Apple iPhone

[Kid_Eternity]

I'm still going with ultra portable laptop, $500, thin as hell. Like Jaed I think it'll come without an optical drive.

 

[rocketman]

I have a fantasy of Apple hiring all the Holllywood writers and launching an international TV channel

 

[Kid_Eternity]

Heh that'd be fucking funny! Imagine Murdochs surprise!

 

[Xanadu]

BREAKING NEWS: A nuclear bomb had just exploded over Cupertino. Earliest reports claim the bomb is Australian made...

 

[untethered]

BREAKING NEWS: A nuclear bomb had just exploded over Cupertino. Earliest reports claim the bomb is Australian made...

Rupert Murdoch is now an American.

 

[paolo]

Also (on the iPhone side of things), maybe some kind of demo based around the SDK. e.g. a beta application.

 

[paolo]

Well, hot on the heels of the 1.1.3 demo at Macworld Expo SF, Apple have promptly released the new version.

The biggest interest for me... the "Locate Me" feature. Faux GPS, based on cell triangulation.

I really didn't expect this to work in the UK. Jobs presentation revealed that - in the US at least - part of the methodology is based on Skyhook Wireless' mapping of WiFi hotspots in the US. With their European survey/DB not yet done (and of course the lack of Hotspots outside anything but the most dense city areas), I was expecting this to be a US only feature, similar to the traffic info.

Well, I was wrong. And what very pleasant surprise it is too.

I've just tried it.

In less than 10 seconds, it had found me.

By switching to the satellite view, I could then check how accurately.

Amazingly - given that is is "pretend GPS"... 5 Metres.

This is very niice. A "find" time that gives GPS satellite acquisition a very good run for it's money, and quite possibly, no significant battery hit.

It's not GPS, and there's no "turn by turn" stuff - it's not a navigation system - but as a free bonus feature, it's very neat indeed.

 

[editor]

The biggest interest for me... the "Locate Me" feature. Faux GPS, based on cell triangulation.

I really didn't expect this to work in the UK.

Why ever not? Vodafone has been offering this in the UK for some time, tightly integrated with their location based services. Need to find a local cinema? Get out your phone and you'll promptly have a listing of the local cinemas, plus film listings and film times. Works for cabs, restaurants, pub etc etc. I was very impressed with it.

Most smartphones using Google Maps have also been able to access the 'faux GPS' feature for free for some time in the UK too.

 

[dogmatique]

On first attempt, the locate me function failed miserably. I'm somewhere in a circle which includes Effra Road, Streatham High Road, Balham High Road and Thurlow Park Road. Rubbish. Surely there's plenty of masts within that which would pinpoint it more closely.

Will have to try in central London tomorrow.

ETA: Take it back. First attempt at my desk, not near a window. Went to the front of the house and was pinpointed to within about 5 meters within 5 seconds. Pretty impressive.

 

[Gromit]

Ooh is the update out now? I tried earlier and it wasn't. Right I'm DL'ing now.

Multiple Txts will soon be mine again. At last!

 

[Kid_Eternity]

Google maps mobile has that too...

 

[editor]

Ooh is the update out now? I tried earlier and it wasn't. Right I'm DL'ing now.

Multiple Txts will soon be mine again. At last!

Here's the list of updates:

# Maps: New hybrid view, same as Google Maps. Satellite imagery and street mapping available on a single view.
# Maps: Location triangulation. Uses nearby WiFi access points and GSM towers (on the iPhone, anyway) to roughly guesstimate your current location.
# Web Clips: Web bookmarks can now be saved as home screen icons, including zoom and location information.
# Home screen: Icons on the home screen can now be rearranged.
# Home screen: Up to 9 home screens can now be created and "flicked" between.
# SMS: A single text message can now be sent to multiple recipients; groups can be recalled for future use.
# iTunes: Movie rentals are now supported.
# iTunes: Support for lyrics.

 

[Kid_Eternity]

Looks like O2 are getting their act together tariff and data tariff wise, so much so I might consider going back to them in future (they had excellent coverage and very good customer service):

Today O2 announced it's introducing a new pricing structure across the network, which will see six new, apparently simpler, tariffs and free voicemail made available to all existing and new customers from 1 February.

