Yeah, don't pretend like you didn't see this one coming. Completely unsubstantiated "market sources" rumors are making the rounds that
Apple is already prepping a lower cost
iPhone variant. Warning: completely mundane "analysis" follows. According to American Technology Research analyst
Shaw Wu, "Apple needs to round out its iPhone product line at lower price points (similar to iPod) if it expects to replicate the success of its iPod with sales of 100 million units." Shaw Wu has been right on a couple Apple predictions in the past, but it doesn't take much to guess that Apple is currently at work on, or at least thinking about, a second generation of iPhone. Price drops also seem inevitable, and Shaw's predictions hold few surprises. He claims to have heard of "lower cost iPhone prototypes for release at unspecified future dates" from his sources, and maybe he has, but we're not going to start proclaiming Apple's dominion over all form factors and price points (as entertainingly conceptualized above) just yet.
[Via
The Raw Feed]
posted Jun 19th 2007 10:07PM
I would totally buy an iPhone shuffle.
"Hey! Who's this?!"
"Oh."
"Hi, Mom."
I love the pictures
I think everyone knew that in the not to distant future Apple would release lower cost iphones as soon as they knew their first generation iphones would be a hit.
iPhone Shuffle - Keypad sold seperately.
iPhone Nano, iPhone Shuffle, iPhone Picture, iPhone Video, iPhone special black U2 edition, iPhone "We just DDos-ed the market edition",.....
And 500 different colors for each.
And 20 different hard drive sizes for each.
And entirely new hardware in the market every time there is a firmware revision.
You for got Product Red iPhone :P.
...the iPhone Harry Potter version also.
What? No limited edition Hewlett Packard iPhone?
So how does this work? You press the call button and it randomly selects someone from your address book and calls them?
Seriously though, what features would be dropped in an 'iPhone nano'? It needs to keep the touch screen, it needs the web browsing and mail, it needs just about everything that the iPhone has. Start taking stuff out and it's just a regular phone.
Maybe the first iteration will build up the brand name status symbol aspect, while the second will just suck but sell anyway so people can say "I have an iPhone!"
Actually, I think that'd work pretty well... Sad, huh? Other than the usual "it's old tech now and costs less" I can't really see much price droppage in the near future.
I could seriously see something akin to the mock shuffle pic being a BT hands-free set earpiece thing.
Ah, jinx you owe me a soda or something of that sort.
Nah, that "Ipod Shuffle" is really just the bluetooth headset.
OMG that iPhone shuffle pic nearly made me choke.
Nice.
@Tyler
I suggest "iPhone mini: Bring your own speaker, microphone, and touchscreen."
Follows the Mac Mini marketing more closely by not including the main output device or two main input devices. Though I guess the touchscreen counts as an output too. Whatever.
Nothing in this product excites me...with exception of glass surface and next generation product (w/3g) which will result.
I'll stick w/my Cingular 8525 and ability to stream my cablebox stutter-free and isynchronously while in car...or DirectPush from corp. Exchange, or ...
It has taken 10 years of buying PocketPC/WM...but it has finally arrived.
NASDAQ will rise yet again with emerging mobile computing devices and hi-speed networks to support them...get ready for some fun times ahead.
Do you know how many people care about how you're not impressed with the iPhone and how you don't want it? About as many as care that I do want it, i.e., NONE.
Stop wasting my bandwidth.
@ p-diddy
NO U!!
pdiddy, those are the type comments that waste bandwidth. Mike made some points about why he has come to his decision, which are perfectly legitimate. You on the other, do nothing but try to call him out on his opinion. Posting opinions are what the comment system is all about!
spanked...better u than me.
And yet the masses have spoken - my comment: highest ranked.
Mike, I'm not begrudging your opinion. Even as an Apple fan am sick of seeing iPhone stories. I'm more sick though of "I'm not interested in the iPhone because the modelX from companyY does functionZ so much better."
To me, the point of commenting is to engage in useful debate. At this point are anyone's thoughts on how good or bad the iPhone will be anything but redundant? No, including my own, which is why I even took a dig at myself.
MDB is right - you have legitimate reasons for why you aren't interested in it, and, to your credit, you expressed them in a manner better than most. But really, I don't care. Nobody cares. Nobody cares that I want one. It's all just drivel at this point. Let's stop commenting and wait for the reviews to come in.
And, moving forward, FYI, you will never, can never, no matter how bad you want to, "spank" someone by posting a comment or getting random people on the internet to agree with you.
-p-
Masses have spoken? You mean your other 15 year old buddies?
p-dookie you are an immature child. Go back to updating skins on your myspace account or something.
You aren't begrudging my opinion? You %$*&# idiot...read your post doofus.
"To me, the point of commenting is to engage in useful debate."
WTF?!? Re-read your reply.
Learn some netiquette man...bottom line.
I treat people on forums the same as I do in real life...WITH RESPECT!
I find it is a lot easier doing this (and using real names for handle) than hiding behind cloak of anonyminity.
Mike, now I'll start with the ad hominim comments. Learn some reading comprehension. I DON'T begrudge YOUR opinion, I begrudge everyone's, my own included.
