last100's Smartphone Parade: One Size Doesn't Fit All
At last100 [a ReadWriteWeb Network blog], we love the iPhone as much as anyone. Yet we remain convinced that for all of Apple's innovation - especially on the mobile browsing front and major improvements in usability - the iPhone in its current incarnation will have significant but limited appeal.
There's only one iPhone, and in the smartphone market, one size doesn't fit all.
Case in point: I love a QWERTY thumboard. Although the iPhone's virtual keyboard is the best of its kind, it isn't a real keyboard. And in the words of Duncan Bannatyne from the TV program Dragon's Den, for that reason, and that reason alone. I'm out.
(Left to right: Palm Treo 650, HTC Touch Diamond, Nokia E61, Nokia E71, Samsung Tocco)
The iPhone's camera is nothing to call home about too, and there's no video recording capability either. Enter Nokia's N95 which excels at media production. On the other hand, if you want a real choice of third-party apps, Windows Mobile and now the iPhone is where the action is at.
I'm also noticing a blurring of the lines between so-called smartphones - once the realm of business or power users only - and what are termed 'feature phones', which often focus on either music, video playback, photography or gaming.
Smartphones are getting more consumer friendly, and feature phones are getting smarter. As an example, just yesterday I took loan of a Samsung Tocco. Along with its iPhone-like finger friendly interface, it offers 'smart' features such as email, full web browsing, an RSS reader, calendar etc, along with a generous 5 megapixel camera, the standard music and video playback functionality, and even a basic video editor. The only thing that stops it from being classified as a smart phone in our eyes is the lack of third-party applications aside from Java games (as far as I could tell), and perhaps the omission of Wi-Fi.
In the next few weeks, at last100 we'll publish reviews of Nokia's new 'Blackberry killer' the E71, the Samsung Tocco (mentioned above), and the successor to the N95, Nokia's soon-to-be released N96. We're also trying to source a Blackberry Bold. All very different devices, and proof that one size doesn't fit all.
Now, where's my iPhone nano with a slide out QWERTY thumboard?
This post is syndicated from last100, our digital lifestyle blog covering Internet TV, digital music, Mobile Web and more. You can subscribe to last100 here.
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Aw cmon now! Stop trying to convince yourself that you don't need an iphone. Just go out there and get it already.
A smartphone is a matter of personal choice. Here is the short breakdown of the whats and whys for me:
1. Have I used a bunch of most advanced Nokia smartphones (including N81 8GB, N95 8GB etc.) exclusively for the past few years and developed applications for Symbian OS? Yes.
2. Did I purchase the iPhone 3G when it came out? Yep, and love it.
3. Would I like to have full physical QWERTY keyboard? No, thanks. The iPhone virtual keyboard is more then adequate.
4. Am I disappointed about 2MP camera on iPhone comparing to, say N95? Not at all. Optics on cellphone cameras is poor and it doesn't matter how many megapixels you can squeeze out of it. The overall quality of the picture (distortion in the corners, anyone?) sucks comparing to decent stand-alone digital cameras.
5. Would I trade iPhone for any "iPhone killer" out there? Not a chance. After using the iPhone 3G for about a month I can say without a doubt that it is "The Killer" from both usability and functionality point of view, even despite some shortcomings.
I love my iphone, it really saves my day.
Sheesh, all the iPhone lovers to the rescue, as usual. God forbid one mention an iPhone's shortcomings...
Also try and get a Diamond Touch Pro to review. It's like the Touch, but with a keyboard that slides out. They will start shipping in the next few weeks apparently.
I purchased my g3 iphone on Friday. When I got home I promptly synced it in itunes. There was a software update, 2.01, which I downloaded. The update killed the phone.
I had to get it replaced. The new phone works well.
I'm afraid to download anything new from the itunes site onto to the phone.
There will always be something new on the market. The iphone is "smart" enough for me. Maybe to smart...
+1 on the need for a real keyboard.
I love my Shadow because it's got the 20 key slider ... keeps the device small and compact, yet it's good enough to Tweet and triage email.
What Windows Mobile lacks in a real built-in browser it more than makes up for with the unrestricted pool of applications (I can run SportsDo as a background application to track my ride and use TinyTwitter to keep in touch realtime with the folks I'm meeting while my Outlook and Hotmail sync in the background).
I'd love a Diamond with the Shadow slider, or better yet a flip version of the Diamond (to protect the screen)
Nokia phones are the best phone investment that you could make. Year after year they have been providing quality phones for consumers. Unfortunately the new Nokia phones can cost you an arm and a leg, especially an unlocked Nokia N95. I found a great site to find unlocked Nokia cell phones from auctions. I bought 2 Nokia N95 cell phones for me and my wife, and we love them. Check them out at Unlocked Nokia Cell Phone Auctions. Just my 2 cents.