iPhone Needs a Clipboard
Software that is at least 5 years ahead of any other phone
On January 9, 2007 during the Macworld keynote, Steve Jobs explained in detail why iPhone is superior to other devices. Not counting the hardware design, the most important item presented was the software. Software that is more advanced than any other smart phone out there.
With all the advanced functionality provided by OS X it is surprising that Apple has neglected to implement a basic feature like the clipboard. They have however slightly reduced the need for a clipboard with the Data Detectors feature. A phone number in the body of an email is automatically converted to a link that when tapped launches the phone application. Similarly, web addresses become links and launch Safari.
Data Detectors are great, but it does not assist with more advanced interactions in an application or between applications. For example, when you need to copy text from a web page and paste it into an email, SMS, or Notes. Copy selected text from a note and paste it into an email. Now with third-party applications and enterprise users around the corner there will be an even larger need to manage content in and between applications.
Amazingly the cut/copy and paste actions are easily performed on Windows Mobile devices. A major hardware difference is that Windows devices typically utilize a stylus. This may allow for a more accurate selection of text. Despite that, lonelysandwich created the following humorous and interesting proof of concept video that demonstrates a possible copy and paste implementation:
I totally agree, cut/paste is so handy when you need it...I had it on my OLD windows mobile phone! Hope they keep the iPhone truly cutting edge and add it ASAP. Love the video too, that's super funny stuff.
I have been waiting for 3G support to be added before buying an iPhone and never considered that it didn't have copy and paste. Have you looked through the preferences? Maybe there is something in there that will allow you to turn this on?
Oh Bert if were only that easy. Unfortunately this feature isn't in the current iPhone. There hasn't been any word yet from Apple if it will be part of 2.0. Come on Apple!
The iPhone has been around for almost a year and Apple hasn't done a whole lot to address the major annoyances like this. But then it isn't like Microsoft has done a whole lot either with their OS. Maybe they will get some implementation ideas from Android.
My company is evaluating smart phones for our mobile sales team.
I was just in a meeting with two guys who said they are hoping that Blackberry wins out because it has cut and paste. I guess they send a lot of emails so this is a big deal to them.
I still love my iPhone. ;)
I just had another thought. Have you ever noticed how clueless people are when they say "Lets hope this gets added by a 3rd party developer". There is no way developers could get copy and paste functionality running system-wide because Apple isn't going to allow 3rd party applications to run in the background.
This feature can only be added by Apple.
I am 99% sure this will be added in iPhone 2.0. There is no way the corporate customers Apple worked with during the development would allow them to skip this feature.
I just went back and watched that part of the keynote again. Wow Steve was at the top of his game that day. It amazes me that this tiny but important feature is still missing. Somehow they were able to figure out mobile browsing, mail, phone, YouTube, iTunes, multi-tasking, networking, power management, security and core everything. Compared to these things it seems that copy and paste would be a walk in the park.
Idea for Apple -> Raise the price $1 per phone to pay the salaries of a few developers who work on adding features like this.
That video shows how easy it would be for Apple to add this function.
ZortOfMars: I totally agree with what you are saying. They haven't really done much since the release a year ago. Maybe Apple could outsource this work to the 3rd party developers once they get up to speed with development.
I would give up the idea of copy and paste for decent navigation features.
Your ordinary iPhone user probably doesn't care about copy and paste. This is more for users who travel a lot and use the iPhone as a mobile computer rather than a phone.
At this point it's like being a Cleveland Browns fan. At the end of every season we all say "maybe next year".
After every iPhone software update I look for this feature and I end up saying "maybe in the next release".
Not sure if I am a power user or what but I find myself wanting to use copy and paste all the time. I don't think the Apple developers or management use the iPhone because if they did this feature would have been in there already.
The iPhone sucks. Just buy a friggin Blackberry already.
I just got word from my boss that the business is going to purchase iPhones for the art department! Suddenly I care as much about missing features!!!
I question what Apple has been doing for the year since the phone was released. Just look at the demos of what developers outside of Apple have been able to do in just a few weeks with the SDK!
How many developers does Apple have working on their iPhone applications? Clearly not enough.