of Philosophy and Technology

So much have been said about the iPhone that Technews decided to forego the technical review and instead go around and get the opinion of the people on what they can say about this gadget.

Being one of the firsts in the Philippines to have this much coveted phone, I was both proud and frustrated when I received it from our source abroad.  Proud because Technews has done it again, we are the first media organization in the Philippines to have an iPhone, while others are talking about it, Manila Bulletin is playing with it. And, while others are quoting sources about how brilliant the screen is, here we are smudging the brilliant screen with our sweaty fingers. Only one thing has dampen my enthusiasm about the phone — I could not use it as a phone… YET.

As what I have said in my column, the iPhone looks cool, the screen is one block of touch sensitive glass and it fits perfectly in the palm of my hand. What’s good about this phone is the interface that even my 10 year old son and my 68 year old mother could easily operate it. The iPhone has dented button in front that serves as a escape key that brings you back to the main menu, this means that non-techie users would never get lost while using the phone.

Connecting the iPhone to the wifi network is a easy, you can do it with just three clicks. Once you are connected, you can then check the weather, view maps, enjoy youtube and surf the web. The Web browser of the iPhone gives you a full web layout. You can scroll with your fingertip, double-tap to enlarge a portion for easier reading and viewing and flip the the screen 90 degrees, and the web page you are viewing also rotates and magnifies to fill the landscape view. Finally, you can magnify a Web page by spreading your thumb and forefinger on the glass. The image grows as if a rubber being stretched.

The iPhone is also a real iPod, I am even using the charger of my iPod Nano to charge it.  The USB cable, the power plug for the charger and the earphone remained untouch in the box of the iPhone as I am using all my iPod’s accessories for the iPhone. And like an iPod it downloads music, video and photos from your PC while charging.

After about two weeks inside my pocket and without any protection the touch sensitive screen of the iPhone remains scratchless.

Here are some of the comments about the iPhone:

Annalyn Jusay (www.annalyn.net), Technews Columnist:
“It’s ahhhhmazing! …Built-in iPod! We just have to believe Steve Jobs when he says this is “the best iPod ever made.”

Sally Caballero, Ph.D. Managing Director, Net Ship Management Inc.
“Wow, it’s so nice. It would have been better if it’s smaller”

Rosamay Daniel, Net Ship Management
“The phone looks great!”

Therese Camit, Lifestyle Writer
“Wow! Astig, malaki pala to?, kelan kaya ako magkakaron nito?”

Russel Torres, Artist
&%@#… hayop! I love it.

Menchu Ambrosio,
Galing naman, nakakatuwa pag pinipindot yong letter lumalaki sya. It’s like magic.

Anthony Gallano, Company Driver
Maganda Pu$%^@! hi-tech

Diony Dionisio, Security Guard
Ano to?

Circulation Department Staff of Manila Bulletin
Ohhhhh! Wow… (upon double tapping a photo to magnify it)

Ivy Liza Mendoza
Kakainis ang ganda.

Willie Caballes, Asst. Sports Editor
Attractive! It doesn’t look like a cellphone.  The features are very easy to use.

Robert Roque, Editor, Tempo
Can I give you a check? Pay to cash… ngayon din.  This is the total phone.

Nida, Sidewalk vendor
Ay baka makuryente ako!

Photos are in my mobile blog at http:// artsamaniego.blogspot.com