FakeSteve: iTablet announced in January, ships in June, ushers in golden age of journalism
Doing his day job at Newsweek, Dan Lyons reports that Apple's tablet warrants the hype that it is getting (without even officially existing) because it will usher in new era of computing - where the Internet is always on "Like the air you breathe". If that is really the case, then we're hoping that Apple picks a different provider because we've been suffocating on AT&T for too long!
These devices will play video and music and, of course, display text; they will let you navigate by touching your fingers to the screen; and-this is most important-they will be connected to the Internet at all times. For those of us who carry iPhones, this shift to a persistent Internet has already happened, and it's really profound. The Internet is no longer a destination, someplace you "go to." You don't "get on the Internet." You're always on it. It's just there, like the air you breathe.
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Comments (24)
Ugh, I'm really sick of the people complaining about AT&T.
The service isn't bad! You DO realize the same stuff would have happened if the iPhone had gone to Verizon?
You people never cease to amaze me that you'll bitch about anything. I hope they stay with AT&T forever just so that some people will perpetually be miserable.
I've been an iPhone user since the first weekend it was released and a customer of AT&T forever. I've lived in three major markets with my iPhone - Chicago, Seattle & now Boston (lived, not visited) and I can tell you there is a marketable difference between service in these areas. In Seattle and Chicago, I rarely (if ever) expereinced "drops or deadzones." Now that I live in Boston, the service is terrible. Almost every call over 5 minutes gets dropped. People have legitimate gripes with AT&T - I suggest you visit another market (or go rural) before you tell others how bad their service is or isn't.
I'm not sure where you live in Boston, but I've lived, worked, and/or spent extraordinary amounts of time in the South End, Back Bay, Allston, Cambridge, Somerville, Newton, and even the "distant burbs" of Maynard and Ashland.
I never had a problem with AT&T - exceptional service in all those areas. Plus, mind you: I use a single cell phone for both home and work, easily using well over 1500 minutes a month.
Maybe you live in a lead shielded building, but your experience is completely different than mine. And seeing all the iPhones I see on the T and in the streets of Boston, you're clearly in the minority.
What's a "cell phone"?
you're right, my dropped calls must because of the "lead lining" around my house...and now that I think about it, I'm just imagining all the other times my calls get dropped when I'm outside. Silly me.
btw, did it ever occur to you that all those iPhones you see on the T, could be getting their calls dropped too...some people actually choose to live with the problem just so they can look cool with an iPhone
Stand anywhere near South Station and try to get any data through.
We all want the iPhone on T-Mobile! They're the only ones good enough to have an open network and open devices.
No Mikey, we don't know that. Perhaps Verizon would've upgraded their infrastructure to handle the additional load, instead of sitting around with their corporate thumb up their butt as AT&T seems to have done.
I don't know about you but it sucks in SF NYC and LA so I don't know what you mean by stop complaining, these are major hubs of high use of the phones so don't tell me not to complain.
this shift to a persistent Internet has already happened...
1.) Not only for those carrying iphones, but for all of us carrying current smartphones (just btw)
2.) what dan lyons describes just IS the iphone... i don't see the point in buying a 10inch ipod touch since the tablet wouldn't have cell-phone capabilities. so if the tablet was going to "reinvent computing" then because of some other (so far undiscovered) feature.
Hey Mikey - I think AT&T's service is bad *in some places*. Maybe it's great where you are, but I saw a stat that said 20-20% of all iPhone calls in New York City get dropped due to AT&T's network, not the phone itself. I dunno about you, but I'd like to be able to call 4 people in a row and not have 1 or 2 of those calls drop.
This guy has no more knowledge than what you or I or privy to. IF he didn't use the word computing or tablet, it would sound as if he were 3 years late to a news story. Thats all this guy is doing , just riding on the past to predict the future and make a bigger name for himself.
Reading his blog, he seems increasingly of the opinion that being ”Fake Steve“, he actually has some genuine insight that others do not. He's sometimes still good when he sticks to the comedy. But increasingly... he does not.
if joe dildo who works in new york city cant be happy than nobody can be happy. its annoying as all hell. ya know what, verizon is the dominate power house and is better service wise, but i dont have a problem with AT&T in the boonies of New york, and i hope the iphone stays with AT&T just to make people cry even more. Im sooooo sick of listen to the complaining. dont like it...LEAVE!!! just that simple. if some asshole in Los Angles has bad coverage there, then ooo the suffering. guy in new york city has bad coverage there, then yup everybody has to listen to his rant about hes suffering. if you jump off a bridge then i must as well...nope!!!!
Uh, Is it just me or has anyone else been bothered by the rapid increase in video ads on the net lately. Every "news" video you click on...jumps to a linear video ad you have to get through first—whether a JPG version of the ad sits next to the video window or not.
Links to stories are not just links to stories anymore.
That's why we need Flash on the iPhone - we're all missing out on the amazing web video ads.
I hope that the tablet also becomes a 3G functionality. Because without that you can only use it at home in your Wi-Fi area as an internet tablet. and there a much more possibilites if it becomes an sim tray. but please without a 2 year contract only!!!!
Volley for iPhone - http://www.tapelicious.com
Dan Lyons may know a lot about his profession but what he says is rubbish. The price and quality of always on internet is not good enough (3G or other). Providers pay through the nose for bandwidth and then have to pass it on to the customers with a healthy profit... It will take quite a few years for this to become a reality ad by then the Apple tablet will be a relic.
If I'm sleeping am I on the internet?
If I'm playing a game of basketball am I on the internet?
If I'm swimming laps in a pool am I on the internet?
No Seth, I'm not on the internet and it's not like the air I breath - everywhere. I would call it a service that's available in most places, but don't compare it to air and say it's everywhere.
Kyle
woow... you took it a bit too literally!
Not Seth's fault-- read the article next time ;)
You do realize Seth didn't write that piece......right?
Inhale, exhale.... Mmmmmm, a breath of fresh Internet!
Apple's net devices must get on multiple networks. Multiple networks sharing Apple iDevice loads is the only way to solve the problem.
End the exclusivity with AT&T Mr. Jobs!