Google cooking up more apps for the iPhone and other details

So The Seattle Times got a sit down with the rather guarded Glenn Lurie, AT&T's man on the ground for the iPhone. While he didn't give much up in the way of the phone's finer details, he did have one takeaway that left us interested. When asked about the mass skepticism over the iPhone's price, he replied "... There are other things -- you have the widgets, some of the Google applications that are coming -- there are just so many things here that the price will not be an issue." Now, we don't want to get all weird here and read tea leaves, but he did say Google applications (as in plural), so we think it's safe to say Google has more planned than just Gmaps for the iPhone. We wouldn't be surprised to see a Google news reader, Gmail, or even Gcal apps on there, but given the fact that Apple already has its own agenda for mail, calendaring and the like, it might stand to reason the iPhone won't be locking its users out of 3rd party add-on apps after all. Another interesting detail: "people are going to be asked to have an unlimited [data] package" with the iPhone. Hm, no surprise there. Ok, discuss / argue amongst yourselves.

[rock99rock @ May 28th 2007 6:18PM]

who cares?

[Damien @ May 28th 2007 8:52PM]

Obviously, YOU!
Otherwise, you wouldn't even comment, now would you? When I see something I have not interest in, like PSP or the video game of the moment, I just keep scrolling past the article.
But you, you are so afraid that the iPhone is going to be a huge success (I think you are right) that you have to post something like "who cares"
But we all see that the anti Apple crowd can't help but post things like that because you know that Apple is going to have a giant hit on their hands, and you are jealous.
Ever notice that any post regarding Apple gets more comments here than anythign else?

[Jeff Snugglebutton @ May 28th 2007 6:30PM]

The google apps suite will now be included with the iphone. So, every iphone user will be able to share calendars create spreadsheets and such, it's a great application. This is what Lurie was talking about.

[Brian @ May 28th 2007 6:31PM]

Me, my wife, my girlfriend, 4 of my friends, quite a few people at work, my mum, my sister and her boyfriend...

[Matt_O @ May 28th 2007 9:05PM]

haha best comment ever

[Roflgoat @ May 28th 2007 10:51PM]

But Apple already has a preloaded calendar and mail app. So all that's left is the docs and spreadsheets. I doubt there would be a page creator on the iPhone.

[bjarke bech @ May 29th 2007 4:44PM]

Wait, so you have a wife AND a girlfriend?

[RJM @ May 28th 2007 6:31PM]

Whether or not third parties will be allowed to develop software for the iPhone is a HUGE deal. IMO, it will be the difference between the iPhone being a flash off the starting line, and then falling in with all the other hum-drum proprietary mobile phones, or truly becoming a revolution. Come-on Apple, believe it or not, there are still bright people out there that aren't already working for you...

The iPod became successful without 3rd-party software, but it has a much narrower focus than what is being promised for the iPhone.

[Lee @ May 28th 2007 6:31PM]

I'm amazed with maps and everything else on there google dropped the ball on giving push gmail. now yahoo mail has some kind of selling point.

[mike @ May 28th 2007 6:32PM]

Well, I could have sworn the 3rd party apps was a big talking point for Apple-haters.

The 'no 3rd party apps' has been a strawman argument since day one... we always knew Apple would find a way to include added functionality, whilst filtering out hackers, malware etc

Okay geeks.. revolt!

[craig @ May 28th 2007 9:34PM]

"3rd party apps" isn't a "strawman", Jobs himself said there would not be any. The existance of more than one app from Google does nothing to disprove that. Google is an approved vendor that Apple works with. "3rd parties" are vendors that release software without Apple's involvement at all.

[L @ May 28th 2007 6:34PM]

@Jeff Snugglebutton

When exactly did we jump from "reading tea leaves" to "it will..."?

Anyway, accessing office apps via EDGE is probably a lot of fun :-/

[dizilbdog @ May 28th 2007 6:36PM]

I"m not getting a data with Edge. It's slower than the Wifi. You can always find a place today where there is free wifi.

[kludge @ May 28th 2007 6:50PM]

iPhone sux. No 3rd party apps? No GPS? Mediocre camera? No 3G/HSDPA? ... Weird ...

