iPhone, Apple TV Headline MacWorld Keynote

Steve Jobs kept his audience rapt at the MacWorld keynote today. He rehashed the announcement of the iTV, now called Apple TV, and announced the iPhone, a revolutionary phone/ipod/wrist-computer that had MacWorld attendees sitting on the edge of their seats. Retailing for $499 (4 gig)/$599 (8 gig), it has to be seen to be believed. It uses a touch screen with a new form of input control, runs OSX and many standard applications, and connects to the internet via WiFi. It has a camera, functions as a movie player, a music player, and can send emails and photos in the middle of a phone call. From the Engadget coverage: "'[OSX] let us create desktop class applications and networking, not the crippled stuff you find on most phones, these are real desktop applications.' He's quoting Alan Kay - 'People who are really serious about software should make their own hardware.' 'So we're bringing breakthrough software to a mobile device for the first time.'" Seriously, go check this out. They're going to print money with this thing.

Leopard?

[davidoff404 (764733)]

The iPhone does indeed look cool, but I was kind of hoping to find out some new stuff about Leopard. Is it just me, or were there no announcements about the new version of OS X at all?

Re:Leopard?

[jsight (8987)]

That's not the reason. Vista has already been released to manufacturing, and there certainly would not be any significant changes between now and consumer availability (real soon now).

Re:Leopard and June 1

[Picass0 (147474)]

You might also notice the iphone doesn't ship until June. Sounds like the iPhone will run Leopard.

Wireless, but still less space than a Nomad

[allanc (25681)]

Oh man, I was totally with them up until the prices. I was preparing to pull out my credit card and spend an extra few months in debt. But... $500 for a 4gig and $600 for an 8gig? My MP3 collection is 13gigs. I'd have to shell out $500 and I'd *still* have to carry around my iPod. Oh, and also, I'd probably also have to switch from T-Mobile to Cingular.

I'll wait for the next iteration.

Re:Wireless, but still less space than a Nomad

[codeshack (753630)]

Yeah, but soon it'll be the iPhone shuffle -- just hit a button and it calls one of your friends at random!

"Never seen a presentation like this before"

[zookie (136959)]

Even for those who cover all the MacWorld talks, this was BIG:

"People are rapt, everyone is actually literally leaning forward and on the edge of their seat. We've never seen a presentation like this before."

What you have really been waiting for.

[cloudkiller (877302)]

Just announced, Microsoft confirms the Plume. It's a phone that's 3 ½ inches thick, runs the full- blown windows vista, plays the new we-promise-it-will-always-play DRM'd music and has 9600 baud dial up modem, and has the ability to take and print pictures with optional ink and paper tray attachment. Welcome to the social, now where is everyone.

I've been waiting for that all day.....

Alternate Name

[Lev13than (581686)]

"NewtonberrySP"

Covet, covet

[plover (150551)]

OK, where do I have to go to stand in line?

WITH Contract

[MindStalker (22827)]

Thats $599 WITH a 2 year Cingular contract.

ARG thats insane. Probably $899 by itself if even available.

The name

[moofdaddy (570503)]

CNBC is reporting that apple was in negotiations with CISCO over the name into last night. They're supposed to sign all the paper work today, but its still unclear who will own it and how much apple will pay.

CNET confirms it

[WidescreenFreak (830043)]

I didn't see anything on CNBC's web site, but CNET says that heard it directly from Cisco [com.com].

10:32--Cisco calls CNET News.com reporter with a statement about Apple's use of the term "iPhone" for its new product. "Given Apple's numerous requests for permission to use Cisco's iPhone trademark over the past several years and our extensive discussions with them recently, it is our belief that with their announcement today, Apple intends to agree to the final document and public statements that were distributed to them last night and that address a few remaining items we expect to receive a signed agreement today."

Insane hardware -- a few thoughts/concerns

[SilentChris (452960)]

I'm not really an Apple geek but that's some really insane hardware for the form factor. The price is hefty, but I'm impressed they packed in what they could to something that slim. It's going to be a hacker's wet dream.

A few small thoughts:

1.) No 3G. Wi-fi, Bluetooth, etc. are nice though.
2.) They push it as an internet device, with messaging/email/etc. but lack of a physical keyboard? I don't know. I mean, I know and you know we'll love it regardless, but will this really sway the Blackberry junkies?
3.) What is this thing really running? "OS X"? FreeBSD -- they mean that? I'd be curious also what the chips are (no way in hell is PortalPlayer powering graphics like this).

Very cool device. Should be impossible to find, but I'll get one anyway. :)

Not LAME!

[Prien715 (251944)]

Finally it has wireless and more space than a nomad! Truly unlame;)

(For those of you not in on the joke [slashdot.org])

Meanwhile, in Redmond

[bonch (38532)]

Ballmer is all out of chairs.

Name Change

[jivemonkey (776115)]

Not mentioned in the article Apple Computer, inc. has changed it's name to Apple, inc. Just a tidbit I thought I would mention.

An interesting time for Mac developers

[Chief Typist (110285)]

Since this new device runs OSX, it's a great time for those of us with Mac development experience. A whole new (and huge) market for our products.

Likewise, there's a new incentive for Windows-only applications to get ported to OSX so they can run on the iPhone.

Personally, I think that the term "revolutionary" gets used way too much. But in the case of the iPhone, it seems appropriate.

-ch

Just one more thing... it's an ebook reader.

[Catbeller (118204)]

My oldest dream. A real ebook reader.

Even if we get a simple text file display app, the ebook is finally here.

Beatles

[Ducon Lajoie (30475)]

Did anyone notice all the Beatles songs displayed during the keynote? That, and the name change to Apple inc., suggest to me that they came to an agreement with Apple records on the long-standing name and distribution issues.

Compare and contrast

[Klaruz (734)]

Oct 23, 2001: "No wireless. Less space than a nomad. Lame." [slashdot.org]

Jan 9, 2007: "Seriously, go check this out. They're going to print money with this thing." [slashdot.org]

Re:Price to high

[vought (160908)]

So like you will $60 + month $40 for data $20 + for voice.

And those prices will be exactly the same in June because you can see the future.

Seriously - they'll be able to sell data in volume now. Price will drop or be bundled with voice.

This device makes data compelling for everyone else - not just Johnny Businessman. It is what the phone companies built the data networks for in the first place.

Re:Price to high

[Danathar (267989)]

Who says you have to subscribe and use the phone function? How long do you think before it has skype running on it?

Re:Battery life?

[sRev (846312)]

Pretty sure he said 5 hours talk time and 16 hours of "just music" playback.

Re:Ownd

[vought (160908)]

Dear Motorola:

Thanks for taking so long with the 620. And for dragging your feet with the 603 . Oh - and the higher frequency G4s? Thanks for taking so long with that.

Hope your margins are more than RAZR thin!

Signed,

Apple, Inc.

Also out: Airport Extreme 802.11n

[vought (160908)]

Not anounced in the keynote, but Apple is shipping a mini/tv form-factor 802.11n hub. Appletv will have 802.11n.