone in a non-3G area and you don't care about GPS, then stick with what you have. You'll get all the other great features via Exchange support and all the fun of the App Store (provided there aren't programs there that require 3G and GPS). And wait until iPhone 3.0 comes out -- or at the very least, iPhone 2.5 with 32GB. In that case, you'll be much more rewarded. I do think that by the time all the above manufacturers do what I described earlier in this post, Apple will need to add so much to the next iPhone that it will make your head spin.

That's my take. What's yours? Let me know in the comments.

Thanks for calling.

Thursday, February 14, 2008 -- 2:35 p.m. -- at my desk

Starpple?

No, Apple isn't buying Starbucks .... although, hmmmmm. Column idea!

Anyhow, there's a great article over at Tidbits that's worth looking at talking about how this new Starbucks Wi-Fi deal not only smells of freshly-brewed coffee but of a certain fruit that comes from Cupertino.

When I first heard about the deal, I wondered how much Apple had to do with it. This entry takes it to the next level.

Highly recommended link right here.

Then, let me know what you think.

Thanks for calling.

Tuesday, February 6, 2008 -- 7:19 p.m. -- at my desk

All day I've been joking that the reason Apple released a super iPhone and super iPod Touch was to coincide with Super Tuesday here in the States.

And obviously I was just kidding ... although caller Kim touched on exactly why I think Apple released the upgrades today and that's the upcoming SDK.

Think about it ... soon, you'll have hundreds and then thousands of applications that you can load onto your iPhone without any kind of jailbreak and you'll need space for all those wonderful programs.

And like music and videos, some people are OK with keeping a little on the device at a time and utilizing the space they have while others would rather put it all in one place.

But what's different with music and video vs. programs is what you can fit on the iPhone in terms of functionality. If I have a great program that I use every single day, well I'm not going to want to take it off to make room for something else. I want to have that extra space.

But still ... unless Apple released a 32GB model, $100 for double the space isn't worth it to me ... and I can't upgrade. I have to pay a full $499 to get a 16GB iPhone and that's just not enough for me ... and based on your comments it doesn't seem to be enough for you.

Now, if you don't have an iPhone currently, this is a good time to get in. For $499 you'll get 16GB -- skip the cheaper 8GB model ... it's not worth it.

And as for waiting for a 3G model, well, you can do that, but I don't see that until the end of this year at the earliest the way it stands now. So if you have the willpower to wait, by all means do it. But if you really want to get in, the 16GB model is a good one to go with.

What are your thoughts? Please share. I'm all ears.

Thanks for calling.

Wednesday, January 30, 2008 -- 11:31 a.m. -- on my couch

**UPDATE: I was just informed that Apple missed its opportunity to get in on the bidding. Thanks, dig, for the heads up. But it doesn't change the overall premise in that this is what Apple needs to do. So perhaps if there's another round of bidding or the rules change, there's hope yet.**

I just got a great comment from someone in the Mideast that reminded me of something that I really wanted to post about.

Remember when the iPhone was just speculation? And we were all trying to guess whether or not it would be GSM -- or Apple would take on the network duties (kind of like ESPN and Disney's mobile ventures), etc.?

In the end, of course, we found out that by using his incredible negotiation skills, Steve Jobs was able to transform the wireless industry here in the states with the AT&T deal -- he transformed it because he asked for something that the wireless industry didn't do up until that point and that's trust in the hardware maker and pretty much let them run the show.

Fast forward to the UK and Germany and France. Apple got similar deals over there and all is right with the world.

Well, with the U.S. and western Europe, anyhow. The rest of the world, not so much.

We've got a million "missing" iPhones that just about everyone from Apple to my grandma agree are being used unlocked. There's probably an iPhone in use in every single country on the Earth right now.

And as Apple tries to expand its reach, it's going into each country and seeking deals like it has in place already ... and from the looks of it, although unconfirmed, it looks as though Steve's not having as easy of a time as he'd like.

So what's a powerful Fortune 500 genius to do?

I'll tell you what ... bid on the 700 MHz auction.

Why? Several reasons, but for starters, Apple has about $15 billion in the bank that it can spend. After it tallies up all the frivolous lawsuits that come through each hour, it still has plenty left.

If Apple were to secure the precious 700 MHz space -- which, before you ask, is not just here in the States -- or at least it won't always be -- Apple can bypass the middleman and create it's own iPhone network.

I'm willing to bet that if Apple, for example, went to Canada with it's plot of wireless property and started a GSM network filled with Wi-Fi access points and $20 data, it would overtake Rogers in less than a year's time.

And take that idea overseas -- A country's wireless arm that doesn't like the terms can leave it because Steve would have what he needs to create his own network.

