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Author How the iPhone stole Christmas
Oxford

2007-11-25, 10:33 pm

nice article on how the iPhone will become this year's No. 1 christmas
present. it's fair and balanced, a good read...

By Keith Shaw, Network World, 11/19/07

Steve Jobs has made my job harder. If he hadn't stood on the stage at
MacWorld in January and unleashed the iPhone on the world, I'd probably
be more excited about this year's crop of Cool Yule Tools, Network
World's annual roundup of the hottest technology toys and gift ideas.

As I opened up the hundreds of packages arriving in the office over the
past few months, however, I began to realize that the iPhone has skewed
the curve in terms of what's really exciting, innovative and fun in
technology. Like the Patriots compared with the rest of the NFL, there's
the iPhone - and then there's everything else.

It also didn't help that Microsoft's Windows Vista operating system has
laid a giant egg - not just with corporate users but also with consumers
looking to find some excitement in the PC space. When we were trying out
the PCs and notebooks sent us this year, we could judge our enthusiasm
for the hardware by looking at whether the system had XP (yay!) or Vista
(ugh!).

But all is not lost. In these pages you'll find the iPhone and 20 more
of our favorite technology gift ideas for the holidays. Head online for
more photos and reviews of this year's other favorites.

1. Apple iPhone $399

Hands down, the iPhone is the product of the year. Generating more
discussion in consumer and enterprise circles than any other device in
recent memory, the iPhone has revolutionized the way phone vendors think
about user interfaces. In terms of a digital audio player, the iPhone
(and iPod family) are light years ahead of everything else.

Sure, it's been overhyped to the point of nausea, but once you hold it
in your hands and see how easy it is to do things like initiate a
conference call, you'll be hooked. Yes, there are several issues
surrounding enterprise compatibility, pricing and application openness
with the iPhone, but this only paves the way for improvements in future
devices. I have a feeling the iPhone family will make the list of Cool
Yule Tools in years to come.

http://snipurl.com/1u6z0
News

2007-11-26, 7:33 am

As Oxie-moron says, "fair and balanced". Just like Faux News....


Oxford wrote:

> nice article on how the iPhone will become this year's No. 1 christmas
> present. it's fair and balanced, a good read...

....
> Sure, it's been overhyped to the point of nausea... Yes, there are several issues
> surrounding enterprise compatibility, pricing and application openness
> with the iPhone... I have a feeling the iPhone family will make the list of


.... quickest and most returned electronic product, this holiday season.
Kickin' Ass and Takin' Names

2007-11-26, 7:33 am

On Nov 25, 10:57 pm, Oxford <linuxloves...@superart.com> wrote:
> nice article on how the iPhone will become this year's No. 1 christmas
> present. it's fair and balanced, a good read...
>
> By Keith Shaw, Network World, 11/19/07
>
> Steve Jobs has made my job harder. If he hadn't stood on the stage at
> MacWorld in January and unleashed the iPhone on the world, I'd probably
> be more excited about this year's crop of Cool Yule Tools, Network
> World's annual roundup of the hottest technology toys and gift ideas.
>
> As I opened up the hundreds of packages arriving in the office over the
> past few months, however, I began to realize that the iPhone has skewed
> the curve in terms of what's really exciting, innovative and fun in
> technology. Like the Patriots compared with the rest of the NFL, there's
> the iPhone - and then there's everything else.
>
> It also didn't help that Microsoft's Windows Vista operating system has
> laid a giant egg - not just with corporate users but also with consumers
> looking to find some excitement in the PC space. When we were trying out
> the PCs and notebooks sent us this year, we could judge our enthusiasm
> for the hardware by looking at whether the system had XP (yay!) or Vista
> (ugh!).
>
> But all is not lost. In these pages you'll find the iPhone and 20 more
> of our favorite technology gift ideas for the holidays. Head online for
> more photos and reviews of this year's other favorites.
>
> 1. Apple iPhone $399
>
> Hands down, the iPhone is the product of the year. Generating more
> discussion in consumer and enterprise circles than any other device in
> recent memory, the iPhone has revolutionized the way phone vendors think
> about user interfaces. In terms of a digital audio player, the iPhone
> (and iPod family) are light years ahead of everything else.
>
> Sure, it's been overhyped to the point of nausea, but once you hold it
> in your hands and see how easy it is to do things like initiate a
> conference call, you'll be hooked. Yes, there are several issues
> surrounding enterprise compatibility, pricing and application openness
> with the iPhone, but this only paves the way for improvements in future
> devices. I have a feeling the iPhone family will make the list of Cool
> Yule Tools in years to come.
>
> http://snipurl.com/1u6z0


