Apple’s Nuke: iPhone
Steve Jobs has just presented another breakthrough in Apple’s latest foray into the mobile phone market in typical Steve Jobs fashion.
On January 9th, Steve Jobs unveiled the iPhone, a hybrid consumer device that is part iPod, part mobile phone and part Internet communications device. Apple has revolutionized how we will be interacting with a handheld device. They have successfully done away with the generic keypad and replaced it with a touchpad. And in typical Apple fashion, it is not just an ordinary keypad. It is called a Multi-Touch keypad, able to distinguish random touches with actual touch controls. It also sports a full-color, high-resolution display and a proximity sensor that senses when you put the device near your ears and automatically switches to phone/talk mode. Internet connection can be done using plain old WiFi. I assume the device can take advantage of WiFi access points already distributed everywhere else. More information about it specifications and features can be found at Apple’s site — http://www.apple.com.
The iPhone definitely is a big shock to a lot of competitors since Apple was able to successfully keep this as a big hush-hush project. Now, I’m sure other phone companies will be scrambling to keep up with Apple’s big leap in the mobile phone market.
The iPhone seems to be based on a lot of “open-mobile” projects out there, including Linux-based phones. It’s not pretty hard for Apple to make one of its own since its flagship OS — Mac OS X — _is_ *nix variant same as Linux. Obviously, Apple re-engineered a lot of things that we have come to know when it comes to mobile phones and devices and are now found in iPhone. The good part is that the iPhone uses the same Aqua/Quartz technology used in Mac OS X, rather, let me rephrase — it runs Mac OS X — allowing Mac OS X users and Devs to customize the phone thoroughly, and uses the same widgets and exchange data back and forth seamlessly in between systems (iPhone —-> iMac/MacBook/iBook/MacMini —-> iPhone). And it supports Windows too according to Steve Jobs.
Think of iPhone as your iPod+PDA/Cellphone+OS X in one package. The 8GB of memory sure packs a wallop! The only drawback as of press time is that only Cingular provides connectivity. And you can find the following statement near the bottom of Apple’s site:
This device has not been authorized as required by the rules of the Federal Communications Commission. This device is not, and may not be, offered for sale or lease, or sold or leased, until authorization is obtained.
Definitely, this means that we cannot as of yet buy one. The device may be release sometime October or later in the year.
Another drawback is that Cisco has trademarked the name “iPhone” and already recalled its “bloodhounds” (legal department) into action to eke out Apple regarding the iPhone name.
Regardless, the Apple iPhone is certainly a mind-blowing handheld by leaps and bounds and in typical Apple style, has once again set the standards of the future look and feel of mobile devices. And about the “iPhone” name? Apple might settle it out with Cisco, ending up in paying something to Cisco, or Apple will change “iPhone” to another name. Of course, I have a list of suggested names. Though I have not licensed these names, As of presstime, we can consider these names as “prior art”.
Suggested replacement names for “iPhone”:
- “Apple Mobile”
- “iMobile”
- “iDev”
- “Apple 1-Phone”
- “Apple iHand”
- “iHand”
- “Apple onePhone”
- “onePhone”
- “1Phone”
Once the setbacks are ironed out, I’d try to save up and get myself one as soon as Philippine Mobile Service Providers will support it.
Related articles:
http://www.engadget.com/2007/01/09/live-from-macworld-2007-steve-jobs-keynote/
http://www.infoworld.com/article/07/01/10/HNhandsetstocks_1.html?source=rss&url=http://www.infoworld.com/article/07/01/10/HNhandsetstocks_1.html
http://www.linuxdevices.com/news/NS7732079254.html
http://www.lockergnome.com/nexus/news/2007/01/09/apple-reinvents-the-phone-with-iphone/
UPDATE 01-13-2007:
I have removed the following from my suggested names since when I checked out forums and blog comments dated earlier than my post showed the following iPhone name suggestions.
- “iCell”
- “Apple Phone”
- “iTalk”
- “iFone”
- “iGear”
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How much is the Apple 1phone?
Comment by Rosa — July 2, 2007 @ 10:48 am