Subscribe to RSS


News December 1, 2009

The iPhone’s Secret Sauce

photo (2)

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.

photo

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.”

photo 2

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.

photo 3

Tags: ,

About Dan Cohen

View all posts by Dan Cohen
Having a father who was heavily involved in early laser and fiber-optical research, Dan grew up surrounded by technology and gadgets. Dan’s father brought home one of the very first video games when he was young and Dan remembers seeing a “pre-release” touchtone phone. (When he asked his father what the “#” and “*” buttons were his dad said, “Some day, far in the future, we’ll have some use for them.”) Technology seemed to be in Dan’s blood but at some point he took a different path and ended up in the clergy. His passion for technology and gadgets never left him.
  • http://www.geardiary.com Judie Lipsett

    The iPhone also features prominently in Dan Brown’s new book, The Lost Symbol. :-)

  • Pingback: Iphoneblogcentral

  • bmack037

    It’s also shown in many tv shows, most recently(that I’ve seen) Top Gear. It really is a worldwide cultural phenomenon.

  • Pingback: KJ2AYO

  • then

    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.

  • Dan Cohen

    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.

  • Pingback: andrea baker



Grinding Gears May 21, 2012

Is the 2012 Scion iQ the ‘Smart’ Choice?

Move over smart car, Scion is taking over the micro-subcompact car segment with its iQ. The new Scion iQ is [...]

Music Diary May 21, 2012

Mary Halvorson Tops Her Critically Acclaimed Last Album with ‘Bending Bridges’

Mary Halvorson Quintet – ‘Bending Bridges’ Mary Halvorson Quintet – ‘Bending Bridges’ In late 2010 Mary Halvorson released Saturn Sings, [...]

Reviews May 21, 2012

A Second Opinion on the LifeProof Case

At the start of the year, Dan reviewed the LifeProof iPhone case. He loved it. I have had one for [...]

Deals May 21, 2012

Contemplating the iPhone 5? Try Radio Shack

Ah, Radio Shack!  Back in the day, Radio Shack was the go-to place for electrical and electronic, well, stuff.  Cables, [...]

Gaming May 21, 2012

New iOS App “Carpet Ball” Now Available

I’m not much of a pool player, really.  I like pool–heck, I also like snooker a lot!–but the combination of [...]

Giveaways May 21, 2012

SPIGEN SGP HTC One X Crumena Leather Pouch Series Review

The HTC One X is a beast… and I mean that in only the best way. It is big, it [...]