Filed under: Wireless, Apple, iPhone
Why the iPhone Will Fail
With all the mostly glowing and semi-glowing reviews starting to come in about the iPhone, I thought it might be interesting to read and provide to you a little counter perspective. Not that reading this article at Suckbusters gave me much reason to doubt my love for all-things iPhone, but its still nice to hear opposing viewpoints -- especially those that actually make a bit of sense and some good arguments.In the article, author David Platt outlines three key reasons for his prediction that the iPhone "is going to be a bigger marketing flop than Waterworld and Ishtar combined." If you know those movies, that's saying quite a bit. That said, what are his three key reasons? For starters, he complains that the designers of the iPhone have ignored the simplicity and ease of use demonstrated by the iPod and have instead designed a device that is not simple or easy to use.
Second, he feels the iPhone "crams" too many features into a single unit which when used in combination will require "far more dedication than a user is willing to invest and remember." This, he says, "condemns the iPhone to a tiny niche at best." Lastly, Platt laments the iPhone's touch screen and lack of "tactile feedback" which will force users to look at the screen at all times while using it -- something, he says, they will "detest."
Some valid points to be sure and perhaps worthy of consideration. But does any of it change your opinion about the iPhone? Or is it still the shiny, touch-screened soon-to-be love of your life it always was?
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Bart Lee said 1:06PM on 6-27-2007
John Gruber already answered his piece beautifully:
http://daringfireball.net/2007/06/platt
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Jer said 1:08PM on 6-27-2007
Yeah tactile feedback is nice, but the buttons on my Sony Ericsson are so small that I'm always looking at the phone regardless.
I think what's more likely to hurt the iPhone is lack of features that it simply should have to be a true Apple paradigm shift. No copy/paste?? Edge network?? Eesh.
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Billy K said 1:13PM on 6-27-2007
If a "reviewer" hasn't actually used an iPhone for at least a few days, their opinion means nothing to me. Won't even take it into consideration. I stop reading. Which is why Pogue, Mossberg and Levy are the only reviews I've actually considered.
This "Platt" person knows as much about the iPhone as I do. Possibly less.
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James Donevan said 1:14PM on 6-27-2007
"Even more important, the online ITunes store made buying music much simpler and easier than it had been. You didn’t have to drive to the store, you didn’t have to even wait for the UPS man to deliver a CD from amazon. You could listen to the whole song before you bought it, not just a small clip."
With that degree of research and product knowledge, I'm sure this guy's opinion will be duly regarded in the marketplace.
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John Kirk said 1:27PM on 6-27-2007
I can't see how this Platt could have gotten it any more wrong. First, there are things that we cannot know. Then there are things that we can intelligently imply.
We cannot know the effect of the keyboard yet, but it doesn't stop the Platt from opining that users will "detest" it. All of the hands on reviews have refuted that statement. How 'bout we wait until we try it before we reach such a sweeping - and totally unsupported - conclusion?
What we do know and can intelligently imply is that Apple is very good with user interfaces. One of the things that irks me is all this talk about how Apple fanatics will buy anything that Apple produces. What the pundits should be asking is WHY is there a huge Apple fanbase that is willing to buy sight unseen. The answer is not that we belong to a cult or are bewitched by Jobs charisma. It's because Apple has a long and proud history of delivering devices that work and work eloquently. But here, Platt gets it back asswards again. "He complains that the designers of the iPhone have ignored the simplicity and ease of use demonstrated by the iPod and have instead designed a device that is not simple or easy to use...he feels the iPhone "crams" too many features into a single unit which when used in combination will require "far more dedication than a user is willing to invest and remember."
First off, he doen't "know" any such thing. He can't. He's never seen nor touched it. Second, if there is any area where we should give Apple the benefit of the doubt, it is here. Apple has done it right over and over again. What ever possessed the man - sight unseen - to say that the iPhone is not simple to use?
You'll have to forgive me if I put more weight on Apple's spectacular history at delivering great user interfaces over Platt's completely uninformed ranting.
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Wep said 1:27PM on 6-27-2007
"due to its lack of tactile feedback"
Very good point. I can use my ipod without taking from my pocket. Still not the end of the world though.
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Squirrels said 1:28PM on 6-27-2007
The iPhone won't fail; this piece is simply flamebait, but we knew that already when we wrote it, don't we Chris ;)? Either way, the largest thing holding back customers is the price...Triston McIntyre wrote an article recently that shows switching users how to get it for $300 via a backdoor Amazon method here..
http://tech.blorge.com/Structure:%20/2007/06/26/how-to-land-your-iphone-for-300/
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Dave said 1:29PM on 6-27-2007
I'm tired of people giving stinky reviews before they touch it. He may be 100% correct on the tactile feedback, but shouldn't he give it a shot first? I had a little more tolerance for these claims 6 months ago---now they are just whiney. Use it. Then talk to me.