On some days, honestly, I think it's not such a bad idea here in the states ... I don't think AT&T is doing all it can to make the iPhone the best phone it can be (missing MMS, etc).

So what do you think? Feel free to poke holes in my theory that there is a reason for Apple to venture into the wireless network market. We know that Google is bidding ... you think Google is going to sit idle on its treasure if it wins?

Thanks for calling.

Saturday, January 19, 2008 -- 3:52 p.m. -- on my couch

It's bone-chilling today in Chicago -- it's 4 degrees now and will be 6 below or so tonight. So there's no reason to go anywhere but the couch to do a little blogging.

And earlier, as I was calling my mom, I thought about the process. I push the phone icon and then I push the contacts icon and scroll.

I think the iPod Touch has the advantage over the iPhone in this case, even though the Touch has no phone. There's a dedicated contacts icon right on the front page, and I think the iPhone needs one too.

Perhaps with the SDK, someone will create one if it's not stepping too much on Apple's toes and the company allows it.

What do you think? Do you like the idea of a dedicated contacts icon or have I just been thinking about the iPhone too much?

Thanks for calling.

Wednesday, January 16, 2008 -- 11:54 p.m. -- at my desk

My co-worker and I were working on a new icon for the iPhone home page -- more on that soon -- and we got to talking about icons in general and what they really should be focusing on.

I asked why the map icon has to have Interstate 280 in it. That always bothered me, because I live thousands of miles away from Interstate 280.

As my colleague so graciously pointed out ... you know who works a hop, skip and a jump from Interstate 280? Steve Jobs. That pin in the icon is 1 Infinite Loop, Cupertino, California -- Apple HQ.

Would you believe that I never really put two and two together? I mean, I don't know California interstates that well, but I should have been able to figure that out.

Ok. Cool. I get it. But I'd love to see a different interstate when I look at my maps icon. Maybe I want Interstate 90 -- the major transcontinental highway that's literally outside my apartment window. Or maybe I want Interstate 4, which runs past Epcot Center -- a favorite vacation spot. Or Interstate 279 -- the highway that leads into Pittsburgh, my former home.

Maybe I just want the option because it seems as though I should have it.

If Steve wants to see I-280 every time he turns on his iPhone, I say let him. But I think he should think about the rest of us and give us a choice.

What do you say? Am I being way too picky or is there a point inside my head somewhere?

Thanks for calling.

Thursday, January 10, 2008 -- 8: 22 p.m. -- at my desk

There are rumors and then there are facts. And when it comes to whether or not there will be a new iPhone introduced at Macworld, well, we just won't know until the words fly out of Steve Jobs' mouth.

That said, it doesn't mean we can't speculate and that I can't ask the question:

What will it take for you to purchase a new iPhone if one is announced at Macworld?

Some of you actually have already asked me the question in the comments of a recent thread what it would take for me. So here's my answer once again: If there's a 3G model or a model that has functionality that's not available in the current iPhone model, then I'd buy one -- for both my personal curiosity and because I'm an iPhone blogger. A bump to 16GB won't do it for me. A bump to 32GB would make me pause and put my credit cards in my drawer, but I wouldn't do the deed.

So, dear callers ... tell me ... what would make YOU purchase a new iPhone next week?

Thanks for calling.

Thursday, January 10, 2008 -- 10 a.m. -- on my couch

'Tis the season for trade shows (like the annual Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas) and Macworld, and that means it's the season for new amazing iPhone functionality that pales in comparison to what we have now. I'll get much, much more specific as new products are announced at these shows, but here's just a taste of some of things we have to look forward to:

Speaker docks
There are many docks on the market now that work relatively well with the iPhone, but most work with the iPod too. And because of that, there's no true model that stands out as the iPhone favorite. I fully expect that to change soon with the expansion of HD radio tagging that will add a whole new dimension to these docks.

New iPhone software
This is perhaps the biggest untapped market that could open amazing new doors. I think Macworld will provide a lot of answers about the iPhone SDK -- what particular companies will introduce software first, etc. As you've seen from some of the 3rd party applications available now on jailbroken iPhones, the sky is pretty much the limit. In the end, it will be up to Apple to decide what you see on your iPhone and what you don't.

The surprises
From dongles you plug into the charging port with separate screens, for something like Nike + or GPS or HD radio to toys for adults only (exactly what you think), the fun is just beginning.

What do you think? What's your dream 3rd party application?

Thanks for calling.

Thursday, January 3, 2008 -- 10 a.m. -- on my couch

There's some words I never thought I'd write ... Little plug-in dongles.

I have a feeling that when the iPhone SDK comes out that there are going to be a bunch of creative companies that come out with new functionality via small dongles plugged into the bottom iPhone port.

