Apple iPhone and related items (cont.)

[Sunray]

How hard can, "tap on the word once to select, keep on tapping to select next words along and then hold for the copy/paste menu" be?

It's easy to tap select on Palm/WM phones already - no stylus needed!
It very much depends how much of a power user you are. If you're a business dude on the road, I imagine you'd always be needing to copy over contacts, memos, web details etc to email/text, Word docs etc.

I use copy and paste just about every day.

Always sounds simple.

Very much depends on the zoom level how hard that actually is, and remember 'touch the screen' is taken for click, 'touch move is drag', 'double tap' is zoom in/out. You would have to tell it its in 'select' mode. The phone does not have a 'touch' state in its front end, e.g. those commands always do the same things regardless. Adding a 'select' mode would break the iPhone UI paradigm.

 

[beesonthewhatnow]

Very much depends on the zoom level how hard that actually is, and remember 'touch the screen' is taken for click, 'touch move is drag', 'double tap' is zoom in/out. You would have to tell it its in 'select' mode. The phone does not have a 'touch' state in its front end, e.g. those commands always do the same things regardless. Adding a 'select' mode would break the iPhone UI paradigm.

Which kinda suggests they fucked up from the word go, no?

C&P is a basic requirement for a smartphone IMO, like Editor I use it all the time...

 

[Sunray]

Which kinda suggests they fucked up from the word go, no?

C&P is a basic requirement for a smartphone IMO, like Editor I use it all the time...

No not really, they took a decision in favour of simplicity and ease of use. Cut and paste was sacrificed on that altar. I'm not saying that it wouldn't be useful but its not like I find myself craving the cut and paste.

Currently I just see it as something people are using as a stick to beat the device down with. Fair enough, what ever tickles you, but in general use this phone is a technological work of art and makes every other phone out there look steam powered.

 

[editor]

Currently I just see it as something people are using as a stick to beat the device down with. Fair enough, what ever tickles you, but in general use this phone is a technological work of art and makes every other phone out there look steam powered.

Now that's just bullshit.

The iPhone has a fabulous interface and is wonderfully easy to use, but there's loads of 'steam powered' phones out there that offer the kind of basic, useful, everyday functionality that the iPhone still can't manage - like cut and paste, MMS, decent camera, replaceable battery, video recording and more.

And of the shiny future is being locked into a limited, closed down, proprietary system with the risk of having your phone borked if you dare to install a non approved app on the phone that you've bought, then give me steam power every day.

Choo choo.

 

[Kanda]

Oopsie!!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/7582197.stm

A television advert for the iPhone misled consumers, the Advertising Standards Authority has ruled.

Two complaints to the watchdog noted that the advert said "all the parts of the internet are on the iPhone".

But the ASA said because the iPhone did not support Flash or Java - two programs that form part of many webpages - the claim was misleading.

 

[teuchter]

I survived a year without it on my n73, now have a Centro and have used it...er...twice. And one was only to memorise the shortcuts. Really don't see why the lack of C+P on the iPhone is considered such a major flaw.

I used to have an N73 and you could do C&P, and I used it, even though I don't generally use my phone for work type stuff. I'd find a phone that you couldn't do C&P on quite frustrating.

Now that's just bullshit.

The iPhone has a fabulous interface and is wonderfully easy to use, but there's loads of 'steam powered' phones out there that offer the kind of basic, useful, everyday functionality that the iPhone still can't manage - like cut and paste, MMS, decent camera, replaceable battery, video recording and more.

I agree - I'm getting a bit bored of friends who've just got an iphone telling me all excitedly about these amazing things their phone can do, which I've been able to do on my N95 for more than a year, and much of it, on phones before that too.

 

[tarannau]

It's not about just doing things though is it, it's about ease of use.

And the N95 just is awkward to use in comparison, a jack of all trades that doesn't do much badly, but not much well either. Compare how much people use their iphone for web browsing compared to other smartphones for example. Or for playing music. There's a huge difference.

