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8 things the iPhone needs

Submitted by Mark on August 16, 2007 - 9:10pm.

I don't have an iPhone. Do I want one? Absolutely. It's an absolutely revolutionary piece of technology. I would gladly throw down $600 and buy one if it weren't for a few of these things. (I would pretty much have one if it weren't for #1. The rest are just annoyances really.)

Anyways, here's my list of 8 major things (not counting bug fixes) that I think that the iPhone should really have.


1. Don't have it tied to AT&T

Expensive, locked-in two-year plan with a greedy telco?
No thanks.

 I'm on Verizon right now with my crummy LG phone (and 1 year left in my contract). I have a family plan too. So in order to switch over, we'd have to pay like a $200 cancellation fee. I understand that the problem is really with the whole mercantilistic cell phone industry, but Apple could have really "thought different" and not locked the phone to any one carrier.

Or better yet, if Google's wins the FCC bid for the 700MHz spectrum, we won't need telcos anymore. We'll just use VoIP. (As nice as this is, it's unfortunately at least 5 years away.)


2. Access to third-party developers

Yes, I know Apple wanted the iPhone to be rock-solid for it's release. But based on the progress that people are making on their own without an actual development kit, I think it's pretty obvious that this is an environment with enormous potential that would be in Apple's best interests to open up.


3. Let people change what icons show up on the front screen
If you don't want to let third-party developers on board, then at the very least, let people change what shows up on their front screen! Not everyone wants to use the crummy Notes program or look at Stocks. Let people make custom buttons to link to Safari-based web apps if you think that's such a "sweet" solution.

Either you guys do it. Or other people find out how.


4. AIM support

I don't use text messaging (what's the point?), but I do IM people frequently. Having the ability to do that on the go with an "iChat Mobile" would be cool.

I just don't understand why it's not built-in. Maybe it just wasn't ready on iDay.

5. Video capture support

So many other (lesser) cellphones possess the ability to capture video. Why not the iPhone? I'm sure that (like IM support), it was something that wasn't quite ready at the launch date. Let's hope they can push that through an update.
6. Custom ringtone support

You shouldn't have to pay for a ringtone when 30-second samples are already free on the iTunes music store. At the very least, you should be able to select a song you already have on your iPhone.

Again, either you guys do it. Or other people find out how.

7. Add a door to replace the battery!

Look Steve. I like your products. You have the best taste of anyone else in the industry. Even Bill Gates thinks so. But this is just silly. Add a bloody door to the thing! How bad would that be? I'm sure Jony Ive and the gang could design it so you'd barely notice it!

8. 3G support

I guess I can kinda let them slide (just for version 1) with this issue because of the Qualcomm ban and the battery life issues with 3G. For me, with WiFi being rolled out all over Oakland County, this will matter less. It will be even better when they incorporate WiMAX or a 700MHz Google radio into iPhone 2.0.

Conclusion

I really think that if the iPhone weren't tied to AT&T, the iPhone would have at least twice the number of buyers than it does today. Maybe more.

Don't get me wrong, I think it's probably the coolest 135 grams of consumer electronics on the market today, but it has some flaws that keep people away from it.

Until then, here's to hoping they'll release an OS X-based iPod that will be pretty much the iPhone without the phone. I'd buy that the day it came out.
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