The Apple iPhone 3G has finally landed in Australia. Check out our iPhone Launch Centre for everything iPhone, including news, features, photos, downloads and videos.
During a Q&A with Apple's vice president of iPod products Greg Joswiak, I finally got to play briefly with one of the highly-anticipated iPhones.
Announced yesterday at the Macworld Expo in San Francisco, there are only two iPhones on public display at the convention, both of which are currently rotating on podiums in the main hall, sealed in plastic bubbles and displaying automated demonstrations of its capabilities to crowds of onlookers.
Unfortunately photography was not permitted in the hands-on demo, but I'll try to share my experience during the hasty test period.
An iPhone displaying Google Maps on show at Macworld
The iPhone is one of the most elegant and ravishing phones I've seen so far, due largely to its simple, sleek design and impeccable, intuitive user interface. While fashion phone fans used to teensy handsets might disagree, the iPhone doesn't feel too unwieldy and at just under 12mm thick, it is certainly pocketable. Gliding your finger from left to right on the lower half of the screen unlocks the iPhone and presents you with the Home screen widgets (mini-applications): Text, Calendar, Camera, Photos, Camera, Calculator, Stocks, Maps, Weather, Notes, Clock and Settings. At the bottom of the screen are the iPhone's four final functions (for now): Phone, Mail, Web and iPod.
Although the iPhone runs a version of Mac OS X "optimised for the handheld experience", Joswiak explains it's not an open platform and any updates to applications or software will come through Apple. This closed model, although secure, means you can't install additional custom or third-party apps -- does this mean it isn't defined as a smartphone? It's a model that Joswiak says will continue in the foreseeable future.
While the 8.9 cm screen takes up the vast majority of the front of the device, housed beneath it is the inward curving Home button, which for some reason I thought would be touch sensitive; however, it's clickable. While the room we were in was dimly lit and conducive to making displays look vibrant, the screen didn't fail to impress. It is bright, colourful and seems like a very high resolution for its size.
To get an idea of how to type messages on a buttonless phone, I ducked into SMS. The text message list is grouped by sender. Going into a thread shows a conversation history (both sent and received messages) in cute coloured speech bubbles. Using two thumbs to type a quick couple of words, the touch-sensitive QWERTY worked well -- my accuracy might have been better if I had longer than 3 minutes with the phone. However, I think the virtual keys and the lack of a tactile click feeling won't be everyone's preferred way of text entry.
Next up I wanted to test the pinch and stretch zooming using two fingers, so I went into the Web function where a US newspaper's Web site (New York Times, perhaps) loaded on the screen. In portrait orientation the headlines were barely legible, but with a quick stretch gesture the screen zoomed in and re-rendered the screen in around a second, making its pictures and headlines crisp.
With other journalists in the room still waiting to have their turn with the iPhone, I quickly went back to the Home screen -- the Home button gets you back here from anywhere almost instantly -- and into Maps. Google provides the mapping service widget. A map of the local San Francisco area swiftly appeared and a red push-pin marker dropped from the top of the screen to mark the location, although we're not sure if that was a bookmark or if the iPhone was approximating our location with triangulation from mobile phone towers -- something to check on the show floor later.
Orientation changes as expected when the iPhone is tipped on its side, allowing you to see Web sites, videos, maps and photos in landscape mode. Multi-touch is a fantastic feature for zooming in and out and panning. Apple isn't mentioning how much system memory is onboard, but we didn't notice much of a lag between menus or applications -- mind you we didn't push the iPhone's multi-tasking abilities to the extreme.
We were unable to demo the synching process with iTunes, and are disappointed that Wi-Fi can't be used for synching or for direct communication with other iPhones, the latter being one of the major selling points for Microsoft's Zune. Joswiak claimed an advantage of the wired connection is that it's faster and that it charges the device at the same time.
Will the iPhone be a success? Undoubtedly it will be in the US if comments by Macworld attendees are any measurement, but a lot could happen between now and the time it takes for the iPhone to launch in Australia, which representatives from Apple Australia could not narrow down from Steve Jobs' "2008 in Asia".
