David Pogue Ultimate iPhone FAQ

Guys, how about trying this little mental exercise. Add the word "...yet" (yes, including the verbal pause implied by the ellipsis) after each iPhone claim you read/see/hear.

Example from this post: "...the iPhone version of Safari does not support Flash or Java...yet."

This device is still at least 6 months out. True, they are waiting for FCC approval, but that doesn't mean that they can't change the software between now and then. (IANAFB [I Am Not An FCC Bureacrat], but FCC approval only covers radio transmission HARDWARE, e.g. the chips, amplifiers, antennas, etc. used to broadcast/receive the actual cell signals, and has nothing to do with the software, so Apple can freely change this while awaiting FCC approval.

And, if reports I've read (even here on TUAW) are true, Apple will definitely be changing the software. Apparently a lot of the features of the iPhone are still JPEG-based mock-ups, i.e. non-functional.

Also, even if no software changes occur between now and release day, there is always the possibility of Software Updates. Steve even hinted at this himself du ring the keynote, when he was talking about why they decided to go with a dynamic (touchscreen-based) rather than static (hardware button-based) UI. To paraphrase, he said something like "...and what if, several months down the line, we think of something new and cool? If the iPhone had a fixed set of hardware buttons, it would be hard to map these new/cool features onto said buttons; but if we drew the UI on-screen, it would be a piece of cake." This implies software update capability, does it not?

Reading the FAQ makes me think that it will be popular just in USA. Locked model for Cingular and no changes for two years makes me upset

@Steve

Agreed - when you consider its three main features as you have listed, the iPhone is not targeted at the business user.

But consider this: Steve Jobs made a LOT of noise about how poor smartphones are to use. He did not compare the iPhone to consumer-level phones. He compared it to what are perceived as business phones. The majority of smartphones out there are in business people's pockets.

That's a real mixed message I got from the keynote speech. In trying to appeal to both consumers (iPod video, Google maps, camera, touching your music, etc.) and business users (camparisons with smartphones, email and conference call features) the iPhone risks being lost somewhere in the middle.

Or, it could be all things to both markets when some of the business features talked about here are added. And the price comes down.

As others have said, this is iPhone v1.0 and it's not feature complete until it's released. (I didn't see the calendar in action, nor the camera, and he didn't touch all the buttons - would love to delve into the Settings. Plus there is lots of time to add stuff before release).

Sure, I love my eye candy, especially when it looks so easy to use, and I will probably get an iPhone. I just wish it had a radio!

Recall that the reason they announced the iPhone so early is because they have to submit it to the FCC for approval. That means that the hardware for v1.0 is pretty much set in stone, so don't expect features like 3G to suddenly appear. (Jobs: "one more thing . . ." FCC: Cool. We'll let you release it in 5 months. Ciao!")

On the plus side, we can peruse Apple's FCC filings to spy on future versions in the works.

On the minus side, again, this means that in order for Apple to maintain it's preferred level of secrecy, we will continue to get a few months warning on major upgrades. This has it's downsides . . We all get cranky, but no one (in their right mind, though that still leaves a sizable chunk of people) is going to plunk down $600 for v1.76258 when they know that v2.0 is 4 months away. I don't envy the marketing team that has to deal with that.

Cherio!

Please - if Google can open and edit Excel and Word docs online this phone will be able to by the time it ships.
Duh.

A few things...

Cingular can't lock out the phone... It's against a new copyright law passed last November 27th. Line item 5.
http://www.copyright.gov/1201/
Granted, the Visual Voicemail won't work, but most of the normal phone functions still should...

How can the iPhone not be ambidextrous? There's no reason for a southpaw can't use it, is there...?

A non-phone iPod using the iPhone's screen, updated iPod music software and touch interface is pretty much a given. Not publicly acknowledged, but definitely a certainty. Probably even before the iPhone is made available in June.

in fact
it can do WHAT Steves jobs showed

-phone
-play musics
-website
-contacts
-google maps
-some yahoo stuff.

that's all folks. for me it's fine, I _really_ "just" wanted a phone+internet (ubiquitous access to real web) with nice and easy interface
and it's also a superb new ipod ? okay !

I do not want top work on some excel sheets upon a tiny screen, I don't care about documents.

-
and yeah, it's like ipod 1 :a start and apple will add "features" in 2nd, and third and 4.. and so on.. but I'm not sure I want feature..

I want the core killer applications in an easy, convenient and pleasing package. Enough with big computer (excuse me : pda and smart phone) and Thousands of icons ! I cannot eat more ! no no no no.

It is funny how #4 has a list of things that can be done with software upgrades. Yes, all that is true, but remember if these were possible they would've said they would be on the phone. Whats funny is that the same thing Zune fanboys said with the zune, firmware upgrades was all we heard from Zune fanboys when people would bring up its flaws. Now Apple Fanboys are doing the samething. Why can't everyone just make a product with flaws. Apple and Steve Jobs aren't perfect although alot of people would shoot me for saying that. Lets wait and see, Steve is much better at this than any of us are, just like Microsoft in relation to the Zune is better than anyone of us. You can't make the perfect product everyone loves, some will want something different.

I personally won't buy an iPhone because I need the ability to use a SD card for transferring files from my phone/pda to my work computer. We can't use outside software to sync devices, and our mail system is closed, and we can't access yahoo mail, gmail things like that. So the only way I can transfer files is via media of some sort, and I am not going to go home sync my iPhone put it on a flash drive then return to work if I have photos, or notes from a meeting or such. Some people are going to say, "hey, I don't need a SD slot" so my needs are different. There is a market for this phone, and business wasn't one of them, trust Steve and Apple. This may work, it may not, but lest wailt to June to reserve judgement.

Keep in mind this is a product more than 6 months away. AND it's an Apple 1.0 device.

This phone's feature set isn't written in stone. Any reasonable person would be confident Apple will address any shortcomings. Apple isn't a deaf company, they do listen.

No one has asked if it supports Nike+

It's a flash based iPod. It would be nice if it does support it. It would be brilliant if it could sync itself with nikeplus.com after your run and upload your latest run. Then you could use Safari to look at your run.

Oh the possibilities.