The iPhone 3.0 Announcement has come to an (abrupt) end. So how did Apple fare according to our Scorecard? Well, as you can see there is still room for improvement, but slighty better than expected – 75 out of 120 possible points. Here is the specific point breakdown:
- Background Apps? No. = 0
- Push? Yes. = 10
- Copy, Cut, and Paste? Finally! = 20
- MMS? Yup. = 15
- Video Recording? Uh, nope. = 0
- Bluetooth enhancements? Yes – 5 for stereo, 2.5 for “BT Bonjour.” = 7.5
- Flash? Negatory. = 0
- Landscape? All over the joint! = 10
- Tethering? Sorta – up to the carriers. = 7.5
- 8 things we can’t stand? Bonus points for Search! = 5
- Grand total = 75 / 120
Disappointed about Video Recording and that Background Apps is only for push. At least we finally have Copy & Paste available as that is an essential.
What were the eight things you can’t stand?
Maybe I’m a little slow today, but it took me 10 minutes just to figure out this scorecard. Maybe you could eliminate the middle two rows (v1 & v2) and just give a thumbs up / thumbs down on each feature?
I think you are just a little slow….
Agreed!
I told you I was. Why do you have to rub it in?
They did say (in Q&A session) that tethering is in 3.0 but will depend on each carrier on supporting it.
* MMS messaging is available only on iPhone 3G
Straight from the horses mouth…or the apple site in size 4 font I should say…i’m angry to say the least
you need to update the score, +15 for tethering.
Apple execs are on the record:
Q: Where do you stand on tethering?
A: There’s two pieces needed to support that: client side and working with carriers. We’re absolutely supporting tethering in the client side in iPhone 3.0, but we’re working with carriers around the world to see when they can add tethering support on their networks. But we are building that support into iPhone 3.0.
cite: gizmodo.com
Will Apple ever going to improve camera???
Hello, this was a software session!
Yes, I know. I complain about the camera for iphone whenever I can. :0)
Only half credit for tethering? The iPhone supports it, the decision to support it isn’t apple’s…
I think they explained the decision not to implement true background processing very well. The price would be much too high in terms of battery life degradation. Maybe we’ll see that with the next hardware iteration (faster processor, better battery)? For existing iPhone owners, push will be a nice added bit of functionality at no cost.
Copy and paste looks better than I had anticipated. I couldn’t imagine how they would do it with the touch interface but actually looks pretty good.
Would someone please explain to me why I should want MMS? I’ve owned three smart phones including an iPhone 3G and I have never ever sent or received a single text or mms message. Never could see the point of it. I love email but texting seems like an AT&T ripoff. I was delighted to be able to opt out of SMS when signing my AT&T iPhone contract.
Video recording and a higher resolution camera are sure to be part of the next hardware version.
Bluetooth stereo and device control sounds great. But I was hoping for a bluetooth external keyboard.
Flash in Safari – Video works fine on the iPhone. I suppose Flash would be a useful addition but not something I’m putting a high value on. You have it way overrated on your point scale.
Landscape keyboard in all apps especially mail. Now that’s a killer feature. Love it. I’d give it 20 points. Let’s see of those Blackberry guys can keep up with our typing speeds now. I don’t think so.
Tethering is the one feature that’s been at the top of my list from day one. We all need to lobby AT&T for free tethering. It should be there and it should not be another opportunity for AT&T to extort funds from us.
The search feature looks really good especially for the mail search to include the server. Blackberry is growing smaller all the time in our rear view mirrors.
For those of you saying Apple should get full marks for tethering – afraid not. Apple has a lot of sway with the telecoms networks as to how the iPhone will work on their network.
Apple may have even said to the networks that they would not have tethering to get those oh so great unlimited data plans that come with the iPhone. Now saying it is possible but it is down to the networks may well be true, but probably isn’t the whole story. Tethering will cost the networks a pretty penny and I imagine they would have said something about limiting it in their terms of service. Those not being there implies (at least in my eyes) that they weren’t expecting tethering to be official.
Additionally, if the iPhone can tether to your laptop for connection, how will the network be able to tell if the use is from your computer or from your iPhone and therefore charge extra for it? I don’t see this coming without additional fees from the networks.
Love the scorecard post… and now I can’t wait for 3.0!
Reply to Tim on tethering
I don’t think tethering would put all that much added load onto the networks.
My case is probably typical. I’m hooked up to the internet via cable or DSL most of the time at home or office. I use my 3G iPhone connection when in the car, at a restaurant, or some other place.
Tethering wouldn’t get much use but it would be nice to have in situations like these: Cable network at home goes down for a few hours or a few days; renting a vacation home for the weekend that doesn’t have internet; on a Saturday fishing trip in Galveston Bay and need to check a few things in my database at work.
I don’t need 3G wide area laptop access very often. Certainly not often enough to justify another monthly AT&T contract and Express Card for my laptop. The need is fairly rare but it would be very nice to have on those occasions.
By the way, I have used tethering on a Nokia N70. It runs down the battery at a fast clip. You really need to have the cell phone sitting on a charger when you do it. That’s another reason it wouldn’t be used a lot.
Apple is so totally clicking on all cylinders with iPhone/iPod touch that I view today’s preview as a “block the kick” announcement.
What’s a block the kick? It is an effort to do such a good job of persuading your core constituency (in this case, developers, consumers, carriers) that any perceived momentum of the competition (read: Android, Palm Pre) pales in comparison to your own that you block the competition’s nascent momentum in its infancy.
Apple is just running up the score, lest the competition find its footing with developers, something I blogged about in:
Analysis of iPhone 3.0 SDK Developer Preview
http://bit.ly/ANdMz
Check it out if interested.
Mark
You should award an extra five bonus points—you can type an email, go copy a picture, and paste it in. Wasn’t that one of the things you couldn’t stand?
Not only will you be able to add a picture in an email (as you’ve always been able to do) – but you will be able to send multiple pictures in one email. MMS cant do that….MMS a feature that is truly becoming obsolete! Its comical they added MMS just to keep the Legacy phone commentards happy.
People seem to put way to much weight into the iPhones camera. If your truly into photography as I am – you would not use a phone – plain and simple! Sure I’d use my iPhone to take a picture on the fly – however generally speaking id use my canon G10.
A camera on the front for video chat would be a nice
Also you can tether now… it’s called jailbreaking. I have not done it only because I don’t have a landline so this is my only communication device. I can’t risk killing the phone. I have heard people doing it but says it does kill the battery. The only time I’d use it is when I am on the road with the chase team and need live weather data or radar to identify tornado signatures for positioning purposes. However that is only from June to August so no need for it. A nice to have, yes, an essential, no.
hello..friends
i decided to buy a only iphone 3g device from usa for $99 as it fits my budget ,But I’m in big confuse,that is as follows.i wish to use it in INDIA.if so can i use it in india with a indian gsm sim.if not what about unlocking the device?if it can unlock,is it completely works?.is unlocking the device is easy for normal person himself?
thank you.
any help is much appreciated