Apple iPhone

[rocketman]

I get a 1gb a month for a fiver on three, which for a for mobile use near enough unlimited. Still loving my Nokia E61, had a big touch screen Motorola A1000 which was cool, but dont think I'd get another smartphone without a qwerty keyboard.

Most of my posting on urban these days is done from it.

Interestingly, the only information I can find on the Unlimited Usage deal O2 is offering on the iPhone says it is "subject to a fair use" policy, but this isn't described. In addition to this, the O2 CEO on Tuesday said this equates to "about 1400 web pages". So that's not very clear, as the size of those pages aren't defined.

Still, as a point of comparison, your 1GB for a fiver is useful info, cheers.

 

[rocketman]

Yeah, it's been amusing to see o2 hurridly updating their network to accomodate a lesser format instead of the 3g access they paid extremley dearly for in the bidding rounds.

Who'd have guessed?

Yeah and they will only offer 30 Per cent UK EDGE coverage by Nov 9, when iPhone ships.

 

[rocketman]

The itouch, whilst a great device is just a crippled iphone - there are so many bits that are just disabled though present to make people ramp up to the iphone.

This is it - I think a lot of lazy journalists are to be blamed for that POV. It's not a crippled phone - not everyone wants an all in one device, and it's great for folk like that, using it I think it stands on it's own quite well, it's the best iteration of CoverFlow on all the iPods I tested (too small on nano, too much content on classic). It has a lot to offer, and people will be very happy with it - but email will complete the experience, make it a 'must have' rather than a bit of a luxury item.

You're right - there's no reason why email couldn't be there, they just want you to spend that bit more money and get an iphone.

And that's it - but it's silly thinking on Apple's part. The killer app of iPhone is the phone bit, and (sad as it is) EDGE support, for when you aren't near a Cloud hotspot (or happen to live in Northern Ireland, where the Cloud doesn't operate.

And why don't you get a remote control on iPhone or iTouch? As editor said, you don't wanna pull one of these doo-dads out on the bus in Peckham, or anywhere else in the evil Thunderdome, come to that.

If you're thinking of getting an itouch at the moment though, please wait a month or so - the manufacturers in China have been so pressured to get it in store that they've been skipping essential manufacturing steps that are time consuming, such as the anti-reflective coating the LCD display needs to stop black areas from showing up as almost negative, and hence really spoiling your experience.

Ah that is what you think it is? I'm aware now that Apple is preparing some kind of official statement on these faulty models, and there's some kind of consensus that models with Macy Gray on the cover of the box are alright, but the Corrined thingy ones can be faulty, though the one I'm using right now works fine.

Would I get one? Well, I'd smile to own one - but if it had email, I'd get one, rather than switch network for iPhone, which I may be forced to do.

 

[dogmatique]

Ah that is what you think it is?

I read a post on Digg earlier in the week from an LCD engineer who swore blind this was the problem and gave a rational explination about it, but for the life of me I can't find it, sorry.

 

[rocketman]

I read a post on Digg earlier in the week from an LCD engineer who swore blind this was the problem and gave a rational explination about it, but for the life of me I can't find it, sorry.

Interesting I'll have a go to track it down - was it a comment on an entry, or an entry in itself (if a comment we have little or no chance, sad to say).

 

[dogmatique]

Ah that is what you think it is?

I read a post on Digg earlier in the week from an LCD engineer who swore blind this was the problem and gave a rational explination about it, but for the life of me I can't find it, sorry.

This is it - I think a lot of lazy journalists are to be blamed for that POV. It's not a crippled phone

No, it really is! They've implimented a pared back version of the iphone software for the itouch - there are a few places within the GUI that you can see redundant iphone functions. - Someone was sold an itouch last week without the operating system onboard, and it had stuff like bluetooth unimplimented and other bits.

Makes sense - why design a new operating system for the itouch when you can just pare down the iphone? They are, for all intents and purposes the same device, but without the phone chips.

