tOfficial iPhone news and discussion thread

[EMSP]

Originally Posted by bighc2000

Already taking one apart here: iPhone Disassembly and here: POWERBOOKMEDIC.COM - PARTS, REPAIRS, MANUALS, FORUMS & MORE

Apple geeks are

Nice $500 spent there, buddy. Good luck trying to squeeze everything back together so that you can use your phone again.

[Trevor Barnes]

Originally Posted by spartyguy

Nice $500 spent there, buddy. Good luck trying to squeeze everything back together so that you can use your phone again.

He'll make several times the cost of the iPhone in advertising revenue.

[ErnieMcCracken]

I like the idea of ripping apart a new gadget. AnandTech does that all the time and could care less about the product itself but just want to know the technology behind it.

[bighc2000]

To be fair, both of the current disassemblers are well known for their Powerbook prowess in both repairs and mods. The iPhone to them is just an extension of their business model. I am sure they also do iPod repairs and service as well.

It is funny just seeing the race to disassemble first.

[bighc2000]

From all the "hints" out there, I am almost ready to predict that 3G exists in hardware form but not software. We will see if a software update down the road is in the works.

[#5]

Originally Posted by ErnieMcCracken

I like the idea of ripping apart a new gadget. AnandTech does that all the time and could care less about the product itself but just want to know the technology behind it.

there is nothing to reengineer here...all of the iphone's competitive advantage comes from their software and interface. they are using primitive technology...

[#5]

Originally Posted by ErnieMcCracken

I like the idea of ripping apart a new gadget. AnandTech does that all the time and could care less about the product itself but just want to know the technology behind it.

Originally Posted by mentalstate

this thing is looking sick, crazy.

and I don't think anyone's considered what this does for mobile porn (billion $ industry, what will they do for this?)...

I doubt it does anything more for the porn business than what the ipod does...you can't download video wirelessly on the iphone because they use primitive technology.

[#5]

Originally Posted by bulldogg

Hook, line, sinker. Verizon and Sprint spin there.

Verizon and Sprint wanted to put their own crap on the phone - like VCast, etc. Apple didn't want it.

"highest technological standards"

obviously you don't know what you are talking about. seems as though you are the one that is buying the spin.

[Trevor Barnes]

Originally Posted by #5

there is nothing to reengineer here...all of the iphone's competitive advantage comes from their software and interface. they are using primitive technology...

Based on what I've seen so far, all the other manufactures have a hell of a lot of catching up to do software wise. As for reliability, I've been on both Cingular and Verizon and as a consumer I can't tell the difference. If anything Cingular has been more reliable. A coworker was just complaining Friday that Verizon has sucked in East Lansing lately. So if they are supposed to be more reliable, no one can tell.

[LA_Spartan]

Originally Posted by #5

ATT was the only carrier that allowed apple control over the phone. Verizon and Sprint take control of the phone to ensure that it meets the highest technological standards. Apple isn't interested in competing technologically with their market entry device. They want to create a niche segment that is ipod 1st and low-technology voice only cell phone 2nd.

Nothing wrong with that idea...

It had nothing to do with control over technology, It was about control over $$$. (which is ironic, because Verizon is going to lose market share over this)

Verizon Wireless, the No. 2 U.S. cellphone carrier, passed on the chance to be the exclusive distributor of the iPhone almost two years ago, balking at Apple's rich financial terms and other demands. Among other things, Apple wanted a percentage of the monthly cellphone fees, say over how and where iPhones could be sold and control of the relationship with iPhone customers, said Jim Gerace, a Verizon Wireless vice president. "We said no. We have nothing bad to say about the Apple iPhone. We just couldn't reach a deal that was mutually beneficial."

Verizon rejected Apple iPhone deal - USATODAY.com

[TurboSpartan]

Originally Posted by LA_Spartan

It had nothing to do with control over technology, It was about control over $$$. (which is ironic, because Verizon is going to lose market share over this)

Verizon rejected Apple iPhone deal - USATODAY.com

Apple's goal with these phones is 1% worldwide market share by late '08, so I don't think market share would be a huge concern. The price range they're in limits them to the $500+ phone market, which just won't have that big of an impact on the overall cell phone market share.

Now if they had stripped-down $100-200 versions to compete with cheaper mp3 phones as well, that would be a very different story; maybe they still will do that.

