With the iPhone looming in the consciousness of the planet (an exageration, I hope) personally, I’m still sitting here struggling to understand the attraction of the the device to the masses. I’m not an Apple fan, I’ve never used a Mac and I don’t own an iPod so perhaps it’s simply that I’ve never experienced whatever it is that Apple presents to the world. Regardless of the cause, though, I’m hoping someone can cure the blind spot I seem to be looking at the iPhone through.
What does it offer that cannot be provided by any number of other devices?
What can it do that can’t be done in any number of other ways?
What is the key feature that seems to make everyone go ‘Yes’ and punch the air?
I hope it’s not just the badge on the front (or back or wherever).
To a degree, some of what was publicised about this phone, pre-release, contradicted some other of what had been published. There seemed to be a muddying of the waters (on the web at least) regarding quite what anyone was going to get with one of these purchases. I guess things should become clearer now it’s been released.
It was this confusion that made the enthusiasm in some quarters all the more surprising to me, however. How could anyone be quite so keen to acquire something that seemed so ill defined?
To my mind, a new device running a new mobile operating system is just the sort of thing that the current ‘mobile space’ probably doesn’t need at the moment. Whether that OS is open to third party developers has some impact on this question, I suppose, as if it’s not than the fracturing of the market place that may take place will probably be minimised. But the opening or otherwise of the OS is simply a decision for the moment that may easily be reversed or modified in the future.
I’m not anti-iPhone by any means. I like to think I’m neutral on the subject with just a hint of regret that a Palm release never made this sort of public impact. Given the opportunity, I’d love to play with one, but I’m not driven enough by the topic to actually consider going out and buying one. Are you? Why?
I know I’m asking a lot of questions here, it’s not the usual sort of 247 article by any means. I don’t intend to offer any answers either as I don’t have them but I’m hoping the forum will provide an opportunity for me to learn just what is going on here!
If you feel the iPhone attraction, please explain it. If you share my bewilderment, let me know.
