Apple Positioning iPhone and iPod touch… as Pocket Computers
Apple is finally using the PC word (no not that one) when referring to the iPod touch. Turns out even they think it, and the iPhone, are great pocket computer.
We’ve discussed before how, depending on needs, some folks here (and everywhere) are leaving their laptops and netbooks at home some days and getting by just fine triaging emails, reading docs, searching the webs, and using whatever percentage of those 75,000 apps are useful on-the-go tools.
Apple, for all their talk of gaming, isn’t ignoring that segment either anymore. Right up on Apple.com, they’re promoting the pocket computing process of their mobile platform.
Of course, things won’t get really interesting until we get built-in Bluetooth keyboard support, right Apple?
September 11th, 2009 at 8:41 am
And they would be correct, iPhone is a pocket computer that, incidentally, you can make and receive phone calls from. Now they need to start treating it like all other computers including Macs. We need access to the file system, the ability to make file types open with the applications of our choice, and the ability to install apps from anywhere we want, even (especially) if they replace or duplicate existing functionality.
September 11th, 2009 at 8:42 am
Nice article.hope to see soon revolution in pocket pcs.
September 11th, 2009 at 8:48 am
Also it Would be nice if we can send and recieve files with BT!
September 11th, 2009 at 9:08 am
How about a Bluetooth gaming controller?
September 11th, 2009 at 9:18 am
Problem is, only the jailbroken iphones can be considered true pocket computers…they can multitask, have file system access, download attachments, install safari pluggins, use bluetooth to exchange files with other devices (not only iphones), etc etc
September 11th, 2009 at 9:26 am
@antonio
Well then maybe Apple will just restrict their personal computer label to Jailbroken iPhones. rolls eyes
September 11th, 2009 at 9:28 am
Here’s the kind of anomaly the iPhone is: I can edit video on the phone, but I can’t organize my pictures into folders.
The whole thing is a vast combination of Wow and Doh; of “look what I can do” and “what do you mean I can’t do that”.
September 11th, 2009 at 9:29 am
I agree with the first post. If apple is going to market the iPhone as a pocket computer than we need to be able to access the whole device. Maybe this is their segway into that. Maybe when we get a new hardware refresh well get some of these features.
September 11th, 2009 at 9:34 am
In fact, as I think about it, about half of what I try to do involves a workaround that creates web traffic. For example, all I really want is a note taking app that syncs with my laptop when I sync the iPhone. This does not exist so I use Evernote.
I want to open spreadsheets sent to my by email in quick office. I have to have a quick office account, send the spreadsheet to that account and then open it from the web. Doh.
If the iPhone worked like it easily could, how much stress would be taken off of ATT’s network.
September 11th, 2009 at 9:40 am
How about editing music playlists on your iPhone? The “on the go” thing is garbage.
How about marking all emails as read?
September 11th, 2009 at 9:55 am
This is not meant to sound apologetic, but it is odd that the iPhone debuted as a VERY restricted device. Opened up a little in 2.0, opened up a little bit more in 3.0… But those slow strides make it very easy to get steamrolled by the competition.
Does Apple even think they have competition? They need to get out of their high-castle more often.
September 11th, 2009 at 10:13 am
A suggestion I put on Apple’s feedback site a year ago went something like “user can authorise application ‘A’ to send a file or data to application ‘B’” Or applications can “Authorise to access other applications data.”
Strange thing is, Apple can still control the process and security by only permitting specific apps to do so, maybe with an additional app submission fee. I know that many of you think the App Store control is asinine, but there are plenty of ways Apple can skin the feature cat, they just need get bold. And they need to respect the customers’ needs more
September 11th, 2009 at 10:14 am
I’ve never heard of a pc, pocket or not, that doesn’t have flash support
September 11th, 2009 at 10:15 am
I found the comparison quite laughable. the ipod touch is just a music player and game device (for games that are not up to par with other players). you could potentially use a mic to make Skype calls, so a potential phone.
If the ipod is a PC, then it’s the worst/most-limited PC there was. As the other commenters have noted most of what they need to do requires a workaround. a true PC has modifiable HW and SW. PC an iPod aint. JB FTW
September 11th, 2009 at 10:36 am
Um, getting BY?
September 11th, 2009 at 11:56 am
The Iphone is a gloried feature phone. When it is allowed to multitask and side load you can consider it a pocket pc. Until then it is just like every other high end feature phone: it has a camera, a touchscreen, apps, an app store, can make calls, and a web browser.
September 11th, 2009 at 12:21 pm
Agree that if it wants to be a “pocket computer”, it needs to be more than a mostly read-only device: they NEED Bluetooth Keyboard support.
September 11th, 2009 at 1:04 pm
The Iphone will euthanize Grandmas dont ya know?
September 11th, 2009 at 1:27 pm
Lots of things it needs to be a computer, many mentioned above.
Most boil down to an attitude change at Apple. The rest are mere details.
In the evolutionary scheme of things, the iPhone is the IBM PC of pocket computers. The Palm Pilots etc. (C64 equivalents) are languishing in desk drawers, and soon iPhones will be too.
When IBM opened the platform, published the specs, documented the system calls the PC took off, and Apple made a similar move opening the App store and Developer’s kit.
But the corporate paranoia (really Jobs’s paranoia) won’t let them progress much farther without a major sea change.
Either Apple changes, or Nokia and Heinz 57 (Android) will eat their lunch.
