Rampant iPhone fanboyism

Tom Dunne

As a self-confessed gadget freak, I don't think I have ever been as smitten with a gadget as I have with the iPhone. So, for those of you unsure as to whether you want on or not, here's my first impressions, one week after getting it.

First of all, here are the downsides to the device:

• unlocking it can be daunting, with the added potential to permanently breaking the device
• specs - very low spec phone for the price
• bluetooth is severely crippled - makes phonecalls, nothing else (no stereo bluetooth headsets, no voice dialling)
• 3G - none

And now, the best bits:

• the user interface
  As I have posted here before, I have been using smartphones since around the year 2000, starting with the venerable Ericsson R380. All of them relied on a stylus for input. Contrast that to using your finger - there is no comparison. Your finger is a helluva lot more intuitive. Sending a text message with one hand is possible with an iPhone. Plus there's no hand-writing script to learn.
• Entertainment - I don't use YouTube much, but it is available and very usable. Music and video is where the iPhone shines. Video is a dream to watch and control. I've transferred both DVD's and YouTube videos to the iPhone and they both look great, easily watchable and not at all hard to control. Music, as you would expect is also a dream to listen to. Today, I purchased my first album via my iPhone and iTunes. Whatever your feelings on iTunes, the ease and simplicity of ordering music directly to your phone is incredible. Too easy in fact.
• Internet - while the EDGE network isn't the fastest, it is usable. The web browser is simply the best out there on any mobile device I have used. The zoom in/out function are incredible and the Safari browser supports JavaScript which means I can view and moderate fora on Boards.ie from the train (I know, nerd)

The iPhone isn't for everyone. If you want a device that looks pretty, has nifty little animations and will keep you entertained for hours on end and allows an internet experience as near to a desktop computer as you can get, then it is for you.

If, however, you want real GPS, a decent camera with flash, an FM radio or proper bluetooth then the iPhone isn't for you.

Silverfish

I've had mine since December, and it is quite possibly the most amazing thing ever. Especially the 3rd party applications.
I like the way I can load books onto it and read them...er.. in work, and I can have IRC,(Colloquy or irssi) and lots of really good games (iCopter!).
Even the semi-useless things like the spirit level and the flashlight app have come in handy. Also Apollo, for MSN and so on. Fantastic. Google Reader also works exceptionally well on it.

iPhone. All Hail.

Creamy Goodness

i think what a lot of the haters forget to realise is that this is apple's first phone in a market that is highly competitive.

nokia/SE/motorola all have the guts of 15-20 years of making high quality (wait a sec, scratch motorola of that list ) mobile devices.

apple have done extremely well with the iphone and they will only approve.

for a first phone from a new company into the market it's a blinding phone.

sure as you've pointed out tom it does have drawbacks none of them really bother me as if i need a GPS i'll buy a proper GPS unit same goes for a camera. FM radio would be nice though.

Tom Dunne

I think the device has to be put in perspective.

As a phone, it is nothing more than mediocre. As I've said before, my trusty Nokia 6300 has more features than it (and is almost half the size).

But the finesse with which any task can be achieved has to be seen to be appreciated. And it's not down to simplicity, it's done with style, what with all it's swirly bits and bobs and the over-indulgence in eye-candy.

Yes, I am a shallow person.

But in all seriousness, I've tried to get a Windows Mobile smartphone to do the same things, with a lot of heartache. I've looked at the Nokia N95, the user interface pales in comparison, despite that phone's much richer feature set.

Doctor DooM

My main issue with the iPhone is paying for name value. I pay that much money, I don't just want the super intuitive interface(which is great), I want it to make my tea for me. As with all apple stuff, its well thought out and works easy. I still would rather not have my phone and mp3 player combined, and thats something keeping me away from the iPhone

Alot of my colleagues called it when Apple went into partnership with Motorola (the ROKR was fairly penis, but I bet the iPhone wouldn't be as good if Apple didnt have the chance to play around with phone tech before they released their first one. ).

ShaneU

I'd get one if it weren't €45 a month :rolleyes: what a rip-off. They're half the price in America and have no ridiculous monthly bills.

