iPhone Hysteria

[Oradea]

So Charles, does this mean you drove to a different apple shop, or did they come back into stock?

[Charles]

So Charles, does this mean you drove to a different apple shop, or did they come back into stock?

Ah, that is another good story.
I checked the online availability Thursday night, it said my "local" store was out of stock. But shipments come in every day, so I called at noon and inquired, they said the phones were in stock, they had plenty. I said I had to drive a couple of hours to get there, he said there were no guarantees they wouldn't sell out before I got there. I asked if THIS time I could buy one with my credit card over the phone and pick it up when I arrived. He said they can't take credit cards over the phone, they require a photo ID. I said they should just write up the credit card sale and I'd show my ID when I got there. No deal. So I asked if I couldn't just reserve one, since I had to drive for a couple of hours. He said no way, first come first served.
So I got in the car and drove like a maniac. No big deal, I always drive like a maniac. I got to the store at about 3PM, walked in to the Apple store (it was packed!) went up to the register and said, "I'd like an 8Gb iPhone please." I was informed they were sold out. I couldn't help it, I shouted "DAMMIT! I just drove 2 hours to get here, I called and was told you had sufficient stock but I had to get here fast because you wouldn't hold one for me. I even offered to pay for it in advance on my credit card but you wouldn't do it!" Mr. Apple Guy says "umm.. well I'm sorry if you were misinformed.. um.. let me check on something.." and he goes into the back room. About 2 minutes later he comes out with an 8Gb iPhone.
There is obviously far too much fooling around with these phones' availability. The Apple Store obviously was holding a phone for somebody, and I got theirs, so someone else is going to be pissed. I have heard worse stories, apparently AT&T stores are telling everyone they're out of stock, and asking for your phone number to call you back when they're in stock. Then they run your phone number to see if you're an existing AT&T customer. If you're NOT, they call you back and say they just got some phones in stock. They are screening customers, they make more money from new AT&T customers than from existing ones.

Anyway, based on initial fooling around, the iPhone is everything they say it is: absolutely brilliant, and flawed. The first software update better be great.

[amdg]

iPhone simulator on the web...

http://www.bram.us/2007/01/17/my-ismudginator-02/

[DrP]

I must really question the thought process of anyone knowingly subscribing to an ATT mobile service. Especially now given the <near> facts that they were caught (and probably continue to do so) of illegally providing CDR data to the NSA. Well, I guess if your big brother doesn't do you too hard up the a*** everything is ok, right? Which brings me to the ethics of Apple. WHY would a company that has a somewhat marginal reputation of at least 'voting democrat' go to bed with this draconian corporation?? Apple could have very easily formed its own MVNO and at least shown some respect for the public interest? At this point, they've stepped about as low off the ladder as they can. Wake up and smell the crap you stepped in while waiting in line at Circuit City.

[Greji]

Ah, that is another good story.

Nice phone Chas and great story! I always like it when someone sticks it to the store clerks by out manuevering them. Good show!

[DrP]

Woo hoo!

[DrP]

1- Nano FREE ! - Won at soubestukai
1- 706SC FREE ! - Trade up points with Softbank
More tunes, functions AND battery than an iphone! PRICELESS!

And the form factor is still slimmer than my Sony W21s!

[Mulboyne]

Reuters: Apple plans cheaper, Nano-based phone

Apple Inc. plans to launch a cheaper version of the iPhone in the fourth quarter that could be based on the ultra-slim iPod Nano music player, according to a JP Morgan report. Kevin Chang, a JP Morgan analyst based in Taiwan, cited people in the supply channel he did not name and an application with the U.S Patent and Trademark office for his report dated July 8. Apple filed a patent application document dated July 5 that refers to a multifunctional handheld device with a circular touch pad control, similar to the Nano's scroll wheel. Apple spokeswoman Natalie Kerris declined comment...more...

[Charles]

Reuters: Apple plans cheaper, Nano-based phone

JP Morgan's iPhone Nano report is rubbish
So says JP Morgan.

Sure there will be cheaper iPhones. But not soon.

[Taro Toporific]

[SIZE="5"]iPhone, SchmiPhone...
But, Will It Blend?[/SIZE]

Click to view iPhone in a blender video.

[madfuku]

I just received my iPhone after it was held for 5 days in quarenteen by Japanese Customs who also couldn't decide how much import tax would be because they said it may fall under a special tarriff and they need to evaluate the situation (pending threat). It was opened, every item was removed from the iPhone box including its packaging even the manual was thumbed through for gods sake.

I have had even a hugh plasma screen sent to Japan by airmail and not only was the box not opened, customs didn't even charge me anything to bring it in despite the fact it was worth over $5,000. I even had to visit the customs office to clear it.

Anyway, back to the iPhone. All I can say, it is simply the most elegant phone I've ever seen or held, and I have had a lot of high end phones. The star really is the GUI and the nature of the touch screen execution combined with the best browser hands down on any cell, it really is the best phone GUI I have ever seen. The keyboard beats my Blackberry and the crappy traditional input method used on most phones laughably so. I have everything running minus the phone function itself. All the data functions and navigation functions all are working including youtube via WIFI.

To contrast the phone with some recent handsets I have purchased. I took pictures of the iPhone with the thinnest handsets in Japan and to a feature rich 3G handset for a visual comparison.

I think the iPhone puts them to shame and I am more convinced more than ever that the iPhone will become a cult favorite around the world. I never liked Japanese handsets thats why I own so many. Everyone keeps calling the iPhone hype, I hope everyone in Japan thinks its crap so we can see a repeat of the PS3 flop (which I own sadly, along with a WII and XBOX 360) because of there self-worshiping over confidence.

