After the mass amount of rumor and speculation that has been seen around the internet over the last few years, one would think that Apple's first real entry into the mobile phone market could never live up to the hype. Here we are, 30 years into Apple Inc's (the company dropped the 'computer' from it's name today) life, and the company has done what it does best: deliver a new, innovative, and exciting product, showing features that are completely unique on the market.
With even its name shrouded in mystery up until this morning, the new Apple iPhone has to be one of the most hotly anticipated devices ever. Apple calls the iPhone an iPod, a phone, and an internet mobile communicator in one, and with touchscreen controls and a smartphone user interface on the 11.6mm (0.45") thin black and chrome device, it is hard to argue that point. The device will be available with 4GB or 8GB internal memory, and shuns the traditional mobile phone keypad in favor of a large 3.5" 320x480 pixel resolution touchscreen, which the company claims will be easier to use than a keypad due to being able to reconfigure the layout depending on the task at hand. This is no ordinary touchscreen though: Apple has developed a new, patented technology called Multi-Touch, allowing the user to only need a finger to use the handset - no stylus required. Multi-Touch will detect accidental presses and allow multi-finger gestures, a first for a consumer device, with some interesting applications. The slate layout shares similarities to the Slider, a concept design from fledgling company Neo that we revealed back in December, though sans the speakers.
As with any smartphone, the user interface can make or break a good device. This is an area where Apple has taken a lead in the industry, including a portable version of Mac OS X on the device. The portable OS X allows much more flexibility in software design, allowing desktop-class applications from the palm of your hand. The device will synchronize with iTunes for all your music, as well as synchronizing all your contacts, calendars, photos, notes, and bookmarks. Through the media interface, users can browse music using Apple's CoverFlow, which scrolls through music using album covers instead of text - all with the tip of your finger. Start a movie and turn the device to landscape mode, and acceleration sensors will change the display to widescreen automatically, complete with on screen controls. Apple's photo management application makes use of Multi-Touch to allow amazing things like zooming by placing two fingers on the device and moving them closer and further apart.
The Apple iPhone packs the Safari web browser, giving full xHTML rendering and JavaScript through a WiFi or EDGE connection. Google Maps is also available for mapping and directions, and a 'widget' system gives you instant access to the information that matters to you. In addition to Google, Yahoo! has also collaborated with Apple to bring all its Yahoo! Go services to the iPhone, including Mail and the new oneSearch announced from CES in Las Vegas yesterday.
With all the software power on tap, the Apple iPhone needs some decent hardware to give the full experience, and Apple has not let us down. A 2.0 megapixel camera is on board, as is a built in 3.5mm headset jack for listening to your music. The quad-band GSM/EDGE device also delivers WiFi and Bluetooth v2.0 for connectivity, though no 3G high-speed data. The Apple iPhone's battery is capable of up to 16 hours of music playback and 5 hours of talk time.
Through Apple's collaboration with Cingular Wireless, the company has been able to include some interesting carrier services, such as random access voice mail. Random access voicemail is a first that allows you to see a list of all your voicemail messages, showing the caller and the time and date of the call, so that you can jump right to the voicemail you need rather than have to listen to each and every one in turn.
The Apple iPhone will be available for US$499 or US$599 for the 4GB and 8GB models respectively with a two-year service agreement from Cingular. Apple states that the iPhone will be available in the US from June this year through its exclusive agreement with Cingular, in Europe during Q4 this year, and in Asia from 2008.
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