This Could Change Everything

Okay, not really everything. But I do think it has the potential to change the way Americans think about their phones. Having worked for a major wireless carrier, I would say that we tend to think of wireless in terms of carriers whereas much of the rest of the world thinks in terms of device and functionality. In the US we have created this monster called the "free phone" that has really affected the sales strategies and design paths in wireless. I think that the iPhone has the potential to shake up the wireless industry in much the same way as the iPod and iTunes Store has shaken up the recording industry.

It will likely be gradual and greatly resisted by Big Wireless. Nevertheless, if just a fraction of the wireless user base in the US gets a taste of what can really be done when the carriers dial back the restrictions, and when Apple's sweet marriage of beautiful hardware and uncomplicated software reels them in, there could be a tidal wave of change that eventually sweeps away old carrier-centric paradigms and replaces them with new user-centric models. It's way more complicated than that but I can't get away from the similarities between the effects of the iPod/iTunes Store on the music industry and the potential effects of the iPhone on the wireless industry.

Anyway, if you haven't already, you should watch the new iPhone ads. They're really great. If you didn't want one already, you're gonna. Just imagine in three weeks when you can actually go to the Apple store and try one out. I'm not a prophet, but I really think this thing is going to be huge! Apple's stock went up this week, apparently just from the announcement of a hard release date.

A friend commented to me that his wife saw the commercials early this week and said, "I want that!" I have been sold since it was just an unconfirmed rumor, but I'm convinced that the world of non-geeks is just getting a glimpse of what could be an industry changing device. In about two months we'll see the beginnings. I think a year from now, we'll really have an idea of the impact (or lack thereof) made by the iPhone.

Beware, Ye iPhone Haters

If you're one of the (few) people who are skeptical about the iPhone, you might want to reserve your skepticism, at least in writing, until you see it for yourself. This Slashdot review of the original iPod at it's debut is right up there with the story of the teacher that told Einstein to drop out of school and pick a trade. How would you like to be remembered as having said the following about the iPod when it first hit the streets back in 2001?

No wireless. Less space than a nomad. Lame.

Yeah, really! The best part about this post as it appears on Slashdot today is the ad above the post (click to zoom).


That reminds me of some other famous...er, infamous statements:

"I think there is a world market for maybe five computers."
--Thomas Watson, chairman of IBM, 1943

"There is no reason anyone would want a computer in their home."
--Ken Olson, president, chairman and founder of Digital Equipment Corp., 1977

"This 'telephone' has too many shortcomings to be seriously considered as a means of communication. The device is inherently of no value to us."
--Western Union internal memo, 1876.

"The wireless music box has no imaginable commercial value. Who would pay for a message sent to nobody in particular?"
--David Sarnoff's associates in response to his urgings for investment in the radio in the 1920s.

"Who...wants to hear actors talk?"
--H.M. Warner, Warner Brothers, 1927.

"I'm just glad it'll be Clark Gable who's falling on his face and not Gary Cooper.
--Gary Cooper on his decision not to take the leading role in "Gone With The Wind."

"A cookie store is a bad idea. Besides, the market research reports say America likes crispy cookies, not soft and chewy cookies like you make."
--Response to Debbi Fields' idea of starting Mrs. Fields' Cookies.

"We don't like their sound, and guitar music is on the way out."
--Decca Recording Co. rejecting the Beatles, 1962.

"So we went to Atari and said, 'Hey, we've got this amazing thing, even built with some of your parts, and what do you think about funding us? Or we' ll give it to you. We just want to do it. Pay our salary, we'll come work for you.' And they said, 'No.' So then we went to Hewlett-Packard, and they said, 'Hey, we don't need you. You haven't got through college yet.'"
--Apple Computer Inc. founder Steve Jobs on attempts to get Atari and HP interested in his and Steve Wozniak's personal computer.

"Drill for oil? You mean drill into the ground to try and find oil? You're crazy."
--Drillers who Edwin L. Drake tried to enlist to his project to drill for oil in 1859.

"Everything that can be invented has been invented."
--Charles H. Duell, Commissioner, U.S. Office of Patents, 1899.

"640K ought to be enough for anybody."
-- Bill Gates, 1981

Thanks to SoCool.com for all the great quotes!

Survey Says...

Do you use the iTunes Store? I do. I have bought music there for a few years now. Recently, I have even bought TV Shows there. I haven't bought any movies there yet.

This is kinda old news but I wonder what the man on the street thinks. I read an article a few weeks ago about Apple considering adding a subscriptions based service to the iTunes Store. There are several services like this out already including the new Microsoft Zune Marketplace. Currently, the iTunes Store sells songs either a-la-carte or by the album. Once you buy it, you own it like you would a physical CD. The subscription model would allow you to pay a monthly fee and have access to unlimited downloads. The catch is that when you quit your subscription, all your music goes away.

I'm curious. How many of you already use the iTunes store. Whether or not you use it already, would the availability of a subscriptions based service affect your use or none use? Chime in and let us know what you think.

iPhone

David Pogue captures my sentiments exactly when it comes to the iPhone.

Drive Time

As residents in an ever-shrinking world economy, we are spending more and more time traveling. I don't travel nearly as much as my buddy Cliff who writes for a major auto-dealer publication; however, I do spend around 8 hours a week in my car for my business. Mondays alone I am usually on the road for about 5 hours delivering Coffee News. Since I live in Brownstown and my business is based in Dearborn. I spend at least an hour in the car round trip on days that I go to my area. That's a lot of time that until recently would be considered dead time.

A few years ago I got my first iPod. I say "got" rather than bought. I actually did get it for free from freeipods.com. All I had to do was convince 5 friends that I was worth applying for a Visa card or signing up for a free month of Blockbuster.com. Two months after signing up and sending out my petitions to my friends, I received a free 20 gig iPod in the mail. Nice.

That acquisition opened up a whole new world of possibilities to this commuter. I purchased several audiobooks right away. I really began to enjoy being the master of my own drive-time destiny. I could listen to that book that I had been wanting to read but never seemed to find the time. Even if I just wanted music, I could finally choose the music that I listened to (my little escort only has a cassette player).

As if that all was not enough to make you sign up to nag your friends and get a free iPod, then I discovered the world of podcasting. Podcasts are like pre-recorded radio shows. In the iTunes Store online, you can find podcasts on pretty much anything. They range in length from about five minutes to over an hour.

I really enjoy some of the technology podcasts as well as Doug Field's Simply Youth Ministry podcast. I even get all of my pastor's Sunday School lessons as podcasts since I miss them while I'm teaching the teens class.

The best part about podcasts is that when you find a show you enjoy, you can "subscribe" to it. That means every time you plug your iPod into your computer, your iPod will check for new shows and download them as well as delete those you've listened to. Talk about great service! I just "sync" my iPod once a week and I have a treasure trove of knowledge and entertainment to go.

It doesn't matter what hobby or trade you would find interesting, there is a podcast for you. And with iPods as cheap as $79 these days, I'd say that's a steal to buy back those wasted hours we all loose on our daily commute to the rat-race.