Apple announces Apple TV and iPhone

[Engels]

http://www.videosift.com/video/iPhone-gets-iPwned-by-simple-web-page-hack

[Venkman]

Analyst slapfight.

That cracks me up. Basically, two guys working at JPMorgan have competing views of the next inevitable iPhone:

Guy 1: Cheaper and slimmer version inspired by iPod Nano
Guy 2: Bigger and pricier version with "high speed cellular Internet connections"

I'm going with Guy 1. Built in wi-fi sorta negates the usefulness of fulltime high speed cellular unless you're always out of range of wi-fi but happen to be in an area where AT&T gets good coverage. This is not the way to radically grow your audience after the initial bleeding-edge geek fest that was launch.

Meanwhile, if Apple can pull off a cheaper (and not just ammortized-cheaper) version but-as-usuable version of the device and get that picked up by another (better) carrier, they have real potential. That's how you get even more customers, like those sitting on the fence of sticker price.

At the same time, I have long contended though (as others have) that the size of the device is dictated by the use of a fingertip. They can't really go too much smaller unless they design for use by stylus.

[Nonentity]

I <3 my AppleTV.

That is all.

[Tebonas]

The iPhone might tank in Europe without high speed internet, not many here put up with GSM Edge anymore.

[Trippy]

iPhone unlocked (for some SIMs):

http://www.give-a-mac.com/iphone-full-unlock/

[Ookii]

Hotness.

You can also just buy a fake iPhone from China with more features.

[Viin]

Once again:
Http://www.sprint.com/sero

Use the email address John@Sprint.Com

Hey Schild, do you have a new email address that works with this? Seems like John has expired ..

[Lantyssa]

Mail Call!

Heh.

[cmlancas]

I laughed: "'AT&T should get a new tagline -- use AT&T, kill a tree,' he said."

[Trippy]

This "news" came out last month. Not sure why this is getting coverage again. Must be slow news month or something.

[Miasma]

I guess it's been unlocked now.

[Venkman]

So yea, that New Jersey kid managed to hack it with two Russian guys and a few others. Unfortunately for the world they can only make it work on a T-Mobile connection. Big whoopdidoo considering who owns T-Mobile.

I am only interested when you can put any SIM card in there so I can make it work on Sprint. Otherwise I'm waiting for my next trip to HK so I can get an iClone :)

[Trippy]

So yea, that New Jersey kid managed to hack it with two Russian guys and a few others. Unfortunately for the world they can only make it work on a T-Mobile connection. Big whoopdidoo considering who owns T-Mobile.

I am only interested when you can put any SIM card in there so I can make it work on Sprint. Otherwise I'm waiting for my next trip to HK so I can get an iClone :)

Sprint uses CDMA not GSM so that would be like never (CDMA phones don't use SIMs). The reason why Engadget is showing it using T-Mobile is cause AT&T and T-Mobile are the two GSM providers here in the US. An unlocked iPhone will work with any SIM from any GSM-using country since the iPhone is quad-band (supports all four international GSM frequencies).

[Murgos]

 http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20070905-apple-unveils-new-ipod-touch-fat-ipod-nano-at-special-event.html

Frankly, I'm disappointed in this launch.  80 GB iPod touch with wifi?  Sold.  16 GB iPod touch without phone?  Nah, I'll wait.

 

[Tebonas]

Exactly my thoughts. Downgrading from 80GB to 16GB? Nah.

[Sky]

Glad I got an iPod when I did, even if the fiancee bought me a 30gigger when I need an 80 :P I knew they'd be going to the bigger screen and touch interface and wanted the ruggeder 5G setup.

I wish they'd break out an audiophile version without anything but audio and nice text graphics, screen size about like the 5G but monochrome, massive hard drive. Seperate the wifi/video/coverflow jazz to the trendy models.

[MisterNoisy]

They just dropped the 8 gig iPhone to $399 and are clearing out the 4GB model at $299 if anyone was still on the fence.

I gotta imagine that while early adopters are used to getting boned, they'd prefer that Apple use some lube next time.

