Apple MacWorld News -- iPhone Announced

[dartworth]

Steve Jobs just dropped a bombshell on the audience attending his Macworld Keynote Address. Jobs at first announced the product as three separate products; a widescreen video iPod, a phone, and a mobile internet communicator. This was exciting enough, but I'm sure I'm not the only person who was a bit disappointed to think about carrying three devices. According to Laurie who is listening to the feed from the expo floor, the crowd went absolutely wild at this announcement.

The iPhone will use a revolutionary interface called MultiTouch, first seen in Apple patent filings over a year ago. The iPhone will run OS X, and be capable of running desktop-class applications.

The Nitty Gritty:

* Single front button.
* 3.5 inch widescreen display featuring the highest pixel density ever shipped in a portable device.
* 2 megapixel camera.
* iPod dock.
* Proximity sensor which switches between modes and screen orientation based on how a user holds it.
* 11.6 mm thick.
* Syncs with iTunes
* GSM/EDGE
* Wifi
* Bluetooth
* Cinglar only.
* Visual voicemail - shows a list of your voicemails like you see a list of emails.
* Error correcting on-screen keyboard.
* Gestural interface
* Mail.
* Safari.
* Google Maps.
* Widgets.
* Switches seamlessly between EDGE and WiFi.
* Free Yahoo! IMAP email to all iPhone customs.
* GPS
* 5 hour video battery life.
* 16 hour audio battery life.

The 4GB costs $499 and the 8GB $599 (includes a 2 year contract). It is shipping in June.

Pics and more info

 

[GTaudiophile]

There are already at least 2 iPhone threads and there is one main MacWorld thread.

 

[KDOG]

$500 - $600??? Are they insane? Anyone who buys that should be beaten.

 

[dartworth]

Capping literally years of speculation on perhaps the most intensely followed unconfirmed product in Apple's history -- and that's saying a lot -- the iPhone has been announced today. Yeah, we said it: "iPhone," the name the entire free world had all but unanimously christened it from the time it'd been nothing more than a twinkle in Stevie J's eye (comments, Cisco?). Sweet, glorious specs of the 11.6 millimeter device (that's frickin' thin, by the way) include a 3.5-inch wide touchscreen display with multi-touch support and a proximity sensor to turn off the sensor when it's close to your face, 2 megapixel cam, 4GB or 8 GB of storage, Bluetooth with EDR and A2DP, WiFi that automatically engages when in range, and quadband GSM radio with EDGE. Perhaps most amazingly, though, it somehow runs OS X with support for Widgets, Google Maps, and Safari, and iTunes (of course) with CoverFlow out of the gate. A partnership with Yahoo will allow all iPhone customers to hook up with free push IMAP email. Apple quotes 5 hours of battery life for talk or video, with a full 16 hours in music mode -- no word on standby time yet. In a twisted way, this is one rumor mill we're almost sad to see grind to a halt; after all, when is the next time we're going to have an opportunity to run this picture? The 4GB iPhone will go out the door in the US as a Cingular exclusive for $499 on a two-year contract, 8GB for $599. Ships Stateside in June, Europe in fourth quarter, Asia in 2008.

 

[Kaido]

I was saving up for a Garmin Nuvi 660, but now that I know this has Google Maps...guess I'm waiting until June

 

[R Nilla]

wow, just wow.

 

[Quasmo]

It's about the size of a PSP only 10mm wider 10mm shorter

 

[CKent]

Hey guys, just clicked on the thread. Do we blow Mr. Jobs here or is there going to be a separate thread for it? Thanks!

 

[ultimatebob]

Originally posted by: KDOG
$500 - $600??? Are they insane? Anyone who buys that should be beaten.

Yeah, and you have to sign up for a 2 year Cingular contact to boot! Pure insanity. It's good that it won't be released until June.... maybe some of these Apple fanboys will come to their senses by then

 

[ViviTheMage]

unlock it and drop the price to 200-300

 

[Imported]

That phone is sex. It's a shame its so expensive.

 

[toekramp]

Originally posted by: Kaido
I was saving up for a Garmin Nuvi 660, but now that I know this has Google Maps...guess I'm waiting until June

but it lacks GPS...

maybe it'll support a bluetooth gps puck

 

[mzkhadir]

the apple store is up : http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPLE/WebObjects/AppleStore

 

[GTaudiophile]

New home page is up too.

 

[GTaudiophile]

http://www.apple.com/iphone/

 

[Alprazolam]

What makes this thread the "official" one ?

 

[destrekor]

it's the first apple product I actually want.
however, as usual it commands the Apple price premium, and yep, figures its only Cingular.
if apple is smart they'd make a CDMA version and let other carriers have it, specifically Verizon.

 

[ChaoZ]

Even with a 2 year contract it's still $500 and $600. That's bs.

 

[Imported]

Oh.. I read the OP wrong.. there's not gonna be a widescreen iPod that isn't a phone? That's stupid...

 

[ElFenix]

did they announce a regular ipod with wide touch screen as well?

 

[MercenaryForHire]

Okay, right below the Cingular/AT&T slide.

Anyone else see "Game consoles" in the corner?

/me wonders what the next shiny overpriced device will be

- M4H

 

[toekramp]

Originally posted by: ChaoZ
Even with a 2 year contract it's still $500 and $600. That's bs.

ya, i just signed with cingular

wonder how much it's gonna cost me

 

[James Bond]

Originally posted by: ElFenix
did they announce a regular ipod with wide touch screen as well?

No.

 

[mercanucaribe]

Originally posted by: Kaido
I was saving up for a Garmin Nuvi 660, but now that I know this has Google Maps...guess I'm waiting until June

No GPS

 

[Mutilator]

Originally posted by: ChaoZ
Even with a 2 year contract it's still $500 and $600. That's bs.

That's technology. Look at how much some regular cell phones cost - especially without contracts. A quick look reveals a moto razr for $249 @ CC and this does a whole lot more. It's more of a Blackberry/PDA than a cell phone.