Ok, there has been quite a bit of hype about the iPhone (that name will stick because Cisco actually lost the iPhone name last year it seems (ZD-blog)) and it seems that it might not be the same device we saw during the keynote once it’s out. This is my attempt to spin my own higher-ed centric version of Pouge’s FAQ (1,2)First the iPhone and LG’s KE850 are very similar (Engadget, TUAW) in terms of hardware, so the idea that Apple was first out of the gate with this idea may not be the case. Why is this important? Well this way if one allows users to do something or has a certain type of app the other should because in the eyes of the consumer, “if it looks the same it should works th same”. This means that if LG will allow external apps (assuming it’s a regular “smart phone”), so should Apple (which at the very least should allow the games that the wireless carriers offer). But other than all that, having both devices may make the iPhone (or the LG) an ideal UMPC for higher ed students – $500-$700 isn’t that much for a device that they can take everywhere and via wireless, fire off their notes to be edited on regular mobile or desktop systems.
But there is hope that Apple will be releasing more apps for the iPhone (and a cheaper version as well), but then in an awkward “Think Different, but like Steve Reality Distortion Field kind of way), Apple seems to be saying that this smart phone is not really a business class device, it’s more like an iLife vs Office thing… where it’s not meant to do the heavy lifting of the Office, but rather the everyday surf, turf and snap that people do outside the office (take a look at the “Doubt the hype” here).
So in the end, the iPhone may not be the latest panacea for higher ed, but what it may do is break through to the millions of people who only use their already powerful phones to call. It may finally break through the blinking 12:00 factor for phones for the masses and open them up to the idea of ultra mobility in a very easy, low learning curve manner (BW seems to agree). And if that is the case… it’s RDF and social engineering at it’s best. As Apple prepares for the post desktop world.
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