[richwig]

As for reliability, I've been on both Cingular and Verizon and as a consumer I can't tell the difference. If anything Cingular has been more reliable. A coworker was just complaining Friday that Verizon has sucked in East Lansing lately. So if they are supposed to be more reliable, no one can tell.

Stuff and nonsense. Claiming a nihilist position re evaluating cell coverage just means blind belief in anecdotes. You can look at coverage maps, you can read news articles, and you can take in consumer surveys. The Cingular / AT&T network pales compared to competitors. Look at the full page ads and TV spots Sprint is running to show how poor the Cingular data plan is.

Independent surveys, eg by Consumer Reports, show far, far more dropped calls by Cingular. Verizon has one of the most built-out networks in the country.

Anecdotally I do observe that Verizon is weak in East Lansing during peak times, and especially for some reason at the corner of Hagadorn and GR. My guess is a tower switch occurs there.

A good friend is a Cingular customer who travels the state daily and the world frequently. Cingular drops out all the time when he leaves major metro areas even though still on an Interstate.

Press coverage disses Apple for choosing Cingular / AT&T's inferior 300 kbps Edge network for data, versus true 3G from other carriers, ie EV-DO.

Steve Jobs claims that the phone's Wi-Fi capabilitiy outweighs that. That's a bunch of bull. Apple made the best business deal they could, not the best network deal they could offer customers. Wi-Fi is even sparser than Cingular's footprint.

Apple wanted to make a unique arrangement where they are the front office for buying the phone and service, and the provider is just the back office providing signal. See Friday's NY Times. The top providers didn't see $$$ in such a deal so Apple went with the market trailer.

Apple may have made the best cell phone on the planet, but they chose to partner with one of the worst cell providers in the US.

[Trevor Barnes]

Originally Posted by richwig

Anecdotally I do observe that Verizon is weak in East Lansing during peak times, and especially for some reason at the corner of Hagadorn and GR. My guess is a tower switch occurs there.

I could care less if there's great Verizon coverage in the UP if I can't even get reliable coverage in my home area.

I've had both Cingular and Verizon in the Lansing area and had far more problems with Verizon, regardless of what Consumers Reports or the NY Times tell me I should be getting.

[Mr. Tanfan]

Originally Posted by Trevor Barnes

Based on what I've seen so far, all the other manufactures have a hell of a lot of catching up to do software wise. As for reliability, I've been on both Cingular and Verizon and as a consumer I can't tell the difference. If anything Cingular has been more reliable. A coworker was just complaining Friday that Verizon has sucked in East Lansing lately. So if they are supposed to be more reliable, no one can tell.

#5 is just jealous because he can't afford one.

[bighc2000]

Just got back from the Apple store in Novi. The phone is flat out sick. Plated with it for 15 minutes. It is worth every penny they are asking. The Google Maps integration is killer. Fast over the stores wifi. YouTube was excellent. The UI was truly remarkable. Made my phone (K790i) look obsolete.

Of course to be fair, one would have to play with it at an ATT shop to see how the EDGE network compares.

They probably could have gotten away with calling it the Jesus Phone.

[bighc2000]

At engadget, the predictive work function is swear word ready..

Steve must have been a sailor in a former life, because it's been a while since we've seen a phone dictionary come preloaded with so many US swears. The iPhone even supports multiple forms of the mother of all curses -- truly, a versatile word for a versatile phone. Now go wash your mouth out with soap, mister.

Supports
*****
*****s
*****
Microsoft

iPhone: pottymouth friendly - Engadget

[richwig]

I could care less if there's great Verizon coverage in the UP if I can't even get reliable coverage in my home area.

You meant to say "I couldn't care less if..."

I'm not talking about the UP. I'm talking about San Francisco, LA, Atlanta, DC, NYC, Chicago, and Interstate highways nearby.

If you read objective reviews, Verizon is among the best in the US in terms of coverage.

From David Pogue, tech columnist for The New York Times, on the iPhone on the AT&T network:

The bigger problem is the AT&T network. In a Consumer Reports study, AT&T’s signal ranked either last or second to last in 19 out of 20 major cities. My tests in five states bear this out. If Verizon’s slogan is, “Can you hear me now?” AT&T’s should be, “I’m losing you.”

