iPhone announced

[DSP]

well guys,

Steve Jobs announced the iPhone @ macworld the other day.

now, you guys probably know how I truly hate the ipod and it´s whole concept etc.

But I have to say, the iphone is just stunning. as far as I´ve seen it I must say it´s a true masterpiece!

I mean, soundquality will not be so stunning, as it still is an ipod, but the UI and the software possibilities on the thing are just fascinating.

it runs mac osx and has a 3.5 inch touch screen.

I don´t think it will be all that user-friendly, because touch screens don´t go that fine with the all-day use of a phone.

But If I look at it as a typical smartphone, I think it´s awsome!! I mean, it has some sort of core-animation like aspects known from mac osx.

it´s really cool.

I still think it won´t compete with the palm treo for text input and ease of use, but it has the right features to rival it.

I still hate ipod, but with the iPhone apple really has me stunned. amazing work from the guys at apple.

I suggest you guys look at www.apple.com/iphone

here are some pics:

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r181/ri.../foonscreen.jpg

greetz

[bob123_]

yes, like you i unfortunately have to agree about what apple has managed to do with the iphone. unless sony can come out with something astounding, their next walkman release will look outdated. but as you said that's just looks - i'm sure the iphone sound will be crap for music - but the general public don't care about that.

[EZero]

The iPhone looks amazing, and really, this is the type of product I was expecting from Sony. Not necessarily a phone, but a stunning looking MP3 Player that looked like this actually could have been the first real competitor to the iPod. Sony hasn't revealed/previewed a new HD Walkman for over a year, I really hope that this time they won't be behind the ball with it.

Sony Ericsson, as much as I like their Walkman phones, really have been trumped by Apple with this phone.

[mrhappyholiday]

I've got to admit it, the iPhone (ApplePhone, whatever they end up calling it thanks to Cisco Systems) looks spankingly gorgeous. If this is the direction that Apple and iPod are heading in then I don't think that Sony has a chance of catching up in this race now. As much as I love my A1000 I think that it's time to admit that Sony are now well outside of any position to become a dominant player in the DAP market, instead they've been relegated to the long list of also-rans against the iPod. Even Samsung is pumping out some super-sexy players nowadays and yet Sony still haven't even fitted a colour screen yet.

Couple this with unhelpful (at the least) software and codec with no support from any other industry player and it's not hard to see why the shows over for them.

Sony tried, failed and now it's time to pick up the pieces and go home. They need to regroup and now look at a way to leap frog all the competition in the market in a way that doesn't involve specialised formats, codecs or proprietary software. Sony have a sucky track record when it comes to proprietary tech, particularly recording media. MiniDisc, UMD, ATRAC, none of these have received the universal industry acceptance to establish them as anything more than a hobbyists plaything.

I love Sony stuff, but they are losing this war. My money isn't going to Apple, but it isn't going to Sony unless something AMAZING happens. It's just sad that I don't think that Sony will manage it...

[DSJ]

Ok, maybe I am spoiling the fun, but surely the iPhone isnt as progressive as it first seems? Ok, Its a nice looking device, but does it do anything more than a Microsoft Windows Mobile pocket pc with phone function? Answer: no, it probably does less. I've been enjoying touch screen on my phones for 3 years, been able to listen to music with good sound quality (try Winamp for PDAs), play games, make conference calls using speakerphone, keep track of my RSS feeds, surf the web at 3G speeds and wi-fi, read my instant push email using T-Mobile's Blackberry client for my phone, watch movies and download all I want. If anything, I think Apple have made a brouhaha over something that has existed for years. Its too little too late. And tying people into 2 year contracts is plain silly. And where's the stylus! This is necessary for clicking on links. Using my finger will be a pain, as I will probably click 2 links (unless your fingers are tiny baby fingers).

Problem is people will buy it just cos its an Apple and their mates all have one. And that's sad. As noted, the sound quality will be bad and there doesnt seem to be an expansion slot. What if I want more songs than 8gb? My PDA will take any SD card, even if a 32gb one comes out tomorrow. And it will play DRM tracks and manage licences for me.

Sorry - just had to get this off my chest, as all the iPhone squeals in the office have been annoying!

[Sophia Hapgood]

I quite agree with DSJ above the IPhone will be a huge success with the wannabee's and the must have brigade, but lets face it there in it for the all show and no go. I have been with Sony and Atrac for over 6 years now back to MD and for the last 2 years with my HD5 and for me I like keeping my music device seperate.

For me the quality of my unit at 256kb is fantastic and the fact that it JUST plays music means i get no cluttered displays no other things eating my battery, also when i need a new set of headphones i don't have to buy some special ones with a boogie sunshine adapter (Sony Erricson especially).

