iPhone Duo: The apps weren’t ready, but the market was
It seems clear by now that one of the most widely shared criticisms of the iPhone Duo picked up by many of those who got to take an early look at the device was a little unfair. They complained that there weren’t many third-party apps when they looked at the device. But what made that point such weak sauce was when those reviews were written. I don’t think most developers build apps with the…
Reports suggest many critics of the iPhone Duo were quick to judge its app availability as insufficient. However, this criticism appears to be misplaced when considering the timeline of app development. Most developers tend to focus on releasing their products when consumers can actually purchase and use them. As such, many apps for the iPhone Duo began appearing shortly after initial reviews were published.
Apple addressed this concern by releasing a press release detailing over 50 apps that were in the pipeline, including popular services like Netflix, Amazon Prime, Microsoft Office, Zoom, Slack, and Instagram. These apps were not included in Apple's initial mention of the device. Developers have been enthusiastic about the larger display and new interaction methods offered by the iPhone Duo.
Apple's vice president of Worldwide Developer Relations, Susan Prescott, expressed her appreciation for the developer community's response to the new device. While some valid criticisms exist, such as the lack of Face ID and a subpar camera, Apple acknowledged these limitations and noted that the iPhone Duo 2 would likely address these issues in the near future.
The excitement around the iPhone Duo led to limited availability but strong consumer interest. Apple increased its production orders in response to demand. Despite the high price tag, millions of units were sold during an economic period where smartphone and PC markets had experienced a significant decline. Apple's loyal customer base, attractive trade-in deals, and the introduction of Apple Upgrade contributed to the product's success.
Carrier partnerships and the anticipation of a limited supply further fueled interest in the device. The concept of foldable phones had been a topic of discussion for over a decade, positioning the market well for the release of the iPhone Duo.
Written by urgent.news from Computerworld's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
