IPhone coming to Verizon

[Color Me Badd Fan]

Well, that's what several media outlets are reporting. Of course, we also heard the same thing last year.

But if this is the case, then that's good, because I've been shopping for a new phone for a couple months and now it looks like I'll have the choice between a Droid phone and an iphone.

As Ted posted in the other thread, it looks like malware, trojans, viruses, etc. maybe are beginning to run rampant on the Android platform. I'm not sure if there's a similar problem with the iPhone.

Anyway, I'm hoping we could talk about whether the iPhone is really coming to Verizon and then discuss which is the better option -- Droid or iPhone. The Achilles heal for the iPhone in the past was the fact you had to be signed up with AT&T.

[Commando]

I'm about 95% sure it's coming based on available info.

1. reports that apple has manufactured 5 million iphones with the verizon guts for shipment 1st Q.

2. reports that apple has blacked out the dates of Feb 3-5 for employee requests for time off.

3. Verizon making a big announcement tomorrow in NYC.

4. reports that AT &T sucks d^ck.


I am going to see what kind of pricing Verizon is going to put on the data plan/texting plan. If they try to bend me over I'm going to just get a Droid X on Amazon. We shall see!

[falafel]

I believe this will happen. The lead reporting has been from the WSJ, which is about as reputable as they come. Boy Genuis Report has heard that all Apple Store employees have been forbidden to take any vacation days between Feb. 3 and Feb. 6 (I think), suggesting that Apple expects something big during that period.

Update: BGR is reporting that the announcement will come tomorrow at 11:00 a.m. EST.

http://www.bgr.com/2011/01/10/live-f...-iphone-event/

[Uncle Ted]

Well, that's what several media outlets are reporting. Of course, we also heard the same thing last year.

But if this is the case, then that's good, because I've been shopping for a new phone for a couple months and now it looks like I'll have the choice between a Droid phone and an iphone.

As Ted posted in the other thread, it looks like malware, trojans, viruses, etc. maybe are beginning to run rampant on the Android platform. I'm not sure if there's a similar problem with the iPhone.

Anyway, I'm hoping we could talk about whether the iPhone is really coming to Verizon and then discuss which is the better option -- Droid or iPhone. The Achilles heal for the iPhone in the past was the fact you had to be signed up with AT&T.

Yes, the current rumor is early February. I might or might not be in a position to confirm or deny this but even if I was I couldn't tell you. It has been noted that Apple is projecting a sizable increase in iPhone sales Q1.

I wouldn't say that mobile malware is a big problem on either platform (yet). I do know that Apple is very concerned about malware on not only its mobile platforms but also on its other products. This is one of the reasons that apple keeps very close tabs on what kind of apps are accepted into its app store.

[TripletDaddy]

Question for all you Droid users (I have no dog in the fight, Im just curious)

I was on a call this morning and learned that many app developers are hesistant to develop for the Droid because the app ecosystem is not as hospitable to paid apps. Im summarizing here but the main contention is that it is tough to figure out how to make a paid app really thrive within the Droid ecosystem. As such, while the Droid app market continues to grow, it grows a slower rate than the Apple app marketplace and will never catch up.

Is there any truth to this in your experience?

[Clark Addison]

I'm locked into AT&T for a while more. I am hoping this happens so that a bunch of iPhone users flee to Verizon and free up AT&T bandwidth.

[Uncle Ted]

Question for all you Droid users (I have no dog in the fight, Im just curious)

I was on a call this morning and learned that many app developers are hesistant to develop for the Droid because the app ecosystem is not as hospitable to paid apps. Im summarizing here but the main contention is that it is tough to figure out how to make a paid app really thrive within the Droid ecosystem. As such, while the Droid app market continues to grow, it grows a slower rate than the Apple app marketplace and will never catch up.

Is there any truth to this in your experience?

The following report may explain some of the concerns of paid app developers on the Android Platform...

http://threatcenter.smobilesystems.c...6-22-10-v1.pdf

In short, if I was a paid app developer I would be concerned about piracy of my app and the integrity of the Android platform (e.g. if people are running a different "root" then this could cause additional support problems/costs).

The Apple app store is very controlled by Apple. All applications are carefully reviewed. In addition, apps run in a secure "sandbox" using technology apple developed called Seatbelt and are required to be "signed" (which helps with the piracy issue). In do so apple has been very successful in attracting developers with its app store model. In fact, it has recently adopted this same model for 3rd party apps on its Macintosh product line as well.

