tOfficial iPhone news and discussion thread

tuff bob · 06-21-2007, 10:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bulldogg

Does your $20/mo allow you to tether your phone?

Technically, no.

Trevor Barnes · 06-21-2007, 11:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TurboSpartan

You're in a city that has Sprint and Verizon coverage which even w/o 3G will get you 5x the data transfer rate of EDGE.

I've still got my old 6700 (which has been out since fall '05 and sells for about half as much) and I can use the internet 5x faster than an iphone. And a 2gb miniSD card for your MP3s costs $20 (I've still got the 1gb which'll run you $10). The only significant advantage of the iPhone is the better screen for video... and it's rare to want to watch video on a 3" screen, not worth the sacrifice of way slower internet speed. Also, no exchange sync is a deal breaker where I work.

I've been on Verizon before and got sick of how many features they lock down on their phones. I don't know anyone on Sprint.

Considering I'm around WiFi most of the time anyway I won't be sacrificing any speed really. I'm not terribly concerned about EDGE speeds when I do need to use it.

The UI of the iPhone can't be discounted as well. Will a Zune work? Well, yeah, but is it as nice to use as iPod. No. I've used Windows Mobile 5 in the past and it was ok, but it wasn't all that fun having to use a stylus. There's a reason there's so much buzz around the iPhone UI. It's pretty damn sweet looking and seems very intuitive. We'll see how it is to use in practice. I'm guessing Apple got it right.

TurboSpartan · 06-21-2007, 11:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bulldogg

According to buy.com (I can't find anything on Sprint's site) there are three plans available for the 6700 ($15, $25, and $40) - depends on what you want.

Mine is unlimited data. Works as bluetooth & usb modem as well.

tuff bob · 06-21-2007, 11:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trevor Barnes

There's a reason there's so much buzz around the iPhone UI. It's pretty damn sweet looking. We'll see how it is to use in practice. I'm guessing Apple got it right.

I can't wait to see how people react to the keyboard, I've gotten very used to the feel of the treo keyboard, so I can't imagine a keyboard without travel. Should be very interesting.

Trevor Barnes · 06-21-2007, 11:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Go Canes

Does anybody know if it will be available to existing customers who are not up for renewal? I have seen people say it will be and others say it will not

I think it depends on how far into your plan you are. Give AT&T a call.

TurboSpartan · 06-21-2007, 11:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trevor Barnes

Considering I'm around WiFi most of the time anyway I won't be sacrificing any speed really. I'm not terribly concerned about EDGE speeds when I do need to use it.

Well for anyone who does want to get songs or anything when they're not within the confines of their home or somewhere like Starbucks with free wifi it'll be an issue. I don't see how one could think cellular internet speed isn't important on something like the iPhone...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trevor Barnes

The UI of the iPhone can't be discounted as well. I've used Windows Mobile 5 in the past and it was ok, but it wasn't all that fun having to use a stylus. There's a reason there's so much buzz around the iPhone UI. It's pretty damn sweet looking. We'll see how it is to use in practice. I'm guessing Apple got it right.

Who knows? Let's talk when we've seen and used the things in person. The thing i wonder about from all the hand-touching is this hi-res crystal clear nice screen constantly getting dirty and oily which might negate the one thing I actually do think is cool about the phone... again, something to check out in person.

Trevor Barnes · 06-22-2007, 12:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TurboSpartan

Well for anyone who does want to get songs or anything when they're not within the confines of their home or somewhere like Starbucks with free wifi it'll be an issue. I don't see how one could think cellular internet speed isn't important on something like the iPhone...

Ok, I'll never ever download a song or movie on my cell phone. I'd never purchase a song from the iTunes store in the first place even on my PC. The media I'll have on it will be things I preselected on my MacBook to load into it. The only thing I need internet speed for is surfing and EDGE speeds will be fine when I'm out of WiFi range...which will be very rare. My workplace is covered with WiFi, as is my house and most of East Lansing actually. When travelling, the hotels I stay at often have WiFi. Like I said, if I lived in an area that was going to get 3G anytime soon, I'd be pissed. Since I'm not it'll be a very rare occasion that I'll miss it. If I had the choice, I'd pay a la carte for data and use WiFi 95% of the time.

Quote:

Originally Posted by TurboSpartan

Who knows? Let's talk when we've seen and used the things in person. The thing i wonder about from all the hand-touching is this hi-res crystal clear nice screen constantly getting dirty and oily which might negate the one thing I actually do think is cool about the phone... again, something to check out in person.

I was worried about that myself but this is what David Pogue from the NY Times said about it:
"Won’t the screen get smudgy? –It does, but you don’t see it except when the screen is off. The one I played with was pretty streaky, but wiping it on my sleeve cleaned it completely."

That was also with the old screen he was testing and not the supposedly improved ones they announced last week. If what he says is true, and you can only see smudges when it's off, I can live with that. I'm sure I'll have a microfiber cloth for it though.

I really do think you can put a price on UI though. I pay a premium for Tivo for instance since I'd rather slit my wrists than use Comcast's horribly broken DVR interface. I actually found myself hating having to use it. Gotta put some price on that. Enjoying an interface also can make something more usable over the long run. If I'm shelling out any cash for a smartphone, I want to really be able to enjoy using it.

