Apple is famous for their innovative designs including Macs, the
Apple TV, and iPods. Apple will soon release one of the most innovative cellphones on the market - iPhone. I am impressed by Apple’s iPhone TV advertisements, they really make you think about how it works. I bet you have seen one of those ads recently. If not, you can view the ads online at http://www.apple.com/iphone/ads/ad2/
Will the iPhone be worthwhile for deaf people to use? The screen is a huge 3.5 inches diagonal, which is larger than the latest
BlackBerry and Sidekick models. It seems to be very friendly to use, and probably will be even easier to operate than the popular
Sidekick. Amazingly enough, there is no physical keyboard built into the iPhone. You operate it via the giant 3.5 inch touchscreen, using your fingers to type messages and e-mails on an onscreen keyboard. Will it be comfortable to type on the iPhone’s screen? Will it be an improvement over dedicated physical keyboards, giving us faster typing speeds? Also, I have noticed that in the ads, the iPhone is shown being typed on with one hand. Will two hands be able to type on the iPhone comfortably? We will have to see when it’s finally released.
One of the most impressive features of the iPhone is that it has
Apple’s own web browser, Safari, installed. You get a true HTML
experience, and if you’re worried about the screen size, worry no
more - you will be able to easily resize any portion of the webpage, using simple finger gestures to zoom in and out. I think Safari on the iPhone will quickly become the premier mobile web browser, knocking off the current favorite, Opera. Watch how easy it is to navigate the web via Safari on the iPhone at http://www.apple.com/iphone/ads/ad4/
I do wonder if there will be support for web-based relay services via the iPhone? I don’t see a problem especially if the relay service already supports Mac-based Safari usage. My only concern would be the size of the fonts, but I believe that most relay services offer an option to change the font sizing.
Instant messaging is another question we have regarding the iPhone. In spite of Apple having their own IM client, iChat, it has yet to be determined if there will be a iChat client on the iPhone. It would be handy to contact fellow iChat and AIM users directly from the iPhone. There has been a web-based IM application written specifically for the iPhone, but only actual use on a iPhone will tell us if this will do the trick, if Apple does not launch iChat with the iPhone. However, I believe that iChat will come sooner or later, especially when the iPhone gets on a true 3G network that can support decent video framerates.
The iPhone does come with a buiit- in 2 megapixel camera, which has a higher resolution than the Sidekick 3’s camera. You will be able to take good quality pictures, however it does not seem like it supports any sort of video at this time.
Of course, the iPhone has a built in iPod, allowing it to act like
the most popular music player on the market. Just like the latest
models of iPods, you will be able to play music, videos, TV shows,
and movies. All controls will be finger-based, rather than wheel-
based, but it shouldn’t be a big change because the current iPod
control wheels are also touch-sensitive.
Will the iPhone offer access to TTYs? It won’t be able to
communicate directly with a TTY out of the box. It’s possible it
will be “TTY compatible,” meaning that a TTY can be plugged in to make TTY calls using voice minutes - we will have to see once the iPhone is released. The only way the BlackBerry and Sidekick pagers are able to call TTY’s are via a third party service, such as
GoAmerica’s i711 Wireless Toolkit. However, Hamilton Relay offers free WAP-based calling to TTY’s, which should be compatible with the iPhone’s Safari browser.
Will the iPhone be available with a data-only plan? Yes, AT&T/
Cingular does offer data-only plans, but it is yet to be seen if the
iPhone will be offered with data-only service. My gut tells me yes, so it shouldn’t be hard to sign up via the Apple Store or any AT&T/ Cingular store for a data-only plan for your new iPhone. The data- only plan for the iPhone is rumored to be $30/mo. We’ll find out come June 29th.
Speaking of purchasing a iPhone, the 4GB model will cost you $499, while double the size at 8GB is only $100 more ($599). It is not known if there will be rebates to bring the price down, but Apple has said they do not want the iPhone subsidized.
