But then again, let's not forget how apple has made the iPhone so user friendly. As an end-user who don't know anything about the iPhone, you just know that if you want to purchase music, run the iPod within the iPhone. Same with apps -- just run the App Store app and you get to download free and commercial apps easily.
[...]
Now, you have the GPS built in running on top of the Google Map app, which also seamlessly integrate with the contacts app.
[...]
I guess what we can see is how important integration is, and how end-user focused Apple really is. You'll be amazed how people don't mind paying for a premium as long as you get what you pay for.
Probably one of the smartest things ever said in those basicly repetitive iPhone vs. NIT threads.
What amazes me about Nokia is that they never ever manage to get the overall user experience right. I'm not talking about user interfaces and exe candy. I'm talking about: how does the first time user find some new themes to play around with? Music? Videos? Software? Just to try, just to have an idea of what the device could do.
Nokia manages to completely ignore this, both with their phones and with their tablets. There's not one single site in this frustrating online-maze they set up where you could just go and download all this for the one device you have.
I really think Apple is on the wrong track and I'd never buy anything from them for various reasons, but they got this one thing right. They managed to establish a one stop shop for whatever you could want to have on your device. And my estimation is that this one fact makes up for 80% of their current success. It can't be all that difficult to at least put up a website? Hello? Anybody home in Finnland?
Yes, US customers are treated like dirt by their carriers.
Yes, US carriers have always been "pay as you go", per bit data proponents.
Yes, US customers will pay a premium for software that works...
***
Add this all up and it is no wonder US carriers are falling all over themselves to heavily subsidize the new iPhone... They will make their money back and then some. Particularly as US customers get "hooked" on mobile data consumed on their terms.
After that, it doesn't matter who makes the phone.
***
I live in a two phone household. The IT works well for me as I use a company supplied BT phone on a specific (not ATT) network. I enjoy acess to programs and services that my co-workers can only dream of.
My wife's contract however, is up on her private line so I suspect we will soon hear the pitter patter of iPhone footsteps in the YoDude household.
I also suspect that like when any new born is introduced to a household, monthly expenses will rise dramatically in ways previously unimagined.
Probably one of the smartest things ever said in those basicly repetitive iPhone vs. NIT threads.
What amazes me about Nokia is that they never ever manage to get the overall user experience right. I'm not talking about user interfaces and exe candy. I'm talking about: how does the first time user find some new themes to play around with? Music? Videos? Software? Just to try, just to have an idea of what the device could do.
per default there is a large tabletter button on the "desktop". and it opens a browser page that holds a lot of stuff the user can try out...
but yes, apples "whole widget" strategy makes it simpler for the end user. but for any geek, its just another vertical silo...
apple is mother, apple is father, apple knows whats best for you...
Though, I do wonder if it's usable with AT&T's GoPhone plans. Get the $1/day plan, and just pay $20 every 30 days for unlimited data ... and nothing else.
Update 2: David alerts us to this bit from Dow Jones' report: "AT&T and Apple are working on a form of penalty for users who don't activate their iPhone within 30 days of purchase." Whoa. Guess that'll cut down on unlockers, eh?