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yet another Microsoft blogger

# Monday, July 02, 2007

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iPhone

I waited a few days so it wouldn't be crazy when I went to the Apple store, but yesterday I placed my grubby fingers on the iPhone and played with it for 10 or so minutes.

Scott Hanselman has a great write up of the experience.

The iPhone reminds me of what it's like to play and experience something I hadn't experienced before. Microsoft Surface gave me the same goose bumps. It reminded me why I am such a gadget freak. Every couple of years something like this comes along that puts a big huge smile on your face every time you use it.

It's the perfect blend of technology and art. It's a completely emotional experience. It's fun.

I did not buy one. I reserve the right to change my mind in the future, but if it did in fact support Exchange ActiveSync I would instead be writing a review rather than a "Wow" post. It's not the e-mail I care so much about, but the calendar, contacts, and tasks sync that is the killer app for me. Knowing that when I update some one's phone number on my phone that all my devices on all my computers get that update is the holy grail.

BTW, other gadgets which made me feel this way:

  • TiVo
  • Apple AirPort
  • Newton MessagePad 100
  • Newton MessagePad 130
  • Newton MessagePad 2000
  • original iPod
  • iPod nano
  • ipod Shuffle v2
  • HiDef
  • original Canon PowerShot Digital Elph

Gear
Posted Monday, July 02, 2007    Permalink    Comments [7]  View blog reactions

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Monday, July 02, 2007 12:15:57 PM (Pacific Daylight Time, UTC-07:00)
It actually does support Exchange ActiveSync: http://www.engadget.com/2007/06/29/more-evidence-of-iphones-exchange-support-and-rss-reader/

Not sure to what extent, I haven't tried it yet though...
Steve
Monday, July 02, 2007 12:16:56 PM (Pacific Daylight Time, UTC-07:00)
But, that being said, it's probably just IMAP.
Steve
Monday, July 02, 2007 1:11:17 PM (Pacific Daylight Time, UTC-07:00)
Hello, Omar.

Despite I am not going to buy the Apple's phone, it is more accessible for common people rather than MS surface which will be priced $5000 as far as I can remember. I would like to get goose bumps by something I can afford :)

Cheers,
Rustam
Rustam
Monday, July 02, 2007 3:57:14 PM (Pacific Daylight Time, UTC-07:00)
IMAP != Exchange ActiveSync. I know of no corporations that expose IMAP outside the firewall.

I do hope Apple gets to this in the future.
Omar Shahine
Tuesday, July 03, 2007 5:32:21 AM (Pacific Daylight Time, UTC-07:00)
I totally agree, the iPhone is pretty, but for me, personally, there are three big issues:

1. No WMA support. My whole media library is WMA lossless. It was a choice made a while back and something incredible has to come along to make me re-rip all my CDs.

2. No Exchange support. ('nuff said)

Finally, but absolutely the most important:
3. No buttons. Here's where wow train goes way off the track for me. I know from years with a Pronto and borrowing an iMate Jam that a phone without buttons would drive me absolutely nutters. Sure, a smooth, shiny sheet of touch-screen looks very cool and Star Trek... but usability-wise it's pure headache.
Reeves Little
Wednesday, July 04, 2007 10:28:14 AM (Pacific Daylight Time, UTC-07:00)
Reeves,
1. All my songs are in Apple Lossless. I just select the songs I want on my phone and use an AppleScript to convert (as a copy), sync to the iPhone and then delete the copy. Very simple.

2. You are correct sir. That would be the killer app.

3. There are "some" buttons on the iPhone. But really, don't mock the interface until you spend some time with it. I find it totally revolutionary and a glimpse into the future of how we will interact with computers. Keyboards and Mice are so last century.

I've had a lot of gadgets. Nearly every version of the Newton, at least 10 different Win CE devices, countless "smartphones" and several palm devices. The iPhone is hands down the most incredible gadget I have ever used. It really is, "that good". Is it perfect? No way. But it is damn close. I'm sure Apple will continue perfecting the software and adding new features. In my mind, everyone else is now playing catch up.
Rob
Saturday, July 07, 2007 1:22:25 PM (Pacific Daylight Time, UTC-07:00)
Can you use Exchange ActiveSync with any email account? I just use Gmail, which I love, and it already does the stuff you are calling the holy grail (contact, phone numbers, all updated wherever you are, due to the fact that it's an internet app). So, I guess the only advantage of Exchange ActiveSync is that you can use it with some other email address(es), right?
Andrew Swihart
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