[Matt @ May 28th 2007 6:55PM]

Seriously I hate when people bitch on every post about products they hate. If you don't have anything good to say don't say it.

[crescentdavid @ May 28th 2007 7:11PM]

I think this is all good. Good for google, good for the iphone and good for anybody who wants to compete on that playing field. It is actually a rather clever way to include business functions in 3rd party software. The iphone is more of a a personal, multimedia piece of hardware on its own. It definitely would add value to the iphone.

[gianpo400 @ May 28th 2007 7:17PM]

I don't know why people keep saying that there wont be third party apps. Go watch the keynote again and pay attention this time he said there will be third party apps they just have to be approved by apple.

[craig @ May 28th 2007 9:30PM]

If Apple has to be involved then they aren't "3rd party apps". Jobs himself said there would be no 3rd party apps so that's probably why people continue to say it.

[Virtuous @ May 28th 2007 7:18PM]

Most Treo, Blackberry, Windows Mobile and Symbian phone owners never install 3rd party apps. I have big news, phones sell well without GPS!

[Mr. Picklesworth @ May 28th 2007 7:29PM]

Same thought went through my head. These things require Internet access, and the iPhone already has a working web browser, so why not just get a Google account and run the services straight from Google, without the restrictions that Apple will undoubtedly shrink-wrap your data in with their own device? (And with the choice still there for Yahoo, Google and MSN all on a level playing field).

Not integrated, you say? I have my webmail very nicely integrated on my free Linux machine (indexed by Beagle, the fact that it's webmail with a weird tagging system completely transparent even though I can still comfortably access the webmail from anywhere), so I don't think Apple would have have much trouble.

[Rick Lyon @ May 28th 2007 7:50PM]

Wasn't Google coming out with an iPhone killer? Then why release plural apps for the iPhone/the competition?

[shay @ May 29th 2007 1:00AM]

no...some articles about 4 months ago were quoting google as saying that in the future they wanted to "focus on collaborating with apple" or something to that affect. And thus, we are starting to finally get wind of these applications.

[Nate @ May 29th 2007 8:30AM]

"Wasn't Google coming out with an iPhone killer? Then why release plural apps for the iPhone/the competition?"

Same reason that Apple released iTunes for PC - you get the competition's users accustomed to your style, next thing you know they're thinking, "I like iTunes; why not get a Mac?"

[Kassper @ May 28th 2007 7:57PM]

Sick, disgusting spammer here: [e-mail]

[Matt @ May 28th 2007 8:08PM]

SOOOOO sick of iphone stories...the "Who gives a crap?" factor is high on this story..

[Eric Glassman @ May 28th 2007 8:21PM]

As it is from the day Jobs did the snowjob presentatiion. This appears to be a weak, uninteresting PDA, which competes with the PDA's of five years ago. It is SO not like engagdget to make this into a gadget story. What's up?

[t-bone @ May 28th 2007 8:40PM]

No PDA today has Multitouch and most don't come with up to 8GB of built-in memory. Having recently bought a PDA I would say it competes very favorably with many high-end PDAs even without counting the phone features.

[Mark E @ May 28th 2007 8:31PM]

i agree with jeff regarding the google suite being installed.
i think what they're suggesting is having spreadsheet and word processing applications and such. which would be awesome if were available for the blackberry! (not enough free stuff for my pearl :-( )

[Argot @ May 28th 2007 8:32PM]

Why not buy a good phone instead of this piece of crap?

[rock99rock @ May 29th 2007 11:24AM]

HAH!! I do care! I care to not have a blog that attempts to take up my time with the must mundane bit of iphone news. The last 10 posts about the iphone? NOTHING NEW OR GROUND BREAKING WAS REVEALED.
There are more posts/comments about apple products, because this has become an apple fanboy site over time.
All the haters, (like myself) are still trying to hold onto what this site once was, unbiased. The iphone might be successful, but only because pea-brained individuals like yourself wont demand more from the company that designed the small-minded phone. poor, poor you.

[Damien @ May 29th 2007 1:22PM]

...and you've spent how much time typing messages about it so far?