Imagine it if you will ...

* Nike Plus dongle that records your distance while you run or walk.

* GPS dongles that give true GPS

* HD radio dongles that provide tuning access

I think the list can go on and on. Now while it's better to not have an extra added accessory, it is one way to add functionality to an iPhone or iPod Touch and that's not a bad thing to at least have the option.

A lot will be revealed as we go forward, but that's my early take.

What are your thoughts? Do we have any of these creative programmers out there in the audience that might want to weigh in?
Thanks for calling.

Wednesday, January 2, 2008 -- 8:48 p.m. -- at my desk

13 days from now, we'll all be talking about what amazing proclamations Steve Jobs made while at stage at Macworld in San Francisco.

Will we get an ultraportable Mac tablet-like device? Will we get new software?

Will we get a new iPhone?

It's impossible to say. Unless you have magical powers, it's going to be one of the world's best kept secrets right up until the big event.

We've gotten what might be little tidbits ... like the purported 1.1.3 software. We may get a really nice enhanced look at the iphone software development kit -- SDK for short -- that really shows us how much more powerful our iPhones stand to be once it's released in February.

We could get a new iPhone, but if I was a betting man, I'd bet on the only possible change being a model with more storage room. An 8 GB and a 16GB model, perhaps, with the 16GB at $399 and the 8GB at $299. This will only increase sales of the iPhone, but again, I have no special knowledge that this will happen. It just makes sense given the state of the flash memory market and the capabilities that already exist.

And then there's Steve's famous "one more thing" which could be anything. Could it be related to the iPhone? Maybe. What I'm saying is that we are just going to have to watch.

My plan as of this moment is to liveblog the event -- no, I won't be there, but I'll be online at my trusted sites that are and I'll transcribe every single detail. There may be spelling mistakes and no pictures, but it will be there. So if you are used to checking out other sites for keynotes and hitting refresh, might I recommend you plan on coming right here for all your keynote needs?

And if you have any advanced thoughts about the keynote, please by all means write me in the comments and share what's on your mind.

Thanks for calling.

Tuesday, January 1, 2008 -- 10 p.m. -- at my desk

For now, there's only 1 iPhone, no matter what the competition says.

It happens almost every time Apple puts out an amazing product. Microsoft tried to copy the iPod with the Zune. And now that extends into the Mobile phone market, where companies and carriers are trying their darndest to capitalize off the success of the iPhone. Verizon and it's Voyager (pictured) and from what other sites are reporting -- eventually BlackBerry.

The thing is that while Apple and AT&T have hit a grand slam with the iPhone, there's still room for improvement. But even a phone on Verizon's network with a touchscreen and a full keyboard and some of those missing features (3G, MMS, etc.) still can't hold a candle to the iPhone. Verizon's also got the Venus and I'm sure plenty of other space related products coming our way. They will tell you it's better than the iPhone, and perhaps one day they'll find the right formula.

Would it help if Verizon was a name associated with cool? It definiltely wouldn't hurt. Same for Sprint and T-Mobile. Even Microsoft. They all try and I think they should keep trying ... but they just don't have the "it" factor that Apple has. When Apple announces a product, everyone sits at their keyboards and waits to blog about the next greatest thing. Kind of like what I will be doing. But there's just something clean and elegant and cool that only Apple seems to be able to do these days and as long as they have that lock, the Voyagers and Venuses and everything else with a touchscreen that tries to lump itself in the iPhone category will end up as iPhonys. You can't have a touchscreen and become an iPhone.

I'm watching to see what happens in 2008. It's going to be a big year in the gadget world, from audio/video players to mobile phones. And as I always say ... keep the competition coming, because it keeps companies like Apple on their toes.

What do you think? Do you think Apple has a lock on this market or do you think it has plenty of reason to worry? Let me know your thoughts.

Thanks for calling.

Monday, December 31, 2007 -- 10 a.m. -- on my couch

No, I'm not changing my stance when it comes to jailbreaking/hacking. Not now. Not ever.

But let me say this ... if the iPhone can be hacked to do something using an unconventional method, it can be done via conventional methods too.

That means when the software development kit comes out in February, we'll likely see plenty of the things that I warn you not to play with now.

But there's a wildcard here ... Apple said it will determine what's acceptable and what's not. That means that even if we all love a program, if Apple puts its collective foot down, we may be out of luck.

And I've seen some amazing things ... games, video, an app that turns the camera into a super camera -- the list goes on and on and on and on. Take a look at the photo that accompanies this post -- that's an iPhone slots game that can only be used on a jailbroken iPhone. Wow!

