Stateside tech-heads are gearing up for the launch of Apple’s long awaited iPhone and with a lack of hands-on reviews so far, their European equivalents are sure to be watching the event with great interest.
Since it was first unveiled to the world at the start of the year the iPhone has become a major object of desire for many, many people. Plenty of people (including this one) publicised their fawning reactions to the first screenshots of it and hardcore fans have already started to queue up and down the US in anticipation for the release on Friday.
On the other hand some have attempted to pour cold water on what has admittedly become a sometimes slavish public reaction and there are many valid arguments to be made against the iPhone. It’s current lack of 3G technology, for example, or its reliance on a touch-screen, which has been more miss than hit in the past.
As I point out on Adrian Weckler’s post, however, these technical omissions should not be taken as proof of the device’s impending failure.
Those with cravings for the iPhone, much like fans of the iPod, aren’t necessarily looking for the best technology, they’re looking for their standard technology to be presented in a more intuitive and stylish way. It’s the same with the iPod and in many ways with OSX.
Let’s face it, Apple know how to make a slick looking and clever operating system (even Microsoft conceeded that one with Vista) and know how to make an intuitive user interface (the iPod’s scroll-wheel). Speaking as someone without any kind of Mac, even the most limited use of OSX shows that while many of the features aren’t that different from XP/Vista, the way they’re presented makes them so much more logical and user friendly.
From what I can see, going mainly by the recently published guide to iPhone (because all information on this device has been carefully managed so far), Apple looks like it’s offering some extremely smart, logical and intuitive interface features on its iPhone that really do set it apart from the others, even if the core service is the same-old stuff.
As for the premium price, the mobile phone has become a fashion accessory, and fashion is all about style at a premium.
To use a fashion metaphor – the point of a pair of trousers is to cover your arse, genitals and legs from the cold/public, but despite this people seek out specific brands of trousers and pay extra to wear them. Likewise, the point of a mobile phone is to keep you in contact while on the move, but people are increasingly seeking out particular models and are paying extra to have them. Look at the Motorola RZR (and its colourful special editions) or the LG Chocolate – phones like these weren’t made for those seeking the cutting edge, but they weren’t cheap at launch either.
The only difference here is that Apple are aiming for business-people as well as the rest.
It’s expected that Apple with add 3G functionality to the device before it comes to Europe, so the only thing that I can see ruining Apple’s parade is the touch screen. If that doesn’t come off as planned everything will fall down – we won’t know the truth about that until the American bloggers get their hands on it.