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"I played with her new iPhone while we were in New York. I played with her new iPhone at home. I played with her new iPhone on the boat"

Did't you forget to play with your wife from time to time?

Did you play with it, with a goat?

Did you play with it, near the moat?

Just got an email at work this past week that had lots of IT pinhead gobbledygook in it, but the key message of the thing was "We know you all want smartphones. We'll consider it for some of you, IF you are executive level or higher. But if you want an iPhone, don't even think about it. They won't work with our stuff."

I work in a particularly boneheaded and backward industry, so it doesn't surprise me. But it just seems so sad. Poor Microsoft admin zombies can't handle the iPhone. (Boooo! Hissss! Bad, iPhone, BAD!)

It's reviews like this (and there's been quite a few) plus the hefty price reduction that's going to make the iPhone the most successful electronic device ever.

Windows smartphones, like HTC's Touch are a weak competitor for the iPhone. However, different markets have different needs. Where Windows Mobile-based phones shine is when you consider highly functional devices, like the HTC "Kaiser" (a.k.a. TyTN II - aka. AT&T;8925) for use in business IT environments.

For instance, at many companies where the workers are forced to use technologies like Goodlink for their jobs to get push email instead of an IMAP account, the HTC Kaiser is perfect, since it has the ability to run the Goodlink application, which the iPhone does not. Additionally, for those companies that use MS Exchange exclusively and will NOT open up IMAP or Outlook Web Access over the Internet, direct Exchange synchronization through Windows Mobile 6 Pro is the only way to get email that will work.

The built-in GPS on the Kaiser is a huge advantage for those of us that travel a lot and would prefer to not be limited to the small availability of rental car company GPS units.

Electronic Books are a huge convenience for not taking yet another thing on the plane (think constant travel - ergo the need to travel VERY LIGHT), and Mobipocket Reader and Microsoft Reader are both available for the HTC Kaiser / TyTN II, but not for the iPhone.

Finally, for those circumstances when you need a quick Internet connection (ala 3G), but do not own a PCMCIA card, tethering the Kaiser is a great solution.

I would personally LOVE to get the iPhone, as the iPhone looks better, has much, MUCH better media support (esp. for movies and TV shows with that gorgeous screen), and the most kick butt OS in existence. On the other hand, Windows OS's make me nauseous.

That said, however, until the iPhone is 3G, has native support for MS Exchange Environments (preferrably with a native Goodlink client), GPS integrated, and ideally a native electronic book client, it will remain unfortunately on the list after the HTC Kaiser.

I would not play with it, with a goat!
I would not play with it, near a moat!
I do not like non-Windows stuff!
I do not like it, sure enough!

BINGO.

Any phone can add a camera, voice mail, movie, what ever. That is hardware basically. And the same companies make hardware for everyone.

But how you use it. The UI. that is what makes the difference. And Microsoft STILL does not get it. Recently, Bill Gates commented on how he just does not understand why Steve Jobs does not realize that he and Apple cannot win.

IMHO Bill Gates is a very smart man but he is forever a Master Geek. If it does not have 100 buttons, it is not done. Ease of use is defined by the larger number of hours to master the software.

As the author pointed out, MS mobile works, its just a real pain to use. And in todays world, we do not want to be bothered to become master programers to make our PHONE work.

Nuff said. Microsoft, the worlds latest dinosaur.

Eric, I totally understand. But what I am hearing is that "I would love the iPhone if it had my current phone inside, was easier to use, and looked nicer."

But as other authors have pointed out, there are other ways to do the things we currently do now. The key is "Are we willing to make the change.?"

Once more companies make the IT change, I think you are going to see iPhones just taking over more and more companies.

JMHO. en

"That said, however, until the iPhone is 3G, has native support for MS Exchange Environments (preferrably with a native Goodlink client), GPS integrated, and ideally a native electronic book client, it will remain unfortunately on the list after the HTC Kaiser."

Some of your concerns will be addressed by Apple in the coming year. The iPhone is a brand new 1.0 version of a platform that I believe Apple sees as their future.

There may be technical (GPS/3G) issues for not including some functions related to battery drain or added bulk, or political (compatibility with proprietary MS formats) reasons for not having certain features now.

Technical problems likely can be solved in the future with better chip technology, political issues may not.

Your electronic book idea seems to be the most likely additional feature Apple could add in the future along with an improved note client.