And, if the 1.1.3 software features are real and we have extra screens to put our own icons on, we're talking about lots of space to turn our iPhones into incredible powerhouses. I think back to what a Palm looked like with seemingly endless software downloads both free and paid.

That's what's coming again. Some things will be free. Some won't be. And it's all going to be in your pocket.

It's going to be a great ride.

Thanks for calling.

Monday, December 31, 2007 -- 1:30 a.m. -- on my couch

OK. Back to this 1.1.3 video and the argument about whether or not it's real.

As you saw in my most recent post, I'm starting to believe that it's real. The details are just too amazing to be faked -- and as I wrote in the other post -- if it is fake, it's an incredible fake that deserves kudos for being so convincing.

But let's get back to it being real.

A few burning questions:

First, where did Gear Live get this?

Second, why hasn't Apple jumped in and ordered it off the Web?

I have a theory on both -- what if Apple itself gave this to Gear Live -- why them, I don't know -- to dissuade people from jailbreaking their phones? What if this is Apple's way of reaching all those new iPhone users who were treated by Santa?

That's just a hunch; I really have no idea. But Apple has always been a master at marketing. If this is something Apple put out there to whet our appetite, well, that's just brilliant.

Think about it ... Apple was the one who started "Think Different."

What do you all think?

Thanks for calling.

Wednesday, December 19, 2007 -- 3 p.m. -- at my desk

Just a quick reminder ... I'm seeing many sites focusing more on jailbreaking your iPhone than I ever had. Even sites that weren't on the jailbreaking bandwagon are.

My friendly everyday reminder to you -- don't do it.

The features you seek for your iPhone are coming in February. And even if it takes a year to get some of the functionality jailbreaking can get now, it's not worth the risk of bricking your iPhone.

Is the functionality on a jailbroken phone cool? You bet. There's some pretty neat stuff.

Don't do it.

If there's one thing that I hope I can provide on this site it's a reality check for some of the other stuff you may be reading. So please ... don't jailbreak. You'll thank me later. The cookie cop is watching (see pic).

Now please don't mistake this post as me suggesting you don't read other sites ... you should. We all offer information that's a little different and everyone is entitled to their opinion. I just want you to be aware of my take on jailbreaking. YMMV (your mileage may vary) as the kids say. I am just here to offer one opinion.

Thanks for calling.

Monday, December 17, 2007 -- 10 a.m. -- on my couch

I had a thought last night while I was sitting at my desk that made me go hmmmmm.

What if ... and this is just a what if ... Apple is hard at work creating mobile versions of its software for the iPhone.

No, I don't mean mobile Final Cut Pro, but what if there's a mobile iPhoto and a mobile GarageBand and a mobile Pages that's going to be released in February to coincide with the software development kit that will officially open the iPhone to 3rd party development?

Think about it. There's an iTunes Wi-Fi store. Call it Apple's test to see how the mobile infrastructure works and a way for Apple to make money in the process. With mobile iPhoto, it would be easier than ever to upload photos and share them. Via Wi-Fi, you could share photos with a friend. With mobile Garageband, you could create a ringtone on the fly while sitting at the airport. And with mobile Pages, you could actually edit Word documents.

If you check out Apple's job site, sometimes the company is seeking people with experience in mobile development. Many of the folks who write blogs speculate that it's for iPod games or some other project -- which it might be -- but what if it's something bigger? What if there's a desktop version and a mobile companion?

I know it's just an out there idea, but it makes sense from a business standpoint ... and it would be another way for Apple to distance itself from the competition. Your Mac already goes with you in a sense on your iPhone, well, now even more so.

What do you think? Agree? Disagree? I can take it. You know I respond to all comments, so let me have it.

Thanks for calling.

Wednesday, December 12, 2007 -- 10 a.m. -- on my couch

I purchased a new cordless phone to replace the one that stopped working in my living room.

And although I didn't set out to buy a phone like this, it has bluetooth and allows me to pair it to my iPhone and to my iPhone headset.

It's useful ... I have the choice of talking into my iPhone or using the cordless handset. When paired, the cordless handset mirrors the iPhone. When I dial on the cordless keypad, my iPhone looks possessed, dialing right along with it.

When would this come in handy? Well, if my iPhone needs to be charged, it can be docked right there in front of me and I can still talk on it.

So that got me thinking ... Apple has got to release a software update that allows the iPhone to pair with its own bluetooth keyboard. Look at the illustration accompanying this post ... wouldn't it rock if you could carry around the cool keyboard with your iPhone and type right on the iPhone without having to use the small keyboard? While I love touch typing, sometimes if I have a lot to write, I'd much rather type with two hands at the ridiculous speed (about 90 words per minute) I've grown accustomed to.

What a great addition to my laptop case ... a bluetooth keyboard that I could bring to Starbucks.

