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One big complaint i have bout that Damn Freaking I-phone |
masseur
Joined: Jan 03, 2003
Posts: > 500
From: Sydney, London
PM |
I wouldn't say Apple have a monopoly given that there are plenty of other choices in the market, but its clear that they have an easy and a somewhat irresistable marketable offering to the devices that are compatible
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goldenface
Joined: Dec 17, 2003
Posts: > 500
From: Liverpool City Centre
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And don't forget that PlayNowArena plus is on its way. I read it could come with a never-ending contract too.
This message was posted from a K850i |
carkitter
Joined: Apr 29, 2005
Posts: > 500
From: Auckland, NZ
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Alot of people here don't seem to 'get' what the iPhone is about or why it's so successful. And because they don't understand the reasons for its success they think there must be 'brainwashing' and 'hype' and 'lies' blinding poor unsuspecting consumers. There is no such thing, just enthusiam en-masse for a product which appeals to them.
Looking at the iPhone's spec is pointless. It doesn't even match my V640i in many areas as I pointed out before I bought an iPhone 3G 8GB last year.
It's the whole package - Hardware, Firmware, UI, Sync Software, Online Shop/App Shop and most importantly the Business Case which works not only for Apple, but the Networks, the Content Providers on iTunes (music, video), the App Developers and their clients, and the consumers.
The features that are missing are missing for a reason - BT file transfer clashes with Apple wanting to sell music through iTunes. Video recording and high quality camera is unnecessary because the target market already has a digi cam and video camera. There's no modem because the target market mostly doesn't use one anyway.
SE started a spec race with the K750i/W800i but lost out to Nokia since the N95. The iPhone is not about hardware specs. It's about providing a platform to deliver services which make Apple and its licensed partners money. After all who wants to be in business and not make money (except for Motorola?). The services add value to the device and makes it more appealing to the consumer over time. Smart planning not just smart marketing.
That's why it started off ahead of the competition in style and UI and has moved on to trounce the opposition to the point it is now years ahead. Years of software and hardware development. Years of corporate policy changes and industry negotiations.
Upping the specs won't help the other manufacturers, they need a new software platform and SDK, sync software, an online shop, an App shop, to convince Developers to participate, to convince consumers to buy and do it all while not looking like they are following Apple's lead. Frankly, any company that tries to follow in Apple's footsteps is doomed to fail. It'll cost too much and come out looking second best.
The iPhone and iTunes limitations annoy me but it works for Apple, the networks and other businesses. Therefore, we now have a device that causes networks to take mobile data seriously for the first time.
We now have a device that allows Developers to create really cool Apps and make money off them; my local bank has an iPhone App which allows me to pay all my bills from the iPhone and transfer between my accounts. Banks just don't take Java based mobile banking seriously - the iPhone has woken the mainstream corporate world to the possibilites of new communication avenues with consumers. We are actually at the place that smartphones have always promised but never delivered, where mobile communication is easy and totally integrated into your life.
And not just the Banks, News websites are set up for the iPhone, Youtube never looked so good, the Games are awesome as are the Utilities Apps which I use alot.
Normally, a groundbreaking phone comes out and is copied or overtaken fairly soon. But the iPhone has been out for 18 months (since the original 2G model) and is further ahead than ever with no sign the other manufacturers are even on the right path to compete with it.
The Nokia 5800 Xpress Music is a nice piece of hardware but without the iTunes Shop/App Shop its just a fancy phone which will soon be bettered.
Again, the iPhone is not just a phone but a package designed for a target market. It's irritating at times but mostly is utterly addictive and gets better every day.
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Voted Best Phone Review Esato Awards 2008!
[ This Message was edited by: carkitter on 2009-02-03 10:26 ]
[ This Message was edited by: carkitter on 2009-02-03 10:34 ] |
Nitro Fan
Joined: Jun 11, 2003
Posts: > 500
From: London
PM |
The iPhone is the best example of advertising power winning out over function I have ever seen.
I tried one for a week apart from an "Eye Candy" UI it offers NOTHING new  were making touch screen phones years ago yet you would think Apple invented the touch screen they way they and their sheep like followers carry on.
My new Nokia 5800 is so far ahead of the iPhone its untrue, and boy oh boy am I glad I realised the X1 was just a hyped up device with an old OS before wasting any money on it.
