Tuesday, June 10, 2008 -- 12:38 a.m. -- at my desk

There were many good pieces to today's announcement, but there were plenty of things I wasn't happy about.

See if you agree.

No cut and paste
Is Steve mocking us? Does he really not think that cut and paste is important? Or is it that the genius engineers at Apple can't figure out how to do it? I mean, one has to ask the question since there's no other viable reason for it not to be included -- now or when we first launched.

Read-only apps
The Mobile Me idea is fantastic. Make desktop-like Internet widgets that connect directly and wirelessly to an iPhone. And now it reads iWork, which means Keynote -- but if I want to make a change on the fly, I can't. I want to be able to edit those documents. I know that I can now use my Mac and have it all sync, but I want my iPhone to be my computer -- I don't want to carry around both, and until Apple addresses this, I still have to.

No extra storage
It's still 8GB and 16GB. I just got access to the App Store .. can I have a 32GB iPhone? Please? I'll pay for it.

No videocamera
Man, I wanted this one. I wanted that front facing camera. I wanted to videochat with you folks where I am. I really wanted that amazing mobile version of iChat. Nope. Not true. In the future, yeah, I'm sure, but not now.

No MMS
AT&T says it's checking, but it looks like MMS is up to Apple and it looks like Apple is in all SMS mode. MMS is now about as basic as dialing a phone and still the iPhone is without it. Sure, we can e-mail photos - faster with 3G -- but I still want to be able to choose between sending iWife a text and sending her a picture.

Same camera
Apple recently put out the call for engineers who can work on making the iPhone's camera better. I guess that's for iPhone LTE or iPhone 4G or whatever it's called. For now, no flash (camera flash) and no more than basic 2MP. Sigh.

Bluetooth is blah
I still want to be able to stream my audio via bluetooth. And I can't. Yet. I think we will someday, but we can't now. And I want it now!!

No turn-by-turn GPS
Following the dot as you drive is nice, but there's no turn by turn directions like a traditional GPS. No doubt that a 3rd party will make it happen, but I would like to see something as basic as that right out of the box. The 3G chip is there. Take it to the next level. Turn by turn is what makes GPS so cool and so useful.

No Flash
Ok, Apple and Adobe -- no one cares about who is good enough for whom or whatever the problem is here. When I surf a site to see a menu and it's Flash and all I get is a little blue square, I get annoyed. I want this problem fixed now. I want Flash on my iPhone.

No landscape keyboard
Why isn't this the norm across the iPhone board in every app?

The dock isn't included
The dock came with the original iPhone. Not anymore. It's not required, but I like it when my iPhone rests on my coffee table in its dock. I don't know that you can use the old dock with this version. That's something I will be asking Apple and hopefully having an answer about, but my gut is that you can't.

3G isn't in enough places
More bars in more places, AT&T promises and while I appreciate all the upgrades they are doing on their network, I think the 3G footprint is very small compared to the EDGE footprint. And while it's great that the iPhone will work in EDGE and Wi-Fi like now, I think the network needs to be more robust. Hopefully with the next technology (4G/LTE) we'll have more people able to take advantage.

That's my take on the bad. Please, though, let me know what you think about the good and the bad and what you think I missed and should address.

Thanks for calling.

TrackBack

TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://www.typepad.com/services/trackback/6a00d83451600969e200e5535420d38834

Listed below are links to weblogs that reference iPhone 3G: The bad:

dont get me wrong apple has great things in store for 3G, but just the fact that they didn't adress small topics such as copy and paste, and zooming or recording capabilites on the camera for (It will problaby be realesed through the app store) 3G iPhone bothers me a bit. Maybe will see it coming out through out the year with new updates. We can for sure get them cause hackers got them on their iPhone already. Ah well will see.

SCOTT'S REPLY: I think there's a lot that Apple did not do right here and should have addressed and what you are talking about are very important omissions. I still think that between updates in firmware/software and the app store that these things will be addressed, although it may be slow and trying at times.

You covered this as well as you covered the WWDC itself! Apple just flat out left us hanging on way too many things and I think you'll see that reflected in the stock price after the run it's had recently. Plenty of people I know will just say no to this thing. Can't understand why this much stuff isn't there- doesn't make any logical sense. Also think the aluminum back of the original phone is WAY nicer than this plastic thing that will show every scratch and fingerprint.I know why they did it; to save money but the phone loses a touch of class and feel of quality through its deletion. The business users they're now trying to court will frankly laugh at the fact that there's no cut and paste which they, along with us, do and would use all the time. Not the way to get them on board. I honestly miffed by most of this.

SCOTT'S REPLY: I don't disagree. It's not perfect, but I don't think it's that bad either. I think there's a lot to like about this phone, but I do agree 100 percent that there are basic things we've asked for that we deserve ... if nothing else, we deserve an explanation as to where it is and if we'll see it rather than being ignored.

