iPhone 3G review: Twice the hype, half the novelty
- D
- Dan
- pKD
- 16 Aug 2008
Switched from long-term Nokia & Sony Ericsson owner to Apple iPhone a few months back and have since upgraded to the 3G version.
Make no mistake, this is by far the best mobile phone available.
Apple have set the benchmark.. its time for the rest to catch up!
- ?
- Anonymous
- nS9
- 16 Aug 2008
iPhone is just a glorified iPod with phone functionality. Nothing wrong with that if that's what you're looking for... iPhone is aimed at simpletons. It's not designed for tech savvy people. It's for those people who wants an iPod but at the same time don't want to carry a separate simpleton phone.
Funny most people in the US don't know about world phones and how much more sophisticated they are. They're a 3rd world in terms of mobile/cell phones. They only recently implemented 3G and it's still not available in many parts of the states. Geez, only about a decade behind...
iPhone does beat other phones on one count and that is the UI. Apple are great in that area and comes from experience with their macs. UI, hardware design, aesthetics has always been their strong points.
I've used iPHone extensively but would never buy one, simply because there are just too many shortcomings and their 'walled garden' approach. Whoever turned the into M$???!!! Remember all the jokes about M$ for Apple fanboys?
We all know there are tons of features even some very basic features that are missing on the iPHone. There walled garden approach just makes things worse.
I think Apple is the only company to have so many fanboys. Most of us don't have any allegiance with any company and I would happily switch depending who is producing the best tech for my needs.
- H
- H bo
- b7A
- 16 Aug 2008
One thing I don't like about it is that you are unable to save files. However, I do want to get an iPhone because my vongamer .com wallpapers will look awesome on the super colorful screen!!
- Y
- Ying
- 4Zx
- 15 Aug 2008
aNgelo G, 15 Aug 2008Hi Ying
Basically, I have to admit that most of your point... moreAfter reviewing your camera standpoint, I notice it's quite contradicting. I'm assuming your rhetorical question "So what is the point of having a 8mp, 5mp or 2mp?" was being applied to mobile devices solely. Yet, prior to that statement, you mentioned "...most of user use a camera as a point and shot. Look at it, upload it on the web and shares it. They don't care about the real features of it". Correct me if I'm wrong, but don't images taken with a stand alone digital camera follow the same processes? From sites like Myspace to Facebook, aren't most photos being taken with some type of stand alone digital camera, uploaded, and then cropped? So shouldn't the same attitude taken with mobile devices questionable megapixel count, be applied towards digital cameras as well. I feel so.
Take a look at this blog.
http://amnesiablog.wordpress.com/2008/08/05/iphone-3g-sample-camera-pictures-vs-nokia-n95/
Obviously enough, the quality of images differ greatly, but pay attention to the images sizes, the possible PRINT sizes. This is where the 5 megapixels enter.
I think you missed the point in my previous post regarding the Nokia N95 when I stated "...isn't known for just its 5 megapixel ability. Unlike most camera phones, the lens equipped on the Nokia N95 is of prestigious quality..." Images resulting from the combined attributes of the Carl Zeiss optics and the 5 megapixel CMOS sensor of the Nokia N95 definitively presented challenges to the stand alone digital camera world.
Ultimately the Nokia N95 may not beat a full pledge camera, but within time, surely enough mobile camera phones will be in the same ranks as stand alone cameras.
I'm sorry but I'm quite confused regarding your fifth paragraph. You start with conversations of phone hacking, then to an evolving community, then off topics talks of MAC vs PC. I seriously tried to understand your point. I will though respond to your question of have I or did I ever hack a phone. No, I have not. Reason being, I need no extended functionality. I now pose the same question to you with the addition, "...if the OS of the iPhone is so wonderful, why the needed hack?" In my opinion, being a great OS is more than just being a "smooth OS". I feel it's quite "stupid" to introduce a SMARTPHONE, a device built to perform PC like functions, and severely handicapped the OS, to where hacks are needed to enjoy what the device was build for.
