Sometimes it amazes me how dumb people can be. A supposed “real” iPhone sold on eBay for $800 at the hands of a Buy It Now option. The auction page runs through a litany of iPhone specs, and then goes on to say that ALL SALES ARE FINAL. If you ask me, this is a ruse, but I thought I would share it with you anyway.
Check out the auction page.
For those of you who (1) don’t know or (2) don’t care, there is actually something known as the Apple tax. Much like the Windows tax, the Apple tax is levied on all iPod accessory makers who want to include the ubiquitous “Made for iPod” sticker on their products.
A recent patent filing by the Cupertino-based company, shows how Apple can make iPhone accessory manufacturers become part of the “Made for iPhone” program. This feature would allow the iPhone to scan the accessory and match it to its directory of established iPhone tax companies. If the company is not part of the program, a warning message will be sent to the iPhone screen telling the owner that its use may not be safe. And much like its iPod brother, the “Made for iPhone” sticker will cost the respective accessory maker a cool 10% per sale.
Via [Unwired View]
In an article with the Seattle Times, Glenn Lurie, AT&T’s resident iPhone maven explained that although the $500 price point is high for most consumers, the iPhone will have a variety of features that will alleviate some of those cost concerns.
He went on to say that the touchscreen may be enough to help people accept the price, but added that Google apps will be coming to the iPhone which he hopes will significantly diminish pricing pressures. Unfortunately he did not elaborate on what kind of Google apps are coming, or if there are new apps we don’t even know about yet, but chances are both will be true.
Via [AppleInsider]
Could it be? According to numerous sources, it looks like the iPhone is actually easily seen on the streets of Cali.
A Silicon Valley reporter caught an Apple employee using the iPhone at a local restaurant while taking pictures with the 2-megapixel camera and browsing the web like it was his job. Even better, the employee admitted to being part of the development team.
The reporter said the phone was easily readable from two feet away with its crystal clear screen, and was housed in a body that was similar to the device shown at Macworld.
Is it really the iPhone? Who knows.
Via [Electronista]
Well it looks like Steve Jobs was right when he claimed the iPhone was well patented. Patents include a multi-point touch screen, gestures for touch sensitive devices, a proximity detector, and a host of other interesting and incredibly useful patents.
Understanding the importance of their invention, Apple looks like it has every base covered so companies like LG or Nokia don’t try to rain on their parade. Even better, they can sue the hell out of anyone who even tries it! Let’s hear it for frivolous lawsuits!
Via [Unwired View]
According to CNBC’s “On the Money”, the iPhone will be shipping June 20th. Even better for future iPhone owners, it looks like that claim has been backed up by a number of other media outlets including Bloomberg.
So far Apple PR people have been tight-lipped about whether or not this will be the real release of the iPhone, but keep checking back here as more information becomes available.
Via [Electronista]
With all of the rumors swirling around in these weeks leading up to the iPhone release, there is no reason not to tell you about some of the more likely rumors.
According to a variety of sources, it looks like a GPS update might be coming for the iPhone at Macworld next year. It’s believed that an integrated Assisted GPS chipset will be the springboard for the update and it won’t be available upon release due the phone’s expected delivery to AT&T.
Rumor prediction: false. Why would Apple — an intelligent company — do that to the people who bought the phone just months prior to the update? Look for it in iPhone 2.
Via [ubergizmo]
According to a recently published USA Today story, it looks like AT&T will be trying to pad their future by making the iPhone exclusive to their service for the next five years. In doing so, Verizon Wireless and Sprint will be all but knocked out of the opportunity to have an iPhone on their service (both companies are CDMA and the iPhone will be a GSM phone). Although, theoretically, the iPhone should work with T-Mobile’s network, Apple will be locking the iPhone down so it only works with the AT&T service. What does all this mean? Look for a massive exodus to AT&T once the iPhone catches on.
More on this as it develops. Remember — this is only speculation at this point.
