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I thought the Buzz Out Loud podcast title for today summed it up pretty well "iPhone gets cheap Nokia phone features"  and I am a iphone user.

You've missed a big blob of stuff they showed off - push notifications, voice memos, subscriptions and APIs for ad-hoc multiplayer games (complete with DLC etc.):

www.engadget.com/.../live-from-apples-iphone-os-3-0-preview-event

You're right.  They're basically just playing catch up with all the consumer features.  I'm looking forward to the turn-by-turn GPS apps, in spite of the fact that it too is a catch up feature.  There is one turn-by-turn app available now, but I'd like to see some competition in that space.  

"I feel it has to be said"

Wow. That was unexpected coming from a Microsoftie making a living off writing positive about Mircosoft. Amazing.

What?! This sort of post is SO laughable. Almost as laughable as you announcing that you were giving up your iPhone, when you actually meant you were giving up on AT&T and just using your iPhone an iPod Touch. If you tell the world that you are 'Saying Good-bye to the iPhone", do it. Sell it, give it away, just get rid of it. The thing is you can't, because it's a great device and it will be even better when we get the 3.0 update.

Also, why would Apple announce a Mac Tablet or anything else at a software preview? Hello?!

I'm also pretty sure that whatever AT&T charge you for disconnecting your contract with them, will more than likely be covered by a nice fat cheque from Microsoft?

I bet the next thing will be a post about some lame thing Microsoft is doing with their mobile stuff. Maybe because they mandate it.

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There IS tethering.

It's one of the features that's been added to the phone although it will be up to the individual carriers how or if can be used. (My guess is AT&T will be pretty strict with it's usage and O2 in the UK will be pretty open).

There's also A2DP added which in my opinion is a more major addition than most of the other things you chose to mention.

Everything anyone needs to know about thurrott should look no further than reading this worthless post and then comparing it to his 'Windows 7 logon UI background customization' post from 3/16.  Just read the two side by side and asses the content of each on their merits.  To use one of his favorite, oft-repeated cliches, Thurrott has jumped the shark.

What do you all think about those annoying pop-ups trying to sell you more game levels and such? Wasn't it Bobbi Jo or one of the other Apple Fanatics on this site that was laughing at Microsoft about Vista Anytime Upgrade saying that it would be annoying pop ups trying to get you to upgrade at every other mouse click...which, by the way, it isn't.

--tayme

I suppose that over 1,000 new APIs for Developers! Developers! Developers! aren't of interest to you, either. Including API support for the dock connector. Think that isn't huge? Then you're not paying attention.

Just like you don't care about peer-to-peer Bluetooth. Or that notes now sync to the Mac or your PC. Or CalDAV and .ics support. Or system-wide search. Or a voice memos application. Or stereo A2DP Bluetooth support. Or any number of interesting new features that aren't at all interesting to YOU.

You know, like they would be if this were Microsoft you were writing about.

"They're basically just playing catch up with all the consumer features."

Um...yeah.

30 million units sold, and Apple's playing catch-up.

Riiiiight.

LIke most people, Paul arrives at his views based on his feelings, and only after that assembles "arguments" or support (however lame and wrong). So what feelings are motivating Paul here? - that's simple, fear that the iPhone is simply moving farther and farther ahead with the new 1,000 + APIs.  Already, the iPhone/Touch are vastly ahead when it comes to apps.  These new APIs are only going to make it worse for competitors (which Paul would only LOVE to succeed at apple's expense).  Right now the horrible thing for apple haters is that nothing is even close to the iphone/ipod touch when it comes to apps.  Nothing.

Another fear - most of the prior chief "complaints" (copy and paste, MMS, etc) are now gone.  What are Paul and others going to ding the phone for?  Lack of battery-sucking background processing?  Video - that's probably coming in new hardware since the constraint is probably processing power, not the camera.  Certainly it's too early to say it's not coming.

The fact that there is now 30 million iphones and ipod touches out there is probably also worrying Paul

"And while I know that saying so just lumps me into the you just hate Apple category (which isn't true, but whatever)"

No, it lumps you into the "I don't make any money from writing books about Apple products" category. One could easily argue that the upcoming Vista upgrade (aka "Windows 7") isn't terribly compelling, unless one is writing a book of "secrets" about said upgrade. Then it becomes a major new version worthy of multiple paragraphs about such minutia as customizable desktop patterns. But as you say, "whatever".

@tayme: "What do you all think about those annoying pop-ups trying to sell you more game levels and such? Wasn't it Bobbi Jo or one of the other Apple Fanatics on this site that was laughing at Microsoft about Vista Anytime Upgrade saying that it would be annoying pop ups trying to get you to upgrade at every other mouse click...which, by the way, it isn't."

Annoying popups? You've got iPhone OS 3 installed and have an app that uses this facility? No. You're talking about something you have no idea about.

And this is based on the app, in a place where you know it's gonna happen. It's not an intrusive, unwanted and unexpected popup, like in Windows XP, Vista and Windows 7 (6.1).

You're really stretching it. Go check your anti-virus software; make sure it's up to date.

Apple... yawn. Somebody wake me up when we get back to talking about Windows 7. ;)

robertsjoe: "Go check your anti-virus software; make sure it's up to date."

I don't want to encourage robertsjoe but that comment made me chuckle.

Wow, Attack of the Strawmen clones. You guys are making this way too easy.

The iPhone Software 3.0 update merely gives features that other phones already have. How in the heck is this newsworthy? Just because Paul chooses on his blog to cover things his way? This isn't Supersite for Mac, this is the Supersite for Windows. If you guys can't hack it, go somewhere else.

This is ridonkulous that cesjr, bettieblu, and other hardcore Mac fans attack only when Paul is critical of Apple. Who's next? johnpapola? bonch? Once again, this fuel's the "iCabal" theory posted by Thurrott. Yet when he's critical of Microsoft, he's panned for making a living off of Microsoft. Where were these guys over the last couple of days and weeks? Why do they mysteriously turn up exactly when Paul Thurrott is critical of Apple?

Which is it? He's either in the pocket of Microsoft or he's not. He's either fair to Apple or he's not.

