Google cooking up more apps for the iPhone and other details
By Ryan Block 
posted May 28th 2007 6:05PM
posted May 28th 2007 6:05PM
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.
who cares?
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?
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!
"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.
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.
Me, my wife, my girlfriend, 4 of my friends, quite a few people at work, my mum, my sister and her boyfriend...
haha best comment ever
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.
Wait, so you have a wife AND a girlfriend?
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.
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.
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.
@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 :-/
iPhone sux. No 3rd party apps? No GPS? Mediocre camera? No 3G/HSDPA? ... Weird ...
Wasn't Google coming out with an iPhone killer? Then why release plural apps for the iPhone/the competition?
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.
"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?"
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.
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.
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.
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.
Most Treo, Blackberry, Windows Mobile and Symbian phone owners never install 3rd party apps. I have big news, phones sell well without GPS!
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.
That makes more sense to me as Google and Apple already have history.
Sick, disgusting spammer here: kass.kc@gmail.com
SOOOOO sick of iphone stories...the "Who gives a crap?" factor is high on this story..
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?
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.
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 :-( )
Why not buy a good phone instead of this piece of crap?
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.
...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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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...
they should put some iGoogle in that bih!
haha.
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.
B-U-T-T-E-R-F-I-N-G-E-R-S
"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.
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.
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.
Well Leo Laporte still hates it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ZXiLY4bo80
Hi! I'm Leo Laporte. You might remember me from when I was still relevant.
wall street is gonna eat this up tomorrow... here's to 116!
as far as the unlimited data plan, i was going to do that anyway.
i'm sold already. i've already got the money for the 8 gig model set aside and earmarked for the iPhone.
If this means Apple will force Rogers to introduce an unlimited data plan in Canada (for the first time), I'm all for it.
So tell me this...
Do you remember the good ol' Nintendo Entertainment System? The NES? Did it have any third party support? Not according to some of the posters here.
With the NES, Nintendo used the *exact* same vetting process Apple is talking about here. Nintendo had full control over third party software. Nintendo approved or denied the games and, even when you did have a game they liked, you had to pay a fee and Nintendo handled the actual manufacturing of the cartridges.
Sound familiar?
A lot of people, me included, think that is why that first batch of NES games was incredible.
I think that the iPhone is as cool as the next guy, but any smart person w/ any technology experience knows that v1.0 when it comes to software apps or hardware devices are going to have some significant bugs and creases to iron out before the product can truly spread its wings and fly...when you add to this point that the iPhone will be coming out exclusively on AT+T's network, I'm perfectly content waiting for a well-polished v2.0 to hit Sprint, and a couple hundo less for this marvel of t-comm technology. W/ regard to google apps...I agree with the sentiment that Jobs would be stupid to not let it happen....
By the time the iPhone gets to Sprint it will probably be at least a very well-polished v3.0 at least.
I just opened a business account with Cingular (uh, AT&T) so I could get a 1 year iPhone contract instead of a 2-year consumer contract. If it goes prepaid, I'll do that instead.
The iPhone isn't for everyone, but for those of us who are network-bound (ie: I have a bunch of machines that I need to maintain 24/7) it's totally justifiable.
The downside? It's enough of a pain to keep my laptop and desktop synchronized. Adding the iPhone will complicate my mail handling immensely. Oh well.
What about google video or youtube on the iphone?
Eric Schmidt is Google's CEO. He serves as a member on Apple's board of trustees, so you can be pretty confident the iphone will have Google Apps. Just like Steve Jobs serving as a member of Disney's board and so we see Disney putting their movies on itunes. Board members often pat each others backs.
It depends with what do you want to compare?
If you compare iPhone with PDA, then you should think about 3G or 3rd party app and such.
If you think iPhone is just a phone, then yeah .. live with it dude.
But again, "phone" with that price? nah ... too expensive.
"PDA" with that features? nah ... lame and outdated.
Anyone who thinks that lack of 3G is not a downside for iPhone is missing the point that the phone is sold with a 2 year plan only. And 2 years is a long time for any technology. I wouldn't want to be stuck with an EDGE connection when virtually any other phone available would be enjoying HSDPA connection. And believe me, that kind of connection would shift the paradigm entirely. I wouldn't want that phone at all. I would want the next iPhone with 3G and keep my cool 3G Nokia until the iPhone has the features to fulfill its price tag. Because I'm stuck with the device for the next 2 years!
You're right, just about any other phone would be HSDPA-capable. The problem that you don't see is that an HSDPA-capable phone is probably not going to get a connection in the vast majority of the US. Cingular 3G covers 15 cities in Texas comprising only 4 metropolitan areas. That coverage does not extend beyond the city limits and people inside the cities are complaining they sometimes don't get a 3G signal. I currently live in a city of 100,000 and 2 hours away from 3G coverage. It absolutely doesn't matter that the iPhone doesn't do 3G.
I so, so much agree with you, I mean this thing has a full HTML Safari browser, loading full pages on EDGE would probably take @ least 90 seconds, if not more.
But I am curious, how much longer it'll be before a 3G HSDPA iPhone is available, really, the 1st generation is coming out next month, I wouldn't think a 2nd generation 3G model would be coming out all that soon, . . . unfortunaltey.
