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In Japan, iPhone is old news

Maybe I am a little old fashioned when it comes to cell phones, but I want mine primarily for making and receiving calls.

As I live in Japan, I have any options but yet have stuck to an older phone. Why? Because it works so smoothly. My phone is made by Sony. They no longer make my type of phone for any of the companies. It is so simple to use. Flip it open and use the scroll wheel. My friends laugh at my older phone until they see how easy it is to use. Yes, it has a very functional and easy to use interface.

That is where I believe the iPhone will do well. It will be simple to use it's functions. They will not be buried in submenus that make no sense.

Some of the phones over here almost require rocket science to use. I kind of get a kick out of seeing folks struggling to do something with their phones. In fact phones have gotten so complicated that now many companies are offering older person phones that are really easy to use. Granted they don't have any functions, but they make it very easy to call someone.

That's what I like about my phone. Scroll to the person, press the scroll wheel, select which number (or e-mail address if I want to send a message) I want, press the scroll wheel again, and my call is going through. So simple and fast.

Judging from what Apple did with the iPod, I am sure they will adjust to the market as well. Looking forward to seeing the iPhone in action.
 
Vorst said:
Yes I do, but the hot button is not available during phone call.
So it is a pain to go to another function during a phone call. Very annoying.
Sorry the UI is the most important part of the phone for me.
Click to expand...

UI is very important.

I remember Ericsson phones cira 1999 - great phones, but utterly ***** interface. Horrors!
 
Japanese cell phones are THAT advanced, however, they're very integrated into everyday life. Yes, ours phones can't be used as credit cards or keys quite yet, but they've defiantly been browsing the web and playing video for about as long as Japanese phones have. The iPhone doesn't do much of anything that current phones can't. However, it's very easy to use, intuitive, and elegant. No phone on the Japanese market offers think kind of a product. Remember, Microsoft-based PC's can do most everything Mac's can, that doesn't mean Mac's aren't revolutionary.
 
Stella said:
UI is very important.

I remember Ericsson phones cira 1999 - great phones, but utterly ***** interface. Horrors!
Click to expand...

UI is very important, and I don't know why people are discounting it. UI is the number one thing that gives the edge over competition to both the iPod and the Mac.
 
Voidness said:
If you've seen the keynote, and if you've used "internet browsers" on cellphones and smartphones, you should realize how revolutionary web browsing on the iPhone is. There isn't a single phone out there that has a real web browser like the iPhone. Since when can you browse the web on a phone the same way you browse it on a full computer? Full page rendering, smooth scrolling, multiple web pages open at the same time, and it's Safari!
Click to expand...

http://www.s60.com/browser/

Full page rendering, multiple web pages, RSS. And it is Safari(Webkit), too!

I've used Opera, and it renders full pages, too.
 
Chaszmyr said:
UI is the number one thing that gives the edge over competition to both the iPod and the Mac.
Click to expand...
I would agree.

However, this morning, one of my co-workers complained about how complicated the iPod's interface was! I was a bit taken back so to speak as to me it is one of the easiest interfaces around. So I guess it could improve to make it more easy. How? I have no idea. Although the preview of the iPhone has me thinking.
 
It's a different thing entirely

I think the big difference with the i phone is the multi function touch screen, instead of a slide out keyboard with tiny little buttons, the UI and the fact that it has a 4G flash drive instead of an SD card slot. It's like an i-pod with a camera that makes phone calls, emails and browses the web, as opposed to something like this:
http://www.digitalworldtokyo.com/2005/10/smartphones_big_in_japan_at_la.php

bleah.
 
whats so good about flash drives?

At least with SD cards you can add more memory by buying another / switch SD Cards. With flash drives your limited to 4Gig.

SD Cards will grow in capacity in time too.

The only thing about the iPhone is the UI. Everything else is pretty ordinary. Full internet capability - well, as the above poster said, Nokia Web browser is very capable and very good too ( I use it on a daily basis ).

MattyP said:
I think the big difference with the i phone is the multi function touch screen, instead of a slide out keyboard with tiny little buttons, the UI and the fact that it has a 4G flash drive instead of an SD card slot. It's like an i-pod with a camera that makes phone calls, emails and browses the web, as opposed to something like this:
http://www.digitalworldtokyo.com/2005/10/smartphones_big_in_japan_at_la.php

bleah.
Click to expand...
 
bousozoku said:
外国人下さい。
Click to expand...

Ok, the first three most likely mean the same as in the original Chinese - "foreigner". The fourth means various things in various situations, one of which being "under", in Chinese, and according to some (probably bogus) online translator, the last two are the same as 场合 in Chinese (= occasion). But what does the whole phrase mean in Japanese?
 
annk said:
Ok, the first three most likely mean the same as in the original Chinese - "foreigner". The fourth means various things in various situations, one of which being "under", in Chinese, and according to some (probably bogus) online translator, the last two are the same as ?? in Chinese (= occasion). But what does the whole phrase mean in Japanese?
Click to expand...