Once again hardcore Mac fans, you can't have your cake and eat it too. I'm calling your false outrage and BS right here.

Paul, this is precisely why should have some additional moderation on this blog so we can block or ignore some of these guys. They do nothing to add to the discussion. If they can't take critcism of Apple, then tough for them. Keep doing your thing.

Peace.

"The iPhone Software 3.0 update merely gives features that other phones already have. "

No, it doesn't merely do that at all - it does that a long with a lot more, which Paul just hasn't bothered to research/read. As I stated in the 2nd post,  push notifications, voice memos, subscriptions and APIs for ad-hoc multiplayer games (complete with DLC etc.) are not merely catch up features.

"The iPhone Software 3.0 update merely gives features that other phones already have. "

Which other phones have in-app purchasing?  A non-battery-hogging way to get IM messages and other similar features? APIs for peer to peer connectivity?  Hardware accessory APIs? Access to a whole google maps application, or the ipod from within APIs.

"No, it doesn't merely do that at all - it does that a long with a lot more, which Paul just hasn't bothered to research/read. As I stated in the 2nd post,  push notifications, voice memos, subscriptions and APIs for ad-hoc multiplayer games (complete with DLC etc.) are not merely catch up features."

Yeah... more features already on other devices. I think the ad-hoc game thing is already on the Zune.

Hey sorry if the whole damn world isnt melting into a puddle of goo over Apple me too updates of the supposedly perfect phone, but you Apple fans going around attacking everyone, even other Apple users like on Engadget, isnt going to beat everyone back into the RDF.

They played catch up, that isnt even a debatable point. Hopefully Apple all but admitting this today will humble some of you into being more adult and rational about your phone and realize that all of these devices offer good stuff for people.

Seriously, did some of your F5 this blog just waiting for Paul to say something so you could fly off the handle?

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"They played catch up, that isnt even a debatable point."  Your right, it's not debatable -- it's simply wrong.  See my prior post re API features.

@Bobbi Jo - "You've got iPhone OS 3 installed and have an app that uses this facility?"

No, but I did watch the announcement and saw several such pop-ups. Did you miss them? You can find them here - www.engadget.com/.../live-from-apples-iphone-os-3-0-preview-event - about 1/3 of the way down the page. What about your prediction about Vista Anytime Upgrade?

By the way, you did notice that I said that the iPhone/iPod touch is compelling and that I would probably have one if they were on my carrier of choice, right? Probably not, in your rush to stand up and be heard in your indignation regarding any negative comments about Apple. Now, back to your mommy and daddy's basement iMac G4 and keep your hands off the good Mac. You've been warned about that before!

--tayme

@cesjr - "Your right, it's not debatable -- it's simply wrong."

Fore several examples of Apple basically saying that they were playing catch up see - www.engadget.com/.../late

10:23AM "Next, Push. You know, we're late on this one." Wow.

11:33AM Q: Why did copy paste take so long?

A: Scott: It's not that easy. There were security issues.

11:34AM Q: Flash? What are you doing?

A: We have no announcements on that topic today.

11:43AM Q (from us!): Are you addressing any of the lagginess with the new OS? We saw some of that when you loaded SMS up.

A: (short and sweet) We're definitely addressing those issues. The units you saw today are demo units.

11:40AM Q: Push notification, will you make uptime promises?

A: No.

--tayme

That last URL came out wrong - Try - www.engadget.com/.../live-from-apples-iphone-os-3-0-preview-event

--tayme

"This is ridonkulous that cesjr, bettieblu, and other hardcore Mac fans"

Wow I am a hard core Mac fan??  Wow better turn off the 5 PC's in my house, burn my MCSE and MCITP certificates and quite my Windows System Engineer job tomorrow.

This was a software developer announcement, hence the question and answer.  It was in no way a hardware announcement as so any reference to the rumored 10inch screens being bought by Apple would NEVER come up.  

This just puts the iPhone that much further in front of anything.  This closed the loop on missing features.  Unless your a huge fan of sending video via SMS?????  It also showed developers they can 1000X more creative with apps they write.  That is pretty big news if you are a iPhone developer.  For everyone else at this site, Paul should have posted another 5 page piece showing screen shots of Windows 7 gui changes from one beta version to another, and bitching about the new task bar some more.

"Fore several examples of Apple basically saying that they were playing catch up see - www.engadget.com/.../late"

For even more examples of things no other phone has or will have in the foreseeable future, see my post above re new APIs (which is not close to all of them)

"10:23AM "Next, Push. You know, we're late on this one." Wow."

And when will anyone else have it?  Everyone else has battery sucking background processing.

"11:33AM Q: Why did copy paste take so long?"

Actually, the reason it took so long is apple had to prioritize.  See, apple thinks it's better to get things right, then just stick them all in.  So some things had to take a back seat, while apple got more important things done first.    30 million customers seem to agree with apple's approach.

"11:34AM Q: Flash? What are you doing?"

Battery hogging, proprietary when there's web standards that can be used instead (as apple noted)

"11:43AM Q (from us!): Are you addressing any of the lagginess with the new OS? We saw some of that when you loaded SMS up."

It's a beta, plus as Scot forstall explained, the tethering for video causes lag.

"11:40AM Q: Push notification, will you make uptime promises?"

Who does that?  anyone? Google?  MS?  

@tayme: Maybe your mom can show you how to post links in your comments. :)

@Bobbi Jo - "Maybe your mom can show you how to post links in your comments. :)"

I wish that she could...but unfortunately, she passed away last fall. But really, still no comment about your prediction regarding Vista Anytime Upgrade and its incessant pop-ups that did not come to be?

--tayme

@cesjr - I have not denied that Apple has made some great improvements in the mobile phone arena...in fact, I said that I would buy one if they were on my carrier of choice. Yet, you continue to deny that Apple was playing catch up here...

--tayme

"Yet, you continue to deny that Apple was playing catch up here..."  Because they were not JUST playing catch up.  Is that your argument?  It was 10 percent catchup, 90 percent nobody else has this stuff

@tayme

"11:43AM Q (from us!): Are you addressing any of the lagginess with the new OS? We saw some of that when you loaded SMS up.

A: (short and sweet) We're definitely addressing those issues. The units you saw today are demo units."

