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Question of the Day: Are you keeping your Prime subscription?
Local consumers will have to wait for iPhone
- Thread starter rpm
- Start date
I would tread lightly. Apple have a funny way of screwing up a good thing by forcing you down a road, and then not supporting it. aka: iTunes. The mere fact that we live in this country means we cant use most of the facilities of the iPod (album art, market place, etc). They give you the fancy gadget full of potential, then tie you into one of the crappiest media players ever concieved.
Wait until the media player/wimamp plugins are released.
Wait until the media player/wimamp plugins are released.
They dont support iTunes?
and Market place? Isnt that the store front for the Zune? I, like most people managed to get all my album art imported long before they started offering it - there are loads of freeware/shareware apps available - check out the iLounge for loads of helpful apps.
Anyway - arent we discussing the iPhone?
They dont support iTunes?
I, like most people managed to get all my album art imported long before they started offering it - there are loads of freeware/shareware apps available - check out the iLounge for loads of helpful apps.
Anyway - arent we discussing the iPhone?
Yeah, but there major selling point for it is that it is an iPod too. What I am getting at is what other features on the phone will the incorporate into iTunes or the likes therefor... Map downloads?? I dunno. Just a thought though.
I know it is the cool thing to bash Microsoft, but lets face it, when it comes to integration they do it all. At least Media player has a scalable platform that manufacturers can use to plug their products into it. Also bear in mind that Marketplace has highdef content, which the Zune is hardly geared towards. But I digress.
You yourself made my point, why do I want to go the the iLounge, why do I need to get a 3rd party app. Why do I need to get another app to scale my vids for the iPod. Why do I need to manage 2 sets of playlists for my home entertainment system and my iPod. I dont want to, I bought it to listen to music, it must be easy to do, and I want it to work with everything else. Apple dont quite have this concept, at least with their PC software which being on about 90% of all PC's I would imagine is their main audience.
Dont get me wrong, the product is prolly gonna be brilliant, but I am going to be mighty miffed if they dont do something about their integration.
Nobody outside of those people who have signed some hectic NDA's knows.
How about we revisit the rest of your post when any discussion about the phone is based on something other than speculation. It might even be advisable to wait and see how it is introduced to non-North American markets.
Roo!
Expert Member
I really hope they get all the legal stuff out of the way before iPhone version 2 is made available. I really want this phone; I need the qwerty keyboard without having a large chunk of the phone physically dedicated to it and I have had my fill of Nokia's (oops I mean Symbian's) junk OS.
I just can't buy a phone that has an integrated battery and no 3G/HSDPA support, so I'm really hoping that V2 has these issues resolved!!!
I just can't buy a phone that has an integrated battery and no 3G/HSDPA support, so I'm really hoping that V2 has these issues resolved!!!
Here in the US and awaiting my iPhone
I am here in Texas and should be getting an iPhone pretty soon after it is released.
While I would love to speculate all I want, here are some real things to consider.
1.) The iPhone is being released ONLY on the AT&T network initially so they can test consumer reactions and how well a network (Any network down the line) would be able to support the product. You could call At&T Apple's Guinea Pig.
2.) Because it is being released through AT&T to test it's viability, should it flop, Apple would only have a responsibility to AT&T's customers in stead of customers on MANY, MANY different networks around the world with differing environments and potentially differing problems.
3.) The issue of it being locked to AT&T's network initially would make it hard to import to another country to be used on a GSM network with, say for example, MTN. No doubt that a "hack" will be around very shortly that will make the device non network specific. Some UNIX guru's will no doubt be able to break the AT&T network lock.
4.) The one issue that bugs people (Me anyway) is that it runs a version of MAC OSX, and therefore software development and application development should blow it wide open as a computing device. Apple have stated that software and application development for the device will not be opened to the development community at this stage. Probably because they want to maintain some quality control over their device initially until they are better able to support the problems that may arise from having non-Apple applications on the device.
Give it time and have some patience. The worst thing anyone could do, I think, would be to import one, somehow get it to operate on another providers network and then be unhappy when it does not operate as advertised by Apple.
If there has not already been an informal user review of it on Myadsl by the time I get mine, I will post a short informal, "Layman's" review of it. Just hoping that it will support MS exchange mail servers so I can justify to my company getting an iPhone in stead of a Blackberry which is currently their phone of choice for everyone who works here.
I am here in Texas and should be getting an iPhone pretty soon after it is released.
While I would love to speculate all I want, here are some real things to consider.
