Test: Iphone as pc

[CaptainComedy]

ok so Im looking for ways to turn my iphone into a pc. Yesterday I gave it a go and from what I can see, the only reason why it cant is because it uses component cable instead of HDMI and it doesnt allow bluetooth peripherals like keyboard and mice to connect to it. any other problems are software driven.

Anyone else feel the iphone is not using a lot of its potential? I think a lot of smart phones can do this but the iphone has the best setup for it.

 

[CaptainComedy]

ok firstly give 6 years and mobile devices will be our computers - chips will be 16nm in size (for those that know our current cpu chips are at 40nm depending on the cpu you have.

secondly its called the iphone because there are technophobes that dont have an ounce of innovation in their body post nonsense like this

the clue is in the name:

iphone

Its a mobile device. its called iphone so you know primarily thats what it does. It also browses the internet but you dont call it an ibrowser do you.

The device uses an operating system and from what I see windows mobile isnt as inovative as apples, I read good things about their next version but the software just isnt there yet.

My approach isnt meant to beat the pc at anything, just be able to do what the day to day user wants to do (create documents, browse the net etc) its not gonna play crysis war head at 100fps - your just being stupid. Try thinking out of the box for a second and look at what the device can do now and why cant it do anything else and you find that its limitations are very few and still possible to do.

 

[CaptainComedy]

Does it have a proper Sat-Nav program for it out yet?

they are improving their current gps in the next os 3.0, but what relevance is that? does YOUR pc have sat nav?

raymond, a netbook cant do calls and isnt as mobile as an iphone a netbook is a cheap laptop aimed at people that just want to browse on the go..... well I can do that on my iphone so the netbook for me is redundant

 

[CaptainComedy]

I think the point is being missed here.

Im not singling out the iphone just because I have one or anything like that - Im speaking of any smartphone that can. I just tried it on the iphone because its all I have.

but this is how close I got to using it as a very downscaled pc. My limitations was:

limited bluetooth prevented connection of keyboard/mouse
screen splitting was not upscaled due to connection being component and not hdmi/dvi

if I had those 2 resolved. I'd have no problem.

 

[CaptainComedy]

Why do you have so much dislike for them? Have you even used one for a prolonged period of time?

everyone has a good reason to hate apple - they suck at listening to their target audience, sell their products at a ridiculous price, love to tell the consumer what they can and cant do with their product all at the same time claiming they are the bees knees compared to microsoft... yeah right.

But thats going off topic.

what I want to know is if there is anyway of unlocking the iphones bluetooth technology so it can accept all bluetooth devices.

 

[CaptainComedy]

Oh I do think outside of the box, especially how one of my day to day tasks is developing software for, mobile phones!

BUT, despite the pee-take, it is a phone with a few additional bells and whistles blown on.

As for what it can do now, yes it's pretty impressive, has a GPS and tiltometer built into it.

But I now ask you, for what purpose would you be 'both' travelling down a motorway or going around town to get to a specific location while compiling your latest sales figures on iSpreadsheet or iWordprocessorthingie?

If you're sat at your desk, the sun outside, little butterflies flapping their wings on a beautiful summers morning, what use would the tiltometer be other than to tell you that your lovely glass desk is perhaps 2 degrees skew?

For a 'quick' jump onto the internet, the iPhone is great. For a quick little game of something, then yeah, it's got some great games, but you compare the following:

iPhone
plus big TV
plus keyboard
plus mouse

to

netbook (with built in screen, keyboard, mouse) and at a cheaper price, then what use is the iPhone as being the next PC?

Just doesn't serve any major purpose other than eye-candy.

well isnt it obvious? convenience? practicality?

PC scenario:
you got a pc with a 1080p movie on it you want to watch on a big tv, what do you do? you connect it via hdmi to display - why not do the same with an iphone too?

Laptop/netbook scenario:
I want to sit outside on a sunny day and do work with butterflies. I could take a laptop/netbook but why not have a mini keyboard and mouse with a small portable monitor?

Mobile Scenario:
I want to call someone on my phone - no problem. on pc/laptop I have to use messenger/social networking sites or a free texting site.

so for the basic user, there isnt a reason why it cant serve the same purpose.

for me - laptop keyboards are to cramped and the pads are aweful! if I had a laptop, I'd have to buy a seperate keyboard and mouse which then makes the laptop/netbooks practicality a little less impressive.

why have a laptop/netbook take up all the room when you can have an iphone 1/4 of the size doing exactly the same thing? and look at the carry cases you need for them? you NEED a carry case for them. for the iphone you just put it in your pocket.

your asking the question "why have an iphone when you can have a netbook"? you should be asking "why have a netbook when you can have an iphone".

