It's actually a phone AND an iPod AND a fully functioning (Safari) web browser AND a PDA with Desktop class applications with the world's easiest interface rolled into one. And, it costs a lot less than if you were to go out and buy an iPod and a decent phone separately. Still seems expensive though. But, I guess you could call it a bargain.
I was hoping for more than 8gig max though. I'll hold out for the second generation. I'd rather havea thicker phone with more drive space.
The phone itself seems pretty good and well thought out but I don't like the idea of using iTunes to sync everything. iTunes is a dog of a program. If they included an option to sync with Outlook, as they do on the iPod, then I'd be a lot happier.
EDIT: What about that screen? Scratches? Remember the Nano!
Looks AWESOME!! But then again.. who needs such a gadget?? Impressing your friends only lasts a few days. I'm still waiting for a coffee machine built into a car
bjrn, 13 hours agoLooks great. I love that it has no buttons at all, but it is a tad pricey. I bet those $500/$600 (depending on which version you get) will just become €500/€600 (roughly $650/$780) or even more over in Europe.
Think yourself lucky, no doubt that will translate into something silly like £500-£600 in Rip-Off-Britain (roughly $969-$1163).
8GB is a little disappointing, but it'd do me! If I need more portable storage I'll just pick up an eSATA/USB enclosure and stick a 160-300GB 2.5" HDD in it.
The most annoying thing I find is the sodding iPod connector! Give me a universal USB connector any day of the week, I hate all these crappy proprietary connections. Actually, that's the main thing I have against iPods as well, except the price ofc
Not only does the proprietary connector allow the iPod and iPod shuffles to be smaller and thinner, it allows users to switch between USB and Firewire iPod cords seamlessly. It also prevents someone from using a generic cord that isn't up to proper rating.
Thinner? Than a mini USB connector? Perhaps, but we're talking less than a millimetre, so that's a non-event in my book. Besides, a mini connector is FAR narrower.
It may prevent someone using a cord that isn't properly rated, but it also stops me using a cord that is! It's just an example of proprietary irritation that Sony so favours. There's no reason they couldn't release an Apple iPod branded mini USB cable that *is* properly rated anyway...
It turns out there is a very good reason why a standard USB cord wouldn't work. The iPod wouldn't be able to do what it does if it weren't for the 30-pin connector. For instance, while you might think of the connector as doing the tasks of a simple USB cable, you would be overlooking most of what the iPod can do. Of the 30 pins on the connector, basic USB functionality is dedicated to only 4 of the pins. Remember, the iPod plugs into other things like: Cars, Bose SoundDocks, TVs, portable power adapters, etc.
For instance, here is a layout of each of the 30 pins on the iPod connector:
1 Ground
2 GND Audio & Video ground (-)
3 Right Line Out — R (+)
4 Left Line Out — L (+)
5 Right In Line In — R (+)
6 Left In Line In — L (+)
7
8 Video Out
9 C S-Video Chrominance
10 Y S-Video Luminance
11 GND Serial GND
12 Tx iPod sending line, Serial TxD
13 Rx iPod receiving line, Serial RxD
14
15 GND Ground (-)
16 GND USB GND (-)
17
18 3.3V 3.3V Power (+)
19, 20 +12V FireWire Power 12 VDC (+)
21 Serial enable. Different power resistances indicate accessory type: iPod docking station, photo import mode, serial communication. iPod shuts down automatically when power disconnected. When this pin is grounded it closes a switch so that on loss of power the Ipod shuts off. Dock has the same Resister.
22 TPA (-) FireWire Data TPA (-)
23 5 VDC (+) USB Power 5 VDC (+)
24 TPA (+) FireWire Data TPA (+)
25 Data (-) USB Data (-)
26 TPB (-) FireWire Data TPB (-)
27 Data (+) USB Data (+)
28 TPB (+) FireWire Data TPB (+)
29, 30 GND FireWire Ground (-)
As you can see, a simple USB cable would not be able to do stereo audio In/Out, power adapter connections, serial connections, Firewire transfers, and S-Video uplinks. So, instead of making devices with half a dozen different cables and specific ports for each one of those cable types, Apple just decided to use one port to make your life easier and make the device a lot smaller without sacrificing any functionality. It's pretty ingenious.