1.) The iPhone is being released ONLY on the AT&T network initially so they can test consumer reactions and how well a network (Any network down the line) would be able to support the product. You could call At&T Apple's Guinea Pig.
2.) Because it is being released through AT&T to test it's viability, should it flop, Apple would only have a responsibility to AT&T's customers in stead of customers on MANY, MANY different networks around the world with differing environments and potentially differing problems.
3.) The issue of it being locked to AT&T's network initially would make it hard to import to another country to be used on a GSM network with, say for example, MTN. No doubt that a "hack" will be around very shortly that will make the device non network specific. Some UNIX guru's will no doubt be able to break the AT&T network lock.
4.) The one issue that bugs people (Me anyway) is that it runs a version of MAC OSX, and therefore software development and application development should blow it wide open as a computing device. Apple have stated that software and application development for the device will not be opened to the development community at this stage. Probably because they want to maintain some quality control over their device initially until they are better able to support the problems that may arise from having non-Apple applications on the device.
Give it time and have some patience. The worst thing anyone could do, I think, would be to import one, somehow get it to operate on another providers network and then be unhappy when it does not operate as advertised by Apple.
If there has not already been an informal user review of it on Myadsl by the time I get mine, I will post a short informal, "Layman's" review of it. Just hoping that it will support MS exchange mail servers so I can justify to my company getting an iPhone in stead of a Blackberry which is currently their phone of choice for everyone who works here.
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@funkym - looking forward to reading all about it. My dad (in Pa) just offered to get one for me when he renews his contract but I'm not sold on it yet.
I'm never too keen on being an early adopter for any apple product let alone one who, in this case, is some 8000 miles away from any support.
I'm never too keen on being an early adopter for any apple product let alone one who, in this case, is some 8000 miles away from any support.
If you do get your hands on one, it is highly unlikely that it will be as simple as plugging in your MTN/Vodacom/CellC/Virgin mobile sim card.
I have to say, that South Africa does have some pretty cool cellular offerings and services compared to here in the US. I would even go as far as saying that in most cases, more advanced and technologically newer, but then the service that backs the product up kind of takes it back to the dark ages and prevents it from shining. Not to mention the price.
Also, here in the US, you cannot simply "buy" a phone to be used openly on any network. That is one thing I like about SA. Buy your phone cash and you can slip any sim card in you wish and simply carry on.
What can be done here in the US however is if your bring your tri/quad band phone with you, you can get sim cards from most of the GSM providers and slot it into your SA phone. Careful, there are 2 providers that still use CDMA networks and if your phone does not support it, well... Namely Verizon wireless and Sprint/Nextel.
Providers that you can buy pay as you go sim cards from, T-Mobile, At&T Cingular to name a few.
I have to say, that South Africa does have some pretty cool cellular offerings and services compared to here in the US. I would even go as far as saying that in most cases, more advanced and technologically newer, but then the service that backs the product up kind of takes it back to the dark ages and prevents it from shining. Not to mention the price.
Also, here in the US, you cannot simply "buy" a phone to be used openly on any network. That is one thing I like about SA. Buy your phone cash and you can slip any sim card in you wish and simply carry on.
What can be done here in the US however is if your bring your tri/quad band phone with you, you can get sim cards from most of the GSM providers and slot it into your SA phone. Careful, there are 2 providers that still use CDMA networks and if your phone does not support it, well... Namely Verizon wireless and Sprint/Nextel.
Providers that you can buy pay as you go sim cards from, T-Mobile, At&T Cingular to name a few.
I am confused about the american cellphone industry.
Do they use GSM or CDMA? As far as i know, no GSM cellphone will work there and none of their phones will work here. Tri/Quad band is for GSM which means the 800/890/1800/1900 spectrums. And another thing, i have heard that they dont use simcards, everything is integrated into the phone? Right?
Do they use GSM or CDMA? As far as i know, no GSM cellphone will work there and none of their phones will work here. Tri/Quad band is for GSM which means the 800/890/1800/1900 spectrums. And another thing, i have heard that they dont use simcards, everything is integrated into the phone? Right?
More and more networks are finally switching to GSM though on a frequency different to here - hence the need for tri/quad band phones when you travel there.
The GSM phones also use sim cards.
Ah, i see, where can i find which networks there are on GSM already, cause then I can upgrade my VC contract, and take the phone with me later when i emigrate.
Listed...
Farquan...
To the best of my knowledge, only Verizon and Sprint/NEXTel here in the US use CDMA. The others are all GSM.