Again, you misunderstood my point concerning connectivity options. The ONLY way an iPhone can transfer an image to another mobile device is by WIFI. My previous asked question was if there was no available WIFI signal to do this, what other connectivity options do you have MOBILE to MOBILE? Not MOBILE, PC, then to MOBILE either. In other words, if you took a group photo, and your friend asked "Hey, can you send me that pic on my phone?", what could you possibly do? Respond with, "...if you can find me a WIFI signal I can..."? What if your friend has a low end device? What then? Point being yet again "...in this league, there are many "must have" functions, users and developers alike, have adopted in which the iPhone lack..."
Like most, you really don't know what flash is. Your H.264 comment proved that. H.264 is a type of compression, an encoding. H.264 encoded content results in better picture quality, better (lower) bit rates for streaming, and smaller overall file sizes compared to past versions. This codec can be used in many file formats. A decoder is what renders the codec. When specifically talking about rendering flash content, a flash player is needed. FlashLite is a mobile flash player, a decoder. There are 3 versions. The Nokia N95 8Gb supports the most recent version of Flashlite straight out the box. FlashLite 3 supports most of Flash 8 content, as well as the codec H.264. This means I can fully and completely view sites like Youtube on my phone's browser, just like if I was browsing it at home on my PC. The most recent Flash update is Flash 9. This is most known for High Definition video which, NO, FlashLite 3 don't support unlike a PC browser...yet.
Nokia my not have a "King Phone", but they surely did build a masterpiece. A masterpiece which set an industry standard in high end device development. Can Apple say the same about the iPhone? Remember. Touchscreen phones have been out way before the iPhone. Same goes for large VGA resolution, or higher, screen equipped phones. So again, I ask you?
- a
- aNgelo G
- 4x7
- 15 Aug 2008
Ying, 14 Aug 2008I'm sorry aNgelo G, but do you honestly KNOW what you are t... moreHi Ying
Basically, I have to admit that most of your points are very truthful. Sorry about mentioning the perfect phone, I wanted to say ideal.
I will come back to camera features on a phone. You are right, most of user use a camera as a point and shot. Look at it, upload it on the web and shares it. They don't care about the real features of it. So what is the point of having a 8mp, 5mp or 2mp? Doesn't change much to them. Lens are very important, and most of phone don't do optical zoom. I work in the web environment as a web designer and picture quality is crucial. A phone will never beat a camera. It is proven so far that a device that is made with a certain purpose will not be crushed by a multi functional device ( unless we are talking about a computer). Never less, my point is that a camera on a phone is one of the least important features people should argue about. It has to be good enough to show up right on your mobile device and on your monitor, but uploading to the web, shrinking it, changing the aspect ration and so on are things common people don't think about. So what is the point of having a 2520 x 1984 resolution when most of the people don't use that resolution for common tasks?
Yes the iPhone is simple. Most of what is simple is best. Having to much is like not having enough.
For the MS Exchange purpose I can't say anything about it because I am not aware of it. I don't use that kind of service. I just know they added it in version 2.0, but can't comment about it.
One question I do have for you Ying: Do you or did you have a hacked phone? Did you take the time to add what necessary utilities you need to make your experience better? Why something better then something else? A community that evolves around a product greatly increases it's value. Symbian is great because it's open source. OS x is good because a lot of people took their time to build great applications around it. When was the last time you used a smooth OS as this? U work on a PC or a MAC? I work on both. From windows 98, to 2000 to xp and now vista 64. It's good but most of it's innovative features come from Apple. Apple was always ahead of time in OS user experience and stability. MACs don't crush as much as PCs. Yes I still love my Vista machine cause it costs me half the price to upgrade the hardware.
Transferring images or files? You can enable MMS, bluetooth transfer, iPhone to iPhone transfer or Wifi. You install SSH and you can brows your phone from your comp via WIFI. You can access all internal files and do wtv you want.
Let's talk about browser. Hummm Flash, what 98% computer browsers have...but what about mobile devices.....Flash???...WRONG....it's flash mobile or flash light. Yea ok you can see some flash content, but good luck getting h.264 or any new features on that. Unless I am wrong, no cellphone has real Flash capabilities. Just to let you know, Apple is working with Adobe to actually make it happen.
Java.... you are right, it lacks that and should have it.
