Apple iPhone 4 is like a Leica

[kkdanamatt]

Steve Jobs of Apple introduced the new iPhone 4 yesterday and said it was so well made that the only thing he could compare it to was a beautiful old Leica camera. Here's the video link. The Leica reference is made at about the 31 minute mark. You can move the slider if you want to fast forward.

http://events.apple.com.edgesuite.net/1006ad9g4hjk/event/index.html

OK, here is probably the hottest new consumer product in the world being compared to an old Leica, quality-wise. WOW!

[thrice]

And the funny thing is, the old Leica will still be worth something (and function) in 3 years.

I look forward to handling one, I wonder what Steve's experience with Leica is...

[BillBingham2]

Wonder if he wants to buy the company?

B2

[kkdanamatt]

And the funny thing is, the old Leica will still be worth something (and function) in 3 years.

I look forward to handling one, I wonder what Steve's experience with Leica is...

If I had to guess, I'd say that Steve might own an M9, but maybe he shoots with an iPhone 4.

What I found astounding was his comparison between his brain-child and an incredibly hand-crafted "old Leica"...I wonder if the comment was scripted or came right off the top of his head.

Steve Jobs is a genius in his own field, but he is also able to recognize ingenious designs in other consumer products. If only Leica had a CEO like Steve Jobs!

[shyoon]

Does that mean I can put a red dot on my iPhone?

[thrice]

Steve Jobs is a genius in his own field, but he is also able to recognize ingenious designs in other consumer products. If only Leica had a CEO like Steve Jobs!

I threw up a little in my mouth when I read that.

[literiter]

I'm not sure I'd compare much made today to a Leica. Particularly to a Leica IIIf or a M2. These cameras were made well over 50 years ago and the same cameras will likely still be completely functional and repairable when no one can remember what a iPhone or for that matter a iPad was.

[SimonSawSunlight]

I threw up a little in my mouth when I read that.

same here. :|

[johannielscom]

I'll get me one if its available in black paint (or white!) over brass.

Until then, I'm putting scratches on my 3GS :D

[Mister E]

If Steve made the M9 I'd own 5 of them.

[Gazzah]

Surly everything apple is the complete antithesis of what leica is..
Apples are a triumph of form over function, Leicas are built to function first and foremost..

But then then Im a life long apple hater....

Gary H

[roundg]

My first reaction is,

"did he mean that no substantial changes/innovation from iphone 1 to 4?"

[Jason808]

In the sense that it's a decent tool, albeit with flaws that are denied fervently by rabid fanboys?

:)

[roundg]

If I had to guess, I'd say that Steve might own an M9, but maybe he shoots with an iPhone 4.

What I found astounding was his comparison between his brain-child and an incredibly hand-crafted "old Leica"...I wonder if the comment was scripted or came right off the top of his head.

Steve Jobs is a genius in his own field, but he is also able to recognize ingenious designs in other consumer products. If only Leica had a CEO like Steve Jobs!
Steve Jobs has been recognized as the god in Apple world. For me, Apple was a company doing all kinds of computer system.software and hardware once. But now it only sale handphone and its add-value service.

So u call it a great success or great failure?

[sevo]

If there is a iPhone analogy in the camera world, it would be the SX70...

[pevelg]

Steve Jobs has been recognized as the god in Apple world. For me, Apple was a company doing all kinds of computer system.software and hardware once. But now it only sale handphone and its add-value service.

I hope they stay with the hardware/ Mac OS. After bouncing between Vista and XP, I finally decided to try the Mac. I used one once during undergrad and hated the OS and everything Apple. Hesitant to spend money on possible junk, I joined the Hackintosh community and got the OS working on my PC. It was great. Took some getting used to and there are certain things I miss from Windows, but as a whole it was a better experience. When Snow came out, I started having issues with the hackintosh with Snow and decided it was time to pay my dues. I purchased a Mac Mini and have zero regrets. I am patiently waiting for the new Mac Pro as the Mini does not have enough juice to work with my 700mb MF scans.