The iPhone is a brilliant and attractive trojan horse. Demand from all levels of companies will for IT departments to evaluate their systems which will help pave the way for Apple computers and servers to enter the workplace. Brilliant move SJ!

would you play with it near the bay?
would you play with it in Redmond, C.A.?

Sorry folks, Mac addict at heart but the iPhone blows chunks functionality wise. I think Apple bit off more than they can chew in the cell market. It's just to entrenched with cheap crap.

Sure the iPhone is 1.0, but I got a feeling Apple is planning to push the iPod Touch with a external attachment for getting cell phone reception.

Of course storage space is a problem still, I need many GB of space for all my music, tv content and movies. Sure the iPod Classic 160 GB would be more than enough, but I like the iPod touch interface.

I don't like AT&T;lockin and possibly bricking the iPhone with a hack for other carriers.

Also did you know iTunes (not connected to the iTMS), Dashboard Advisory, AddressBook, iMovie, iDVD and now even FrontRow "needs" to contact Apple? Apple is sliding the DRM dick slowly up our collective asses, getting us to accept "it's normal" for our computers to be in constant contact with theirs to monitor our useage and habits. I'm almost sure on the Intel Mac's with EFI you eventually (or now) won't be able to detect the "phone home" and observations of the content on your hard drive because EFI doesn't work through the OS where you could have monitoring software like LittleSnitch installed.

Notice "Trusted Computing Group" at the UEFI web page?

http://www.uefi.org/specs/

Trusted Computing has proved controversial with opponents believing that trust in the underlying companies is not deserved and that the technology puts too much power and control into the hands of those who design systems and software. Many see trusted computing as an anti-competative practice. It is also seen by them as a possible enabler for future versions of mandatory access control, copy protection, and Digital Rights Management, all critized for undue censorship.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trusted_computing

PCtroll....

Very funny stuff

From the article:

Sure, I'm missing out on over-the-air synchronization of my contacts and calendar at the moment, but Apple has already licensed ActiveSync from Microsoft, so it's only a matter of time, before that will work on the iPhone.

Huh? When did this happen? Is this true? Does this mean complete Exchange compatibility soon?

"Bill Gates is a very smart man but he is forever a Master Geek. If it does not have 100 buttons, it is not done."

That must annoy the hell out of Melinda when they're in bed.

Welcome Falk! You have made an informed choice and the truth has set you free! The ball and chain of Microsoft is no more for you have found the light at the end of the tunnel.

@jackspratt


Redmond is in Washington, not California.. Just aan FYI, not an ego bruiser

Phoning home and DRM aren't exactly the same thing. Those who know Apple's philosophy (and specifically Steve Jobs's) will know that they will encourage every effort to reduce or elliminate DRM. Practically none of their own applications (with the exception of Logic, which was actually an acquisition) has DRM-controlled activation/registration process. Two major software products are free of any copy protection (not even a serial number): the $129 Mac OS X (with th $200 Family Pack), and $99 iLife 08. I know, these are bundled with new Macs; us with the older ones, however, who want to buy them, don't need to bother with registration of any kind.

Pretty much all apps out there now phone home. This has become standard practice, due to the assumption that vast majority of people have always-on internet. And vast majority of these apps that phone home just poll their update server for newer versions. We can be as paranoid as we possibly want, but for now, there isn't anything seriously sinister going on here, and of all companies Apple is the one with the least sinister practices (WGA anyone?).

To go back on the topic, it is clear that iPhone is a runaway success beyond anybody's wildest expectations. To say less than that would mean to be untruthful and seriously biased against the device or the company that makes it. Enterprises have been struggling to shoehorn it into their networks, despite the intended audience not including enterprise.

If anyone didn't quite get it yet, Apple was trying to make a vastly superior CONSUMER device. Obviously, they succeeded. It seems, though that the feature set of this device made many people mistake it for an enterprise device (also known as the smartphone). This is great for Apple. Sooner or later, some more features that previously belonged only to the smartphone devices will find their way onto the iPhone. And that will be good for everyone.

"Redmond is in Washington, not California"

True.

But Microsoft's main R & D facility is a 13 1/2 hour drive due south just west of San Jose.

Tergernev wrote "We'll consider it for some of you, IF you are executive level or higher. But if you want an iPhone, don't even think about it. They won't work with our stuff.""

This Comany doesn't get it. Since when to the IT staff tell the exec's what they can and can't do? If this were my comapny, these bozo's would be out on the street very quickly.