Oh I love how when you see early betas and alpha of things like WinMobile 6.5, the Apple boys couldn't stop howling about how slow and laggy it was and that it meant it would be horrible.

When they see it in iPhone 1.0 service pack 2, their mouths mysteriously slam shut, and we are to understand that it's only a beta!

Where is Robert troll and Co. to rag on the buggy, laggy iPhone OS?

@cesjr - "Because they were not JUST playing catch up."

Just as I have not denied that Apple made some good improvements, I did not say that they were JUST playing catch up. None the less, they were finally introducing things that have been available in nearly all other smart phone platforms for years. They are also introducing  some new features. But 10%/90%...not in my book. You are free to like and use what you want...but at least be honest. Is that asking too much?

--tayme

@Master3 - I am still trying to figure out what the units used in the demo had to do with the OS being slow. From all accounts, no new hardware was announced...just a new OS. Yes, its beta...maybe even alpha; but as you said, the iPeople love to point out flaws in W7 and other non-Apple betas.

--tayme

Still no logical opinions from the pro-OnlyApple crowd on the pop-up offers to buy more stuff. Remember the outrage regarding the Vista Anytime Upgrade...that ended up being unobtrusive while this is purposefully obtrusive. Another double standard like the one Master3 pointed out. You people are so predictable.

--tayme

"Once again hardcore Mac fans, you can't have your cake and eat it too. I'm calling your false outrage and BS right here."

I consider myself a hardcore Mac fan. Please don't misconstrue that as being anti Microsoft, anti Linux or anti anything else. I read this site because while I do not personally Windows I do live and work in a world that does and I have an interest in technology. The reality is that Mr. Thurrott does a great job of covering Microsoft and Windows news. He does get accused of cheerleading for MS sometimes, but I have seen him clearly call out the company as well. I think the Apple coverage here is lack luster and wish the subject would just be skipped if due diligence is not going to be done.  It is unfortunate that an otherwise great Windows blog is being mired down by the last hold outs of the Mac VS. PC crowd (mostly talking about commenters here). This argument is done, over and really is not something that people really give much of a crap about.

P.S. - The iPhone 3.0 update was great from a developer standpoint. This is clearly glossed over in the original post, but really the iPhone is really about what developers can make of it at this point and whatever Apple can do to help them is icing on the cake. I would assume Paul would agree since he has been evangelizing the iPhone as a platform and a platform is only as strong as the developers who support it.

@ModernDislocation - I agree totally with the things that you say. I find the Apple vs Microsoft "war" childish. If you've been reading long, you'll know what my stand is. I have had "battles" on both sides, regularly with the fringes on both sides. I find those blinded by one sided product love simple minded.

--tayme

"why would Apple announce a Mac Tablet or anything else at a software preview?"

I thought it was a developer show.  When did it turn into a press release?

Re, A2DP:

Apple playing catch-up again.  I started with that feature 2 phones ago and still have it.

BTW:  I see that Apple no longer refers to it as "OS X" as Dead Steve Walkin' had called it.  It's now "iPhone OS".  Funny, that.  

....and I wanted to run Cocoa apps in their Aqua glory on it.  It *IS* OS X after all, RIGHT STEVE??!

....all I hear is the sound of crickets....and daisies being pushed up.

@Waethorn - Your comments here are as bad as Bobbi Jo's and the rest of the Apple Only crowd. Give up the one sided crusade.

--tayme

@tayme:

robertsjoe hasn't figured out fractions yet.  He still thinks the numerator goes on the bottom.

Nobody has addressed this issue:

What happens when the EU clamps down on their newly mandated USB charging standard for mobile phones?

(Bye-bye dock connector is my guess)

@tayme - Then stop indulging them. If no one listens then they will move on.

@ModernDislocation - That does not work with the likes of robertsjoe and Waethorn...

--tayme

@ tayme - To answer your question, my understanding is that Vista Anytime Upgrade allows you to upgrade Vista the OS, but what Apple introduced allows for things like like buying a book reader that then allows you to buy multiple books from within the app rather than buying an application per book you want to read. I am not sure if that makes sense and I am not arguing the difference is an arguable degree of difference but it is a difference.

@tayme:

Nothing Apple makes impresses me.  Sorry, but that's the truth.

Correction: many of their failures were interesting.  It's even more interesting that they chose to drop them before they even had a chance at being successful.

2nd correction: what impresses me is that people actually buy their crap.  I mean, have you seen this new iPod shuffle?  iPhwn pOS 3.no?!  Solid aluminum manufacturing process that inflates material cost during a recession?  Bueller??

@Waethorn - That is a good point, but not one that cannot be gotten around. Is there anything that says that there cannot be more than one port?

--tayme

@Waethorn - "Nothing Apple makes impresses me.  Sorry, but that's the truth."

That is fine...but there are some that are impressed, and that is fine as well. You have said yourself that you have looked into what it would take to sell Macs in your store(s). Apple's requirements were too much for you. You have a financial stake in it and were willing to sell Macs, if only the price was right. That is good business sense...I do not have a problem with that.

--tayme

@waethorn: "BTW:  I see that Apple no longer refers to it as "OS X" as Dead Steve Walkin' had called it.  It's now "iPhone OS".  Funny, that."

It's been iPhone OS since the beginning. You're wrong.

"Nothing Apple makes impresses me.  Sorry, but that's the truth."

And yet you use Microsoft stuff which is vastly inferior? You have no taste. Yet you peddle the Microsoft stuff.  You, like Paul, make your living from Microsoft. Makes sense to dump on anything else; even if it's vastly superior like Apple and Google products.

Yawn. Who cares about Apple crap. They just now get copy paste for their phone and now its a new innovative feature (actually 2 features).

Looks like the Apple advertising campaigns really have people here by the balls. I guess people will believe anything these days...

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Wait, are you guys claiming that voice memos are a revolutionary feature?  The meat and potatoes of the announcement was certainly addressing the well known shortcomings of the device.  MMS, copy/paste, A2DP support.  The fact that it lacked voice memos pre-3.0 was certainly a surprise to me.

"The iPhone 3.0 update was great from a developer standpoint."

