iPhone Debut...Will It Change the World?

So much has already been written about the retail release of the Apple iPhone, it seemed superfluous for us to add our observations. And for those consumers interested in purchasing the product, most have decided to do so for emotional reasons, rather than utilitarian ones.

Granted, the iPhone is a slick device...exactly what one should expect from Apple. The early adopters have a brotherhood of sorts with Apple, and price is rarely an issue. The features list is more than adequate, and more should be added in time. But, understand that this is a device for individuals, not corporate users. Blackberrys and Treos still rule that area, and with other manufacturers touting models with similar features and at lower prices, the cellphone/MP3 player/camera/Wi-Fi/push-mail device is becoming widely available.

Since we review smartphones on a regular basis, one of the criteria we use for evaluation is the carrier network. In the case of the iPhone, its carrier is AT&T. And as a data network, it lags far behind Verizon and Sprint in speed. With a two-year agreement required for the iPhone purchase and activation, the user experience for an iPhone user who travels frequently will most likely be a negative one. And with the announcement of the rate plans beginning at $60 (USD) per month for 450 minutes with unlimited data, most subscribers will end up paying more for overage.

Budget buyers will opt for the 4GB version at $499; the 8GB lists for $599. Perhaps a 32-inch HDTV would be a better choice for an entertainment device at that price, but harder to carry around.

One announcement that may truly change the world is the iPlayer being released on the same day as the iPhone. The iPlayer is brought to you by none other than the BBC. This is a video on demand (VOD) device for your PC, and will allow BBC programs to be downloaded within seven days of their original broadcast, and viewed for 30 days before expiring.

Palm Treo 800W Info

Word is out that a Palm Treo 800W will be released through Sprint PCS in Q4 2007. The 800W will sport Wi-Fi, EV-DO Rev A., Microsoft's WM6, and no antenna stub.

It is likely that the expansion slot will be a micro-SD supporting 2GB cards. Also, the rumored 1.3 MP camera could be upgraded to a 3.2 MP as this blog has suggested in previous posts. No confirmation on portrait/landscape mode, but the display should be a 320x320 screen.

If Palm gets it right this time, Bluetooth 2.0 should be included. Look for a late summer release, now that the Mogul is out.

Sprint Intros Mogul from HTC

The newest smartphone on the market in the USA comes from Sprint PCS. The Mogul, manufactured by HTC, is a successor to the PPC-6700, and features numerous enhancements to its predecessor, including a 2.0 MP camera with LED flash, Bluetooth 2.0, 256 ROM and 64MB RAM onboard. It runs on the newly released Microsoft Windows Mobile 6 Professional Edition operating system. The processor is a Qualcomm MSM7500 400 Mhz, and the battery is a LI-polymer 1500 mAh.

Mogul was introduced on June 18th online, and will be available through the retail channel in July. It is slightly shorter than the 6700, and has no antenna stub. Like the 6700, it has a slide-out QWERTY keyboard and a touchscreen display, with portrait and landscape viewing. This keyboard makes the unit a bit thicker than many PDAs, but this tradeoff is a positive one and is thinner than the 6700. The display is a 320x240 pixel (which WM5 did not support), so upgraders should be pleased. Bluetooth 2.0 supports stereo headphones, and the WiFi chip allows surfing without using Sprint's Vision service. That being said, the Mogul will run EV-DO on Sprint, and is scheduled for a software upgrade this Fall when EV-DO Rev. A becomes available.

The music player supports MP3/WMA/WAV/AAC/AAC+ codecs, and the Mogul uses a micro-SD card slot supporting up to 2GB for additional storage. Sprint includes a 512MB card with the unit.

The Mogul utilizes a mini-USB port and includes a split adapter for simultaneous charging and headphone use. Sprint and HTC have included AC travel adapters, mini-USB adapters, stereo earbuds with microphone, and a horizontal carrying pouch.

Other features include an IR port, external car antenna port, speakerphone, voice dialing, and voice memo.