What do you think? Would this be a worthwhile software update? And it also begs the question ... why wouldn't this functionality already exist?

Thanks for calling.

Monday, November 26, 2007 -- 2:40 p.m. -- at my desk

Like I said, looks like Apple may have gotten itself into a little bit of a pickle. And not the crunchy kind that snaps when you ... (sorry, hungry).

Anyhoo, there's a report out from London's The Register saying that while the British love the iPhone, they hate the price.

The report, which cites reliable channel sources, says that UK carrier o2, the only iPhone carrier, has activated only 26,500 iPhones since its launch two weeks ago, well below expectations of about 100,000.

Now it should be noted that not everyone who buys an iPhone activates it right away. There are plenty of gifts being bought, but phone industry sources say it's doubtful that gift buyers would push these numbers to where Apple wanted them.

So on to Apple's pickle. They have a hit with the product, but not with the price.

We all know what happened when Apple just decided to shave $200 off the price of the phone here in the states. It was almost mass mayhem and rioting in the streets. Dropping the price was a boon to busines, but it alienated customers everywhere and Steve Jobs was pretty much forced to offer a $100 credit to anyone who paid full price.

So what does Apple do now? Do they drop the price again and anger a market that hasn't fully stood behind the product to start with in an attempt to boost business or does it just hope that the iPhone is someday accepted?

I don't think Apple will make the same mistake twice and I don't see folks just warming up to the phone. I think Apple is going to have to swallow their pride on this one and see what happens and then reduce the price considerably when the next iPhone is released next year, whether it's packed with 3G or not. Releasing a new version next year at the same price point -- even with new features -- isn't going to help the situation.

It will be interesting to see what ends up happening across the pond.

What do you think? And, if you are in the UK, let me know your thoughts on the price and the value you are getting for your money.

Thanks for calling.

Sunday, November 18, 2007 -- 10:09 p.m. -- at my desk

What could Apple and the New England Patriots possibly have in common?

Simple. With the Patriots currently annihilating the Bills 56-10, this is how the competition has to feel when Apple comes out with a revolutionary product.

When the iPhone came out, no other company was within 6 touchdowns of Apple. And now, it's still about a 5 touchdown lead. It's strange to think of the iPhone's dominance in terms of football, but with the Patriots undefeated and my Steelers losing to the hapless Jets, I figured why the heck not.

Verizon thinks it's gonna make a play with the Voyager. Have you seen the menus on that thing? Ugly. And, the touchscreen is really many steps down from the iPhone.

In all of this, Google is probably the Indianapolis Colts. They're another team that has a shot and isn't just going through the motions.

Now if I see Tom Brady on the field in a long-sleeved black turtleneck, I'll know I'm right.

Thanks for calling.

Sunday, November 18, 2007 -- 7:31 p.m. -- at my desk

I don't download nearly enough podcasts, but my goal is to change that.

Whether audio or video, there's no reason I shouldn't broaden my horizons ... especially since Apple makes it so easy to do with automatic downloads. If they synced to my iPhone automatically, well, then it would be better than gold.

But if those podcasts could be downloaded directly to my phone via the wi-fi store? I think I'd move to Starbucks. Of course, I like it at Starbucks as it stands now, but that would be fantastic. The subject matter available on podcasts isn't only fascinating, it's free!

Do you all have favorite podcasts? I had a thought ... why don't you send along your faves and let's make a playlist of iPhone, Therefore I Blog callers' favorite podcasts. We could all be enlightened.

So leave a comment and let me know and I'll keep track.

Thanks for calling.

Friday, November 16, 2007 -- 4:53 p.m. -- on my couch

J. Allard (pictured), Captain Zune over at Microsoft, told the New York Times on Friday that he'd "never say never" to a Microsoft-built mobile phone.

He won't. But I will.

No.

Thanks for calling.

Tuesday, October 30, 2007 -- 6:07 p.m. -- at my desk

Everyone claims to know what's up at Google.

There's going to be a phone, there's not going to be a phone. It's coming out next year, it's coming out next week. It's white and shiny, it's cheap and drab.

Truth is, you can read all you want but no one knows what Google is going to do.

Except for Google of course.

The latest from the Wall Street Journal is that Google is going to release its own mobile operating system for phones in 2008. This I believe. I don't think it makes sense for Google to get into the handset business or the wireless business in general. But, if you can get every mobile phone user in the world to embrace Google's simplicity and style, folks will be saying Windows Mobile what? Or Symbian wha?

But I don't think they'll ever say Apple what? I think the iPhone is safe, no matter what kind of onslaught Google brings on. And, with the connection Apple and Google have in the boardroom, I think there's a great chance for some sort of mobile partnership that would hit a home run for investors and users alike.