So, regardless of the worship/hate apple gets, I believe they make great tools (though very much over priced) and I hope they continue providing people other options than Windows and Linux.

[J J Kapsberger]

Does that mean I can put a red dot on my iPhone?

Skip the red dot. Simply cover the phone in black tape.

[Brian Puccio]

I hope they stay with the hardware/ Mac OS. After bouncing between Vista and XP, I finally decided to try the Mac. I used one once during undergrad and hated the OS and everything Apple. Hesitant to spend money on possible junk, I joined the Hackintosh community and got the OS working on my PC. It was great. Took some getting used to and there are certain things I miss from Windows, but as a whole it was a better experience. When Snow came out, I started having issues with the hackintosh with Snow and decided it was time to pay my dues. I purchased a Mac Mini and have zero regrets. I am patiently waiting for the new Mac Pro as the Mini does not have enough juice to work with my 700mb MF scans.

So, regardless of the worship/hate apple gets, I believe they make great tools (though very much over priced) and I hope they continue providing people other options than Windows and Linux.

I'm 27 now, I bought my first computer with saved up birthday money when I was 12 for $300, a used AST I think it was. From then until my teens, I used Windows. I started to dual boot with Linux and after a few years, decided I didn't use the Windows partition enough and erased it. I was a Linux user until I bought a MacBook in May 2006. I've been a Mac user since. (My servers still run Linux, first Debian and now a Debian Ubuntu mix. I don't see migrating from a Linux server environment happening at all.)

I got a first gen iPhone (aka 2G), a 3G, skipped the 3GS and now I'll get a 4G on launch date. I'll take an Apple product over a Microsoft product any day of the week in any category. While I'd like to be able to pick and choose my hardware, I know part of the appeal is not having to deal with incompatabilities, so I'll pay a bit more to not have to mess with anything and have it Just Work(tm). (Remember IRQ conflicts? Remember doing the PCI shuffle? Remember drivers that would crash your system because they were poorly written?)

Call them overpriced, I call them worth it. My day job now, for the most part, involves supporting 200 workstations that all run Windows in a law office (part of a Fortune 50 company). Not my choice, but it's what I've got to work with. I use a Mac at home because I don't want to deal with problems after work, I see enough of them at work.

[Peter Wijninga]

To the best of my knowledge, Leicas are not made in Chinese factories where production staff jump off buildings.

[Thardy]

I'm 27 now, I bought my first computer with saved up birthday money when I was 12 for $300, a used AST I think it was. From then until my teens, I used Windows. I started to dual boot with Linux and after a few years, decided I didn't use the Windows partition enough and erased it. I was a Linux user until I bought a MacBook in May 2006. I've been a Mac user since. (My servers still run Linux, first Debian and now a Debian Ubuntu mix. I don't see migrating from a Linux server environment happening at all.)

I got a first gen iPhone (aka 2G), a 3G, skipped the 3GS and now I'll get a 4G on launch date. I'll take an Apple product over a Microsoft product any day of the week in any category. While I'd like to be able to pick and choose my hardware, I know part of the appeal is not having to deal with incompatabilities, so I'll pay a bit more to not have to mess with anything and have it Just Work(tm). (Remember IRQ conflicts? Remember doing the PCI shuffle? Remember drivers that would crash your system because they were poorly written?)

Call them overpriced, I call them worth it. My day job now, for the most part, involves supporting 200 workstations that all run Windows in a law office (part of a Fortune 50 company). Not my choice, but it's what I've got to work with. I use a Mac at home because I don't want to deal with problems after work, I see enough of them at work.

Funny, a guy who works on Windows machines all day chooses a Mac for his personal computer.

[kkdanamatt]

I posted the video of Steve Jobs and pointed out his reference to "a beautiful old Leica camera" as the "closest kin to the iPhone 4 in terms of beauty and precision."

Guys, that doesn't mean that we should compare an iPhone 4 to a Leica. What it means is that someone who is so passionate about his brainchild dared to compare it to the finest product he could think of...a product that is beautiful, precise, and functional....a Leica.

