Like trained lap dogs a good majority of the online world is slobbering on the shiny knob of Apple and the yet to be released iPhone. Countless acolytes have submitted their sonnets of praise and worship for the still unreleased device. The Apple iPhone will no doubt be cool but could the community please not do the same thing with the iPhone that was done with the iPod, namely dubbing every potentially equally cool, if not cooler device a “Killer”.
Take for instance today, I cruise the web, check the inbox, read the OPML and everywhere there is comment on the new Samsung Ultra Smart F700, which appears as if it will totally rock (at least for the known world outside of the US). This all makes sense, provided a few big sites cracked the whip early on this one and per the usual course of the day most smaller sites filter their rendition of the course served.
Unfortunately, just about everywhere there is a post about the new touchscreen from Samsung there is mention of it being an “iPhone Killer”. Get it together people, the Apple iPhone is not even released. It may by all appearances look to be a standard but to seriously tout it as such is pushing it a bit too far and for the most part is already cliché.
We must admit, it was brilliantly executed theater that played out during MacWorld and we enjoyed the ensuing TV spots, both real and parodied. However, it is becoming clearer that while touting that Apple has filed for countless patents for protecting the upcoming iPhone, we are seeing week after week other viable options and quite possibly potential patent challengers.
Clearly, the Apple iPhone is not the first or only full surface touchscreen, (LG no doubt might have missed a big opportunity by pairing the LG KE850 with Prada). Last year marked a decisive trend in more touchscreen phones produced and the natural progression is for the screen to become full surface. Concepts over the past year lend to this thought as well.
iPod features aside, the iPhone has been speculatively picked apart and the overall verdict by most experts is, that it while it appears cool, it is in fact limiting. Truthfully, the phone just needs less fanatical praise, more real world testing, reviews and time to arrive on the market.
Given the reported history of Apple customer service, the closed natured of the iPhone and the recent revelation that the current version of iTunes is not compatible with Microsoft Windows Vista, and Apple asking people to not upgrade, the iPhone already has a few hurdles to overcome before any potential “iPhone killers” even appear. If it even warrants any.
I won’t even mention the potential issues surrounding battery life or the touchscreen QWERTY, so I believe it is safe to say that while the Jesus phone might not be crucified, it has yet to be proved to be the savior.