This tariff restructuring will also affect the current iPhone tariffs, giving existing users on the cheapest £35 per month contract three times more minutes (600) and double the number of texts (400).

iPhone owners on a £45 per month contract will be offered the same number of minutes and texts as the previous £55 contract -- 1,200 minutes and 500 texts. If you were on the £55 per month contract you'll either be offered a £10 deduction from your monthly bill or the chance to upgrade to a new, very expensive, £75 per month contract that gives you 3,000 minutes and 500 texts.

Furthermore, non-iPhone O2 customers who pay for 600 minutes or more per month will be offered a free bolt-on service, which includes either unlimited data, unlimited texts or unlimited weekend calls. If you're on a lower contract these will cost you £7.50 per month.

 

[ska invita]

My mate jsut got one of these, and says the battery doesnt last a whole day, even on full charge.

Anyone else had that experience?

 

[dogmatique]

No. Though it ain't great if you do a lot of browsing. Screen uses up a lotta power...

 

[kropotkin]

Furthermore, non-iPhone O2 customers who pay for 600 minutes or more per month will be offered a free bolt-on service, which includes either unlimited data, unlimited texts or unlimited weekend calls. If you're on a lower contract these will cost you £7.50 per month.

unlimited data!
That is pretty good. I'll be sticking with O2 then

 

[Crispy]

orange. get with the programme

 

[Kid_Eternity]

orange. get with the programme

They're the only one now right? Vodafone, 3, O2 and of course T Mobile all offer flat rate unlimited (although I don't know how big that is for others networks but T Mobile is 1gb) net access.

 

[Dask]

I've been an Orange customer for 11 years. I think the time has come to move away.

 

[Kid_Eternity]

I've been an Orange customer for 11 years. I think the time has come to move away.

I left years ago because I was sick of the shit coverage and crap tariff.

 

[Crispy]

I keep asking for my PAC, and then either missing it in the post, or not getting round to switching

 

[Kid_Eternity]

I keep asking for my PAC, and then either missing it in the post, or not getting round to switching

That's a bit shit, when I left O2 they sent it via text message to me within 24 hours of request. Phone them and ask them to do the same and threaten them with going to Watchdog or writing to Which if they refuse.

 

[Xanadu]

Orange will do free evening and weekend data on some tariffs. They'll also do 30Mb for £8. It's a ripoff, but I've had good connections on their network.

 

[rocketman]

My mate jsut got one of these, and says the battery doesnt last a whole day, even on full charge.

Anyone else had that experience?

Well, if you just carry it around like a phone it lasts A.G.E.S...but you don't do that - you check your email constantly, hit on YouTube, listen to music, check the web, use it as an alarm clock, directions finder, source phone numbers for cabs, check the weather, read your Facebook messages...yadda Yadda, truth is, you use the features on this phone, so you do find yourself recharging it as the more you use it the more the power drains. Any other mobile is the same - if you actually use the device's features, the power gets used up faster.

 

[editor]

It's a shame it's not possible to use third party extended batteries for the iPhone. I bought a 2400mAhbattery for my Treo and it lasts *ages* even when I'm hammering the thing (but then there's no Wi-Fi on the Treo).

 

[beesonthewhatnow]

WiFi is the the thing that seriously fucks the battery life on my Vario II, for normal emailing/browsing/calls/organiser I get 2 days use out of it, if I use the WiFi I can struggle to get a full day.

 

[Kid_Eternity]

(but then there's no Wi-Fi on the Treo).

You've got a 650 right? Also 3G really hits the battery hard too...

 

[Dask]

It's a shame it's not possible to use third party extended batteries for the iPhone. I bought a 2400mAhbattery for my Treo and it lasts *ages* even when I'm hammering the thing (but then there's no Wi-Fi on the Treo).

Someone should produce an add on, that connects to the dock connector to act as a second battery.

 

[tarannau]

They already exist don't they? Belkin used to do one that held two AA batteries, but there are a few on the market iirc.

 

[Gromit]

Yay it looks like apple are going to save me £140.
Mid march the tarriffs are being upgraded.
Ill be able to switch from my £45 tariff to the £35 one and have the number of txts I need.