Multitasking: yep one of the biggest deception in the iPhone. I do miss my n82 for that matter, but I dead hear rumors about upcoming multitasking capabilities in the future software update. Gotto wait to see it.
"The differences between the iPhone and the other manufacturers, the other manufacturers upgrades aren't so drastic yet pointless and leave consumers greatly unfulfilled. They still have the choice of maintaining their "old" devices, but can still go head to head with the "newer" ones." Sorry but you are wrong on this one. Nokia even admitted their mistake. Nokia does great phones, but they don't have a King phone that they can advertise as "THE PHONE".
Motorola is going down in the cellphone industry because they overkilled the Razr look.
Sony Ericson is missing out on more and more stander features: one of the biggest WIFI. Also, it's a personal taste, but SE has the worst interface ever.
On and on with each company.
My point is not to say that the iPhone is king of phones, it's just to say that with it's great involvement from developers and Apple, it achieves great success. I hatted when people talk shit ( I am not talking about you Ying, cause obviously you bring good arguments to the table).
- Y
- Ying
- q28
- 14 Aug 2008
aNgelo G, 14 Aug 20085mp camera so what? It's good for taking random pictures, n... moreI'm sorry aNgelo G, but do you honestly KNOW what you are talking about?
Regarding your most recent post, "5mp camera so what? It's good for taking random pictures, no camera phone on the camera is like a true camera...", the Nokia N95 isn't known for just its 5 megapixel ability. Unlike most camera phones, the lens equipped on the Nokia N95 is of prestigious quality. The Nokia N95 is one of the few rare phones that incorporated a high quality lens to accommodate the CMOS sensors. I would think a previous so called owner of the Nokia N82, and someone bold enough to state "By the way, mega pixel is not what counts, but lens!" would know and recognize that. Furthermore, the purpose of ANY camera is only "good for taking random pictures", unless you're a professional photographer, which the average consumer is not. Question. Are you suggesting the average consumer purchase a single $300-$600 digital camera over devices which not only offer high quality imagery, but advance options to send and share those precious "random pictures" on the spot?
In reply to aNgelo G @ 2008-08-14 05:05 from 4x74
The iPhone is simple, much like you and everyone else who proclaims this device. It's because of this simplicity the device is popular, or even "good" for that matter. Beyond that, the iPhone is not worthy to be dubbed as a smartphone. In my opinion, the iPhone doesn't differ much from a typical ordinary mobile phone.
What you and many others need to understand is that iPhone is classified as a smartphone. In this league, there are many "must have" functions, users and developers alike, have adopted in which the iPhone lack. Your statement ".....so stop complaining about mms, bluetooth and so on. You can use wifi or adhoc to transfer in between phones" proves why the iPhone "sucks". Given the scenario where the other phone did not support WIFI, or a WLAN signal was not available, please explain the possibility of a simple image transfer then.
The main factor when deciding "best browser" is how closely a mobile browser mimics the PC browser. The iPhone is quite far from being the "best browser" as you so diligently put it. Try viewing the 360 degree view of the precious iPhone. Unsuccessful? The iPhone safari browser lacks flash support and java.
Much like the overall conception of the iPhone, the UI is too simple. The iPhone has an open one application limit. Multitasking is essential in the smartphone world. The only thing Apple pushed in the UI field are the highly attractive icon designs and animations.
I do agree with your statement when you noted Apple is "playing it smart". Either consumers are really that ignorant, or Apple's marketing is just that marvelous. The iPhone 3G has nothing more to offer over the original iPhone other than HSPDA and GPS. Based on your concept of "upgrading", that in detail would require the multiple purchases of redundant devices whenever Apple decides to upgrade slightly or in your terms, come closer to the perfect phone. I'm sorry but technology advances with time. There will never be a "perfect phone". The IDEAL phone is one that can adapt with the ever so changing technology.
Yes. Consumers will all eventually replace, upgrade, their devices. The differences between the iPhone and the other manufacturers, the other manufacturers upgrades aren't so drastic yet pointless and leave consumers greatly unfulfilled. They still have the choice of maintaining their "old" devices, but can still go head to head with the "newer" ones.
