iHype?

[rs76]

What does everyone think caused all the attention for the iPhone? It certainly is unusual for a cell phone. Apple initially did hype the product but then the media and tech crowd seemed to take over and Apple really didn't need (or want?) to push the product.

Was it the fact that it came from the maker of the very popular iPod? Was there an expectation that it would be a truly different cell phone? Are people bored with the plain Jane cell phones? A snow balling media frenzy? Slow news cycle during the Summer?

Don't get me wrong. I think it deserved a lot of attention. I'm just amazed that the release was like a major music group coming out of retirement. If the Woz was waiting in line there had to be something special going on.

 

[St. Germain]

iHype? When does it go on sale? I want one!

 

[marksman]

I think it came from the anticipation that after some 25+ years of cell phones, someone might finally be able to make one with an interface that was not the worst thing on earth.

 

[Blue Velvet]

Because of its interface and styling, bringing all those functions together, and the fact that there's nothing like it out there?

Comparing specs is like comparing two paintings based on the pigments the painters have used.

It also shows that people are fed-up with their other phones. Maybe some of the hype is about relief that someone has produced something usable, because most of the functions on my Sony-Ericsson go unused because of its awkward interface.

Honestly, most phones work like they've been designed by geeks and are meant for engineers, not ordinary people. Imagine what Apple could do for universal remote controls and setting video-recorders.

This is what many people don't understand. Jack Schofield on the BBC's site called the iMac 'a PC in a rah-rah skirt' which betrays an uttterly laughable ignorance about the importance of design and function, seamlessly intermeshed.

 

[aricher]

This weekend was very strange on the hype factor - I'm sure it will die down soon. As soon as I bought the iPhone I got into the car and NPR was talking about the iPhone, talk radio as well. Got home and "The Soup" was re-running their iPhone parody spot. The local news had a story on it and later even the weatherman was talking about the weather widget. It goes on and on, Daily Show, Colbert Report, etc. iPhone word of mouth saturation - Steve should be proud.

I spent the whole weekend fending off people wanting to play with it. I'm sure I personally contributed to the sale of at least 8 phones.

 

[SpaceJello]

Because it is the BEST PHONE out there

I think the iphone deserves all the hype. It is the most amazing phone (minus some glitches and stuff they should improve) but seriously, I have had many phones with cameras, video etc but rarely use any of them cause it takes forever to use them. Apple makes thinks simple. That's the point. idon't want to read a billion pages before I can get some things working

 

[Rojo]

There seems to be a LOT of people who don't understand the iHype. (As I watched the craziness unfold at the 5th Ave. store in NYC on Friday, I kept hearing plenty of "what's the big deal?" remarks from passerbys).

Well *I* don't understand people who don't understand the hype!!

I totally expected it, and the iPhone certainly deserves it -- it speaks for itself. If you know the history of Apple and its products, and then see any demo or commercial for the iPhone, I think it's pretty obvious why there's so much hype involved around it...

 

[Mr Fusion]

What does everyone think caused all the attention for the iPhone?

Apple created it themselves by building a much larger fanbase with the iPod, then unveiling the iPhone six months before anyone could get it. The anticipation sent the fanboys into iGasm upon launch.

If you venture not far from these forums you will find a general public a bit confused with all the hype. Everyone agrees the interface is wonderful, but the lack of features and cost keep most people [like me] content with my free cell phone and iPod.

 

[wongulous]

It's because it's the first cellphone that doesn't suck. Having like 12 buttons for phone navigation is idiotic, the screens are small, and most phones have really simplistic, difficult to use interfaces that are only a step above a friggin' Tamagotchi. And smartphones really require you to either be extra smart or have some guru to help you do anything with them... loading apps, converting media files, applying patches, syncing with Palm or Blackberries... holy crap it's annoying. I mean, I'm a geek and I've had Palms and Palmphones for almost a decade, but if someone didn't know how to search/download/install apps and deal with document conversion and syncing issues etc... a smartphone would really go unused. Like most thugs and their Treos that don't even have their phonebook filled out or calendar app even touched, let alone any custom apps or anything else. They were, pre-iPhone, mainly just status symbols like bling around your neck, rather than functional. Blackberries with easy push email changed that some, but it was still really corporate-based and required a lot of IT support. iPhone really is a game-changer in this respect.