Apple iPhone and related items (cont.)

[Crispy]

More important, in daily use, I found the battery indicator on the new 3G model slipping below 20% by early afternoon or midafternoon on some days, and it entirely ran out of juice on one day. I overcame this problem by learning to use Wi-Fi instead of 3G whenever possible, turning down the screen brightness and even turning off 3G altogether, which the phone permits.

Fail. This puts me off. No sale.

 

[editor]

Fail. This puts me off. No sale.

That is truly rubbish. You can have all the groovy features in the world, but if the phone runs out of juice when you're out and about, they're worth nothing.

 

[jæd]

Fail. This puts me off. No sale.

Dunno about you, but I would be wary of being so quick label a device after one review, and probably on a pre-production device, with possibly a beta firmware.

 

[Crispy]

Well naturally. I'll read other reviews, no doubt. But this is a bad sign.

 

[editor]

Another review, a bit on the so-so side but loving the games capability and App Store: The GPS appears to be next to useless in cities:

Unfortunately, there’s not much you can do with the G.P.S. According to Apple, the iPhone’s G.P.S. antenna is much too small to emulate the turn-by-turn navigation of a G.P.S. unit for a vehicle, for example.

Instead, all it can do at this point is track your position as you drive along, representing you as a blue dot sliding along the roads of the map. Even then, the metal of a car or the buildings of Manhattan are often enough to block the iPhone’s view of the sky, leaving it just as confused as you are....

Unfortunately, most of the standard cellphone features that were missing from the first iPhone are still missing. There’s still no voice dialing, video recording, copy-and-paste, memory-card slot, Bluetooth stereo audio or phone-to-phone photo sending (MMS). And when the battery needs replacement after a couple of years, you’ll still have to pay Apple $86 for a replacement

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/09/t...?_r=2&pagewanted=1&ref=technology&oref=slogin

And a generally good review here, but with the same battery concerns:

You can turn off 3G to preserve the battery. I started receiving low battery warnings toward the end of a busy work day; I found myself charging the device overnight, the same as with the older iPhone.

http://www.usatoday.com/tech/columnist/edwardbaig/2008-07-08-iphone-3g-review_N.htm

 

[jæd]

Well naturally. I'll read other reviews, no doubt. But this is a bad sign.

Personally, I'd be looking out for people's personal experience. Ie, not being a lemming and buying one on the first day. Even if that were possible...!

 

[Structaural]

Probably why Apple want to make lower powered chips to improve on their dire battery problems. Not a good sign.

How hard is it to replace batteries yourself then?

 

[Crispy]

Requires soldering skills.

 

[editor]

Requires soldering skills.

And a fond farewell to your warranty.

 

[Structaural]

oh dear.

 

[Sunray]

From these, I think that there are few things that you have to take into account before you buy one.

Poor battery.
No keyboard.
No flash support
No MMS
Poor business functionality

Battery power is a technological issue. Batteries have been getting better but its not kept pace with technology. Technology has had to get more power efficient. 3g support is much better in the UK, so the phone does not have to ratchet up the power, so this might make a difference.

What you do get is
Full browser
A-GPS Maps
An fully fledged iTouch
Phone with full (touch) keyboard
WiFi

My take on it is, if you want a PDA there are better ones out there with real keyboards.

If you want a media device in your phone then there nothing out there with the quality of this device right now. There might be in the future, given the rest of the worlds track record taking on the iPod, don't hold your breath. Nothing even remotely close to the iPod as a media device and thats dominated for 8 years now.

Classical tech buying problem, its not perfect, but its quite desirable, do you want it now or do you want to wait for better?

At what point do you go 'fuck it' and sign that contract. I am going to take the plunge, I need a new iPod anyway.

 

[Crispy]

I don't really need a full-on PDA. I don't use To-Dos, my calendar is for social events and holidays, my work email stays at work. I need a new ipod.

But if I can't get through a day's worth phone, internet, and music on a charge, then it's just not worth it.

 

[Sunray]

Its that lovely display + 3g that kills it I reckon. Apple have made the design choice that they want it a certain size for aesthetic reasons which gives them a certain battery power. Batter power has got better but its been a slow process.

Its not like you can't get a power pack for it, plenty out there if it uses the standard iPod connector.

Here's a nice one...

http://shop.ipodworld.co.uk/iPodWor...PowerTraveller_PowerMonkey_Travel_Charger.htm

 

[editor]

Its not like you can't get a power pack for it, plenty out there if it uses the standard iPod connector.

Not exactly attractive or easy to pocket that thing, is it?

 

[dogmatique]

I had one of those Power Monkey things, and quite frankly, it was rubbish. I'm still waiting on delivery of one of these Proporta things the Ed recommended...