Its the law of the jungle at work, adapt or be eliminated.

I stand corrected (re: DRM and activation/registration of software): Apple's Logic no longer requires a hardware dongle. It now installs only with a serial number. And is cheaper. Apple is doing what Google is preaching (Don't be evil) in their consistent efforts to elliminate DRM. If you look at the traffic that Apple's apps generate when they phone home, they transmit practically nothing specific; they just ask for updates.

And if your Mac is a disconnected island, everything still works (contrary to what some may have you believe).

No need yet for paranoia here.

re: Just got an email at work this past week that had lots of IT pinhead gobbledygook in it, but the key message of the thing was "We know you all want smartphones. We'll consider it for some of you, IF you are executive level or higher. But if you want an iPhone, don't even think about it. They won't work with our stuff."

I work in a particularly boneheaded and backward industry, so it doesn't surprise me. But it just seems so sad. Poor Microsoft admin zombies can't handle the iPhone. (Boooo! Hissss! Bad, iPhone, BAD!)

----

I work for myself as a design consultant so I AM my IT department, and the head of my IT department says everyone must have an iphone on European launch!

The head of my IT department also insists on using Apple Macs and everything Apple.

God I love IT departments!

And if your Mac is a disconnected island, everything still works

Sure Frontrow works disconnected from the internet, eventually after a delay, then the iTunes icon is bouncing in the dock after you quit frontrow.

"itunes couldn't connect to the server..."

Don't beleive me? Install Little Snitch. It's free for a time.

Hey Petey,
Could your IT department come and be the IT department for my company? They sound GREAT!

Honestly, the senior management teams of many small and mid-sized companies are well and truly terrified of their IT people. Especially if the senior management is near to retirement age.

This exact same thing happened at my work. About ten or so Windows software engineers here all had WM5 "smart"phones and have now all switched over to the iPhone and can't be happier. Some of them are even thinking about purchasing their first Mac now too.

I owned a WM5 phone as well, and before that SEs, Motorola and Nokia. I can honestly say the WM5 phone was the worst phone I had ever owned. Nothing but problems with it, UI design like it was from the mid-90's, terrible media player (windows media), etc. The only bright note was the 3rd party Missing Sync application I used on the Mac. Now that was a really nice app, expecially compared to MS's ActiveSync.

The tide is rapidly turning.

I read this article and had the same question as Too Hot!
Did Apple actually license ActiveSync from Microsoft?
I read a bunch of rumors prior to the iPhone launch in June that Apple was going to do that, but there never was a story confirming it.

iPhone must have 'native support for MS Exchange Environments'.

Blackberry does not have 'native support for MS Exchange Environments'

Blackberry is used everywhere.

Doesn't that make you look quite stupid?

What a dumb article. UI design over real world functionality? You can't even use Exchange for OTA synching of mail, contact or calendars. Sorry but this article is just fluff and more fluff. UI over usability. LOL Now that's funny.

1. iPhone and iPod touch are set to become the most prevalent computers in history. No doubt about it.

2. Give it three years and OSX will be the most prevalent OS on planet earth.

Eat your heart out Bill.

re: Hey Petey,
Could your IT department come and be the IT department for my company? They sound GREAT!

Honestly, the senior management teams of many small and mid-sized companies are well and truly terrified of their IT people. Especially if the senior management is near to retirement age.

---

Before I setup on my own I worked for thr 4th largest Oil company in the world and their IT department was exactly the same regarding anything Apple.

It took us 6years of meetings, red tape and sweet talking the IT bosses to get an Apple Xserve in the company for the design studio I was managing.

The studio got equipped with macs too, but even though we won a battle the IT guys never really accepted the macs.

They would not support them because they were not 'the standard company build Dells'. Ironically, in the time I was there the design studio never needed the IT guys anyway as the Macs were rock solid and never crashed.

Maybe thats exactly it, the IT guys are shit scared about macs because they know their jobs are on the line if macs take over.

The company i worked for had a whole floor of IT guys supporting windows XP. If teh company adopted macs throughout the business they would have had 95% of those guys redundant.

Does not use Microsoft's proprietary software and monopoly enforced standards.

Neither do Macs, iPhones, iPods, Linux boxes or Blackberry's.

What's your point troll?

"Maybe thats exactly it, the IT guys are shit scared about macs because they know their jobs are on the line if macs take over."


Bingo.

Imagine what would happen to tax lawyers and advisors if income taxes were abolished and the IRS was shut down. Some industries depend on overly complicated and faulty processes for their survival.

