Report: The New iPhone Is Going To iPhail

Craig · #1 (**permalink**) 04-14-2009, 09:50 AM

Quote:

The iconic iPhone is entering a critical third year amid tougher competition, and if expectations are accurate, the upcoming version brings few, if any, must-have new features. Without a steep price cut like last year, iPhone demand will slide.

The iPhone's sleek form and nearly wall-to-wall touchscreen is appreciably elegant. But it's asking a lot for that design, without significant alterations, to carry the trend as robustly for a third year. Meanwhile, new entries such as Palm's (PALM Quote) Pre smartphone, Research In Motion's(RIMM Quote) BlackBerry Storm, a few new touchscreen phones from Nokia (NOK Quote), phones that run on Google's (GOOG Quote) Android platform, and endless new offerings from Samsung and LG make a for a fresh crop of worthy competitors.

I have to admit that this is a very good argument and that there certainly is more competition today than there was even last summer, let alone two years ago. Apple had better have a bit more up their sleeve than the rumors have thus far let on because there are some great phones on the way.

I feel that the Pre is going to make major waves and probably save Sprint as a company from major reorganization. Palm has a long history in the PDA market and has made many mistakes that have taught them well how to move forward.

Android has yet to find the right device but there are a slew of them in the works and it is only a matter of time until someone gets the platform perfectly matched with a slick handheld device.

Link - The Street

CoffeeShark · #2 (**permalink**) 04-14-2009, 10:02 AM

the iphone won't go anywhere, there are too many fans. The switchover rate will definitely get spread around to the G1/G2 and Pre and other touchscreen phones.

The first real win will be for whoever introduces a great phone that isn't limited to a single carrier.

No-Fear · #3 (**permalink**) 04-14-2009, 10:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CoffeeShark

the iphone won't go anywhere, there are too many fans. The switchover rate will definitely get spread around to the G1/G2 and Pre and other touchscreen phones.

The first real win will be for whoever introduces a great phone that isn't limited to a single carrier.

:yeahthat:

Also in order for the pre to dominate it needs to....well...it has to be nearly perfect....Look @ the storm everybody including myself thought it was going to be huge, although it did sell well, it just didn't become the "iPhone killer"

DennyCrane · #4 (**permalink**) 04-14-2009, 10:11 AM

What iPhone needs to do:

1) REMOVABLE BATTERY
People spend a lot of time on their phones these days, especially when used as a media platform. If you're on the go and your battery's dead, your phone is useless. And if you're at the beach, the mall, etc, you're not plugging in anywhere.
2) MORE MEDIA FORMATS
Self-explanatory. AVI, DivX and xVid to stay competitive.
3) VIDEO CAMERA
There's no good explanation by anyone why the first generation iPhone lacked this, and the 3rd damned well better have it.
4) COPY & PASTE and MMS
Craig said it's coming... again, by this stage of the game, it better.
5) MEMORY CARD SLOT
It's 2009. Memory is cheap and files are huge. 16gb can fill fast. How much better of an experience would it be to have 16gb more you can just pop into the side after filling from your computer, camera, someone else phone, etc?

The article made a great point in comparing the iPhone to the Razr. That was the big phone when Apple hit the scene. In all my digging on new touch phones, the iPhone still stacks well, but with the huge gaps I listed, and as Coffee said, the WinMo 6.5/7.0 phones on the horizon, will crush the iPhone by people comparison shopping features.

Skeletor · #5 (**permalink**) 04-14-2009, 10:38 AM

Around the time I bought my g1 iPhone I didn't care for the other phones for one reason or another ... I'll most likely be sticking w/ the iPhone and get whatever they release this summer to upgrade my g1.

reading this makes me think of MMO's...seems like every new MMO coming out says it's going to be the WoW killer, some offer better stuff yet -- WoW is still on top. Not saying iPhone is on top of the market - I have no clue if they are or not ... it just reminds me of the "WoW killer" articles.

Craig · #6 (**permalink**) 04-14-2009, 10:41 AM

I'm tied into the MobileMe world pretty tightly (and loving it) so I will probably just stick with the 3G unless next iteration of the iPhone has some really amazing hardware changes. It would take a video camera to get me to jump to the new iPhone, but as far as space I don't use the 8Gb I have right now so I'm not too excited about a 32 Gb model.

DominiKing · #7 (**permalink**) 04-14-2009, 10:47 AM

The only thing I don't like is that there's not much of a change with the iPhone. It's all the same mostly, just a few updates here and there that should have been around since the get. Android looks to be promising but it's still just starting out and WinMo just needs to finish working out all it's bugs and make their devices more responsive. Having a slow phone is what kills it for me.

DennyCrane · #8 (**permalink**) 04-14-2009, 11:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Craig

I'm tied into the MobileMe world pretty tightly (and loving it) so I will probably just stick with the 3G unless next iteration of the iPhone has some really amazing hardware changes. It would take a video camera to get me to jump to the new iPhone, but as far as space I don't use the 8Gb I have right now so I'm not too excited about a 32 Gb model.

I used to take my notebook everywhere. Aside from the ability to play some CS:S or other game of the like, I do about everything on my phone now. So, that means a whole library of movies and TV shows I've ripped from my DVDs, my music, lots of pictures, etc. When I'm in Virginia this Summer, I'll be leaving my notebook home.

Plus, if you're way too into the app scene, you're gonna appreciate lots of storage space for your programs.

CoffeeShark · #9 (**permalink**) 04-14-2009, 11:05 AM

all phones need removable storage. forcing people to buy a new phone just to get 8 or 16gb of additional storage is asinine.

No-Fear · #10 (**permalink**) 04-14-2009, 12:05 PM

Hey apple how about a 64gb or 128gb iphone lol I mean dang I have over 33,000 songs I would like to be able to ditch my 120gb zune which barely holds half of my collection and limit the number of "gadget" i take on a trip....Heck even a 128gb iPhone or even a 256gb would be great...haha I'm asking for a hole in my wallet and a miracle at the same time...