How PDA capable is the new Apple iPhone?

[holvoetn]

If it is not possible to add third-party applications, can the iPhone actually meet the definition of smartphone? Or should there be some other product category to which it belongs?

Smartphone definition, as far as I see it, requires applications to be added. Nobody said it had to be 3th party

[Adama D. Brown]

If it is not possible to add third-party applications, can the iPhone actually meet the definition of smartphone? Or should there be some other product category to which it belongs?

One analyst already took that question on--they seem to feel that it should be considered a smartphone due to the fact that apps can still be added, albeit only ones from Apple. In the end, I think it's a bit of a definition game, along the lines of whether the Nokia 6600 and the like are considered "smartphones." There's kind of a big sliding scale. I do know, though, that I wouldn't now put the iPhone in the same category as the Treos, or HTC's product.

[San Holo]

@Paul Robinson

The darker the ambience, the darker the display becomes. At least that's true on my MacBook Pro. It works very well.


@all

I hope Apple opens up the iPhone to 3rd party apps. Or that there will be someone to develop a hack for that purpose...

[berylrb]

PDF is a native display format in OSX so that's a given. Apple's lightweight TextEdit reads .doc and their Pages app does a very good job of reading/writing .doc also. Rumor has it that Apple's spreadsheet app is right around the corner and there's no doubt it will play well with excel. What we're seeing in iPhones coming out party is just a glimpse of what this thing will do by year's end.

In light of the third-party announcement I think SpudNYC's comment is so timely, that is, there is no reason to think that Apple isn't capable of coming up with stellar functionality in their own existing apps, good word Spud.

On another thread someone had mentioned Dataviz, spun off from Apple, again, I see Apple doing their own apps quite well, maybe not fast enough for the discriminating consumer but in time, watch out!

[himpressive]

If it is not possible to add third-party applications, can the iPhone actually meet the definition of smartphone? Or should there be some other product category to which it belongs?

Smart ipod or DDP? (Dumbed-Down PDA )

[WyreNut]

I think the sticky post Ed Hardy made speaks volumes: "No third party apps will be allowed..."!!!

Sure slams the door on a lot of dreams for this device! Also leaves the door open for apple to trickle apps into the pipeline as slow as they desire, maintaining interest for years!

That was a real buzzkill for me!

WyreNut

[mw22]

Hi

"PDF is a native display format in OSX so that's a given. Apple's lightweight TextEdit reads .doc and their Pages app does a very good job of reading/writing .doc also. Rumor has it that Apple's spreadsheet app is right around the corner and there's no doubt it will play well with excel. What we're seeing in iPhones coming out party is just a glimpse of what this thing will do by year's end."

I think this poster has the nuts and bolts bolted down

Wait for the 2nd generation iphone and then we will see what it really can do or if it will become an apple locked selling domain ???

I am very sure that Palm (if they are reading this forum - WAKE UP) has been served their WAKE UP call and now the ball is in their court.

They must have had an inkling that something was comming that was going to give them a run for their money because of the following:

1. perpetually licences os 5.4.9 + improvements there to
2. Announced new devices in between the lines of last quarter report (R&D)
3. Hinted at Jeff Hawkins "third device"
4. That the Treo 680 natively reads 8GB SDHC was surely not a "mistake" on Plam's part - they wrote the driver !!!! Who is to say it cannot read a 32 GB SDHC ????
5. Remember they have virtually kept all their programmers !!!!
6. I uspect a umpc type device with gsm connectivity comming soon.
7. Software R&D is going to be up in its spending !!!!

The only problem is Palm has now been offically served their WAKE UP call and

now the big thing is HOW IS PALM GOING TO RESPOND !!!!!

A definite wake up call id you ask me!

Go Palm Go

[Paul Robinson]

Let's see what actually happens. Another "news" report based on conversations with a Cingular top brass also said this: "Apple is also responsible for the decision to not allow any 3rd party applications to be installed on the iPhone..."

Also no direct wireless iTunes connection...

"All media must be side-loaded to the device, just as is the case with the current iPod offerings."

But these things have a way of changing rapidly... both officially from Apple, and by 3rd party developers. I presume they are concerned about stability, crashes, etc. if the platform were left wide-open.

And the 2-year Cingular commitment is a real barrier. Note: about the price... a Cingular exec also would not confirm whether there would be discounts! So, depending on consumer reaction, the price could end up well below $500 quickly.

It also could be that Apple will release a 2nd version later in the year that doesn't have the phone features-- a souped iPod with all sorts of 3rd party extras.
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Ambient lighting... oh, great! Glad to hear that it may get darker in darker light... that's good. I get it now-- in brighter surroundings, the device needs to brighten the screen! On your macBook... can you overrride the setting and make the display nearly dark?

[jigwashere]

Is there a thread yet that asks, "how cell phone capable is the new iPhone?" Even though I work in downtown Minneapolis and live only a few miles south of my office, I have trouble getting good reception. I have the major carriers in our area as well as multiple phones. I finally settled on Verizon and the e815 as giving me the best reception here. If the iPhone can function as a solid cell phone and still work as well as a top end iPod, then I suspect a lot of people will be happy with it. Standard PIM functions shouldn't be too taxing for it.

[Paul Robinson]

You should start one!