"Eat your heart out Bill."

He can't. Ironically, the poison would kill him.

"Filemaker Pro 9 demo installed FlexNet which bypasses Little Snitch to report whatever about the computer it is installed on. Adobe also uses this product."

http://forums.obdev.at/viewtopic.php?t=577

"Does not use Microsoft's proprietary software and monopoly enforced standards.

Neither do Macs, iPhones, iPods, Linux boxes or Blackberry's.

What's your point troll?"

Why are you people so defensive and quickly call me a troll when all I'm trying to do is break you out of the RDF syndrome. How can anyone with their right mind pick iPhone over any other Winmobile or Palm based Smartphone, when you can't do real work with the iPhone. You can't even copy or paste, search, save files, group SMS... so much yet RDF keeps you all glassy eyed and head over heels to whatever Jobs says. Open your eyes.

Bad News!

My son made me jealous and bought an iPhone. He loved it (for a few days).

But last week I got a call from a very angry young man telling me that it was the biggest POS he's ever owned. He asked if I could take it back to AT&T;for a refund. (He's a Marine in the middle of the California desert where AT&T;is the only provider, so he felt justified in buying the iPhone. "If I have to use AT&T;, I might as well have the best phone.")

The problems started when the phone locked him out and required a call to Apple for a code to unlock it. They had no explanation of the problem, but indicated that he wasn't the first to call about it.

Next, it froze on him with a full battery and he had to wait for the battery to die before it would unfreeze.

His transmission and reception are horrible unless he stands outside in one certain location on base.

I sent him to Apple's iPhone troubleshooting website in hopes that he can find some solutions.

As for me, I guess I'll wait for the next version before I buy my own. Be wary of first-gen technology.

re: Why are you people so defensive and quickly call me a troll when all I'm trying to do is break you out of the RDF syndrome. How can anyone with their right mind pick iPhone over any other Winmobile or Palm based Smartphone, when you can't do real work with the iPhone. You can't even copy or paste, search, save files, group SMS... so much yet RDF keeps you all glassy eyed and head over heels to whatever Jobs says. Open your eyes.

----

I THINK YOU SHOULD OPEN YOUR EYES.

You gotta be crazy If you are editing documents on a mobile phones tiny screen!

Especially as there in no zoom in feature on 99% of mobile phones - excepot the iphone of course!

I bet you are as blind as a bat.

A mobile phone isnt called a 'mobile phone' for nothing you know! - it's a PHONE NOT A BLOODY LAPTOP.

@Petey

Did I say anything about editing documents? Thats the problem with RDF overloaded Apple Fanboys. You just make up stuff on your replies. Zoom? Treos can do that easily on just about every app. I didn't call it a laptop. You did, good example of my Fanboy analysis is your post. iPhone is a dumb Smartphone. I didn't say laptop, please remember that.

"Thats the problem with RDF overloaded Apple Fanboys."

Boardbitch, you're such a sweet talker. The more insulting you get, the more convinced I am that you're right.

The iPhone is a smart dumb smartphone that even dumb smart dumbasses can operate with one finger on the screen and the other in their nose! But boardbitches can't even do that, because they are so dumb they are actually legally dead. What CAN they do?
Monkeydance.

"You can't even copy or paste, search, save files"

later....

"Did I say anything about editing documents?"

tell the truth, are you REALLY this stupid?

Why do you need to put all your music and all your videos onto your ipod? If you are that crazy for your music and videos you can not possibly watch or listen to them all. There is no need for a 160Gb ipod in a touch. Just pick and choose. I do think more then 16Gb is needed but it will come around. I just dont understand why people think every song and video they own should be on their ipod. Pick a few movies and put them on and then next time you hook up your ipod change our your movies. I still have a 1st gen nano and i can not fit all the songs i own. But alot of them i hardly listen to. So i switch out all the time. I have some songs i love alot and they always stay on and others i rotate on to the nano every few days.

The ipod touch is going to turn into a cool touch screen PDA. Who knows where it might go.

gotta love Originalrecipes, he's the biggest dick on MDN!

I think you're even more stupid than ZuneTang, and I thought he would be impossible to beat!

iPhone is a dumb smartphone, that is a classic!

MW: sales. hehe

"I just dont understand why people think every song and video they own should be on their ipod"

Because we've got better things to do with our lives than spend our time picking and choosing which subset to load this week.