I like SONY for one big fat reason, there players do exactly what it says on the tin...Fantastic music portable quality, after all thats what the origonal Cassette Walkman was all about, Sony haven't changed one bit, its the wannabee's that want them to bend to mass market appeal....Stick with your guns Sony and i will be a happy bunny..

Sophia

[DSJ]

I totally agree Sophia. When I see someone using an iPod and thinking they are hip, I sympathise and think: "You poor thing. Did you just copy a friend or get their recommendation or does it match with your shoes?" My view is that the people who buy iPods are the people who NEVER had tape or CD walkmans when they were around. They couldnt care less about music on the move when the world didnt have the iPod. Its a fashion accessory. Period. And for that reason, it fails in the biggest department of all: sound quality. Sony leads the way here. My NW a1200 has ace sound quality, even at ATRAC 48kbps. I have got 5,100 tracks on my 8gb walkman using ATRAC compression. It took a while, but it was worth it. I wonder if AAC 48kpbs would even come close to this? Unlikely.

Sony will continue to be popular with people like me who have had personal audio players for over 17 years and who listen to personal audio players everyday and people who like their music. Sony doesnt need a video iPod equivalent. Its already got the PSP, which does a far better job than the video iPod, and the screen is beautiful.

[giki]

Proprietary OS (built on a decade old design) , proprietary firmware, proprietary carrier and proprietary shit sound quality.No 3G and features that Clie,s had eternities ago and no external software applications.

(dont worry apple, SSCP runs on PCs only!!!!)

More expensive then a W950i and blackberry put together and shit when compared to them.

But people gonna buy it cause their mates got it or it goes with their shoes,jewellery,headband,necklace...whatever!!!

[giki]

UHHOH almost forgot that 3G doesnt matter to apple fanboys, a few of which lurk on atraclife too.

[DSJ]

Hats off to giki for the ace comments!

I cant wait to see the idiots buy them! I'll sit there smug with my Sony NW A1200, knowing I made the right and sensible choice. Alright, doesnt go with the shoes, but who gives a monkeys?

[giki]

Well DSJ I shall be sitting smug with my jet black and super sexy RH1. Man i cant believe that something that good exists and works as good as it looks.I still cant get over its looks. Its as appealing as a babe!!!!!

Aaahhhh, 1411 kbps Linear PCM, a cup of coffee and Melbourne,s Southbank riverfront.Life doesnt get any better.

Who need Iphones????!!!!!

[DSJ]

You are a lucky person! RH1 is indeed a beautiful device! As you can see from my humble set of devices, I dont own a minidisc player.

One question I have been asking myself of late is whether in this age of music compression, we are depriving ourselves of the true sound that CDs are capable of today and the sounds the artist wanted us to hear. MP3 and ATRAC are convenient, but a small part of me is thinking about going back to CDs.

Random issue for this post, I know, but when you mentioned the linear PCM sound, I'm not sure I can remember what that used to sound like.

[DSP]

well, the iPhone isn´t out yet, but what I can tell from the presentation it´s a really great device.

This is an atrac related sony amed forum, but think logical and objective.

Ok, fair enough, soundquality will be crap all the way, sibce it´s designed and build by apple inc.

So for your music, stick with your walkmans. Walkmans can´t be beat for music performance. period.

But just take a look at the rest:

- it´s a new portable OS next to Palm OS and Windows Mobile and Symbian. (linux can´t bother me, since it´s not used in portable devices very often)

developers will create applications for it and it´ll be neath. I meanm core animation on a mobile device. it´s the next step in mobile devices.

- it´s UI is really beatifull, I mean, It´s my opinion, but you have to admit that apple did a great job on the UI and the OS.

again, core animation!!!! the graphical aspects of the iphone are very good, since it´s an apple product. And apple should never have designed the ipod.

But when it comes to computers, graphics and OS apple are great.

that´s why I love the iPhone, at least it´s prototype. I´m going to hate it if it´s over hyped while there are many other phones and PDA like devices that can do the same (they will appear in the upcoming year) but for now the iphone is just a class of it´s own.

I agree with you guys that ipod sucks big time (i´ve never hated something so bad as the f*cking ipod) but iphone is NO ipod, sure it has a build-in ipod, but it´s a mobile phone running mac OSX on the first place!!

so give it a chance guys, it deserves to be viewed upon in an independant way and not be judged based on experiences with it´s evil brother named ipod.

Apple made the ipod, therefore I hate them, They also mae mac OSX and imacs, therefore I adore them (also because they are a cometitor to microsoft!!)

greetz

[Zizone_]

You are a lucky person! RH1 is indeed a beautiful device! As you can see from my humble set of devices, I dont own a minidisc player.

One question I have been asking myself of late is whether in this age of music compression, we are depriving ourselves of the true sound that CDs are capable of today and the sounds the artist wanted us to hear. MP3 and ATRAC are convenient, but a small part of me is thinking about going back to CDs.