There are many unanswered questions regarding the suitability of the iPhone for deaf and hard of hearing users. We will hopefully have a hands-on review of the iPhone after it is released on June 29th.
I’m concerned that many customers will find the iPhone too expensive at $500 per device - that is a lot of money for a pager! The buzz is that the iPhone will be a major replacement for many BlackBerries and Sidekicks out there. It’s my opinion that the iPhone may not be the best device for a deaf user, because of so many unanswered questions regarding its capabilities and comfort of use, including typing, TTY support, and so forth.
I’m sure that the BlackBerry and Sidekick lines will continue to be popular within the deaf and hard of hearing markets. Let’s not forget Apple/Mac fans such as Ramy Bustamante, one of the founders of DeafMac.org, who will want to get their hands on the latest gadget from Apple, and dissect it to see if it’s a good fit for deaf users.
17 responses so far ↓
1 Cindy // Jun 18, 2007 at 8:03 am
Wow. No AIM support? Also MSN and Yahoo? It’s not worth for deaf community!
2 Raj // Jun 18, 2007 at 8:43 am
I use aim a lot on my sidekick, but I dont forsee a problem without aim, email is fine by me especially it supports gmail on apple iphone, its great for me.
3 fggsd // Jun 18, 2007 at 8:46 am
i’m guessing there will be web based IM clients for the iphone in about 10 seconds of release.
4 daveynin // Jun 18, 2007 at 9:10 am
Touch screen for QWERTY keyboard is the growing concern. I have to keep my eyes all the times on the touch screen to touch w/ my fat finger and can cause the chaos w/ typo.
5 JB // Jun 18, 2007 at 9:27 am
Will there be able to email? I looked at IPhone’s tour in Apple website and see only SMS which means text message? Maybe I overlooked.
6 Tayler // Jun 18, 2007 at 10:38 am
fggsd, there is already one.
iChat for iPhone
7 saikouASL // Jun 18, 2007 at 12:03 pm
There are few things that I don’t like about this device. The battery is not removable and based on the history of iPod battery, that is a big concern. There is no iChat or IM messaging I rely on that a lot. I won’t be able to install third party applications just like Sidekick. The email is not going to be superior like the BlackBerry. Too much to pay just for a phone. 8 GB for $600? My BlackBerry have 4 GB memory card and I didn’t have to pay so much money for it- $39.99. I know if I buy this phone it will be just an iPod to me and my battery would be just running out like crazy. I will just stick watching movies and podcats on my BB and iPod until the new iPod generation comes out.
8 Jared Evans // Jun 18, 2007 at 3:11 pm
While I think iPhone pushes the technology envelope for cellphones, I would not get the first round of iPhone.
There are too many missing features that I think Apple plans to add on in the next few years to encourage people to buy/upgrade to the next iPhone.
I think there is planned obsolescence built into the iPhone.
http://crunchgear.com/2007/06/14/the-futurist-why-the-iphone-reeks-of-planned-obsolescence/
9 Stranger to DeafRead // Jun 19, 2007 at 6:05 am
Hey Deafpagers - a bad job review!!!!,
Just because you couldn’t sell iPhone. I hope Apple will not let you to sell iPhone to deaf people!
Listen this, Deafpagers, iPhone is a MULTI -Touch. That means you can type with two fingers!
….why should I read this crap review. It is worst review i have seen. I will not come back to this website!
To those who have a FAT fingers, don’t worry. It already had been designed for a fat fingers. Your fat finger INTENDED touch one thing, iPhone KNOWS what you are doing. That’s why it has no physical keyboard so it is desifned for EVERYONE.
You that guy, that does not make a sense to give a opinion of iPhone when it has not been released. There are dozen of dozen apps already lined up for iPhone. Since iPhone is 5 years ahead of ALL cell phones, for those who gave a negative or doubt of iPhone is a ridiculous judge.
