I am still drooling over yesterday’s announcement of iPhone, the most promising handheld phone/communication device since — say the tricorder. But even after seeing this it is amazing, and unbelievable, that it could have been kept as a secret for so long. OK, people have been speculating for quite some time, but still: as ground-breaking as it is — somebody must have leaked info. It is just too cool a product to not be talking about.
CNN has some take on it, also talking about apple’s previous endeavors with phones like the ROKR (note the Google lucky hit does not even return a Motorola Link ;)).
Some points to take home:
- Apple has a serious interest in security, not only because of patents and their competitive advantage, but also because this culture of secrets gives apple the media hype of these events like Macworld.
- If you want to work with a company that is as creative, has that much of an ego and a personality — let them be themselves. That’s why Motorola-Apple did not work in the ROKR case, that’s why Cingular-Apple works: “They let Apple be Apple” (and probably also Steve be Steve…)
Trust me even thou this was a big secret and now we know about it of when it will be in stores and how much it will cost i can bet you any ammount of money someone will copy them who will it be LG or maybe Motorola who do you think will copy the iphone.
Mark,
I don’t believe anyone will just copy it. 200 patents in it, this will hold the others away for some time. At least until the lawyers will find’ loopholes around it — or if they think they can leave some features out. But just think about the interface with the multi-finger touchpad. I believe there will be no way around that patent. And the iPhone is more than just the smartphone — it is the UI.
But, having said all above: I certainly hope at least Nokia and Motorola will give it a shot and provide for some more competition! It will be great for all of us consumers