For the past few weeks I have been looking at the Apple iPhone. I would hazard a guess to say that there have been about as many words written about the iPhone as actual sales.
Let me cut to the chase.
The Apple iPhone is an amazing bit of technology – it is ALMOST everything Apple said it would be – and I do not doubt that by the time we see the product launched here in Australia, it WILL be.
Its important to get a few disclaimers out before I go on.
- The Apple iPhone is NOT currently sold by Apple in Australia.
- This review in no way suggests that Telstra or any other Carrier will be distributing the iPhone.
- The iPhone I purchased in the US was locked to the AT&T network, and is not designed to be used outside of the AT&T network.
- With a lot of help from some very smart people, the iPhone was firstly unlocked to work on WiFi, then unlocked to work on the Telstra 2G network.
- I do not in any way support or condone the unlocking of handsets via “enterprising” individuals. Rather, this was done to test the robustness of the security being touted by Apple.
The iPhone I purchased was a 4GB model – and in the short time its been around, has already seen a price drop and this particular configuration discontinued. So much for longevity...
Things I liked:
1. The total package
What can you say – its an Apple. From the very first experience – the packaging is smooth. No wasted space – everything you need (including the cleaning cloth) is included.
2. Touch Screen
The touch screen is a great way to navigate around the iPhone. It is also the best way to make it dirty…(hence the cleaning cloth!) When you need to scroll up, you move your finger up the screen. To type, you put your finger on the place and a keyboard pops up on the screen. It only takes a few minutes to learn. If you have very fat fingers, you will need to try it first. To zoom, move your thumb and first finger apart on the screen and the image gets bigger!
3. Orientation / Flip
Want a better view? Hold the iPhone at 90 degrees and the screen redraws to widescreen.
4. Ease of Use
See point 1 – its an Apple (and this comes from the former IBM PC Product Manager). If you need a manual – you can download it from the net. However, the quick user guide and the genuine intuitive nature of the iPhone will allow you to be up and running almost immediately. Remember, there is only one button to use – and it takes you back a level. The rest is literally at your fingertips!
5. You Tube
The latest timewaster – and fun place to get your few minutes of fame – You Tube is great on the iPhone. The videos load as fast as the Edge network allows – but remember, its not NextG. Initially I tried to do it via WiFi (before the unit was unlocked to operate on the GSM network), but this did not work. The widescreen is a real bonus here. On longer videos, a lot of buffering took place – but in most instances it was almost as good as the PC. I also tried a neat little programme from the net that allowed me to capture a You Tube video and save it to the iPhone for future use.
6. Google Maps
What a wonderful thing to look at your own house courtesy of the folks at Google. Thankfully my lawn was mowed and the garbage bins were put away. Imagine having millions of perspective voyeurs peeking at your home in an untidy state! Again, speed is a factor – if the iPhone was working on a faster network than Edge – the experience would be even better.
Navigation is controlled by your fingers – you can zoom in, shift locations, etc, all with the pinch or slide of your fingers on the screen. VERY neat. A nice feature of Google Maps is the ability to give you travelling directions from virtually anywhere in the world.
(Try this one on your pc or iPhone……..Ask Google Maps the directions from London to New York…..at one point (on the English Coast), it tells you to “swim across the ocean” – who said those guys had no sense of humour?)
7. Weather
A great 7 day forecast that gives you the current temperature, and the highs/lows for the week. Updates via Yahoo!
8. iTunes – Music and Video
The iPhone IS iTunes. Where would Apple be today without this powerful combination? All activity on the iPhone is carried out via iTunes. You activate via iTunes. Your software is constantly updated via iTunes, and your music and videos are downloaded via iTunes. You even back the iPhone up via iTunes. (See a theme happening here?). The disadvantage of this is that if you have cracked your iPhone to work on a non AT&T network, you run the risk of having your iPhone rendered useless in the next upgrade. (Just another challenge for the code crackers out there…)
Now to the things I didn’t like:
Its hard to believe that a technology leader such as Apple would compromise on some basic features, but sadly, this is the case. As with any new entrant into the crowded handset marketplace, Apple have attempted to cross the bridge without fully appreciating the current state of play.
1. No Stereo Bluetooth Support
Let me get this straight. The portable music player leader did not build into their product the ability to stream music via Bluetooth. Why? I can only hazard a guess that they did not want to lose the millions of users with those white leads hanging out of their ears...
2. Locked in Widgets
This is truly a WYSIWIG (What You See Is What You Get) product. Henry Ford had the same philosophy with the Model T. No option to add or change what Apple have provided (unless of course you have employed a software crack…..and then you can put on a wide range of games and other Widgets). Given the amount of additional real estate on the screen, I do believe Apple will be adding more programmes over time to be uploaded via iTunes.
3. Gets dirty quickly.
A cleaning cloth is one thing – my recommendation is – get a clear cover. Will prevent your iPhone resembling a geni bottle that is rubbed clean every day, and also help protect it from being scratched when dropped or in your pocket/bag.
4. Phone features
The phone side of the iPhone is adequate. It does its job, makes calls and received them. It also allows you to send text messages. Video messages are a feature of AT&T that did not work on the unlocked/cracked iPhone. I did not like the fact that none of my contacts located on the SIM card moved across to the iPhone. I had to key in each one individually. Again, this may be a feature of the crack applied to the iPhone and should not be taken as a negative feature. (Hopefully on AT&T this works). The interface is fairly easy to use, and the stereo headset included in the jawbone microphone for calls. If a call comes in while you are listening to your favourite tunes, automatic pausing and switching to the phone occurs. When your call ends you go back to your music.
However, this is not a phone for the serious phone junkie. Battery life is not wonderful, and according to the press reports, 300 charges will see your battery life reduce (and yes, the battery IS sealed).
5. No games
Imagine not putting even a basic game. (I do have three games on mine – but they are not standard.) iPod games do not work on it – I spent several iTunes dollars to download games I cannot use. I hope future iterations of the iPhone will have some games.
Conclusion:
The iPhone is wonderful.
Would I recommend you buying one today? NO.
Why? Because it is not supported here in Australia, and if you crack the software, you run the risk of having a $600 plus device that will look good and do nothing. (The new iTunes upgrade for the iPhone will effectively fix some software bugs from Apple and render your cracked iPhone unusable.). Don’t go looking to Apple to service a cracked iPhone. You void all warranty.
Further, there is no cost efficient “plan” to run the iPhone on today. You will be paying top network dollars for any upload or download. Web surfing and simple weather reports will cost.
If you really need to get hold of an iPhone, I suggest you look at the iTouch – the WiFi version that has no cellular phone capability, but allows you to experience most other features via WiFi. Apple will be selling this in November (according to the latest ads).
Thanks for reading, I welcome your feedback.