People who love technology often also love Apple, since they push it further than most companies. That is why there are so many Apple fans on Engadget. So call whoever you want as a 'fanboy' it all boils down to the fact that you are just a hater, no more no less.
Get a girlfriend or something, and maybe you'll have a better attitude in life.

[Cupajo @ May 29th 2007 2:23PM]

Damien: "Ever notice that any post regarding Apple gets more comments here than anythign else?"

Actually, what I've noticed is a large number of posts on any thread about the Zune, where Apple cult-members (people like you) come in with witty little bon-mots like "what's a Zune" and "three Zune owners", while never having owned a Zune to offer an honest opinion. And (in those same threads), when a Zune owner (like myself) who has owned both products (Zune and iPod) try to defend it for what it is (a very solid debut MP3 player), they are rewarded with a floo of low-rankings from the aforementioned cult-members.


At least that's what I've noticed. But then again, maybe I'm visiting a different engadget than you.

[Rick @ May 28th 2007 8:56PM]

I love post about "who cares?" issues. It's kinda' like Frankenstein and "fire bad." Funny and pitiful.

Go back to your video games, kids. Nothing to see here, but grown-up stuff.

[Anthony @ May 28th 2007 9:03PM]

Ha! Damien just unlocked a psychoanalytical mystery that has eluded bloggers and forum-posters for years! If you take the time to read an article, read it's comments, and then post a comment of your own, clearly you CARE. That doesn't necessarily mean you CARE in a positive light, but you obviously have something staked in the story or, more accurately, the gadget or product the story covers. The idea that those who post "Who cares?" are generally anti-Apple is a little less science and slightly more speculative, but it would probably hold up upon research. Bravo, sir, for being one of those rare commenters who actually employs the wonderful muscle up in your head!

[thejedipunk @ May 28th 2007 9:07PM]

Jesus Christ people. Stop claiming the phone is going to change the world or it's going to tank! It's not out yet! Wait until you actually try it out before you judge it!

And please, stop complaining about 3G. It's pointless for the iPhone to be 3G since the network isn't spread all across America yet. It's too expensive for the general population, whom probably don't even know the difference between current GSM networks, much less have a need for it. Not to mention that the battery would probably die in 24 hours, standby time. Steve Jobs already said that 3G is coming.

Saying that a lack of 3G will cause the iPhone to tank is irrational. It's like you're saying that all phones are stillborn because they lack 3G.

[gianpo400 @ May 28th 2007 9:40PM]

If it is made by someone other than apple that is the definition of third party. just because apple want's to make sure the app isn't a piece of crap does not negate the fact that it was made by someone other than apple thus it would be a third party app.

[craig @ May 29th 2007 9:25AM]

Sorry but you are wrong. Apple must be involved in the development and the distribution of the app for it to exist. That means it is not "3rd party". Appls said so itself.

A 3rd party app is one developed independently. This cannot be done on the iPhone.

I see you've also bought Apple's lie that it's only to ensure that the app isn't "a piece of crap". Apple is preventing 3rd party apps so that it can control the platform completely. It has nothing to do with stability which is delivered with the OS X base and dedicate radio hardware. Since when does Apple care that mac apps aren't a piece of crap?

You are brainwashed.

[Josef F @ May 28th 2007 9:45PM]

mike: "Well, I could have sworn the 3rd party apps was a big talking point for Apple-haters. "

I'm not an Apple-hater. I'm an unjustified hype hater.

Third party apps were never a big concern to me because (a) I rarely use them on a portable device and (b) according to the key-note they were going to be there anyway.
What *does* concern me about the iPhone is
1) No keys. My iPod get smudges on them if someone waves their finger in its general direction! Now they want me to buy a device that, by design, will have me poking my grubby, greasy paws on it? No thanks.
2) Construction. I know the fanboys (you know, the ones low-ranking me right now) will hate to hear it, but Apple produces some rather sketchy devices. I've had four iPods in two years. Usually, they have to be replaced after I pull them from my pocket to change tracks and they slip from my hand and skitter across the pavement. My phone is in and out of my pocket a lot more than my MP3 player.
3) Service. Fuck AT&T. No, seriously. Fuck them
4) Price. Sorry. $500-$600 is too much to pay for a device that will be covered in greasy fingerprints until I ultimately drop it and its casing pops loose. If they managed to bring it in closer to the $200 to $300 mark (and let me try it with someone other than fucking AT&T), I might be willing to give it a try, but I'm not going to drop that kind of green on an unproven device from a company that has never made a phone before.

