iPhone Competitors »

Remember that little trademark spat between Apple and Cisco over who could use the iPhone moniker? Well, the two may have come to amenable ends in the US, but overseas is a whole different story. Apparently, there are a number of companies in the European Union that have filed for or already hold rights to the iPhone name.

According to The Inquirer, “Apple itself filed for a trademark on IPHONE in 2002, but has had the application opposed by other companies with similar marks. Indeed, Spanish firm Catalan De Telecomunicacions Societat Operadora De Xarxes (phew) has its own mark application for Al-Pi Iphone, whilst AudioDescripciones, aso in Spain, has the IPH IPhone. Here in the UK, ICX Europe, a VOIP solutions firm, has also applied for the mark.”

The trademark dispute may even have something to do with the delay in European iPhone rollout, although that is pure speculation. For the sake of Europeans all across the EU, we hope Apple is able to hold onto the iPhone moniker and rollout the high-sought device by October.

Then again, with all the cash that Apple’s made from the US iPhone launch alone, we’re sure there is plenty to go around in court (and out) to appease all parties involved.

[Via: The Inquirer]

We all know that the entire mobile industry will be taking design cues from the Apple iPhone, so how do you distinguish between a clone and a device that’s been “inspired” by the iPhone? Well, when a device that isn’t even a phone copies the iPhone’s basic design and even the icon layout, you know you have a rip-off on your hands. The Pasen ITouch is just such a knock-off. The PMP (Personal Media Player) looks to be able to play audio and video, but what’s interesting about this thing is the interface’s resemblance to the iPhone. It’s almost like the designers put and iPhone on the table and said “make our thing look like that iPhone thing.”

It’s too bad the resemblance stops there. The device functionality is obviously touch-based, as you can see from the video-maker’s hard screen-presses. And, the interface looks slow and cumbersome. But, the best part is when he tries to scroll using his finger input, giving up as soon as he realizes that it just ain’t happening. So, what’s so great about the Pasen ITouch? Nothing, other than the fact that it can ride the iPhone’s coat-tails - the owner of this thing is probably pretty miffed that he didn’t get an iPhone. Sucks to be him.

[Via: Engadget Mobile]

It’s pretty much a foregone conclusion that Apple is working on a smaller, cheaper version of its iPhone - the iPhone “Nano,” as some call it. So, just what will the iPhone Nano look like?

Well, hrmpf has taken patent application images and come up with what he believes will be the iPhone Nano. Most notable in the design is the lack of any touchscreen - instead using a scrollwheel/clickwheel for number and text entry.

One thing hrmpf fails to take into account with his speculative design is Apple’s patent for displaying character right on the clickwheel itself - turning the clickwheel into a touch-display of sorts. That seems to be a much more logical choice than a rotary dial interface for dialing phone numbers. But, only time will tell what Apple is working on.

We should mention a valid point brought up by MacRumors. Back in the pre-iPhone hype days, when iPhone speculation was just starting to build, there were reliable reports of first-hand sighting of an iPhone that looked similar to the iPod Nano. These reports were the basis for the first iPhone mockups. It turns out that, if the iPhone Nano has indeed been in development for some time (as we suspect), then those first-hand sightings may have actually been prototype/test units of the iPhone’s little brother.

Stay tuned, we’ll make sure to bring you the latest development in this iSpace.
[Via: MacRumors]

The PSP screen is bigger, the Apple iPhone screen appears to be brighter. Each has their own strengths, but which display comes out on top? Check out this photo comparison of the two displays. Tell us which screen you think deserves top honors? (Surely we don’t have to tell you which screen we like best)

[Via: JustAMP]

The iPhone’s UI is an incredible piece of work. So intuitive, so smooth, so pretty. We can’t blame MicroPCTalk forum member, Alexium, for trying to get his Sony Vaio UX UMPC to look as close as possible to the iPhone. Aside from the obvious size and weight difference, the UX’s touchscreen makes iPhone emulation a legit possibility. The “uPhone”, as he calls it, uses his customized app launcher that looks pretty damn close to the iPhone (both in aesthetics and function). The iTunes Cover Flow feature mimics the iPhone’s “browse album” feature, Skype for phone calls, and some other apps to make pretend that your hulking UMPC (compared to the iPhone, it’s definitely huge) is an iPhone.