I realize that anecdotal evidence proves nothing -- but -- here goes.

My son was among the first to own an iPhone -- he stood in line at the
local Apple store to grab one the day they came out.

His experience has been frustrating and very underwhelming.

First, he has had to update the software 3 or 4 times -- each time
requires a lenghty download from the Apple site, complete with
interruptions, failures, start over. Each download-upgrade has
required 2-3 days to get it right.

Second, most of the features of the iPhone are nice to have shit with
no real benefit. For example: why do I need to see a picture of the
person who is calling me? In order to do that, I must first find the
person, then, take a photo, then set up the phone to display their
photo when they call. Why not just stick with my Verizon phone that
pops up their name when they call? And the same thing goes for all
the other features -- unnecessary crap.

The iPhone does, however, prove one thing: Just as PT Barnum said,
there's a sucker born every minute -- and Steve Jobs has figured out
how to make millions off them.

News

2007-11-26, 7:33 am



Kickin' XXX and Takin' Names wrote:

> The iPhone does, however, prove one thing: Just as PT Barnum said,
> there's a sucker born every minute -- and Steve Jobs has figured out
> how to make millions off them.
>



Bingo. Long live fashion victims galore.
Carl

2007-11-26, 10:33 am

Kickin' XXX and Takin' Names wrote:
>
> The iPhone does, however, prove one thing: Just as PT Barnum said,
> there's a sucker born every minute -- and Steve Jobs has figured out
> how to make millions off them.
>

I dunno. I am a VZ customer, have been loyal for many, many years, and do
not own an iPhone. On the other hand, I have had reason to get excited
about new phone offerings every two years, until now. My last phone
purchase, two years ago, was a Razr and it was fun. I am admittedly a
techno-geek gadget lover. But VZ is offering nothing that has my interest
these days. I tried to force myself to be excited about the Voyager, until I
actually looked at one and realized it's nothing innovative. Its
touch-screen interface is just a menu system like my GPS unit's. No pinch
and expand, or touch and scroll. And it's thick, the QWERTY keyboard being
for what? Kids who text message. Nothing more. Not someting I need in a
non-PDA phone.

The iPhone does capture my interest. It is fresh. It is new. It is unique.
I think the author of the article hit it right on the head when he said
"...the iPhone has skewed the curve in terms of what's really exciting,
innovative and fun in technology."

It may have its flaws. And some of its features may be overkill, such as
displaying pictures of callers, but can you really deny its "excitement
factor"?

For whatever it's worth in this thread, it is the only thing that has
captured my interest and may cause me to switch providers after the holiday
madness is over. VZ should have been on the ball about this.



Adam Kesher

2007-11-26, 12:33 pm

On Nov 26, 4:47 am, "Kickin' XXX and Takin' Names"
<PopUlist...@hotmail.com> wrote:
> On Nov 25, 10:57 pm, Oxford <linuxloves...@superart.com> wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> I realize that anecdotal evidence proves nothing -- but -- here goes.
>
> My son was among the first to own an iPhone -- he stood in line at the
> local Apple store to grab one the day they came out.
>
> His experience has been frustrating and very underwhelming.
>
> First, he has had to update the software 3 or 4 times -- each time
> requires a lenghty download from the Apple site, complete with
> interruptions, failures, start over. Each download-upgrade has
> required 2-3 days to get it right.


