The new Iphone 4 is it worth it?

[MikeInkJunior]

is it just me or are the prices so high? Are we paying more because it is a brand name? or is the iphone 3-4 actually good?

I was waiting for the iphone 4 and thinking about getting one. The price is just too much. (Both prices)

[gerbick]

It's $199 subsidized. How is that "too much"?

[Googooboyy]

Too much when compared to.... ?

Value is in the eye of the beholder, ain't that so?

[asheep_uk]

I’ve still got the original iPhone, was waiting for this one – totally going to get it, glad Britain gets it the same time as the US.

[WannaBe_80z]

It'll be my new phone if it hits Verizon. If not this fall I might finally replace my original enV I've had for over 4 years now with whatever flavor of Android is hot.

[jAQUAN]

As long as I can multi-touch, browse, tweet, chat, use a few helper apps and an occasional quality game, I don't care what platform it's on. Until the next two chapters in flash's future are published I'm leaning android for my next phone.

[MikeInkJunior]

I was leaning towards android too for my first cell phone. Thing is with iphone you need to buy it, have it under contract, then if I see an app I like I have to buy it. For me I may have to wait until christmas to get this one.

My first cell will be one of the following
Blackberry
Android
Iphone 4

[Nogol]

I'm thinking of buying it. But I don't need a new phone yet, my Motorola L6 is still working fine. Great battery life. Probably gonna wait for the next generation of the iphone.

I've already got an iPod Touch anyway...



i thought some guy manage to get Android OS into iphone? can it run flash? wasn't sure or very clear about the news.

it's kinda sad that Apple leaves out flash from their idevices.

[jAQUAN]

it's kinda sad that Apple currently leaves out flash from their idevices.

fixed.

[Nogol]

oh. haha. ok thanks.

so, i'll wait till flash gets in those idevices.

[hanratty21]

^ ^ ^
Interesting you say that. I was having some cocktail party talk last week and we were discussing the motives and possible solutions to this problem. Basically, it seems (regardless of Jobs' explanations in that lame-ass 'open letter to Adobe') that Apple's 'issue' with Flash is the fact that it cannibalizes profits from their App store. Why pay for apps when you can get the same experience for free from a mini-site developed in flash? Apple is going to continue to get bad press for the exclusion, but, at some point, the exclusion will REALLY hit Adobe's bottom line. Unfortunate situation, but without some serious concessions on Adobe's part, I feel this may never happen.

[Frets]

Unfortunate situation, but without some serious concessions on Adobe's part, I feel this may never happen.

Would you care to elaborate.

Also once Pixel Qi enters the market. Whom ever has it first will dominate the market.

[hanratty21]

I didn't think that needed elaboration, but...

Problem: Apple will not allow the Flash plugin to exist on their device's OS.

Reason: Access to Flash content from iDevices severely cannibalizes the huge revenue stream generated from the App store. Basically, the cost of the device itself is negligible. Paying for content and apps is the real bread and butter of the Apple revenue stream for this platform. Keep in mind that this is purely my editorialized opinion here...I don't think Steve Jobs or anyone at Apple has ANY security concerns or ANY other 'issue' with Adobe's Flash player. It's purely monetary.

Solution: Adobe needs to get their plugin on the device. Mobile internet computing IS the future. It is the fastest growing segment and Apple is quite obviously at the forefront of this movement. Apple is showing that they have nothing to lose. Adobe does. The only way I see Apple and Jobs acquiescing is if Adobe is willing to give concessions -- whether these are financial, platform specific, whatever. It' a no-win for Adobe and they will end up being the losers here.

If you're asking me for a specific prediction or prognostication, no dice. I am not a soothsayer and my name is not Miss Cleo.

Sun-Tzu would have a field day with this one.

Apple is the proven leader in the latest, greatest technology explosion of the last 10 years...handheld, mobile computing. They are great innovators, incredible marketers and Jobs has proven himself to be among the most savvy of businessmen. Adobe is playing this game from behind. Period.

[jAQUAN]

I agree HR for the most part. Except...
Why exactly does Adobe need to get flash on their device? Adobe does not stand to lose money until there are no more devices supporting flash. Until that happens, there will be plenty of developers buying Adobe software. Even then, Adobe is a smart shopper and has a few other revenue streams. They will adapt.

