iPhone 8GB for $199-Is this the end of the WM Smartphones?

Well, I've always been one to say that WM Smartphones will never die. But, with the iPhone 8GB at $199, with built-in GPS and 3G, I can't imagine that Smartphone builders can possibly compete with that. I'm giving Palm 3 months to live, they hardly sell anything BUT smartphones. I hate to be a pessimist, but this is definitely going to either make manufacturers drastically drop prices, or simply go bankrupt. What's your take?

[psionandy]

Thats 199 with a 2 year contract...

a 2 year contract!!!!

why would you sign up for a 2 year contract!!!!

18 months is the furthest they've managed to push us in the UK

[ThundaAx]

The iPhone is going to affect the smartphone world like the Axim did for PDA's. Of course we know where the Axim ended up!

IMO the iPhone dominance is limited by the lack of 3rd party apps. I know the SDK was released recently but I have a hard time seeing the varitable bounty of applications that are available for Windows devices.

[star882]

Actually, it looks like the future is in Linux and regular Windows.

[DaLabrador]

I hope someone creates a hype for linux based smartphones.
Sadly I think MS and Apple are better at promoting platforms for moneymaking developers, so I hope people start to see linux like the splendid revolution it really is. Userbase and freedom (for developers) is all that counts, and all linux need is a bigger userbase (or positive/neutral propaganda instead of the FUD wars).
If nothing else - linux(all OSS) makes software (all software) better and cheaper and developers more competent.

[star882]

Quite a few handhelds are already going Linux so it would be logical for the phones to follow.

[ksong12]

Well, by "handheld", the closest you're going to come is the Eee PC, which isn't exactly so handheld. Apart from that, there are very very few, if any, truely "handheld" open linux devices.

Yes, lots of DMPs and such, (like my Cowon A2), are based on Linux, they do not allow any customizbility, and the linux kernel never shows, and it might as well not be based on Linux; there are no Linux traits on it.

Anyway, the iPhone has already sold 5 million units in less than a year. I don't believe any other smartphone has accomplished that. It'll definately change the smartphone market, but I don't think it will kill WM Smartphones: there are simply too many WM fans and powerusers (although I'm a convert)

the iPhone will force WM to get better faster. I'd never use an iPhone myself - I can't stand to have a vendor force software upon me. WM is infinitely more customizable, modifiable, and fiddlwithable.

Of course, it's more crashable, but no big deal. Sort reset... and off you go.

[spunker88]

Theres nothing bad about a little competition.

But i dont think the iphone will kill WM.
One of the big reasons is software. People, like myself, become addicted to certain pieces of software that are only made for WM. And does the iphone even allow for 3rd party software yet?

The new iphone is definitely a head turner, but i think plenty of people will still stay loyal to wm, as long as microsoft can keep it modern with features like those of the iphone.

[ksong12]

the iPhone will force WM to get better faster.

I agree with that :)

Microsoft has announced a better "full html" browser. Hopefully, it'll be better than PIE is now.

Yes, iPhone can run 3rd party apps, but the power apps that WM has grown to love (and hate), IMHO, will never come to the iPhone, simply because of the simple user interface (which I love).

And to what someone said about forcing software on you: I would rather have MobileSafari forced on me then PIE. Same with Mail. Same with Weather, same with iPod (which pwns TCPMP), same with SMS, same with... well, you get the idea.

One thing WM will definately need to get now is multitouch. It is incredibly useful.

I agree with that :)

And to what someone said about forcing software on you: I would rather have MobileSafari forced on me then PIE.

Same with Mail. Same with Weather, same with iPod (which pwns TCPMP), same with SMS, same with... well, you get the idea.

???

PIE is not forced on me. I use Opera.

Can't compare video playback on the iPOD at 1/2 vga with true VGA playback on WM6.1, and Coreplayer/TCPMP supports far more formats than iPod


I don't know any slick mail clients for WM, agreed on that point. It's never limited me, though.

There is not shortage of excellent weather applications for WM.

WM gives me my choice of interfaces. iPhone only one choice.

[ksong12]

However good Opera is, you can't deny that MobileSafari is many times better. I don't deny that WM gives much more choices (although you can theme the iPhone whatever you want if that's what you meant), but my point was the user interface.

Perhaps it's because I have a invisibleshield on my Axim, but video playback on the iPhone actually looks much nicer. (Oh, and the fact that I NEED an invisibleshield...)

Yes, CorePlayer/TCPMP supports more formats, but I still find it clumsy (although convenient). Besides, it takes me 15 minutes to convert a movie anyway.

Oh, and the fact that I haven't had to soft reboot because of a crash since the day I got it helps too...

iPhone software is far more stable than WM - no disagreement. I've just never found the occasional soft reset to be much of a problem with an instant on device. If had to constantly reboot my PC, I'd be very angry.

This is pretty much a rerun of the generation long PC-MAC wars. Same pros and cons to one system vs the other. I've always been a PC man, dating back to my first 286 system in 1987 or 86.

I don't know any slick mail clients for WM.

Try FlexMail4.... fully functional email client for WM
Welcome to WebIS.net - FlexMail 4

[Clegs]

I think that just the lack of a qwerty keyboard and Apple's skill at not being good for business will make windows mobile's competitor really be Blackberry.
I wouldn't be so concerned about iPhone vs WM, but Blackberry vs WM.