Diagnosis: Your son is an idiot.

> Second, most of the features of the iPhone are nice to have shit with
> no real benefit. For example: why do I need to see a picture of the
> person who is calling me?


You don't need to. Don't upload photos for contacts.

> In order to do that, I must first find the
> person, then, take a photo, then set up the phone to display their
> photo when they call.


You don't have to do any of that. The fact that you think that photos
are "required" to receive calls on the iPhone shows you don't know
what you're talking about.

> Why not just stick with my Verizon phone that
> pops up their name when they call? And the same thing goes for all
> the other features -- unnecessary crap.


Wow, compelling review.

> The iPhone does, however, prove one thing: Just as PT Barnum said,
> there's a sucker born every minute -- and Steve Jobs has figured out
> how to make millions off them.


Let me guess, you're a zara or Muahman sock puppet...
Todd Allcock

2007-11-26, 3:33 pm

At 26 Nov 2007 11:21:26 -0500 Carl wrote:

> I have had reason to get excited
> about new phone offerings every two years, until now. My last phone
> purchase, two years ago, was a Razr and it was fun. I am admittedly a
> techno-geek gadget lover. But VZ is offering nothing that has my interest
> these days. I tried to force myself to be excited about the Voyager,

until I
> actually looked at one and realized it's nothing innovative. Its
> touch-screen interface is just a menu system like my GPS unit's. No pinch
> and expand, or touch and scroll. And it's thick, the QWERTY keyboard

being

> for what? Kids who text message. Nothing more. Not someting I need in a
> non-PDA phone.



I think that's just t e sign of a mature market. Look at automobiles, for
example- there's little to get excited about each new model year.

> The iPhone does capture my interest. It is fresh. It is new. It is

unique.


True- because it's a new take on old features. The multi-touch IF IS fun
and different. Unfortunately, for me at least, it's also limiting- no cut
and paste, for example.

> I think the author of the article hit it right on the head when he said
> "...the iPhone has skewed the curve in terms of what's really exciting,
> innovative and fun in technology."



Agreed, to a point- deep down, I think most of us are attracted to bright,
shiny objects and the iPhone certainly fits that bill.

> It may have its flaws. And some of its features may be overkill, such as
> displaying pictures of callers, but can you really deny its "excitement
> factor"?



No- not at all. Sadly I also can't deny it's flaw factor, which ultimately
made it completely unsuitable for my purposes.


> For whatever it's worth in this thread, it is the only thing that has
> captured my interest and may cause me to switch providers after the

holiday
> madness is over. VZ should have been on the ball about this.



Then Apple certainly did it's job. Unfortunately the iPhone is too "form
over function" for me. I use my WinMo phone as a laptop replacement, and
the iPhone is far to limiting in it's inability to save and edit documents,
lack of GPS support, and it's overreliance on a computer to update contacts
and content. Many smartphones have the ability to free us from a PC- the
iPhone, on the other hand is a peripheral.

Having said that, I guess that makes me a "power-user." I see where the
iPhone would make an excellent choice for many people- I'm just not one of
them (and boy did I want to be! The weak web-browsing experience is one of
my few complaints about the WinMo platform. Thankfully 3rd-prty companies
have tried to address this. Opera, for example, now offers an iPhonesque
browser that displays full webpages and zooms in and out. Not as easily or
as cleverly as the iPhone's Safari browser, but well enough for me to stop
gritting my teeth when browsing some websites!)


