TMO at Macworld - iPhone Blows Away Attendee Expectations
by , 6:00 PM EST, January 9th, 2007
Note: The full interviews for this article are available as a podcast, and includes a cameo from TMO's own Bob "Dr. Mac" Levitus. You can subscribe to the Apple Weekly Report feed, find it at the iTunes Store, or take the direct link to its MP3 Version.
San Francisco, CA -- The keynote hall has barely quieted down, and Apple's newest product even isn't yet legal to operate in the US, but the verdict is in: the iPhone is a killer product.
In a series of interviews conducted with attendees leaving the keynote hall, not a single person expressed less than excitement and enthusiasm over the keynote, the iPhone's debut, and it's feature set. When pressed, few could come up with features they might have wished for.
Casual attendees, exhibitors, and experienced Mac enthusiasts said the keynote presentation itself was "excellent," "very good," "amazing," "best ever," and "awesome." Reactions to the iPhone itself -- the only product discussed in detail during Steve Job's Keynote -- were universally positive.
All but one of our ten interviewees planned to buy an iPhone, and two were planning to switch their cell service to Cingular to make that possible. The one user who was not planning to purchase an iPhone was not particularly focused on owning a smart phone, and was turned off by the small (4-8GB) storage capacity.
Keynote attendees said they thought they might become more critical once they got to use an iPhone for real.
One interviewee, Eric Walstram from Los Angeles, expressed a prevailing sentiment: "I thought there'd be more of a first generation element to [iPhone], but this is like a fifth generation element right out of the gate."
I was hoping Apple would have a simpler phone at a lower price point.
I may be wrong but I'll be surprised if Apple sells 10 million of these at $500 or $600. Perhaps that would happen at at half that cost, but this seems beyond the range of most people.
Also, I'm disappointed at the lack of Mac announcements. What's Apple showing in their booth?
This is the intial product only, there will be more to come. I work in a learning center, we're looking at this as a major shift that finally resolves many of the issues that previous portable devices faild at. Just traveling through the airport alone has gotten better. No need to lug the laptop, phone/blacberry, and iPod in many cases when this will do all that and more.
I suspect we'll see an iPod shortly that has the new screen without the other stuff for those who still have a long way to go on their current phone contract.
My only request is that other providers be opened up, Cingular is not a great provider if you're off the interstae.
I just returned a Cingular 8525 a few weeks ago because for $450 bucks it was less of a phone, and took two hands, a stylus and complete focus to make a phone call. basically, pulling over to tside of the road, or waiting for a stoplight.
This phone is amazing, and from the keynote, appears to be a better phone than the 8525 (which has 3G and WiFi) or the Treo 750 I tried a few months before. I'll keep my v3 until this puppy comes out in June.
And it gives me time to budget for it. :-> I was ready to hit the Apple Store tonight...my wife would have shot me.
CloseViewName:TerrinPosts: 386Joined: 29 Jan 2006 Tue Jan 09, 2007 9:18 pmSubject:
The only two things I do like about the iPhone is 1) the name, and 2) the price. I think it should just be called something like the iPod Phone (or something else with "iPod" in the name). I think people will be more willing to cough out the big bucks for an iPod.
The price, however, I can understand. This is essentially a very small handheld Mac. It runs OSX, and can eventually do most things a Mac can do. I suspect many Mac developers will start porting applications to it. Further, like Apple said, it has over 200 patents on this thing.
The iPhone is great, and I will get one someday (once my contract is up this summer) but I was hoping for an updated iLife, and iWork. It was kind of disappointing that nothing was shipping today, like previous MacWorld's.
I hope Apple does another mini event before then end of the 1st quarter, and announces a new iLife, and iWork update. Also, I was hoping for another Leopard preview.
I guess I like the instant gratification of being able to purchase something from the Apple Store, after the keynote
The new iPhone is very expensive! Too expensive for the average user. Sure, it is three devices in one. But what will the Cingular Wireless Service cost?! Through the roof! Not to mention the fact that the Internet infrastructure sucks. You can't even watch the QuickTime Stream of the Keynote Address without fits and starts!
Wouldn't it be funny if Apple can't use the name iPhone? They've yet to acquire the rights to the name.
iPhone and iTV. Luxury items from a company that used to produce computers.