I'd say that is an incredible compliment to Leica, whether or not you love Apple, Steve Jobs, or any iPhone.

And by the way, both products are overpriced, and both have long waiting lines of ready buyers.

[pachuco]

I posted the video of Steve Jobs and pointed out his reference to "a beautiful old Leica camera" as the "closest kin to the iPhone 4 in terms of beauty and precision."

Guys, that doesn't mean that we should compare an iPhone 4 to a Leica. What it means is that someone who is so passionate about his brainchild dared to compare it to the finest product he could think of...a product that is beautiful, precise, and functional....a Leica.

I'd say that is an incredible compliment to Leica, whether or not you love Apple, Steve Jobs, or any iPhone.

And by the way, both products are overpriced, and both have long waiting lines of ready buyers.

The Apple haters can't help themselves. They NEED to trash talk so that they feel better with the (less cool) products they have! :eek:

[Roberto V.]

The Apple haters can't help themselves. They NEED to trash talk so that they feel better with the (less cool) products they have! :eek:

Excellent choice of avatar :D

[pachuco]

Excellent choice of avatar :D

The Dude Abides :cool:

[kshapero]

same here. :|lunch will never be the same.

[BillBingham2]

Funny, a guy who works on Windows machines all day chooses a Mac for his personal computer.

+1......

I deal with everything from Mainframes, AIX, Linux, Windows, Clustered, CITRIX, Networks and stuff all day long. I run Macs at home for the entire family. I found that my life got a lot easier when I moved my wife from her Win/Tel laptop to a Mac.

I've gone past the religious aspect of what is better. I will run what ever works best for me, be it Mac, Linux, AIX or iTouch or zSeries.

BTW, if Mr. Jobs ran Leica I think we could all afford an M9!

The place I would really like him to run is Nikon. Then we would see some real butt kicking products!

B2 (;->

[Mister E]

+1......

I deal with everything from Mainframes, AIX, Linux, Windows, Clustered, CITRIX, Networks and stuff all day long. I run Macs at home for the entire family. I found that my life got a lot easier when I moved my wife from her Win/Tel laptop to a Mac.

I've gone past the religious aspect of what is better. I will run what ever works best for me, be it Mac, Linux, AIX or iTouch or zSeries.

BTW, if Mr. Jobs ran Leica I think we could all afford an M9!

The place I would really like him to run is Nikon. Then we would see some real butt kicking products!

B2 (;->
I've worked it IT for 10 years and I have so much stress dealing with Winblows at work I always use Mac at home. I have for more than 5 years.

[Frank Petronio]

If you stick strictly to build quality then the analogy is apt, the iPhone is probably the epitome of consumer hardgoods manufacturing design and quality. Note how all the other cell phone companies attempt to copy it, just like how the PC companies mimic the Apple laptop and PC designs.

[BillBingham2]

I just want him to make a TV so I could finally have a software based remote, instead of the insane 50 button junk coming out of companies like Samsung (I own 2), who do not have a clue.

TV engineers seem to be stuck in the analog age, when it comes to controls.

The early Palms had an app for that and I think there was someone who did it on Newton OS too. I do not think any of the palm/hand held devices use IR these days.

Nice little niche for a small IR transmitter and an app for say $200 that plugs into a iTouch/iPhone/iPad no? Back it up the the cloud and dang I bet it would sell.

B2 (;->

[Eric T]

I wager that, within three years, Apple starts to make stunning cameras. And I don't just mean the ones on the iPhone. So hold on to your hats, I predict that Apple puts the camera industry on its ears.

[Mister E]

I wager that, within three years, Apple starts to make stunning cameras. And I don't just mean the ones on the iPhone. So hold on to your hats, I predict that Apple puts the camera industry on its ears.
I could see them taking over the PnS market. Put a decent senor and the iPhone interface in a camera and you'd have a winning product. The software side would be better than anything else out there. You could zoom the lens with your fingers by pinching in and out on the LCD. It would be a great product for people after that sort of camera.

