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iPhone - apples to apples?

apples to oranges

Life has changed considerably since I last tried to post (my last post was interrupted by the birth of our little girl) and two months later I am (somewhat) refreshed and ready to absorb myself into the mobile world once again. I was on bed rest when the iPhone was released, using it during the birth process to track contractions, and when they were five minutes apart, Twitter the birth itself. Since that time, the iPhone is now honored as the most successful consumer product release in history. ‘Successful’ if you subtract the frustration surrounding AT&T’s customer service and bizarre billing practices.

As many have already stated, the iPhone has proven not to be just another release – it is a phenomenon. Reviewers have said “breathtaking,” “breaking new ground,” and just plain “cool.” I feel the device cannot be compared on a feature-by-feature basis against other mobile devices in its category because the category stands alone. In a recent usability comparison Does the iPhone Match the Hype? between the iPhone, the Nokia N95 and the HTC Touch; the iPhone wins hands down which is no surprise. Although many can and will continue to compare the iPhone to other mobile handsets or smartphone devices, it would be a mistake to review it based on features or even on standard use case scenarios. It’s the experience overall – the feeling of ‘wow’ and the knowledge that the device and the experience is just going to get better over time. Something we’ve come to expect from Apple with their ‘don’t look back’ attitude. This flagship release is just the beginning of something big – we all feel it. And Apple has only begun to scratch the surface of what is possible with persona media and communication devices. It’s named the iPhone, but it might very well be called the iConnect or the iDevice. For now, it’s MiPhone.

What I feel is more of an ‘apples to apples’ comparison is a niche we’ve been fascinated with for years, but still has yet to become mainstream. t’s the ultra mobile personal computer (UMPC) category with Microsoft (Origami), Sony (Vaio) and Samsung (Q1P) leading the way. Independent companies have created devices I have been coveting for years – including the design dream OQO and the more engineering-centric Pepper Pad. These portable personal computers tout the word ‘convergence’ however the iPhone and Apple’s media platform along with iTunes and YouTube integration truly match the vision Jobs’ has had all along.

But why has this ‘ultra mobile’ category not grown into a major consumer play? Price, form factor, utility all factor in. At $1299, the OQO is more than double the iPhone’s original selling price. With the UMPC category, we have yet to see a truely convergent ultra mobile device that meets our lifestyle needs by traveling in our pocket, allowing us to access our primary communication tools, and interact seamlessly with our desktop / laptop computers. Intel has introduced a new category called the MID (Mobile Internet Device):

For highly mobile people who want engaging, rich Internet experiences while on the go, Intel®-powered Mobile Internet Devices (MIDs) and Ultra Mobile PCs (UMPCs) offer the freedom and flexibility to communicate with others, enjoy digital media, and access information anytime, anywhere – all using a small, ultra-mobile device.

Sounds a bit like the iPhone to me. The success of the gesture-based touch screen interface is almost so fluid and easy to use it goes unnoticed. Even a 1-year old baby can use it. Since its release, many individuals formerly tethered to their laptops have admitted being able to switch to the iPhone for email and browsing when traveling. In many ways, the iPhone is the first ‘ultra mobile’ consumer device to give us a taste of tomorrow we can use today.

Posted on September 29th, 2007 in Thoughts
Tagged as , , , , , ,
Written by Kelly Goto

7 Responses to “iPhone - apples to apples?”

Comments

  1. Rob Cottingham says:
    September 29th, 2007

    Actually, my one-year-old has already discovered the key sequence needed to unlock a Treo 650 (and then muck around on it). Pity they don’t build the things a little more durably, given how attractive they are to children.

    And I don’t think that attractiveness is an accident. The iPhone in particular has a vividness to it that’s only the latest in a line of recent design advances from the folks at Apple (remember OS X’s “lickable” interface?). From the little animation touches to the gorgeous, saturated, high-contrast graphics, Apple’s appealing not just to our inner efficiency expert, but also our inner child.

    Maybe that’s part of the appeal of iPods, OS X and even the original Mac. Apple’s design aesthetic doesn’t just say “let’s work”, “let’s connect” or “let’s create” - it also says “let’s play.” That may be part of the reason some folks still find it hard to take Macs seriously in the workplace… but it’s also a big part of what makes using them so compelling and (if I can borrow the word!) addictive.

    And congratulations on the arrival of your little girl — that’s just wonderful news.

  2. Kelly Goto says:
    September 29th, 2007

    thanks rob! she is doing really well and we’ll be doing baby usability tests soon! I love the notion of ‘play’ as a part of the user experience. I also agree with how compelling and potentially addictive the combination of style, substance and utility can be. When something flows, we respond. The non-thinking and reactive nature is purely emotional, which is something we’re not used to in a work-oriented practical device. But it’s just this emotional appeal that we need to factor into lifestyle and convergence as we move forward.

    We continue to work out our methodology for what we’re calling the ‘user experience quotient’ which measures both the emotional appeal and the practical nature of an experience. Emotional appeal asks “do you like it? how easy it is to learn and use over time? how fun is it?” and practical appeal measures things like time per task, error tracking, utility and ease-of-use. Together, we feel a more comprehensive measure of the entire experience is possible - merging more contextual research and interviewing methods with straightforward usability over time. I LOVE the word “play” and might incorporate it into the testing process with your blessing!

    Also, I see HTC just released the HTC Shift in the “sub notebook” category which I believe is the same as “ultra mobile” but perhaps in-between mobile and UMPC notebooks. It looks nice, but I’m sure an indication of what is next from Apple, which is a smaller, more capable and completely usable thin, pocketable and soon to be coveted item in the next Steve Jobs keynote 2008. At least that’s my dream - I (and many others) have been waiting and waiting for this time for many years now.

  3. Rekha says:
    September 29th, 2007

    Kelly - Belated congrats on your baby girl!! I am laughing at how you kept technology by your side the entire time. Do you have that twitter feed of the birth archived somewhere that I can see it?

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