Way too expensive for a tiny storage limit.
A cute swiss army knife gimmick. I don't care about portable music so the iPod never moved me, I can't stand cell phones so who cares about that. What else is there? GPS? Well, if you get lost a lot I guess that's cool.
5-6 bills? I'll pass and keep stringing up the Dixie Cup string for my communications.
I'm an Apple Computer Inc. long time fan and user, NOT a Sony er, I mean Apple Inc. fan. Jobs better start paying a little more attention to the Mac - and I don't mean Leopard. There are cool features in Vista that actually out-Apple Apple!
CloseViewName:gslusherPosts: 2073Joined: 13 Nov 2002 Tue Jan 09, 2007 11:06 pmSubject: Not quite
Quote
Guest wrote:
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stuartea wrote: Yes, I'd liked to have seen a slim light-weight MacBook, but with the iPhone looking amazing, I'm really not that let down.
It is called the macbook pro.
Ah, no. The MacBook Pro is LARGER than the MacBook. (Remember that the smaller MacBook Pro has a 15.4" screen, while the MacBook has a 13.3" screen. If you got confused at a store, remember that the MacBook is white or black, while the MacBook Pro is aluminum, like the latest PowerBooks were.)
MacBook: 12.78" x 8.92" x 1.08", 5.2 lbs
MacBook Pro: 14.1" x 9.6" x 1", 5.6 lbs
Quote
Guest wrote: The new iPhone is very expensive! Too expensive for the average user. ...
The iPhone is not aimed at the "average user," who wants a free phone. (Of course, it's "free" if one signs up for a 2- or 3-year contract.) The iPhone's direct competitors are the "smartphones" like the Treos. Those are almost as expensive--$399 for an unlocked Treo 680, $199 with a Cingular contract. The latest, the Treo 750, will be $399 WITH a contract.
Quote
iPhone and iTV. Luxury items from a company that used to produce computers.
Funny. That's just what was said about the first iPod. It cost $399 for the 5GB model, $499 for the 10 GB that came out shortly afterward. That was 5 years ago. Assuming a 3% average inflation rate, that would be about $462 and $578 in today's dollars.
The Apple TV (not iTV) is not a "luxury" item for those who already have a $1,500-3,000 HDTV.
Last edited by gslusher on Tue Jan 09, 2007 11:13 pm; edited 1 time in total Reply | Quote
Just when you thought they made the perfect cell phone, you discover the camera is on backwards if you want to do videochat. If it really is Mac OS X on there, wouldn't one of the killer products be iChat? I mean with 802.11g support, you should be able to go to any WiFi hotspot and get on videochat with your favorite friends. As it is, chat is SMS only, and the camera only takes pictures behind the phone and not in front where your face would be.
Guest wrote: Just when you thought they made the perfect cell phone, you discover the camera is on backwards if you want to do videochat. If it really is Mac OS X on there, wouldn't one of the killer products be iChat? I mean with 802.11g support, you should be able to go to any WiFi hotspot and get on videochat with your favorite friends. As it is, chat is SMS only, and the camera only takes pictures behind the phone and not in front where your face would be.
The camera is where it is so that you can see what it's taking on the display. Every cell phone camera I've seen is done that way, for that reason. It's probably many times (I'd guess at least 100 times) more likely that the phone will be used to take pictures than for video chat.
Guest wrote: Way too expensive for a tiny storage limit.
A cute swiss army knife gimmick. I don't care about portable music so the iPod never moved me, I can't stand cell phones so who cares about that. What else is there? GPS? Well, if you get lost a lot I guess that's cool.
5-6 bills? I'll pass and keep stringing up the Dixie Cup string for my communications.
I'm an Apple Computer Inc. long time fan and user, NOT a Sony er, I mean Apple Inc. fan. Jobs better start paying a little more attention to the Mac - and I don't mean Leopard. There are cool features in Vista that actually out-Apple Apple!
Want some cheese with that whine?
"Who cares about that?" Talk about self-centered arrogance. Apparently, this guest thinks that, since he/she doesn't want to listen to music and hates cell phones, everyone else must feel the same. No one is going to hold a gun to his/her head and force him/her to buy the iPhone.