[gilpen123]

I wish they'll put on strap lugs and hot shoe......btw, can Steve make the M9 a book reader as well????

[kkdanamatt]

If you stick strictly to build quality then the analogy is apt, the iPhone is probably the epitome of consumer hardgoods manufacturing design and quality. Note how all the other cell phone companies attempt to copy it, just like how the PC companies mimic the Apple laptop and PC designs.


....exactly. Steve Jobs thinks his iPhone 4 is so great that he dared to compare it to a Leica. Why does that irritate so many Leica folks? It's a huge compliment from a guy who hardly ever gives kudos to anyone.

It's not important whether or not you're a fan of Jobs or Apple. If Jobs had compared the quality and design of the new iPhone to a Porsche, would all the Porschephiles yell and scream?

[Peter R]

Slightly off-original post, but I've got to say I've been very impressed with the IQ of my 3GS iPhone pics. When judged within the huge limitations of a tiny lens/sensor/etc, in my opinion whoever at Apple made the design decisions from hardware to image rendering/software settings for their little inbuilt camera did a stellar job. It's noticably better than similar resolution phone cameras I've seen.

And yes, Leica being cited as a benchmark to aspire to by one of the most successful modern gadget designers in the world is a nice accolade for Leica, but hardly worth getting too analytical about.

[Steve_F]

The iPhone 4 may be likened to a Leica but thankfully my iPhone 3GS is as reliable as my Nikon's and not my Leica.

Steve.

[Frontman]

I love how Steve Jobs can compare his iphone (which is mass-produced on an astronomical scale by Chinese workers who earn less per hour than Mexican fruit pickers) with Leica, or any other item which is produced by real craftsmen, and designed to last more than the length of a 2-year cellular phone contract.

The iphone 4 will not be anymore timeless than any of the previous phones. It will become obsolete in a year or two, after which it will be replaced with the iphone 5. I wonder what Jobs will compare his next iphone to, a Rolls Royce?

As for the new iphone, it is supposed to be improved so it doesn't drop call so often. Steve Jobs of course blamed this on ATT's network. But iphones suffer from the same problem here in Japan where the cell network is probably the most advanced in the world. One of my coworkers had to get rid of his iphone because of it's poor reception; it routinely dropped calls while he was speaking with clients, and inexcusable occurrence in Japan.

I'll keep my 2 year old Panasonic telephone. This phone doesn't come with the applications which are available with the iphone, but it has plenty of features; a 5.1 megapixel camera with a bright LED light for dark situations, built-in GPS, dictionary, and multi-band functions which allow it to work on all 2G, 3G, GSM and other networks. I like the built in dictionary which works with the camera. I can take pictures of Japanese/Chinese/English words or even traffic signs with the camera, and the phone can translate the works into English or Japanese. I like the built-in television tuner which allows me to watch television without having to receive broadcasts through the cellular network or wifi (which means that they are free). I like that I can keep my train pass and bank card information on an IC chip in my telephone, that way I can simply hold my phone next to a sensor on the bus, train, or in a store and make a payment without even having to take out my wallet. Perhaps the iphone 10 will have some of these same features.

[cosmonaut]

When I get my M9 should I get a pre paid or sign a two year contract? Hmmmm.

[ZeissFan]

I don't think you can compare an electronic wunderkind-of-the-week made on a factory line in Asia by underpaid, overworked workers throwing themselves off rooftops to a handcrafted German camera.

I'm currently using a Nokia N900. At least, it has a German lens (Tessar).

[Mister E]

Have any of you ever been in Asia? Foxxcon employees are definitely paid a living wage. I wonder if the Portuguese workers are as well taken care of at Leica?

[Neare]

End of the day, he is still comparing his own product. He's selling it to you, the only people who can decide if it really is the 'Leica' of Cellphones are the consumers.

Apple is the god of marketing, because in truth, there are plenty of products out there that perform better than their Apple equivalents. This thread simply proves that some people are sold to the idea and culture of Apple's products.

