It's an iPhone world Feb07 '08

The iPhone, I'm certain, is the greatest modern invention to date. Nothing else compares, or can even be called "competition."

The iPhone excels at one thing: design. Other phones, MP3 players, or digital cameras try to stuff in as many "features" as possible, and ignore the design and intuitiveness of the entire experience. What good is a nifty feature if it takes 10 clicks to get there?

Software trumps touch screen

The touch screen is viewed as breakthrough technology, and will soon be standard for all mobile devices. Other carriers have already released their own "touch screen" devices. The problem is, it's not enough to simply include a touch screen on your device.

On the iPhone, the touch screen only acts as a bridge to the underlying application. It's the software (combined with the "newness" of a touch screen device) that makes the experience so intuitive.

However, the "newness" of any touch screen device will soon wear off. After that, it's up to the software to create an intuitive user experience.

Seamless multi-tasking

It's great that the iPhone includes into one device, most things that were once separate devices: cell phone, digital music player, camera, etc. Consolidating devices is one thing, but providing a seamless experience between them all is entirely another.

iPhone users can relate to that shining moment when they realized they could, at the same moment, talk on the phone, browse the web, take a picture and upload it, or compose an email message. (You have to be in WiFi range to do so, as EDGE doesn't allow any other connectivity while you're talking on the phone.)

The simple fact is, you no longer need to be near a computer while talking on the phone. Mostly everything you'd need access to can be reached through that single device, simultaneously.

No other device comes close to matching this type of experience.

Categories: iPhone , Mobile Web , Technology , Usability

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So true, Matt. The biggest thing people forget when talking about "design" of consumer electronics is the software. And that is the single ... Read more.

Yes I agree, software is a bigger piece of what drives an emotional connection to the device, for one thing you can create things through software. ... Read more.

matthom is published and produced by Matt Thommes - an independent publishing enthusiast, mobile blogger, content creator, informative writer, web developer from a suburb of Chicago. Never one to conform, Matt intends to promote the effect the web has on our lives, in an effort to intensify, instruct, and clarify all that is happening around us.