Get off your high horse. I AM treating you with respect - I conceded you had valid points and clarified, if you took the time to actually read my post instead of furiously hacking away at the keyboard to blurt out a response, that everyone, myself included, should just stop yammering about how great or sucky this thing is going to be.
And _I_ should learn some netiquette? You're the one calling me names (doofus), saying I was "spanked", etc., etc. As for anonymity, yeah, I use a handle. Why? Because if someone IS looking for me online I don't want people to find asinine discussions like this one where someone (you) completely blows things out of proportion.
Calm the F down, breathe, and re-read our thread. If you seriously think anything I said is really directed at you and not everyone in general, maybe you're a little over-sensitive.
-p-
p-diddy...respond to people in forums the same way you would in real life.
You are a rude individual.
You are exactly the reason why people complain the internet can be a hostile place.
This coming from the guy that called me "p-dookie." Thanks for the advice, Mike. Pot, meet kettle.
I already have a kick-ass phone, so I'm just waiting for the next gen iPod to be released. It will basically be the iPhone without the Phone, but with all the other cool stuff.
olololol, iPhone shuffle
Does the iPhone Shuffle just dial random telephone numbers, as the iPod Shuffle just plays random tracks?
Ohhh shitt. BEST COMMENT ON THIS THREAD! AHHAHAHHHAHHAHAH!!!!!
i think i liked being an apple fan boy more when the analysts pulled negative crap out of their ass. one thing i've learned in my brief foray in to investing: analysts don't know squat. shaw is wrong so often it's not even funny. are additional iphone models coming? sure, is wu doing anything different than dvorak's decades of "apple to intel" rumors? nope.
It would probably be an iPhone with like 1 or 2 gigs of storage and sell for around $200.00 with subsidy. Although it would have video playback, people would only really use it to play music videos or youtube videos or something. That's what I think.
...but will it blend?
I have to admit, I'm looking forward to the Will It Blend as well as the typical smashing these new gadgets get. I don't even know why, I just am. I don't hate the iPhone; I don't really want an iPhone, but if someone gave one to me, I probably would give it a run to see how it stacks up against my Blackberry.
i think the screen would smash up nicely, but the case looks fairly sturdy. actually im interested to see how you take it apart without smashing the screen, i see no screw holes or anything
Why make a cheaper phone when you have fanbois that are willing to pay 600 bucks and sign 2 year ATT contracts
Because you get those people to buy them first; once sales trickle you release a newer cheaper one to capture the market that $600 was a too high of price for.
The iPhone nano would probably come after the current iPhone decides to upgrade storage to 16 and 32GB. It would continue to offer 4 and 8 with a smaller screen and a more streamlined, phone specific OS offering. Probably wouldn't have GPS or Google Maps, either.
just what I think would make sense.
The FUD machine in top gear: don't buy iPhone because something else is coming. Whatever.
Oh, but in the meantime, how about this Zune...?
A cheaper iPhone: the original iPhone when the next generation of iPhone comes out.
September?
THANK GOD!
I almost thought Engadget would let me go a whole day without hearing something obvious about the iPhone. Thanks!
I am very skeptical about most apple products but I expect a second generation iphone that retails for about $250 to sell at a level comprable to the ipod. I am going to pay $500 for the first iphone but I bet in about 4-6 months they will already be planning an alternative.
So where is the smash my iphone website??
http://www.smashsomestuff.com/iphone/
Google, my dear friend.
iPhone nano = Everything the iPhone has, touchscreen etc. but no widgets, no eMail and no web? Basically a smaller, touch-screen video iPhone that can make calls and send texts, that's what I want.
I think it makes sense to create a slimmed down version without all the fancy apps and maybe not even the web services. They way apple handles contacts and music really is great, and an iPhone "nano" would be something I would consider buying. The iPhone is just too expensive as it stands now.
iPhone shuffle: it'll call someone at random.
Yup...this is at least three times now.
Just remember that Borat gave his neighbor an iPhone Mini, but everybody knows that iPhone Mini is for girls!
Aww, look at the cute baby iPhone Shuffle. But try not to sneeze during a call, it will go flying out of your hands. And try not to laugh too hard during a call, you might swallow it.
Do you realize how fuckin small the iPhone is? and because their are many people out there with large or pudgy fingers, i just think they will have another version that looks exactly the same but different features,like 3G (WHO NO ONE REALLY NEEDS BUT THE WHOLE WORLD IS CRYING ABOUT,really now if you are located somewhere there isn't a Wifi hotspot more than likey there will not be a 3G Service Tower around and wifi is much faster, GPS + dual camera with video expandable memory slot , but with apple being apple they like to have the least amount of moving parts so there is less to repair.
Only sad thing is that all blind people are left out of all this iPhone fun until Apple invents a display that give tactile feedback
I heard somewhere that someone was developing a thin screen filled with a simple gel that hardens when current is passed through. Thus, with a fast-enough processor, you could create true-tactile feedback, though it distorts the image slightly. of course this is still somewhere is one of the MIT labs.... :)
The whole 3G that "no one really needs?" No one really needs a touchscreen device, or a streamlined interface, or visual voicemail etc etc etc. Some people value streaming media, especially video (which you cannot do over EDGE) more than they value those other things. You're the one that needs to stop crying.
