As a Mac-user, one of the unanticipated pleasures of using an iPhone is hearing all the same alert sounds on the phone that I hear on my computer. For example, when I get new email on my iPhone, I’m alerted by the the same ping sound I hear on my Mac. And when I send e-mail, I hear the same swoosh sound as I hear on Apple mail.
Because of those — and other — things which seem so like my Mac, it seems all-the-more odd there is no iChat client on the iPhone. There are rumors of one in the pipeline and third-party browser hacks. But iChat needs to be a part of the iPhone sooner, rather than later. I can understand the economic incentive on AT&Ts part to prefer users us SMS rather than instant messaging, but there are many aspects of the iPhone that circumvent the cell-phone’s transaction-oriented business model (i.e., the complaints of no “picture mail” misses the point that it’s easy to use browser-based tools to send photos without requiring either party to pay for text-messaging charges).
Bottomline: Where’s my iChat?
Bonus link: Steve Rubel posts several ideas for making an iPhone an extension of ones computer — a “mobile nerve center,” he calls it. (Because I follow Steve on Twitter, I’ve been picking up these hints a little at a time over the past few days.)
Later: Om Malik finally breaks down and gets an iPhone and says it needs iChat — more than it needs YouTube. (However, I think the YouTube feature is rather fun and it’s the feature I first show to someone who’s under the age of 20.)
Tennessean: Press conference at 3:00 p.m.
Copy of email from Gee that was sent to Vanderbilt staff and others during the past hour:
Dear Colleagues,
Today, it is with mixed emotions that I have informed the Board of Trust and its Chairman, Mrs. Martha Ingram, of my intention to resign the Chancellorship of Vanderbilt on August 1 of this year. At that time, I will assume the Presidency of The Ohio State University. This was by far the most difficult professional decision that I have ever made. I want you to know that I am not leaving Vanderbilt. Rather, I am following my heart and returning to a place that I consider my home. My decision is that simple and that complex. Over the past several weeks, members of the University Board and the University family have done everything possible to make me feel valued and appreciated. I assure you that I do.
Vanderbilt is a magnificent university with a world-class faculty, remarkable students, devoted staff, and passionate alumni. It is blessed with an extraordinary group of senior leaders. Its future is boundless. It will continue its unprecedented trajectory to greatness. I assure you that I will give Vanderbilt my full measure of devotion until I assume my new duties. And, I will always take great pride in the achievements of the University and the friendships that I have made and will continue to cherish.
Gordon
For those who have never watched a race to update a Wikipedia entry, Gee’s entry is lighting up.
In addition to being president of Ohio State previously and chancellor of Vanderbilt, Gee has also been president of the University of Colorado, the University of West Virginia and Brown.
