ZDNet criticizes iPhone

The mass of initially positive press regarding Apple's new iPhone may hide substantial flaws that could undermine the handset's long-term success, according to several ZDNet editors. Writing in his blog, Jason O'Grady notes that a combination of using GSM and an exclusive Cingular deal may seriously damage the roaming abilities of the phone outside of North America by shutting out CDMA users and easier access to international roaming through unlocked SIM cards. "This phone will not work in Japan because it does not support [WCDMA]," O'Grady wrote. "A contract with Cingular [also] implies it will be SIM-locked. Frequent international travellers rely on the ability to purchase a local SIM card in the destination country."

Editors also criticize Apple for its apparent neglect of software support, which may further isolate the iPhone from widespread adoption, according to Electronista. Although "push" e-mail is present in the device as presented by Apple CEO Steve Jobs during yesterday's MacWorld keynote, ZDNet's Larry Dignan writes that it lacks the business-level support that drives many people to existing phones. "Let's face it, there are many BlackBerry and Windows Mobile smartphones in the market because of corporate ties."

Critics similarly warn future iPhone owners of inherent vulnerabilities in the design, says Adrian Kingsley-Hughes, who points to the giant touchscreen as an almost certain weak point liable to crack or suffer scratches. The author references Apple's tendency towards beautiful designs over pragmatism. "History shows us that this [emphasis] hasn't always meant creating a product robust enough to put up with regular usage," said Hughes, referring to the damaged screens and scratch-prone surfaces of the original iPod nano. The editor warns of possible fallout as owners tied to two-year Cingular contracts may be forced to use heavily scratched iPhones until their agreements expire.

ZDNet columnist John Spooner, by contrast, says he may have resolved the mystery of the unnamed Intel processor known to be inside Apple's handheld. Contributing his own report, Spooner notes that Intel has previously announced an enhanced 65-nanometer manufacturing process, named P1265, that would bring down the power consumption of Intel's most efficient processors to as low as 2.5 watts, catering to the tight demands of a cellphone environment. Spooner raises the likelihood that the iPhone CPU is a single-core, ultra low-voltage edition of the Core Solo using the P1265 process to achieve its goals.

by MacNN Staff