 

[dogmatique]

Interesting I'll have a go to track it down - was it a comment on an entry, or an entry in itself (if a comment we have little or no chance, sad to say).

It was an actual entry, will try and track it down again. - Suffice to say that this is an early day problem that won't be repeated.

Found it:

I'm an engineer with experience in the LCD industry and after seeing enough photos of the Ipod Touch I feel that I can make a pretty accurate assessment of the "black level" situation. It appears to me that it's a problem with the anti-reflective coating. The good news is this is most likely a temporary situation due to quality control issues.

(Added explanation: The AR coating is essentially a clear layer that prevents light from reflecting off of that surface. What's happening here is the upper glass layer is reflecting light from the LCD screen back down onto the said screen. Without an AR coating you get exactly what you see - shimmering blacks. The problem isn't noticeable with vibrant colors on screen. Rotating the screen will change the way this light is reflected to your eyes and may minimize the problem, but since the LCD was engineered to give best color output when looking straight on, you're left with a losing battle.)

Apple surely rushed the factory on getting these out (Steve was likely already upset enough that they weren't ready for the announcement along with the other units) and the factory, under undoubtedly ridiculous amounts of pressure, started to skimp on this very expensive - and very important - part of the process. Additionally, AR coating issues would also explain why you see "slight changes" from one unit to the next.

It's the last thing anyone wants to hear, but the best thing to do is wait 2 weeks or even a month for the complaints to filter through Apple HQ into the factory where changes will certainly be made.

http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=1134707&tstart=0

 

[dogmatique]

Oh, by the way, in case it hasn't been mentioned elsewhere, you might be intrested in Stephen Fry's discourse on the smartphone and the iphone here:

http://www.stephenfry.com/blog/?p=3

 

[Sunray]

I'm sorry, but have you got any proof of this statement? My impression, particularly in terms of consumer electronics, is that the UK isn't that price sensitive at the higher end. The first wave of much belittled (and very pricey) ipods flew off the shelves fun in the UK for example. I've always been led to believe that the UK's actually pretty willing to spend considerable moolah on overpriced first mover/pioneer products.

Your talking to an owner of an 1st gen iPod and I didn't even have a Mac. I got it the day they were released. Dropped it, its partially damaged, so gave it to someone, might still work though. Got an iPod mini.

That was a class product. It did the portable hard disk MP3 player better than anyone and its a formula thats not been beaten 7 years later. I got asked loads of times on the tube and the DLR what it was, then I started seeing them.

The iPhone is nothing like as ground breaking and comes with a meaty contract price. Compare with the K800i or W800i which is given away right now. Each does the music/camera as well or better. As phones they are very decent bits of kit. They are also free and you get free line rental for 6 months with an 18month contract.

 

[Sunray]

Nice article

http://www.theinquirer.net/default.aspx?article=42458

 

[LDR]

The iPhone is nothing like as ground breaking and comes with a meaty contract price. Compare with the K800i or W800i which is given away right now. Each does the music/camera as well or better. As phones they are very decent bits of kit. They are also free and you get free line rental for 6 months with an 18month contract.

I should be getingt my replacement W800i tomorrow.

 

[UnderOpenSky]

I switched to three after a trip to the highlands when couldnt get signal but my mates with their new cheaper three packages could. Where i work in the lakes signal is patchy, but then so is orange, vodaphone just happen to have a mast nearby. When your outside of threes masts u switch to another provider which i think is o2.

 

[tarannau]

The iPhone is nothing like as ground breaking and comes with a meaty contract price. Compare with the K800i or W800i which is given away right now. Each does the music/camera as well or better. As phones they are very decent bits of kit. They are also free and you get free line rental for 6 months with an 18month contract.

No disrespect, but you're kidding yourself if you honestly think the K800i 'does the music' as well as an ipod. I've had 5 years of Sony Ericsson phones and I like them (currently on a w850, LQ using a K800), but they're not particularly nice things to play music on. The interface gets clumsy, controls are comparatively sluggish, it's not great at navigating more than a handful of songs.