PortlandSpartan · 06-22-2007, 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tuff bob

I can't wait to see how people react to the keyboard, I've gotten very used to the feel of the treo keyboard, so I can't imagine a keyboard without travel. Should be very interesting.

This is what I'm looking forward to most as well.

greenballs · 06-22-2007, 12:05 PM

I'm hoping they throw in GPS as a last minute surprise. Nothing like trying to use Google Maps when you're driving down the road and have to input your starting location.

AUAlum06 · 06-22-2007, 12:05 PM

phones are way to complicated

Trevor Barnes · 06-22-2007, 12:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tuff bob

I can't wait to see how people react to the keyboard, I've gotten very used to the feel of the treo keyboard, so I can't imagine a keyboard without travel. Should be very interesting.

Quote:

Originally Posted by PortlandSpartan

This is what I'm looking forward to most as well.

Reviewer Walt Mossberg of the Wall Street Journal initially had reservations about the keyboard. Apparently after a week of using it, he's reportedly liking it...

Quote:

The Wall Street Journal tech guru, Walt Mossberg, has been living with his iPhone for a week now and the rumor on the street is that he is 'loving' it. Initial reports suggested that he was concerned with the 'virtual keyboard' being difficult to operate. Since that time, however, he is allegedly delighted with the device and loves the iPhone.

Apparently, Mossberg is very pleased with the clarity, sharpness and resolution of the screen, as well as impressed with the responsiveness to the finger input of the multi-touch glass. Our source tells us he is going to use an iPhone as his primary phone from now on.

Mossberg "loving" his iPhone | iPhone Alley

I'm anxious to see Mossberg's review when he posts it on his site.

Walt Mossberg | AllThingsD

PortlandSpartan · 06-22-2007, 02:34 PM

Full demo vid:

Apple - iPhone - A Guided Tour

PortlandSpartan · 06-22-2007, 02:41 PM

Holy ****ing **** does this phone look amazing.

bulldogg · 06-22-2007, 02:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tuff bob

Technically, no.

Exactly. Same with Cingular's $20 unlimted plan. Technically, no.

They make you pay more to do it, technically.

tuff bob · 06-22-2007, 03:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bulldogg

Exactly. Same with Cingular's $20 unlimted plan. Technically, no.They make you pay more to do it, technically.

Ahh with my Treo, technically you're not supposed to do it, but it does work with the right pieces of third party software

Trevor Barnes · 06-22-2007, 03:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PortlandSpartan

Full demo vid:

Apple - iPhone - A Guided Tour

That's damn impressive.

PortlandSpartan · 06-22-2007, 03:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trevor Barnes

That's damn impressive.

As expected the UI looks killer. Still need to wait for a hand-on with the touching/scrolling/tapping.

I'm stuck with Verizon for the next year and a half...

fiddledity · 06-22-2007, 03:30 PM

how long til they beef up the memory??
id like this to be my next ipod too, but not at 3 or 4 gigs.

Trevor Barnes · 06-22-2007, 07:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fiddledity

how long til they beef up the memory??
id like this to be my next ipod too, but not at 3 or 4 gigs.

So get the 8GB version.

They probably won't increase the memory for a year or so.

Trevor Barnes · 06-22-2007, 07:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PortlandSpartan

As expected the UI looks killer. Still need to wait for a hand-on with the touching/scrolling/tapping.

The Word, Excel, and PDF readers were a nice surprise. I also really liked the headphones which surprised me.

No demo of the camera interface yet...hmmm...

bighc2000 · 06-22-2007, 08:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trevor Barnes

The Word, Excel, and PDF readers were a nice surprise. I also really liked the headphones which surprised me.

No demo of the camera interface yet...hmmm...

Beat me to it. Wonder how "functional" the readers are. In theory, the MS programs should work in OSX but

.

It is an awesome device. People pay nearly that much just for OEM nav devices. No wonder MBenz is rumored to be working with Apple to adapt the iPhone tech for incar use.

EDIT: Going nuts here iPhone Guided Tour and Site Redesign - Mac Forums

bighc2000 · 06-22-2007, 08:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PortlandSpartan

As expected the UI looks killer. Still need to wait for a hand-on with the touching/scrolling/tapping.

I'm stuck with Verizon for the next year and a half...

Buy your way out. 200 bucks over 18 months is pretty negligible compared with the joy you will get with an iPhone. You know you want one.

PortlandSpartan · 06-22-2007, 08:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trevor Barnes

The Word, Excel, and PDF readers were a nice surprise. I also really liked the headphones which surprised me.

No demo of the camera interface yet...hmmm...

Good call, those headphones look awesome.

bighc2000 · 06-22-2007, 10:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PortlandSpartan

Good call, those headphones look awesome.

Any pics of the btooth headphone? I have only seen mockups and line drawings out ther.

TurboSpartan · 06-22-2007, 10:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Top Dog

Apple will be fine without your business.

Long AAPL

Did I say they wouldn't be? Just said I personally wouldn't buy it with 80-110k internet speed and no exchange sync, and I get more for less out of my older 6700.

If Mac fans like you, mrob and Portland want to buy it, that's fine. If you want to buy out your current cell plan and bring the price tag up from $600 to $800, that's fine too because it's not my money.

Funny I get ripped on or personally attacked every time I say why I wouldn't buy some product that's made by apple. You'd almost think apple's fans were zealots. Technology is not religion people, calm down.