[naum]

Exactly my thoughts. Downgrading from 80GB to 16GB? Nah.

iPod "Classic" now does 160G

I must confess that iPod Touch looks really cool, the drawback for me is again, the lock-in making the device unusable (other than iPod) as a PDA offline which would be really cool for me, to log notes and such, but it looks like it's just a dumb implementation of Safari, without ability to do localhost (which I would put a personal Wiki and sync with Mac at home/work)…

And let me say, that the Starbucks deal — there is a "Starbucks" button on the device that pops you into the current song playing in a Starbucks for your purchasing pleasure. The iTunes store access is free, but Starbucks is still going to foist a $7 charge to you, in addition to the $7 you already plunked down for a couple of overpriced cups of coffee… …WORST THING APPLE HAS DONE EVAR!!!!

[Fabricated]

Who cares?

Edit: Also, check list for typical shitty Apple product:

1. Is it first gen? -Yes
2. Is it a version of another product, only with less features and a very marginally reduced price? -Yes
3. Is it made by Apple? -Yes

Yep, it's a pile of shit.

[Murgos]

Really, what I want is the All-In-One PDA/Phone/Music/Video/Wifi/Internet/Email/Game/Camera/Etc thingie.

If it came in a slick little case that fits comfortably into my front left pocket I'd drop a grand on it, easily, but it HAS TO have enough storage not to be gimped (like 80GB would be a bit light).

We're close, and the end is in reach, but we ain't there yet.

[Trippy]

And let me say, that the Starbucks deal — there is a "Starbucks" button on the device that pops you into the current song playing in a Starbucks for your purchasing pleasure. The iTunes store access is free, but Starbucks is still going to foist a $7 charge to you, in addition to the $7 you already plunked down for a couple of overpriced cups of coffee… …WORST THING APPLE HAS DONE EVAR!!!!

Starbucks Wi-Fi access will be free if you are using it to access the iTunes Wi-Fi music store.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070905/wr_nm/apple_starbucks_dc

[Trippy]

They just dropped the 8 gig iPhone to $399 and are clearing out the 4GB model at $299 if anyone was still on the fence.

I gotta imagine that while early adopters are used to getting boned, they'd prefer that Apple use some lube next time.

Still waiting on 3G model -- EDGE is just too fricking slow.

[MisterNoisy]

If you have a healthy sense of schadenfreude, check out the iPhone forums, though they're locking/hiding/deleting as many threads by people pissed about the price drop as they can.  Apparently their 'loyal customers' aren't too keen on being boned in the kiester to the tune of a $200 early adopter fee after 2 months and have been somewhat vocal about it.  Engadget/Gizmodo comments are almost as good.

[Trippy]

Not surprising. $200 is a huge cut, relatively speaking. I can't remember a time that Apple's done that for a product so new.

[Trippy]

Really, what I want is the All-In-One PDA/Phone/Music/Video/Wifi/Internet/Email/Game/Camera/Etc thingie.

If it came in a slick little case that fits comfortably into my front left pocket I'd drop a grand on it, easily, but it HAS TO have enough storage not to be gimped (like 80GB would be a bit light).

We're close, and the end is in reach, but we ain't there yet.

If you want that much storage you have to put up with the bulk. Craming a 1.8" hard drive/solid state drive into the iPhone form-factor would add significant thickness to it (an 160 GB 1.8" hard drive is 8mm thick). Someday there will postage size 128 GB non-volatile memory devices but we're a ways off from that.

[naum]

And let me say, that the Starbucks deal — there is a "Starbucks" button on the device that pops you into the current song playing in a Starbucks for your purchasing pleasure. The iTunes store access is free, but Starbucks is still going to foist a $7 charge to you, in addition to the $7 you already plunked down for a couple of overpriced cups of coffee… …WORST THING APPLE HAS DONE EVAR!!!!

Starbucks Wi-Fi access will be free if you are using it to access the iTunes Wi-Fi music store.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070905/wr_nm/apple_starbucks_dc

From the article:

Starbucks customers with either the new iPod touch just announced on Wednesday or an iPhone or a computer running iTunes will be able to navigate to the new iTunes Wi-Fi music store without paying a connection fee.

