Thursday, June 07, 2007

Thoughts on the iPhone, prior to launch.

In less than a month, Apple’s much-anticipated iPhone will be made available to the public. Many, including myself, have been clamoring over this device since it was announced in January. After reading many articles and listening to many podcasts discussing this device, I am wondering what effect it will have on not only the mobile phone market, but the technology market as a whole. It remains to be seen how well the multi-touch interface will work and how the lack of tactile feedback will affect the phone’s functionality, but I remain optimistic as to what it may do.

  * It could force a change, or at least open up a new avenue of thinking about interface design.
  * It should force other cell phone manufacturers, as well as other technology-makers to re-think their menu systems, and how people navigate through them.
  * Should third-party applications be written for it, it could be a powerful, portable, yet manageable tool for personal and business use.
  * It could bomb.

No matter what it does, I can’t wait to get my hands on one and try it out for myself. Hopefully it’s critics are silenced…until they start talking on their own iPhones.