Apple shows iPhone & HD network media player, changes name

[Bob Crabtree]

As expected, Steve Jobs yesterday announced the introduction of an Apple-branded combined mobile phone and widescreen iPod - the iPhone. This will be priced at US$499 for a 4GB model and US$599 for an 8GB. Deliveries, though, won't start until June, with the USA getting first pickings and the European launch promised only for late 2007.

Also new are an HD-capable network media player, the Apple TV, an 802.11n WiFi router and the company's name - from which 'Computer' has been dropped.

Lots more info on all products in this HEXUS.lifestyle.headline, along with pics.

[awm]

I trust reviews will follow as soon as you can get your hands on things

[Bob Crabtree]

I trust reviews will follow as soon as you can get your hands on things

There are some very nice people at Apple but getting product out of the company for review is far from easy.

I hope and expect, though, that we will be able to get an Apple TV and an AirPort Extreme Base Station without too much hassle.

The iPhone is going to be rather more problematic since we are based in the UK and there's going to be no product sold here until the end of the year - presumably because Apple has, as yet, not been able to tie up a deal with any UK telecos/ISPs.

[leeglf]

us$499 for the 4gb and us$500 for the 8gb?

i should imagine its meant to be $599 for the 8gb!

[Bob Crabtree]

us$499 for the 4gb and us$500 for the 8gb?

i should imagine its meant to be $599 for the 8gb!

D'oh!

Thanks for heads-up!

Bob

[wedge22]

Well seeing as I live in Canada how about I buy one when it comes out and then review it for you, heck if you like you could even pay for it as that will make buying it so much easier.

[Noli]

I think it's great and if it works as well as it should, I personally am happy to pay a premium for a well implemented phone & mp3/ipod combo (my sony ericsson w810i walkman phone is relatively sh1te - walkman feature so awkward and slow that I just don't bother). Interestingly (for me) no mention appeared to be made of its video capabilities which should be ideal with the 3.5" widescreen display! (let's just hope it supports more than h264 too!) Finally, if it would just sync with outlook for transferring contacts, calendar etc, that would just make it for me....

[lost eden]

I do love Apple's design - why does the router have a Kensington slot, but the more expensive TV streamer doesn't?

[dangel]

Meh, no GPS (a must for my next device), no 3g, expensive, stupid touch screen with no hard keys (or slide out keyboard) meaning I have to look at it to answer the phone or hang up/screen needs constant cleaning. Most advanced mobile browser ever? Give me a break - perhaps they've not been to the Opera recently Does it look a big lardy too?

UI looks interesting on the upside but really why are people wetting their pants over this? So much competition in the market now with phones with more features, a more mature platform (symbian/Windows Mobile) etc etc. You could stick an Apple logo on a turd and sell it for 600USD these days

[Bob Crabtree]

Well seeing as I live in Canada how about I buy one when it comes out and then review it for you, heck if you like you could even pay for it as that will make buying it so much easier.

Get back to you soon about your kind offer!

Or not.

[Bob Crabtree]

Interestingly (for me) no mention appeared to be made of its video capabilities which should be ideal with the 3.5" widescreen display!

There is nothing new in terms of video resolution that I can see.

This is what the specs page says:

Screen size 3.5 inches
Screen resolution 320 by 480 at 160 ppi

[Bob Crabtree]

I do love Apple's design - why does the router have a Kensington slot, but the more expensive TV streamer doesn't?

The presumption, I'd guess, is that the router will be used in offices where it's a tempting target for theft, whereas the Apple TV is mainly intended for home use and not likely to be stolen by someone walking by.

[lost eden]

Ah, that does make sense. But I pity whatever office pays a premium for Apple connectivity solutions when they couls buy better hardware from an established & specialist network hardware company for less. I can't be the only one thinking that £120 is ludicrously expensive for a 3 port switch with a wireless antenna attached. For the same price I could buy at least 18 wired ports with a wireless access point connected to one of them.

[spazman]

I can't be the only one thinking that £120 is ludicrously expensive for a 3 port switch with a wireless antenna attached. For the same price I could buy at least 18 wired ports with a wireless access point connected to one of them.

But it's apple . These do nothing that i cant already do cheaper and better already. It's simply following their make average stuff look pretty and charge twice as much plan. Apple products are simply the ultimate ripp off, microsoft are modest cost wise in comparison to apple. They make nice looknig products but there will be a company come along that will make a 'prettier' product and charge half of of what apple does, leaving them to regret their greed.

[Steve]

stupid touch screen with no hard keys

I really don't know what HCI designers are thinking, but the beauty of certain devices is that you don't have to be staring at it to know what you're touching.

With a keypad on a phone, you can tell what button your thumb/hand is on, usually, especially when it's to your ear. You can, very gently, hold a phone on the keypad, and not press a key.

Suddenly HCI designers start making keypads virtual and touch-screen, and that fantastic feature is gone.

Sure, they look nice, they really do, but the tactile feedback provided by a proper, bouncy button, is extremely important to me.

[dangel]

I really don't know what HCI designers are thinking, but the beauty of certain devices is that you don't have to be staring at it to know what you're touching.

With a keypad on a phone, you can tell what button your thumb/hand is on, usually, especially when it's to your ear. You can, very gently, hold a phone on the keypad, and not press a key.

Suddenly HCI designers start making keypads virtual and touch-screen, and that fantastic feature is gone.

Sure, they look nice, they really do, but the tactile feedback provided by a proper, bouncy button, is extremely important to me.

Oh so i'm not alone in my sanity?

I hate pure touchscreen anything - be it in a universal remote (very annoying) or a phone. It's interesting to note that MS have stepped back from the pure touchscreen approach an introduced more buttons (softkeys) on their platform because of the usability problem. My WM2003 phone has one great shortcoming - no T9 phone pad (with REAL buttons) - making one handed texting impossible. Touchscreens also require very large button areas - othewise it's a case of using your nails to hit the right area.