Props go out to Alexium for his efforts. We’re sure the couple dozen UMPC owners out there are going to appreciate his work - once he finalizes the software and makes it available for download.

Check out the vids, it’s actually damned impressive (video quality notwithstanding)!

[Via: DAPReview]

We can pretty much sum up what we think of maddox’s hate for the iPhone - wow. You would think the iPhone actually did this guy wrong - like banging his wife and his sister at the same time. You really should check out this guy’s rant about how much he loves his Nokia E70 and how much the iPhone is the result of some defecation that’s apparently on our face as well. We’ve noticed a good amount of iPhone “hating” in the recent weeks, but this is by far the angriest.

We’d like to take this opportunity to point out the critical flaw in all these iPhone haters’ arguments. Well, they are critical flaws - plural. We’re not Apple fanboys (well, some of us are), but for the most part, we are fans of the iPhone because of the design - not it’s features. Our judgements are based on rational thought and objective reasoning - taking into account the pros and cons.

First off, this is Apple’s first phone. Yes, they’ve been making consumer devices for years, but this is their first foray into an ultra-competitive and cut-throat market. All these other phones that people compare to the iPhone are made by companies with years of mobile phone experience tucked under their belts. If BMW had never made a single automobile, and tomorrow they launched a new 3-series that was controlled by the driver’s thoughts, and it sold like hotcakes, would anybody talk smack about it not having a spare tire? Of course not. The control interface’s seamless integration with the human interface would take center stage. Of course, those people that were put-off by the high sticker-price would find faults, but that’s what closed-minded people do - they latch onto exceptional faults and ignore the innovative merits (case in point, maddox’s "comparison chart" lists similar resolutions for the iPhone and Nokia E70, conveniently leaving out screen size - size matters, buddy)

Then, there’s the argument that the iPhone doesn’t have GPS, doesn’t have 3G, doesn’t have this, doesn’t have that. Take a moment to refer back to our first counter-point. Then contemplate the fact that the iPhone isn’t hot because it’s packed with features. Damnit, we’ve had technologies like WiFi, touchscreens, music players, video players, web browsing, etc. for years now. But, phones packed with features like 3G, GPS, and WiFi tend to have a “cobbled-together” feel - with a mish-mash feature-set that is neither intuitive, nor seamlessly integrated. The iPhone takes the most necessary and usable features and brings them together in a way that’s efficient and just makes sense. While Multi-Touch is awesome, the Apple iPhone will not usher in a revolution based on its features, but based on the seamless UI - incredibly seamless control melded with intuitive controls that were designed for human interaction. Sure it’s pretty, but the iPhone is about making mobile phones work with the most important interface - the human interface. It’s the UI people, the UI!

And then, there’s the argument that the price of the iPhone is ridiculous. Of course it is - this is A) an Apple product and B) a high-end device. Not everyone wants or needs a $600 mobile phone just because it’s innovative and trendy. Most people just need a phone that makes calls. The iPhone was not made for these people. This first iteration, in whats sure to be a long-lived and fruitful product line, of the iPhone is made for the early adopters out there. Those not afraid of change. Those brave enough to question established doctrine for the sake of change - the never-ending quest to improve the world around us.

As far as maddox’s confusion as to why “Nokia’s marketing team is too busy tossing salad” to get the E70 more coverage, we think we have the answer. They are not “too busy” with anything, maddox. Nokia has simply moved on, likely after the realization that the E70’s design (while strikingly innovative and damn good) was not going to be the market hit that it was intended as. There are other phone’s with that same concept, maddox. They didn’t work out. Just accept it. While being different and enabling change can be good, not all change is good. People just don’t want it as bad as you think they should. In this way, the whole world disagrees - and YOU are wrong.

We’d bet money that maddox seriously lacks the “people-skills” necessary to actually be liked by a group of friends - much less, gain any sort of popularity among peers. Which brings us to our next bet - in watching all the “cool” (yes, the iPhone makes you cool, didn’t you know?) people getting along like sociable human-beings (and “high-fiving each other (literally)”), he built up some serious rage and resentment towards not just the iPhone, but towards the iPhone owners as well (see Mom, that year or two or college psychology really paid off). Which takes us to our final bet - when maddox wakes up a year or two from now and realizes that his new phone took design and functionality (from a UI standpoint, not feature-based) cues from the original iPhone (not to mention the new iPhone that will be on market by that time), he will be forced to renege on his current position and just accept change. Change is good, maddox - it drives innovation (or was it the other way around). In either case, have fun playing with your Nokia E70 by yourself.