Creamy Goodness

wrong.

they are only half price in america because of exchange rates nothing wrong with you taking advantage of that now though , apple has always had the $1=€1 exchange rate for ages that it's become nothing new to me.

in america they do have a monthly bill to sign up to as well.

Tom Dunne

SDooM wrote: »

I still would rather not have my phone and mp3 player combined, and thats something keeping me away from the iPhone

And I'm the opposite - I would rather have all gadgets in the one device, hence why for a short time, I had my mind set on the N95.

ShaneU wrote: »

I'd get one if it weren't €45 a month :rolleyes: what a rip-off. They're half the price in America and have no ridiculous monthly bills.

That's why you don't buy it here.

I'm on Meteor with mine and using the €10 a month data add-on, so it's €30 a month, which to me is palatable.

Edit: with the exchange rate, my iPhone cost me €286 last week.

AlmightyCushion

Tom Dunne wrote: »

the Safari browser supports JavaScript which means I can view and moderate fora on Boards.ie from the train (I know, nerd)

Should we request the admins supply all mods with one of these so.

Doctor DooM

Tom Dunne wrote: »

And I'm the opposite - I would rather have all gadgets in the one device, hence why for a short time, I had my mind set on the N95.

I've the old N95 ironically enough, the camera is great and I am a Symbian nerd so...

Hows the battery on the iPhone? I'd be worried if you used the music functionality alot.

Creamy Goodness

SDooM wrote: »

Hows the battery on the iPhone? I'd be worried if you used the music functionality alot.

i get about 4 days on a full charge, that would be 2hours of music listening a day (bus to/from work) about 20-30 minutes of calls a day, and about the same maybe more with web browsing i also play games whilst on the bus so might as well add that in too.:pac:

Tom Dunne

AlmightyCushion wrote: »

Should we request the admins supply all mods with one of these so.

Now there's an idea.....

SDooM wrote: »

Hows the battery on the iPhone? I'd be worried if you used the music functionality alot.

Yeah, watching video utterly runs down the battery. Listening to music is as much of a hit as you would think (since the screen goes off, which it didn't on my Windows Mobile device - a major bone of contention with me).

Approx. 2 hours of music a day (train to- and from work) and the odd text message, plus approx. 1 hour on the internet and I get 2 days out of the battery.

I wouldn't use the phone function that much, tbh, so we are talking probably 10mins a day on phonecalls.

ShaneU

Cremo wrote: »

in america they do have a monthly bill to sign up to as well.

I said no ridiculous monthly bills, I doubt it's anywhere near €45, probably $20

Doctor DooM

Cremo wrote: »

i get about 4 days on a full charge, that would be 2hours of music listening a day (bus to/from work) about 20-30 minutes of calls a day, and about the same maybe more with web browsing i also play games whilst on the bus so might as well add that in too.:pac:

Tom Dunne wrote: »

Now there's an idea.....



Yeah, watching video utterly runs down the battery. Listening to music is as much of a hit as you would think (since the screen goes off, which it didn't on my Windows Mobile device - a major bone of contention with me).

Approx. 2 hours of music a day (train to- and from work) and the odd text message, plus approx. 1 hour on the internet and I get 2 days out of the battery.

I wouldn't use the phone function that much, tbh, so we are talking probably 10mins a day on phonecalls.

One of your phones is fecked

Two days with alot of music use is actually not bad, considering how huge the screen is, which as you pointed out is a huge drain.

The crippled bluetooth and the lack of a decent camera and radio puts me off the iphone. I currently have a SE P1i which is ok but not great.I have an ipod touch and the way the touchscreen works is so much better than on my phone. You have to use the stylus which is annoying if your in a rush.
Its a lot easier on the ipod. I'm considering getting the new Sony X1,but that runs windows mobile and I've heard some dubious things about that:D
If there was an updated iphone on the way I would be very tempted indeed.

Doctor DooM

Deleted User wrote: »

The crippled bluetooth and the lack of a decent camera and radio puts me off the iphone. I currently have a SE P1iwhich is ok but not great.I have an ipod touch and he way the touchscreen works is so much better that on my phone. You have to use the stylus which is annoying if your in a rush.
Its a lot easier on the ipod. I'm considering getting the new Sony X1,but that runs windows mobile and I've heard some dubious things about that:D
If there was an updated iphone on the way I would be very tempted indeed.