I have to say if Apple can con 10 million people into buying the iPhone we had all better watch out if they decide to go into politics, seems to me they are well on the way to cracking the method for "fooling all the people all of the time" |
RyaN
Joined: Jun 24, 2002
Posts: > 500
From: By the hill, Sussex
PM |
yawn
someone lock this thread it's getting boring. |
anonymuser
Joined: Dec 17, 2002
Posts: > 500
PM |
I'm pretty sure it's not the iPhone users who have their eyes closed, let's leave it at that...
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SloopJohnB
Joined: Oct 28, 2004
Posts: > 500
From: the blue planet
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Its kinda amazing how someone can post such ignorant points after such a clear explanation by catkitter. Iīll repeat my words. The iphone came to show the market that is not about the number of functions but the implementation of these functions that matters. Putting up long specs list is just an outdated way of attractiong customers that in the long run is harmful both to consumers and manufactures. You gotta have a clear and useful concept behind the software/hardware otherwise itīs just pointless and silly. |
bavlondon2
Joined: Jan 28, 2006
Posts: > 500
PM |
As someone mentioned earlier in this thread the sheer amounf of attention the iphone recieves is indicitive of just how good it is and just how envious others are of it. I guess iphone owners can take it as a compliment.
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gtr83
Joined: Sep 27, 2008
Posts: > 500
From: Indonesia
PM |
It's just that these days it's Apple's turn in the spotlight. When they become too big like the you-know-who of the mobile phone industry, would be interesting to see what happens then. An interesting point of fact is that by having zillions of customers, any kind of manufacturer would be put to the test of whether they have outstanding (or crap) customer service. So far they've done pretty well.
Personally I still prefer non-touch phones myself, I have too much grub on my thumbs!
Nokia 3520 > 6600 > W800i > W890i > C702 > C905 > BB 9500 > Samsung INNOV8 |
Nitro Fan
Joined: Jun 11, 2003
Posts: > 500
From: London
PM |
[quote]
On 2009-02-03 20:32:37, SloopJohnB wrote:
Its kinda amazing how someone can post such ignorant points after such a clear explanation by catkitter. Iīll repeat my words. The iphone came to show the market that is not about the number of functions but the implementation of these functions that matters. Putting up long specs list is just an outdated way of attractiong customers that in the long run is harmful both to consumers and manufactures. You gotta have a clear and useful concept behind the software/hardware otherwise itīs just pointless and silly.
[/quote
Ignorant? My opinion is just as valid as catkillers, it just depends if your gullible enough to have taken Apples bait or not 
I have owned the ... T68i T610, P800, P900, P910, P990, W950, P1, W960 But SE have now totally lost the plot. |
anonymuser
Joined: Dec 17, 2002
Posts: > 500
PM |
And again, I don't think it's Apple laying the bait! Ryan's right, this is a pointless thread which needs closing.
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RyaN
Joined: Jun 24, 2002
Posts: > 500
From: By the hill, Sussex
PM |
Yeah, locked or thrown in the garbage section and the subject changed to 'Let off some steam in this thread'
BTW it's carkitter not catkitter  |
marty mcfly
Joined: May 20, 2007
Posts: > 500
From: England
PM |
Or even Catkiller |
RyaN
Joined: Jun 24, 2002
Posts: > 500
From: By the hill, Sussex
PM |
lol, that'd be a slightly controversial username!! |
Bhavv
Joined: Jun 07, 2007
Posts: > 500
PM |
I actually left mobile phone forums after the Iphone was released and so many people were brainwashed by its marketting tactics.
Britney Spears sells millions of records, but I dont think that many people will agree that she is in anyway revolutionary, she is just hyped by the media enough to get people to buy her records. Similary, just because lots of people have bought any product due to an excessive marketting campaign - Iphone included - doesnt automatically make it revolutionary, they are brainwashed by apple's PR and marketing scheme into believing this. Oh wow, touch screen phone and I Pod, oooh wow, REVOLUTIONARY!!!!!
Now the Iphone 3G would actually be a good buy - If it had a better camera, was available on more networks, had a removable battery, had MMS (If I ever go anywhere in Europe, I get free MMS use out of my Flext allowance).