Carl

2007-11-26, 3:33 pm

Todd Allcock wrote:
> At 26 Nov 2007 11:21:26 -0500 Carl wrote:
>
>
>
> I think that's just t e sign of a mature market. Look at
> automobiles, for example- there's little to get excited about each
> new model year.
>

This is an excellent analogy, and an excellent point. Part of my problem, I
guess, is that I have "matured" away from the bells and whistles.
>
>
>
> True- because it's a new take on old features. The multi-touch IF IS
> fun and different. Unfortunately, for me at least, it's also
> limiting- no cut and paste, for example.
>

I didn't even realize that. That would be limiting I think.
>
>
>
> Agreed, to a point- deep down, I think most of us are attracted to
> bright, shiny objects and the iPhone certainly fits that bill.
>
>
>
> No- not at all. Sadly I also can't deny it's flaw factor, which
> ultimately made it completely unsuitable for my purposes.
>
>
>
>
> Then Apple certainly did it's job. Unfortunately the iPhone is too
> "form over function" for me. I use my WinMo phone as a laptop
> replacement, and the iPhone is far to limiting in it's inability to
> save and edit documents, lack of GPS support, and it's overreliance
> on a computer to update contacts and content. Many smartphones have
> the ability to free us from a PC- the iPhone, on the other hand is a
> peripheral.
>

I may have lied. I'm not really ready to jump ship from VZ, as call
reliability is still the most important factor to me, and I don't think the
iPhone, in its current config, is what I want. You're right. If I got a new
phone, I'd want it to have GPS capability at this point in time. I bet the
next generation iPhone does though and I'll be watching!.
>



Bill Kearney

2007-11-28, 10:33 am


"Adam Kesher" < PseuDoughIntelectual
@lycos.com> wrote in message
news:f73a5473-b7da-4b63-915f- 449e19aa0e03@s12g200
0prg.googlegroups.com...
>
> Let me guess, you're a zara or Muahman sock puppet...


What, as opposed to you the drooling fanboy?

vic.healey

2007-11-28, 10:33 pm

Lets see you are angry because the iPhone displays a caller's picture
as described in your post. Since that is a feature of CONTACTS in
Microsoft Windows to store a contact's picture you must not be using
OUTLOOK to its fullest. My CONTACTS have pictures associated with
them. But the iPhone shares anypictures with OUTLOOK on a sync it is a
real easy way to keep your PC OUTLOOK up to date.

Now that feature sort of is on Verizon's phones like the EnVee and the
new Voyager but it is not a two way street, at least with the EnVee.
Crippled crapware from VZ.

So how come you are not spouting off about the Verizon phones that
sort of have the same feature? Not as well implimented as iPhone but
similar.

On Nov 26, 7:47 am, "Kickin' XXX and Takin' Names"
<PopUlist...@hotmail.com> wrote:




>
> I realize that anecdotal evidence proves nothing -- but -- here goes.
>
> My son was among the first to own an iPhone -- he stood in line at the
> local Apple store to grab one the day they came out.
>
> His experience has been frustrating and very underwhelming.
>



>
> Second, most of the features of the iPhone are nice to have shit with
> no real benefit. For example: why do I need to see a picture of the
> person who is calling me? In order to do that, I must first find the
> person, then, take a photo, then set up the phone to display their
> photo when they call. Why not just stick with my Verizon phone that
> pops up their name when they call? And the same thing goes for all
> the other features -- unnecessary crap.
>


Mitch

2007-12-04, 4:33 am

In article < yuadnUX0l8BXXtfanZ2d
nUVZ_v7inZ2d@speakea
sy.net>, News
<News@Groups.com> wrote:

> Kickin' XXX and Takin' Names wrote:
>
>
>
> Bingo. Long live fashion victims galore.


Foolish, uninformed and so full of attitude you have lost the ability
to even look at the issue.

Please, stop posting to more than one group.
If you aren't going to get any smarter, stop posting to ALL of these.
News

2007-12-04, 7:33 am



Mitch wrote:
> In article < yuadnUX0l8BXXtfanZ2d
nUVZ_v7inZ2d@speakea
sy.net>, News
> <News@Groups.com> wrote:
>
>
>
>
> Foolish, uninformed and so full of attitude you have lost the ability
> to even look at the issue.



P-K-B (Translation available on request.)


> Please, stop posting to more than one group.
> If you aren't going to get any smarter, stop posting to ALL of these.



Cross-posting was desired by the original poster. Go complain there.
LinkBot





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