iPhone 4 Has Very Little Whiz Bang, But It Will Help Ring Up New Sales
Apple’s job was even tougher today than ever before. Not only did it have to offer a better phone than its previous three generations — it also had to offer something new that wasn’t already leaked in the press.
While none of the new features is breathtaking, Apple (NSDQ: AAPL) once again is providing good enough reasons for existing iPhone users to upgrade and for new users to adopt the platform. The price, the new form factor, and even new features — like better resolution and camera, video chat and HD video-recording and editing — make for the complete package. Steve Jobs couldn’t have explained that intersection better this morning at WWDC: “Apple’s not just a technology company. it’s more than that. It’s the marriage of that plus the humanity — the liberal arts. It’s the hardware and software working together…It’s not just a great new camera system, it’s the video and software built in, like iMovie for iPhone. It’s not just a front-facing camera, but 18 months of work to come up with software so you won’t even notice when you make a call.”
To be sure, Apple has to keep up its rapid pace of innovation. Even though it down-played the competition this morning, it should consider Android and others an increasing threat. Android market share may only be half of iPhone, but it’s on its heals for sure, offering more choice and form factors. Honestly, what this phone and software release does should scare other competitors, like Research In Motion’s BlackBerry and Microsoft (NSDQ: MSFT), which both have OS updates coming that are supposed to bring the platforms up to date — but will make them look far behind.
Once again, Apple isn’t first to the table with some of its features, but the execution is where it excels. The video-chat feature and forward-facing camera is called *FaceTime*, and lets users connect with other iPhone 4 owners over wifi without creating buddy lists, or entering any other information. While the EVO 4G launched on Sprint’s network on Friday and offers a forward-facing camera, it doesn’t come anywhere close to offering that ease of use — in fact, it uses an independent third-party app. Apple said its video-chat software took 18 months to build, and was made completely out of open standards. It shows because it works. Likewise, Apple didn’t just add HD video recording, like other phones have, it created iMovie, which lets you completely edit a clip, including adding background music and location to a movie — all from the phone. It costs $4.99.
The final component is price and availability, and Apple has found a good partner in AT&T (NYSE: T). The phone will be heavily subsidized and cost $299 for a 32 GB model and $199 for a 16 GB model. The key is that current iPhone users will be able to upgrade immediately at those prices if their contract expires in 2010. Subscribers will have to sign a new two-year contract, which is in AT&T’s best interest if its close to losing its exclusive grip on the iPhone anytime soon.
Apple does great with packaging but lets face it, there is another phone out there right now with an 8 megapixel camera (including a front facing one), HDMI-out, larger screen, expandible memory, capacity to broadcast a wifi signal for 8 devices to connect to, and a kickstand.
Let’s stop falling for the hype, and look at the facts.
Android market share is not half of iPhone. iPhone outsells Android more than 3:1, and outsells Android v2 by over 10:1. There are many Android models but only 1 that has sold more than 1 million units.
Android market is fractured, and only offers a handful of boring Apps
there are 3 different version of the OS spread across multiple handsets
none of which are easily upgradeable by grandma
as a developer it’s clear Apple is the leader
not to mention the games that will use the Gyroscope technology
I disagree. As a Developer Android is much much more open to my ideas, and my apps. Its much easier to build also. Android is producing Apps at a much faster rate then Apple, and the Android is also increasing market share faster than Apple. Where did all these dumb Apple fanboys come from. The Evo is the best phone, dont argue it, and the new Dual Core 1.5 ghz processor by Qualcomm is going to be released this fall. I dont see Apple holding the lead for many years, especially if Chrome OS gets released. Im not a google fan, I just happen to be a developer and like openess, and things that are free i.e Linux.
@007 What a moron statement. Boring Apps??? Like what? Let me explain something to you. The best Apps made are all free and available on android market: Google Goggles (lets you search objects by taking a picture), Google Sky (view the stars and constillations by aiming your phone at the sky), HomePipe (lets you wirelessly access all your music saved on your computer anywhere in the country. Also word docs and other office files) , Tunee (lets you download any song free), wikitude (lookes up the lyrics to the song, and streams it like kareoki). This does not include any widget apps (which include some wicked ones, I favor the sport tickers). Also the built in speak to text is very accurate and amazing, and the seamless integration of gmail and facebook cannot be matched from Apple. I bet 100% of the apple fanboys have not used an android longer then a week. I switched from the Iphone which I had to jailbreak just to have a very unstable “HomePipe” wannabe app to get the Evo. And by experience I have to say its hands down a better phone. I am no longer an Apple fan because of the fact they wont go anywhere else. But even if they did I wont switch back. The Android is hands down a better OS. The Speed of the Iphone4 cant fix the network or the closeness of Apple. And my Iphone didnt have any of these apps, and all the apps I used on my Iphone is also in the Android market.
“Let’s stop falling for the hype, and look at the facts.”
Its not hype. It just works and works well. A much better feature than just pushing numbers…
My computer is”
faster than yours cause its 6 hz faster.
better camera cause it has more megapixals even if they do not work in low light,
has more memory but you cannot use it for apps.
Numbers do not make a better computer or smart phone, they just let people that do not understand,,, brag.
Just a thought.
en
It is just hype. So your telling me that if this was LG announcing this phone it would get this much HYPE and ANTICIPATION. No your wrong, its just hype. You dont know how the phone performs, you havent held it yet. The camera part is off, but LG blows at making mobile cameras, and thats the one in the Iphone, so I assume its also gonna suck. Dual LED vs the Iphone 4 single LED. The Evo will be able to store app “ON A REMOVABLE MICRO SD” once froyo is released. When cant you use RAM on an app. You dont want to run a program like Excel soley on Ram. I understand computers very well, hell I have a degree in MIS, was a computer tech for 3 years, studied Networks and telecommunications at MSU. I have read about phones everyday for the past 6 years. I know just about everything about smartphones. You probably thought the original Iphone was a smartphone before it got released. Which at the time, was not really considered a smartphone because at the time, smartphones were phones that could access and edit files and folders. The definition has changed because of Apple, but the new Iphone is not revelutionary, and it doesnt even beat out the evo. So why is there all this hype.
Tsk tsk. Some people love BMW’s, others Mercedes. Why some even opt for a Lexus! It is a big world out there! Relax!