Apple debuts iPhone with wide video screen
Cory Bergman January 9th, 2007
Wow! It’s a video iPod, cell phone and a “breakthrough internet communications device” all in a single device, with just one button. The 3.5-inch display has “multi-touch,” an innovative screen that ignores unintended touching and multi-finger touches. Flip it on its side and watch a TV show or movie on the highest resolution screen Apple has built to date. It’s also “thinner than any smart phone,” says Steve Jobs, who just unveiled the much-anticipated device at Macworld Expo moments ago. The iPhone has a 2 megapixel camera, as well. “(But) the killer app is making calls!” Jobs said. The phone has “visual voice mail” so you can scroll and click-to-play your messages, as well as the ability to hold multiple SMS (texting) conversations. It’s WiFi and EDGE compatible, running a Safari Browser on Apple’s OS X. It connects with any POP3 or IMAP3 email, and it’s push email, just like Blackberry. Wow, we’ll wait for a hands-on test, but so far this looks revolutionary (although does it record video?) “This is a day I’ve been looking forward to for two and a half years,” Jobs said. More pictures and live blog with details here.
Photo via Engadget. More here.
14 Comments Add your own
1. Steve Safran | January 9th, 2007 at 11:23 am
So far, so unbelievably cool.
2. Gary | January 9th, 2007 at 11:41 am
The only concerns I have so far
Do I want a phone that I can’t fit it in my pocket?
Do I want a phone with a chrome frame, especially if it scratches?
Do I want an iPhone with too little space to replace my iPod?
But I can’t help but be excited, even if it’s not right for me. It’s a harbinger of great things to come.
3. Gary | January 9th, 2007 at 12:02 pm
Ok, it’s $600 and you’re tied to Cingular for three years (two officially, but unless you’re going to throw away your phone, you’re stuck with Cingular exclusivity for three years). So I’ll wait for a Moto or Samsung copycat, I guess. Or I’ll wait for the iPhone Nano to come out on T-Mobile three months down the line.
4. Z | January 9th, 2007 at 12:06 pm
I suspect that the people who buy this will be the types who already buy Treos and Blackberrys, which aren’t particularly pants-pocketable either.
As for scratchy chome…eh, I don’t care if my phone looks like it’s actually been used. But will the touchscreen cover scratch badly? That’s a good question.
Will I get one? Unlikely. Much as I love new technology, I’m not going to be able to drop the cash for this one, even at half the price.
5. Echy | January 9th, 2007 at 12:13 pm
Yeah the Cingular thing kind of irks me. I just dropped them for T-Mobil (cheaper data plan) and a Blackberry Pearl.
6. Steve Safran | January 9th, 2007 at 12:16 pm
A. It’s a winner, no doubt. But the price is high and I’m disappointed that it’s tied to Cingular. I thought for sure they would have been more innovative and cut a multi-carrier deal.
B. Scratches are always a concern. Hence, the protector-cover aftermarket.
C. Now owning a fifth gen iPod, I vow to wait at least one generation before buying anything else from Apple.
D. I will probably break that vow.
E. Rex: Does this mean you have to believe in God now?
7. Z | January 9th, 2007 at 12:22 pm
“B. Scratches are always a concern. Hence, the protector-cover aftermarket.”
Ah, but the touchscreen may not work well with a cover on it.
8. D T Nelson | January 9th, 2007 at 12:22 pm
It is a sweet device, but I was expecting iChat AV support to go with the other internet apps it packs. Heck, it has a camera, and it runs OSX, so why not?
9. thedetroitchannel | January 9th, 2007 at 12:31 pm
as a parent, i’m surprised by its “low” cost.
anything apple tacks its name on can command a 100% premium.
just look at how packed their mall locations are
10. Amanda | January 9th, 2007 at 12:36 pm
Oooo, shiny, I want….too bad all I get is an analog signal at the majority of my work sites.
(that and I have a contract with Verizon)
11. Todd Thorpe | January 9th, 2007 at 1:44 pm
Man, I’ve been fed up with regular cell phones for so long now it’s not funny… This is a must have, if for no other reason than to have a different way of doing calls. Not to mention I can now get rid of my cell phone, iPod and the pda I carry around with me… Put me on the list, I want one!
12. GB | January 9th, 2007 at 2:51 pm
The iPod is a runaway success because it does one simple thing really well: play music. With the iPhone, Apple has introduced more complexity. I think this will prohibit the iPhone from becoming the big hit Apple expects.
13. GB | January 9th, 2007 at 3:21 pm
Oh, and I stand by my earlier comment that iPhone is the wrong name. The word “phone” means communication for most people. This device does more than communicate. Why use such a limiting term? I thought for sure the “one more thing” would be “oh and it’s not really called iPhone. It’s called iSchmod.” Or something like that.
14. Steve Safran | January 9th, 2007 at 4:14 pm
I agree. “iSchmod” would have been an excellent choice.
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