Me too. I'm actually a bit of a mac fanboy, I have a mac book pro and an old skewl iPod video, but the figures just aren't adding up on the iPhone for me right now, as good as the device is.

Tom Dunne

Deleted User wrote: »

I'm considering getting the new Sony X1,but that runs windows mobile and I've heard some dubious things about that

The XDA I had was Windows Mobile (version 5, AFAIK) and it was quite stable. The problem was the lack of in-built software. To watch videos, you had to download software (Windows Mobile Media Player was rubbish, tbh). Playing music with any application was a chore. Plus, sending text messages was hard work (think stylus with on-screen keyboard). Does any other phone allow you to purchase music directly on the device without the need for a PC? Can Nokias do that yet (not being sarcastic, genuine question)?

And, there is simply no comparison between the internet experience on the iPhone and Windows Mobile, the former being an order of magnitude better.

Doctor DooM

Tom Dunne wrote: »

The XDA I had was Windows Mobile (version 5, AFAIK) and it was quite stable. The problem was the lack of in-built software. To watch videos, you had to download software (Windows Mobile Media Player was rubbish, tbh). Playing music with any application was a chore. Plus, sending text messages was hard work (think stylus with on-screen keyboard). Does any other phone allow you to purchase music directly on the device without the need for a PC? Can Nokias do that yet (not being sarcastic, genuine question)?

And, there is simply no comparison between the internet experience on the iPhone and Windows Mobile, the former being an order of magnitude better.

Just like with Macs and PCs, so

There's an imode service for 3g devices on O2, AFAIK you can do something similar on 3, too.

Tom Dunne

Tom Dunne wrote: »

Does any other phone allow you to purchase music directly on the device without the need for a PC? Can Nokias do that yet (not being sarcastic, genuine question)?

And, there is simply no comparison between the internet experience on the iPhone and Windows Mobile, the former being an order of magnitude better.

I don't know about the music downloads but I doubt it. I totally agree about the browser though. I use my ipod (wherever possible) when out and about these days. Not enought wifi spots around unfortunately:mad:

Mr. Presentable

As a phone, it's over-priced and over-specced.

As a PDA it's over priced.

As a media centre it's over-specced.

IMHO if you want a phone, buy a phone.

If you want a ........... well, you get the point.

People. Stop being victims of slick advertising.

Tom Dunne

SDooM wrote: »

Just like with Macs and PCs, so

Which reminds me, I must download Safari for Windows.

SDooM wrote: »

There's an imode service for 3g devices on O2, AFAIK you can do something similar on 3, too.

I'm actually talking about how similar it is to the desktop experience. For example, Boards.ie is identical to how it looks on a Windows PC. Not that that is necessarily a good thing, some would argue.

And as I mentioned above, I also tried performing a bit of moderating using the iPhone which worked perfectly.

balkieb2002

Been tempted for quite a while to buy an Iphone but always seemed too dear to get one (this was before the dollar drop). While it looks great I always doubted the ability of it as a phone and it lack of some features (used to noks smart phones).
The final result of all this ended up with me getting a N95 for all my phone, gps etc needs and an Ipod Touch for the taste of the Iphone and all it brilliant GUI (typing this on the touch )

Mr. Presentable

Tom Dunne wrote: »

Now there's an idea.....




I wouldn't use the phone function that much, tbh, so we are talking probably 10mins a day on phonecalls.

But, Tom, it's a phone!!!!

Mr. Presentable

balkieb2002 wrote: »

Been tempted for quite a while to buy an Iphone but always seemed too dear to get one (this was before the dollar drop). While it looks great I always doubted the ability of it as a phone and it lack of some features (used to noks smart phones).
The final result of all this ended up with me getting a N95 for all my phone, gps etc needs and an Ipod Touch for the taste of the Iphone and all it brilliant GUI (typing this on the touch )

Smart!

Silverfish

nipplenuts wrote: »

As a phone, it's over-priced and over-specced.

As a PDA it's over priced.

As a media centre it's over-specced.

IMHO if you want a phone, buy a phone.

If you want a ........... well, you get the point.

People. Stop being victims of slick advertising.