Addressing the iPhone's lack of 3G connectivity at a time when HSDPA services are flourishing internationally and the impact of future WiMAX technology, Joswiak said that Apple "made some choices that make sense today". Reports of poor battery life could potentially have hurt Apple if it chose to go with 3G from the get-go. Certainly the iPhone is an amazing device and credit must go to Apple for its seamless integration of hardware and software. But what impact will the iPhone's Wi-Fi limitations, closed system, wide and long design, and lack of next-generation mobile technology have on sales?
I'd like to hear your thoughts on the iPhone and Apple's entry into mobile phone market. Please leave your comments below.
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RyanS
11/01/2007 02:32 PM
I love the look and overall idea of the phone, but I certainly won't be getting this when it comes out. I think the lack of a replacable battery is rediculous and in the end a deal breaker. I also think the lack of 3G turns it from a 'Must Have' to a 'Nice to Have'
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devoinregress
11/01/2007 05:40 PM
Smart-phones are very corporate toys. The lack of MS Office support will probably turn many users away. Although it runs on a 2G phone network it still supports Cingulars high speed Internet network and WiFi so I am not too turned off by that. I would love to have one but at that price point I don't know if they are hitting their target audience in the right place. If I could afford it I would get one in a heartbeat, But I can't and it will not hold all of my music so it's questionable and I am the young, scruffy, tech savvy, graphic designer that Apple targets.
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Kyorisu
11/01/2007 09:43 PM
It's a good device you can't say it isn't. The main problem is going to be battery life, you can't have such a good looking touch screen display and not expect to run out of juice quickly.
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TingTorTah
11/01/2007 11:10 PM
If they had waited just a bit longer and had the technology to put a GPS in there too then this product would be unbeatable!! thats the only feature that would of increased its popularity..
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LukeP
11/01/2007 11:31 PM
The iphone is great, but large and clunky looking. The price is also rediculous for such a phone! With lg's similarly designed phone it should bring the price down before it is released in aus but it will still be pricey, a much better touch screen phone that has been around for years and operates great is the neonode http://pencomputing.com/WinCE/neonode-n1-review.html The phones interface seems much more intuative and simple than apples
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jamie.walks
12/01/2007 12:17 AM
It is Definitely A great device and a brilliant idea, however it is lacking technologies of todays nature including 3G HSDPA, 802.11n Wi-Fi, and Pushing the Future technologies such as WiMAX. Devoinregress's Comment above is also an issue, there is no word processor nor Keynote application. I'm sure apple will work there mistakes out in the next 6 months, and hopefully release a 2nd Generation iPhone with these features by 2009. Another problem is the pricing, however i imagine it was an expensive device to make and i know apple will over market too much. Hope All works out ok!
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alphamono
12/01/2007 08:08 AM
Sounds good, but will more than likely be superseeded before it gets to Australia.
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Badi_Nazerian
12/01/2007 03:25 PM
As the technology is fastly developing each day, once the Iphone hits the market the functions will somehow seem old, but with a great look! With a 2 megapixel camera, less battery life and 8 gb of hardrive..the phone will probably just be sold in the states, Unless apple decides to launch it much earlier. Other mobile dealers will develop their new phones with better and more valuable functions - that a touch screen won't be the main goal in purchasing a phone!!!
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v8mumbo
13/01/2007 05:18 PM
Not interested. I want a reliable Nokia Next G 850mhz HSDPA phone to get coverage. Nokia, are you listening?!!
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malchikmelb
14/01/2007 01:21 AM
yes nokia are listening --> N95 :-)
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Kip
14/01/2007 11:53 AM
I think the N95 does not use the 850Mhz frequency for HSDPA. I think the 850Mhz channel is unique to Telstra and one other service provider somewhere else in the world. Unpleasantly non-standard, so perhaps N95 won't be HSDAP enabled in Oz.