I find the Samsung Omnia to be a far better device, but as much as I would like to have one, I still wont buy it because I need good camera features on my Phone as I use my phone for both camera and video recorder. Just having 15 FPS at VGA video recording resolution has completely put me off buying the handset, so what chance do you think there is to convince me that the Iphone is actually a good phone? Very little I think.
The Iphone in the mobile phone industry is the same thing as Britney Spears in the music industry to me. The fans adore both of them, without caring about or being bothered by their shortcomings, in other words they adapt their needs around the product. The more critical fans of mobile phones and music however that arent so guillable and easilly persuaded by marketting place their needs before their purchase. My needs right now are 7.2 Mbps HSDPA and a minimum of 5 Mp and 30 FPS VGA recording on the camera, and I am basing my phone choice around these features. I really really want an Omnia. Just as much as apple fans really really want an Iphone. But it doesnt meet my needs and if I did buy the Omnia, then very soon I would be needing to buy a seperate camera, which is a bad choice if I can get a device which has the best of phone, camera and internet features.
But lets be trully honest. Out of the millions of people buying an Iphone, how many of them have actually owned a smartphone, a cameraphone, or a phone with HSDPA and decent internet before? I would at a guess say less then 25% of them, mostly the mobile phone fanatics who are rich enough to buy just about every device on the market will have had a similar phone before the Iphone. However, the majority of Iphone users, prior to owning an Iphone had a rubbish device, for exampe I have come across several Americans on various forums that have gone from using a Motorolla Razr to the Iphone, and there are many more that switched from other low end devices to the Iphone. Of course when making such an upgrade, all of a sudden the Iphone is going to seem like the best, and most revolutionary phone ever made due to how much better it was then your last model, but for the people who actually know a thing or two about mobile phone specifications and features, aside from the screen and UI, there is nothing feature wise that puts the Iphones above any of their competitors to make them revolutionary in any kind of way.
Normally, a groundbreaking phone comes out and is copied or overtaken fairly soon. But the iPhone has been out for 18 months (since the original 2G model) and is further ahead than ever with no sign the other manufacturers are even on the right path to compete with it.
The Nokia 5800 Xpress Music is a nice piece of hardware but without the iTunes Shop/App Shop its just a fancy phone which will soon be bettered.
Now this is just a misconception. The majority of Iphone users simply have no, or little idea of what else is out there. You have already compared it to the Nokia 5800, but are you, or the majority of Iphone users aware of other similar handsets? How about the X1 Xperia? Many of the HTC phones? The Samsung Omnia? There are probably even others that I am not aware of, but these phones are all missing something crucial that the Iphone had. Hype and marketting, simply put, not many people of the general public that own an Iphone are aware of these other models, they have only heard of the Iphone and immediately think it is the best and most revolutionary phone ever because the advert they read says so, and they then go and buy one.
Also, the phones that I mentioned have been in the past very difficult to find on contract - most people that buy one get them Sim Free. They did not enjoy the aditional PR and Advertising that the carriers of the Iphone (who were paid by Apple to do so) gave to this phone.
I mean, I actually heard from O2 employees that would tell their customers 'The Iphone is the most revolutionary phone', that O2 staff were told by Apple to say these things to their customers. The Iphone is not revolutionary because of its features or as a product, it is only revolutionary because Apple did such a good job of spreading this nonsence by advertisment and word of mouth from their carriers employees who were told specifically what to say about the phone in order to sell it.
On 2009-02-04 00:11:02, bavlondon2 wrote:
As someone mentioned earlier in this thread the sheer amounf of attention the iphone recieves is indicitive of just how good it is and just how envious others are of it. I guess iphone owners can take it as a compliment.
So going back to my earlier comparison, the sheer amount of attention and record sales that Britney Spears recieves is indicitive of just how good a singer she is and just how envious others are of her talent.
The same can perhaps also be said about World of Warcraft then:
the sheer amount of attention that World of Warcraft recieves is indicitive of just how outstanding the graphics of the game are, and just how envious others are of this amazing and most revolutionary game ever made.
I think not.
[ This Message was edited by: Bhavv on 2009-02-04 19:04 ] | |
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Posted: 2009-02-02 23:03