Chinese won't help you. He was stating the same thing that was stated previous. Gaijins -> Gaikokujin Please -> 外国人下さい (Gaikokujin Please)
 
annk said:
Thanks. I thought the characters meant more or less the same in Japanese as in Chinese. :eek:
Click to expand...
Yea, Chinese only helps really for nowns/verbs that originated in Chinese, things inherently Japanese language based such as 下さる(verb) means to "hand down" or give or "please" so, the chinese character is a hint, but its not the same usage... even with characters that originated in Chinese, meanings drift so it works sometimes (I was surprised how much I could understand in say Taiwan) but its not definite or always reliable...... cultural differences also make a difference too...
 
I am in an Asian county with massive cell phone penetration. Two for every person I think. By the time the iphone gets to us, I am sure it will have 3G, otherwise it won't be succesful. I can get CNN and BBC world streamed live to my phone for US$2.5 a month. And I do use it on my journey to work. Nokia is very well respected, and with the N95 coming out shortly, the standard will be raised again. One thing that I find unatractive about the iphone is the large screen. Having used an Atom with a large screen, I found that they get very smeary and greasy. Actually quite unpleasant to see how much gunk comes off on to the screen after putting it to your ear :) I read that apple have considered this and chosen the most suitable glass available, but I can't imagine it not being a problem.
 
gaikokujin, iPhone UI, features, video phones

Fukui said:
Chinese won't help you. He was stating the same thing that was stated previous. Gaijins -> Gaikokujin Please -> ?????? (Gaikokujin Please)
Click to expand...
The reason being that some take offense to the word Gaijin. Gaijin is as shortening of Gaikokujin. In common usage the meaning is the same. However, the latter is more formal and accurate. Gaijin could be translated literally as Outsider and therefore could be considered derogatory. The three characters mean outside, country, and person. Leave out the middle character and some people may get upset. I personally don't have a problem with the word since I am an outsider when in Japan either way.

I agree with many others that the UI is the most revolutionary feature of the iPhone. More features will of course be added in future models and some may even be added as updates to early models. Once 3G is added in future models I am certain that we will see some really cool features such as video conferencing.

Asia has had video phones on the market for years now but have been fairly expensive and some required special networks to support them. The first one I saw was way back in 1999 I believe. The video quality was pretty poor to begin with but recent phones have gotten better. Such phones have always been hindered by the relatively few people who have them, so you may have to buy a phone for the person you want to video chat with. Thats two very expensive phones just for this feature.
 
MacNut said:
Don't forget that Japan is years ahead of the technology curve when it comes to cell phones. What seems like a new idea to us has been done before over there.
Click to expand...

This seems to be quite true, but i cant understand why? What are they doing that where not doing ? I'm sure somebody has to come out with the technology but im interested in understanding why they seem to be so far ahead. Are there motives profit driven like the businesses in the USA?
 
tiggle said:
I am in an Asian county with massive cell phone penetration. Two for every person I think. By the time the iphone gets to us, I am sure it will have 3G, otherwise it won't be succesful. I can get CNN and BBC world streamed live to my phone for US$2.5 a month. And I do use it on my journey to work. Nokia is very well respected, and with the N95 coming out shortly, the standard will be raised again. One thing that I find unatractive about the iphone is the large screen. Having used an Atom with a large screen, I found that they get very smeary and greasy. Actually quite unpleasant to see how much gunk comes off on to the screen after putting it to your ear :) I read that apple have considered this and chosen the most suitable glass available, but I can't imagine it not being a problem.
Click to expand...

In comes nanotechnology to the rescue.

You can already buy glass that doesn't get smeared or greasy thanks to the wondrous capabilities of nanotechnology. In other words, you never have to wash the surface.
 
thugpoet22 said:
This seems to be quite true, but i cant understand why? What are they doing that where not doing ? I'm sure somebody has to come out with the technology but im interested in understanding why they seem to be so far ahead. Are there motives profit driven like the businesses in the USA?
Click to expand...

Its the density of the population. Its easier to transmit new things in a closely packed metropolis than in a loose conglomeration of disjointed cities. Since America is so wide and big, things take time to spread. Also, different economics, and even culture play a part.
 
i live in japan, and america has built a better phone then asia!

Iphone IS better then the latest japanese phones!

Japan was number 1 in the cell phone market until todays launch of the iphone.

Here look. This is the number 1 latest cell phone in japan: (I even have one)

Sharp 912sh for softbank and docomo. http://mb.softbank.jp/mb/en/product/3g/912sh/index.html

Screen and resolution is smaller then iphone.
only 50 meg hard drive.
Full Browser is included, but it is 300 yen 3 dollars to view 1 internet page REGARDLESS OF THE CONTENT! (with the internet plan, it can go from 3,000yen to 10,000yen 100 dollars depending on how many sites your view.)

So really internet is out of the question.

The only part that makes this japanese phone better then the iphone is that it has a 3.2 megapixle camera, and digital tv viewer (free) which picks up japans 8 boring tv stations.

Also let me remind you this japanese phone (if you buy the softbank one) is 34000 yen or 340 dollars. You can also go for the 2 year contract, and get it for free, but if you break it, or want to cancel your plan you must pay 70000 yen 700 dollars.
----
bottom line: iphone in almost every aspect is better then the japanese phones. The new 913sh will come out around winter 2007, and I hear it will be 640x480 res (WHICH IS BETTER THEN THE IPHONE,) but until then iphone has done it!

Thank you apple for showing the Japanese whos boss, (even though) I am not a fan of your computers ;)
 
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