What's Missing From The iPone

28th August 2007

What’s missing from the iPhone

The iPhone may very well be the best phone ever, but that doesn't mean the Apple (Nasdaq: AAPL) enthusiasts of the world aren't already thirsting for a new and improved version. In fact, even the most Apple-loving diehards expect killer advances with the second iteration, and Apple knows it.

The secretive company isn't going to tell us what's next, but iPhone users have already started asking for more features. Some are obvious, some are desperately needed and others are please-give-it-to-us luxuries.

Many of the features could be delivered by software updates -- and Apple surely will deliver new features through that road. However, some of the features people want don't necessarily come with easy-to-manage solutions via a touch screen. Much of the touch screen's usability comes from its relatively simple set of finger-movement commands, and complicating that could result in degrading overall usability.

But hey, these are the challenges Apple enthusiasts expect Cupertino to tackle with grace.

Here are my top must-have items, in an approximately increasing order of importance:

Better Customization. While you can use a photo to customize your wallpaper, you can't change the placement of any of the home screen application buttons. You also can't get rid of them to relegate them to a secondary page. Apple teases us by leaving room for four new applications on the iPhone's home screen. So far, after Apple's first minor bug-fixing update, we don't know what Apple will provide. In the meantime, we could use those spaces for some custom shortcut links -- for example, to turn the iPhone's WiFi on or off, since most users don't want the WiFi feature draining their battery if they're not busy using it.

Custom Ring Tones. Right now, you can only select Apple's built-in ring tones. This is just stupid, and the only reason for it I can imagine is that Apple or AT&T (NYSE: T) has some other kind of scheme in place where they want to charge users for downloading ring tones. This might be fine for teenagers, but it's irritating for adults. If I bought a song on iTunes, and I want to use it for a ring tone, I'm not seeing any compelling reasons, DRM included, for not enabling that kind of use. What about GarageBand? I can't even create my own custom ring tone with Apple's own cool music-making application? What gives?

Built-In Instant Messaging. Right now, you can only send text messages to another user's cell phone via the SMS (short message service) application. The iPhone will store those messages in virtual iChat conversation for you, but it's just not the same as an instant message. Plus, what happens when your buddy is sitting at a PC, logged in, but not using a cell phone? You can use a Web-based, third-party service via the built-in Safari application, but getting to it, signing in, etc., is a pain. A built-in iChat for the iPhone application is the ticket, particularly if it works will all the major IM service providers. Plus, it would be handy to be able to IM pictures, videos or sounds clips.

WiFi Calling. This is a problem because cellular service companies aren't too keen on leaving behind their pay-by-the-minute charging models. If you only need 450 minutes per month from AT&T because you use a built-in Skype client (note to Apple: please, please), AT&T isn't going to be able to sell you the 750-minute plan.

Video Recording. The iPhone comes with a built-in 2.0 megapixel camera, and while it could come with better resolution, at least it should offer some rudimentary ability to take video. If an old Motorola (NYSE: MOT) Razr can do it, why not the iPhone? On a similar note is audio recording. If the speakerphone can hear my voice, why can't the iPhone record it? It doesn't even have to be a high-quality mic, but hey, if it was good enough for podcasting, it could be very handy.

GPS. Some users would be satisfied with a cell tower triangulation system , while others would like to see true built-in GPS features. The Google (Nasdaq: GOOG) Maps application is awesome, no doubt -- it just saved my bacon last weekend when I was trying to navigate a suburban neighbourhood to find a barbecue party -- but GPS is on an entirely different level of usability. Plus, you could tie location awareness to business applications, as well as family-friendly applications (though GPS doesn't work inside buildings).

Memory Options. I've got the 8 GB iPhone, and I'm hard-pressed to imagine enjoying the 4 GB model. In addition to wanting more memory, an expandable memory card slot would do the trick. Of course, the slot would mess with the aesthetics of the gorgeous iPhone, if not force Apple to make the whole thing that much bigger ... so OK, I guess I understand. Still, though, more memory would be nice, and it would be even better if Apple could upgrade the memory when it's time to replace the battery.

