Core77

heck, just being able to use the thing with out my reading glasses is WORTH EVERY PENNY.

Many people have already commented that from a hardware perspective, the iPhone is not a revolutionary device. Apple's innovation is in the software and the user interface.

Also, with respect to unlocking all of the hardware capabilities, e.g. VOIP calling via wifi, etc., this is not Apple's fault. It is common knowledge that most telco providers are the ones who inhibit the true functionality of phones.

As a user of Apple products, I agree that this first iPhone may not live up to all the hype generated in the press. Bored and lazy journalists and bloggers are the ones that have built the hype. Nevertheless, you would be crazy to think that the iPhone strategy is pure bogus. It's the first move in Apple's long-term strategy for the mobile handset industry and this "un-revluntionary" phone is enough to get major players like Samsung to consider it seriously.

The first generation iPods were pretty boring too, downright crappy in some ways. But the "revolutionary" feature in the iPod's design was it's software interface and integration with iTunes (and eventually the iTunes store and other software-driven products). Ultimately, the iPod defined the portable music player category and Apple's competitors are still stumbling around like fools trying to emulate the iPod's physical characteristics while completely ignoring it's software design.

Industrial designers can learn something from the iPod -- Software counts, sometimes more than hardware (though the iPod and iPhone do have some pretty sweet hardware).

It remains to be seen whether Apple can repeat their success with the iPhone, but they're already off to a better start than they were with the first iPod which didn't really take off until the second generation devices hit shelves. It all depends on the competitors now, it's their market to lose. Will they start putting more effort into software development or will they keep developing crap interfaces? And let's be honest about it, the vast majority of cellphones have crap for software interfaces.

If you compare the spec sheets, the iphone may not be very different from other offerings, but that does not make a product revolutionary. It's the sum of all the parts and how they work together to produce a new and innovative, optimal user experience on a holistic level; and considering the constraints and complexities mobile operators put on companies, Apple did this in a way that approaches a work of art on the scale of Michelangelo. The revolutionary aspect of the iphone is not about it's features or hardware (although a dual touch screen with full web browsing experience and visual voice mail seems pretty revolutionary to me), it's how easy the UI is and its attention to detail. The iphone offers a lot of functionality, and I'm amazed how Apple was able to make things so simple and intuitive. Every "nook and cranny" regarding the GUI has been thought through. There wasn't a time where I was lost or something didn't make sense. Can you remember the last time you picked up a smart phone (or a regular mobile phone for that matter) and experienced this?

I'm surprised the iphone has gotten so much criticism. I think a lot of it has to do with announcing the iphone 6 months in advance. This really elevated everyone's expectations and provided time for people to over analyze. If the iphone had come out the day it was announced, I think people would be whistling a different tune.

Check out this iBelt designed by MAYA Design Consulting

http://www.youtube.com/user/MAYAnMAYA

Seems you're complaining about either marketing or the business model. Seems last I saw, the phone business model involved paying for phone calls on the network you chose and paying for sms messages. That's not what the revolution is about, and you should know that.

It's what Robert Mohns at Macintouch rightly called "(the death of) proxy interaction":

"The now-traditional mouse is a proxy manipulator: you use the mouse, and the mouse manipulates symbolic objects. On iPhone, there is no proxy. You touch and manipulate the objects with your own hands. There hasn't been a user interface change this significant since 1984."

From a user design standpoint, it's an earthquake. No more tiny icons or flippy menus that require pinpoint stylus accuracy - everything becomes more intelligent, more graceful, more natural.

That's good design. If you can't afford it, that's another issue. I can't afford $3500 for an Eames recliner - I'm clearly not in it's business model - but I can recognize its qualities and innovation.

Look, its the first of its kind. This sets a precedent for every cell phone from here on out. If it is not "revolutionary" enough for you, get off your ass, and design one yourself! When apple came out with the first user-friendly computer, there was speculation as well, and look where we are now, a computer in everyone's home, just as planned. I think apple is a trend setter, and think that every other lame-ass cell company is gonna jump on the bandwagon, now that the road has been paved by apple.

People say this about all Apple products, and as with each one of those, the innovation is in tying together all of those technologies into an effective GUI. Every technology in the iPhone has been used before, but not a single one has been used effectively until now.

The revolution is in the interface. The hardware isn't too special. Organically, my PEBL feels and handles beautifully. But the motorola/t-mobile UI is simply horrendous.

Furthermore, as already noted, the limitations on hardware behavior lies firmly at the feet of the telco, not Apple (nor Motorola, Nokia, etc).

The iPhone user interface is the worst I've seen on a phone so far! Innovation? Revolution? What a load of rubbish! "No more tiny icons.."? Have you seen the QUERTY keyboard? at least on my 3 year old Motorola phone I can send an SMS using one hand! And can probably do so before you could type the first word on your iPhone! And I'm not particularly fast...
As a phone, I render the device completely useless! As a toy/gadget/timewaster, it probably has potential. What a waste of money!