 

[beesonthewhatnow]

So, you can have 3G on your iphone, but you need to turn it off to get through a day using it.

Genius


And the fact they haven't fixed the basics - MMS, cut 'n' paste and so on beggers belief.

Shit on a (very expensive) stick

 

[Gromit]

Theres no denying that no swap out battery is a bag of fail.

Not only do consumers want it theyd make money selling the spare batteries.

 

[Crispy]

Not exactly attractive or easy to pocket that thing, is it?

I'd never use one. Even if I had one, it'd just be far too much fuss.

 

[Gromit]

So, you can have 3G on your iphone, but you need to turn it off to get through a day using it.

Genius


And the fact they haven't fixed the basics - MMS, cut 'n' paste and so on beggers belief.

Shit on a (very expensive) stick

I'm betting that there will be a MMS app in the apps store. For a small fee.

Left out of core software as Americans don't use it, only the rest of the world who can stump up then seeing as keeping it cheap for Americans is the main thing.

 

[Sunray]

It boils down to either living with the flaws or not.

Given that it looks like Apple might not have enough to sell anyway, 22 countries, its going to be a mute point. Making a few million of these takes some serious time, so unless you want to go queue, its unlikely you'll get one.

Apple might have shot their bolt too early, if I can't buy one for months then I'll not bother.

Quite like the PAYG version at 350 quid rather than the 18 month contract.

 

[jæd]

It boils down to either living with the flaws or not.

And there I was thinking it was about picking a phone which has features to suit the individual, and its reliability, perceived or otherwise...

Given that it looks like Apple might not have enough to sell anyway, 22 countries, its going to be a mute point. Making a few million of these takes some serious time, so unless you want to go queue, its unlikely you'll get one.

Cheery soul, aren't you...?

 

[Sunray]

And there I was thinking it was about picking a phone which has features to suit the individual, and its reliability, perceived or otherwise...



Cheery soul, aren't you...?

This particular phone has been discussed to death, if you don't know the pros/cons by now your stupid.

My current phone has shit MP3 capabilities but there isn't a 300 page thread on it.

Don't let my negativity stop you queueing up at the nearest O2 or Apple shop. Go to Regent st, with a henna (or real) tatto on the forehead of an Apple logo. Never know your luck, might get into the news. Apple might even give you a job.

 

[jæd]

This particular phone has been discussed to death, if you don't know the pros/cons by now your stupid.

My current phone has shit MP3 capabilities but there isn't a 300 page thread on it.

Hmm... Good to see U75 debating hasn't changed much...

 

[Sunray]

Hmm... Good to see U75 debating hasn't changed much...

Your trolling is very poor quality.

 

[jæd]

Your trolling is very poor quality.

So lets recap.

* I make a point saying that each person should evaluate a phone on its own merits. Underlying point is that what some people think of as flaws, probably aren't due to people's differing perceptions...

* I get told that if I "don't know the pros/cons" I'm "stupid"

* I respond negatively this. Strange that, people not liking being called "stupid".

* I get told I'm "trolling".

Hmm... I think I will get a 3G iphone, since it has the power to warp people's emotions so they get wound up about them... Think of the mind control uses...!

 

[Sunray]

So lets recap.

* I make a point saying that each person should evaluate a phone on its own merits. Underlying point is that what some people think of as flaws, probably aren't due to people's differing perceptions...

* I get told that if I "don't know the pros/cons" I'm "stupid"

* I respond negatively this. Strange that, people not liking being called "stupid".

* I get told I'm "trolling".

Hmm... I think I will get a 3G iphone, since it has the power to warp people's emotions so they get wound up about them... Think of the mind control uses...!

If you don't know the pros/cons by now seeing as we have been talking about it for an entire YEAR. So yes you specifically are fairly stupid.

 

[jæd]

This particular phone has been discussed to death, if you don't know the pros/cons by now your stupid.

My current phone has shit MP3 capabilities but there isn't a 300 page thread on it.

Don't let my negativity stop you queueing up at the nearest O2 or Apple shop. Go to Regent st, with a henna (or real) tatto on the forehead of an Apple logo. Never know your luck, might get into the news. Apple might even give you a job.

Hmmm... Perhaps someone needs some iPills to calm down deery. Its only a phone...!

 

[jæd]

If you don't know the pros/cons by now seeing as we have been talking about it for an entire YEAR. So yes you specifically are fairly stupid.

Cool. Lets keep the i-insults coming. Perhaps I shoould but you on me i-Ignore List. Have a nice life. Taa-raa...!

 

[Sunray]

Nobody's every told me that before. Do I get a badge.

I wonder if he posts up the ignore post bit to try to make a point?

 

[asbestos]

your stupid.