[Surfah]

Question for all you Droid users (I have no dog in the fight, Im just curious)

I was on a call this morning and learned that many app developers are hesistant to develop for the Droid because the app ecosystem is not as hospitable to paid apps. Im summarizing here but the main contention is that it is tough to figure out how to make a paid app really thrive within the Droid ecosystem. As such, while the Droid app market continues to grow, it grows a slower rate than the Apple app marketplace and will never catch up.

Is there any truth to this in your experience?

I have not heard this. I think the biggest obstacle for Droid developers is having to develop for multiple phones with varying specs. But I am not a developer of any kind.

I think the iPhone is grand. I likely would have gone iPhone if their data plans were reasonable. But they're not. At least not for the amount of data I use. I wonder how bad Verizon is going to gouge customers.

[Surfah]

The following report may explain some of the concerns of paid app developers on the Android Platform...

http://threatcenter.smobilesystems.c...6-22-10-v1.pdf

In short, if I was a paid app developer I would be concerned about piracy of my app and the integrity of the Android platform (e.g. if people are running a different "root" then this could cause additional support problems/costs).

The Apple app store is very controlled by Apple. All applications are carefully reviewed. In addition, apps run in a secure "sandbox" using technology apple developed called Seatbelt and are required to be "signed" (which helps with the piracy issue). In do so apple has been very successful in attracting developers with its app store model. In fact, it has recently adopted this same model for 3rd party apps on its Macintosh product line as well.

http://gizmodo.com/5727080/mac-app-s...ked-for-piracy

[Color Me Badd Fan]

BTW, I watched a considerable portion of a documentary on Netflix called Objectified. Basically it was documentary on product design.

They interviewed a guy named Dieter Rams whose supposedly famous in the industrial design world. He was the head of design at Braun for decades and one of the leaders in the field. His mantra was "weniger, aber besser" which means "less, but better."

He singled out Apple as the best product designer in the world (or its products have the best product design in the world). When showing some of his designs it looked apparent that Apple was probably influenced by Dieter Rams and his designs.

[Commando]

yeah I love about all the apple products I've had. However, the first cell phone I had was a motorola, and the LG Touch I currently have is a pos compared to it, so I think I would be happy to give motorola another go if the iphone is over 120 a month w/ data on verizon.

[TripletDaddy]

The following report may explain some of the concerns of paid app developers on the Android Platform...

http://threatcenter.smobilesystems.c...6-22-10-v1.pdf

In short, if I was a paid app developer I would be concerned about piracy of my app and the integrity of the Android platform (e.g. if people are running a different "root" then this could cause additional support problems/costs).

The Apple app store is very controlled by Apple. All applications are carefully reviewed. In addition, apps run in a secure "sandbox" using technology apple developed called Seatbelt and are required to be "signed" (which helps with the piracy issue). In do so apple has been very successful in attracting developers with its app store model. In fact, it has recently adopted this same model for 3rd party apps on its Macintosh product line as well.

Interesting. I defer to you on all things tech, of course, but the crux of the call was the economy within the Android ecosystem (security concerns notwithstanding.)

I just pulled this article, an interview with Peter Vesterbacka, the guy that created Angry Birds. It is a brief and interesting read, but towards the end of the bit, he briefly delves into the focus of my call this morning.

Since I have spent zero time in the Android marketplace and know little of the culture, I am curious about this. If accurate, it seems to spell the end of the Android app market before it even begins. If you can't make money, you will eventually die out, or so it would seem.

http://technmarketing.com/iphone/pet...ia-and-palmhp/

[Uncle Ted]

http://gizmodo.com/5727080/mac-app-s...ked-for-piracy

Yes, about that...

Edit: The author of this article does make a good point that I agree with...

While I don't support piracy, I understand the need to allow people to try apps for free, especially when there's so much crap out there. However, this opens the door to wide piracy, which is not good for anyone, developers and users alike in the long term.

That's why Apple should provide a test mode for all apps. Lite and trial versions don't cut it. It's cumbersome and not universal. Storewide 24-hour testing would be perfect, allowing users to quickly purchase or delete at any time during the trial period.

[Surfah]

Yes, about that...

Edit: The author of this article does make a good point that I agree with...

I agree. And it was something that I appreciated about the Android Marketplace. You had 24 hours to get a full refund of an app. But from what I have seen recently that window has been cut to as short as 15 minutes on some downloads rendering it useless.

[woot]

I'm locked into AT&T for a while more. I am hoping this happens so that a bunch of iPhone users flee to Verizon and free up AT&T bandwidth.

I was thinking the same thing. My contract is up in September, so hopefully by then I'll have an idea of whether AT&T's service will improve enough to justify staying with them. It really is dreadful, though. Verizon's customer service is terrible, but their phone service in my experience was vastly superior.