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iPhone

Will iPhone be as successful as the Ipod? Will consumers abandon buying separate MP3 Players and phones for a device that fulfils both functions? Time will tell.

The iPhone is a blend of an iPod and high-end mobile phone and includes a 2 megapixel camera, large screen, internet access and more. It will come in two models which will hold 4GB or 8 Gb. It is due to be launched in the US in June 2007, with Europe to follow later the year.

Chief Executive Steve Jobs unveiled the iPhone on January 9, 2007 at the Macworld show in San Francisco. The iPhone is shaped like a chocolate bar and is only 11.6mm thick and is every bit as impressive as you'd expect from Apple.

Just as the Mac introduced the world to the computer mouse, the iPod is famous for its click wheel, the heart of the innovation is its user interface, a sophisticated touch-screen that responds to the flick of a finger. The minimalist styling of the iPhone - it has only one button on its front - is the signature of Jonathan Ive, the award winning designer who is Apple's senior vice president.

Review - 9.5/10

The iPhone has a slick design, touch screen and a mixture of applications. Detractors point out that it has poor battery life, non-removable battery and awkward touch screen texting system that could hurt the gadget’s prospects.

Texting can be only done on the device’s computer-like Qwerty layout, which has no buttons but relies on a touch screen interface. Networks in Europe may not like that because they make money on texts. However, despite its high price, there will be heightened interest in the gadget when it goes on sale.

The current iPhone is 2G, so who knows how long it will take to download large music files and videos. The speed and immediacy that 3G and HSDPA technology affords to mobile music downloading is key.

International financial markets responded positively to the iPhone’s unveiling, with Apple’s price share initially surging almost 8 percent on the news. However, IT networking company Cisco has launched a legal action against Apple, claiming that it had trademarked the name iPhone for one of its products in 2000.

The iPhone's music player is not an imitation of the iPod, but as Steve Jobs said, "the best iPod we've ever made". The 3.5 inch high quality screen is good at displaying album covers, photos or download television shows or movies, all of which can be easily transferred to the device.

It is also great for Google's Maps, available on the iPhone thanks to Apple's partnership with Google. Eric Schmidt, Google's chief executive is an Apple director. Apple also linked up with Yahoo to provide the iPhone with a "push" version of its hugely popular email service.

Competition

Nokia, Microsoft, Palm and others have been working on smartphones but with the exception of Research in Motion's Blackberry, there have been few hit products. Smartphone sales will grow, but for now will remain a small part of the total mobile market. With most of these devices, the elements of compromise is all too evident. Or as Steve Jobs put it at the Macworld "The problem is, they're no so smart and not so easy to use". They struggle he said, because the same set of small, fiddly button are ill-suited to the many, many different tasks that smartphones ask them to perform.

Apple's attempt at a solution is a typical blend of hardware and software. Almost the entire front of the iPhone is a touch screen which thanks to clever software displays only those buttons that are needed at any given time. Contacts and songs can been scrolled with just the touch of a finger.

Pros

iPhone introduces an entirely new user interface based on a large multi-touch display and pioneering new software, letting you control everything with just your fingers. It ushers in an era of software power and sophistication never before seen in a mobile device, completely redefining what you can do on a mobile phone. iPhone can be described as revolutionary.

Cons

Apple's competition meanwhile will argue that existing devices such as Sony Erickson's Walkman range and Nokia's N-Series just do that. Time will.

It will be interesting to see how well it works when it is released. It has the looks and features, but will people find it easy to text since many people will be used to pushing keys. When the the iphone is released, it will be reviewed again.

About

iPhone combines three products: mobile phone, a widescreen iPod with touch controls and Internet communications with desktop class email, web browsing, maps and searching all into one small and lightweight handheld device. The photo is of Steve Jobs, CEO holding the iPhone.

Widescreen iPod

iPhone can be used as a widescreen iPod with touch controls that lets you enjoy all your content including music, audio books, videos, TV shows, and movies on a 3.5-inch widescreen display. It also lets you sync your content from the iTunes library on your PC or Mac. You can access it all with just the touch of a finger.

