Earth to Apple, come in iPhone...

At the Office 2.0 event this past fall in San Francisco, I had the opportunity to speak. As a result I was given an iPhone. It has the makings of being a truly great device, and for older eyes a really marvelous device!

But there are three glaring problems with the iPhone:

a. No search in contacts or E-Mail!

b. No syncing with Exchange/Outlook!

c. Battery life (which is dismal!)

The first two are easily or should be easily solved via software. The 3^rd is solved via having chargers everywhere, or maybe just not using the device.

But do not fear, Apple appears to be on the case. A friend just sent me a link that suggests Apple is hiring.

So..help is on the way, e.g. maybe I will be able to sync with Exchange sooner rather than later.

And let me posit one more thought! Why Apple doesn’t ship every new Mac with a trial version of Windows boggles my mind. One that ran in a native partition without using something like Parrallels or VM Fusion. I have got to believe that anyone shopping for a new computer would consider buying a Mac if it ran both operating systems right out of the box. Apple would make more money, Microsoft would sell probably more copies of Windows, and developers like us would have more opportunities with smart people who wanted to get things done using best of breed applications.

I wonder if there is any serious doubt that this is what the customer wants?

Earth to Steve, get with the program! Maybe sell what the customers want rather than just what you want. But maybe you would prefer not to sell more hardware. Who knows? (…now I stand back to see if I get flamed by the Mac faithful!)

Comments

[Elena-Beth Kaye]

You can search by going into Maps! Works right now. Also, my battery life is very good, but I usually keep Wireless off. Edge doesn't use up the battery very much.

[Brian]

iPhone supports real email standards, not Microsoft monopoly tactics such as OutBreak/Exchange. This is not an mistake on Apple's part.

What's next, do you expect Coke to start providing coupons for free Pepsi? You have GOT to be kidding. Microsoft has done nothing but shady, underhanded deals (especially to Mac users) for eons. They have it coming in spades. And again, it's NOT a standard for email, it's a Microsoft monopoly product.

Here's a question for you? Why doesn't Microsoft get off it's lazy bum and write a real Mac client for Outlook? I guess in your little world, that wouldn't make any sense.

Also, why would Apple want to provide a demo for Windows? No one really needs it, after all. Mac OS does far more, far better, and Windows only copied part of Mac OS and did a really bad job of that.

Smart people who want to run best of breed apps have always bought Macs. People who could care less and just buy what the IT guy says get Windows. And apparently, other people ask them to speak at conferences where they get free iPhones, then bitch about that on their pathetic blogs.

[fog city dave]

You're about the only person in the world that I've ever had complain about the iPhone's exemplary battery life. Sounds like you might have a defective battery, you should drop by an Apple Store and have them take a look at it.

You're also the only person I've heard in the last few years refer to Windows apps as "best of breed"... that made me laugh. Thanks for amusing me :-)

[rd]

What a troll. you call that innovation to bundle trial version of Windows. Why don't you ask Steve Jobs to license OS X to Dell.
you will probably call that innovation too. I am surprised you didn't bitch about iPhone being tied to ATT.

If the customer doesn't want to learn and is comfortable with Windows. Steve Jobs doesn't want them. It is simple as that.

As far as your crack about selling more computers. Apple is growing
faster than any other computer manufactures. It is valued higher then IBM.

Please tell us what you consider best of breed software to show every one that you don't have a clue on that either.

[Jeff]

1) Sorry, but go back and check again. You don't need to search through contacts, because of the slider on the right hand side of the screen that helps you jump to a specific letter. Further, if you're typing an address in email, it searches for you. Not sure why else you would need a search function, except you're trying to use the iPhone like your other cell phone. Simple answer: Don't do that. Since I've started using an iPhone, it's quite apparent that the iPhone way is a better way in most cases.

2) I don't have this issue, but I know of some that have synced their iPhone with Outlook/Exchange. It's doable, but I think it requires help from the IT side of things.

3) Dismal? Compared to what? If you're comparing it to "free" cell phones, then yeah, it is. It also depends on what all you do on it throughout the day. But really, the battery life is quite good for all the phone does and compares quite well with other phones of the same type (Treos, Windows Mobile, high end Symbians, etc.). Make sure you're comparing apples to apples!!

And why on earth would Apple want to include a trial version of Windows?? As if MS would allow this! And most users I've encountered do like the fact that they can install windows either in Parallels/FusionWare or Bootcamp, but the truth is most rarely end up using it except for games. From an Apple standpoint, it would not be a good idea to do this at all.

I think you need to get with the program!!

[Pete Thomas]

I have heard that this company has a simple solution to sync with exchange. http://www.synchronica.com/

[JohnyW]

Good morning: in reference to, the rather heated debate over the pro's & con's of the Iphon. I say this "Those are the only complaints that you can come up with?" Damn! if decision was on the shortcomings of my not so smart Palm 700wx there would be a roit.