Vincent Oberle’s blog
The iPhone, wow
It’s been already 2.5 years since I asked on this blog “Why don’t we have an iPod phone yet?” It’s finally here, and it’s really impressive. It has actually such advanced features (full web browser, touch-screen, etc) that one may forget there is also an iPod in it. Apple didn’t keep it simple about the amount of features, but looking at Steve Jobs keynote they seem to have done it right. Will it work that well too? We will have to wait a few months to know.
One disappointment, they play along with the carriers and in the US the only way to buy it will be with a 2-year contract by Cingular.
The device is said to run OSX, but is it full OSX including the UI components, or only the kernel? Many mobile devices “run Linux” but it’s the Linux kernel, not the Gnome or KDE user interface. I’m also wondering what’s the hardware in it. Which processor? Who provides the cellular chipset?
And funny that the hottest electronic device during this CES week was not announced at CES.
January 9th, 2007 22:56
Some sources are saying that iPhone usas PortalPlayer chipset, which in turn is ARM7-based:
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/11/22/portalplayer_iphone_design_win/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PortalPlayer
January 9th, 2007 23:10
PortalPlayer might for the audio part, but not the main CPU or the GSM part. OSX would also not run so nicely on an ARM7.
January 10th, 2007 00:14
Vincent, as you remember my earlier comments on your blog, you see, … it’s going to happen. Skype will port is nice product to the successor of the Nokia 770, aka N800.
Las Vegas, USA - At the CES conference in Las Vegas today, Skype and Nokia announced a collaboration to develop a new mobile Skype(TM) experience on the Nokia N800 Internet Tablet, introduced earlier today.
The collaboration builds on the familiarity and richness of desktop Skype and makes it mobile. The Nokia N800’s small size and easy wireless connectivity frees Skype users from their desktop, allowing Skype conversations to take place anywhere, as long as there is an available wireless Internet connection. Packed with features such as Wi-Fi and Bluetooth phone connectivity, hands-free properties, webcam, media support and messenger keyboard, the Nokia N800 makes Skype conversations captivating experience at home, at work and on the move.
“Skype is the recognized leader of Internet communications with over 136 million registered users worldwide,” said Ari Virtanen, Vice President, Convergence Products, Nokia. “Nokia’s new N800 Internet Tablet is designed for mobile Internet. Together, we can develop communications devices beyond expectations.”
“Skype is very happy to be partnering with Nokia,” said Eric Lagier, Director, Business Development, Hardware and Mobile, at Skype. “Working with the leading mobile-handset manufacturer puts us in a unique position to get Skype to the mobile masses. With the introduction of the Nokia N800, we are positioning Skype as the centerpiece of Internet conversations on this WiFi-centric device. The Nokia N800 is an excellent platform for taking Skype conversations beyond the PC.”
The first implementation on the Nokia N800 is expected to be made available for download by the end of first half of 2007.