If Apple would FINALLY allow / introduce changeable batteries, I would consider buying this Jesus-Phone (after winning the lottery that would be)
Someone was complaining that iPhone doesn't have 3G. Well, when iPhone comes to Europe, that is the main reason why people are letting the iPhones stay in the shells. 3G -coverage in Europe is pretty big, and I don't understand why iPhone isn't taking advance on iTunes. I mean, if there would be 3G in iPhone, people could download music direct via iTunes, over the air. But no.. And where is WLAN? This is madness.. where is Apples business sense? I don't mind att all, less money to Apple, more money to Sony Ericsson or Nokia. In some tests iPhones battery lived 4 hours when playbacking music. If it's true...jiihaa! Way to go Apple! And what comes to 3rd party app.. common people doesn't need them, only geeks know what to do with them, and geeks knows that this phone isn't worth of the money.
My Sony Ericsson w880i alrady has an RSS reader, MP3 player, Google Maps, GMail Java Reader. It's 3G does video calling. And the phone was free with Orange (UK MNO).
Is this sort of stuff not available in the States?
look, I think apple forgives you already. Enough of the iphone now please before we all fall asleep.
Nate: next thing you know they're thinking, "I like iTunes..."
followed immediately by "I enjoy dental surgery" and "Jersey Girl is my favorite movie"
I don't get it. Google Apps are available to any devices that has an Internet browser. when people talk about 3rd party software, they're not refering to this. They're referring to applications made for the Operating System itself.
Like it or hate it- the iPhone representative of the 'convergence' ideal. It's not the sole representative, but let's be honest- the ROKR was a failure, and most phones make putting your own music on a serious pain (and if you're on Verizon, then crazy expensive also). The best GPS system- TeleNav- is horrible and slow at best, and even though we have some 3G networks, most phones don't use them- the ones that do use them poorly.
They say you want the unlimited data plan with an iPhone. I live under the umbrella of a very speedy 3G network, however the iPhone's primary incarnation is old school GSM.
Give me a handheld device with GPS and a google-maps application that uses said GPS receiver. Throw in a few gigs of memory to hold enough music to last a cross-country trip, a system to sync it that's as easy as iTunes, and make the device with an easy and intuitive interface for getting to the album, song, or playlist I want. Until this unit does #1, I'm not bothering.
WOW,
An unlimited data plan via at&t. 45 a month + whatever voice plan you have. This thing is going to end up costing the same price as a daewoo. And I wonder if you can tether.
I still don't buy having no real keys. Everything shiny smudges, esp. shiny apple products. And to whomever thinks that the solution is "soap and water," you need to do something about your gland problem, alligator hands.
Damien: "People who love technology often also love Apple, since they push it further than most companies."
Yeah, that's why there hasn't been any signifigant improvements to the iPod line in almost 2 years. they just keep selling Apple zombies like you the same MP3 player over and over again.
Seriously. Put the Kool-Aid down. You might spill it on your jumpsuit before the spaceship comes to take you to planet MacBook.
Earth/gEarth/Google Earth would be nice.
its funny to see that even though so many people love to hate on the iphone in here, its the ones praising it that get the highest ranked. the first gen ipod was a mediocre at best product and look what happened with that. even if this iphone isnt the absolute best that it possibly could be, it is still a very impressive phone and I have no doubt that apple will play a significant role in the cell phone industry in years to come.
Erm...you may be waiting for quite some time. AT&T has a 5 year exclusive deal with Apple to distribute the iPhone.
The one big concern I have is the inability to use a clearcase to prevent scratches. Every phone I've ever had that I didn't use a clearcase on ended up being significantly scratched within six months. I presume that any sort of clear covering for the iPhone wouldn't allow the touch screen to work. So, short of getting a holster of some sort to put it in, what to do?
>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.
Keep in mind that the ONLY carrier, Cingular/ATT about forces you to a two year commitment in your contract. One would have to be retarded to buy a new iPhone and be stuck with it for two years or grab your ankles to upgrade to several newer features when Apple decides to have a 21st century product to sell.
It's an MP3 player/phone, get over it!
I hope the iphone is what we all expect. A friend sat on a plane next to an Apple exec on a short flight, he got to use it for 20 minutes, he was very impressed. Cingular One or AT&T's service is horrible in the Bay Area especially in hilly areas where many Apple employees live. Hopefully Apple will pressure AT&T to improve service. Will there be Skype or other VOIP at first release? Will it be fast when switching from one ap to another? Can I get one soon? Will it have good integration when used with a Blue tooth wireless head set when swithcing between Cingular's voice dial, phone use and itunes? Wont be long and we will all know !
its like democrats vs. republicans except i cant say which is which. the iphone will do well, actually get a good competition going on with the rest of the world, personally i wont get it, 3g is kind of a must nowadays, but and ipod is better, who gives a rats ass about 3rd party apps it has enough shit already, and if you have att ure gonna end up paying more than 1200 a month which is a fact since i have the current data plans with an ok amount of minutes the lowest plan u can get is 40 a month plus another 45 is 85 plus tax 911 etc. they got u for a bill a month, but im glad apple is coming out with this its actually really good for the market it makes windows step it up a notch, i wont be getting it because i cant part with my treo but for the rest of you let me borrow it !
7126fc3c
I'll stick with my LG 9900 which cost me $99.00 and obliterates the IPHONY. Why do people keep buying this garbage apple makes? I really wish I could create inferior crap and have people buy it... overpriced even... Oh thats right, theyre sheeple. Just a little marketing and bam! here come the sheeple!! Seriously this thing takes a minute to load 1 webpage. Has a CB network, and 5 year old technology. Oh but look it has a pretty screen! Neat so did the PSP