The LG Viewty and why I didn’t buy an iPhone

Atomac — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 14:08:58 +0000

It will probably come as a surprise to most people that I didn’t buy an iPhone. If you were a market researcher and interviewed me a few months ago you would have put a tick in all the boxes that indicated that I would definitely buy one. However, when my mobile phone plan expired I actually bought a phone that by some had been designated an “iPhone killer”.

I can confirm that the LG KU990 (Viewty) is by no means an iPhone killer. As a stand alone piece of technology the Viewty is impressive. A 3 inch display with a resolution of 240 x 400 pixels, a built-in 5 megapixel camera, touch screen interface, 3G, web browser and email, expandable memory, MP3 player, video recording and a neat design make it quite compelling. However the interface is miles behind Apple’s, the touch system is clunky by comparison and is not multitouch and the media playback features are weak.

It is my opinion that cameras on phones are nothing more than a gimmick. Sure if you are a 15 year old wanting to text photos to your friends or upload them to your MySpace page you might like it, but they aren’t for serious photographs. Although the 5 megapixels of the Viewty may sound good they are coupled with limited software, a poor lens and a horribly delayed shutter. The interface works well and is quite responsive. Scrolling is difficult but not impossible although it is quite easy to click an item instead of scrolling through a list. Accessing menu items is not always logical and you can find yourself digging through a few levels to find an item that ought to be easier to access. The iPhone, of course, is a proper iPod. The Viewty is not. Web browsing is reasonably fast but it is hard to resize pages – either too large to view anything more than a small segment or too small to view anything other than a thumbnail. Email is not formated and so is best for text only mail.

While the iPhone seems limited by its 2 megapixel camera and lack of expandible memory its interface, power and ability to easily download a myriad of applications more than make up for it. The iPhone is by far the best mobile phone on the market. Bar none. It is also the best implementation of mobile email and internet browing.

So really there is no comparison. Still the Viewty is a good phone. I like mine, and that brings me back to why I bought one.

In the end the decision was purely financial. I could have got the iPhone for about $65 per month. The Viewty costs me $20. Based on the amount of calls I make the included $50 credit is more than enough. I don’t need the included credit that comes with Optus’s $65 iPhone plan. Sure the iPhone is great for browsing the Internet, but how often do I need the Internet away from home or work? Not enough to make an iPhone worth it.

Perhaps I am spoiled by having an iPod touch and already having access to the great applications and mobile OS X, but I couldn’t justify the expense.

Is the Viewty as good as an iPhone? No. Is is a third as good? It is probably more than that and so, at a third the price, it is a bargain.

iPhone SDK

Atomac — Sat, 08 Mar 2008 08:01:01 +0000

The whole IT world is all abuzz at the moment with Apple’s announcement of the Software Development Kit for its iPhone. In addition to unveiling its future plans for third -party development for the iPhone Apple also revealed updates to be implemented as part of the iPhone 2.0 software update that will make the device even more attractive to enterprise customers. The software, which will be released in June, will also update the iPod touch (for a “nominal fee”). What do these announcements mean for the industry in general? For Apple? And particularly for users in Australia?

The inclusion of Microsoft Exchange server compatibility with the iPhone Mail app, Calendar app and Contact list is significant for enterprise users (generally large companies who wish to operate standard hardware across their workforce) as it means that they are now able to roll out the iPhone platform to all employees confident that it will be able to access their existing communications hardware. Combined with specialist applications that will now surely flow for platform, the “real” internet and the unique user interface the addition of Exchange makes the iPhone compelling.

Watching the video of the Apple event the thing that I found most amazing is what the iPhone (and iPod touch) are capable of. The demonstration of the SDK made the tools for developing for the iTouch seem amazingly simple to use. As a non-programmer I could see that the tight integration and packaged tools made it simple for anyone with the necessary knowledge to make a program. This was illustrated by a simple photo manipulation program written in house at Apple in two days with the SDK. Followed by this was a 3D space shooter game with 3D sound where the spaceship was controlled by tilting the iPhone. Suddenly my attention was grabbed. This looked great. I couldn’t believe that the iPhone was capable of this type of thing. My eyes were opened even further by demonstrations by EA Games of Spore for the phone and then Sega with Burning Ball Banana Blitz. The graphics were simply brilliant. In just two weeks a couple of engineers had developed two amazing games for a platform I had no idea was capable of more than 2D applications, albeit with nice animations. Demonstrations of AOL Instant Messenger for the iPhone and a drug information program made the utility range that the iPhone could offer seem immense.

In order to retain control over the applications that developers will be rolling out Apple will release an iPhone App Store at the same time that they release their new software. This store will house applications that developers have created and provide a means for users to download applications in a one-stop shop. As well as being able to download directly to the iPhone users will be able to access programs from the iTunes store on their Mac or PC. The cost of applications will be up for the developers to decide. Apple takes 30% as commission to pay for hosting, marketing and infrastructure. If an application is free then neither the developer or the user bears any costs at all. This will be the only way that users are able to add these new programs to their touches.

By using this system Apple can prevent malware from proliferating for the platform and keep badly formed applications from reaching users. Some criticisms of the system so far are that 30% is too high and that it isn’t truly open as all programs must pass through Apple. As for the 30% I don’t think it is unreasonable considering their are no credit card costs, no e-store software to license, no hosting fees and no marketing costs. As for openness I would prefer an program carefully vetted by Apple on my iPod touch than one I have found in the wild of dubious quality.

I think Apple have hit a 6 with this one. When implemented these changes will begin a whole new era in mobile platforms, one that Apple’s competitors will not be able to catch. The iPhone’s interface has seen would-be imitators but non so far have been able to equal it or best it. With the changes on the way the game will shift again leaving competitors further in Apple’s wake. The enterprise tools and the new paradigm for accessing software will be leave them dead in the water.

For Australian users it is my belief that Apple will announce a new iPhone when the 2.0 software is released in June and will simultaneously roll the iPhone out to new countries, including Australia.

Atomac » iPod Touch

The LG Viewty and why I didn’t buy an iPhone

iPhone SDK