I agree, and this is the area that they are not playing catch up but setting the playing field.  But sorry, the rest is catch up, plain and simple.

"Wait, are you guys claiming that voice memos are a revolutionary feature?  The meat and potatoes of the announcement was certainly addressing the well known shortcomings of the device.  MMS, copy/paste, A2DP support.  The fact that it lacked voice memos pre-3.0 was certainly a surprise to me.

'The iPhone 3.0 update was great from a developer standpoint.'

I agree, and this is the area that they are not playing catch up but setting the playing field.  But sorry, the rest is catch up, plain and simple."

Okay, so you are saying that they are playing "catch up" when they are not "setting the playing field. Well, I think it goes without saying that no matter what field you are in, you are doing one or the other.

I am not sure who said voice memos are "revolutionary" but a quick search of this page shows that you are the only person to use the term so I am going to go ahead and say you are doing a bit of a straw man here. In addition you claim that the "meat and potatoes" of the announcement was addressing "well known shortcomings" and used MMS, copy/paste and A2DP as your examples of the "meat and potatoes". Of the hour and a half presentation, less than a half an hour was dedicated to those things. The other hour was largely dedicated to developer APIs. So, the "meat and potatoes" was really about the developer APIs.

There is no doubt that the iPhone has areas where Apple is catching up, but that was in no way the bulk of the 3.0 announcement.

I love the constant digs at Apple on this "Windows" blog. The title "uninteresting iPhone..."

Yet we just had a post about Windows 7's logon screen. Now /that's/ uninteresting.

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The point that I was making is that look at how fast this thread has ballooned. 54 comments over a non story. Yet as predicted, cesjr, bettieblu, and other hardcore Mac fans right on cue. They simply cannot stomach any criticism of Apple. They want no criticism what so ever. It was never about being anti-Microsoft, anti-Linux, or anti-Apple. Most of here including Paul own Apple products. If we were anti-Apple, we wouldn't download their products, put any money towards their services, and we'd be ripping them each and every chance we got.

But we don't. I personally have Apple software on all my Windows Vista and Windows 7 machines. I also own the 30 GB iPod classic and will buy the 120 GB. So to call me, Paul, or a lot of users here anti-Apple is laughable at best. Many people use their stuff.

On the converse, we as customers have a right to love the product but criticize the company. Apple does a lot of things wrong. Advertising, no SDL, lackluster security, and high hardware prices. We all want that to change.

But according to our resident hardcore mac fans, Paul and the rest are "__________" (insert word of your choice) because they like something other than Apple. Guess what boys and girls, so do a billion other people.

The reason I call this a non-story because new API's are developed all the time. Again, nothing new here. Features that other phones already have, nothing new here. So how is this controversial? Just because Paul isn't like the rest of the press and so biased to Apple?

I call that journalism. Being critical. Asking the big questions.Asking things that some people don't want to hear or might become inconvienent. Then again, probably a lot these guys never took journalism classes or have been properly educated in how its done right. Thats why CNBC is getting blasted as well as Fox News, because nobody wants to challenge the status quo.

I'm glad someone in the industry isn't afraid to ask questions or to point out the hypocrisy of every single little Apple event or press release as major news. Trust me, its not. If this was Ubuntu, Red Hat, Sun, or Microsoft, it would virtually be ignored. Next thing you know, they'll be saying that Leopard update to 10.5.7 is a "major update" that will send Apple stock's soaring. This stuff isn't newsworthy and shows the nature of the Apple biased press. How many other phones get a software update that's reported in the news? The answer is none. How is that being objective to RIM, Samsung, Nokia, Motorolla, Palm, or any other brand?

I think my point is clear. The press has no objectivity when it comes to Apple. Its not right. I'm glad we right now have a handful like Paul Thurrott, Mary Jo Foley, and Ed Bott willing to do so.

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Subzerohitman721-

As stated above I am a hardcore Mac fan and if you can find the incident where I called you or anyone else names I will give you five bucks.  You can't because I didn't and I am sorry that doesn't fit the narrative of Mac fans being zealots.

Per your points:

1. Apple does some things incorrectly. Yes. The sky is also blue.

2. You can call it a "non-story" but an update to the fastest growing mobile phone platform is a story.  If you think updated APIs are no biggie then that pretty much excludes any OS update as being a big deal as the real meat of an an OS update is in the APIs.

3. You can call it journalism, being critical, or a duck  for that matter.  This blog post is not journalism. Critical? Yes. A duck? No. One out of three isn't even good by Meatloaf's standards.

4. A basic logic class would teach you that hypocrisy doesn't make a person wrong. Secondly, I don't think you or anyone else has shown how other people in the "industry" fail to be objective.

5. Your point is clear. Your point is also factually suspect and lacks merit.

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Hahaha! These arguments crack me up.

@Waethorn:

"Solid aluminum manufacturing process that inflates material cost during a recession?  Bueller??"

Dell Adamo?

"This isn't Supersite for Mac, this is the Supersite for Windows. If you guys can't hack it, go somewhere else."

I strongly suspect that of the 30 million iPhone/iPod Touch users, the vast majority hook those devices up to Windows machines. So explain to me again why this story is irrelevant to Windows users.

Oh, that's right. You can't.

You need to separate "Apple" from "Mac". Apple is a consumer electronics company that produces a computer line called "Macintosh", among many others.

ModernD, I have to admit I didn't watch the keynote.  From the reporting I had seen from Apple leaning Engadget lead me to believe that it in fact it was the meat and potatoes of the event.  In essence, it was, because that is what most people care about.  API's are boring to most, and what the developers do with them is what will make it interesting in the future.  So, I should have done more than 10 seconds of research. ;)

In terms of the voice memos, it was highlighted as a feature worthy of some time being spent, and it was mentioned as a bullet point by some.  Since Apple fans treat every feature as revolutionary, I assumed the same for this ho-hum dumbphone feature.

Now, I think we need to take this in some context.  I did laugh last night when I saw this post pop up in my feed reader, and I knew it was going to generate a firestorm.  It did.  That's what subzero is referencing.  Anything less than full praise for Apple elicits a very negative and quick reaction.  When Paul makes statements about other products that are lacking, the reaction is, well, limited at best.  When Paul straight out praises an Apple product, which he has done, the reaction is also limited.  You guys, and I say that generally, not specifically, really do have thin skins as Paul made a post on 1-2 years ago, and just prove his point over and over again.