As for too much for such low storage capacity, remember that the iPhone's competitors are the "smartphones," not the cheap phones by LG, Kyocera, etc. (which are cheap ONLY if one signs up for a 2- or 3-year contract). Smartphones typically have 64-128 MB built-in storage plus support for an SD card. Regular SD cards only go to 2 GB, though SDHC (SD High Capacity) are now available in 4 GB. The SDHC cards don't work with all devices, though. Let's assume that they do work with the Treo 680. With a contract, the 680 costs $199. Add a 4 MB SDHC card at $115 (SanDisk--there are some cheaper brands) and it's $314. Add an 8 GB SDHC card (Silicon Power) at $190 and it's $389. If you go with the latest Treo, $399 with a 2-year contract, the numbers become $514 and $589. Even then, you don't have WiFi, a large screen, or the exceptional interface.
Edited to make the comparison between the iPhone and clearer.
Last edited by gslusher on Wed Jan 10, 2007 1:31 am; edited 1 time in total Reply | Quote
CloseViewName:Guest Tue Jan 09, 2007 11:40 pmSubject:
Your comments are excusable if you're 12 years old. Otherwise I'm not sure what you're trying to say here. You either think the price is correct for the product and therefore people will pay it... because it's another killer product from Apple, or it needs to be tagged with the 'iPod' name so that stupid people know what it is!!
In case you missed the message, it's an iPhone made by Apple. Having just canvassed a bunch of Martians disembarking a ship in the parking lot down by the mall, I can assure you they didn't need a map!
CloseViewName:Guest Tue Jan 09, 2007 11:54 pmSubject:
"I'm an Apple Computer Inc. long time fan and user, NOT a Sony er, I mean Apple Inc. fan. Jobs better start paying a little more attention to the Mac - and I don't mean Leopard. There are cool features in Vista that actually out-Apple Apple!"
What??
Will the children please just go to bed now... it is a school night. But assuming you're not a child, name one feature that can "out-Apple Apple!"
Since everything Gates whined on about being "exciting" and "new" at CES has been Mac OS X feature for at least a year now, and obviously copied from Apple, surprise me.
Steve Jobs is the single most focussed CEO on the planet with the best record, best product portfolio, best feature set and best sales performance in his sector. What do you really think he needs to do to satisfy the real market??
CloseViewName:JimWCBPosts: 301Joined: 29 Aug 2002 Tue Jan 09, 2007 11:54 pmSubject:
Quote
Guest wrote: It is also the first "iPod" with user replaceble battery!
Where have you seen that the battery is replaceable?
I'd be nice if it was, especially since phone users are used to being able to have a spare charged battery around to continue a conversation. But I haven't seen any mention of it being replaceable today. Not in the tech specs, for sure.
I like the iPhone, but would like a hard drive version with 40-80GB of storage. 8GB isn't going to allow for many movies/tv shows on what is a great video player otherwise.
I'd be on the lookout for a phoneless hard drive iPod based on the new interface, maybe even before the iPhone ships in June.
CloseViewName:Guest Wed Jan 10, 2007 12:16 amSubject: Meh...
A neat little convergence device. I'll wait for an unlocked G3 before I adopt. Cingular may be popular, but in the NE, it's crap. Also, I get nervous when there are too many fingers in the pie. Apple gets a cut, cingular gets one, along with others whose hands will be out bigtime when this lands in the stores.
give me an unlocked iPhone, drop the price 100 smackers, increase the storage to 16Gb and then I'll be a buyin'
Note that Jobs said that the iPhone runs OS X. That probably means that it will be open for other developers to make more software. What we saw is like the basic stuff that comes with Tiger.
Screw the camera pointing out the back of the thing. Point it towards the user, and put iChat video on the damn thing. It's got WiFi, why not iChat AV? Imagine sitting at a Starbucks (not making prank phone calls) and video chatting with your peeps, remotely?
CloseViewName:kenaustusPosts: 602Joined: 27 Jun 2003 Wed Jan 10, 2007 1:28 amSubject:
Personally I believe it's a great product and is going to change the industry. You KNOW that the competition has already sent their engineers and designers back to the labs.
The pricing isn't that bad when you compare it to a 4 Gb iPod + smart phone. Just watch the backorder develop when Apple starts shipping - even if production is already underway.
