Damn, I’m converted

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iPhone 4G unveiled

Ok, <insert confession mode here> this is a big step for me, but I confess that I have been converted. I just saw the new iPhone 4 revealed by Apple CEO Steve Jobs as only he can do.

It’s gorgeous – and – I want one. There, I said it. I want an iPhone.

Finally iPhone is up to par – and now even trend setting - feature-wise - with other phones. They finally added multitasking (my phones did that 4 years ago already) and a front cam (both my Nokia E71 and HTC Diamond Pro have that already). But also a gyroscope, dual-mic for noise cancellation (I wonder if that works for listening to music: I have expensive Sennheiser headphones for that now) and (finally): a flash for the cam etc. etc.. Oh, did I mention HD-recoding and editing? 720p, but still: thats darn good. More iPhone 4 specs here. On paper it is all I want or need.

I have said it before: Apple is no trendsetter when it comes to features. My 20gb iRiver MP3 player from 2004 had features (like a built-in radio, digital in and out, built-in microphone, mini text reader etc. etc.) that the iPods didn’t get until recently.

What Apple does set a trend with, is making people believe that they do it better once they do get the features. They re-invent stuff and then everyone thinks they where the first to do it.

But I think I finally figured it out: they don’t do it first, they just do it better. And you know what, I think I had a bit of revelation. Sure, the first person to invent something will be remembered, but the person that applies it, whatever the invention is, the best actually gets the better deal.

iPhone 4 with iOS4

Anyway: this weekend I was tempted to buy an HTC Desire, currently the most feature-rich and fastest Android phone on the market (after the Samsung Galaxy S GT-I9000). I was even thinking about HTC Evo 4G. Nice 4″ super-amoled screen etc.. But I put that off, just curious of what Jobs had up his sleeve.

And now I have seen the Apple iPhone 4. And I have made up my mind: I will follow the iHerd and get me one.

The screen is “only” 3.5″ but is ~~360pdi~~ 326dpi! That my friends, is as good as print! Yes a 3.5″ screen with the quality of print!

So here’s a prediction by me: I bet the next gen iPad will get the same kind of screen: and it WILL be the full-color E-reader everyone is thinking about! At that resolution it is going to be all that we need for a successful full-fledged full media device – that also allows you to read a book.

Man, I am excited about that! In 2004 I was doing presentations at my work about what I envisioned to be the future of print: digital.

I also said to all the people that didn’t believe me (because the technology of E-ink was just in its infancy stage), that it was just a matter of time before the right technology (i.e. high-res / high-def screens) would be good enough to make the stuff possible we saw as special effects in Minority Report.

The only thing I am 100% sure of is that Apple – as usual – is ~~exaggerating~~ lying about the battery life you get out of this thing. The website lists anywhere between 7 to 40hrs depending on what you do. However it’s very difficult to predict what mixed use (calling, standby, WiFi use, 3G use, Mp3 use, movie use) will get you.

Nevertheless, as far as I can see right now, the iPhone 4 – currently – has everything that I envision I might want and need in a phone at this moment in time (yes: subject to change).

I am very ambivalent regarding Apple’s way of screening Apps for the appstore, but hey, if you don’t like that: just jailbreak your iPhone (I will). The big advantage I see in that policy (once again: subject to change) is the consistent quality and user experience it gives to users.

That’s one thing I realized Android lacks: every phone company implements it’s own “enhancements” on top of the OS and that means you can never just upgrade to the newest version, unless your manufacturer supports it.

In that sense Apple has been way better than any competition: even the new iOS 4 (the new name for iPhone OS) will support the older models. That is very very decent! The same has applied with Apple OS X (up to off course the switch to Intel chips).

So yeah: credit where credit is due. My hat off mr. Jobs. You did it again.

So now the long waiting for the arrival of the iPhone 4 starts. It starts selling in the US after June 24th. No date yet for Holland.

But…. I am visiting my girlfriend in the US somewhere in August, so who knows: maybe I will buy one there.

Ps: one more word of advice. Buy Apple stocks. I know, they are a bit high priced right now. But tomorrow you wished you had followed my advice.
PPs: I’m going for the white model: white is the new black