What everyone seems to miss is this:  "But is the iPhone suddenly that mature of a product?"  If it is, then naturally, every announcement is going to be ho-hum, since that's what happens when a product is mature.  Baby steps instead of giant leaps.

"Also, why would Apple announce a Mac Tablet or anything else at a software preview? Hello?! "

Apple hasn't been consistent here, and if you saw the press fawning, you would have seen these predictions being made, exclaiming how the time is right.  You guys are your own worst enemy.  Making the expectations for every event so high that it can't be lived up to.

@ModernDislocation - "I am not sure who said voice memos are "revolutionary" but a quick search of this page..."

They did not use the word revolutionary, so in that matter you are right. But, there are at least 2 people that spoke of Voice Memos as not being part of the catch up, though...lotsamystuff and DavidR9. I had Voice Memos on my old standard phone before I had my Omnia. So yes, that is a catch up feature.

Regardless, the iPhone/iPod Touch is pretty cool. My kid just bought a Touch to replace her Zune, so I have had a chance to play with it a bit. Not bad....when I did my side by side between an iPhone and an Omnia, I chose the Omni for 2 reasons...Verizon's network and the iPhone was way more sluggish than the Omnia. The scrolling worked better and it had the feaures that I wanted.

You seem pretty decent; and unlike the regular iCabal on this site, understand the difference between preferring a product and an unhealthy obsession with one. Welcome to the fray!

--tayme

"I'm glad someone in the industry isn't afraid to ask questions or to point out the hypocrisy of every single little Apple event or press release as major news. Trust me, its not. If this was Ubuntu, Red Hat, Sun, or Microsoft, it would virtually be ignored. Next thing you know, they'll be saying that Leopard update to 10.5.7 is a "major update" that will send Apple stock's soaring. This stuff isn't newsworthy and shows the nature of the Apple biased press. How many other phones get a software update that's reported in the news? The answer is none. How is that being objective to RIM, Samsung, Nokia, Motorolla, Palm, or any other brand?

I think my point is clear. The press has no objectivity when it comes to Apple. Its not right. I'm glad we right now have a handful like Paul Thurrott, Mary Jo Foley, and Ed Bott willing to do so."

Bravo!

Very well said!

The bias in the tech media has just become so absurd, that many should just become officially part of the Apple PR and marketing department.

And the worst part is that many companies that make great products and actually engage in REAL innovation, not just eyecandy, get left in the dark because these guys rather be part of the iParty, or not have to put up with Apple trolls infesting their sites and grinding them to a halt because they didnt level the required amount of praise on their company of choice.

I may start a blog on this very subject.

"....all I hear is the sound of crickets....and daisies being pushed up."

Yes, "Waethorn", you've been proclaiming the death of the iPhone since before its introduction. Give it up. You were—and are—wrong.

"Dead Steve Walkin'"

You really are an a$$, Wae. You have absolutely no class whatsoever.

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"and other hardcore Mac fans right on cue. They simply cannot stomach any criticism of Apple. They want no criticism what so ever."

There is a massive difference between being a whiny Apple fan, and being a non Apple fan (i.e. me) that read a very thorough listing of a lot of new features _elsewhere_ and came here to see Paul has just cut off half the preview.

This is akin to me stating that Windows 7 is just a collection of 98-style theme sets, and ignoring the hundreds of other features/improvements.

All in all, this is not Apple fandom kicking in, this is "I read a much more accurate article elsewhere, and I want to call this out for the BS that it is"

"Is there anything that says that there cannot be more than one port?"

Ask Apple that one.

"You have a financial stake in it and were willing to sell Macs, if only the price was right."

The price wasn't the only thing.  The contractual obligations were the other.  Dealing with Apple's arrogance was a deal-breaker, as it is with most private resellers.  That's why private resellers around here don't last very long.  That, and I can't stand OS X, but I wouldn't be able to do anything about it.  Then there's the fact that they don't use desktop components in their "desktop" computers, making it a lesser value for the customer.  Oh, and then there's the fact that there's no really no demand around here.  In the last 4 months, I had exactly 2 people that I can remember, come in saying they had a Mac.  One is a repeat customer that also buys PC's (including an $1800 workstation-grade graphics system for CS4 that's a much better value than the low-end Mac Pro).  The other was that uni student that spilled pop on his MacBook, effectively frying it beyond repair.

"It's been iPhone OS since the beginning. You're wrong."

So you're contradicting Steve "bag-o-bones" Jobs?  He stated it was OS X on the phone back when 1.0 was being released.

"Yes, "Waethorn", you've been proclaiming the death of the iPhone since before its introduction. Give it up. You were—and are—wrong."

I was talking about Jobs.  You are clueless.

"You really are an a$$, Wae. You have absolutely no class whatsoever."

That's hilarious.  Calling someone names and then declaring that *THEY* have no class.  Hilarious!

"So you're contradicting Steve "bag-o-bones" Jobs?  He stated it was OS X on the phone back when 1.0 was being released."

No, he said it uses OS X (as in, OS X components) he didn't state that was the actual official name of the OS itself

"I was talking about Jobs.  You are clueless."

Ah, so your "daisies being pushed up" was a reference to your prediction of Steve Jobs' imminent demise. And then you defend yourself as NOT being a classless jacka$$?

I'm sure the stunning irony is lost on you, "Waethorn".

Sorry about my son, everyone. He hasn't been the same since Steve Jobs repeatedly ran over his puppy with a steamroller.

Waethorn,

I find it hard to believe that you ever looked into carrying Macs in your store.  Just from your own post where you say you, "can't stand OS X" and iMacs, "a lesser value for the customer."  In my experience good salesmen believe in the products they sell.  You don't believe in Macs so you shouldn't sell Macs.  

The other thing I find it hard to believe is that an Apple rep ever actually came into your store, given Apple's arrogance and yours how could both egos fit in the same room?

