I'm glad you brought this up.
Actually I contribute reviews to a newly launched gadget website that is aimed at becoming a serious rival to the gizmodos and engadgets of the world. I think we really have a chance; and the main reason for this will be our desire to really get to the bottom of the subject at hand, and indeed the passion of the writers for their subject. And it's a complex subject, all right, where nothing is as it first appears.
My honest opinion, first of all, is that Steve Jobs is a marketing guru. You have to hand it to the guy. He believes so much in what he does. And with the iPhone he has helped to raise the bar higher. Other handset makers may have sensed that he had something like the iPhone up his sleeve, and this knowledge pushed them harder towards the goal of producing a rival technology that would keep them in the game. His passion helps to drive along the industry, directly or indirectly.
However, the end result is that Samsung has just launched a smart phone - their intended 'iPhone killer' - which really has better functionality. The iPhone comes without 3G, which I am personally quite surprised by. Samsung's phone, by contrast, will be equipped to provide users with HSDPA or super 3G for checking emails on the move. Something people are finding increasingly useful.
Many critics believe that the iPhone is more of a fashion accessory. It will be remembered, that's for sure, as a landmark event in mobile communications. It's a kind of catalyst for the industry. But for a businessman on the move, there are alternatives out there which I would highly recommend looking into.
Feel free to check out the website in my signature if you want to see our review of the iPhone... |