Anyway, some pics...




madfuku

PS For those that bitch about the 2 megapixel camera on the iPhone and how low tech that is. The two other phones also boast a 2mp element and the phone on the left has a 5mp element whose pictures are total crap. The picture of the phones where taken using a $1500 "NEW" Panasonic High Definition Video Camera (HDC-SD1) that happens to also have only a 2 megapixel still photo ability. I am also pretty sure that the iPhone can indeed capture video and Apple will probably add that as a software update, not that I actually care. I rather film using my High Definition video camera any day and take real photos using a real high megapixal camera. The camera's on phones are still nothing more than niceties not killer features.

[madfuku]

Just one more image The iPhone screen is really amazing, the DPI is so high you can't see any pixels at all and you can even read the webpage nicely without zooming. I'd also add it is fully multi-lingual and Japanese pages render beautifully. No Japanese input method yet, naturally...



madfuku

[Charles]

...I have everything running minus the phone function itself. All the data functions and navigation functions all are working including youtube via WIFI.

Oh man, you are missing all the phone fun, that's the best part. I was just laying in bed watching some TV (I put the entire 2007 season of Doctor Who on it) when the iPhone started vibrating, WTF? Fade out Doctor Who, fade in the Incoming Call screen. Press the button, it's my sister on the line. End of call, the TV fades in again. The integration is amazingly smooth, it was stunning.

I can find only one fault with my iPhone, the clock on the phone runs 3 minutes behind my computer clock (which is synched to an internet time server which uses the NIST atomic clock and is an international standard). Obviously there is something wrong with AT&T's time signal. I could understand if they were off by a few seconds (transmission distance and lag problems) but not 3 minutes. I even checked NIST's website, they can compensate for the transmission lag and said my computer clock was accurate to within 2 seconds.

[madfuku]

Until it gets unlocked the phone part is dead to me , but at least when I go visit the US it will work. I travel between Japan and the US almost every month so its a good deal for me. It will officially be out in Japan soon enough, and maybe even with 3G.

3G or not I will certainly buy a Japan region one as well.

madfuku

[Charles]

It might be worth activating the iPhone. There are some initial reports of success using EDGE in countries outside the US. I read that AT&T offers an unlimited international data plan for $65 per month, and an international voice roaming deal too (price unknown).
Unfortunately, the iPhone has no capability to input Japanese at this time. It does display quite nicely though.

[Mike Oxlong]

What Japan Thinks

[American Oyaji]

A coworker bought an iPhone and was proudly showing it off to anyone that asked.

It is one elegant piece of tech. And the elgance is not the hardware that I could see, but the software. The way the whole thing just WORKED. The way the screen flipped depending on which way you were holding it. It was beautiful.

[IkemenTommy]

Until it gets unlocked the phone part is dead to me , but at least when I go visit the US it will work. I travel between Japan and the US almost every month so its a good deal for me. It will officially be out in Japan soon enough, and maybe even with 3G.

3G or not I will certainly buy a Japan region one as well.

madfuku

I need a phone that works both 3G and GSM so that it works almost 99% of the places I travel. If I were to just stay in Japan, then 3G (WCDMA) is more than sufficient. 2G alone won't work in Japan. I can care less about not having Japanese font or I-Mode support. I am sorry, but the current iPhone doesn't offer what I need. They still need to sort out the software bugs and until then, this whole iPhone is just a hype and I will stick with my current Japanese phone.

[American Oyaji]

iPhone: The Musical

[oyajikun]

Until they make a baby slobber proof phone, I'll stick with the cheapest Foma available at the time. I'm on my 4th phone since my daughter started grabbing stuff.

[IkemenTommy]

[YT]pEclvz_5B_k[/YT]
I watched the whole clip. Pretty dope.

[Charles]

I watched the whole clip. Pretty dope.

Yeah, that's what's so cool about the iPhone, it's got a speaker in it, you play a video and just hand it to someone, they can hear it without having to hook up headphones. I play a video clip, show it to people, and they just gape at it in awe. I sometimes use this video clip to demo the iPhone video:

[YT]M_V57qepGXM[/YT]

[Charles]

Here's a vaguely interesting account of an iPhone owner traveling in Japan.

Interestingly, he suggests taking an Airport Express unit on trips to Japan, he stayed in hotels with free internet via an ethernet port in the rooms, but no wireless, so he plugged in the Airport and instantly had wireless access.

[Greji]

Here's a vaguely interesting account of an iPhone owner traveling in Japan.

Interestingly, he suggests taking an Airport Express unit on trips to Japan, he stayed in hotels with free internet via an ethernet port in the rooms, but no wireless, so he plugged in the Airport and instantly had wireless access.

He makes some good points about the Japan Market. Neat post Chas.

[Mike Oxlong]

Now useable in Japan?

[prolly]

i gotta figure out a way to get rid of that ridiculous "this email sent from my iphone" msg at the end of my messages....

[Charles]

i gotta figure out a way to get rid of that ridiculous "this email sent from my iphone" msg at the end of my messages....

Settings>Mail>Signature (it's near the bottom).

[Mike Oxlong]

Nokia wants a bite of the Apple...

[Taro Toporific]

Nokia wants a bite of the Apple...

[floatl]
[/floatl]

The iPhone beater is called the "OVI" and you can attempt to learn more from Nokia's useless, Flash-infested website.

http://ovi.nokia.com/ovi/app/ovi/flash/

[American Oyaji]

My pops told me this week that he wants an iPhone. He has always been a bit of a gadget freak and an Apple fan. The funny part is he hates cellphones.