The funniest comment you make is, "the fact that there's no really no demand around here."  How would you know?  You're like a horse salesman in 1917 saying there's no demand for cars.  Of course there is no demand for Macs in YOUR store because you don't sell them.

Regards

Joe

"he said it uses OS X"

OS X is the name of the desktop operating system as  a whole.  He was asked what OS was running on the hardware.  He said it was OS X.  OS X is the name of the operating system that includes the Core framework API's, the Mach kernel, Quicktime API's, Aqua interface, etc.

He didn't say it included "components of OS X", or "the kernel of OS X" either.  So it was a lie.  Ask losta about grammatical semantics.

"you defend yourself as NOT being a classless jacka$$?"

Never said that.  Sorry.  My defence is that you should honestly look at the man in the mirror before making as bold a statement as you did.

"I find it hard to believe that you ever looked into carrying Macs in your store."

I look at carrying many products.

"In my experience good salesmen believe in the products they sell.  You don't believe in Macs so you shouldn't sell Macs."

I don't.

"The other thing I find it hard to believe is that an Apple rep ever actually came into your store"

They don't usually.  Most resellers never see a company rep unless it's at a trade show or something, but I can tell you that I have NEVER seen Apple at any trade shows put on by their authorized distributors either.  I even talked to a reseller in Toronto in the last month.  He no longer sells Macs.

"How would you know?"

Considering there are so few customers in a computer store looking for Mac help, I'd say it's an accurate assessment.  There are also no local Apple stores.  If there was demand, Apple probably wouldn't be so stupid as to not put up one of their own stores.  Or would they?

I do believe that this is a video that Apple showed at a prior press/developer event:

www.youtube.com/watch

They refer to it as "OS X on iPhone".  It isn't, of course.

"OS X is the name of the desktop operating system as  a whole.  He was asked what OS was running on the hardware.  He said it was OS X.  OS X is the name of the operating system that includes the Core framework API's, the Mach kernel, Quicktime API's, Aqua interface, etc."

Yes, well done. In the same way MS can say Windows is running on mobile devices - that does not mean it is exactly the same OS. It means they are related to each other - either via the framework or the frameworks on top of the kernel. It's also worth noting that the phrase OS X is just referring to a collection of technologies - if he was trying to imply a specific OS X operating system, he would have said it ran on Tiger / Leopard. As it is, he didn't

"He didn't say it included "components of OS X", or "the kernel of OS X" either.  So it was a lie.  Ask losta about grammatical semantics."

It's implied. If you understood anything about operating systems, or developing for embedded systems, you'd realise that's it's quite blatantly obvious they cannot use the _exact_ same operating system, due to hardware and space constraints (and in some cases pure impracticality/pointlessness). But being based predominantly upon the same technology, they expected the readers to be intelligent enough to fathom that it is not exactly the same.

"They refer to it as "OS X on iPhone".  It isn't, of course."

That's entirely subjective. It has Cocoa, it has the same UNIX base, and presumably a lot of the same core functionality. What's your rationale for it not being OS X on iPhone?

whew, I loved thurrott's IT Pro's 'news' about how tepid an offering this was because apple didn't debut a Mac tablet that the rumor mill has churned up.  So we're judging companies based on what the rumors want.  Just wanted to see where the bar is set 'cause I'm still wanting a PC that you can bite into like a cake.  Gates and Seinfeld said it was in the pipe.  Why don't you ask your handlers when that's coming, thurrott?

Waethron, the douche, shows his lack of general knowledge shown in this comment from a different thread

"Really?  I like to think that spec sheets are as objective as you can get.  That's probably why I don't buy into Apple's marketing, claiming that their products are the newest thing since sliced bread.  The spec sheets show otherwise though."

He thinks that SPEC SHEETS alone explain performance of a computer.

He may have windows knowledge, but he certainly doesn't have computer science knowledge!  LOL.

"In the same way MS can say Windows is running on mobile devices"

Ah but they specifically refer to it as "Windows Mobile".  Apple makes no such differentiation in their original marketing materials.

"It has Cocoa, it has the same UNIX base, and presumably a lot of the same core functionality. What's your rationale for it not being OS X on iPhone?"

You can't run applications designed for OS X on it for one....

I think that pretty much speaks for itself.

"He thinks that SPEC SHEETS alone explain performance of a computer."

Performance is done in benchmarks, not spec sheets, sorry to say.  Although I can easily say with confidence that any Core i7 desktop CPU will easily best any offering on the iMac.  That's just pure fact.  In fact, I was previously referring to actual capabilities and features.  And yes, I'll take benchmark numbers to Apple's marketing fluff of "it's the fastest...." any day.  (or their similarly false "the best...." or "the greenest....")

Uh, what about third party accessories? That is something I haven't see anyone else do yet. Any third party hardware maker can build and app and take full advantage of the 30 pin input and bluetooth connectivity.

Again, I haven't seen that on anyone else's phones. To me that seems like the biggest announcement today. And you can bet that this is more meaningful than a simple sound controls on a stereo. As an experimental physicist, I can see using a few dozen Touches as wifi connected sensors.  Sounds expensive, @ $300/ touch, but the development time would be lighting fast and simple enough for any technician to adjust and monitor.

"You can't run applications designed for OS X on it for one....

I think that pretty much speaks for itself."

And I can't run a lot of Windows programs on a Windows mobile device, so therefore it isn't Windows. You argument holds no water what-so-ever.

"Ah but they specifically refer to it as "Windows Mobile".  Apple makes no such differentiation in their original marketing materials."

Windows Mobile was originally called "Pocket PC". Since it lacks all the features of a PC, and doesn't actually fit in your pocket, Microsoft was lying. <- Sums up how idiotic your argument is (but the Pocket PC name was the original name of Windows Mobile)

I have to agree with Paul on this one...

Apple has always had us used to important major version updates whether on OSX or on iPhone. iPhone OS 2.0 was a major jump in functionality compared to OS 1.0 that settled the iphone dominance in big part thanks to the AppStore.

I was expecting a revamped UI to address the pain of people like me who have tens of apps installed on their phones and for whom it's a pain to go through pages of icons. Tethering seemed like a no-brainer and copy-paste should have been included long time back in a minor update even though I don't miss it, but it's a good thing it's here. Ditto for bluetooth headsets.