And as for the plastic back, not just for price, Brad. Metal interferes with the radio signal. This could actually improve call quality, coverage, etc., but as far as durability, Apple says it's sturdy and strong. We'll see. Only time will tell.

And thank you for the kind words.

Frankly, the best news to me is that I don't feel compelled to upgrade. Sure, the GPS would be nice, and 3G speed as well, though I'm not sure how often I'd actually be dropping down to EDGE, considering I live outside 3G coverage. I'm still picking through the pieces trying to figure out which features will be specific to the new hardware and which will be a result from the new firmware. I'm also curious what happens to those of us who don't upgrade. Will version 1.0 still be available or is it completely history? What happens if mine decides to die tomorrow? Will the current EDGE data plan of $20 per month still be available? Can one get a new iPhone and pay for an "EDGE only" plan? Will iTunes still be used for synching data after the new firmware is released for those of us who don't plan to use MobileMe?
I was really hoping Apple would leapfrog over those trying to play catch up to iPhone 1.0, but hardware-wise there's a lot missing. Poor camera and no video chat (actually, no video whatsoever) leave me quite disappointed. I was hoping for as much a compelling reason to buy as I had when the first iPhone came out. I hate to say it, but I think I'm going to be paying a lot more attention to other phones, especially those tied with the upcoming Android platform. I'll be the first to admit that only the iPhone is by Apple, and there's value to that. However, it may be a better option to have a different phone and an iTouch.
So what could have made it a no-brainer to upgrade? Give me at least one of the following and I'd upgrade for sure: better camera (5MP please), video (either front or back, though front for video chat is preferred), 32GB or space, OR no increase in data plan price. Seriously, just let me buy the new iPhone at the same plan-price I've got right now and it would be a no-brainer. But an extra $10 per month (for who knows how often I'll actually be able to take advantage of 3G) and I just don't think I'm too interested. Paying $99 per year for MobileMe is probably easier to justify for the features it offers, and I'm not sure I'm interested in that either. I'm interested in hearing the thoughts of others, as it's always possible I may be swayed by a good argument the other way.

SCOTT'S REPLY: Excellent question about whether you can buy an older model and still get an EDGE only plan. It seems that AT&T would have to do that considering that phone wouldn't be 3G capable, but then the question becomes whether or not there will be any iTunes syncing. I'm going to ask that question and let you know what I find out. Glad you brought that up.

The press has given Apple a pass on these features for a year now, and that's enough. I know Apple does not do press conferences or question & answer sessions much, but the next time they do, I want to hear someone ask about every one of these features and get an answer out of them. It is completely beyond me that you can get a free phone that does these things but the iPhone can't, and NO ONE has ever asked why.

SCOTT'S REPLY: Oh I have asked. Believe me. Over and over. And I don't get any answer.

People clamored for 3G - they got it.
Businesses clamored for enterprise integration - they got it.
Developers called for an SDK - they got it.

I'm sure Apple is listening to everyone and being very strategic on how they implement the features. Sooner rather than later, you will get the rest.

They're shooting for 10m phones by the end of the year, they're at 6m, their logic seems to work :-)

SCOTT'S REPLY: Yes, indeed, when you look at it that way. Very true.

i believe whatever you wish for will be answered some time in the future. How many manufacturers you know will give you a comprehensive product with all the bells and whistles.
What you wish for reminded me of the vcrs that come with 1000 and 1 feature yet we only use a handful.
Make the best of the iPhone it is a product that is totally tomorrow. With just a finger you can do everything with it and how many mobile phone you know that do that.

SCOTT"S REPLY: Good points.

I will stick with my 1.0 for now. The speed isn't all that important because I'm on wi-fi most of the time.
I REALLY would like them to do something about Flash. Its the
most annoying thing right now to me.

SCOTT'S REPLY: It's ridiculously annoying for me too.

Another forgotten feature that seems simple enough... syncing notes with Mail.app. This can't be too difficult (unless there's going to be an app in the App Store). But I don't see why this is something we have to pay for. Additionally, the absence of cut & paste totally blows my mind... how is it we've gone a year without seeing it? And I agree with you 100% about MMS... I'm sure there'll be an app to record video, but it's hard to tell people I have to coolest phone out there, and I can't even view their MMS messages. These are things that I think should have been addressed a long time ago, before attention was given to SDK, 2.0, 3G, etc.

SCOTT'S REPLY: That's just it, Carl ... it's the minor things that seem so easy that we don't have and I can't understand why!

It isn't a deal-breaker for me, but I still want a user-replaceable battery.

SCOTT'S REPLY: I'm not sure why that matters so much. Maybe it will someday, but I don't really mind it the way it is.

How about everyone else?