Similar applies to the Crackberry. It's not the most versatile, full featured device, but it's the best at email, corporate included. And that's more than enough to win it rabid support.

I think people flogging the iphone for not being all things to all people are missing the point. The majority of people use their smartphones for only a limited number of purposes - do those well and loyalty follows.

 

[Sunray]

Now that's just bullshit.

The iPhone has a fabulous interface and is wonderfully easy to use, but there's loads of 'steam powered' phones out there that offer the kind of basic, useful, everyday functionality that the iPhone still can't manage - like cut and paste, MMS, decent camera, replaceable battery, video recording and more.

And of the shiny future is being locked into a limited, closed down, proprietary system with the risk of having your phone borked if you dare to install a non approved app on the phone that you've bought, then give me steam power every day.

Choo choo.

Most SE and Nokia phones are closed devices.

You can go on and on about all the features that other phones have but in the end its not about features any more.

Phone manufacturers are currently engaged in a feature set war, supplying technological marvels with huge feature tick lists but relying on yesterdays interfaces. Interestingly this was also true about the iPod, its competition seemed to try to rely on feature set, seemingly blind to the key reason for the iPods success, easy of use.

Compared to some phones out there, the iPhone is a bit feature light in many respects. Why I say this is a technological work of art is that the features it does have are executed beautifully.

I can live with the missing features because I don't want to to go back to clunky world.

 

[teuchter]

Most SE and Nokia phones are closed devices.

I've not had many problems installing any number of non-Nokia Symbian apps on my Nokias.

 

[Kid_Eternity]

I used to have an N73 and you could do C&P, and I used it, even though I don't generally use my phone for work type stuff. I'd find a phone that you couldn't do C&P on quite frustrating.

It can? I don't mind the lack of C+P, I use my Centro all the time for writing emails, logging notes, serial numbers for software and still don't find I use it naturally. Maybe I'll try it consciously and see if it's actually useful...

 

[beesonthewhatnow]

in general use this phone is a technological work of art and makes every other phone out there look steam powered.

Nah, it's a fantastic UI on top of a badly flawed (IMO) smartphone, with a quite horrible business model behind it.

 

[Iam]

So buy something else then.

Like the badly flawed WM interface on top of shit hardware...

 

[beesonthewhatnow]

So buy something else then

I did

I bought something that actually does what I want, and more importantly, allows me to do what I want with it

 

[Iam]

Oooh, well done. See the vast hordes of impressed... oh.

Windows Mobile lol.

 

[beesonthewhatnow]

Windows Mobile lol.

<shrugs>

It does what I want it to, and it's never crashed once

 

[paolo]

Out of interest, anyone know how Android does copy and paste?

 

[Sunray]

Out of interest, anyone know how Android does copy and paste?

As far as the SDK emulator goes, does not seem to be implemented yet or its perhaps a key combo I don't know?

 

[dogmatique]

Too tired to trawl back to see if this has been mentioned - but someone has come up with a cut and paste app for the iphone, though Apple doesn't seem too keen on it for some reason. It's a simple app, described here by Geek Brief's Cali Lewis on the front page of OpenClip's website.

 

[elbows]

Interesting to see Apple getting bad press yesterday for getting an advert banned in the UK - claiming you got the whole of the web on the iphone, when java & flash support dont exist = misleading.

 

[Kid_Eternity]

Yeah read that...not sure its a big deal really. I mean no one went mad at Sega when they did their play 6 billion people online adverts...

 

[Kanda]

I mean no one went mad at Sega when they did their play 6 billion people online adverts...

They did actually, I was working there at the time when they were trying to wangle out of it

 

[Sunray]

I thought I'd have a go at the iPhones email option so I set it up. Its not that I've ever hankered after reading my email.

haha This is the comedy option in their feature tick box.