So now there's just a new business model to help partners reep a bit more $ from us... not revolutionary but typical Apple.

For me it seems now like Apple is just trying to keep its iPhone afloat against the wave of new devices coming (including the Pre) but rushing to include the things that should have been here long time back. Apple is not doing leaps anymore vs. the competitors in order to keep its dominance. That's a bad sign.

And related to that, the brain behind the iPod/iPhone Development has jumped ship a while ago to develop the Palm Pre... So it's no miracle if Palm is in that situation now and Apple playing catch-up !!

www.palm.com/.../rubinstein-jon.html

BTW jailbroken iPhone is still the best platform IMO. I'm currently running xGPS on it which turns it into a full fledged voice navigation system, you have copy-paste, tethering and all the Springboard(desktop) / launcher customization you can imagine.

"Apple is not doing leaps anymore vs. the competitors in order to keep its dominance. That's a bad sign. "

They're DOOMED! One step away from being "beleaguered"!

Gruber had the best response: " 'It is disappointing and surprising that Apple didn’t announce a new non-iPhone hardware product at an event titled “iPhone Software 3.0'? Uh, OK."

I'm surprised Paul wasn't named "co-jackass of the week".

http://daringfireball.net/

"And I can't run a lot of Windows programs on a Windows mobile device, so therefore it isn't Windows. You argument holds no water what-so-ever."

There is only one OS X product series aside from what's on the iPhone.  Since the kernel in OS X is Mach, and the iPhone presumably includes it according to Apple, it wouldn't take much to port everything over, considering most of OS X is open source.  I even remember reading somewhere online that the "OS X" that's on the iPhone 1.0 was based on a late build of Tiger since Leopard was still in beta or something like that.  It doesn't have a complete feature set of Cocoa though, nor does it include Aqua, so it isn't OS X anymore.  It's something completely different.  OS X is Apple Mac OS 10 for desktop (and laptops, and servers, etc.).  That's not what's on the iPhone.  Apple's marketing gets a failing grade by calling it "OS X".  At best, they can say it's "based on subset of components of the full set of features of OS X".  They didn't though.  That's the problem.

Windows CE, by comparison, is a completely different OS from Windows 9x & NT series OS's.

Windows Mobile isn't called "Windows XP for Pocket PC" either.

"Windows Mobile was originally called "Pocket PC"."

I had a Casio E125 when they first shipped.  That's wrong though:  see below.

"Since it lacks all the features of a PC, and doesn't actually fit in your pocket, Microsoft was lying."

Wrong again.  It had Outlook Mobile, Excel Mobile, Word Mobile, and Internet Explorer Mobile, much like a desktop PC.  They aren't called "Outlook 2007" etc.  So there isn't a misunderstanding with the moniker.  Also, I could easily fit my Casio into a jacket or shirt pocket.

"Pocket PC name was the original name of Windows Mobile"

No actually it wasn't.  "Pocket PC" was the name of the hardware platform.  "Pocket PC OS" was the nickname of the operating system but wasn't made official until 2002 models.  It was previously known more technically as just "Windows CE x.x Pocket PC Edition" prior to the Microsoft Pocket PC 2002 platform.

" Since the kernel in OS X is Mach, and the iPhone presumably includes it according to Apple, it wouldn't take much to port everything over, considering most of OS X is open source.  I even remember reading somewhere online that the "OS X" that's on the iPhone 1.0 was based on a late build of Tiger since Leopard was still in beta or something like that."

Actually, it would take quite a lot to port everything over. It runs on a completely different processor, and has a much more limited clock speed, as well as less available RAM, slower storage etc. and a completely different input mechanism. All of those things complete negate the advantage of "porting everything over".

"It doesn't have a complete feature set of Cocoa though, nor does it include Aqua, so it isn't OS X anymore"

The Compact .NET framework doesn't include all the features of the full .NET framework. And guess what the Compact .NET framework is colloquially referred to as by MS? The .NET framework.

"It's something completely different"

Being based on the same technology does not quantify as "completely different". By this logic, Windows XP should not be called Windows because it is different in technology from the 9x series

"OS X is Apple Mac OS 10 for desktop (and laptops, and servers, etc.).  That's not what's on the iPhone."

No, it's not an OS. OS X is the _basis_ for all the OS X _releases_. Yes, the original OS X is an OS, but the generic term OS X is supposed to refer to the technology, not a specific version of the operating system - it is a 'line' of operating systems, so to speak.

"  It had Outlook Mobile, Excel Mobile, Word Mobile, and Internet Explorer Mobile, much like a desktop PC."

I didn't say it couldn't run Office - I said it did not have ALL the features of a PC (which was your argument against the OS X on iPhone being called OS X)

"No actually it wasn't.  "Pocket PC" was the name of the hardware platform.  "Pocket PC OS" was the nickname of the operating system but wasn't made official until 2002 models."

Actually, yes it was. Get a copy of the 2000 version and read the name

Here is the end of all this discussion:

*****Did Apple do what they needed to do to fend off challengers and furthur cement their ascendant role in this part of the cell phone market?*****

Finally, some real involvement from Ocean.  Welcome!

I'd say, to answer your question, is we need to wait for the app developers.  An API is useless without developers, and the rest of the stuff was just stuff that should have been there.  It's just getting started, which is good for everyone.

>>The 10-inch device, be it iPod "mano" or Mac tablet? Lower- and higher-end iPhones?>>

Has Apple ever done this at a software event?

You really think that this corner of the market is just getting started?

I think that with the developer momentum that Apple has that its closer to being over.

"And guess what the Compact .NET framework is colloquially referred to as by MS?"

"Microsoft .NET Compact Framework".

It's also not listed anywhere on this website:

http://www.microsoft.com/net

"Being based on the same technology does not quantify as "completely different". By this logic, Windows XP should not be called Windows because it is different in technology from the 9x series"

9x software runs on XP though.  OS X software on the desktop doesn't work on OS X software on the iPhone.

"Yes, the original OS X is an OS, but the generic term OS X is supposed to refer to the technology"

Technology which is missing in the iPhone.  Not to mention, software support.

