The iPhone thread

[handyman]

Originally Posted by Russ B

Not unfair when a good camera is what some people look for in a phone! It's a dying artform but video-calling....not available on the iphone either. For a phone which could have been so much better....it has not impressed me from what I've seen so far. Apple have made no attempt to hide they favour the US market when it comes to features, Nokia is more global. They get my vote.

It was never / will never be a camera phone. That's not the market its aimed at. For sending photos over the web then 2mpix pictures are good enough.

There has also been people prattling on about how Nokia sell 1.3 Million phones per day and saying that Apples 1 Million in a weekend is no achievement. (If there where more Apple iphones available they would have sold 2 Million without a doubt. I heard that CPW got 3500 in stock for launch I doubt o2 had much more.

They overlook that Nokia is available in almost every country and also has a huge product range of basic phones - high end phones. Apple has released 1 phone and in it's market (smart phones) it has garnered a huge market share against the market leading rim and ms phones in a short period of time.

If you overcome the idea that all phones must have video capability (which they don't) and that all phones must be camera phones (which they don't) then when you look at and use the iphone you'll find it is a joy to use.

FYI Carphone warehouse have them back in stock on the web and on the phone ( only 8gb model) Ordered mine delivery Monday...

http://www.carphonewarehouse.com/com...me?NODE_ID=800

[Stuart]

Originally Posted by handyman

It was never / will never be a camera phone. That's not the market its aimed at. For sending photos over the web then 2mpix pictures are good enough.

There has also been people prattling on about how Nokia sell 1.3 Million phones per day and saying that Apples 1 Million in a weekend is no achievement. (If there where more Apple iphones available they would have sold 2 Million without a doubt. I heard that CPW got 3500 in stock for launch I doubt o2 had much more.

They overlook that Nokia is available in almost every country and also has a huge product range of basic phones - high end phones. Apple has released 1 phone and in it's market (smart phones) it has garnered a huge market share against the market leading rim and ms phones in a short period of time.

Interesting to note that according to one article I read (although I cannot find the link), Windows Mobile increased it's sales last year by the same amount that the iPhone sold in total.

Not that I am saying WM is great. Far from it.

If you overcome the idea that all phones must have video capability (which they don't) and that all phones must be camera phones (which they don't) then when you look at and use the iphone you'll find it is a joy to use.

All smart phones do have cameras and video, however, and this is the market the iPhone is competing in. Most of them have a camera that is better than 2m as well, as well as video calling.

I have to admit, however, that even though my n95 has a superior camera (it's camera is actually superior to my old digicam) and video calling, I'll still be going for an iPhone when my contract is up for renewal.

[handyman]

Originally Posted by Stuart C

All smart phones do have cameras and video, however, and this is the market the iPhone is competing in. Most of them have a camera that is better than 2m as well, as well as video calling.

I hope they are better than the o2 xda mini s with it's 1.3mp cam and no video.

Originally Posted by Stuart C

I'll still be going for an iPhone when my contract is up for renewal.

With the price drop they are looking quite a bargain. Totally regretting selling my original iphone now as I thought the 3g iphone would devalue it. However with v2.0 software making the original so much better and the limited availability of the new one its having the opposite effect.

[SMHarman]

Originally Posted by handyman

With the price drop they are looking quite a bargain. Totally regretting selling my original iphone now as I thought the 3g iphone would devalue it. However with v2.0 software making the original so much better and the limited availability of the new one its having the opposite effect.

The other big kicker in the US is that the original iPhone data plan was $20 a month for unlimited data and 200 texts. The 3G iPhone plan is $30 with no inclusive texts so for the 200 texts that would be another $5. An increase of $15 a month to month or $180 a year in monthly charges over the 2G phone and an 18 month commitment contract, wheras the 2G iPhone was effectively commitment free as there was no handset subsidy. As much of the US has no 3G coverage with Edge as the highest data speed for the forseeable future the benefits of 2G iPhone with 2.0 vs 3G iPhone are marginal.

[Stuart]

Interesting rumour: http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2008/07...ay_get_iphone/

Orange UK will be carrying the iPhone soon..