- D
- Damindra
- myV
- 14 Aug 2008
unsure if anyone has mentioned this one, but if you want it to pick up your corpoarate email via Exchange through a SSL connection, the phone does not support self signed certificates, basically most small to medium sized businesses that create their own certificates. You have to pay for a full authorative certificate from someone like Verisign or Thawte, usually an expensive buy. A major handicap when Windows mobile devices, symbian devices with mail for exchange (eg nokia E90) and blackberry's have no such problems!! Not a business phone!!
- ?
- Anonymous
- Rxc
- 14 Aug 2008
aNgelo G, 14 Aug 20085mp camera so what? It's good for taking random pictures, n... more"No one yet knowing a better phone?"
Sorry, I cracked. :D
Sorta self-defeating by showing your "blind" fanboy loyalty, doesn't it? Blind to the subpar camera, limited bluetooth, blah blah blah. Just say you like it (despite its obvious limitations) and be done with it.
- a
- aNgelo G
- kxJ
- 14 Aug 2008
5mp camera so what? It's good for taking random pictures, no camera phone on the camera is like a true camera. You want good quality, get yourself a Canon Rebel.
Yes the camera on the iphone sucks, but it shouldn't be a main selling point for a phone.
By the way, mega pixel is not what counts, but lens!
No one yet knowing a better phone?
- m
- max
- ibj
- 14 Aug 2008
Anonymous, 14 Aug 2008Not to mention that most appstore apps have been cracked.Ha... morenokia has 5megapixel auto focus camera phone...wat does ur stupid iphone has? oh yeah..2mp with no auto focus..picture quality is a crap.....
- ?
- Anonymous
- pqB
- 14 Aug 2008
Not to mention that most appstore apps have been cracked.Have u guys seen crash bandicoot on iphone compared with nokia?It looks incredible, almost nintendo/sony psp quality.Imagine the games that will come! Appstore has been up for one month or so and there are HUNDREDS of apps many of them super-high quality. The iphone really is the future! Where is the nokia touch screen ?Also itunes sync is amazing: MUSIC PODCASTS TV SHOWS MOVIES oh and ITUNES U plus audiobooks etc...and did i mention APPSTORE?Just watch Crash Bandicoot on iphone and die of jealousy nokia fanboys
- a
- aNgelo G
- 4x7
- 14 Aug 2008
I wonder how many of you actually have an iphone, so you can give your opinion about it. I had the ROKR E6, one my first touch screens, another Samsung slide phone, Nokia e61i, Nokia N82 and now iPhone. Up to now I have not found the perfect phone.
You people should stop complaining about the iPhone if you haven't tried it. As a phone, it does it job well. Yes maybe the reception is not as excellent as Nokia, but I never had any major reception problems. Music player: it's fabulous. No phone on the market is better and then the iphone. iPod is the number selling audio player in the world, so having it on a phone makes it just perfect.
The looks of the phone are great, but that really depends of your taste ( I have the first gen iphone... I don't like the plastic feel of the 3G)
OS is one of the best so far. It's fast responding, it works well and it's fun. It is missing some customizing features, but when you hack it you can do pretty much whatever you want. Apple didn't make life easy for us, but there is always a solution.....so stop complaining about mms, bluetooth and so on. You can use wifi or adhoc to transfer in between phones.
YEss I agree, this is not a revolutionary phone, but it has one of the best browser and OS interface so far. It also pushed manufactures like nokia, samsung and LG to do better touch screen phones.
One thing that I love about iPhone is that apple dominated the market with it's iPod, so you can virtually plug your iPhone anywhere. That is great!!!!
If you say that this phone sucks, give us good arguments. What phone has a large 3.5 screen, good responding OS, superb audio player, wide range of connectivity with all the stuff you have at home, good battery lifetime ( don't forget that the screen is huge, with great brightness and nice readability in sunlight) and so on???
