Friday, September 7, 2007
Thursday, September 6, 2007
Apple apology to Iphone buyers
Steve Jobs apologized to customers who paid full price for the iPhone before he cut the cost by $200 yesterday. Jobs said users who bought the phone before the discount and got no other rebate will receive $100 in credit at Apple's retail or online stores. Get the Bloomberg details
Thursday, August 30, 2007
Monday, August 27, 2007
Is the Apple iPhone Overpriced?
Costing about $500 or $600 (depending on the model), the Apple iPhone might seem significantly more expensive than its plain cellphone rivals which only cost $100 to $200. But let's take a closer look at whether it is a fair comparison.
Apple's products have always commanded a premium in the market.
While it's easy to say that a similar cellphone might cost significant less, and represent better value for money, is that really the case?
For starters, Apple has emphasized a great deal on the design of its products, as well as the usability of its products.
Witness the Apple Macintosh.
When released in 1984, it signalled a revolution for users everywhere. And now, The all-new, all-in-one iMac 08 packs a complete, high-performance computer into a beautifully thin design.
Where computers used to be cryptic devices where you needed to learn to type codes to get it working, the Macintosh brought the Graphical User Interface (or GUI for short) to the forefront.
Likewise, for the iPhone, it looks set to conquer the smartphone market.
Instead of cryptic commands to perform complex operations, the Apple iPhone has incorporated several 'smart' features, such as the ability to magnify and reduce screen images by "pinching" or "squeezing" the iPhone's display screen.
It incorporates an ambient light sensor which automatically adjusts lighting levels in response to the lighting around, preserving battery life and making the screen easy to view.
The intelligence of the device also automatically switches the screen display from a portrait to a landscape orientation when the device is flipped from a vertical to a horizontal orientation.
And if you should answer a phone call, the iPhone is smart enough to recognize that the phone is being brought close to your face and the keypad automatically deactivates itself, so you don't hit a key accidentally when the phone brushes against your face.
While it is easy to brush off the Apple iPhone as an "expensive phone", it certainly will not do any justice to the design and effort which has gone into the innovative product.
Can you place a measure on being able to do something easily and simply, without having to fiddle through a thick manual, or look through several "help" pages?
With the Apple iPhone, this certainly won't be an issue.
Apple's products have always commanded a premium in the market.
While it's easy to say that a similar cellphone might cost significant less, and represent better value for money, is that really the case?
For starters, Apple has emphasized a great deal on the design of its products, as well as the usability of its products.
Witness the Apple Macintosh.
When released in 1984, it signalled a revolution for users everywhere. And now, The all-new, all-in-one iMac 08 packs a complete, high-performance computer into a beautifully thin design.
Where computers used to be cryptic devices where you needed to learn to type codes to get it working, the Macintosh brought the Graphical User Interface (or GUI for short) to the forefront.
Likewise, for the iPhone, it looks set to conquer the smartphone market.
Instead of cryptic commands to perform complex operations, the Apple iPhone has incorporated several 'smart' features, such as the ability to magnify and reduce screen images by "pinching" or "squeezing" the iPhone's display screen.
It incorporates an ambient light sensor which automatically adjusts lighting levels in response to the lighting around, preserving battery life and making the screen easy to view.
The intelligence of the device also automatically switches the screen display from a portrait to a landscape orientation when the device is flipped from a vertical to a horizontal orientation.
And if you should answer a phone call, the iPhone is smart enough to recognize that the phone is being brought close to your face and the keypad automatically deactivates itself, so you don't hit a key accidentally when the phone brushes against your face.
While it is easy to brush off the Apple iPhone as an "expensive phone", it certainly will not do any justice to the design and effort which has gone into the innovative product.
Can you place a measure on being able to do something easily and simply, without having to fiddle through a thick manual, or look through several "help" pages?
With the Apple iPhone, this certainly won't be an issue.
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
Who Needs An Apple iPhone?
Although the massive launch of the Apple iPhone means that many who see the next generation smartphone is sure to want one, we have identified a few key consumers who might find the iPhone an indispensable tool.
Students:
Given Apple's close link to the academic community, it's inevitable that there will be some alliances forged between the two realms of Apple's cutting edge design and technology and the needs of academia.
One of Steve Jobs' previous start-ups, NeXT, focused on higher education and business markets, while its Mac line of desktops are used in biotechnology research and analytical computations.
Students using the iPhone will find its features like the ability to playback MP3 tracks useful. Not so much for catching the latest pop songs, but rather to catch education-related podcasts.
The iPhone's ability to stream video means that e-learning or distance learning can take place, as long as the academic institution has the infrastructure in place.
Having a 2-megapixel digital camera built into the iPhone means that photos can be taken with ease, whether it's for assignments or for personal recreation.
Road Warriors:
Business people on the move will find the iPhone to be useful, especially with the availability of full featured Internet access, rather than the abbreviated web surfing currently available on many smartphones.
This means that not only will you be able to check for information on the Internet, it also means that secure business transactions can take place easily.
The availability of Internet access over Wi-Fi networks mean that available Web 2.0 services will allow mobile office workers to access their data on the move.
