iPhone APB: Walt already has one

Catching a collective "Ugh!" from tech media everywhere (except maybe David Pogue), the inimitable Walt Mossberg already has his review iPhone as of this morning, which he apparently wasn't under embargo to discuss since he blurted as much out during The Chronicle's Presidents Forum. Apparently Walt "[doesn't] know whether [he'll] give it a good review or not," but is rarin' to go in testing its touchscreen keyboard, stating, "I can tell you that in the first hour it works a little better than I thought, but I'm still not sure it works as well as a regular keyboard -- and the first hour is not a very fair test, so I'm going to keep going at it." Ok Walt, you keep on keepin' on with that device; you know how to reach your less privileged pals at Engadget if you want to let us hold the mythic machine for a moment, yeah?

[Travis @ Jun 11th 2007 7:43PM]

Napoleon Dynomite - Lucky.

[phi @ Jun 11th 2007 7:45PM]

how did mossberg trump you guys? oh well, guess seniority has its privileges.

[Ryan Block @ Jun 11th 2007 11:01PM]

Um, because he's Mossberg? He's just about the only guy in the industry who gets Apple gear early.

[eccramer @ Jun 11th 2007 7:50PM]

More like Senior citizenship.

[nothinggg @ Jun 11th 2007 7:51PM]

To anyone that's interested... Try printing out the image that's here: http://www.apple.com/iphone/technology/specs.html then print it out to scale. Just on sexy factor, the thing is going to sell like mad. It probably looks amazing in person!

[jnasato @ Jun 11th 2007 7:52PM]

To anyone who's interested in correcting my post... Yah, I know, thanks!

[guchdog @ Jun 12th 2007 1:58AM]

Make sure you get the pic with the keyboard: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jasonsantamaria/357161913/

I mean I had a smartphone with a stylus and a bigger screen, it was a pain. I couldn't imagine a using my fingers. Sexy yet retarded.

[BeyondtheTech @ Jun 11th 2007 8:21PM]

I'm still trying to mimic how the Mossman holds up the iPhone behind his head and shoulder like that.

[Erik @ Jun 11th 2007 8:23PM]

He better hurry up, that battery clock is counting down and he can't just pop another one in...good job Jobs. Haha.

[lyl545646 @ Jun 11th 2007 8:48PM]

Apple FanBoy: It is I, Apple FanBoy, and these are my fellow FanBoys of Apple. Whose castle is this?

David Pogue: This is the castle of my master, Walt de Mossberg.

Apple FanBoy: Go and tell your master that we have been charged by God with a scared quest. If he will give us food and shelter for the night, he can join us in our quest for the Holy iPhone.

David Pogue: Well, I'll ask 'im, but I don't think 'e'll be very keen -- "e"s already got one, you see?

Apple FanBoy: What?

Fellow FanBoys: He says they've already *got* one!

[impressme @ Jun 11th 2007 8:58PM]

Ahhhh he's just an old FART anyway ... what would he know ...

[mjp @ Jun 11th 2007 9:02PM]

Man... I for one can't wait to hear what he has to say. Funny to see people already apologizing for the Iphone before he even has his say. I think the guy does good work. Bring on the reviews. It is a good sign that these things are being sent to critics- if they weren't available at all until launch date, it's the equivalent of having a movie with no junket... bad, bad, omen.

[Marshall Sanders @ Jun 12th 2007 3:05PM]

You mean like how Transformers won the "Best movie you havent seen yet" award at MTV Movie awards? BS

[Darnell @ Jun 11th 2007 9:15PM]

What's with all the hubbub around the touch screen UI? You saw Star Trek : Next Gen. You knew it was coming. Now deal with it.

[makethemove+engadge @ Jun 11th 2007 9:18PM]

>> @ BeyondTheTech: I'm still trying to mimic how the Mossman holds up the iPhone behind his head and shoulder like that.

Holding a phone like that: behind ones head and should is a skill that only legacies and greatest inventors have. Didn't you see Billy and Stevie @ D do the same? Although Billy smashed his phone on the D wall right after the D conference.

I think I'd rather put my iPhone for sale on e-bay rather than reviewing it.

[Brian @ Jun 11th 2007 9:24PM]

Wow... not the ringing endorsement I was expecting. If I have to camp outside for 24+ hours to get one of these (and a as a complete gadget whore... you know that not camping is NOT a possibility) I better damned well love it within the 1st 60 minutes.

Hummpph... Maybe I should just pre-order a Palm Foleo and move on...

[telepheedian @ Jun 11th 2007 9:53PM]

When Mossberg debates on giving an apple product a bad review, you know something has gone horribly wrong...

[Art @ Jun 12th 2007 1:30AM]

Exactly, doesn't bode well when your bought and paid media guy is sitting on the fence...

[drtekger @ Jun 11th 2007 11:38PM]

Maybe he didn't find the power button yet.

[Jeff Lewis @ Jun 12th 2007 2:13AM]

But you know - Apple sends Mossburg these trinkets because of his hard hitting, highly critical reviews that expose all the problems and weaknesses of Apple's products. They're very concerned about his 'bad review' comment...