September 11th, 2009 at 1:32 pm
Apple will never open the iPhone. Why? Because they keep everything annoyingly simple, which is a blessing and a curse (a curse to me).
This is beyond rediculous that they’re refering to it as a PC, it is nothing even close. If I leave the house to go to starbucks, I’ll bring my phone. If I leave the house on business or vacation, I’ll bring my laptop. Until they make me feel comfortable enough NOT to bring my laptop, it’s still just a fancy phone that tells me what song is playing at the bar.
September 11th, 2009 at 1:47 pm
Agree with icebike. It all boils down to attitude change at Apple, which may be impossible.
September 11th, 2009 at 2:20 pm
Good point @shollomam. I agree.
September 11th, 2009 at 3:04 pm
@tweger01
Haha! You have to admit though, Shazaam really is awesome at IDing a song, even in a noisy bar…
September 11th, 2009 at 4:25 pm
I have been into computing since the Timex Sinclair days. Unfortuately I am 74 years old and not likely to see the day when we have it all in one pocket computer/ smartphone. If only the iPhone supported Flash it would be close. For now I still have to drag along my laptop when I travel. What a pain!.
You came close Steve, but as soon as someone makes a device with a good browser, wifi capability and Flash, I will jump ship.
Bob
Bob
September 11th, 2009 at 4:57 pm
As some have already eluded to… Apple has competition out there and more to come. I find it hard to imagine that Google isn’t going to push the Android OS big time in the next year. And there will be more like it.
The one thing (yes basic) that makes me laugh is that no matter how powerful or flexible they make a device like the iPhone, it’s still an itty bitty screen that you view! I’m finding my eyesight isn’t what it use to be and it’s only going to get harder!
Kick Butt
September 11th, 2009 at 7:51 pm
Please allow us to have iWork and a BT keyboard interface.
September 11th, 2009 at 7:54 pm
Sorry.. I’m back so say that I’m seriously considering switching to Verizon to get their new HTC Touch Pro 2 world phone. I’d get Office and a keyboard..
September 11th, 2009 at 8:09 pm
I use to think I’d miss the keyboard (i’m an ex blackberry user) but I found that I very quickly got to be pretty good at the iphone. I don’t feel the need for a keyboard with tactile buttons any more. That said, the HTC appears great!
Kick Butt
September 11th, 2009 at 10:13 pm
Yes have to agree right now the iphone can’t be considered a computer. No access to file structure, no multi-tasking, you need you pc for most backup or loading operations, etc. No definitely a great smart phone but not a replacement for a laptop. Hopefully someday but not yet.
September 11th, 2009 at 10:15 pm
As a gal looking to replace my ancient razr it’s the “simplicity” of the iPhone that is drawing me to it and repelling me from it at the same time. At this rate I’ll be buying the iPhone 17 X and hopefully by then, the damned thing will interface directly with my brain or at least have tethering. As to the comments about most workarounds requiring network access.. that’s what they want, oddly enough.
September 11th, 2009 at 10:23 pm
We need to remind ourselves, we’re only at 3.1. iPhone OS is at it’s infancy. Apple is trying to give us the best of both worlds, but making sure they don’t make the same mistakes as the competition. We should be greatfull for the steps they take to make sure we have the best experience possible. We Apple users know that things get better with age. Be patient.
September 12th, 2009 at 3:30 am
When I saw that picture the first I tought was that Apple is scared of netbook sales
September 12th, 2009 at 12:54 pm
As soon as I saw the headline, I wanted to comment bashing the idea until they add support for a Bluetooth keyboard. Glad to see I’m not alone in sharing these sentiments.
September 12th, 2009 at 7:44 pm
Hi, my email address is (I will spell out punctuation). jkenn337 at gmail dot com . I can’t wait to get the new IPod touch. I also have a symbian phone. I am also blind and use a screen reader NVDA to use my Windows computer. Nice thing about IPhone/IPod touch is it comes with a free screen reader and maps. I also have a free gps program for my symbian phone. Now compare that to a new pocket pc $450 on average plus the screen reader $200 plus gps for it $900 just for gps. Oh, and you can have access to the file system I bet if you install apps that lelt you access it, or turn on hidden folders on your mac or pc and browse that way. The point is if you want access to files on your IPod touch or IPhone, then you’ll find a way to get it. Oh and remember it is only at 3.1 whereAs windows mobile is at version 6.1. So be patient apple will catch up. And I love the free screen reader, voiceOver.
October 3rd, 2009 at 2:00 pm
Hello guys. I am also blind, but also love the sound of the iPhone, iPod Touch and iPod Shuffle. All of them include Voiceover, which I’ve heard in demonstration, and it is awesome! I agree with Josh,you might as well get an iPhone, than pay hundreds of pounds for a symbian phone, and then put talks on it, or get a PDA and put mobile speak on it, when the iPone has it all in one price with the screen reader on it anyway, and as Josh says, I bet there are apps out there if you look carefully enough. Lewis Crack.
December 2nd, 2009 at 10:13 am
The only thing that I would like to see on the iPhone and iPod touch is a delete all button in the mail account. I have several email accounts and I get along with school and business emails, (plus) spam messeages, I hate having to go through and delete every message. I know there is the edit button and you select them each to delete, but with 100s of emails a day, they all add up so that’s one thing I would like to see from apple!!!!!!