Apple iPhone: rethinking the PC or lowest common denominator?
There's been a lot in the press recently about the rethinking of the PC platform - perfectly exemplified by the unveiling of Microsoft's Surface. The Microsoft surface is a coffee table computer where the interface relies on users pulling items across the surface with their hands, fingers etc. Put your mobile phone on the table and it'll interface with it - very cool stuff indeed.
The iPhone seems to be taking this rethinking of the PC to another level - attempting to integrate everything you ever needed into a small handset. Apple have too rethought the interface, allowing for the use of the thumbs to gesture and control the device. Rethinking the mobile phone interface is a good idea considering the options currently available. You either are limited to a number-pad or things like Microsoft Mobile: both require you to have your hands infront of the device for the majority of it's operation. So Apple has a good idea, yes? Well, that's debatable.
Rethinking the PC
The PC has been a static concept for some time now - a heavy desktop machine, monitor, mouse and any number of other items. Laptops/notebooks and PDA's have done their part to allow normal users to help re-evaluate how computing can assist them while remaining mobile. The iPhone could be seen as the natural extension of this, allowing users to manage their music and videos on the move, view maps, get directions etc etc etc.
Lowest common demominator
Apple are one of the best companies in the world for creating sales. Look at the iPod: release something stylish but ultimately flawed and everyone buys it. Release a slightly more advanced one (bigger hard drive for example) and everyone buys it again. Make it smaller and everyone buys another. Give the tiny version more power/space and sales with surge once again. How about looking at how they do business in the desktop market?
Release an operating system but tie all application versions to that release, meaning to get the latest and greatest software you need the latest and greatest operating system - cunning, no? Therefore one could argue that Apple are using their famous business sense to release a product that they know people will buy - safe in the knowledge that an improved iPhone can be released 6 months down the line with yet another surge of sales. Then a smaller iPhone can be released even later with yet another surge of sails - and so on.
Whatever you want to say about the iPhone it is going to be success - Apple make a living by selling stylish things to people with too much money. The iPhone is going to be another iPod - massively stylish, a little overpriced and a certain hit with popular culture. If nothing it'll piggyback on the popularity of the iPod. I've already blogged that the iPhone madness has started so give that a read too.
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