iPhoneStuff.org

Well the initial oo-ing and ahh-ing about Apple’s new iPhone dead, most journalists have turned their writing from sweet to sour; many talking more about what other phones can do that the iPhone can’t, taking shots at some of the iPhone’s negatives such as price, Cingular/AT&T ties, etc., and overall disappointment.

This leaves this writer with one question. Obviously Steve Jobs and the folks at Apple knew this might happen if they introduced something 6 months before it’s slated release. Generally speaking, Apple has been the king of announcing a new product, and then stating that it will be available at the Apple Store in 5 minutes. It has proved successful for them in the past, as the initial excitement has driven many to impulsively buy the new hot toy. This was not the case for the iPhone.

So why did Apple introduce the iPhone so early? My guess is that they have some secrets.

It makes sense that they introduce it early: to quash the hundreds of rumors about an upcoming cell phone from Apple. Enough people were expecting it, but no one knew exactly what it would be like. Steve Jobs laid those rumors to rest in a very satisfactory way. How did the public react to the news?

The blog sphere exploded with glee. The front page of Digg.com was filled with stories about the iPhone, and every local news channels featured the hot new product due out in June of 2007. Everyone who knows anything about technology and gadgets now knows about the iPhone, what it will be like, and most of the features. They also know the price tag. Initially, the excitement of flicking through digital album covers was enough to make us forget the price, but would that last?

The general feeling I get from most recent posts about the iPhone from bloggers and news sites in general is that it’s not lasting. Reality is setting in. An incredibly expensive smart phone with no expandability or access to office-centric applications is not so hot of a ticket anymore. Did Apple see this coming?

Apple is a smart company. They make decisions that usually always surprise us in a good way. If they knew this type of lull would happen less than two months after the iPhone was announced, they must also have a backup plan. This is my theory: Apple has more tricks up their sleeve. They will deliver something even more with the iPhone than we’ve been shown up to this point. What will it be? I don’t know, but I’m certain they’ll pull some Apple magic before the final release of the iPhone that will again make the hesitation at the high price tag melt away.

What do you think some secret features could be?

In this recent article from the Ohio Akron Beacon Journal, technology journalist Eric Benderoff makes some good points about the iPhone and the possibility of a similarly design iPod on the horizon:

If you want to know what the next iPod will look like, go to Apple.com and watch the demo for the coming iPhone.

In his article he echoes something on the minds of every MP3 enthusiast out there; what will the iPhone mean about the next iPod? Probably, quite a bit.

At Macworld, January 9th 2007, Steve Jobs stated that the iPhone was the best iPod the company had every built. That’s great, but for people who just want a new iPod, and not necessarily all the features the iPhone has built into it, why pay $500+ for a new iPod?

Apple plays the product release game very well, keeping all new technology under tight wraps, and then revealing them via one of Steve Jobs charismatic speeches, in order to pump everyone up and prepare them to buy buy buy. The next generation iPod is overdue, and probably well along in production.

If the iPhone is the best iPod the company has made yet, we can expect a new iPod with many iPhone-like features within a few short months after the iPhone’s slated June release.

While surfing the waves of the internet the other day, I came across this amazing advertisement:

I had to laugh. The ad makes it seem that the iPhone is already available, AND in limited quantities. This is just begging for an impulse click. Oh boy! I’m-a get my iPhone early and impress all my friends! Those suckers have to wait until June!

I love the internet!

Although many Apple fans are complaining of the iPhone’s high pricetag, analysts have pegged Apple’s new iPhone as not a cheap piece of technology for Apple to make either.

In a recent article regarding Apple’s margin versus cost of parts, they stated that the screen itself might cost upwards of $60 to Apple. Adding the sensor technology, as well as battery, hard drive, etc. leaves Apple with a cost “well above $300 for the 4 GB model.”

Whatever the current cost is to Apple, one also has to take into account the price of advertising, marketing, commercials etc. that Apple is famous for, and add that into the cost. Apple’s margin over the iPhone may not be as high as some reports have noted.

Many people, myself included, have been worrying about the inescapable attachment to a sub-par GSM provider. In the US, of course, this provider has been named as Cingular, but for the rest of the world, it has not been decided yet.

This begs the question: Can I buy an iPhone and NOT have to use it as a cell phone? In other words, do I need a cell phone providers’ SIM card to make it function, or can I just use the iPhone as a standalone iPod, WiFi internet browser, photo viewer, 2 Mega pixel camera, calendar, etc.? The simple answer is: probably not.

In a recent article about frequently asked iPhone questions, David Pogue for the New York Times writes concerning the issue:

“Will the iPhone work without a SIM card installed? i.e., will it be able to surf the web/email?” –Very doubtful.

This also lends itself to another question: If the iPhone needs to be tied to a service provider to be purchased, what happens when the service contract is up? Obviously the contract would be renewable, but what if one chose not to renew for a couple of months? Would it still function as normal just without phone capabilities.

All these questions surely in time will be answered by Apple, who tout their new iPhone as the reinvention of the cell phone. If it truly is as good as they say, they surely have looked into all these issues and are making headway to resolve them before their launch in June.

Canadian residents may have to wait longer for the iPhone than their U.S. neighbours, as Apple has not announced any dates for a Canada release as of yet.

Analysts have named Rogers Communications as the likely candidate for exclusive iPhone service in Canada. This is due largely to the fact that Rogers is the only nationwide GSM provider.

A TorontoStar article from Jan 11, 2007 had this to say:

“While the iPhone will be avaliable in the U.S. by June, in Europe by the end of the year and Aisa by 2008, no release dates have been announced for Canada. Nadir Mohamed, president and chief marketing officer for Rogers Communications, said the company’s GSM capability put it in a ‘very good position’ to become an iPhone vendor here.”

This is not good news for many Canadians who have ever had a Rogers cell phone in the past. Not only are there numerous complains about service, range, and customer support, but these customers have also taken the time to make a web site to warn others about how bad their experience was.

The site is called I Hate Rogers.ca and is a forum for people who have had a bad experience, and informs them of service alternatives in their locales. Unfortunately, Apple’s iPhone may not have any alternatives to offer.

For those who were taken aback by a $499 minimum price point for the new Apple iPhone, and are still recovering from sticker shock, some analysts may have what you need to hear to perk you back up.

To date, Apple’s most successful iPod was not their flagship original model (originally priced at $399 for a 5GB model, and $499 for a 10GB model,) nor any of its’ 4 generations afterwards. Rather, it was the little brother, the iPod Nano, who stole the hearts of gadget-goers and music-lovers the world over. Was it his itty-bitty size and potableness, or his less daunting price point? More importantly, what does this have to do with the upcoming iPhone?

Reuters had this to say about the possibility of a cheaper “low-end” iPhone in the future:

Apple could… follow a similar model with the iPhone that it did with the iPod: Start off with what may seem a steep price, but drop prices as component costs fall and volume production economics kick in, all the while adding more functions and services.

While the idea of waiting a little longer for an iPhone may seem incorrigible to some, it may be the wise thing to do, not only for your wallet, but for any new features you’ll look back and sigh that you didn’t get. Only time will tell.