Random issue for this post, I know, but when you mentioned the linear PCM sound, I'm not sure I can remember what that used to sound like.

I share same opinion as yours and it is the reason why I still only purchase CDs.

[Beethovenian]

As usual, an Apple product generates a lot of admiration and hatred. Honestly, the iPhone looks impressive, but for a phone it seems to have some shortcomings that will infuriate users (like the lack of replaceable battery; considering cellphones stay on all the time, the drop in battery life will be much steeper, rendering them unusable well before the end of the 2-year contract). But the next iPod will probably borrow its interface, which copies some of the advances of the Zune's, and that alone must be enough to keep it ahead of any Sony effort. I particularly hate the dominance Apple has achieved on the market. We don't need a Microsoft in the digital media world, and that's very much what Apple is becoming. But competitors are not thinking in advancing the game, they're just trying to catch up with Apple. It may soon be too late.

[giki]

Well DSP sadly stevie said that the iphone shall not run external application due to proprietary nature if Mac OS.

The ui may be good but never saw anyone complain about SE or Nokia(which i dont prefer) interfaces.

Its more of a pda then a phone and it just might end up as an in between. Jack of all trades and master of none.

Plays music but only from itunes with shit sound quality.

Used as a phone barely lasts a day.

As a PDA too restricted due to no external apps.

What is it supposed to do?????

[giki]

hey DSJ dont be sad if you dont have more gadgets than your weight.

Its the thought that counts.

If you are in melbourne i can show you my RH1 and you can fiddle with it all you want.

If you wanna buy one get ot quick as it shall disappear soon as my local sony guy told me.

I am gonna work for sony soon and thats the inside info.grab the RH1 before it disappears. I can help u get one for about 500 aussie dollars with usual sony warranty and stuff.

[DSJ]

Fact that iPhone doesnt host third party apps just makes it even more sad. My SE P800 has hosted such apps since 2002! There was a post on slash dot today about how the iPhone doesnt even have OS X on it. Apparently, no one knows what OS it runs on! Ha Ha!

Thanks Giki. I may be interested in investing in the RH-1, especially if these are the last of the kind. I really regret not having bought the DNE-20 when that was out, as it was truely the last of the thin PCDPs, and dont want the same to happen again.

Just listening to my current PCDP (DNE-711). Ok, a bit bulky, but a nice reminder of how good a CD can sound (I buy all music on CDs, even if I compress them) and the wonderful days of Mega Bass!

Just one question though: does the RH-1 have good bass? Thats something that I really think is lacking in the current range of Sony and other manufacturers DAPs. I guess its a compromise, given that the developers have very little space to play with compared to the larger CD wallkmans, and they cant quite get the same amp to squeeze in. However, if they cant get it right in the next gen, I may need to plump for the old DNE-711 again on a more permanent basis...

[giki]

Hi DSJ, the bass on the RH1 is alright.Mind you it depends a lot on the earphones. It all depends on how you set the EQ.

Mind you dont end up with the EU version as its seriously crippled.

BTW my local sony is out of RH1.Another dealer has 10 but all booked.

[DSP]

WTF?! how do you know iPhone doesn't run OSX?! is apple making this up?

then I'd be very very angry.

And why no extra apps? I think it's logical if you launch a device with such capabilities you are going to make extra apps for it? or let others do it for ya.

okay, I still think it's a great device (as shown on macworld) but if it doesn't run OSX and there are no extra apps coming, yeah, then it's useless. As I said, as a phone it's not that handy at all. But those animations and the UI are pretty sleek. But indeed, If you can't use it properly it's no use at all. In that case you'd better stick to a SE walkman phone.

greetz

[DSJ]

Hi DSP,

Here's the piece from Slash Dot. I'm sorry, I cant seem to post hyperlinks on this, but if you could a Google search, you should be able to retrieve the article. it seems to be the case that the processor used wont run OS X.

"iPhone Not Running OS X

from the but-but-steve-said-it-was dept. posted by kdawson on 2007-01-13 20:24:00

rochlin writes "We know that Steve Jobs has said the iPhone won't accept third-party apps. The iPhone looks to be running on a Samsung provided ARM core processor. That means it's not running on an Intel (or PPC) core. That means it's not running OS X in any meaningful sense (Apple can brand toilet paper as running OS X if they like). Darwin, the BSD based operating system that underlies what Apple has previously been calling OS X, does not run on ARM processors. The Darwin / Apple Public Source licensing agreement says the source would have to be made available if it is modified and sold (paraphrased; read it yourself)"

Giki - thanks for the useful info on the RH1. I will need to see if my local Sony Centre has one. If not, it'll need to be a D-NE830! The write ups on the RH1 are amazing, and it looks seriously cool.

Rgds,

DSJ