10 admin // Jun 19, 2007 at 7:31 am
To Stranger, I bet you are Mac Fan and you upset about this, Even Deafpagers.com web site is created on the Mac G4. Even our editor is Mac user, We are providing honest information on this preview, We will have review next month when we try out that device in our hand. Are you Aware that iChat is not part of iphone this time, Only Text (SMS) supported. Even no MSN or Yahoo IM? Even There is no built in TTY, Apple is not plan release the development kit …. third developer would not able create new TTY software like IP-Relay and i711. Is it called device for the deaf this time? Maybe after it imporved maybe it would be… I believe that Blackberry Curve would be next hot product for deaf. check out at http://blog.proud-geek.com/2007/05/30/blackberry-8300-curve-the-next-big-pager/ it support IMs, TTY, even it has built in camera.
You can read two stories, http://news.com.com/Apple+opens+iPhone+to+developers–kind+of/2100-1046_3-6190302.html
and
http://news.com.com/That+iPhone+has+a+keyboard%2C+but+its+not+mechanical/2100-1041_3-6190686.html?tag=item
11 admin // Jun 19, 2007 at 7:43 am
Tayler, It’s web based AIM like many older blackberries such 7230 models, Apple allowed development to create these via Safai, based what arlicte said, Will it vibrate for all incoming IM messages? I prefer to have real IM software. I hope that Someone created multi IM client (software) for iphone somedays. Can you contact this developer?
12 admin // Jun 19, 2007 at 7:47 am
JB Yes Text is same as SMS. Short Message Service
13 Christine Chin // Jun 29, 2007 at 4:43 pm
I have never TTY or cellphone. I would like to buy iphone and it is very expensive cost.
Thanks
Christine Chin
14 Christine Chin // Jun 29, 2007 at 4:46 pm
Is iPhone very heavy or light? It is very nice.
Thanks
15 Erik // Nov 1, 2007 at 1:54 pm
Yes it is WORTH it! iPhone does have ichat/Aim if you visit, http://davidcann.com/im, on your iphone.
Also I successfully got iphone with $27.00 a month - - with $7.99 voice plan plus $20.00 unlimited data plan. How? Go to any AT&T retail store that sells iphone (do NOT go to Apple store). Talk to manager and request for lower voice mail since you are deaf (be honest about yourself!). The manager agreed but I would have to activate my iPhone at home with original plan $59.95 a month but sent a message to manager with my new iPhone number (account) upon activation and he will bump voice plan cost down to agreed $7.95 a month plan for me. Therefore I got $27.95 plus tax. Not bad, eh?
Heck, yes, iPhone is worth it….if you are rich enough purchase $399.00 iphone and lucky enough to get $27.95 a month. If you could not find AT&T store manager in your area to agree similiar deal, then well.. too bad!
Don’t ask me where and what store I got that deal. All I am saying is you got the instruction and good luck!
By the way, for people who complain about iPhone with ‘limited’ function, they are mistaken!
My iPhone got everything I need and I still can talk with i711 relay, Hamiltionrelay, HOVRS, Sprint using ichat/Aim web application on your iphone.
It is worth it buying iPhone NOW before third party or a new version of iPhone with 3G broadband capability comes out next year. Imgine that if I have to buy a new version of iPhone next year with 3G, but I get to keep $27.95 a month rate under 2 year contract. Not bad.
Good Luck!
Erik
16 Erik // Nov 1, 2007 at 1:56 pm
Correct iChat/Aim link for iPhone
http://davidcann.com/im
Sorry
17 admin // Nov 5, 2007 at 5:38 pm
Good for you, Erik. Let’s see a photo of your AT&T bill with the $27 service charge for your iPhone, hmm? That way we all can see for ourselves, rather than relying on words from someone we don’t know? Sorry I’m skeptical, but I’ve heard “Now there’s a iPhone data only plan for $20 or $30″ on and on…always turns out to be a rumor.
Why would AT&T give you a plan that’s cheaper than the TAP?? You may be one lucky dude if you can provide us with proof.
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