"WHO NO ONE REALLY NEEDS BUT THE WHOLE WORLD IS CRYING ABOUT"
Japan, and Korea, for starters. Japan's 2G is different from US-based 2G services, and Korean 2G is CDMA. So without 3G, good luck selling it there (not that they need it- one look at the phones there and the iPhone is DOA; Helio and KDDI Mobile have a chance of besting the iPhone by bringing over some phones from there).
Only sad thing is that all blind people are left out of all this iphone fun until Apple invents a display that give tactile feedback
Since when has Apple Corp invented anything? They steal....... Implement other Creative peoples ideas as their own and then hype the hell out of them.
"Apple needs to round out its iPhone product line at lower price points (similar to iPod) if it expects to replicate the success of its iPod with sales of 100 million units"
"I'll alert the media."
- Sir John Gielgud as "Hobson" in the movie "Arthur"
Wait, i thought offering multiple versions / options on things was a horrible, awful, confusing thing to do to us consumers! Something only Microsoft would do, like with their Vista lineup!
If they do this, I'll have to... like... think about what features / colors / price points i need for 10 minutes before i drop my hundreds of dollars!
The only thing i hate more than a windows machine is an apple fanboy. Ugh.
350 pixels... how much SMALLER can a finger-directed GUI possibly get before you have to use a stylus?
OK PEOPLE!!! The iphone is yes, expensive. However, remember that apple does it all by its self, develops it specifically for the iphone, and currently has no competition and more press-time than any other phone. That drives up cost; however, with time, it will definately come down anyways.
I don't believe this rumor; a smaller iphone would be of no greater functionality, and wouldn't neccesarily be cheaper; making parts smaller, "redesigning" the internal "makeup", and editing the os while ensuring compatibilty isn't a small task. (and shrinking the flash (memory) would make it "officially" retarded) Plus, such a small device as a "iphone nano" would be awkward to hold, and hard to use; the keyboard and nuemerical keys would be ridiculously small.
If apple wants to reach more customers, it will go on more marketing campaigns, join with other carriers, and slowly reduce the price. Plus, they would never make an iphone with slimmed down features while keeping the original model; apple's belief is to be as minimalist/simplistic as possible; if there was something that could be taken out, then it's already gone.
Well, maybe the camera isn't completely neccesary, but its handy for throwaway shots/ uploading photos to the internet, etc....
The iPhone has no competition? Is that a joke?
(@ MDB Some people value streaming media, especially video (which you cannot do over EDGE) more than they value those other things. You're the one that needs to stop crying.)
YOU'RE THE ONE CRYING lol,and i guess you avoided the part where i said if you're not within reach of WIFI signal, which Airport is built into the iPhone you mostly wouldn't have a 3g service tower around to accommodate those 3g needs anyways,and saying the iphone has competition is like saying the iPOD sucks , you will only hear statements like that from people who can't afford an ipod but will buy some crap they have to replace every 3-6months or some winblows machines that lose their value as soon as you buy one.
Steve saying he hopes to only sell 10 million units is him just prepping for mac world 2008 so he can say ''it's be 6months and the iphone has sold 30million units,thats 3%market share''
people who hate on Apple product have no soul, Fuckin zombies,and before you speak
your favorite,Musician,moviestar,director and all around genius that you might admire uses a mac and will definetly own an iPhone ;)
personally, i use a cingular 8525 to stream slingbox while i'm on the train to/from work. there isn't a wifi router that follows the train around. plus, lot's of wifi hotspots cost $$$ to use them when we are already paying for cellular internet service.
"Steve saying he hopes to only sell 10 million units is him just prepping for mac world 2008 so he can say ''it's be 6months and the iphone has sold 30million units,thats 3%market share''"
you have your numbers a little mixed up. they plan to sell 10 million during 2008, not by 2008. in 6 months, they are shooting for around 2-3 million.
LMAO @ that iPhone shuffle mock-up
LOL to that pic....bravo, funniest sh*t I have seen in a while. Kinda scary how many people think this is a real pic =P
6
lmaoooo @ pic wow
What about the iPhone U2 edition?
April Fools Day???
"The price of stamps will grow ever higher." -Homer J. Simpson
The iphone shuffle works nicely with the new apple voice recognition software.
HAHA!
what a bunch of wankers.
If the iPhone Shuffle calls people randomly, then you can call the person you want to, but you have to call everyone before the person on the playlist (Or call list??)
iPhone shuffle, brilliant, how would unlock it?
I'd love to see a complete, with commercial, mock up for this.
this is the iPhone shuffle, this is how you... ????
I'd make it like the Zoolander phone and have it display call when some one calls you.
Actually, and it may have already been pointed out, the current iPhone *is* an iPhone nano. If it'd had a 60 or 80 GB drive in it, then it'd be an iPhone.
Hey, that is my pic and my idea! And I posted that in January already, my friend...