iPhone: lovely, but get over it
10 January 07
Delegates “screamed”. Twitter ground to a halt. The shockwaves of a simultaneous nerdgasm shook the very core of the internet.
Yes, it is a lovely phone.
My first thoughts are that it looks extremely promising, although like Dan Saffer at Adaptive Path I will reserve judgement until I see exactly how they’ve implemented the OS and touch-screen functionality. I’ve not watched the keynote yet (it’ll still be there tomorrow) – I’m sure that will give me a little more detail. But, damn, the UI looks comfortable and intuitive, the aesthetics are of course very special, and hopefully it’ll give handset design the kick up the arse it needs.
But, with that said: Everyone! Relax! The fanboy outpourings have been just a little too desperate. It won’t be available over here for several months and, more than likely, won’t be entirely pedestal-worthy from the outset.
First, it’s tied in to a single US carrier (on a huge 2-year contract) with no word yet on UK availability. It may take a while to become the mass market hit it should be.
Second, while Apple know how to do lots of things very very well, a phone is a new thing for them. Great design is iterative: so while I have little doubt that the 2nd gen iPhone will be a real market-killer (much like the iPod), I’m sure version 1 will have its imperfections. And no, that’s not just sour grapes because I just upgraded to a Nokia N73 :)
So, yes, it is a lovely phone. But let’s put it in perspective: it’s just a phone, not a cure for cancer. I’m excited, but not as much as I am about seeing Joanna Newsom on Monday.
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3 comments on iPhone: lovely, but get over it
oh, come on! isn’t it great to see the world get so passionate about Interaction Design! (tbat’s how I’m reading it, anyways).
I’ve just recently upgraded to the N73 too, and I have to say the only time I feel passionate about it is when considering grinding it beneath my heel ;)
Hmm, perhaps I am being slightly obtuse about it. But there’s still a big gap between a UI that excites us self-confessed design geeks and one that will really make a difference to people’s lives.
Today’s Independent makes a great point: the iPhone alone won’t change much. However, the mobile innovation it kick-starts will – and for that, yes, I am very grateful.
It does look like a nice phone but I disagree with his claim that the iPhone technology is 5 years ahead of any other phone. The mobiles we have here in Japan are watching broadband TV, listening to radio and playing music already and have been for at least 1-2 years.
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