Apple has come long way from Newton to the iPhone. As you can see from the image above, Apple’s handset is much, much smaller that the company’s earlier “handheld” computer — quotes are there to illustrate that this device hardly fits any hand. Anyway, here’s the link to the Flickr page with more photos of the two Apple products, where you can see how the two devices compare in terms of size.

Plus, check out the “I’m an iPhone, and I’m a Blackberry” commercial featuring Newton after the break.

[Via: gadgetsonthego.net]

It looks like the iPhone is confused again - it wants to be an enterprise phone. We have completely unconfirmed and highly dubious reports that Apple is working on an enterprise edition of the iPhone. Apparently, “Taiwanese sources” are claiming that Apple is hard at work on three new versions of the iPhone - a non-US market model with new features, a stripped down iPhone (iPhone “Nano”), and an enterprise edition of the iPhone with features developed in conjunction with Google (applications for fast email delivery, messaging, and map routing information). We’re not concerned with the non-US market version, as we’ve known about an Asian and European iPhone being prepped for some time now. The iPhone “Nano” is also rumored to be in the works, we already knew that. But, a business class iPhone with possible built-in GPS? Could it be possible? We certainly hope so, but we’re taking this one with a grain, maybe a large pinch, of salt.

We’ve already seen enterprise solutions for the iPhone, so to think that Apple is working on a specific business-class iPhone is highly suspect.

As with all things iPhone, we’ll just wait and see.

[Via: SmartOffice]

Just yesterday we got reports from JP Morgan analyst Kevin Chang claiming that Apple was working to bring a lower-priced Apple iPhone “nano” to market by year end. Today, the company has issued an opposing viewpoint. Bill Shope, senior JP Morgan analyst, said that Chang’s sources had not been corroborated - and that basing any analysis on a single patent would be a mistake.

“We believe a near-term launch would be unusual and highly risky. It took Apple over two years to launch its first low-end iPod (the iPod mini),” Shope explained. “Not all consumers want a combined phone and music player, so Apple is likely to keep the iPhone and iPod as distinct business segments for as long as this makes economic sense.”

Instead, it seems more likely that Apple will be keeping their iPhone as their sole mobile phone offering - following up with a 3G-enabled model early in 2008.

Come on guys, we can’t take these kinds of ups and downs. Just as we’re gettign excited for a new, smaller, cheaper iPhone in the pipeline, you squash our hopes and dreams. But, we troopers, so we’ll just substitute your reality for our own and keep on hoping for that Apple iPhone “Nano” to launch by Christmas time.

[Via: Apple Insider]

Yea, the iPhone is locked to AT&T. No, it doesn’t seem fair. But, what’s a nation to do? Well, the Congressional Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet is holding a hearing today to discuss whether it is “fair” to bundle cell phones with certain wireless carriers. The debate is officially titled, “Wireless Innovation and Consumer Protection,” but is being referred to as the “iPhone hearings.”

Committee Chairman, Ed Markey, told The Street that, “We need to unbundle phones,”adding that, “The consumer should be king and should be able to take their device with them, to whichever network provider is offering them a better deal…”

The result of today’s debate will determine the future of the mobile industry - not only in how mobile phones are bundled (or, “locked”) to a particular wireless network, but also in how the upcoming 700Mhz wireless frequency spectrum will be deployed. Former FCC Chairman, Reed Hundt, called for the creation of an open, high-speed data network from the auctioned airwaves. Current FCC Chairman agrees with the sentiment that the winner of the newly opened spectrum provide an open-platform for “innovative services for consumers.”

Could Congress go so far as to force AT&T and Apple to release their strangle-hold on the iPhone and actually order the colluding duo to open the iPhone to other networks? Possible, if not probable.

Still, it would be nice.

[Via: Tech.Blorge]

Like the iPhone? Who doesn't? Well, if you currently use a Windows Mobile based device, you may add a little iPhone touch to it. The Slide 2 UnLock is a simple lock/unlock application which brings the iPhone style slide unlocking to your WM-based smartphone. It can be used as a startscreen app or as a screensaver.

This should keep us alive 'till June 29. Hurry up and grab Slide 2 UnLock (it's free), before Apple's lawyers react. (via: gizmodo)

There's an interesting article in The Wall Street Journal discussing the iPhone and its rivals — namely Nokia N95, Samsung UpStage, HTC Touch and LG Prada.