Removable Battery. Again, having a removable battery would at least let a consumer replace the thing without having to ship the iPhone off to Apple when it inevitably fails. However, I can see where a removable battery would disrupt the form factor of the iPhone -- any slot or opening means you have to provide reinforcement for the slots or hinges -- and no one wants a bulkier iPhone. Still, I know that one day I'm going to have to ship my iPhone away, and that sucks.

Better Enterprise E-Mail. There's lots of room for more robust connectivity with Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT) Exchange/Outlook and Lotus Domino/Notes enterprise-level e-mail , but Apple deserves a bit more time on this one -- enterprise e-mail is complicated, and Apple's competitors in this space have spent years building good solutions. Oh yeah, and some of it is patented.

Wireless Syncing. Right now, you can only sync the iPhone via the USB cable. No WiFi? Of course, there's an added complexity and security risk in setting that up, but it should be doable for most consumers, even for Windows-based users -- at least from a user's home WiFi network. Bluetooth could also work, though it would be slower than WiFi.
iPhone as Bluetooth Modem. Of course, by connecting your laptop to your iPhone and using it as a Bluetooth modem, you would be able to access the Web via your laptop and the unlimited AT&T data plan -- and that's the problem. Imagine a bunch of iPhone customers clogging AT&T's data network for no good reason. Business users and travellers, on the other hand, would find this service particularly handy.

Easy-Sync To-Do List. The built-in notes application is OK, but it could have a Mac OS X and PC equivalent that could sync with your iPhone. It could be built into iCal, and very well may be with the next version of OS X, but a rock-simple Mac-and-PC mini application for creating fast to-do lists would be handy.


Spam Control. If Apple could somehow apply the same filters that run Mac's Mail program to work with iPhone that would be great. Of course, that leaves issues for PC users. Either way, my heavily-spammed accounts are almost unusable on the iPhone, which also means I should have a spam filter set up on the server side of those accounts.
Voice Dialling. Sure, you can tap your way into a phone call easily enough, but this is a modern phone. It should listen to voice commands, at least for your top ten contacts.

Adobe (Nasdaq: ADBE) Flash Support. Adobe Flash is the magic that makes so many Web sites cool and usable, plus it often lets Web sites offer video. Sure, we have built-in YouTube , but there's another world of Flash-based Web sites. Oh, and one more thing, how about Java?

3G. Faster ... network ... download ... speeds ... is what most everyone wants. AT&T's 3G networks offer it -- just not everywhere in the U.S., which is a key reason iPhones use EDGE (Enhanced Data Rates for GSM Revolution). Some analysts think 3G iPhones might show up sometime in 2008 because really, the pressure has been on since the iPhone was first announced in January.

Third-Party Custom Applications. Right now, iPhone users can access a variety of Web-based applications, but these aren't the same as built-in applications. It's hard to say if or when Apple might bend on this because it introduces the potential for problems. Who wants their iPhone to crash, especially when they need to dial 911? A reasonable alternative would be a special bookmark-type application that would let you store one-touch access buttons to Web-based applications. The identification and log-in could occur seamlessly to the end-user, and since only power users would be interested in using third-party Web apps, they could deal with the added complexity.

A Few Miscellaneous Features
Some other commonly desired iPhone features include the ability to cut and paste within applications -- multiple taps could select a word, sentence, paragraph or page -- and business users seem interested in being able to edit Word or Excel documents instead of just being able to read them.

There are also no built-in games, but I'd rather have no games than some stupid ones taking up screen and memory real estate. Of course, a drag and drop method for adding songs to the iPhone would be handy, rather than updating playlists and syncing, but being forced to use Apple's new method is training me well enough.

The most interesting -- if somewhat whimsical idea -- I've heard is a flashlight mode, where the iPhone cranks out white light. Not a bad idea for anyone who stays up most the night on the Internet and doesn't want to wake a sleeping spouse while climbing into bed.

It would be nice to browse iTunes online, but bandwidth is the limiting factor -- actually downloading the songs would likely put a few kinks in AT&T's network. However, that's what WiFi is for, right? Speaking of music, those who like wireless Bluetooth headsets want stereo to be supported, too.

For inexplicable reasons, the touch screen keyboard won't go horizontal in every application, making it easier to type. The most notorious spot is when you're typing an e-mail message, which is also the time you most want landscape mode.

Finally, of course, lots of people wish they could simply buy an iPhone and use it with any service provider of their choice. Someday, perhaps.