First touch of the iPhone in the UK

Today I got my hands on the iPhone for the first time in the UK. A colleague had brought one back from the US and then unlocked it, which meant the only useable functions were the iPod and the wireless internet.


The first thing I did was compared it to my black 30gb iPod video. The iPhone was slighly heavier. The feel of the devices were quite similar, well built, smooth and glossy. I touched my way into the photo library which had some poor photos in so I couldnt appreciate the screen there, but I did hold the iPhone in the landscape format and then I used my fingers to zoom in and out of the photo which is really fun.

The iPod functionality looked really nice, but as the iPhone only had 8gb of storage it meant there wasnt much to look at, although there was a full length movie on there and when that came up in fullscreen it was so sharp and big! I dont know how I can watch a movie on my video iPod anymore after seeing the playback quality of the iPhone!


The biggest floor in my opinion is the keyboard. It was soo difficult to use, it took me a few minutes to type 'Design Without Sleep'. I do understand though that that sort of thing would require practice and other smart phones look tricky too.


I also tried to log on to the internet but unfortunately there was no wireless internet at the time.


The camera on it is really poor to be honest. Apple should have left that out and used a small iSight camera (like the ones used in iMacs and MacBooks) on the front which could be used with iChat.

You have to remember though that this device is version 1. Do you remember version 1 of the iPod?! My verdict is I doubt i'll be buying one, at least not straight away. Why? Because I am a Pay & Go customer with hardly any strings attached. When this phone is released in the UK it will probably have an 18 month contract, £40 a month, plus £200+ for the device. What I will be buying 100% though is the next generation of the video iPod. It is due out mid to late September 2007 at the Paris Expo in time for the Christmas holidays. I cannot wait to touch my iPod in a whole new way.

Verdict:
* * * * *

iPod nano (13th Sept 2007)



I checked out the new iPod nano today, it's soo small and unbelievably thin!


Shaun

Research Brief

1) My definition is that a community is a group of people, whether it's two people or two billion people who share similar morals, thoughts, feelings, interests, religion, history, business & sex (many more examples im sure). I deliberately left out geographical location, although you could easily add it in. A community can exist across land and sea through optical media, ie. the internet.

2) My definition of technology is something which is either physical (ie. flint) or intangible (iTunes). Technology aids us/humans in our daily/evolutionary lives, environments & societies.

3) A technology which could be introduced to commuters on trains/buses is something (implanted chip/virtual reality glasses) which when you close your eyes you enter a space where other commuters in a set space around you also exist (when they opt to close their eyes), almost like an instant virtual chat room. The room appears to be infinite. Your residual self image is pre-defined. You can then communicate with other commuters. You can share thoughts, discuss world news, debate the price of your fare and give them your details so you can call each other or meet in reality another time.

Another idea to improve community essence for drivers is a bit harder as drivers need to be engaged with driving. Hands-free communication is allowed though as a driver can concentrate on the road as well as talk. Therefore an idea of mine is that your vehicle has approximately 500ft of talk range. Any other vehicle within your range can talk. Drivers, and their passengers therefore are in an ever changing conversation as over vehicles will drive past you so that would mean a brief hello maybe, or a vehicle traveling the same route will mean a long conversation. You could be discussing what car there have, where they are going, who you are with, what music you enjoy etc.

4) YouTube is interacted with daily by millions of people. This is when they meet in London (Feb 2007):



Research Brief history:
Brief Begins
Real Underground
First Day Session
Community Oberservation
Communities on the Road



_tollerton

Research Brief begins

The research brief began today.

One of things talked about was, 'Define Technology'.

When think of technology, we think of computers, gadgets, 1080p, mp3's etc., but technology doesnt have to be electronic. Take the photo below taken by my friend Jordan:























I would say that this is technology because it is solving a problem of not having a fridge, so therefore make one instead. Quite nice I think because isnt this what technology does for us? Below are tools from the Stone Age, pretty high tech.











Anyway, moving on a bit, the aim of this brief is to look at technology on a community level. So things like, mobile phones, television, myspace, cars are things to look into.

For next week we have to present:

Two examples of community promoting technologies
Two examples of negating technologies
Document the addition to a community (visual or aural)
Brainstorm ideas












All of my work for this will be posted here and I will also project this blog for my presentations.



_tollerton