Phone

iPhone is Apple's first product that features a mobile phone. The phone allows you to make a call by simply pointing your finger at a name or number in your address book, a favourites list or a call log. It also automatically syncs all your contacts from a PC, Mac, or Internet service. It lets you select and listen to voicemail messages in whatever order you want just like email.

Making a call is as simple as touching a name or number. In addition, you can easily construct a favourites list for your most frequently made calls, and quickly merge calls together to create conference calls.

Internet

Safari is the web browser of the iPhone. It features a rich HTML email client and automatically syncs bookmarks from your PC or Mac. Safari also includes built-in Google and Yahoo! search. iPhone is fully multi-tasking, so you can read a web page while downloading your email in the background over Wi-Fi.

Touch Screen

iPhone features the most revolutionary user interface since the mouse. It’s an entirely new interface based on a large touch screen display and innovative new software that lets you control everything using only your fingers. So you can glide through albums with Cover Flow, flip through photos and email them with a touch or zoom in and out on a section of a web page all by simply using iPhone’s touch screen display.

Keyboard

iPhone’s full QWERTY software keyboard lets you easily send and receive SMS messages in multiple sessions. The keyboard is predictive so it prevents and corrects mistakes, making it easier and more efficient to use than the small plastic keyboards on many smartphones.

Mac OS X

Mac OS X  is the computer operating system on the iPhone. This is the first time Mac OS X has been available on a small handheld device. It gives you access to true desktop class applications and software, including rich HTML email, full-featured web browsing, and applications such as widgets, Safari (web browser), calendar, text messaging, Notes, and Address Book. iPhone is fully multi-tasking, so you can read a web page while downloading your email in the background. This software completely redefines what you can do with a mobile phone.

Wireless

iPhone uses quad-band GSM, the global standard for wireless communications. It also supports Cingular’s EDGE network, 802.11b/g Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth 2.0 with EDR, which links to Apple’s new, remarkably compact Bluetooth headset.

Built-in Sensors

iPhone’s accelerometer detects when you rotate the device from portrait to landscape, then automatically changes the contents of the display, so you immediately see the entire width of a web page or a photo in its proper landscape aspect ratio.

The proximity sensor detects when you lift iPhone to your ear and immediately turns off the display to save power and prevent inadvertent touches until iPhone is moved away.

An ambient light sensor automatically adjusts the display’s brightness to the appropriate level for the current ambient light, thereby enhancing the user experience and saving power at the same time.

Specifications

Screen Size: 3.5 inches
Screen Resolution: 320 by 480 at 160 ppi
Input Method:  Multi-touch (Touch Screen)
Operating System: Mac OS X
Storage: 4GB or 8GB
GSM: Quad-band (MHz: 850, 900, 1800, 1900)
Wireless Data: Wi-Fi (802.11b/g) + EDGE + Bluetooth 2.0
Camera: 2.0 megapixels
Battery: Up to 5 hours Talk / Video / Browsing . Up to 16 hours Audio playback.
Dimensions: 4.5 x 2.4 x 0.46 inches / 115 x 61 x 11.6mm
Weight: 4.8 ounces / 135 grams

Please Note:

At the time of writing on Thursday 18th January 2007, the iPhone device has not been authorized as required by the rules of the Federal Communications Commission, USA. This device is not, and may not be, offered for sale or lease, or sold or leased, until authorization is obtained.

Apple iPhone Links:

Apple iPhone: Official Site. Information and picture source.

Macworld San Francisco Keynote Address:  features Apple CEO Steve Jobs.

Cisco Sues Apple Over Use of iPhone Name: from columbian.com on Jan 11 2007

Apple unveils long-awaited iPhone, set-top TV system: Boston.com Business News on Jan 10 2007.

Macworld: News: Apple unveils iPhone: Macworld.com Jan 11 2007.

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