Well, personally, I got mine in December so there were no Irish ads for it at that stage, plus I hadn't seen any other ads for it anywhere else, I'd just seen someone elses, used it, and liked it.

Mr. Presentable

Tom Dunne wrote: »

Which reminds me, I must download Safari for Windows.



I'm actually talking about how similar it is to the desktop experience. For example, Boards.ie is identical to how it looks on a Windows PC. Not that that is necessarily a good thing, some would argue.

And as I mentioned above, I also tried performing a bit of moderating using the iPhone which worked perfectly.

If it was an "iModerate" then there'd be no complaint

Mr. Presentable

Silverfish wrote: »

Well, personally, I got mine in December so there were no Irish ads for it at that stage, plus I hadn't seen any other ads for it anywhere else, I'd just seen someone elses, used it, and liked it.

December, eh? You must be uniquely isolated from all media then. In such a case, I'm astonished the iPhone even works.

Silverfish

nipplenuts wrote: »

December, eh? You must be uniquely isolated from all media then. In such a case, I'm astonished the iPhone even works.

Not sure what you're getting at. I never bothered with any iPhone related stuff prior to getting the iPhone. I was aware of it as a device, I had just not bothered reading or looking at anything about it.

Not sure either why you're amazed it works, it works perfectly. Ever used one yourself? Otherwise I really don't think your opinion is that valid to be honest, you have to have used something to form an opinion on it.

Doctor DooM

nipplenuts wrote: »

If it was an "iModerate" then there'd be no complaint

My phone hasn't been just a phone for the last 6 years. I've worked in the phone industry and they can market away all they like, I will always do my research and get what is best for me.

The iPhones main advantage is it's ease of use, not its functionality. Im sure all the iPhone users would have N95i's if that were not the case.

Tom Dunne

nipplenuts wrote: »

As a phone, it's over-priced and over-specced.

As a PDA it's over priced.

As a media centre it's over-specced.

IMHO if you want a phone, buy a phone.

If you want a ........... well, you get the point.

People. Stop being victims of slick advertising.

Straight up - I honestly don't think I have seen an ad for the iPhone (I don't watch much TV). Yes, I have read the hype and as I have posted earlier, I had my mind made up to buy an N95. That was until I got to play with the iPhone......

nipplenuts wrote: »

But, Tom, it's a phone!!!!

It is? I didn't know phones could do all that.

Seriously, I want a gadget to entertain me an allow me to communicate. The former being more important than the latter.

Each to their own, and all that.

Doctor DooM

Tom Dunne wrote: »

Which reminds me, I must download Safari for Windows.



I'm actually talking about how similar it is to the desktop experience. For example, Boards.ie is identical to how it looks on a Windows PC. Not that that is necessarily a good thing, some would argue.

And as I mentioned above, I also tried performing a bit of moderating using the iPhone which worked perfectly.

No, symbian doesn't and prob never will, simulate the desktop experience, generally symbian Os'seseseses are designed to run on as little ram and with as little battery drain as possibly with minimum ram bleed as possible, so they tend to appear stripped, comparitively. Do you know how much ram the iPhone has?

Tom Dunne

SDooM wrote: »

Do you know how muh ram the iPhone has?

No idea.

But it's a valid comparison. Symbian is designed from the ground up for mobile devices. Power drain vs. functionality, with the former winning out.

Doctor DooM

Tom Dunne wrote: »

No idea.

But it's a valid comparison. Symbian is designed from the ground up for mobile devices. Power drain vs. functionality, with the former winning out.

You are exactly correct, you'd be amazed how many conversations I have had along the lines of "I want a phone with a great camera, huge screen, wifi, and mp3 playback with a huge battery and a small size." People don't realise there is by definition, a trade off. Symbian is like the anti iPhone OS

Jonathan

I wonder would this thread's posts be so rapid if you were using your fantastic iPhone's safari browser

balkieb2002

jmccrohan wrote: »

I wonder would this thread's posts be so rapid if you were using your fantastic iPhone's safari browser

I am (well Ipod touch browser but same difference ). Best browser on a mobile device without a doubt (though flahs is sorely missed)
Using the dead handy email function to keep me up-to-date on the going ons of this thread and then simple browsing here to post!