Further, the ball isn't by any means in Adobe's court. Apple has done all the door slamming and none of it has been due to Adobe's refusal to comply with a request from Apple.

Besides, anytime I connect my netbook to a hotspot, I'm "Mobile internet computing" in a real way, not the iWay.

As an o.g. mac head I'm proud of Apple and what they're doing, but they are by no means redefining content consumption.

[hanratty21]

Adobe needs to get their player on the platform because they've become the de-facto plugin due to the fact that it is ubiquitous. It exists everywhere. Until now. If the trend continues of either Adobe being snubbed or Apple devices gaining market share, Adobe loses presence. Adobe will no longer be ubiquitous. If a company is not growing, it's dying. Up until now, the Flash plugin didn't exist on certain platforms because they hadn't made one yet. Now Apple is driving the sea change and dictating inclusion not based on availability, but based on preference.

I've said it before, I'll say it again. Apple's target audience for these products is not the average user in this forum. Go down to your local mall...see how many teens have the latest and greatest Blackberry or iPhone or some other phone. They're all crushing bandwidth with Facebook, Twitter (though that seems to be dying too) etc. When I refer to mobile internet computing...this is what I'm referring to. I don't want to get into semantics here, but basically, I'm talking handheld...in your pocket, phone/smartphone/call it what you want computing.

India, China, Africa, South America...these are the growth areas. Everyone wants an iPhone there. And I mean everyone. Not only do they want an iPhone...they want the iPhone 4. When it comes out, they'll want the iPhone 5. It's as 'important' to them as a soccer mom driving a Range Rover, whether it's a P.O.S. or not. Doesn't matter. Apple will drive it's growth with products like this domestically and internationally.

I'm not a o.g. or a new machead. I am a huge fan of the Flash plugin and what it's done to define and innovate the internet experience. Success, however, is like pornography. I may not be able to define it, but I know it when I see it. Losing market penetration...ain't success.

[silverx2]

im curious, how often do you guys with non iphone's goto websites that use flash, or use flash required applications on their phones?

I can honestly say that so far i don't think i have ever needed to view flash on my phone.

[ViRGo_RK]

Is iOS 4 going to be worth it for a 3G phone? How about the jailbreak?

[hanratty21]

im curious, how often do you guys with non iphone's goto websites that use flash, or use flash required applications on their phones?

I can honestly say that so far i don't think i have ever needed to view flash on my phone.

Not once. I am totally not the typical mobile (phone) internet user. I find the whole experience a little annoying. As you are, I am also a BB user. It accomplishes all I need as a power email user...as well as being a phone.

I think the problem here is that as phone manufacturers migrate towards larger, better screens, more intuitive interfaces, etc., the user will expect the same experience on their handheld as they do on their desktop. If I recall correctly, one of the initial marketing ploys of the iPhone was that it provided the 'real' internet...not some tiny, watered down version. Well, here we are...they are giving you the 'real' internet, but trying to define what exactly that can consist of. Personally, I think it sucks, but, alas...I am not Steve Jobs. Evidently, no one else is either...as he still seems to be the only one who has defined the product cycle through content rather than through hardware sales.

[jAQUAN]

Adobe needs to get their player on the platform because they've become the de-facto plugin due to the fact that it is ubiquitous. It exists everywhere.

That sounds more like an excuse for Apple to make a move, not Adobe.
The two companies don't really need each other at all on this topic. The debate only exists because of what the users want.

FP 10.1 is ready for anything and when my Litl arrives in a few days I will gleefully snicker at the iPad suckers trying to figure out which way to hold the thing so they can type.

[hanratty21]

The debate only exists because of what the users want.

And the users want...

TA DA!

iPhone.


You're missing my point. The plugin exists everywhere...for now. As the trend continues to remove Flash accessibility from devices, it will cease to exist everywhere. Subsequently, the desire for customers to present their content on that format will decreaase accordingly. It behooves Adobe to get their plugin on that phone...ASAP. Very few iPhone sales will be affected by the lack of Flash. I cannot say the same for the reverse.

The sheep want what papa Jobs gives them. If he tells them Flash is not what is good for them on their jesusPhone, then it's no good. No argument, no care, no lost sales.