As impressive as the iPhone has been since its entry two year ago , the machine has never been without its flaw . Apple ’s regular updates to the software have polished some of these approximative edges , while other needs were come up to when Apple open up the platform up to third - political party developer in 2008 . But much of what makes the iPhone such a revolutionary mobile gadget is more or less the same today as it was two years ago .
During that time , we ’ve also seen increased competition from other players , such as Google ’s Android platform and Palm ’s webOS . While both platforms have some catching up to do , they ’ve also introduced some original features along the fashion . And with package update and new modelling of their own , they are n’t sit still any more than Apple is .
Calling any of these equipment an “ iPhone sea wolf ” would be simplistic — not to mention cockamamy . Still , Apple clearly ca n’t afford to repose on its honour . With more competitors like the Motorola Droid seem what seems like every workweek , somewhere in the sanctum sanctorum sanctorum of Infinite Loop Apple is surely hard at work on the next version of the iPhone .
Of course , any major revision to the iPhone is certain to take features fudge up by Apple ’s railroad engineer that we ca n’t counter , but we beg our own faculty of experts to reflect on what form of capableness could avail the iPhone maintain its pole position .
Hardware wars
To escort , Apple has only roll out major hardware changes to the iPhone once per year since the machine ’s original release . But each variant has bestow substantial improvements and , if Apple ’s going to keep up with the Joneses , it should be looking in a few specific charge for its next model .
New screenThe latest and greatest iPhone competitor is the Motorola Droid and most who have seen it fit that its 3.7 - inch , 480 - by-854 resolution sieve puts the iPhone ’s to shame . Of course , there ’s nothing to stop Apple from incorporating a gamey - definition display in the iPhone and , if the cost become competitive enough , we might even see a low - power organic light-emitting diode screen , such as the one in Microsoft ’s Zune HD .
Better cameraApple took a grown step forward with the iPhone 3GS ’s camera , not only increasing it to 3 megapixels , but also add together a host of software features , such as car - stress , macro modality , and ameliorate low - lightness performance . Though not universally acclaim as superior to the iPhone , the Droid does cavort a 5 - megapixel camera and also adds a few feature the iPhone does n’t have , such as image stabilization and — most significant — an LED flashing . Right now , the iPhone ’s camera gets used because it ’s the one most people have with them , not because it ’s the serious they own , but paying it some attention could make that make - in feature much less of a via media .
Battery lifeThe iPhone ’s stamp battery living is decent , until you bulge out using the Wi - Fi , GPS , playing games — in other dustup , all the thing people require to do with their phones these day . By all account statement , the average battery life of competitors is n’t really any adept than the iPhone ’s , but one matter is clear in the smartphone market place : people love using their devices , so the longer you permit them actuallyusethem , the unspoilt .
Software, etc.
Overall , the iPhone ’s software has been its great plus in breaking into the smartphone food market . And , as on the Mac , Apple is committed to continually rolling out Modern iPhone features via software system updates . But as good as the iPhone atomic number 8 is , there are surely a number of place where it circumvent the competition , but falls short of the ideal .
Improved PIM functionalityWhile they may not be PDAs , smartphones have essentially rendered that course of study of twist disused . The iPhone lets you track your contact , your appointment , and your e - mail , but all of those features could practice improvements . Both Android 2.0 and the Palm Pre , for example , permit you desegregate striking information from other on-line services like Facebook . The iPhone ’s calendar is particularly unaccented ; most notably it still does n’t give up syncing To Do items with iCal . But Mail is n’t much good , miss full - eubstance lookup , a merged inbox choice , and subject matter flagging , among other features . rally support made the iPhone more likable to embodied drug user , but giving some care to their bread - and - butter functionality could win even more converts .
tuner SyncingWe’ve gain the end of the 2000s and — besides not having come up with a really honest nickname for the decennium — it seems ridiculous that we still have to secure a phone asconnectedas the iPhone into our calculator with an actual cable television . MobileMe reader and Exchange user can synchronize contacts and calendar information to their iPhones over - the - air , but even they still have to carry around a USB cable to transfer flick , music , and podcasts . Apple lets you download that mental object at once to the sound from the iTunes Store over Wi - Fi — why not let you seize them from your electronic computer over the local meshwork ?
Multitasking and NotificationsYes , Apple finally rolled out financial backing for thrust telling , its response to setting processes , in iPhone 3.0 . More and more , that fix seems like a stopgap along the lines of World Wide Web - based apps making a sufficient iPhone SDK . It seems inevitable that the iPhone will eventually allow multiple apps to bunk at the same metre — at the very least , it ’s significant for apps that play audio and sure other course of applications , such as instant messaging clients . That tell , Apple also needs to better the way it plow presentment , which currently miss permanency and have to be dealt with one at a time . Android ’s drag - down status window and webOS ’s subtle notice ginmill have both found more graceful ways of dealing with these messages while avoiding the potential for information overload .
At your service
No matter how sound your electric cell earphone ’s hardware and software are , if you ca n’t get honest cell service of process , you might as well just buy an iPod touch . But presumably you bought the iPhone because you need a gimmick that could relate to the cyberspace no matterwhereyou go . jail cell service of process is the iPhone ’s fully grown exposure — and its biggest opportunity for improvement .
TetheringIf AT&T is to be believed , tethering — the ability to portion out your iPhone ’s cellular data link with your laptop — is still coming at some unspecified date . But this feature is cardinal , especially for traveling business - types who sometimes need more functionality than even the smartest of smartphones allows . If nothing else , you do n’t desire to be typecast a 20 - page document or say a lengthy modest - print PDF on your iPhone when you ’ve mother your laptop W. C. Handy .
Built - in round - by - bout directionsGoogle Maps has dish out iPhone users well over the last twosome years , but once the iPhone 3 gram folded in GPS capability , it quickly became apparent that number - by - turn directions were where it ’s at . A bit of vendors , including standalone GPS - maker TomTom , now offer apps that fill this demand , but with the news show that Google is adding its ownfreeturn - by - tour directions program to Android phones , the bar has been set up . Whether or not third parties carry on to offer better features , some kind of built - in twist - by - act guidance capability would seem to be a must for Apple to keep pace with its competition .
Better servicePoll a bunch of U.S. iPhone users , and it ’s probable you ’ll get more complaint about the quality of cell overhaul — or lack thereof — than any other single matter . AT&T has take a pile of rut for providing sub - par service : we ’ve all suffered from dropped calls , speculative reception , and general want of 3 G coverage at some point or another . But at the same time , it does n’t seem as though there ’s another alternative . irrespective of whether it takes a upright AT&T web or opening the iPhone up to multiple carriers ( when the technology allows it ) , better jail cell service should the bit one priority for the iPhone . Given the state of the prison cell telephone manufacture , an entrenched manufacture that moves at a tread only somewhat faster than your average sparkler floe , it also may be the last development on this lean that comes to pass .
The future soon
Will all , or indeedany , of these improvement make it into an iPhone in the future ? It ’s impossible to know what cards Apple is holding , but one thing is a good stake : that Apple will release a mark new iPhone sometime in the next year . And if our late regard list of iPhone features is any indication , I ’d expect several of these shortcomings to be addressed , and before long . And , of class , as always , have a bun in the oven Apple to give in a few surprises .