Ignoring Firewire (because, well, why not? What does it do that USB doesn't?), it basically has analogue video and audio. So what's wrong with having that as a separate connector right next to a mini usb port? You could even still have a single wide proprietary cable like they do now that includes everything? BUT, you'd still be able to use a standard USB cable for data and syncing your iWhatever pretty much no matter where you are.
I can't remember how many times my brother-in-law has wanted to charge his iPod, give me some photos, take a couple of data files back with him when he's come to visit, but can't because he's forgotten his proprietary iPod cable. Maybe he shouldn't forget it, but perhaps Apple should have applied a little more of its famed usability to the cable as well as just the software.
I just read the Tech Specs properly. No 3G?
Lets hope when the iPhones reaches the UK they've swapped out that EDGE rubbish and put in 3G/UMTS. Glaring omission.
I'm with Jazzman. The Apple TV looks pretty sweet.
Quote: SirNot and I'm not going to even say anything to wanderer, as he's just going to go off on another huge worship rant again Rant? Me rant? Whenever did I rant? The product speaks for itself, it's an incredible leap forward in mobile phone technology and design. If nothing else, it will give others something to aim at.
My Nokia requires 7 clicks of 2 buttons (one hard and one soft) to set up a text message for sending then, after composing, it requires a click, a menu selection and another click to actually send it. Bloody ridiculous if you ask me, and don't get me started on syncing contacts... Anyway I don't want to rant, is saying the obvious and praising an excellent product ranting?
Posted: Thursday, 11 January 2007 at 7:16AM (AEDT)
Comments
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Take a break and enjoy a webcomic!
nemu*nemu
I'd much rather:
www.myextralife.com
www.comics.com/comics/pearls
Posted: Wednesday, 10 January 2007 at 11:53AM (AEDT)
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Take a break and enjoy a webcomic!
nemu*nemu
8GB is a little disappointing, but it'd do me! If I need more portable storage I'll just pick up an eSATA/USB enclosure and stick a 160-300GB 2.5" HDD in it.
The most annoying thing I find is the sodding iPod connector! Give me a universal USB connector any day of the week, I hate all these crappy proprietary connections. Actually, that's the main thing I have against iPods as well, except the price ofc
It may prevent someone using a cord that isn't properly rated, but it also stops me using a cord that is! It's just an example of proprietary irritation that Sony so favours. There's no reason they couldn't release an Apple iPod branded mini USB cable that *is* properly rated anyway...
how is it ingenious? I thought companies have been making proprietary cables since, like, the dawn of the computer age.
and I'm not going to even say anything to wanderer, as he's just going to go off on another huge worship rant again
I can't remember how many times my brother-in-law has wanted to charge his iPod, give me some photos, take a couple of data files back with him when he's come to visit, but can't because he's forgotten his proprietary iPod cable. Maybe he shouldn't forget it, but perhaps Apple should have applied a little more of its famed usability to the cable as well as just the software.
http://www.centernetworks.com/three-reasons-why-the-iphone
Rant? Me rant? Whenever did I rant? The product speaks for itself, it's an incredible leap forward in mobile phone technology and design. If nothing else, it will give others something to aim at.
My Nokia requires 7 clicks of 2 buttons (one hard and one soft) to set up a text message for sending then, after composing, it requires a click, a menu selection and another click to actually send it. Bloody ridiculous if you ask me, and don't get me started on syncing contacts...
Anyway I don't want to rant, is saying the obvious and praising an excellent product ranting?
Posted: Thursday, 11 January 2007 at 7:16AM (AEDT)