The article begins (and ends for that matter) with the Nokia N95 — the Finish handset maker's flagship "multimedia computer". Authors, Li Yuan and Amol Sharma, remind us that the N95 sports all the features of the iPhone, plus an integrated GPS and a 5 MP camera. However, the problem is that Nokia still haven't signed a deal with any carrier to distribute its smartphone in the States.

Next, authors look at the LG Prada phone, stylish all-touchscreen device that even appeared before the iPhone. Apparently, Verizon will carry this device and will be offering it as direct competitor to Apple's iPhone.

Recently announced HTC Touch is also the device to look for. As it was the case with the N95, almost all features of the iPhone come with this Windows Mobile based smartphone. Plus, HTC bundle an extra cool UI to the Touch, to make it even easier to use. Still, to date no U.S. carrier has signed a deal with HTC to offer this device. On the other hand, that could change quickly as T-Mobile is known to carry HTC devices in both Europe and in the States.

Finally, Samsung UpStage is also competing for the hearts and minds of the potential iPhone buyers. This slick device may not have all the whistles and bells, but for hundred bucks you can't get much more. Sprint also made sure that the UpStage is fully compatible with its new mobile music store, giving users the convenient way to shop for music.

And the bottom line is? Consumers will be the one that benefit the most. If the iPhone sales go strong, we can safely bet that the other carriers will push new promotions, further subsidizing handsets to make them even more appealing and affordable. Can't wait for the June 29. What do you think?

There’s an interesting article in The Wall Street Journal discussing the iPhone and its rivals — namely Nokia N95, Samsung UpStage, HTC Touch and LG Prada.

The article begins (and ends for that matter) with the Nokia N95 — the Finish handset maker’s flagship “multimedia computer”. Authors, Li Yuan and Amol Sharma, remind us that the N95 sports all the features of the iPhone, plus an integrated GPS and a 5 MP camera. However, the problem is that Nokia still haven’t signed a deal with any carrier to distribute its smartphone in the States.

Read the full article

HTC dropped the Elf-based HTC Touch on us yesterday. The new smartphone has Apple's iPhone squarely in its crosshairs with its TouchFLO interface aiming to trump Apple's multitouch interface. We got a couple video previews that show you exactly how the new TouchFLO interface will work - and how the globally available Windows Mobile 6.0 Professional smartphone will have a head-start on Apple (the HTC Touch has already left the starting gates, while Apple is still lacing up in the locker room).

More vids on the link!

Remember when we told you that HTC had a mysterious announcement for June 5th? Well, it turns out that today is June 5th! We bring you HTC's answer to the Apple iPhone - the HTC Touch. As expected, the HTC Elf-based Touch rocks the new TouchFLO fingertip interface to compete directly with Apple's multi-touch display on the iPhone.

TouchFLO responds to the same sweeping, finger inputs as the iPhone and will also recognize when a stylus is being used. TouchFLO brings fingertip scrolling and browsing through webpages and documents. Flick your finger upwards on the screen and TouchFLO will serve up it's application launcher (Contacts, Media, Applications). The animated launcher is controlled through the same finger flicks that makes browsing through music albums on the iPhone so visually appealing.

Hit the link to get your fill of glamor shots!

Being based on the HTC Elf, the HTC Touch sports a 2.8 inch screen, quad-band GSM radio with EDGE, Bluetooth 2.0, WiFi, microSD slot, and 2 MP shooter - all running under Windows Mobile 6.0 Professional. The Touch will come pre-installed with Office Mobile and Microsoft's Direct Push Email system.

Peter Chou, HTC CEO, says, "With the HTC Touch, access to your most commonly used content, contacts and features is only a simple finger flick away…Mobile phone makers have done a great job of cramming ever-more exciting features into ever-smaller phones. But the way in which one accesses these increasingly sophisticated features has not kept pace. That ends today with the HTC Touch"

The HTC Touch is now available in the UK with an Asian and European rollout expected later this month. North and South America can expect releases in 2H 2007. It should be noted that the HTC Touch is smaller and slimmer than the Apple iPhone and it will be released globally - while the iPhone is limited to a single carrier in the US. It looks like AT&T execs have even more reason to get all queasy in the stomach.

via: brighthand