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Epistropheus said 1:30PM on 6-27-2007
I really liked Ishtar and Waterworld...and I will also be standing in line to get my iPhone this Friday... begin drawing your conclusions on my mark................go!
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Duscrom said 1:30PM on 6-27-2007
Actually i think the more damning part of the iPhone is Carrier exclusivity, and high price tag. I mean this is deffinatly an item for the Elite. the iPod is not. I mean, a Nano costs $150... or even $250 at worst. An iPhone costs $500 AND you need a 2 yr contract (Subject to credit approval at which point you may have to pay a $250 deposit). And AT&T is the only provider.
I think the iPhone's feature set is defiantly impressive and useful, and it's impact is defiantly here to stay. But, I'm going to wait on Someone else to do it better, cheaper, and on my carrier.
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Iso Grifo said 1:32PM on 6-27-2007
Make sure you also read the rebuttal...
http://daringfireball.net/2007/06/platt
John Gruber is a genius!
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Anthony said 1:32PM on 6-27-2007
I have a Sony touchscreen universal remote. It was fun for about an hour then I realized I hated having to look at the screen in order to press the right buttons.
That was the first thing I thought of when I learned about the iPhone at the beginning of the year.
Looking at high-end universal remotes these days, they seem to feature more buttons and less touchscreens.
Might not be a dealbreaker with the JesusPhone...but we'll see once real-world users start reviewing it.
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Jerry Pennington said 1:33PM on 6-27-2007
Why would anyone even listen to this guy. His complaints sound more like the positive features. "Cramming" too much into one device ... isn't that the idea here, one handheld that can do it all.
As for the ease of use, I don't see how anything could be more simple. Granted, I've never touched one of these, but from the commercials, video leaks, etc., it looks pretty darn simple to use ... a trademark of nearly all Apple products.
Third point, I already have to look at my small cell phone screen when I have to use it. I have to look at my iPod screen when I use it. If I'm watching a movie or listening to music on my iPod, and I get a call on my cell phone, I stop whatever is playing ... having all this on one device would just be simpler.
These have to be the worst arguments I've ever heard.
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Astros97 said 1:38PM on 6-27-2007
I to be in a very small minority. I have no intention of buying an iPhone right now. I don't salivate over the iPhone. I don't plan on sitting outside the local store waiting for its release. I do salivate over a new MacBookPro and MacPro, but I digress.
I can't wait for the iPhone's release simply because the overblown hype surrounding it will die. I'm not saying I won't EVER buy one after a price drop, opening the carriers up to someone with the worst network and worst customer service of all the bigger cellular providers. While I won't bash anyone for drooling over this nice looking piece of hardware, I will wait until later before considering it.
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Astros97 said 1:39PM on 6-27-2007
OOPS..."I seem to be in a very small minority."
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Kris said 1:40PM on 6-27-2007
Lastly, Platt laments the iPhone's touch screen and lack of "tactile feedback" which will force users to look at the screen at all times while using it -- something, he says, they will "detest."
I'm sure there are people who can use their cell phone without looking at the number pad or screen, but I don't know any of them.
Seriously, does he really use his current phone without looking at it? He should post a video to YouTube.
Note: Of course, you can answer a call on any phone without really looking, iPhone included.
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Billy K said 1:41PM on 6-27-2007
@14 Astros97 - FYI, they're locked into AT&T for 5 years.
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KR said 1:49PM on 6-27-2007
The only time I think I'd miss tactile feedback on the iPhone is when listening to music in shuffle mode. Right now with my iPod, I can skip a track that I don't want, play/pause, and adjust the volume without looking at the player. I might miss that.
For all other aspects of the iPhone though, I don't think looking at it while using it will be a big deal.
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WillGonz said 1:51PM on 6-27-2007
Sounds like the head line "Why the iPod Will Fail" that was written many years ago. However, the fact that there are people who hate Cingular/AT&T they might just turn their heads. So this will reduce Apples Market Matrix. However, the iPhone is a nice preview of what is next to come.
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punkassjim said 1:56PM on 6-27-2007
Honestly, I think all the detractors who cite that the fickle customers will "hate" to use the iPhone because they have to learn more about the device, or it doesn't operate like what they're used to. The major flaw in these arguments is that they're overlooking how inherently shallow people are these days. I'll explain:
Think of the one person you know in your life, who, without a doubt, will complain about something absolutely life-crushing about the iPhone's functionality. Got that image in your head? Now imagine them saying this phrase:
"ah f***, I didn't even THINK about the fact that I won't be able to dick around with it while I'm driving! Damn, that just blows! Oh well, it's still cool as f***."
Now apply that to millions of people across the continent, and various other anxious areas around the world, and you've got a good idea of how successful this thing, in all actuality, will be.
I, for one, just hope it'll cause LESS traffic accidents, not more.
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