Blackberries took the business world by storm, but Apple is poised to launch the cell phone industry into the next level with its new Apple IPhone. According to Apple, the IPhone is a revolutionary new mobile phone, a widescreen IPod, and an Internet communication device. The IPhone allows you to access email, browse, access maps, and search from the convenience of your phone. The cell phone interface has a large multi-touch display, essentially allowing you to dial a number with the point of a finger. Apple boasts that the software power available at your fingertips will create a new era in mobile phones.
The new cell phone technology allows you to point at a name or number to make a call. The same access is available and convenient from the phone log, or a favorites list. You can automatically synchronize your contacts from your computer. If you think the touch technology is the only upgrade, you’re mistaken. The best feature of the phone is when it comes to messages. You can now listen to messages in any order you want. No more sighing through a plethora of messages you don’t want to hear, just to get to the one message you’ve been waiting for. You can go directly to the message you want to hear. I love the idea of this feature.
It is now expected that most any cell phone will include a camera. The IPhone includes a 2 megapixel camera. The phone photo organization software is more powerful than any current phone. It comes with an autosensor, that senses when the camera is turned for a shot from a different angle, and automatically adjusts for the shot. It also allows you to synchronize and organize photos between your phone and computer. The easy touch screen allows quick access to photos and photo browsing.
If you haven’t bought the video IPod yet, hold the phone. Literally, the IPhone offers all the same features as the video IPOD. The widescreen (3 1/2″) allows viewing of videos, television shows, and movies. Of course, you can also download your favorite music, or even audiobooks. The IPhone completely replaces your mp3 needs with greater ease, and more power than earlier mp3 phones. Once again, you can access your music and video libraries on your computer with the touch of a button. All of the media controls are touch controls, like play, pause, fastforward, etc.
It’s pretty standard to have an email client on your cell phone, but IPhone has enhanced their email service. The email service will access most POP3 and IMAP mail service, and unlike your standard phone mail, the display is in rich html. This means you can see text, graphics, and photos. IPhone also introduces Safari, the most powerful handheld browser available to date. Safari allows you to view any webpage over your handheld device the way it was meant to be seen. Access Wi-Fi and enjoy the built in Google and Yahoo search tools. Use the touch screen to zoom in on any part of the webpage you need to see better.
Don’t own a GPS system yet? The IPhone also takes care of your map needs. You can download maps, satellite images, get directions, and even traffic information. Not only that, you can stay up to date on stock reports, weather reports, or other news feeds that are crucial throughout your day. All of this at the touch of a screen, without ever sitting down at a computer. Apple has labled the smaller applications within the phone system “widgets.” The cool thing about widgets is the instant access to information in real time, and the potential for further development of more versatile widgets in the future.
The multi-touch display on the large screen puts the dynamic power of the IPhone at your fingertips. It all runs on a MAC OSX operating system that allows tbest computer access to a PC or Mac. It is the best system available for software, and desktop applications on a cell phone. Battery power lasts up to five hours for video applications, and up to 16 hours for audio playback.
All of this comes in a package that weighs less than 5 ounces. It comes with either 4GB or 8GB storage. It fits neatly in the palm of your hand at approximately 4 1/2″ x 2 1/2 inches. It is an amazing new phone, and represents great strides in technology. The price tag is estimated to be over $400, but once you take into consideration all of the devices it replaces, and all of the power it places in the palm of your hand. It will be well worth it.
The IPhone will go on sale in June of 2007, and will initially be carried exclusively by Cingular. If it’s time to upgrade your phone, wait a couple months if you want to own the latest and most exclusive technology available.