Apple are having ideas well above their station if they believe that that is suitable for well anyone actually. Its not suitable for me and I just thought I'd take a look. Its got no features apart from being able to view full html emails and pops a dial icon by phone numbers. I think the effort connecting it to Exchange would have been much better invested in giving the email client a few features, like 'mark all as read'. Waste of space.

I've switched it off.

 

[Kid_Eternity]

They did actually, I was working there at the time when they were trying to wangle out of it

I meant on urban.

 

[Fingers]

I have one word to say 'ifooty'

Just downloaded it and it does minute by minute commentary of current matches, leagues table, results for the last two seasons and news.

Totally free as well. All data cribbed live from the BBC website.

 

[Pie 1]

It's not about just doing things though is it

When Bluetooth is only useable for hands free & head sets, then yes I'm afraid it is.

Aside from the obvious uses for blue tooth that millions enjoy, here's a specific one for you.
I'm a pro photographer & have a digital camera back that has bluetooth. The LCD display on the camera back is a: not that good & b: often in awkward/sun blinded viewing angles etc. Bluetooth on, I could if I had one, then sync it with devices such as an HP iPaq and image previews & function controls are now in my hands at a comfortable and shaded viewing position and easily shown to clients etc.
But I don't want an Ipaq because it's horrible & windows based (most pro photog's are mac) But I'd really like an iPhone beause it got a fucking brilliant screen & has the same OS as my hardware.
Shame eh?

 

[WWWeed]

More problems for the iphone:

A GAPING HOLE in the Iphone's security will be fixed next month according to Macworld.

The back door, which overrides password security on a PIN locked handset, allows access to URLs, mail addresses and phone numbers.

Apple rep Jennifer Bowcock told the web site that the gaffe, which she describes as a "minor iPhone security issue" and which allows unauthorised access to sensitive data simply by pressing the emergency call button on the locked phone's touch screen, followed by a double tap on the 'home' button, would be fixed in the next security update "in September".

Until the software update is released you can protect your data by setting the phone so that double clicking the 'home' button takes you to the home screen rather than the default 'favourites' page. µ

http://www.theinquirer.net/gb/inquirer/news/2008/09/01/iphone-emergency-flaw-fixed

 

[editor]

Out of interest, anyone know how Android does copy and paste?

If it hasn't then I'm not buying one, although there is a video here:

Btw, here's an interesting commentary on how Apple instils loyalty amongst its users, despite some of the new iPhone's major shortcomings: http://edition.cnn.com/2008/TECH/biztech/08/29/apple.loyal.ap/index.html

 

[tarannau]

Pretty rubbish article mind, not helped by one of the worst marketing analogies I've heard in a long time:

Baba Shiv, a professor of marketing at the Stanford Graduate School of Business, compares Apple's fan base to Harley-Davidson motorcycle riders who pass over arguably higher-quality Japanese bikes.

Now, whatever you think about Apple, it's patently ridiculous them to compare them with the hidebound, highly traditional brand of Harley Davidson. Not just in quality terms, but because Harley's reputation is of a classic, unchanging and predicatable 'American' design, without a hint of the innovation and willingness to experiment with form in the way Apple has. Equally Harley's customer profile is hugely different etc etc

...Actually the more I think about this comparison, the more wrong-headed it seems on so many levels. The article seem a bit of a cut and shut space filler in general.

 

[beesonthewhatnow]

I think it's a pretty good analogy - both companies make overpriced products that have a "cool" image and enjoy massive customer loyalty, in spite of any design flaws

 

[editor]

Now, whatever you think about Apple, it's patently ridiculous them to compare them with the hidebound, highly traditional brand of Harley Davidson. Not just in quality terms, but because Harley's reputation is of a classic, unchanging and predicatable 'American' design, without a hint of the innovation and willingness to experiment with form in the way Apple has. Equally Harley's customer profile is hugely different etc etc

I disagree. I think it's a valid comparison of the attitude of the fans of both products, even if the style of the companies are clearly quite different.

It's hardly a negative thing anyway unless you start over-analysing it.