With OS X included I have a feeling that developers are going to be drooling - especially the ones that develop affordable shareware. Being the first to move small apps and/or widgets to the iPhone opens up a whole new market, and it's one that includes Window users.
CloseViewName:Guest Wed Jan 10, 2007 1:29 amSubject:
Quote
gslusher wrote:
Quote
Guest wrote: Just when you thought they made the perfect cell phone, you discover the camera is on backwards if you want to do videochat. If it really is Mac OS X on there, wouldn't one of the killer products be iChat? I mean with 802.11g support, you should be able to go to any WiFi hotspot and get on videochat with your favorite friends. As it is, chat is SMS only, and the camera only takes pictures behind the phone and not in front where your face would be.
The camera is where it is so that you can see what it's taking on the display. Every cell phone camera I've seen is done that way, for that reason. It's probably many times (I'd guess at least 100 times) more likely that the phone will be used to take pictures than for video chat.
Personally, I'd rather video chat with my bad-ass $600 phone. Any choad can take pictures with their phone. I wanna blow grandma's socks off. The camera is pointed the wrong way. Period.
CloseViewName:Guest Wed Jan 10, 2007 1:30 amSubject:
Quote
Guest wrote: Way too expensive for a tiny storage limit.
A cute swiss army knife gimmick. I don't care about portable music so the iPod never moved me, I can't stand cell phones so who cares about that. What else is there? GPS? Well, if you get lost a lot I guess that's cool.
5-6 bills? I'll pass and keep stringing up the Dixie Cup string for my communications.
I'm an Apple Computer Inc. long time fan and user, NOT a Sony er, I mean Apple Inc. fan. Jobs better start paying a little more attention to the Mac - and I don't mean Leopard. There are cool features in Vista that actually out-Apple Apple!
Your cave is calling. They want you to come home. The bats miss you.
CloseViewName:Guest Wed Jan 10, 2007 1:32 amSubject:
Quote
Guest wrote: I just returned a Cingular 8525 a few weeks ago because for $450 bucks it was less of a phone, and took two hands, a stylus and complete focus to make a phone call. basically, pulling over to tside of the road, or waiting for a stoplight.
This phone is amazing, and from the keynote, appears to be a better phone than the 8525 (which has 3G and WiFi) or the Treo 750 I tried a few months before. I'll keep my v3 until this puppy comes out in June.
And it gives me time to budget for it. :-> I was ready to hit the Apple Store tonight...my wife would have shot me.
You're one of those dickheads that should pay more attention to driving than to how to operate their cell phone. Thanks for admitting it to everyone here. Try not to take it personally the next time I honk at you and call you a retarded jerk wad. It's just because you're a retarded jerk wad is all.
CloseViewName:gslusherPosts: 2073Joined: 13 Nov 2002 Wed Jan 10, 2007 1:36 amSubject: The camera
Quote
Guest wrote: Screw the camera pointing out the back of the thing. Point it towards the user, and put iChat video on the damn thing. It's got WiFi, why not iChat AV? Imagine sitting at a Starbucks (not making prank phone calls) and video chatting with your peeps, remotely?
That was a letdown in my book.
YAW -- Yet Another Whiner
Did you read the comment above? The camera is on the back for a damned good reason. Otherwise, you wouldn't be able to see what you're taking. Have you ever seen a digital camera with the lens and the display on the same side?
Guest wrote: Personally, I'd rather video chat with my bad-ass $600 phone. Any choad can take pictures with their phone. I wanna blow grandma's socks off. The camera is pointed the wrong way. Period.
Ah, so what you want should drive Apple and the hell with millions of other people?
How much do you want to bet that there will be an accessory with a mirror? There already is such a device for the iSight on MacBooks and MacBook Pros, plus the software to flip the image. That way, those who want to use it as a chat device can, while most can use it as a camera.
Of course, you are ASSUMING that the camera takes videos. Jobs didn't say that it does. That may be in the works, but we don't know, yet.
Some of the comments are either plain stupid (80 gig hard drive in a phone, for gods sake) or trolls - The 'Apple fan' who thinks Vista (LOL) is better than OSX.
This is a great piece of work, and by the time it is released, it will be superb.
It is the first phone that actually has a good interface, not some weird basic program from 1972 like all the rest.
