We're Busy Preparing for Our Own Coverage of 'iDay' this Friday,
So Here's What Others are Calling Up in Regard to the iPhone
| by Joe Leo, Columnist |
continued... from: previous page
[UPDATED: 9:00a, PDT-- this page just added after making a fresh round of other sources around the web including TV as well... being on the West Coast--"Apple time" so it's kosher--means this only came our way within the hour. The page before this was the original end of the article]
Jane Wells, CNBC reporter reports for Today, earlier today (sorry, that's how the word order came up) on the countdown to Apple's cell phone that anchor Meredith Vieira describes as doing everything except cook dinner.
Wells says, "But some consumers who want to buy an iPhone are sitting out round one, hoping that maybe the price will come down, or any potential glitches wlll get worked out."
One interviewee said he'd wait 18 months--if he can hold off, he says--commenting that the iPhone will be in the second generation or even third generation by that time.
Knowing Apple, that could just be the case. In fact, Engadget reports that Apple is already working on a three-tiered iPhone selling model akin to the current iPod line with a nano and a shuffle-sized model in the works. Which spells, different price point levels.
Another comments that she wants to get the iPhone, but? She doesn't want to switch to AT&T. The lady says, "...it's a real tough decision not to buy it right out of the box. I'd almost want to be in line to touch it, and feel, and just see what the iPhone's all about."
Well, if she wants to be in line, she better go now. (That guy in New York we mentioned was also featured in the Today show segment. He's becoming a celebrity in his own right. They should line up Paris Hilton...).
Mac Daily News points out this morning that the Apple Store Retail has posted a notice on apple.com that:
"Apple retail stores will be closed on June 29 from 2:00p to 6:00p to get ready for the premiere of iPhone. We'll open the doors again at 6:00p, when you can be one of the first to see, try, and buy the iPhone. Be sure to arrive early-- iPhone is available on a first-come, first served basis."
This report from Apple contradicts previous reports--such as that given to us by the AT&T employee at the Cingular Wireless store whom we spoke with for our article on 6/20--that the iPhone would not be on display for seeing, touching, feeling prior to purchase.
This seems a good PR move and way to sell a product normally... try before you buy.
Two days after WWDC 07, after Steve Jobs revealed most of Leopard to the world and then made the "shocking" (your opinion on whether the intensity of that word is high or low) announcement that Safari would be available for Windows, we wrote a commentary about how the iPod's driving force was again coming out of the woodwork.
iTunes-like features in Leopard, etc. Of course, as luck would have it, in order to use an iPhone, you must have an iTunes account. Surprised?
MacUser.com, a site from the staff at Macworld magazine which is a blog/news site separate from their magazine dealings, reports that Apple and AT&T have posted pricing plans for the iPhone, as well as how to easily activate your new iPhone via iTunes.
Remember how we said--duh--that the iPhone is really an iPod disguised as a cell phone? (No comments, as there isn't room for opinions here... just stating a previously published statement).
**note: by the way, Macworld has started a new blog aptly named "iPhone Central" for news on all things iPhone! It could be PBCentral's sister site. Almost. (It's not).
Today/NBC News: 'iPhone Frenzy'
Apple: 'The Wait is Almost Over'
Ah, the iTunes Connection
