2007年VOA标准英语-Apple Set to Roll Out iPhone

By Mil Arcega
Washington, DC
27 June 2007
 

Hype over Apple Incorporated's newest device is reaching fever pitch as the company gears up for the official debut¹ of the iPhone.  The hybrid² phone can play music, take pictures and surf the Internet. It goes on sale in the U.S. on Friday.  VOA's Mil Arcega reports.

The Apple iPhone

Anticipation³ has been building since January when Apple CEO Steve Jobs announced the company's first foray into the mobile phone market.  Since then, Apple shares have gained more than 40 percent.  John Shinal is a technology editor at Market Watch.

"This is momentum⁴ investing,” says Shinal.  “A lot of it is not based on fundamentals.  A lot of it is based on optimism about what is going to happen in the future."

And future expectations are high.  Apple is projecting sales of 10 million iPhones by next year.

Apple CEO Steve Jobs introduced the iPhone in January

"We've invented a new technology called multi touch, and it works like magic," says Steve Jobs, CEO of Apple Inc.

Jennifer Boone is a technology manager at the Consumer Electronics Association.  She believes excitement over Apple's newest device is well deserved.  Besides producing healthy competition in the industry, she says the iPhone is poised⁵ to bring cell phone technology to the next level. 

"This is really turning up the heat a little bit,” says Boone. “We're calling this the new convergence and that's because it's the convergence of content and hardware as well, so you can really take your audio, video, your photos and music with you wherever you go."

Jennifer Boone

Boone predicts the next generation of mobile devices will have the ability to merge⁶ various communication mediums seamlessly.  And the most successful will offer style and functionality without sacrificing ease of use.  But with prices starting at $499, the iPhone is not for everyone.

"One of the downsides is certainly the $500 price point.  I think a lot of consumers will have a little bit of sticker shock around that.,” notes Boone.

"It's just too much for a phone.  I think, just get a phone and an iPod," says a consumer.

Apple sold nearly 400,000 iPod music players when it was introduced in 2001.  Analysts⁷ predict consumers will buy as many as 200,000 iPhones in the first two days of launch.  The iPhone goes on sale Friday evening at Apple retail⁸ outlets⁹ and through phone service provider A.T.&T.

1 debut   

n.首次演出，初次露面

参考例句：

• That same year he made his Broadway debut, playing a suave radio journalist.在那同一年里，他初次在百老汇登台，扮演一个温文而雅的电台记者。
• The actress made her debut in the new comedy.这位演员在那出新喜剧中首次登台演出。

2 hybrid   

n.(动，植）杂种，混合物

参考例句：

• That is a hybrid perpetual rose.那是一株杂交的四季开花的蔷薇。
• The hybrid was tall,handsome,and intelligent.那混血儿高大、英俊、又聪明。

3 anticipation   

n.预期，预料，期望

参考例句：

• We waited at the station in anticipation of her arrival.我们在车站等着，期待她的到来。
• The animals grew restless as if in anticipation of an earthquake.各种动物都变得焦躁不安，像是感到了地震即将发生。

4 momentum   

n.动力，冲力，势头；动量

参考例句：

• We exploit the energy and momentum conservation laws in this way.我们就是这样利用能量和动量守恒定律的。
• The law of momentum conservation could supplant Newton's third law.动量守恒定律可以取代牛顿第三定律。

5 poised   

a.摆好姿势不动的

参考例句：

• The hawk poised in mid-air ready to swoop. 老鹰在半空中盘旋，准备俯冲。
• Tina was tense, her hand poised over the telephone. 蒂娜心情紧张，手悬在电话机上。

6 merge   

v.(使)结合，(使)合并，(使)合为一体

参考例句：

• I can merge my two small businesses into a large one.我可以将我的两家小商店合并为一家大商行。
• The directors have decided to merge the two small firms together.董事们已决定把这两家小商号归并起来。

7 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。

8 retail   

v./n.零售；adv.以零售价格

参考例句：

• In this shop they retail tobacco and sweets.这家铺子零售香烟和糖果。
• These shoes retail at 10 yuan a pair.这些鞋子零卖10元一双。

9 outlets   

n.出口( outlet的名词复数 )；经销店；插座；廉价经销店

参考例句：

• The dumping of foreign cotton blocked outlets for locally grown cotton. 外国棉花的倾销阻滞了当地生产的棉花的销路。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• They must find outlets for their products. 他们必须为自己的产品寻找出路。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》