Sunday, June 29, 2008 -- 11:37 a.m. -- on my couch

Well, I thought that maybe we'd have 2.0 software to talk about after there was talk of it possibly landing on Friday.

No dice. It wasn't meant to be, I'm afraid, but the good news is, it's just 2 weeks until it does and we've all waited this long already.

I was having a chat with a trusted friend who really put this in fantastic perspective.

He said that if Apple were to release 2.0 two weeks ahead of the iPhone 3G, it would give lots of people who are thinking about upgrading to a new iPhone an opportunity to use the new features and the app store on their original iPhones.

And if folks thought that using those things on their old iPhone was good enough, it could sway their decision away from purchasing an iPhone 3G.

This way, it all hits at the same time and folks who have made their decision to upgrade likely will and then go home and use the new software on their new handsets.

From a marketing/PR kind of standpoint, it really does make sense. That extra two weeks could really change people because I believe the 2.0 software will really be a great experience and will make using any iPhone -- original or 3G -- really good and powerful.

So for now, I'm thinking July 11 for iPhone software 2.0, along with iTunes 7.7 and likely a new version of Quicktime which usually coincides with any iTunes release. And hopefully, we'll have all kinds of great stuff in 7.7 including Mobile Me settings and perhaps the new iTunes remote control.

2 weeks and, as Bonnie Raitt would say, we'll really have something to talk about.

Feel free to agree or disagree in the comments of course.

Thanks for calling.

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Hey Scott,

well, I agree. Holding onto the pricing and keeping people on edge makes for quicker, impulsive decisions later. If it came out two weeks ahead people would have a chance to REALLY think through the minor differences between the present iPhone and the 3G. I was in the AT&T store and asked one of the guys there when he thought things would be released. Of course he answered that we would know as much as he would BUT given that last year's announcements didn't come out till about 48 hours before the release his guess was for a similar thing for this release. We shall see.

N

SCOTT's REPLY: Sad thing is that I think the people in the stores truly are told nothing until the last minute ... I think they really have to tell people that they have no idea and I don't think most customers believe that. It's hard to believe that an employee would be left so in the dark, but that is the way it goes most times with these things. The fewer people that know, the better.

Scott,
I think you have a point. I am going to sit back to wait and see how all these unknown variables play out. What will the data-phone plan pricing be, what kind of apps and how well they work and avoid the long lines of getting the new 3G phone? I will be following all the blogs and reviews to see how this really plays out. Maybe sitting on the fence is he best position to be in at this time. If enough people do the same maybe it will rattle Apple and A T&T and stall their plans to sell 10 million units by the end of the year.

SCOTT's REPLY: True, true ... although I think Apple is going to be closer to 20 million so it may take more than fence sitters to make the difference. But yeah, there are a lot of unanswered questions for 13 days before the launch of a major product so I agree with what you are saying.

1 word: this is bullcrap. This is getting pushed back like A 50 Cent CD

SCOTT'S REPLY: Sorry. I know waiting isn't easy.

Funny you should mention this, because I was thinking the exact opposite this morning, before reading this post. I was thinking about how much of a logistical nightmare it would be to have 2.0, 3G, and MobileMe all debut on the same day. I expected a staggered launch of these, with the iPhone 3G being the culmination of it all. I thought it would have been a smart move to release 2.0 prior to the iPhone 3G in order to work out all the kinks in the AppStore. I also thought it would have been wise to have MobileMe launch prior to July 11th for the same reasons.

After reading all the posts and trying to keep up with the latest news, I believe most of what Apple (and AT&T) seems to be shooting for with the iPhone 3G is new customers. They've got all these great new features (2.0 & AppStore, MobileMe, etc), and I figured they would want all the kinks worked out before a new customer walked into a store and said "I want a new iPhone 3G." It doesn't speak well for a new customer's first impression if there are glitches in the 2.0 software or MobileMe integration.

That's just my two cents... what I do know is that with less than 2 weeks before the launch, AT&T's silence is totally unacceptable. I haven't decided 100% yet if I'm going to upgrade, but the longer AT&T shuns their customers, the more likely I am NOT to lock myself into them any longer than necessary.

SCOTT's REPLY: Oh, I agree totally, Carl. It is all about new customers now ... there isn't all that much great compelling stuff -- other than 3G and GPS -- that really make it a great upgrade, but of course if you live in a big 3G city like I do, you might think differently.

But yes ... the AT&T thing is tough. Really tough ... especially in light of what happened in Canada. People wonder if that's what's going to happen here. Of course, that's not something that usually happens in the States, so I thinking there's no need to worry about it, but in light of what has happened a little bit of news would be most welcome right now.

You know, there's nothing stopping us from trying out the 2.0 update for a few days *before* we go get an iPhone 3G ;) ...and this coming from someone who did a bit of line waiting exactly one year ago, only to leave the box unopened for a few days to read reviews and whatnot first. Personally, I'm psyched about pretty much everything that's coming in a couple weeks' time, and most likely won't be getting a new iPhone unless I can manage to sell mine for a hefty sum first – I have no 3G coverage, and doubt I'd get much use out of the GPS.. but the flush headphone jack and 'improved speakers' seem nice. :D

SCOTT"s REPLY: Indeed, and you are correct ... there is nothing stopping us at all.

That reasoning is making me wonder if they might delay the 2.0 update for the original phone for a bit. People chomping at the bit decide to jump to 3G who might have waited which jazzes the sales numbers even more getting more PR for the platform. Of course the counter weight is that they could release the 2.0 update early and increase sales when people see how cool then location base stuff is that you need 3G for. As Mulder says, "The truth is out there."

SCOTT'S REPLY: You know, that really didn't hit me, although I think the non-upgraders would have a right to be very upset if they chose to go that route.

Remember in December when you did the "What's on your radar" post (or was it september). Well, we all knew so little about the SDK, in fact we didn't even there was one. But we believed in Apple to give the consumers an SDK, what we wanted. So I'm sure Apple thinks about us in software updates, so I believe that it will either be released Tuesday (tomorrow) Friday (July 4th) Tuesday (July 8th) or Friday (July 11th). I don't think apple would release it later because that wouldn't be very good for current customers. Now don't get me wrong, Apple has done this before (200 dollar price drop, etc) but for good reasons. Apple was trying to get it in the hands of more people, and it's that price drop that got ME an iPhone. And this 3G iPhone is the same thing, getting it into more peoples hand, and what better way to greet new customers than to have a fully functioning, working, app filled software 2.0. Even people who don't want to wait in line July 11th, but is getting one later, can benefit from an early release of iPhone 2.0, by having something to keep them waiting. Like me, I want loopt. I would use that. And what better way to see how good it is than to try it without GPS, and with the current tracking system. So what I'm saying is releasing it a few days early could benefit everyone, and I believe Apple may choose that path.

BTW that was the longest most philosophical comment you will ever heard from me or any other 13 (yay!) year old out there =]

See Ya!

SCOTT'S REPLY: Good, good points, Chris. My "radar" still tells me the same date as everyone else on July 11, but your points are quite valid.

And I've said it before and will say it again ... your writing is not that of a typical 13-year-old. I thought you were much older until you told me. I'm just so glad that we have so many passionate iPhone users in all age groups!!

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