On the video player side I can't even seem to ffwd or rwd easily, if at all, on my SE phone. That's a far step away from the convenience of an an ipod's scroll wheel, let alone the responsiveness and (currently) unique multitouch feel of the new ipod touch.

FWIW I think the iphone's overpriced and in need of an update or two before it's mass market as well. But I can't deny it's a nice product with a wow factor either - it's nonsense to suggest that it's easily comparable with more workaday phones like the SE series.

 

[editor]

Nice article

http://www.theinquirer.net/default.aspx?article=42458

Yep.

There are many reasons not to buy an Iphone in November - and I will cover some of the main ones – but I accept that it will make very little difference to the big dumb rush. This is Apple we are talking about and it’s succeeded – again – in cornering the ‘cool’ corner, creating a willing cult of shoppers that will be more than willing to part with a minimum of £900 on launch day. Yep, £900. That’s £269 for the device and £35 a month for 18 months. That’s the cheapest deal too with O2. If you want the top option, at £55 a month, then you’ll need a pretty uncool, £1,259.

 

[Crispy]

These 'iphone costs a grand' things are a bit stupid aren't they? I mean, any phone will cost you hundreds and hundres when you take the contract length into account.

 

[Kanda]

These 'iphone costs a grand' things are a bit stupid aren't they? I mean, any phone will cost you hundreds and hundres when you take the contract length into account.

What I was thinking. Isn't the only difference the initial outlay (£269) and the contract length (6 months more than usual). I don't keep track of monthly plans but aren't they inline with other plans?

 

[Xanadu]

I thought the average contract cost was around £25 a month. For a 12 month contract, that's £300 (with a free phone)

 

[editor]

These 'iphone costs a grand' things are a bit stupid aren't they? I mean, any phone will cost you hundreds and hundres when you take the contract length into account.

Hardly any phones cost anywhere near as much as the iPhone though, and not many force you into an 18 month deal.

Over the same 18 month contract, my Palm/T Mobile deal works out at £500 - and that's including the price of the phone which I bought separately.

 

[tarannau]

I suppose some people will look at it in a different way though; 'it's £300, less than the price of my first ipod 5 years ago, and it's an extra £5 a month for my contract or so'

 

[Crispy]

Fair dooooos

 

[editor]

I suppose some people will look at it in a different way though; 'it's £300, less than the price of my first ipod 5 years ago, and it's an extra £5 a month for my contract or so'

There's no phone on the planet that I'd be willing to sign an 18 month deal for, especially if I'd be expected to switch network providers and shell out a wad of cash at the outset.

 

[Crispy]

Well, we'll see how the sales numbers go. Personally, I think they'll struggle.

 

[editor]

Well, we'll see how the sales numbers go. Personally, I think they'll struggle.

I hope so because I'd hate this '18-month exclusive contract' malarkey to gain traction with other network operators.

 

[Sunray]

No disrespect, but you're kidding yourself if you honestly think the K800i 'does the music' as well as an ipod. I've had 5 years of Sony Ericsson phones and I like them (currently on a w850, LQ using a K800), but they're not particularly nice things to play music on. The interface gets clumsy, controls are comparatively sluggish, it's not great at navigating more than a handful of songs.

On the video player side I can't even seem to ffwd or rwd easily, if at all, on my SE phone. That's a far step away from the convenience of an an ipod's scroll wheel, let alone the responsiveness and (currently) unique multitouch feel of the new ipod touch.

FWIW I think the iphone's overpriced and in need of an update or two before it's mass market as well. But I can't deny it's a nice product with a wow factor either - it's nonsense to suggest that it's easily comparable with more workaday phones like the SE series.

I mis-typed that, the W880i is what I meant to put in. Thats Sony's walkman phone. I tried using the K800i as a player and its shit. I bet its camera is better than the iPhone's.

