The Apple iPhone is, without
doubt in my mind, the best combined mobile phone and media player ever
developed. Unfortunately it compares
unfavourable with older handsets like Sony Ericsson’s P990i, on even basic
features.
So here is a list of things I
want from Apple for 2009, though I have no expectation that I will get any of
them.
Core Features
Multi tasking of third part applications
Denying third party applications,
like LastFM, Fstream and ebay, from running in the background seriously
compromises the iPhone’s use as the main mobile and media player. This is the same problem as with the old Palm
OS, and look where that is. In Apple’s
distorted world, users only use the iPod player in the background. Sorry Apple, some people like to multi task
and want to listen to streaming media at the same time as writing emails.
Swapping between applications
Even if there is no multi
tasking, there should at least be an easy way of flipping between recent
applications rather than exiting and reopening them.
Cut & Paste
Not everyone can remember long
URL’s or want to retype text from a document to an email, so why hasn’t Apple
made an effort to introduce this most basic of features. Other developers have shown working concepts,
and Symbian has had this for years.
A unified file system
When I download documents I want
to share them between applications, perhaps to edit them or repurpose the
content somehow. Quickoffice is a case
in point, an invaluable tool for editing text and spreadsheets that cannot
exist under Apple’s strange ideas of corporate working.
Side-loading Ringtones
What’s the second thing people do
after switching on their shiny new mobile, they want to change the
ringtones. Unless you buy Apple’s
ringtones you have to fudge an MP3 track into Apple’s format, and even then
only take a small chunk of it.
Voice Dial/Response
Why can’t drivers at least reject
or answer a call by voice. Not exactly a
radical feature and one that predates the iPhone by at least 8 years.
Encryption
Companies and organisations need
to encrypt information to definable standards on all mobile devices, something
not possible with the iPhone.
Turn by Turn Navigation
It’s great to have GPS and a
large screen with Google Maps, but the iPhone would be so much more useful with
turn by turn navigation.
Hardware
5Mpx Autofocus Camera with video and flash
The Nokia N90 and Sony Ericsson
P990, the first of the new wave of media phones, had an autofocus 2Mpx camera
on launch with extensive photo controls and video capabilities. Didn’t Apple look at the competitors when the
iPhone was in the design phase?
Memory card slot
Whilst it’s nice to have lots of
onboard memory, the competition now outclasses the iPhone. In particular not, being able to swap music,
videos, documents and images between the iPhone and other devices is severely
limiting.
Screen angling
Having such a great video player
and screen, it’s disappointing that there is no way of propping up the iPhone
with an integral kick stand.
Messaging
Email search
Some mobile email clients allow
the search of emails. Especially useful
for corporate Exchange users.
Reply/Forward marker
Not seeing if an email has been replied
or forwarded is a nuisance.
Easily move between Inboxes
There’s no simple method to swap
to another email account – you have to back out.
Rotate screen in email & SMS
It can be far easier to read and
write messages in landscape than in portrait.
Even the 90’s Alcatel One Touch Com had that.
Email spell checker
More of a nice to have, but
considering the foibles of writing using a virtual keyboard, it would be useful
to have a spell checker, especially if auto correct is off.
Set out of office flag
Another corporate feature
available on BlackBerry’s but not on the iPhone. Very useful if you have gone away and need to
redirect emails.
Time and day control of email fetch and push
Though the iPhone’s battery life
is much improved, it would be useful to limit the push/pull activity between
certain times of day and days of the week, as you can with Dataviz.
Access to Exchange Global Address List
Another corporate nice to have is
the ability to search in the Global Address List on an Exchange server.
Follow up and importance flags
Being able to set follow up flags
when browsing email on the road makes dealing with actions later much easier.
Change Email tones
Another basic feature missing.
MMS
Even the Ericsson T68 had MMS
from the early days of GPRS, why not a true media device like the iPhone?
Forward SMS
Unforgivable omission especially
if you share jokes.
No SMS reports
It’s comforting to have
confirmation that an SMS has been received.
No comfort with the iPhone though.
Bluetooth – The missing profiles
Stereo Bluetooth
All high end hand sets have A2DP
stereo headset profile except the iPhone.
Push Profile
Images and files can’t be printed
or shared wirelessly as there is no Object Push profile.
Synchronisation Profile
Neither is there a
Synchronisation profile for wireless connectivity to iTunes.
Keyboard Profile
No keyboard HID profile for
typing reports using a proper keyboard.
Dialup Profile
No Bluetooth dialup profile for
using iPhone as a modem. Hardware
tethering not possible either.
No doubt there are more omissions
to this list, but the iPhone is still a superb gadget with or without these
features.