[Tezcatlipoca]

Originally Posted by handyman

I hope they are better than the o2 xda mini s with it's 1.3mp cam and no video.

The XDA Mini S (HTC Wizard) also didn't have 3G.

But that is not even remotely a good comparison, seeing as the Wizard came out nearly three years ago...

The Wizard has long since been superseded by newer & better featured smartphones, from HTC & others... smartphones that don't have a crappy camera, for example...

[Stuart]

Originally Posted by handyman

I hope they are better than the o2 xda mini s with it's 1.3mp cam and no video.

The Iphone isn't competing with a 3 year old smartphone.. Although it is interesting to note that my two year old (well nearly) HTC Tytn II has a few features in common with the new Iphone..

3G (with High speed support), a 2Megapixel camera (which, as with the one on the Iphone is crap). WiFi.

It also has a couple which I don't believe the Iphone has... Bluetooth with A2DP support for Stereo audio. A flash. A memory card slot (with support for high capacity micro SD cards).

It doesn't have GPS or a nice user interface (in fact, whoever designed Windows Mobile needs to leave Microsoft and find a job they can do) though.

If you are going to compare the Iphone with other smartphones, at least pick some that are recent.

I got the 3G version today and am looking to sell the old one on eBay, Has anyone got any tips on how to sell it. I.E What should I consider, how much should I sell it for, should I unlock it?

[Stephen]

I got an iPhone 3G 16GB White today its so cool. Now need to sell my ipod touch as its no longer needed.

[punky]

Speaking of the iPhone, O2 have released the PAYG iPhone prices.

http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2008/09/01/o2_payg_iphone/

£350 = 8gb
£400 = 16gb

BUT includes 1 year unlimited data and hotspot access to The Cloud/BT Openzone. Unlimited data/wifi is £10/month after the first year. £10 topup gets you 500 mins. Normal PAYG tariffs apply for calls.

Not a bad deal then. Getting seriously tempted myself.

[downquark1]

What do you think of the iphone pay as you go?

http://www.o2.co.uk/iphone/paygo

Any catches?

I don't get what it means by free wi-fi, surely wifi is free by default.

[punky]

It means wifi hotspot coverage via The Cloud and BT Openzone

[dilli-theclaw]

Well not strictly JUST iPhone, but I just installed firmware 2.1 on my iPod touch and all I can say is I am actually impressed as it fixed the issues i've been having with stupidly long installs, having to restore it every week and the silly backup times.

Originally Posted by Jefferson T

Well not strictly JUST iPhone, but I just installed firmware 2.1 on my iPod touch and all I can say is I am actually impressed as it fixed the issues i've been having with stupidly long installs, having to restore it every week and the silly backup times.

Gah, us iPhone users have to wait till tomorrow

[Tezcatlipoca]

So...

Despite my usual irrational dislike of all things "Apple", and despite still finding it amusing to criticise the rather bizarre lack of a decent camera / MMS / video recording / A2DP stereo Bluetooth / Bluetooth file transfer etc. in a mid-2008 smartphone, I'm definitely swaying towards getting an iPhone 3G in a couple of months when my current T-Mobile contract expires, to replace my N95.

'Cos, well, I don't actually really care about having a decent camera on a phone (I rarely ever use the one on my N95), don't ever use MMS, don't ever record video on my phone, don't ever transfer files over Bluetooth, and don't have a stereo Bluetooth headset.

Decent music & video playback is a must for my next phone, along with a decent web browser. Plus of course it helps if it's actually good as a phone too.

So, some questions for CF's iPhone 3G owners...

Is it really that good?

Is the UI really as awesome as it's claimed to be?

What's it actually like as a phone?

What's it like as a portable media player?

What's it like for web browsing etc.?

Are there any decent Apps yet?

Cheers


Also, one thing putting me off is the worry that a few months after I get one, Apple will then bring out a 3rd generation iPhone...

I have read rumours of a 32GB iPhone, & an iPhone Nano, but has anyone heard anything about any actual successor to the current iPhone?