It not nonsense, its the market that the iPhone is in and they have to be compared. Granted the iPhone can do what it does better than anyone. But its not just that aspect that is going to be compared. Many of the SE phones come for free and your not going to tell me that they are shit phones, they're not. The iPhone is 269. Well, OK its a flash gizmo, so might be worth that, its that hidden cost of the 18 month contract. I go for a SE phone on 18 months and I get free line rental for 6 months and loads of minutes and texts.

People today are now fairly clued in on mobile phone contracts. Its blindingly obvious it is an expensive and long contract.

 

[beesonthewhatnow]

I had a play with an iphone last night.

"meh" is about as much enthusiasm as I can manage about it tbh.

 

[Sunray]

I hope so because I'd hate this '18-month exclusive contract' malarkey to gain traction with other network operators.

You can get quite good deals for 18-24 month contracts. Operators like it because it slows the churn so are willing to offer much better minutes/texts, so if your heavy user can save you quite a lot if your willing to have the longer contract.

No operator would dare offer only 18 month contracts, they would lose business.

 

[editor]

I'm still very impressed by the Palm 500v and Vodaphone Live! combo.

Does anyone know if the iPhone/o2 package offer similar mobileTV viewing/location based services?

 

[cybertect]

Yeah, I'm kinda concerned about the fact that there'll be a new one out in 6 months, especially the old 3g question, but Jobs stated at the Regent St launch the other day that the reason they don't have 3g is the power usage. (Yeah, really?)

He also said that they weren't expecting improvements to 3g chips to be viable for inclusion until (probably) 3rd quarter next year.

Same would go for gps, possibly even longer.

So how come Blackberry manages this already with a decent battery life?

Anandtech tested out the theory in July and found that on a Samsung Blackjack, 3G cut talk time in half (though it had a smaller effect on battery usage when web browsing or using email).

Blackberrry claim 4 hours of talk time for their 3G enabled 8700v. Apple are claiming 8 hours for the iPhone, which seems to fit with the Anandtech numbers quite nicely.

I guess it's down to what you call 'decent' battery life.

When you take into account that not even Blackberry are shipping 3G phones in the US because the 3G network infrastructure isn't there, but EDGE networks are (the converse is true in Europe) and it possibly makes more sense for Apple to target their primary market with an EDGE device. It's a less attractive option in Europe, to be sure.

 

[editor]

When you take into account that not even Blackberry are shipping 3G phones in the US because the 3G network infrastructure isn't there, but EDGE networks are (the converse is true in Europe) and it possibly makes more sense for Apple to target their primary market with an EDGE device. It's a less attractive option in Europe, to be sure.

I've been pleasantly surprised by Vodafone's 3G service - it's much faster than I expected and a colossal hike up from GPRS. I'd imagine some iPhone users will soon start turning off images in their browser if they're not connected to a wi-fi network - which rather defeats the object of the lush screen.

 

[Sunray]

Anandtech tested out the theory in July and found that on a Samsung Blackjack, 3G cut talk time in half (though it had a smaller effect on battery usage when web browsing or using email).

Blackberrry claim 4 hours of talk time for their 3G enabled 8700v. Apple are claiming 8 hours for the iPhone, which seems to fit with the Anandtech numbers quite nicely.

I guess it's down to what you call 'decent' battery life.

When you take into account that not even Blackberry are shipping 3G phones in the US because the 3G network infrastructure isn't there, but EDGE networks are (the converse is true in Europe) and it possibly makes more sense for Apple to target their primary market with an EDGE device. It's a less attractive option in Europe, to be sure.

I read that article and criticised it again for using such a shit phone. 3G battery life is entirely dependant on how decent your local 3G network is, a weak signal makes the handset go full power.

Where I am, in Hackney, London, its actually quite poor even though I can see a mobile phone mast from the back garden, its clearly not a 3G mast and I lose about a 1-1 1/2 days standby because of it, causing me to switch it off.

This probably one of the reasons behind the decision to make the iPhone 2G as the US market is primarily 2G and with lots of blank spots as its such a massive place. Their 3G network is much more limited and would probably be using the handsets max power at all times.