But the WSJ story also says that Verizon and Google are in serious talks to bring the Googleized phones to Verizon's network. And Bloomberg is reporting that the talks extend to Sprint.

I think Sprint will be bought out by some other company long before anything fruitful emerges from the talks. That leaves Verizon, and while that combination makes sense, I don't see it happening.

Verizon is known for being so stoddgy that they never allow control of anything to leave their tight little hands. I can't imagine Google -- an imaginative and think out of the box company -- working well with Verizon -- which reminds me of a ma bell company from 1953.

Had Verizon opened its collective mind, the iPhone could have been on its network. And even though Verizon says that its seen no impact sales-wise from the iPhone (editors note: bull) I think its learned its lesson and will listen a little more carefully to what Google has to say.

So we'll see. Waiting is never easy, but I think it's going to be a win-win for everyone. Even if we end up with verizigoogle phones. Or gPhones. Or whatever. Because competition is good for everyone. It will keep Apple on its toes. It can't afford not to be.

What do you think?

Thanks for calling.

Monday, October 29, 2007 -- 2:38 p.m. -- at my desk

The iPhone is a great thing. I love it and I can't imagine my life without it.

But something's missing.

It.

As many of you know, I've been relying on my iPhone as my computer since the middle of last week, when my 3-year-old Powerbook went in for surgery at the Apple store. While I have a computer here at work, it doesn't help me when I'm not here.

So I turned to my iPhone. I mean, it's a computer, right? It's got the Internet, it's got my mail. I can even buy songs from iTunes.

But it just doesn't have it.

For example ... when I blog, I like to include an image with every post. It's part of this blog's atttitude and style and it's an extension of me. On the iPhone, I can't attach images. There's no place to get them. There's no desktop.

Worse, you know I respond to every comment. On the mobile version of Typepad, which is the administrating program for this blog, I can only read and approve or disallow comments. I cannot edit them or add them. So all I can do it hit approve and come back here and update it.

That just doesn't fly.

No cutting, no pasting ... many of the basic elements that I turn to my computer for are mysteriously absent from my iPhone.

Again, I love it. Please don't get me wrong. But for those of you who think you can just put your computer in the closet and put one in your pocket, you will likely be disappointed.

One day, yes ... the iPhone will be an extension of your computer. In fact, I think the technology Apple is working with now in Leopard where you can log into a .mac account and use your home computer from anywhere with a wireless connection is only the start. Soon, I think you'll be able to control your computer via your iPhone. When? I have no idea, Could be several years until the technology is perfected.

Right now, the iPhone is a great little device and it's only going to get better. But I just can't wait until I get my computer back. I miss it. Maybe I'll send it flowers and a card.

Or maybe I won't.

Thoughts and comments always appreciated, of course.

Thanks for calling.

Monday, October 29, 2007 -- 9 a.m. -- around

So here we are ... Leopard's been officially available for a few days now. We're done with the launch parties, the big to-dos.

Thank goodness.

I'm already tired of hearing about it. Reflective dock this, time machine that. Don't get me wrong. ... I can't wait to start using it, but the attention that should have been on the iPhone hasn't been and that's where I start to get annoyed.

What specifically? Well, there's the echo that makes talking to people really annoying. The battery life is all messed up. I can't hold a conversation half of the time because the volume is so low.

You know, stuff like that.

No mixed messages here. I love my iPhone. And I know I'll love Leopard. But I'm just happy the attention should be turning a little away from Leopard and hopefully a little more toward the iPhone.

Apple has to get this stuff fixed. No way are Londoners going to stand for echoing when they are talking a walk. And it's pretty loud in Paris, so folks will need to be able to hear the ringer.

And my take is pretty straightforward ... If Apple can release the most advanced operating system on this or any other planet with an advanced civilization, surely they can take out the echo that they took out with the old software and reintroduced in this one.

And remember, Apple, there's the list that I sent you that we all came up with here that told you all the things missing from the iPhone. I know you are working on it and I appreciate that, but I'd like to see a little less talking and a little more engineering.

Oh, but please don't forget to fix my laptop first.

Thanks for calling.

Saturday, October 27, 2007 -- 11:43 p.m. -- in my living room

Tonight, iWife and I were watching TV when we saw the story on the news about the new iPhone purchasing rules.

That's when she said to me ... how come there aren't any games?

To hear Steve Jobs tell it, the Touch and iPhone are different beasts under the hood and can't run the games that the "regular" old iPods can.

Strange game. The only way to win is not to play.

Baloney, Joshua.

