Managing Hype Curse-Apple's challenge

After making my bold predictions yesterday about the iPhone 5 today's post will be about why Apple didn't deliver upon these predictions. Did you think I was going to admit I was off ?

Apple has build such as huge wave of expectations around a new iPhone 5, that the announcement of the iPhone 4S landed with a quiet THUD... Any iPhone 4 user will tell you that it is still a fantastic product, crisp in its responsiveness and very much an elegant design. A faster CPU will always help and faster downloads will certainly increase the responsiveness of cloud applications.

I think the less visible and more significant aspects of the iPhone 4S are buried inside the case:

1. CDMA and GSM network technology in one phone: It appears that there is one product model that supports both. This helps CDMA users with travel outside of the CDMA network range, particularly for Verizon users who conduct business outside of the US. While not  a large population, clearly one that racks up large monthly bills. New York City glitterati that hate the large gaps in ATT coverage in the city's concrete canyons can now have their cake and eat it too. Also, for many corporate accounts, having international roaming access is check-list item. This phone covers those use cases. Apple has likely used a Qualcomm chip set that allows for both radios to co-exist at minimal incremental cost.

2. Much Faster graphics: Apple is claiming 7x graphic performance: Sony and Nintendo, watch out on this one. Apple is taking clear advantage of its position as the uber mobile experience device to make further forays into the gaming space. Observing the usage of my iPhone 4 (by our five year old) and my 8 year old daughter's IPhone 3GS usage for gaming purposes, I can attest to the ease of use and convenience of having games on hand wherever we go. I wonder who is the winner of the graphics chipset award on this one.

3. Sprint as a channel: Sprint was the last large mobile network that Apple had not served. capturing another 20 million subscribers and their long-term loyalty is a considerable feat, likely enabled by the iPhone 4S, and its successors.

Now, lets get back to what I said, and why they did not deliver:


1. More COLOR choices: Too complicated to manage the logistics I suppose. It took Apple a year to deliver white. How about a cover anyone?

2. Larger screen, in the same frame size: This is likely reserved for iPhone 5.

3. Thin is in: iPhone 5.


4. Addition of Near Field Communications: iPhone 5.


6. Mini Me: Yes!! Apple is coming to grips with the need to capture the broader base of the mobile phone pyramid. In Apple's case, this is the middle girth, not the very bottom base- that's for the iPod shuffle... Pricing the IPhone 3GS at $0 was a good move. As long as applications work reasonably well and downloads are at acceptable speeds, there will be plenty of takers of IPhone 3GS's.

Happy iPhoning

One more iPhone 5 Posting- My predictions for the not so obvious

Today is the day Apple announces the iPhone 5. The biggest anticipation is what will be the big surprise  beyond the 8 megapixel camera and even faster processor. Here are my top predictions:

1. More COLOR choices: Based on the strategy from the iPod- we will see a RED and or PINK IPhone options. While cases can certainly add that flair, the front of the iPhone has remained monochromatic since the beginning, and may be about to chance.


2. Larger screen, in the same frame size. How can you do this? Bring the speaker and camera closer to the screen. 


3. Thin is in- This is one is not a secret. the IPhone can certainly be more svelte! 


4. Addition of Near Field Communications for wallet and other similar applications.


6. Mini Me: A smaller, less expensive version of the iPhone to capture the masses. The agreement signed with Sprint, which has a slightly lower ARPU customer base was a signal that there is an attempt to broaden the base of users. Or perhaps the 3GS form factor and screen resolution is going to be made available in CDMA and at a lower price.


We'll see how accurate these predictions were in less than an hour!

Soundhound is AMAZING! Ultimate Expression of Mobility

As we live our mobile lives, work, play, home life appear to intertwine themselves ever more. I notice myself wanting to reach different information at the whim of the moment, and my iPhone always seems to be ready to serve.

Today's AHA experience was with SoundHound, an app on my iPhone. I was shopping at Trade Joe's (more on that on a separate post) where I heard a song being played in the store. It was one of those tunes that I had listened to on the radio countless times but had not been able to catch the name. It also seemed from a long time ago that it just was not being played on the radio often anymore.

There was a lot of chatter, with Moms shouting at kids, grand mothers chosing picking cans etc. I simply pointed my IPhone to the ceiling speaker and activated Soundhound. Within 6-7 second, I had the name.

I pressed the Download from ITunes logo. Within 20 seconds, connected over the free ATT Wi-Fi from Starbucks near the parking lot, I had my song for a mere $1.29.

This is the ultimate expression of MOBILITY. Not just the fact that I am mobile, but that I did something on the spot, that would have been a considered magic just a few years ago.


In case you are curious of what song deserved so much commotion, it is Voices Carry by 'Til Tuesday