Chardee MacDennis

ShaneU wrote: »

I said no ridiculous monthly bills, I doubt it's anywhere near €45, probably $20

I have a list of all the different plans available for the iPhone internationally, we dont do great compared with the US but we are quite competitive with other countries using the euro.

http://www.irelandinbeta.com/?p=5

Kid Nothing

Safari on Windows isn't half as good but it looks excellent (I have a Safari theme on my Firefox cause it's so nice)

I'd also like to think that showing Tom Dunne my iPod Touch helped him in making this decision....

trout

amull87 wrote: »

I'd also like to think that showing Tom Dunne my iPod Touch helped him in making this decision....

You should have seen him drool over my iPhone in November so
I'm just glad it was in a waterproof case ... I thought I'd have to hit him on the head, just to get it back.

The pros & cons of the iPhone are well documented, and I had read most of them before I bought it. I wouldn't consider myself a fanboi ... but I was happy to pay the money the iPhone ... even with it's flaws. Early adopter/bleeding edge technology ... whatever :cool:

What made me buy the iPhone is the ease & responsiveness of the interface.

Having run with it for the past 4 months, I have only one gripe ... and that's with the iPod software ... I miss the equalisers ... where are they

balkieb2002

trout wrote: »

Having run with it for the past 4 months, I have only one gripe ... and that's with the iPod software ... I miss the equalisers ... where are they

Yeah a poor exclusion by apple and main the fault of their software ie Itunes.
The fact that the only equaliser is done in itunes prior to copying over each song is a complete pain in the ass and very disspointing as it means if you want to change a setting it requires another re-sync!

mobius42

trout wrote: »

Having run with it for the past 4 months, I have only one gripe ... and that's with the iPod software ... I miss the equalisers ... where are they

The iphone has the EQ presets iPods always had. Go to Settings > iPod > EQ. You can't create your own though.

jtsuited

i played with the iphone in the o2 store in blanch yesterday.
my god, i've never experienced anything like it.

My life feels so empty since I've seen it.

deevey

As a phone, it's over-priced and over-specced

As a PDA it's over priced.

As a media centre it's over-specced.

minimum your going to pay for a phone is 70 odd ?
for what it does PDA wise .. I would think minimum 200 ? (wifi edge / maps and lots more)
Media centre .. screen rez / funtionality / style .. round 150 ?

Ok so by my fairly reserved calculations .... 420 odd Euro for all three devices ... separately and for fairly basic ones at that, pretty much the same price for an unlocked iphone.

Yes O2 are screwing us on the price plan which is one reason to use edge with meteor/data addon.

Why would anyone want to carry all three devices separately pray tell? I already have 2 phones .. I'd really like to cut down on the crap I bring around by a small factor as im sure everyone does.

Nope dont have one yet as funds haven't presented themselves, although have used one a fair bit .. I do have a touch till do pick one up.. totally blown away by it.

Only drawback so far is .... den den deeeennnnn .. flash they really need it on there asap!

Dont be at yourself

I want an iPhone.

The problem is, I'm in Japan until summer, and there's no sign of it being released here. I know unlocking it is easy enough to do, but what's the best way to go about importing one? I won't pay too much of a premium, so does anyone know any decent vendors that'll deliver to Japan?

(I'm not sure if the iPhone will connect to Japanese networks, but I'm happy to use it as an ipod touch until I get back home in the summer. Does anyone know if it'll connect to Japan's softbank network? A quick google didnt tell me much...)

challengemaster

Tom Dunne wrote: »

It is? I didn't know phones could do all that.

Seriously, I want a gadget to entertain me an allow me to communicate. The former being more important than the latter.

Each to their own, and all that.

Then buy something that's not a phone, but designed for that purpose?? why not get a PSP or some such?

Tom Dunne

amull87 wrote: »

I'd also like to think that showing Tom Dunne my iPod Touch helped him in making this decision....

Keep dreaming.

challengemaster wrote: »

Then buy something that's not a phone, but designed for that purpose?? why not get a PSP or some such?

Why would I carry more than one device around? My primary requirement is entertainment, but I also want to stay connected and make phone calls. The iPhone fits the bill on all accounts.