OK, we all know the details now. Apple are releasing a phone – and it’s a looker. Hurrah.
For anyone who has the slightest interest in technology, this isn’t shocking given their track record.
What we found strange watching the video of the iPhone event, even disturbing, was the reaction of the audience.
For an English, or perhaps more widely, a non-American audience, the reaction of the crowd at the MacWorld event is odd – religious even.
As Ryan Block of Engadget said when covering the event live
10:29 – People are rapt, everyone is actually literally leaning forward and on the edge of their seat. We’ve never seen a presentation like this before.
There’s a huge imbalance here.
Let’s try and get some perspective on this – these are just products. Objects that you buy and use.
Yes the phone looks great; Yes rumours of it have been circulating for years and the anticipation was high; Yes the usage of the phone looks well thought out – but it it just a phone.
The reaction of the crowd is as if The Steve was announcing a significant medical break through, or the end of a war.
Strangely, the most enthusiastic reaction from the crowd was before any of the details of this were known, it was just after the mention that they would be releasing a phone.
Apple is a master at PR, so a lot of this excitement has been managed … and it’s been built up for a long time – all designed for a reaction like this. And judging by the recording of the event, it’s worked well.
Apple owners and fans have always been passionate about ‘their’ computers – they felt embattled by the Microsoft/Intel steam roller. That’s understandable.
After watching the video (the first 20 mins or so), I have to agree with you. I love the look of the iPhone – but cheering it? Come on, get a grip.
Its not just a phone, like a trimphone its a phone ipod.
Lets see what Nokia/SonyEric/Motorola do as a counter.
TT
I agree with you TT – it does set a different level that’s going to be a challenge for the other phone companies to reach. Don’t get me wrong … I think it’s a very cool, desirable phone – it was just the audience reaction to it.
Perhaps they’d had too much coffee, because they had to get up so early to get into the auditorium for the presentation. :)
I agree with the article, but I do not agree with you Simon, it doesn’t set a different level, it just slides in right in the middle of all existing phones, with a nice interface and an apple logo as the only thing to make themselves heard. Technically it’s not spectacular or even noticeably better than other smart phones in that price range.
The difference is the software platform – OSX. Having apps (initially widgets) that run on your Mac, available on your phone is pretty cool (I look forward to hearing what limitations are placed on them).
Microsoft has attempted to do the same of course, but from the brief video I’ve seen of the iPhone, Apple have spanked them.
Having said that, I’m far from convinced that it will shatter the world of mobile telephony quite as far as The Steve tells us it will.
Generally it looks like it compares well with other ‘smartphones’, ones that react that fast are quite rare, ones that slim and attractive are rarer. But svelte looks force the exclusion of 3G I suspect, and the high data rates they bring (when you can get them of course).
BTW – I genuinely don’t think the price of it matters in the wealthy western markets – people will pay for Apple.