iPhone-y?

Posted by Erik N. Toth on Monday, July 30, 2007  
Category: , , ,

Yes, I was one of those people.  I had the opportunity to pick up an iPhone about two weeks after they were released, so I got one.  So yes, there are some issues, some gotchas, and some idiosyncrasies, but overall I like it very much, especially the web interface.

One thing I'm starting to notice in dev communities and the blogosphere is that the iPhone implementation of Safari is getting a ton of attention and web apps are being modified to accommodate it.  Of the many mobile platforms available, never have I seen so many people clamoring to tweak their existing apps to be perfect for such a small percentage of the market, until now.  I've a few guesses as to why (this isn't an exhaustive list by any means), but I'm interested for others' take as well.

It's almost just the internet.  Sure it's tiny, but the interactivity with such a small device makes using the web quick and easy (although some may argue typing is less than optimal.)

Apple is in good standing with many dev communities. At least to me, it's no secret that Apple is a target for those guys that like to make devices do more than intended, and they've provided some pretty good iPhone guidelines for web developers.   Plus many of us just like their gadgets. :-)

Developing for the iPhone does not necessarily mean custom apps. I think this is perhaps the most convincing argument for tweaking site for the iPhone.  As for other platforms, development meant one-off, separate applications designed explicitly for that platform OR developing apps that could work on MOST platforms but lack many features.  Apple is bridging the gap between "More platforms = less features" and "Less platforms = more features."  You can develop a site ONCE and add tweaks to optimize for the iPhone without having any effect for other users.  All of this isn't to say that custom mobile apps aren't useful or cool, but they may not be as necessary as they once were.

Before I wrap up, I will acknowledge that iPhone saturation still doesn't compete with Blackberry, which is one of the things that perplexes me the most.  There are no delusions of grandeur for this iPhone owner, however, I 'm still hopeful for at least consistency and standards among mobile platforms in the future, especially for devices for the casual user.


Comments

# rdknyvr said on July 30, 2007 at 12:38 PM:

Eric, the article I linked in Brett's last entry talks about what would happen if Google (with Apple?) gets into the broadband wireless spectrum bidding next year and moves the market to flat rate billing for data transfer. The guy from Blackberry was quoted in that article saying that they project they could sell 8-9 times more Blackberries if the data transfer costs were lower or flat. If something like this comes to pass, it will have an impact on moving the iPhone and similar or yet-to-be-launched devices from "cool" but small niches to mass market adoption. My opinion.

# Brett Folkert said on July 31, 2007 at 2:33 PM:

I had the opportunity to play with an iPhone over the weekend. I was pretty much blown away.  I couldn't get over how seamless watching videos was and transitioning to photos, phone calls or even mapquest.  If the phone wasn't included I'd still want it just for watching movies.  Its screen is so much better and more vibrant than the video iPod I currently own.  Even the size is better.

To put things in perspective, my iPod Shuffle gets more use than my video iPod due to both the size of the devices and the relatively small size of the video iPod's screen.

I'm excited about what else will come of this. Flat rate data plans for wireless would be a great start. I do not have, nor will I purchase, any wireless plan that requires me to pay by the minute for data. No thanks.  I thought those days died with modems 10 years ago and I don't feel like going back.

If Google starts buying wireless spectrum, I wonder how badly they will violate privacy laws, possibly by recording mobile conversations and wireless data streams.  They finished a macho dead last out of 23 Internet companies in a recent privacy review by Privacy International.  Not good.

# Erik N. Toth said on August 1, 2007 at 8:17 AM:

Well Brett, fortunately the data plan for iPhone IS flat rate.  No more data by the KB or minute for them.  However, on the privacy side, I don't think Google is your biggest worry.

# Brett Folkert said on August 1, 2007 at 11:31 AM:

I am not worried in the slightest over the domestic surveillance program, at least as it stands today.  As someone who has visited NSA personally and been to the actual intel center, I'm not worried. There's actually two separate programs which the EFF partisans in your link fail to differentiate:

1- records of overseas phone calls. This is only the number called, not the actual conversation. This has been going on for at least the last two Administrations.

2- recording of conversations between U.S. citizens and foreign nationals on the terrorist "watch list", the so called "warrantless wiretapping".

#2 is what EFF is concerned about.  The issue isn't what they were doing- the issue is that they weren't obtaining FISA warrants before conducting the surveillance. If you read the text of the FISA statute, the bar is actually quite low to receive a FISA warrant.  

So it's more of a procedural hurdle than a legal one.  When the govt. seeks a FISA warrant first, it will be granted in almost every case unless there is absolutely no evidence to support it. I note that FISA warrants do not even require the normal "probable cause" standard of criminal search or arrest warrants.

So, in short, yes, I still fear Google's invasion of privacy far more than the govt's. The U.S. government is constrained by the 4th, 5th and 6th Amendments as well as numerous statutes such as FISA, which give private citizens a remedy against the govt. when their rights are violated. Google is bound by no such restrictions and in fact collaborates with foreign govt's in suppressing free speech.

My $0.02. :)

# rdknyvr said on August 1, 2007 at 11:52 AM:

Brett, good points. By the way, you've probably seen in the news today that the FCC has released their new rules for the upcoming wireless auction. Will be interesting to see if Google et al. decide to participate in the bidding.

# John said on October 5, 2007 at 12:07 AM:
I would fully expect Google to purchase spectrum. The idea of conecting mobile customers directly into the ad platorm without carrier politics is pretty compelling. The spectrum and infrastructure will cost a few billion but Google is pretty flush. WRT web standards for mobile devices, or perhaps the other way around. Even though its a pain to develop for the different platforms, the technologies are still in their infancy. I'd hate to see a standard today that would preclude great technologies like Flash and Silverlight from migrating to the mobile platform in the future
# rdknyvr said on May 20, 2008 at 10:28 AM:

Eric, I just posted the following at Code Review, but I don't know who the author of the Silverlight strand is... hopefully one of you  guys can provide some feedback:

When will the Quixtar site be optimised for accessing via Safari web browser, and when might it be optimised for access via an iPhone, particularly the G3 compatible "iPhone 2.0" rumoured to be released at the Apple Developers' Conference in mid-June?

With appreciation,

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