[nikster @ May 28th 2007 10:05PM]

OK the iphone is gonna be a hit because smart phones currently out there suck, and they suck badly and in many ways. A shiny 5MP camera with average pic quality isn't going to make up for a cluttered DEAD SLOW interface and don't even get me started on Win Mobile. The all suck and I don't care for the apologists who find them good because they just plonked down $700 on one of them.
I have a brand new N73 which I paid $500 for, in full, and I am not afraid to say that it sucks badly. Apart from a few obvious hardware improvements it has nothing on the 6 year old 6600. In fact it's in many ways worse than the 6600.

I don't know how well the iPhone will work but judging from other Apple releases I think it's going to blow these symbian based things out of the water. And I don't even want to mention win mobile.

/rant

[nikster @ May 28th 2007 10:12PM]

question: If I buy an iPhone now from ATT with the 2 year plan or whatever, and then as I ride along on my bike on the Golden Gate bridge, I get a phone call and answer it, and some other biker hits me head on, and we both splatter to the ground and the iPhone slips out of my hand and over the edge and falls 100ft into the Pacific Ocean - what would happen?
Let's say I am not insured as we don't want to commit insurance fraud we just want a shiny new iPhone. Will ATT give me a new iPhone? For how much money?
The background to this story is I want an iPhone but I am not in the US but some friends are in the US...

[billy brown @ May 28th 2007 10:34PM]

they should put some iGoogle in that bih!

haha.

[TommyKatz @ May 28th 2007 10:36PM]

1) Devices that you poke with your fingers are usually more resistant to smudges (such as my TomTom)...and if it is still a problem then think about the age old technology of soap and water.
2) if apple produces sketchy devices why did you keep buying 4 ipods over two years? and its not that hard to hold on to the device... try building up your finger muscles.
3) phone companies don't really matter...you'll hit dead spots and you have perfect coverages areas. it's different for everyone depending on where you live. i'v used t-mobile, cingular, alltel, and verizon. not much difference for me in the eastern US.
4) Price. again, wash your hands, build up your finger muscles if you must and buy a case if that does not work.

[sajawebb @ May 31st 2007 12:25AM]

B-U-T-T-E-R-F-I-N-G-E-R-S

[MacBookOwner @ May 28th 2007 10:53PM]

"SOOOOO sick of iphone stories...the "Who gives a crap?" factor is high on this story.."

Wow, you guys need to learn to how to use your fucking scroll wheel to move past stories. No one is forcing you to read the fucking iPhone news, much less comment on them.

[brendan Sheehan jnr @ May 28th 2007 11:20PM]

Well Leo Laporte still hates it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ZXiLY4bo80

[Josef F @ May 29th 2007 8:47AM]

Hi! I'm Leo Laporte. You might remember me from when I was still relevant.

[nickroz @ May 28th 2007 11:22PM]

wall street is gonna eat this up tomorrow... here's to 116!

[Brandson @ May 28th 2007 11:39PM]

If this means Apple will force Rogers to introduce an unlimited data plan in Canada (for the first time), I'm all for it.

[tofutodd @ May 28th 2007 11:45PM]

data plan?!?! this sucks. aplpe thinks buyers will fork out $599 plus $1200 a year for phone service? I was all about the 8gb model, but now I just want a sony walkman phone if this is true.

[shakes2 @ May 29th 2007 5:13PM]

i swear to G** the $1200 a year service number is SOOO OLD and inaccurate. Only a person with an IQ below 70 would pay that much for unlimited internet and reasonable voice. Look at T-Mobile and see that you can ADD unlimited Data to ANY voice plan for $20/mo. soo, you COULD have the $30/mo voice plan and $20/mo unlimited web plan with that. $50/month x12 months = ...... $600? add some tax and yes we are half the price. Stop quoting numbers and stating they are a minimum when they are the maximum. My whole family pays $1400/yr for a family plan and unlimited web on 5 phones.