At long last we are seeing phones that can compete with the iPhone spec to spec. In fact, there are now some phones with better specs than the iPhone. Some have better screens. Others have the ability to multitask, something many of us have longed for and have had to jailbreak in order to get. And yet others are less expensive to purchase and to use than the iPhone. None of them, however, have the iPhone’s secret sauce. And it is that sauce that will help keep the iPhone ahead of the pack in the foreseeable future.
What is the secret sauce?
In less than three years the iPhone has achieved the status of cultural icon. It has become a cultural phenomenon in a way that no other smartphone currently is and that will serve it well for a long time. Need examples? The iPhone finds its way into movies. It appears on more television programs than I can list. And on the plane yesterday I noticed someone reading a magazine that had a full-page advertisement for the Time Magazine iPhone app. I mean seriously, when was the last time you saw a full-page print ad for a cellphone application?
None of those, however, prompted this post. This, however, did…
While reading Clive Cussler’s most recent book I came upon this page.
It struck me as rather odd for one reason and one reason only. I don’t recall seeing specific references to one particular device as a common occurrence. Maybe it happens but I never really took notice of it. Usually what I see is the reference to generic cell phone. Something like “and then Sally picked up her phone and made a call.”
But here it was, a direct reference to one particular cell phone. Why? Because the iPhone is a cultural phenomenon at this point, and that’s not letting up anytime soon.
And there is reason for it. I mean, with what other device could I dictate the first draft of this post (thanks Dragon for iPhone), take pictures of my Kindle, search for a picture of a Big Mac and then edit the pictures (thanks iPhone app PhotoGene)? It truly is a transformative device… and the current status it has gained is the result of it.
Oh, and if there were any doubt what brand of device Clive Cussler likes to use a few pages later there was this reference.
The iPhone also features prominently in Dan Brown’s new book, The Lost Symbol.
It’s also shown in many tv shows, most recently(that I’ve seen) Top Gear. It really is a worldwide cultural phenomenon.
Yes, the iPhone has become an icon, in the same way as its siblings, such as the iMac, PowerBook and all the other wonderful Apple computers. I’m very happy that yet another Apple product has reached stardom – but I really don’t understand why…?
I find the iPhone user-UN-friendly, because it’s locked (i.e. you can only buy it with a contract, can’t choose your own operator – even in my country, where 87 % of all sold phones are unlocked) and because of the capacitive screen, which makes it impossible to use the phone the way a phone should be used: with one hand (well, you can, if you have tiny, tiny deformed thumbs and no nails).
As to Dan Cohens question “with what other device could I dictate the first draft of this post (…), take pictures of my Kindle, search for a picture of a Big Mac and then edit the pictures (…)?”: There are plenty of devices out there which can do all of that. Brands like Samsung, HTC, Nokia, Sony Ericsson spring to mind…
Don’t get me wrong, I’m no iPhone-basher. I just can’t understand why it’s become such an icon. When the first iPhone was launched it was technologically outdated in many aspects – and yet it sold millions! Fascinating.
Then,
Yes… But.
Sure lots of phones can take pictures, let you write a post etc. But I’ve yet to see quick, accurate voice to text transcription the way Dragon for iPhone does the task (although admittedly I am beta testing a version on a different platform and it too is awesome) and some of the image editing I did required multi-touch which most of those other devices don’t have.
I’m quick to point out the flaws of the iPhone (there are many and it is why I also carry a Blackberry these days) but as a pocket computer nothing comes close in my opinion.