If I had an iphone that had full bluetooth capability with a hdmi cable instead of crappy component, and we was to compare the iphone to a netbook - how different do you think it would be?

 

[CaptainComedy]

I consider it cramped because the keyboard to output device is far too close for comfort which forces you to "hunch" into an awkward reading position.

 

[CaptainComedy]

Yes. (and I mean GPS satnav)

Next question.

what use is a gps on a stationary device? (pc) to that extend even on a laptop would be awkward! ("hmmph, I'll just get out my 22inch laptop, boot it up here.... (1 minute later) I'll just start up the application..... (2 minutes later) ok I need to walk 300 yards, taking the 3rd left, then the first right and then second left..... I'll check back in a minute to make sure I didnt miss anything"..... not only that but you'd look pretty stupid walking with a netbook in hand with gps looking clueless on the street.

still its totally irrelevant to the topic.

LOL, worst idea ever.

Even if this is a good idea, you'd probably be better off using a Windows Mobile based phone for maximum compatability.

Just buy a webook man!

what makes you say that? wouldnt you prefer a device like your computer thats already on and ready to boot an application when you want to use it? to always have your computer on you at all times? to be able to communicate to anyone when ever you want without paying a penny because your phone is also your pc?

I mean you can lol about it now all you want but I believe its going to happen regardless

 

[CaptainComedy]

Fantastic phone, but you're wanting too much from it.

Im not asking questions, I just stated why it cant do what I was aiming for and it can already do spreadsheets, basic word processing, browse the internet, watch movies of certain sizes to some degree, watch streaming content.

I dont care what platform the possability is on, as long as its available. I'd prefer a windows mobile platform as microsoft loves open source. But they just arent ready right now.

 

[CaptainComedy]

100% agree with you there. But NOT with the iPhone.

The only thing on the horizon that will even come close to what you're asking for is the Samsung Show with it's built in projector.

THAT will potentially allow Bluetooth Keyboard and Mouse connection and whatever OS they decide to throw on it (I've been told WM), then you have 'potential' to do what you're asking.

A mobile phone, screen (50" projection IIRK) and bluetooth enabled devices in your pocket.

But even so, it's still not 'exactly' what you're after, we're still a long way from that yet.

( Samsung Show - http://www.electricpig.co.uk/2009/02/16/samsung-show-i7410-projector-phone-unveiled/ - and yes, WM enabled)

yeah I dont care if its on the iphone, but from what Im seeing by using it and the apps on offer, all I see is a lack of software developement and a hdmi connector. Im not saying that I wasnt able to use it as a computer because I am saying I did this last night.

I had my iphone connected via component to tv, audio connected to my creative dts decoder which was set to a creative 7.1 sound system.

the 40 inch tv displayed iphone fine but due to the connection being component, the upscaling was wrong (it just enlarged the iphone screen which was still clearly visible, just image quality wasnt very good and would have loved the extra space

I had the note application up and was writting on it no problem, the animations and load times were no different.

 

[CaptainComedy]

Some very clever people did something similar with the Nokia N95.

Bluetooth mouse and keyboard plus existing TV out support = portable PC.

The problem with the iPhone is that the operating system isn't very open. The APIs available don't give you low level control. Something might be possible after jailbreaking though.

I jailbroke my phone, which needed to be done to be able to display on tv. no developer has tried unlocking the bluetooth software though sadly. which was why I had to use the iphone as an input device instead of keyboard/mouse. shame but nothing a software developer cant work around with a bit of knowledge. also apple released a new sdk a couple of days ago with 1000 new api's. (read more here)

I mean I can show you what my iphone can do later if you want.

 

[CaptainComedy]

Some form of small dock connector on your desk, connected to a screen, keyboard and mouse. Or even, as suggested, bluetooth keyboard and mouse perhaps with a dock integrated into the screen.

A higher resolution, upscaling output on the display too.

A more versatile, open OS.

As suggested with the n95 in an earlier post, this would leave you able to take your PC and your documents etc with you anywhere.

I'd certainly have signed up. Saves me buying a netbook or laptop, and assuming I didn't want to play games, it'd have all the productivity I need.

dock could charge the iphone while in use too and when your on a call act as hands free. I'd like it to keep my iphone screen up though instead of revert to call information. doesnt need to be there if you've already accepted the call its a bit too much in your face.