I heard TomTom Navigation Software is Coming to iPhone. http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSB46553120080609

I think we are going to get Flash. Adobe said Flash on the iPhone is coming.

I didn't buy 2g iPhone and I don't want too. Because wireless network is too slow. When it came out, I really want an iPhone. It cost $399.99 for 8gb, that is soo expensive. On July 11, I'm going to buy 3g iPhone.

SCOTT'S REPLY: I hope Adobe gets it before 2020.

And as for the Tom-Tom story? I heard it too :-D

http://weblogs.redeyechicago.com/iphoneblog/2008/06/tomtom-has-gps.html

MMS is BLOCKED by AT&T for iPhones.
There is an app available to jailbroken iPhones which allowed MMS. But after AT&T found out about it, it blocked MMS from iPhones.

Hopefully, by breaking off revenue sharing, AT&T will allow MMS for iPhones. It is easilyi added via application. Hopefully it isn't blocked now.

SCOTT'S REPLY: I've asked for information about MMS and haven't heard anything yet. AT&T says it's releasing apps for the App Store. Could there be an MMS app? Perhaps. We'll know soon. My bet is on no, but it's OK to dream.

Well, Yes Apple will be dominating the market, but a thing Apple are not good at is there consumers. lets just talk a bit about the old iPhone. thousands of costumers has been asking for copy / paste or cut / paste, but nothing happens. Even the new iPhone will not be able to do this. Why ? I personally have no idea, why they do not make this. It is a vital tool for any that has to communicate with a lot of people, and not share all the info. I have had the iPhone from when it came out and I'm still using it, many would say, " if you are not happy with it, get another phone ", but it is not that simple. Cause the phone is good and I love the mail ( it just doesn't support spam, so all your spam will go to your inbox, if the server you use is not a special kind ) and web browser. those things are great.
Why did the the iPhone not go well in europe. Well Europe is light years in front of USA, so it is easy to please US. To sell in Europe and Asia you need to have a "super phone" and to be honest the old iPhone was nothing close to that.
The new iPhone, will still have a hard time cause the technology is still old. 3G has been around in Asia and Europe for at-least 7 years. Europe was doing video calls on cell phones 6 years ago. Why do we not get that. why is there still no video camera function ?
Apple is great at hyping products and to make them work so well, you just need to have MOBILE ME. Apple is perhaps just for me a bit to "smart".
So conclusion on my long comment is that I do think Apple will sell a lot, but I hope that Apple will start getting up to the beat of the consumers and LISTEN to them, cause they don't

SCOTT'S REPLY: Well stated, Jesper. I've said that here a bunch of times -- the small things are the things people remembered. And people just like to be heard. They like to know that what they ask for isn't falling on deaf ears. And the fact that we don't know if it's even in development makes it an even bitter pill to swallow. Same kind of deal with MMS.

Price. The Apple marketing/PR on the new iPhone is that is costs less and the press bought this claim without question. WooHoo!

However, you'll be paying $10 more per month to run on 3G. Hummm....$240 more out of us on the 2yr contract then they would have gotten before (apple gets a portion of that you know!). I'm not saying increased speed isn't worth a premium...just go into this with your eyes open. There is no *effective* price break on the new iPhone...there was actually an increase. They will get their money one way or another.

Congrats to Apple on successfully pulling the fast one on the media here! Great marketing!

SCOTT'S REPLY: I see your side and since I've written this entry, believe me, my thoughts about price and contracts and subsidies and everything has changed.

But ... remember ... Apple stays out of the cellular side. Even in iPhone 1.0 when it had a much greater hand, it liked to look as though it was staying separated.

Meaning, when Apple says the phone is cheaper, they really don't talk about why it's cheaper, or the plans ... or anything. To them, you pay $199 or $299 directly to them, and the other money you pay goes to AT&T.

But of course, it all goes to the same place. And it's all connected. And in the long run, over the life of the contract, it's not cheaper.

Also remember this ... as crazy as this seems and sounds ... some folks buy items and don't think about the monthly cost. Case in point ... I know someone who bought a loved one a satellite radio. He's going on and on about the deal he got ... $29 with an extra dock. And over and over and over he tells me it's $29. And I said ... that's great -- it was a good sale he found -- but I said ... but you've got the $16.95 a month subscription fee or a little less if you pay it in blocks instead of per month.

And his reply was basically: Well, yeah, but that's separate. I only paid $29. Turns out, he did spring for 1 year of service. So he paid more than $29.

So it's easy for companies to make it look like you are paying one amount when you are actually paying a lot more. We all fall for it at some point, and it's not necessarily deceiving ... it's just how it happens and how our minds work.

I've definitely included in some posts that the contract is separate. In fact, I also said yesterday in the midst of that incorrect information from AT&T that I think we'd be all better off paying more for the iPhone and having the unsubsidized version (like version 1.0). I stand by that.

The comments to this entry are closed.