Access to the iTunes Music store, not the internet, unless there's been some clarification posted on this that I haven't seen yet. I doubt T-Mobile is going to give a free pass to iPod/MacBook users…

[Trippy]

That's what I said:

Starbucks Wi-Fi access will be free if you are using it to access the iTunes Wi-Fi music store.

Edit: Oh never mind I see what you are saying.

[Murgos]

If you want that much storage you have to put up with the bulk. Craming a 1.8" hard drive/solid state drive into the iPhone form-factor would add significant thickness to it (an 160 GB 1.8" hard drive is 8mm thick). Someday there will postage size 128 GB non-volatile memory devices but we're a ways off from that.

I'd be fine with 16mm thickness (1.5x a current gen iPhone).  My current phone is thicker even than that and it doesn't bother me.

[Miasma]

If you have a healthy sense of schadenfreude, check out the iPhone forums, though they're locking/hiding/deleting as many threads by people pissed about the price drop as they can.  Apparently their 'loyal customers' aren't too keen on being boned in the kiester to the tune of a $200 early adopter fee after 2 months and have been somewhat vocal about it.  Engadget/Gizmodo comments are almost as good.

They are trying damage control.

[Tebonas]

Early adopters usually pay a higher price for an inferior product. Its the price you pay if you want to be cool rather than smart.

[pants]

Early adopters usually pay a higher price for an inferior product. Its the price you pay if you want to be cool rather than smart.

True, but a 33% drop in price in a month is a pretty steep early adoptor tax.  Still, Apple fanbois have been getting screwed cash wise for years, so they should be used to it.

[Trippy]

If you have a healthy sense of schadenfreude, check out the iPhone forums, though they're locking/hiding/deleting as many threads by people pissed about the price drop as they can.  Apparently their 'loyal customers' aren't too keen on being boned in the kiester to the tune of a $200 early adopter fee after 2 months and have been somewhat vocal about it.  Engadget/Gizmodo comments are almost as good.

They are trying damage control.

Heh, that's amusing. That's also a nice hit to their profits (400K * $100 = $40 million). Some people have managed to get $200 refunds on their phones. I wonder if they are clever if they can get the credit as well.

[Sky]

Apple users will throw away a 20" widescreen flat panel when they upgrade their computer. They have some issues. I love OSX, but there are definitely some flaws to the hardware thing. At least they've got intel chips and the mini, that's something.

[naum]

On the iPhone price drop, letter from Mr. Jobs

Therefore, we have decided to offer every iPhone customer who purchased an iPhone from either Apple or AT&T, and who is not receiving a rebate or any other consideration, a $100 store credit towards the purchase of any product at an Apple Retail Store or the Apple Online Store. Details are still being worked out and will be posted on Apple's website next week. Stay tuned.

The new devices (iPhone, iPod touch) are really nice, there almost there, the lock-in is what disappoints me.

Still, I may take the iPhone plunge, as my current contract has been up for quite some time (Nokia + T-Mobile), and while the iPhone is gimped in unbelievable ways, it, to me, is still far superior to other smartphones on the market, be they Motorola, sidekick, blackberry, Sprint, etc.… …and the monthly rate is about the same I pay now, and I don't have net access on m phone (my phone is 3 years old now), at least…

[naum]

Apple users will throw away a 20" widescreen flat panel when they upgrade their computer. They have some issues. I love OSX, but there are definitely some flaws to the hardware thing. At least they've got intel chips and the mini, that's something.

Folks that buy iMacs arn't interested in hardware upgrades, they'll use their iMac for 3-5+ years, then buy a new one. It may shock posters in these here forums and serve as ridicule fodder, but many just want to plug a box in and work with their Mac, and are delighted by the form factor (no tower to allot space for, beautiful screen that will serve for the life of that machine… …we have a iMac in the home (the family computer ), but the bulk of my computing is done on MBP that plugs into big screen monitor…