Readers’ Wish List of iPhone Features

by Jody Mitoma on May 27, 2008 at 7:26 pm

Below you will find a list of features that iPhone users and non-users alike would like to see made for Apple’s iPhone. The list of features was sent in to thestreet.com and can be seen published here.

AW says:
“Would like to be able to take movies with the camera. A 3 MP camera would also be nice.”

HDS agrees that a camera update is in order:
“And…
1) An option for no camera for sensitive employment environments.
2) But most important, TWO cameras. One on the back for the regular picture-taking stuff, and one on the front for handheld iChat.”

I’m not sure about adding a second camera — but would guess that a software switch to turn cameras off wouldn’t be difficult to accomplish.

RT says I forgot one very important feature:
“…Live video chat so the touch screen keyboard won’t be as important. I think this might end the need for texting among teenagers because they will want to see their friends.”

That could also eliminate the need for today’s teens to learn how to read and write! That trend might even help save precious teaching funds in some financially-scrapped school districts.

JG wants to see the inclusion of some sorely needed software:
“The iPhone is truly great for surfing the Internet, and will be even better at 3G (speeds)… but it MUST support Adobe, Flash Player videos. So many sites cannot be viewed without Flash support.”

The wish-list continues…

ET was emphatic about beefing up the iPhone’s security level:
“Fingerprint security, fingerprint security, fingerprint security.
Thank you.”

I agree that would be nice, but something like fingerprint security would require another piece of hardware somewhere on the handset — and with real estate in such short supply on any smartphone, that might not be so easy to accomplish.

EB wants:
“Voice dialing via Bluetooth.”

That would be nice — I guess — but would also just serve to increase the number of people who seemingly “talk to themselves” on subways and buses, and while walking in the street.

And KC’s wish list includes:
1) An unbreakable screen! I accidentally dropped my iPhone in February, landing face down on concrete. I’m not sure what made me want to cry more — the fact it cracked & spidered out across the screen — or finding out how much it would cost to replace it :O
2) Streaming or up-to-the-minute stock quotes. 20 minute lag time isn’t helpful to me.
Other than that, I totally LOVE my iPhone & have since the day I got it last year (after waiting at the computer to buy it online at exactly 9pm EST when it went on sale!).

CD asks:

One addition and simple need … a task list!!! My greatest desire for my iPhone is simply to sync my Outlook task list. There are online task lists now but when you’re out of range of (AT&T’s) EDGE network … you’re just out of luck. I want to keep my tasks resident of my iPhone and in sync with my Outlook. Come on Mr. Jobs … is that too much to ask?”

CD uses his phone for business:

“I forward my business phone to my cell phone when out of the office and I want to be able to change the ring tone for calls that are forwarded to my phone… I don’t understand why we haven’t seen this on any phone or system yet.”

Well, C, according to my friend Robin — who is an iPhone super-user — you can do that if all the numbers are being forwarded from a single phone number. But, you can’t turn off the service during special hours unless you turn off your phone completely. But, I agree that Apple should make it easier to figure out how to do all this.

AW wants a better camera inside:

“Would like to be able to take movies with the camera. A 3 megapixel camera would also be nice.”

I agree. Why not a 4, 5 6 or 7 megapixel camera built inside? Except for the additional price and complexity, of course.

A different CD writes:

“I recently bought my wife a digital frame and wanted to put some pictures off our phone on it. My Samsung (phone) was simple. Attach via Bluetooth, select the pictures and transfer them in one batch. Then I got to my wife’s iPhone. Attached via Bluetooth to discover there is no way to move pictures from it in this way. Only way I could find is to email the pictures to myself. Each one had to be mailed individually. E-mail took FOREVER (as in minutes) even though I was attached to my local wireless network. I think the iPhone should offer at least what my Samsung phone does…”

I’m sure that you’re not alone in wanting better connectivity for the next iPhone.

AVB says: “forget about Bluetooth synching… it’s a phone that is always connected to the Internet via Wi-Fi and/or cell service. Why can’t is synch automatically with my contacts and calendar…? Why should we have to do anything to make it synch? Seems so antiquated.

The reason manufacturers turn off high-speed phone data connections is because they waste valuable battery life when not in use. It’s a very delicate balance. If Apple did what you asked, you would probably have to recharge your phone battery every eight hours or so. But, you’re right. It would be nice.

RB says his next iPhone has to be built for speed:

“You mention speeds for the new iPhone and I couldn’t agree with you more. I say skip 3G and utilize Apple’s Intel connection. Jump right to Wi-MAX, which will give the device a longer technological lifespan. I know it’s a nascent technology, but how come there isn’t enough mention of it when major technology companies are developing strategies behind the scenes?”

Since Wi-MAX is months and maybe years away, I don’t think Apple is considering holding up production their next phone to wait for that technology to mature. Or even work!

And MD would like to see the following — less sexy (his words) — points for improvement:

“1. Make the iPhone more physically robust. People are always dropping their cell phone (me included). Dropping an iPhone often results in a cracked glass screen, and this makes the iPhone less attractive to business users like myself.
2. Improvements in the manufactured quality. Apple’s manufactured quality has gone down recently with the increase in volumes. It’s a complex issue that might be difficult to cover in an online article. However, if this trend continues, the iPhone sales will suffer - people learn quickly and adjust their buying habits. Case in point: look how quickly iPhone sales trimmed down in EU after speculation of a 3G model.