Freed from being deskbound, the Apple iPhone is currently enabled to access Google's Maps application. Over time, you can expect Apple's strategic partners to develop more business applications.
Business Owners:
The workhorse nature of the iPhone together with its close integration to Apple's Safari Internet browser, mean that business applications can be used seamlessly.
We can make an educated guess that the separation between the computer and your mobile iPhone device will be erased over time.
Students:
Given Apple's close link to the academic community, it's inevitable that there will be some alliances forged between the two realms of Apple's cutting edge design and technology and the needs of academia.
One of Steve Jobs' previous start-ups, NeXT, focused on higher education and business markets, while its Mac line of desktops are used in biotechnology research and analytical computations.
Students using the iPhone will find its features like the ability to playback MP3 tracks useful. Not so much for catching the latest pop songs, but rather to catch education-related podcasts.
The iPhone's ability to stream video means that e-learning or distance learning can take place, as long as the academic institution has the infrastructure in place.
Having a 2-megapixel digital camera built into the iPhone means that photos can be taken with ease, whether it's for assignments or for personal recreation.
Road Warriors:
Business people on the move will find the iPhone to be useful, especially with the availability of full featured Internet access, rather than the abbreviated web surfing currently available on many smartphones.
This means that not only will you be able to check for information on the Internet, it also means that secure business transactions can take place easily.
The availability of Internet access over Wi-Fi networks mean that available Web 2.0 services will allow mobile office workers to access their data on the move.
Freed from being deskbound, the Apple iPhone is currently enabled to access Google's Maps application. Over time, you can expect Apple's strategic partners to develop more business applications.
Business Owners:
The workhorse nature of the iPhone together with its close integration to Apple's Safari Internet browser, mean that business applications can be used seamlessly.
We can make an educated guess that the separation between the computer and your mobile iPhone device will be erased over time.
The Apple iPhone Embraces Web 2.0
More than just a music player which also doubles up as a cell phone, the Apple iPhone is fully loaded to support Third Party Web 2.0 applications.
Web 2.0 applications provide greater interactivity and the ability to conduct secure data access and transactions, similar to those used for purchases from sites like Amazon.com, stock purchases and bank funds transfers.
This opens up a large arena of possibilities for the iPhone to take center stage in a digital economy.
Imagine this, you use the iPhone's built-in 2 megapixel camera to take photos at a friend's birthday party, you upload it to a web-based photo sharing website like Flickr and you send a text or email broadcast to your friends.
They then visit your site and enter live interactive comments, similar to services found on Twitter.
As an additional option, you could include links to real-time print-on-demand photography services, and your friends can request photos to be printed and sent to them overnight.
But the real breakthrough will come when you're able to pay for purchases with your iPhone.
Imagine travelling without your wallet or purse, making payment at a parking meter, buying cinema tickets, paying for a meal with just a single touch of a payment button on your iPhone.
The iPhone's technology architecture means that developers can create innovative applications for the device.
Can you picture youself controlling the functions of your home with your trusty iPhone?
Imagine being able to turn your sprinklers on and off, setting the washing machine to start up, with just an instruction sent to your home automation network.
If you're away on vacation, your iPhone provides real-time video access to your home's security system, giving you the ability to ensure that your home is safe and sound, even while you might be a continent away.
The first of the supported Web 2.0 application can be accessed using the smartphone.
Google Maps provides the ability not just to search maps, it also gives you the ability to find businesses and get directions to locations.
The iPhone marks Apple's first entry into the cellphone market and judging by the responses seen so far, it certainly looks set to make a big splash.
Web 2.0 applications provide greater interactivity and the ability to conduct secure data access and transactions, similar to those used for purchases from sites like Amazon.com, stock purchases and bank funds transfers.
This opens up a large arena of possibilities for the iPhone to take center stage in a digital economy.
Imagine this, you use the iPhone's built-in 2 megapixel camera to take photos at a friend's birthday party, you upload it to a web-based photo sharing website like Flickr and you send a text or email broadcast to your friends.
They then visit your site and enter live interactive comments, similar to services found on Twitter.
As an additional option, you could include links to real-time print-on-demand photography services, and your friends can request photos to be printed and sent to them overnight.
But the real breakthrough will come when you're able to pay for purchases with your iPhone.
Imagine travelling without your wallet or purse, making payment at a parking meter, buying cinema tickets, paying for a meal with just a single touch of a payment button on your iPhone.
The iPhone's technology architecture means that developers can create innovative applications for the device.
Can you picture youself controlling the functions of your home with your trusty iPhone?
Imagine being able to turn your sprinklers on and off, setting the washing machine to start up, with just an instruction sent to your home automation network.
If you're away on vacation, your iPhone provides real-time video access to your home's security system, giving you the ability to ensure that your home is safe and sound, even while you might be a continent away.
The first of the supported Web 2.0 application can be accessed using the smartphone.
Google Maps provides the ability not just to search maps, it also gives you the ability to find businesses and get directions to locations.
The iPhone marks Apple's first entry into the cellphone market and judging by the responses seen so far, it certainly looks set to make a big splash.
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