"it is a 'line' of operating systems"

Yes - for the desktop.

"Get a copy of the 2000 version and read the name"

Been there, done that.  I still have that E125 by the way.

"Windows CE 3.0 Pocket PC Edition".

It was the first release of Windows CE on devices that were dubbed "Pocket PC's".  They didn't officially change the name of the operating system to "Microsoft Pocket PC OS" until 2002.

This argument is getting stale.

I congratulate Apple for changing the name.  (See that losta?  You won't see that happen too often)  Calling it OS X in the first place was a mistake.  They only changed it when they decided to release the SDK, which would've seen the same sort of fury from developers that I brought about.

Apple deserves applause for correcting that.

*golf clap*

"I think that with the developer momentum that Apple has that its closer to being over."

No more so than the developer momentum MS Windows has over OS X. The iPhone has 3 things that developers are attracted to and will continue to be attracted to.

1. Lots of users that are willing to pay extra for phones and plans.

2. Every iPhone has the exact same features. Android and WinMo phones are to varied in features for developers to spend much time on.

3. Bloody simple development tools that come free with every Mac. A child could write code for the iPhone.

The I might be wrong, but I don't think Palm has even released an SDK yet have they?

"I think that with the developer momentum that Apple has that its closer to being over."

No more so than the developer momentum MS Windows has over OS X. The iPhone has 3 things that developers are attracted to and will continue to be attracted to.

1. Lots of users that are willing to pay extra for phones and plans.

2. Every iPhone has the exact same features. Android and WinMo phones are to varied in features for developers to spend much time on.

3. Bloody simple development tools that come free with every Mac. A child could write code for the iPhone.

The I might be wrong, but I don't think Palm has even released an SDK yet have they?

"I was expecting a revamped UI to address the pain of people like me who have tens of apps installed on their phones and for whom it's a pain to go through pages of icons. "

Ok, I hate being the grammar guy, especially since I suck and grammar. But this just kills me. It doesn't work to say "Tens of "... You can say "Tens of Thousand" or "Tens of Millions", but not "Tens of hundreds" or "Tens of". You meant to say "Dozens of".

@dallasmay - You should have left the grammar thing alone...there are some real grammar nuts that post herre...they are sure to point out the ironic value of this sentence - "Ok, I hate being the grammar guy, especially since I suck and[SIC] grammar."  "lotsamystuff will pull out his enormous [SIC] hammer and bonk you on the nose with it. ;-)

--tayme

Again:

*****Did Apple do what they needed to do to fend off challengers and further cement their ascendant role in this part of the cell phone market?*****

I think he meant tons, instead of tens.

"A child could write code for the iPhone. "

Which you actually don't want.  Then you get poorly written apps and the iFart.  That doesn't help the platform at all.

Saying "tens of [something]" is a perfectly valid usage.  (And BTW, it's a usage issue, not a grammar one.)

The curmudgeon has spoken.

theiphoneinsingapore.blogspot.com/.../basic-steps-to-writing-iphone-app.html

"A child could write code for the iPhone. " and did.

Quick question:

Has anybody ever tried adapting Seadragon Deep Zoom to play video?

@lotsa,

The story is irrelevant to Windows users because virtually many phones had these features already. Just because iPhone is finally catching up to these features almost 2 years later? Many of the bluetooth features we had on much less feature laiden phones in the past. So Windows users would most like know about these features or would adapt to them. None of this stuff is evolutionary or revolutionary. iPhone finally gets featuers other phones have had.

@modern,

Did I refer to you by name? No. I'm refering to the regular hardcore fans who do not have your temperment. As for your points, let me go through them.

1. Apple does some things incorrectly. Yes. The sky is also blue.

It is the because what they do incorrectly in terms of lacking a proper security development lifecycle that  not only threatens Apple users, but all computer users. It many not be an urgent threat today, but threats against OS-S are maturing rapidly. Eventually this will come back to haunt users and the company.

2. You can call it a "non-story" but an update to the fastest growing mobile phone platform is a story.  If you think updated APIs are no biggie then that pretty much excludes any OS update as being a big deal as the real meat of an an OS update is in the APIs.

The entire mobile phone platform is a growing. Versus the entire population of the planet, only a small amount actually own mobile phones/devices. Just because one phone is better than the other, that happens in every single industry. Wouldn't be more effective to cover the entire industry as a whole? If the story was put in perspective with the entire industry that would have made sense. But API's are developed, changed, and redeveloped on a daily basis. Sony Playstation 3 has new API's, but that didn't help it against the Nintendo Wii or the 360. Its what you do with those API's that make it spectacular.

3. You can call it journalism, being critical, or a duck  for that matter.  This blog post is not journalism. Critical? Yes. A duck? No. One out of three isn't even good by Meatloaf's standards.

A blog post based in fact. Covering a day's event interlaced with personal commentary. Thats really no different than what hapens on any news program. Paul reports what happened and gives his take on it. Thats really not much different than opening a news paper and reading editor's comments.

4. A basic logic class would teach you that hypocrisy doesn't make a person wrong. Secondly, I don't think you or anyone else has shown how other people in the "industry" fail to be objective.

Logic also is deeply rooted in common sense. Where is the logic in making a major press release of a software update that adds nothing new? Adding features that other phones in the past already had. Where is the logic in wasting bandwidth, energy, resources, and time on already available information on such features? A simple internet or paper document to the press would have been sufficient. As for lack of objectivity, the consensus amonst readers conclude that Walt Mossberg, David Pogue, Randall Kennedy, and other clearly lack objectivity. These writers tend to be biased to a specific company. Just reading a sampling of their published writing can prove that. I believe your emotions are getting in the way of your logic.

5. Your point is clear. Your point is also factually suspect and lacks merit..

None of my points lack any factual basis. All of it can be found with a simple web search. The merit lies in the fact that this was on CNBC, Fox News. Yet updates to other phones did not garner the same attention from the same media outlets, yet containing similar pertinent information to users. Recently the Samsung Instinct had an MR5 update in February. Not one media outlet covered it, but its Sprint's best selling phone. Millions of Instinct users are less important than iPhone users? Logic would say otherwise.

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