Via [DailyTech]
So I’ve already told you about why I think the iPhone will succeed, so now that we know that, where in the world will this thing be in five years? In its second (or maybe even third) iteration offering the best in quality and functionality.
For the past decade Apple has taken its utmost care in giving us exactly what we want: functionality, good looks and ease of use. Each of their products work as soon as you get out of the box (how many times have you bought a Dell, brought it home and had it work in five minutes? Never.) And once it’s up and running, the intuitive style is enough to make your mouth water: just do what you feel is right.
Besides ease of use, these products just look great. Not only are they forerunners in terms of looks, the company has developed the most outstanding software design that allows you to easily do whatever you want. It is this ease of use that will carry the iPhone and the rest of the Apple products we all know and love.
So where will this be in five years? Simple. In your pocket. No, maybe it’ll be in your hand as you read another Apple Phoneboy post, or maybe it’ll be sitting on your nightstand waking you up every morning. The simple fact is the iPhone is going to replace your iPod, replace your cell phone and maybe even replace your mobile computer. It is going to be the be-all, end-all for gadgets that will not only allow you to talk to your buddies, it’ll let you use Web 3.0 — yes, I said web 3.0 — applications like never before.
The iPhone will be a forerunner in a business that has far too much competition. And believe it or not, in five years, half of the cell phone companies will not be around anymore. Motorola? Sure. Nokia? Yep. LG? Eh, maybe. Apple? You bet. And just in case you weren’t sure, the iPhone will NOT be an AT&T exclusive in the coming years. It works now because Apple has no footing in the market. But in five years when the phone is easily competing with the likes of Blackberries and Treos, Apple won’t be able to survive if they stay true to AT&T — it just can’t happen.
The iPhone is going to be the benchmark for all other cell phones in five years. Although it seems like many companies are trying to copy the phone now, it’s just not happening yet. All of these companies are silently watching Apple do what they will to decide if they need to act. Right now, they don’t. Five years? They will wish they did.
The iPhone will be the biggest launch in the history of cell phones, and in five years, it will be the most popular cell phone in the world.
1. It’s made by Apple. Right now, there is no other tech company that possesses the kind of mind share and respect Apple does. In the past ten years the company has pulled itself out of the doldrums and into millions of homes across the world through cool and innovative products. Ten years ago, people were walking around with Sony Walkmans; today, people aged 5-85 are using a scroll pad and booting up iTunes.
Apple has effectively taken the coolness factor to a max. They know what a good looking product should look like, and they have a good handle on what the world wants. The world is demanding the “be-all, end-all” cell phone that will allow you to bring just one device with you wherever you go. Apple hopes the iPhone will be it. It is.
2. It doesn’t need to sell 50 million units to be a success. What do you think is the most popular phone right now? It’s the Motorola RAZR. That phone has sold better than any phone on the market right now and is widely considered to be a success. According to the company, Motorola has shipped 50 million RAZR units worldwide and the number keeps on getting larger. Does the iPhone have to sell that much to be a success? Hell no. If the iPhone can drop five million units, it will be a success and another one will hit shelves in a couple of years. The iPhone is not meant to compete with the RAZR, and 50 million units just doesn’t make sense for the first iteration. Everyone knows the iPhone will sell well in the beginning, but some are wondering if it will work as hoped and it will succeed like Apple is promising. In one year from now, the iPhone will have sold millions of units worldwide and AT&T will sit atop the cell phone market. ‘Nuff said.
3. Price doesn’t matter. Huh? Price doesn’t matter? Nope. To the average consumer, the iPhone price tag is not a factor on deciding whether or not to pick one of these up. Think about it, the unlocked Nokia N95 is going for well over $750 and people are still purchasing those in droves. If you go on eBay sometime you will find that people are selling a variety of phones at astounding prices that do half as much as the iPhone will. All it will take for people to forget about the price is to hold it once. They will see their best friend with one or maybe even their fathers, and once they see what it does, how long do you think it’ll take before they grab one for themselves? It happened with the RAZR, Blackberry and Treo, why not the iPhone?