I mean, obviously Ms. Pac-Man wouldn't be great on a touch screen, but even Professor Falken would agree that a nice game of chess would certainly be doable. As would Tic-Tac-Toe or even Tetris. You know that breakout game where you have a little ball and try to knock off all the bricks? That would be a great game for nimble fingers.

Yet there's nothing. Was there no way to put a game on this thing? Battery power is already an issue, I know, but my wife is right ... it would be at least nice to have a game.

I might actually blog less. Or not.

I know that we'll see all this change in February when the software development kit is released, but it's a long way off and there are quite a few dark winter hours between now and then.

Anyhow, what do you think? Any games that you really want to play on your iPhone? Sure you can do it now with a Safari app, but I was talking something with an icon at least.

Thanks for calling.

Sunday, October 21, 2007 -- 1:32 p.m. -- at my desk

I'm a reminiscer. Remembering puts a smile on my face. Of course, I can't always remember what I had for breakfast, but when the ol' memory is sharp as a tack, it's fun.

And of course, as the iPhone blogger, I started thinking about my cell phone experiences over the years. I thought you'd be interested in reading them too.

1992
My very first experience. A buddy and I went on this giant trip to Civil War battlefields over a span of 12 days. We covered about 10 states and drove a lot. Oh yeah, in addition to technology, I'm a history buff too.

It was actually my buddy's idea to have this thing called a mobile phone just in case we had an emergency. We went to some local place near his house that rented them and we paid about $50 for this giant thing in a box that took up a good part of the back seat. I remember us looking at it on the seat, wondering what the heck we were supposed to do with it. The handset was bigger than my head and it required 2 hands to hold comfortably.

Luckily, we didn't need it. Although, we did lose a hubcap or something down in Mississippi, but we never used the phone. And honestly, I didn't realize how important mobile phones would end up being until ...

1994 (estimated)
I'm at a traffic light in Pittsburgh when some guy slams (read: hits me freakin' hard) me from the rear. No airbags back then, but no injuries, except my 1987 Honda Civic was hurt pretty bad. Trunk crushed in, etc.

The guy gets out and he's all apologetic. Tells me he was trying to find a good song on the radio while lighting his cigarette. He said something very much like ... dude, you understand, right? I mean, I need a good tune. I'm sorry.

And then he said, "Bet you had a cell phone right now."

I did. The next week. A bag phone. Remember those? A bag phone. An AT&T bag phone -- the bag was leather. It had a fold down antenna and a place to put the wire. Wires. Remember those? I have no idea what I paid for it, but it had a big ol' green send button and a big ol' red end button. And an LCD display that said things like "DIALING" and "NO SERVICE" and "ROAMING."

First week I had it, I'm walking from my car to my college -- across a bridge with the phone under my arm -- when I see a guy standing on the railroad tracks yelling for the train to come hit him. I called 911 with my bag phone and the police came and took him away. I might have saved a life that night, and I couldn't have done it without my trusty bag phone

1999-present
Next thing I remember is a Motorola StarTac that made my pocket look like I was carrying something way too big. And then Qualcomm 820 which was sleeker but still large. And then, as the phones got cooler, I got cooler. Later it was an MDA from T-Mobile and now the iPhone.

And I remember articles -- one day, you'll be able to send messages via text. And one day there will be video. And one day .,.. I was in awe. I guess I was destined to be an iPhone blogger, but as you know, I'm a techogeek in general. But now, we demand so many amazing things that at one time weren't even feasible or believable. It's like that with everything in technology, but it's amazing -- at least to me -- to think back to what was and look at how far we come.

Anyone else want to share their early mobile phone stories?

Thanks for calling.

Sunday, October 21, 2007 -- 10 a.m. -- sit on your couch ... 3 feet ahead.

Yesterday, my lovely iWife and I headed to the suburbs -- pretty rare for us city dwellers -- because we needed to visit a Crate and Barrel. OK, needed is a strong word, but we really wanted to get some stuff.

So we went to Oakbrook, which is a cool outdoor/indoor marketplace mall about 20 minutes west of here.

About an hour later (oh that Chicago traffic) we were there. Of course, we used Google Maps to figure out how to go and I screwed up the very first instruction and ended up missing I-290.

Now the mall is just off I-88. And when we left the mall, would you believe there wasn't a single sign for I-88. Not one. It took about 15 minutes for us to find it because once we got on the mall's outer ring, we didn't really know which way to turn. Granted, I didn't reverse the Google Maps directions and maybe I should have, but how can there not be a sign to the major interstate anywhere at this giant mall?

That's when it hit me ... boy would GPS be nice. And sure, I could get it for our car, but I don't want to. I want to carry it around in my pocket and have it at my fingertips just as conveniently as an episode of "Chuck."

Now Apple filed some sort of patent earlier this year or late last that had to do with GPS. So I can only hope it's coming for iPhone 2.0.