HAHAHAHAH...

I'm sorry - I almost made it all the way through that without cracking myself up.

When I see an honestly negative Mossburg review of anything Apple makes, then I'll start to take the guy seriously - because *I* can find those faults, and I'm not 'the best technology reporter in the world'.

[eduboys @ Jun 12th 2007 11:40AM]

I agree, I have never read a negative review that Mossberg has given to Apple...

[saq @ Jun 12th 2007 3:05AM]

Why I say! This is a completely shocking and surprising move that nobody could have possibly seen coming! A touchscreen as your only method of input in a heavily text/keyboard driven world not being very good? Poppycock!

[roz @ Jun 12th 2007 3:56AM]

the concept makes perfect sense, I like a real keyboard but I also sure that this device could be excellent, even if it is not a bb killer or for everyone.

[Argot @ Jun 12th 2007 6:37AM]

That phone is HUGE. Welcome to 1990?

[Jay @ Jun 12th 2007 7:40AM]

I am sorry, but that thing is just f***ing huge.

[plaidpjs @ Jun 12th 2007 10:54AM]

The iPhone pictured in the image above is not to scale. Please tell me that the last two posts were riddled with sarcasm... please... please... the iPhone is no bigger in it's length and width then a Blackjack or most of the Blackberries. And, in depth it is thinner then most of what is held up in comparison to it.

As for Mossberg's comments, I would be surprised if after an hour of using any new product he said he was set on the review he was going to give.

As for the lack of a physical keyboard... give it a freakin' rest already. Maybe it works for you, maybe it doesn't, that will be your decision to make. But, simply because it isn't the "current" default does not mean it won't work or that Apple couldn't have devised a means to make it more functional then similar concepts of the past.

It's absolutely amazing how some of you that post to these boards can claim, without ever having held a device nor used it, that it is or isn't functional. If you don't like the way it looks, fine. If you don't like the way the UI appears to work based on what you've seen in a commercial or a demo, fine. Scream those things to the top of your lungs but, if you say anything about a touch-screen keypad you've NEVER used yourself, if you try and decry it's app functionality before it's even on the market, well, those things just need to wait until after the 29th, because until then... none of you actually KNOW.

Ciao!

[Pun B @ Jun 12th 2007 10:42AM]

The phone has a good size, it is only as tall as a Treo, you may be noticing Mossberg's small head due to photoshop and don't confuse him with the other, more robust Mossberg: http://www.theothersideofkim.com/index.php/ggps/5210/

[Jay @ Jun 12th 2007 11:08AM]

Nice try iBoys. The phone is huge in relation to the hand holding it - presumably that of a full grown adult - and not the picture of Walt's head superimposed on top (I am not stupid). I am not exactly a big man and my Sony W950i looks much smaller in my puny hand compared to that thing in the picture, so unless that is a child model it is a freaking brick.

[nikster @ Jun 12th 2007 1:01PM]

You know a product is hot when bad photoshop jobs of the device are discussed in earnest.

[Frankenstein Black @ Jun 12th 2007 11:44AM]

Oh, you guys wanted to get your hands on one NOW? Well why didn't you say so ;^)... Ryan how about early next week? (Almost a full 2 weeks before the bum rush). Are you in the Big Apple (get it, "Big Apple")...

PS If I deliver will you guys give me a writing gig? (Well, that's the offer). Holla...

[Deadturtle @ Jun 12th 2007 12:41PM]

Jeez if that was to scale, the Mossman must have hands like hubcaps... why didn't some one getting him playing basket ball, he'd be great on D.

[John @ Jun 12th 2007 2:17PM]

FYI, they gave grandpa Mossberg the "senior edition" of the iphone.

It is about twice the size of a normal iphone and is intended to aid the elderly and/or visually impaired.

[Ray @ Jun 12th 2007 2:34PM]

Well, well, well.

Isn't it safe to not give your product to an unbiased and critical third-party for pre-release review?

Very safe indeed.

[DK99 @ Jun 12th 2007 2:43PM]

Looks like Saruman is losing his hair.

[CARLOS @ Jun 12th 2007 5:48PM]

If i had the chance to try it omg!!!
people complain about it... say negative things
hight light negative point!
hello!! welcome to the capitalism! the gadget will be out there, buy it or don't! we are not going to force you!
All i know is that i am definatelly getting one, I ahve never owned an I pod, (other than the nano directv gave me) when it comes about phones... i was still stuck on a free one!

guess what now its time to join 350 (cost of1 ipod video) plus 250 (price of an ok smart phone), and

Voila! i get a shinny iphone!!

Ill be there in front of the store waiting to make sure i get one! like i did for the ps3, wii, and (xbox360 i got the 1st one at the store)

i like waiting on the lines! we get pizza, we play soccer on the parking lot... we drink we meet people, we get our games and such and we have fun!

[Webran61 @ Jun 12th 2007 9:57PM]

You guys do realize that this photo is a cut-and-paste photoshop, right? The iPhone isn't really as big as half of his head.