the air

After months of speculations and rumors, Apple has finally introduced the iPhone to the world at large. The iPhone will be available in June 2007 and will come in two different configurations. The 4GB version will retail for US$499 with a 2 year service contract from Cingular and the 8GB version will be available for US$599, also with a 2 year service contract. I am uncertain if this phone will be available without contract and unbranded by Cingular. If it is, expect to increase the after-contract price by US$200. And yes, this is one pricey phone with some meager disk space commanding everyone’s attention at any place you decide to show this phone off.

The interesting thing about this phone is that it is powered by OSX, Apple’s award winning operating system. In addition, Apple definitely did not hold back on technology when designing this product:

A proximity sensor senses when the phone is brought to a user’s face and automatically turns off what music might be playing and turns on the phone. An “accelerometer” switches the screen from a portrait to landscape format, allowing for easy toggling between the device’s various functions.

So why did I call this post The iPhone Folly? I think the concept of the iPhone is remarkable and definitely a major surge forward for Apple. Oh by the way, Apple Computer Inc. is no more. Steve Jobs and company have proudly changed the company name to just Apple Inc. A smart move in my mind because now, Apple should no longer be synonymous with just computers. Anyways, allow me to get back on track. If you noticed, the starting price for this phone is definitely high. At this price point, I have no interest in buying a product that is not as exquisite as some high end cell phones (e.g. Nokia 8800, Dolce & Gabbana Motorola Razr V3, Vertu). In addition, this phone has a similar amount of memory found in the Nano yet it is marketed as a video device as well. I can easily say that this is not a smart move by Apple because most users will expect at least 30 GB to ensure that they have a nice balance of audio and video files that are easily accessible. The prices for this device will no doubt fall quickly after release. What remains to be seen is how quickly Apple decides to implement more disk space in this device. I wonder what Microsoft will introduce. Maybe we will see the ZuneFone?

What I really want is just the touch-screen wide-screen iPod. I’m sure Apple will continue to further evolve their iPod product line to ensure that their market does not shrink. Since all consumers interested in buying the iPhone will need Cingular service, Apple will definitely need to introduce some of the advancements found on the iPhone to their iPod line. I am definitely expecting a touch screen iPod in the near future. In addition, I am guessing that Apple will have iPhones with larger memory out by early next year. I can’t wait to see this phone in person, however. Should be quite a sight.

Source: C|Net News

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