I will buy one - when they come to Canada.
Well done Apple and Steve Jobs - only Apple could do this.
Anyone mentioning any M$ products on this page is a damn fool or a troll.
CloseViewName:Guest Wed Jan 10, 2007 3:08 amSubject:
<<"I'm an Apple Computer Inc. long time fan and user, NOT a Sony er, I mean Apple Inc. fan. Jobs better start paying a little more attention to the Mac - and I don't mean Leopard. There are cool features in Vista that actually out-Apple Apple!" >>
<<What??
Will the children please just go to bed now... it is a school night. But assuming you're not a child, name one feature that can "out-Apple Apple!"
Since everything Gates whined on about being "exciting" and "new" at CES has been Mac OS X feature for at least a year now, and obviously copied from Apple, surprise me. >>
Sure, just read the following link from ....The Mac Observer re: Vista and Vista Ultimate--
As far as I know there ain't no desktop video in Tiger; no one click to revert back to previous saves; Media Center streaming to TV w/o a set-top box, no "home server" equivalent; Online integration with XBox & PC ( do you even know the potential of this??); one click photo stitching in Photo Gallery...
now it's time for the myopic Apple fanboys to say that they don't care about Games, Photo art, high def integration etc.
I am an Apple fan...that's why I observe albeit without that weird holier than thou attitude that the apple drones have.
It's a CELL PHONE...get it??? I don't care if it's "smart" or not. Talk about arrogance....Leave the phone home...what are you ..a doctor?
Portable music? I'm a musician and I still say....what? $5-6 bills for what?
The only "Weaner" <- nice spelling, "Guest", is the nut that can't deal with observations that AREN'T MEAN SPIRITED unlike the attitude of a lot of Mac honks.
The camera lense could've been a swivel unit on the side a la the Nikon Coolpix of a few years ago. But I forgot, it's a cell phone..not a camera.
I expect purchase receipts in my in-box for $6 bills each in June from all you whiners that call criticism whining..or else you are obviously wasting our time by not being serious about this new toy. peace out
<<"I'm an Apple Computer Inc. long time fan and user, NOT a Sony er, I mean Apple Inc. fan. Jobs better start paying a little more attention to the Mac - and I don't mean Leopard. There are cool features in Vista that actually out-Apple Apple!" >>
<<What??
Will the children please just go to bed now... it is a school night. But assuming you're not a child, name one feature that can "out-Apple Apple!"
Since everything Gates whined on about being "exciting" and "new" at CES has been Mac OS X feature for at least a year now, and obviously copied from Apple, surprise me. >>
Sure, just read the following link from ....The Mac Observer re: Vista and Vista Ultimate-- <http://www.macobserver.com/article/2007/01/09.3.shtml>
As far as I know there ain't no desktop video in Tiger; no one click to revert back to previous saves; Media Center streaming to TV w/o a set-top box, no "home server" equivalent; Online integration with XBox & PC ( do you even know the potential of this??); one click photo stitching in Photo Gallery...
now it's time for the myopic Apple fanboys to say that they don't care about Games, Photo art, high def integration etc.
I am an Apple fan...that's why I observe albeit without that weird holier than thou attitude that the apple drones have.
It's a CELL PHONE...get it??? I don't care if it's "smart" or not. Talk about arrogance....Leave the phone home...what are you ..a doctor?
Portable music? I'm a musician and I still say....what? $5-6 bills for what?
The only "Weaner" <- nice spelling, "Guest", is the nut that can't deal with observations that AREN'T MEAN SPIRITED unlike the attitude of a lot of Mac honks.
The camera lense could've been a swivel unit on the side a la the Nikon Coolpix of a few years ago. But I forgot, it's a cell phone..not a camera.
I expect purchase receipts in my in-box for $6 bills each in June from all you whiners that call criticism whining..or else you are obviously wasting our time by not being serious about this new toy. peace out
CloseViewName:Rainy DayPosts: 607Joined: 07 Jun 2005 Wed Jan 10, 2007 3:35 amSubject: Camera
The wireless bandwidth is probably not capable of supporting video streaming.
