QLVR Version 0.7.0

Steve Jobs’ keynote at Apple’s Worldwide Developer’s Conference (WWDC) ended the most recent round of rumors and speculation on the new iPhone. According to reports from one of the lead followers of the buildup - Mac Rumors - had these confirmed specs:

• 3G (FINALLY though it’s on AT&T’s new*ish HSUPA network..)
• GPS - true GPS with aGPS to help in triangulation.
• Redesigned headphone jack
• Good battery life (this was one of the rumors 3G was killed for the first version…)

Some additional information from Apple’s iPhone site includes these additional features:

• Photo geotagging. (That’s cool for mashups - you could post all your photos on a gmap enabled server)
• “SIM ejector tool” - not sure what this is but suppose it may allow you to use a different SIM on unlocked/unsubsidized phones.

So, what’s not to like about it? It’s a bit thinner apparently and still has WiFi. My major gripe, and the reason I passed on version 1, was the slow network access speeds. GPS is an added bonus especially for traveling so I don’t really see any reason to not queue up on the 11th of July (it’s official launch date.) I’d like to confirm that from the AT&T site but I received the following (from http://www.wireless.att.com/cell-phone-service/welcome/ - title “Maintenance In Progress”):

Wireless from AT&T is continually working to improve our [sic I]internet site for our customers. As part of this ongoing effort, we are currently doing maintenance. We apologize for this inconvenience and ask that you please try back again later.

Suppose AT&T’s replacing the photos of the “out of stock” iPhone version 1s with the new v2s. Wonder what’s going to happen to those “old” phones?!?

So.. what do I like about Apple:

• They deliver on what they say they are going to deliver on. It’s not announced years in advance only to miss dates like their long lost step cousin’s vaporware made in Redmond, Washington.
• Their ability in keeping things (officially) hush hush until launch. The leaks through rumors - well - they’re only rumors and it helps with cheap marketing. Besides, they have worked out deals with carriers in 22 countries for day 1. The only confirmed leaks came from AT&T but it amounted to a confirmation - the first was a launch will occur in 2008 and the second one being no vacations during a launch window. Amazing!
• They keep that childhood belief of Santa Claus alive. The keynotes are like unwrapping presents on Christmas Day. Santa Claus = Steve Jobs?

What do I dislike about Apple:

• If you haven’t learned by now - don’t buy version 1.
• Jobs assumes all the geeks will buy when he says to buy. I think Jobs/Apple make it difficult for the typical consumer to purchase their products. Apple follows noone’s lead but its own.