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ledbye
15/01/2007 07:15 PM
As far as I know, the iPhone will only work on Telstras 'Next G' network in Australia and there's no way I'm gonna get ripped off by their call rates or plans!
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hawkangel
22/01/2007 04:21 PM
A very sweet looking phone, but in the U.S, you can’t just put any Sim card in the iPhone. You have to sign up with mobile carriers Cingular or AT&T. Other carriers have been locked out of the phone. I’ve been down that round before with the T-mobile sidekick II. Unless there is some hack for it, not worth it, IMO.
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supersomething
26/01/2007 09:57 PM
the iPhone is definitely sexy. the huge screen, the crisp display, also the ingenious and definitely revolutionary interface... however its size is a BIG no-no for those who prefer single hand operation... yours truly included. well.. i'm in asia, so i have more than a year to read the reviews... maybe i would change my mind by then. ;)
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volks
26/01/2007 11:54 PM
I am from australia and was at macworld, I did not get a nice press preview, but I was very aware of the US centric bias of the phone, when you are in san francisco everyone uses smart phones, everyone has access to wifi... it's the norm where as in australia we are screwed by the phone operators, I can see telstra picking this up and offering it to the business jerk who's company pays for all the bells and whistles, internet on your phone... whats the problem where the rest of the public hurt on the price of the phone, and then hurt more over the data charges... I can see apple have to get the operators to tweek their networks for some of the iphones features but I just have a feeling of dread that the winning australian operator will stuff the iphone for everyone here because they will see it as a cash cow and not a phone for everyone to experience... I will find it interesting when someone in the mac hack community starts to open the phone up with some tweeks, then it maybe even more interesting.... ah yes we have a year to wait, or maybe a hack/unlocked iphone from the US earlier if we are lucky...
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anonymous
13/02/2007 05:45 PM
To me, it's amazing, and don't tell me that's the power of advertising at work. Keep in mind that although they probably had a whole board of professional designers on board, this is their first phone. They are obviously leaving themselves room to get better. As the saying goes: There is nowhere to go but up. Personally, even before this was announced, I was wishing Apple would release a iPod/mobile phone. I loved Apple's characteristic design, as it is very aesthetically pleasing, and I was annoyed with having to carry a phone AND an iPod everywhere. I hope the memory allows for at least 2GB of music. Also, is black the only colour available?
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sambo
02/03/2007 01:37 AM
It seems that Crazy Johns will be the only network provider to deliver the iphone (crazy johns is expected to form its own network soon). As crazy johns is the only telco that is a authorised apple reseller they already have their foot in the door.
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alex
25/05/2007 08:25 PM
i love the iphone im a big apple lover have the ipod got the macbook im a huge fan and i definitley will get the iphone even tho it cost 600 buks
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Jimmy Z
01/06/2007 03:17 PM
I saw some videos on the use of the iphone and it has a great design. Unfortunately much like all of apples other products they are just remaking old technology. I've been using a motorolla E6 which has most of the same functions minus wifi and the motion sensor. I've had this for a few months already. By the time the video ipod came out most people have had MP4 players for years. Kudos to apple for recycling old technology and making it simple to use for the average Joe.
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Sami3
05/12/2007 06:01 AM
I thought an IPhone was an Mp3 or Mp4 and a phone
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sss
29/02/2008 02:15 AM
I like iPhone
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Jake :-)
17/06/2008 07:39 PM
I think all this hype is really for nothing. I mean, what makes this phone so special? It has a little apple symbol on the back? I own an N73 and i got to play with an iPhone in a recent holiday to New York, the iPhone was really no different than my N73, which is $199 outright. Now, it does everything I want it to. I can install 3rd party apps, I can send files via Bluetooth, I can record video, and I can send MMS. All these features should be standard. I think the only reason its so big is because its made by apple, who are the most stubborn company in the world. If I want an iPhone on 3, why can't I have it? Apple knows we are just going to jail break it. And when they release new sys firmware, we will just jail break that as well. I think the iPhone is cool and everything, but im not going to swap my N73 for a phone that lacks so much and is only wanted because of its touchscreen.
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