Apple's user base is their success, the iPhone would be nothing if your everyday John Doe didn't make App after App for it. And now the market is in their grip because all those people aren't contributing elsewhere so other people must either join the Apple's clan or be left behind.

Perfect really.

Leica was never anything like this however.

[wray]

End of the day, he is still comparing his own product. He's selling it to you, the only people who can decide if it really is the 'Leica' of Cellphones are the consumers.

Apple is the god of marketing, because in truth, there are plenty of products out there that perform better than their Apple equivalents. This thread simply proves that some people are sold to the idea and culture of Apple's products.

Apple's user base is their success, the iPhone would be nothing if your everyday John Doe didn't make App after App for it. And now the market is in their grip because all those people aren't contributing elsewhere so other people must either join the Apple's clan or be left behind.

Perfect really.

Leica was never anything like this however.
Really, care to name a few?

[andydg]

Doesn't matter what Steve says. I'll keep shooting my M6 and using my basic cell phone to make calls and not worry about all the additional features I don't really need.
I used to have an iPhone, but found it too distracting from my normal daily routine.

[Roger Hicks]

Apple is the god of marketing, because in truth, there are plenty of products out there that perform better than their Apple equivalents. This thread simply proves that some people are sold to the idea and culture of Apple's products.


There's a lovely cartoon in the most recent Private Eye in which an entire bar-full of generic Mac i-users agrees with one another about how individual and rebellious they are.

Cheers,

R

[Ted Witcher]

I love how Steve Jobs can compare his iphone (which is mass-produced on an astronomical scale by Chinese workers who earn less per hour than Mexican fruit pickers) with Leica, or any other item which is produced by real craftsmen, and designed to last more than the length of a 2-year cellular phone contract.

The iphone 4 will not be anymore timeless than any of the previous phones. It will become obsolete in a year or two, after which it will be replaced with the iphone 5. I wonder what Jobs will compare his next iphone to, a Rolls Royce?

As for the new iphone, it is supposed to be improved so it doesn't drop call so often. Steve Jobs of course blamed this on ATT's network. But iphones suffer from the same problem here in Japan where the cell network is probably the most advanced in the world. One of my coworkers had to get rid of his iphone because of it's poor reception; it routinely dropped calls while he was speaking with clients, and inexcusable occurrence in Japan.

I'll keep my 2 year old Panasonic telephone. This phone doesn't come with the applications which are available with the iphone, but it has plenty of features; a 5.1 megapixel camera with a bright LED light for dark situations, built-in GPS, dictionary, and multi-band functions which allow it to work on all 2G, 3G, GSM and other networks. I like the built in dictionary which works with the camera. I can take pictures of Japanese/Chinese/English words or even traffic signs with the camera, and the phone can translate the works into English or Japanese. I like the built-in television tuner which allows me to watch television without having to receive broadcasts through the cellular network or wifi (which means that they are free). I like that I can keep my train pass and bank card information on an IC chip in my telephone, that way I can simply hold my phone next to a sensor on the bus, train, or in a store and make a payment without even having to take out my wallet. Perhaps the iphone 10 will have some of these same features.

Wow. You really should lighten up.

[Frontman]

Have any of you ever been in Asia? Foxxcon employees are definitely paid a living wage. I wonder if the Portuguese workers are as well taken care of at Leica?

Ah yes, their wages were doubled recently to $390 a month. Considering that they work 12 or more hours a day, and get 1 day off every 3 weeks, this is indeed a king's ransom. It's so wonderful to work there that people often commit suicide to escape the sheer joy they would otherwise have to endure.

[Mister E]

$390 a month is more than 10x the average wage in china, so that's pretty darn good. Why kill yourself when you can quit?

[Peter R]

Leica is part owned/influenced by Hermes, a company that deals in furs and 'exotic' leathers. If we're going to engage in a 'which company is more ethical' debate, Leica's money trail may not come out looking all that PC either.