My tired and worn Treo 600 smartphone finally crashed and smoldered last month. I haven't ditched it just yet because when it feels happy it can still TXT (but that's about the extent of it).
Unlike many of my industry colleagues I don’t upgrade my gadgets every six months. I upgrade when they fall apart.
Living proof is my red 1950s transistor radio. So long as Radio National broadcasts on AM it'll get good use almost every day of the week.
So, I needed a new cellphone and with some help from some friends I’m now the shy owner of a first generation iPhone. As an interaction designer it has been fascinating to experience an intuitive user interface designed around touch, gesture, feel and motion.
At Click Suite we've been researching ways young people use technology. Although they are avid users of technology one inhibitor is cost. So if the telcos can make it affordable (rumours are there will be daily flat-rate for data charges), it's likely that the iPhone will be in the front pocket of a significant number of New Zealand teens and young adults by the end of 2009.
In the US over 6% of teens already have one and around 15% are expected to have it by the end of the year. According to the PiperJarrfray survey 25% would buy one if it was under $USD500.
The second generation iPhone is due out in July and will be half the price of the old model, so it should be no surprise if the latest iPhone becomes the stocking-filler of choice for some lucky teens this Xmas.
Of course, Japanese teenagers aren't impressed with the iPhone. Why? Because you can't easily swap the battery!
Apple are now squarely marketing the iPhone to teenagers with advertising through social networking sites such as Facebook. Already in the US, iPod sales are flattening and expected to drop-off as more teens acquire an iPhone.
One great thing about the iPhone is that you can download mini-applications.
One such application I've been experimenting with is SynchStep (available for the iPod Touch or iPhone). SyncStep is like a pedometer which syncs with your music library, making walking and running fun. This is a fun and easy experimental way to plays songs from your iTunes music library that match your pace. The technology takes advantage of the motion detection built into the iPhone.
That means when you're out struttin your stuff down "My Favorite Street" (in my case the Wellington waterfront), every step you take lands in-time with a drum hit, bass slap or chord.
It works by opening SynchStep, a finger tap on-screen to start synching then placing your iPhone in your front pocket. It will then detect your motion (steps per minute) and select a song with a matching BPM (beats per minute). If you change your pace then the tracks change to match.
So the iPhone (and iPod Touch) come with motion detection, connectivity as well as all the things teens (and early adopters of technology) crave in one tidy package (email, texting, web, photos, music, GPS).
With this comes the opportunity for us to create new ways to engage people. It's going to be fun!
