Yorch Place

Today Apple release a new iPhone, same looks but a few improvements in hardware and software.

The new version came with 3.2MP the resolution that was the best in 2005 with Sony Ericsson k790 and Nokia N73-N93 the SE the first with xenon flash and the Nokia with optical zoom (N93).

Also the new iPhone now can record video at 640x480 30fps, something the Nokia N93 was a first, the video record of smaller resolutions in mobile phones was a reality back in 2003.

So the iPhone is closer to what the N93, released in 2005, was, but with touch screen, something they did improve, the only thing actually.

Still missing...

-Turn by turn gps software (in the box and not $99 usd I preffer the montlhy fee like in Nokia Maps, because there are month when I don't use the GPS)
-A good camera, at least 5mp
-Multitasking, like all symbian, windows mobile phones can do.
-Flash support in the browser, the apple lovers claim the iPhone has the best browser, how is that if it can't handle flash.
-Multiple browser windows open, or tabs. I think that is part of multitasking.
-To do list or tasks or checklists.
-Office files viewer (at least) editor will be great.
-Java support
-No restrictions in the apps, I want to install all kind of stuff no restricted nor chose by apple, and no I don't want to jailbreak.

With all that, the iPhone will be closer to what a real last gen mobile is. Also a change in design can't hurt. It looks good but is so 2006, you can create a new great looking mobile, like the changes you do with the nano and the shuffle iPods.

So I'm staying with all the other alternatives, with better pricing, apps (90% of iPhone apps are silly games) and no restrictions.

But if you want an iPhone in Mexico are free with a $46 usd plan that has 200 minutes and unlimited data in a two year contract. Or better go with the Nokia 5800 same deal plus one year of free music from the nokia music store.

Finally Telcel (America Móvil) put the iPhone on sale without a contract, on Sears and Sanborns (both stores propety of Grupo Carso which is also owner of America Móvil)

The price... well thinking of not having a 2 year contract in which you will be paying $70.00 usd per month plus extra charges (more minutes used or sms or data), well as I was saying the price is as follows:

- 16gb iPhone: $1,300.50 usd
- 8gb iPhone: $1,134.12 usd

Not being tied to a contract... priceless

By the way in the post paid plan you can have unlimited data per moth, you have to pay $53 usd to have that, which means, having that credit in your account and sending an SMS (don't remember the number) to activate the data.

I still think the iPhone is overpriced, overvalued, and not worth that. The only innovation it has is the screen, since "full browser" exists since Opera Mobile / Mini and Nokia Browser (actually based in webkit just like safari).

The Samsung Omnia 16gb costs $840.00 usd (in Mexico), and it does so much more than the iPhone and not tied to Apple restrictions in software (just go to handango.com or pocketgear.com to see), also there is the options of N81 and N95 with 8gb each from Nokia, far cheaper, and more powerful than the iPhone, and more software.

I'm keeping my Sony Ericsson W960i (8gb, 3.2mp camera, touch screen, office suite, 3G, Wifi, unlocked, untied, real bluetooth not crap like the iPhone) which by the way now costs $350.00 usd (in Mexico)

Sears Mexico Store
Mercado Libre (Mexican eBay)

For the first time Apple is going to release the new iPhone in Mexico at the same time in Mexico and in the USA, July 11th, this is good, it appears that all the sales of unlocked iPhones south the border made Stevie look over here.



Just like with the original iPod, tons of iPods where sold in Mexico from unofficial importers without warranty and at a double price.

I like the touchscreen phones, and like the large amount of memory, but hated the iPhone (the original), it lacked a lot of stuff, the new one have some improvements, I'm a tech lover, mainly mobile phones, and since I'm not an Apple fan boy I can tell you my thoughts without worship to Apple and Steve Jobs.

My iPhone thoughts:

- 3G it was time, for a 2007 phone at $600.00 usd (the first price of the iPhone) only having EDGE was so 2005
- 3rd party software support, it was about time, why bother to have a "MAC OS" phone if you are not going to have different software, the already included software can be found in every other phone in the world, and infact other phones have more software included. But I hate the Big brother behavior of Apple, funny since they mocked that in 1984 ad, but they are the biggest big brother in the industry, trying to control everything with only aproved apps being able to be installed.
-Mail with Exchange, good improvement, something even my old simple Sony Ericsson W580 that cost me $40.00 usd had.
-Camera SUCKS!! why such an expensive phone with such a lousy camera, low MP, no flash of any kind, no zoom (optic) and no autofocus, and the biggest mistake WHERE IS THE VIDEO RECORDING!!!
-SMS who doesn't have it
-MMS Apple's iPhone doesn't have it, while every other phone in the range has it, it is a shame, I use it a lot, for fun, for work, for facebook and more.
-MP3 ringtones... it is not clear if this will work now, if you are going to be able to use YOUR music as a ringtone, but in the previous it wasn't possible, which sucks.
-JAVA support, it was about time, safari may be great but I prefer Opera Mini, and there are a lot of good Java apps and games, and almost every phone in the known universe had java, and until today only the überexpensive iPhone didn't.
-No Office file viewer or editor, which sucks, why having a "portable computer" like that, with business mail capabilities with no office files support, for work I receive a ton of office files in my mails, also a PDF viewer is needed.

As with the previous one, nothing new to offer, nothing at all, it is still uncomplete, great interface I admit, but still a lot to do.

I'm keeping my phone, Sony Ericsson W960, touch screen, 8gb, office support, Wifi, 3G, extra apps, great games, 3.2Mp camera, and QVGA 30fps video recording. among other things.

Good work, but Steve, you need to do a lo more, please stop being such a control freak and let the innovators at Apple explode with amazing stuff for the iPhone, because I know you can, but you (steve) don't let them do it.

For those eager to get an iPhone thinking is the ultimate in technology, it isn't, but you can get it in Mexico with Telcel (America Móvil) which is great since they had the biggest coverage.

UPDATE: Acording to Apple's CEO Steve Jobs the cost of the iPhone in the launching countries (22, one of them Mexico) will be $199.00 usd which is like $2200.00 pesos with a two year contract with Telcel.

I should patent my comment!

But I like to share... in the future, not to far actually, the computers are going to be mobile phones, no more laptops, nor desktops, there is going to be stations, where you "park" your mobile, the station charge the mobile, and shows the content on a bigger screen or even on a hologram!, and the keyboard and mouse will be instantly connected and working, you no longer need to sync to take your data, since you take your computer with you, some phones are already doing something similar, but still depends of the big PC (Laptop or Desktop).

Maybe the mobile itself will project the information using holograms and a virtual keyboard and mouse will be projected too!

This comments are because of the announcement of the Apple new PDA-Phone iPhone that follows the trend of microsoft, palm and symbian, sorry for mac lovers but belive me, they didn't made a thech revolution with iPhone... since there are tons of smartphones already, and Nokia has one with a harddrive too. But it's good to know the trend.

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