In the States, you *have* to define the iPhone’s success by comparing it within the (previously absolutely dire) smartphone category. Then it looks successful.

Place it next to the real handsets that the normobs (“normal mobile users”) are buying — the piece of shit devices that do nothing but call and text — and the iPhone is nowhere. A glint in the milkman’s eye. My issue was thinking, assuming, that Apple intended wiping out the vast majority of offerings from existing handset manufacturers. At the price point, it doesn’t. Too many people are walking into their operator stores in America and grabbing the cheapest piece of rubbish. I was mistakenly hoping to see an iPhone in every hand soon. What that would have done for the mobile industry… geez… it would have been phenomenal. Such a shame.

But I’ve reset my expectations, alas!

I’m absolutely baffled by you guys’ saying that the iPhone will never reach the masses, has a niche, etc. Maybe this is a U.K. perspective?

Here in the U.S., the iPhone is a HUGE breakout success. In 6 months, it’s become the #2 bestselling smartphone, bypassing all Windows Mobile devices, all Palm and Treo devices, and trailing only the BlackBerry. They are, in fact, on track to sell 10 million of these in the first year. That would make the iPhone more successful than even the iPod!

All I can guess is that the terms and prices are more onerous on the U.K., where it seems you guys are based, than here in the U.S. Because here in this much larger market, the iPhone’s “niche” is about the size of the Atlantic.

–Pogue

jmac’s last blog post..Wrong

Once again, though, the price tag might just be Jobs’ plan, and has been all along. Keep it elite and you never have to fight head to head with new offerings like Android.

People *won’t know* how great the apps are becasue *they will never get to try them*. You need the device, connected, first. You know, cart/horse, etc.

Ewan was on the money when he acknowledged the great job Apple have done with the device, but rubbish job (assuming that was their plan) in taking it to the masses.

“it will be the first widespread pocket desktop computer.” Er, no it won’t and never will be. It comes closer than anything previous to mobilising previously deskbound experiences, but that is only because of the UI. Others can/will/are copying the UI/touch experience just as Windows did to Mac, and will do so at a price point less than half that of the iPhone.

Those devices that follow will be the widespread pocket computers. The eePC’s of the mobile world. £100 (£150 tops) to buy, on any network.

They will be out before the end of this year.

The iPhone will remain in its iNiche, unless the fundamental offer dynamics change.

All this said, I’ll be fronting ca£h for SDK apps for my iPhone. I already have a wish list. I’m sold on it. But just like Ewan, I don’t expect it to sell millions on the back of some cool apps. Most normobs only care about voice/text, maybe the odd Google. iPhone is still niche.

/m

The hype surrounding such dominance is seldom from Apple themselves. Their partners maybe and certainly the fans too.

They make shiny and beautiful objects of desire. Objects of desire are rarely ones that are objects of mass consumerism.

I think you will be waiting a while for ‘Jobs to pull one out of the hat’ as I bet he won’t change from the minor market share he so deservedly protects. Not everyone wants to be Microsoft.

One could argue that in the same way as niche engagement will never be mass reach television, Apple will never be a ‘Tesco of Technology’. Thank goodness.

jmac’s last blog post..Volunteer Dummy

Hey, you’re absolutely entitled to your opinion about the iPhone’s future. You’re wrong about it (and I’m right that the 2.0 software will be a big, big deal)–but we can check back in 6 months to confirm.

But I really don’t like your labeling me an Apple fanboy, primarily because it’s not true. I swat Apple whenever it deserves swatting, and praise Apple when it does good work. Same as I do any company.

Here are 40 examples to get you started:

http://www.davidpogue.com/bio_photos/fanboy.html

–David Pogue

Stefan Constantinescu’s last blog post..Germany wants a whopping $6.24 Billion from Nokia

http://www.pressdisplay.com/pressdisplay/showlink.aspx?bookmarkid=A9K2DIKSPPN&preview=article&linkid=7c2d2198-4c78-4afe-b064-c9449f3a2962&pdaffid=ZVFwBG5jk4Kvl9OaBJc5%2bg%3d%3d

Sincerely,
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