I have only been here a little over 6 months, and still having trouble adjusting to the whole "Different States, Different Laws, Different company's" mentality.
This place is large on such a scale that you may find Grocery chain that is HUGE in one state, move one state next door and that chain does not exist. No one has even heard of it.
The ONLY guarantee in EVERY state is WAL-mart...
Also, Bear in mind, when bringing your cell from SA here, chances are that no one here will have a clue on how to configure data settings, some sms settings, etc. I have my Ericcson W900i from SA here and they look at me as if I whent into a tech lab somewhere and stole a prototype. They have NO idea how to configure data settings for my phone. I eventually managed to find someone with an older Sony W770 or something like that and copied their data settings.
Some phones are only available on some carriers, with the CDMA networks having the crappiest offerings because very few manufacturers are still making phones to work on CDMA.
Farquan...
To the best of my knowledge, only Verizon and Sprint/NEXTel here in the US use CDMA. The others are all GSM.
I have only been here a little over 6 months, and still having trouble adjusting to the whole "Different States, Different Laws, Different company's" mentality.
This place is large on such a scale that you may find Grocery chain that is HUGE in one state, move one state next door and that chain does not exist. No one has even heard of it.
The ONLY guarantee in EVERY state is WAL-mart...
Also, Bear in mind, when bringing your cell from SA here, chances are that no one here will have a clue on how to configure data settings, some sms settings, etc. I have my Ericcson W900i from SA here and they look at me as if I whent into a tech lab somewhere and stole a prototype. They have NO idea how to configure data settings for my phone. I eventually managed to find someone with an older Sony W770 or something like that and copied their data settings.
Some phones are only available on some carriers, with the CDMA networks having the crappiest offerings because very few manufacturers are still making phones to work on CDMA.
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Rather not upgrade if you're thinking of emigrating before those 24 months are up.
Mudshark
Well-Known Member
Yes, the cellphone industry here is really confusing. The new Apple offering does not allow the use of Skype either. Or any 3rd party apps. Maybe this will change for South Africa
The only reason Apple at this point is not allowing the running of third party apps on the iPhone is because it is essentially still a test phase.
The last thing they want during the launch phase of the product is for people to complain about stability due to "dirty" apps running on it, trying to make it do more than what Apple and At&T are prepared to support at this stage. Once they have had it on the market for a while (I expect a very short period), I am sure they will open it right up. You can bet that then, and only then will it be launched on other world markets as it is ultimately intended to be. A fully functional computer in the palm of your hand. Apple are and always will maintain a very tight control over their new products as has been the pattern for many years. This allows them better quality control.
The last thing they want during the launch phase of the product is for people to complain about stability due to "dirty" apps running on it, trying to make it do more than what Apple and At&T are prepared to support at this stage. Once they have had it on the market for a while (I expect a very short period), I am sure they will open it right up. You can bet that then, and only then will it be launched on other world markets as it is ultimately intended to be. A fully functional computer in the palm of your hand. Apple are and always will maintain a very tight control over their new products as has been the pattern for many years. This allows them better quality control.
GSM carriers:
- AT&T
- Cingular
- T-mobile
- Rogers (Canada)
- Fido (Canada)
CDMA carriers:
- Verizon
- Sprint
- Bell (Canada)
- Telus Mobility (Canada)
No they don't switch to GSM, nor CDMA. What proof do you have of this? Networks don't simply switch.
Oh my hell, where did you fail to get your education? You do not know what you are talking about!!
CDMA is not an older technology. CDMA is a newer technology. CDMA is in fact, better than GSM simply because it is, you guessed it, newer. In fact, 3G service on GSM is called, UMTS, also known as, W-CDMA!
Now that we've established that CDMA is in fact a newer and better technology, lets look at your statement about very few manufacturers making phones based on CDMA. Let me see. All of them do? In fact, the iPhone was originally going to be a CDMA phone because they initially offered the contract to Verizon! The CDMA modulation would have been ideal for the iPhone's data requirements, such as the visual voice mail. Going back to GSM must have been a serious annoyance for Apple.
CDMA is used in the United States, Canada, Japan, South Korea, Australia, and a few other regions. It is a great technology and the basis of all 3G systems today.
Lastly, CDMA carriers do not have the crappiest offerings. Their offerings are generally less because there's more GSM phones out there. That does not imply crappiness.
I have a CDMA phone. Guess what? Fewer dropped calls than other networks. Why? Well, for one thing, CDMA can hand off calls between cell towers. GSM can't do that. In fact, my provider has a policy that any dropped call will be free.
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