In the same time, if you have any better phone to suggest, bring it to the table. Yes HTC has much more features, but it doesn't fit in your pocket, it's ugly as hell and has stupid 65k color ( I know it's because of windows mobile). Diamond looked nice at first, but lacks so much
I do wish Apple would include more known features, but they are playing it smart. Don't you guys remember when they came out with iPod? Always adding new features one by one so can dominate the market. Apple can create the perfect phone, but for what??? They won't make as many sells. Think about it...you make the perfect phone, you sell 100 million of them...then what?? Why not just make nice phones and gradually upgrade them. You force the market to follow you and you sell so much....at a point that no one will be able to compete.
I don't support that, but it's the truth.
My vision of the perfect phone:
3" or 3.5" screen
6h min of battery
a decent min 3mps camera with xenon flash...or even better the n82 camera :D
a good OS with a control manager....god I hate it when I have to quit an app to go to another one....Apple wtf!!!!
A sliding QWERTY keyboard... no Apple you keyboard is not as great as you say. It's fast, but cannot beat a physical keyboard
WIFI!!!!! god we are in 2008 how can you not add this to a phone... yes Samsung and Sony, this is for you
Gps would be nice, but it will never be as a REAL GPS
A good manager so you can customize everything in your phone. Create directories, move things around and so on...
I would say wait a year so 2 new iphone generations come and then the phone should be near perfect.
I would also check out Google's Android.... hopefully they can get a real Graphic designer to do their phone cause boy does Google suck in design. But I have to say that their OS looks promising. Most probably HTC will have it...
- i
- i-no-iphone
- nnW
- 13 Aug 2008
its quite amazing how big marketing makes ppl buy silly stuff.apple made huge marketing for iphone,n now u see crazy ppl buyin it!!the best thing iphone has is its revolutionary user interface,browser,sound quality n sunlight legibility!!!thats all,folks!!buyin this phone is waste of money,its crap n overrated!get real guys!
- T
- Turkish
- mCS
- 13 Aug 2008
i dont think i have seen that many disadvantages on a top end phone since the nokia 8800 series was released. not that i have a major problem with most of the basic features missing but if this is classed as a multimedia phone and trying to be sold like one... you would think at least they would have put on decent version of bluetooth rather then just the handsfree one.
worst of all i mean this really annoys me.... cant turn off predictive... right.... ya know all in all i think apple just created this phone with the idea
"hey guys i know lets make a really expensive phone but with no features, stick our logo on it and see hoe many morons buy it"
haha apple at there offices laughing with all the money they hace made from some lesser minded people
- Z
- ZEDAN
- mED
- 13 Aug 2008
iKids Phone
what is a blutooth without a file transfer?
what is a camera without video recording?
what is 3G without video calling?
..........
do u call this a phone??!!
- S
- Sekarnair
- p$K
- 13 Aug 2008
Hi all....
I woukd like to tell you one thing , that here in mumbai/india, it is the chinese phones which are selling like hot cakes,
mostly youngsters buy them,
they are cheap, less than 100$.
They come wit h touch screen,
great music player with bluetooth data transfer capability.
Apple iphone is priced at 700$ or above here in mumbai, it is like an expensive jewellary.
And there is no 3g happening in india for at least 2 years, therefore apple 3g is actually 2g in india...
Thanks to gsmarena review we now know the many disadvantages of this phone.......
- G
- Gunner459
- v}Q
- 13 Aug 2008
Nice phone,love to have one but so expensive and so much hype for just another phone,For India Apple's Tagline should be Twice the price and half the Speed.There is no 3g in India,then whats the hype for a 700usd phone!!!
- ?
- Anonymous
- w0Q
- 13 Aug 2008
whats with all the hype anyway? seeing so many cons-and thats not even all of it- makes me wonder why people still hype about the iphone. 3G? ok... thats not so great considering that there are many phones in the market that have 3G. it has a mediocre camera and no copy paste functions! its a real turn-off...
- ?
- Anonymous
- 0iT
- 13 Aug 2008
did you folks here about the secret kill switch inside iphone. apple can turn off and remove software from your iphone whenever they want. sorry for the caps, but i thought that was important to mention.
- ?
- Anonymous
- TRB
- 13 Aug 2008
Can anyone tell me how long does it take to Sync their iPhones?
It seems as if there is a problem with mine. Everytime it takes at least 8 minutes to do so.