Friday, July 31, 2008 -- 10 a.m. -- on my couch

It's been a while since I've done one of these.

I received an e-mail from caller John the other day and he had a very thought-provoking look at why he doesn't think we've seen copy and paste yet.

Yes. Yet.

Here's what John wrote

I have been reading your blog since before 1.0 came out, and like you, I have wondered why copy and paste isn't in the iPhone's OS. I think I have figured out why.

Revelation: The best way that Apple could stunt any doc editing app would be to keep copy / paste out of the OS. I predict with copy/paste we will see that editor - from Apple.

That's an interesting thought. iPages. Or iWork Mobile perhaps?

Caller Chris was the first person to mention an iPhone version of iWork several months ago ... he wasn't talking specifically about cut and paste at the time, but he was right in that it makes total sense for Apple to release this app and it makes total sense based on what caller John is saying here.

The fact that the iPhone can now read iWork documents is very important. It could read Word files but not iWork files, which seems a bit backwards.

Interestingly, there are plenty of "smart" phones out there that only allow for read access on office documents -- and other Windows Mobile devices that allow read and edit.

I remember when I purchased my T-Mobile MDA about 2 years ago that one of the things that drove me to decide on that phone was the ability to edit office docs. I actually used to write things in Word on the train when my commute was a little longer than it was now. It wasn't great, but I could do it and that meant a lot.

I shopped around. I looked at the Motorola Q and it was a nice looking device, but it was read only. In the end, I wasn't happy with that.

When I found out the iPhone was read only, I wasn't too happy ... but it wasn't going to stop me from buying an iPhone.

Then, I read Chris's idea and I thought .. yep .. that's an awesome idea. It makes sense.

And now when I read John's idea, it makes total sense.

And I'll tell you what ... if mobile iWork landed in the App Store tomorrow, I'd pay $50 for it ... that is, if it worked as well as I think it should. However, as an owner of iWork, I think I should pay less, but we'll save that for another post.

So, callers, what do you think of what John had to say? You think it makes sense? Let me and John and everyone know in the comments.

Thanks for taking the time to send this to me, John. And if any of you out there have any insight like John's, please send it my way. You could be featured in an upcoming edition of caller's corner.

Thanks for calling.

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Something as simple as cut and paste has been missing for over a YEAR from the iPhone. If Apple really wanted to release Pages for the iPhone, don't you think they would have a version already? How big is the Apple army now that the iPod and iPhone has revived the company's revenue? If Apple really wants the business market, unfortunately they are going to have to support office documents (Mac office and MS office) Native Exchange support without IMAP(S) was a good FIRST STEP, but they have a LOOOOOONG way to go..

Cut and Paste is SIMPLE. Know what else is missing from the iPhone? Video Capture, MMS.. I have to assume that 80% of the phones on the market now, have some sort of cut and paste, MMS and Video Capture.. We all know the iPhone OS is BSD based and there are cut and paste apps for BSD and the iphone hackers have created Video Capture AND MMS applications for the iPhone.. so why is Apple DRAGGING it's feet bringing these applications to the masses?

Why does the iPhone look like late 2000's but act 1994?

SCOTT'S REPLY: That question, Brian, is a million dollar one. And sadly, I think only Steve knows the answer, and I'm not sure we'd like it even if he decided to tell us.

Good idea and does make sense but these are Mac only solutions it sounds like. Know that Apples' priority is naturally tilted to Mac users but the current Outlook/me.com acct compatibility issue to me is an example that they need to focus also on those of us that still use PC's. I'll switch when my system finally gives out probably but they should remember that while their market share has increased dramatically, over 90% of the market is still PC. They're trying to embrace the Outlook/Exchange users with MobileMe/ push mail etc. but they need to see that through so that ridiculous issues like this inbox one don't come up and end up being deal breakers for those of us who use/ manage our stuff through Outlook. Would love to know if you find out something about that issue from Apple Scott. Thanks.

SCOTT'S REPLY: I haven't heard anything specific about the Outlook problem yet, but about cut and paste ... I'm not sure the iWork that is envisioned here is a Mac only product? A PC version for those who use PCs with their iPhones makes all the sense in the world. Apple wants to increase market share for Macs, but also for iPhones.

Hi Scott. It dies make incredible sense doesn't it? Fits in with Apple's 'halo' effect strategy - gettin people hooked to iPhone and Apple apps will help sell more macs, as has been the case thus far. Now if o my someone can figure out the deal with MMS & landscape keyboards...sigh.

SCOTT'S REPLY: Well, we've been patient so far. ... maybe Apple laughs at comments like these because it knows it's coming soon .. maybe not. Sigh.

I think Apple does not want to cannibalize its laptop market and may even have an eeepc style mini in the works. Why get one of those if you can throw your iPhone in the luggage to Tokyo and have functional doc production through that?

I used to draft legal docs on my Sidekick using copy/paste and would also pay big money for iWorks mini -- especially with a usable mini Bluetooth keyboard accessory.

SCOTT'S REPLY: I understand, but I still think that even with a mini laptop that the iWork mobile audience would be a different audience than the mini laptop iWork audience. There's room for both to live happy and in harmony.

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