Also, note that they say the iPhone runs “OS X,†not Mac OS X. And this thing probably has some kind of CPU far different from Core. Porting apps may not be so easy, and Apple has made no mention of opening the iPhone platform up to third parties. If they do, they may regulate it like they do iPod games. Don’t expect Joe shareware writer to be producing iPhone apps anytime soon.
I'm buying two of them come June. One for me, and one for my wife.
Sure, they are expensive. There are some limitations.
BUT:
1. The competitors simply suck.
2. Smart money is Leopard is going to have some crazy tie-in features to the phone. Perhaps the ability to use your Mac as a speaker phone to the phone.
CloseViewName:WetcoastBobPosts: 82Joined: 17 Aug 2006 Wed Jan 10, 2007 3:43 amSubject: da Phone
Really!! All I want a phone to do is: PHONE! I do not have time to figure out and learn how all this stuff works. I HAVE WORK TO DO! KISS....Keep It Simple Stupid!
The next steps: improve the hardware, add speech recognition, transfer screen data wirelessly to a display near you and develop sensors to measure everything. And ... change the name to "Tricorder".
CloseViewName:Guest Wed Jan 10, 2007 5:20 amSubject: Phone
I am very frustrated they have an exclusive contract with cingular, very dumb move in my opinion. I have been with tmobile since 99 and just renewed my contract to get the pearl not long ago and will NOT be switching to cingular though I would gladly cough up the 599 for the iphone.... They need to release with other companys or release a "limited capability" phone (ie: visual voicemail) that is or can be unlocked. It was bittersweet learning of the iphone because of that.
CloseViewName:stuarteaPosts: 327Joined: 08 Aug 2005 Wed Jan 10, 2007 5:32 amSubject:
That is neither that ultra slim nor lightweight.
Quote
Guest wrote:
Quote
stuartea wrote:
Yes, I'd liked to have seen a slim light-weight MacBook, but with the iPhone looking amazing, I'm really not that let down.
It is called the macbook pro.
Last edited by stuartea on Wed Jan 10, 2007 5:54 am; edited 2 times in total Reply | Quote
CloseViewName:stuarteaPosts: 327Joined: 08 Aug 2005 Wed Jan 10, 2007 5:42 amSubject:
I'll be interested in who they choose to partner with in the UK. T-mobile here are awful. I'm with Orange (Apple & Orange, that would be a good one).
I just wonder if we'll get the same voice-mail support? We're still waiting for movie/TV downloads and it does seem often not all the 'nice' features make it out of the USA.
I think like most, the only thing I saw as missing on day one (Just like to point out, the iPhone looks great, these are just tiny things).
The lack of an iChat/skype or messenger support.
Quote
Guest wrote: I am very frustrated they have an exclusive contract with cingular, very dumb move in my opinion. I have been with tmobile since 99 and just renewed my contract to get the pearl not long ago and will NOT be switching to cingular though I would gladly cough up the 599 for the iphone.... They need to release with other companys or release a "limited capability" phone (ie: visual voicemail) that is or can be unlocked. It was bittersweet learning of the iphone because of that.
CloseViewName:sleepygeekPosts: 4979Joined: 17 Jan 2006 Wed Jan 10, 2007 7:39 amSubject:
Quote
stuartea wrote: ...I think like most, the only thing I saw as missing on day one (Just like to point out, the iPhone looks great, these are just tiny things).
The lack of an iChat/skype or messenger support.
...
This is clearly a sensitive issue with carriers. Apple will have no trouble selling enough iPhones without it. It won't be released if Apple gets the deals with carriers that it wants. Apple is surely saying to carriers: stay out of our core business (handset supply, content distribution, internet services) and we'll stay out of yours (voice & SMS). The threat of wifi/wimax taking the carriers revenue in fairly short order is a constant implied threat in all carrier negotiations. Carriers have 3 choices: a deal with Apple, a competitor has a deal with Apple, and Apple as direct competitor. It's pretty obvious which is the most comfortable of those.
Guest wrote: Personally, I'd rather video chat with my bad-ass $600 phone. Any choad can take pictures with their phone. I wanna blow grandma's socks off. The camera is pointed the wrong way. Period.
EXACTLY. i mean the interface blew me away but i was fully expecting straight up handheld video chats / ichat integration. It was the glaring omission.
another camera behine the screeen perhaps? come on!