After today's crazy road sign deal, I would definitely be first in line for it -- even if it cost a little more.

What do you think? GPS in your iPhone?

Thanks for calling.

Friday, October 19, 2007 -- 12:18 p.m. -- on my couch

There's a lot of talk the past few days about Steve Jobs and the decision to provide an iPhone software development kit (SDK) in February.

People are actually questioning whether or not this was planned all along.

Those people obviously don't know Steve Jobs.

I think Steve is probably one of the most brilliant people on the planet. He's a businessman like no other who understands that Apple's success is about much more than metallic handsets and software with reflective icons.

But this genius has made mistakes. The $200 price cut on the iPhone? Definitely a mistake from the customer service standpoint. From a marketing standpoint? It's back to genius because the iPhone is going to sell better than a 49 cent Tickle Me Elmo.

But back to the SDK -- people are questioning whether or not it was planned. Of course it was planned.

Consider:

1. Apple releases the iPhone. It's cooler than cool but it's no Palm. There's not even a to-do list.
2. Hackers, jailbreakers and other assorted geeks get to work breaking open the phone and creating applications for it. Steve and company watch from the vaulted walls of Apple USA in Cupertino, Calif., and, with or without an evil laugh, Steve proclaims "see? They want more.
3. Software/firmware upgrades are sent out with two distinct purposes. The company line is to fix bugs ... some of that was successful, some not so much. The other purpose is to disable the hacks before they got too far out of Apple's hands, because at the end of the day, Apple will remain in control of its phone, despite the distance some of the hacking got.
4. Now, Steve uses that interest in jailbreaking/hacking as leverage and comes out with the announcement of allowing 3rd party applications. "Let me just say it: We want native third party applications on the iPhone, and we plan to have an SDK in developers’ hands in February, Steve wrote the other day. "We are excited about creating a vibrant third party developer community around the iPhone and enabling hundreds of new applications for our users."

So, Scott, why didn't Apple just skip the whole rigamaroll and release an iPhone with 367 icons? Because it wouldn't coincide with Apple's flair for the dramatic. Why didn't it just release the phone at $399? Because the $100 credit from Super Steve wouldn't have happened. Why didn't Apple release the phone without the blank row of icons? Again, drama. It's like that post I wrote a while back ... Apple knew that a blank row of icons would have us salavating to the point where we're wiping the iPhone's glass. Why did Apple say for years and years and years that there was no phone coming. Because he knew that we'd wait and want and wait and wait.

And we did. And we will. And soon our iPhones will do things that we can't imagine them doing. And when Apple wants a piece of that spotlight, it will release its own program that will set our hearts a beating. Like an iPhoto Wi-Fi store (still my idea, but regardless). Or iChat mobile.

And when they want to make a splash beyond splashes? There will be an iPhone nano or an iPhone 3G or an iPhone video that videoconferences around the world. When Steve uses his iPhone out and about, I'd be willing to bet his is operating on 3G.

It's about the tease, the tantalizing -- some rabid fans may call it torture -- that Apple is famous for.

At the end of the day, though, remember one thing ... it's good for us as consumers ... the patient ones.

Comments always welcome, for and against.

Thanks for calling.

Monday, October 15, 2007 -- 1:06 p.m. -- at my desk

It's obvious that i'm a huge Mac fan, but one thing that I'm not afraid to do is tell it like it is -- even when it's not particularly positive for Apple.

I love the iPhone. I think it's the greatest thing since sliced bread. But, it's got its flaws and they extend from the speed of AT&T network to buggy software and everything in between.

And that's why Apple needs to be very careful.

When I see Microsoft talking about how it's going to surpass the iPod and change the world, I laugh. It's just funny, because it's not going to happen in my lifetime.

But when I see people saying that there's no competition for the iPhone, I laugh as well ... but not in a funny way.

I can sit here all day and try to find the shortcomings of Verizon's new Voyager and other Samsung and LG models that claim they'll give the iPhone a run for its money. There's plenty of shortcomings. But at the end of the day, Apple doesn't have the lock on the smartphone market that it has on the portable audio/video market.

While Apple can't magically turn the current line of iPhones into amazing 3G workhorses -- we'll need new hardware for that -- it can change the face of the iPhone by fixing what ails it. It can get rid of the echo that was reintroduced in 1.1.1. It can add a message counter for SMS. It can do a lot to answer the concerns of people like me. And that will go a long way.

But this is a new battle. For the iPod, the competition is about 10 miles back. The competition for the iPhone is close behind in the rear view mirror. A few car lengths. Apple can't afford to sit back for one second if it wants to repeat its successes.

All thoughts are always welcome.

Thanks for calling.