It is a matter of documented fact, Trevor: the Cingular / AT&T network sucks. Steve Jobs made a deal with the devil.

[Fighting With A Vim]

Originally Posted by richwig

You meant to say "I couldn't care less if..."

I'm not talking about the UP. I'm talking about San Francisco, LA, Atlanta, DC, NYC, Chicago, and Interstate highways nearby.

If you read objective reviews, Verizon is among the best in the US in terms of coverage.

From David Pogue, tech columnist for The New York Times, on the iPhone on the AT&T network:

The bigger problem is the AT&T network. In a Consumer Reports study, AT&T’s signal ranked either last or second to last in 19 out of 20 major cities. My tests in five states bear this out. If Verizon’s slogan is, “Can you hear me now?” AT&T’s should be, “I’m losing you.”

It is a matter of documented fact, Trevor: the Cingular / AT&T network sucks. Steve Jobs made a deal with the devil.

This isn't objective, but from my own experience... Verizon isn't that great.

I have a 25% success rate of placing calls at 8 AM, Noon, and 5 PM.
I lose mobile web entirely when I am not near a city.

So what if Cingular drops calls- with Verizon I can't even make calls (maybe it's just an EL thing).

[Trevor Barnes]

Originally Posted by richwig

I'm not talking about the UP. I'm talking about San Francisco, LA, Atlanta, DC, NYC, Chicago, and Interstate highways nearby.

If you read objective reviews, Verizon is among the best in the US in terms of coverage.

From David Pogue, tech columnist for The New York Times, on the iPhone on the AT&T network:

The bigger problem is the AT&T network. In a Consumer Reports study, AT&T’s signal ranked either last or second to last in 19 out of 20 major cities. My tests in five states bear this out. If Verizon’s slogan is, “Can you hear me now?” AT&T’s should be, “I’m losing you.”

And yet, if Verizon is reliable in "San Francisco, LA, Atlanta, DC, NYC, Chicago, and Interstate highways nearby" but still not reliable in my home area, that doesn't do me much good. Just last week I stood next to a coworker trying to make several calls on Verizon in EL but lines were all busy. In the middle of the afternoon on a weekday?!

Let's be honest, Verizon is the one company we should all be thankful about not getting the iPhone. They would have neutered the hell out of it. Redial would have been it's "coolest" feature.

Also, it looks like AT&T just spent $2.8 billion to aquire Dobson Communications which owns Cellular One. That should help a bit.

AT&T to Acquire Dobson Communications, Expand Wireless Coverage

[Trevor Barnes]

This is pretty damn impressive. PC World (not exactly Apple fans) did stress testing on the iPhone and literally couldn't scratch the screen. It also survived drops on the carpet, hard floor, and then concrete several times.

PC World - iPhone Stress Tests

[Kenny Powers]

I heard one guy on the west side of lansing ran out of gas on the way home from the ATT store and his new iPhone ran to the gas station and filled up its tank for him. While it was out it also called ahead for pizza and had exotic dancers stop by to entertain him while he waited for the iPhone to get back with the gas. This phone can do it all!!

[Kenny Powers]

here are some of reviews so far from actual users:

Apple iPhone (4GB) Ratings. Smart phones User Opinions.

it sounds like it is getting very mixed reviews

[Trevor Barnes]

Originally Posted by izzo75

I heard one guy on the west side of lansing ran out of gas on the way home from the ATT store and his new iPhone ran to the gas station and filled up its tank for him. While it was out it also called ahead for pizza and had exotic dancers stop by to entertain him while he waited for the iPhone to get back with the gas. This phone can do it all!!

Truth.

[Trevor Barnes]

Originally Posted by izzo75

here are some of reviews so far from actual users:

Apple iPhone (4GB) Ratings. Smart phones User Opinions.

it sounds like it is getting very mixed reviews

1) Why would anyone get the 4 GB version?

2) 95% of those user reviews were before the product was even released.

[Fighting With A Vim]

Originally Posted by izzo75

here are some of reviews so far from actual users:

Apple iPhone (4GB) Ratings. Smart phones User Opinions.

it sounds like it is getting very mixed reviews

I don't trust those reviews, for two reasons...

(1) Most of those reviews are from before the iPhone was even released

(2) It would be way too easy for Verizon/Sprint/etc to pay people for negative iPhone reviews