iPhone Killer

Yesterday we noted how Microsoft won’t shut up about the iPhone. Mix in the G1 from Google and T-Mobile, upcoming releases by RIM and you’ve got to wonder if there is any room left for Microsoft in the mobile market. There’s only so much room in consumers minds for OSes and Android+OS X mobile+RIM doesn’t leave much room for Windows Mobile 7.

Quick digression: When IBM came out with a PC Apple took out a full page ad out in the Wall Street Journal welcoming them to the party. The reason wasn’t to promote IBM but because Apple wanted consumers to see Apple as the other major player even though there were still a few other serious computer makers around (Commodore, Radio Shack etc.).

How dark are things looking for Microsoft? Jack Shofield has posted a good over view of the situation at the Guardian. From the article:

But while Microsoft sold 18m smartphone licences in the year to June, 2m short of its target, Apple says it sold 6.9m iPhones during the last quarter alone. As the iPhone goes global, it’s not hard to see it… more...

When you are building an iPhone killer there are some considerations to take into account. How much should it look like an iPhone, do you try and copy the iPhones functionality or improve upon it and should you dress up the OS to look like?

One company has decided that only looks matter. They’ve said: “Screw functionality, screw the OS, let’s just go for looks!” Who is this company? No name is given but the phone they are peddling looks exactly like an iPhone. Press the home button and the Apple logo appears but that is it. Once you get the phone home you discover that, well, it is just an iPhone shell with a lightbulb inside (see, the OS doesn’t matter!)

Don’t worry about ending up with one unless you live in China for now. For pics and more details visit Popgive.com.

It’s official, the Blackberry Storm is coming to Verizon and it has been publicly confirmed by RIM. That isn’t a surprise, Verizon has undoubtably been chafing at all the iPhone defections and was likely to give RIM anything the company wanted to make a legit challenger to the iPhone. Still in the dark are prices and availability. Keep this stuff coming out in a steady trickle and maybe you can people excited enough to line up outside a Verizon store.

Is there any reason for Apple to be worried? The most obvious one is that the Storm will be available on Verizon and many people prefer Verizon to AT&T. I’m aware of at least one company that limits cell carriers to Verizon or Sprint if the employees want to be reimbursed for their wireless bills. But the Storm has more going for it than just Verizon. In response to the feel of the virtual iPhone keyboard the Storm’s keyboard will actually depress slightly when users mash it. This behavior, accompanied with an audible click, will supposedly make typing more reliable. The idea is intriguing but if the Storm is using a resistive touchscreen… more...

Yesterday we covered a spec sheet showdown (where the iPhone lost) and opined that this a battle that wouldn’t be won with a spec sheet. Today we learn that the spec sheet was misleading. Eric Zeman runs through the specs and actually gets to use the thing. Yes, the 5800 wins on the spec sheet war but loses the “this is something I actually want to won battle”
Why? Nokia cut corners to keep the price down, the phone feels cheap, it uses touch resistance instead of touch capacitance and the OS sucks.

In today’s contest for “Worst analysis in the world” we turn to a spec sheet battle by shinyshiny.tv

Here’s the contestants: The Nokia 5800, the iPhone and the G1. Where does the iPhone place in this contest? A close second? No, a disappointing third. Let’s run through why and why the analysis is horrible:

Round 1: Weight
Lighter is better. The F800 wins this because it is the lightest (109g).
Hey, great in theory, X number is better than Y number and all. But everyone who has every received a present knows that socks weigh less than a really great set of Legos so light weight is not indicative of quality. Plus socks don’t rattle. Anyway, the weight thing is completely ridiculous. What people are really looking for is “as long as it isn’t too heavy” kind of deal. No one wants to carry a slab of chengdeite around in their pocket but people also don’t want to carry something that feels cheap. The point is that there is some weird tipping point between lightness and perceived quality.

iPhone… more...

First the bad news: if you want an Android powered G1 you are out of luck. That’s right, you can’t get one. No surprise you say because the G1 hasn’t been released yet? Technically you are correct (thanks captain pedantic) but there is still a shortage even thought the G1 is unreleased. How is that possible? Well, unlike the iPhone you can sign up to pre order the G1. Or you could until the G1 sold more than anticipated so now you’re just out of luck. So you have a G1, you can’t even order a G1 and standing in line to get a G1 is fruitless because, since you know you’re not getting one, you’ll just look stupid.

Why not throw some Android/T Mobile/Google criticism in here? Well, the obvious reason is because such criticism is completely unnecessary. The best reason to throw some mud is just because it is fun to do. So I’ll get that to ya! (wink). Time to think about waiting lists. By going with the whole pre signup thing you have to think that T Mobile and the rest of the roll out partners really, really screwed things… more...

Want to know how the iPhone compares to the now officially announced G1? GBs, plan prices, weight and other must know info is included in a NetworkWorld piece that covers all the differences. Check it out with a click.
What, that’s not good enough for you? NetworkWorld has wronged you in the past and you won’t read anything published by them? (Well, they do want you to sit through a full page ad after all). Good new, we have an alternative. Not quite as extensive but still worth reading is the comparison by the telegraph.

If you’re a gadget freak you secretly want an iPhone. And the Android powered HTC. And a Blackberry Bold. But since you’re here you probably already have an iPhone and the thought of signing another soul sucking contract just to use the latest bit of tech undoubtably brings shudders. Still, you’re interested, right? Go ahead, admit it, it’s okay.

So here’s the latest on Android: Stephen Wildstrom got his hands on one of the gadgets and found it to be overly thick, the keys uncomfortable and none of that cool pinch stuff you can do on an iPhone. .And there’s some network issues to be aware of. On the bright side it has cut and paste. Read his full take right here.

One interesting thing about the review. Towards the end Stephen just gives up on talking about the Android and starts raving about how great the Blackberry Bold is. For Google: Awkward…

Chris Howard has a thoughtful piece up at our sister site Apple Matters wondering if the iPhone can keep Android at bay. The heart of Chris’ argument is that while Android is likely to be inferior the models favor broad acceptance. interesting reading to be sure. Check it out!

If you’re reading this you’re probably not after a Blackberry Bold but maybe you have a friend or relative with a bad jones for the Blackberry. You need to spend a few moments consoling and explaining that the reason they can’t have a Blackberry Bold in the US is because your iPhone is eating up all the bandwidth available.

The problem arises because both devices rely on the 3G network and AT&T can barely handle the amount of volume generated by the iPhone so adding the Bold won’t be possible until AT&T can manage the data used by the iPhone. It turns out that one iPhone uses as much data as twenty blackberrys not because iPhone users are surfing or texting more but because Apple uses a scheme where the iPhone is constantly accessing the AT&T network whereas RIM routes things through the companies servers, saving AT&T from managing the network.

Those are the boring techie reasons but who cares about accuracy? Those wannabe Bold owners just want a shoulder to cry on, so be a good person and help them out.
Via: Globe and Mail