My two cents on the iPhone

By Mr. Gibs
in Hardware Hangout

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Pablo2008jedi

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For the past 3 months I've been researching into what new phone to get. Much like the OP I narrow down what I really need/want in a device then search around to see wha tis out there.

1) Must be touch screen

2) Must have a good web browsing experience

3) Have plenty of cheap/free apps

Now looking at want I want I started narrowing it down. WinMo, Android, WebOS, Apple OS, nokia prity much all the phones out there :p

So I want something finger friendly as I want a touch screen...throws out WinMo.

I don't like the look of the Palm Pre and not too sure about WebOS (I have tried it) so that's a goner.

Left with Android and Apple.

Android is new, still maturing. Only one device really stand out and that's the HTC Hero. Great reviews, nice screen does everything I want.

...so conclusion? I'm getting an iPhone :p

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Gary2MBz

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Pabs(Sco), you are lucky in your country you don't have terrible GSM like we do. T-Mobile here doesn't have much coverage and AT&T is so overloaded, they won't fix it and we have to live with dropped calls and SMS coming in wayyy later than when it was sent. I'd rather have an iPod Touch/phone combo than an all-in-one with a bad network. From some people I met on a cruise as well going to Mexico, the Canadian folk describe similar with Rogers and Bell so yea we in North America suck when it comes to mobiles.

Android does look nice but the iPhone is more popular which is in better in the sense that sites are made for mobile Safari and they are amazing. Others like us WinMo, WebOS, Android, Symbian, and Blackberry users are left with a chitty mobile version with not much multimedia support. Sure we have flash but these sites are still too plain as mobile.

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bobbba

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For those complaining about Apple's approval process and restrictions for the app store, please check out MS's forthcoming Market Place for Windows Mobile. It will have an app kill switch and it will have an approval process, so where's the difference?

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Pablo2008jedi

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Pabs(Sco), you are lucky in your country you don't have terrible GSM like we do.

O2 aren't that great too, their data network has suffered problems over the past few months. But since wife works for O2 I get a discount I won't switch carriers.

Enthusiast

Brendando

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I don't get why you started a topic. Is it because it bothers you that iPhone is doing so well and yet you don't like it, so your justifying this by seeing if others agree with you?

It's just that's the way it looks. Because all your arguments about the lack of multiple forms of the iPhone, or licensing the iPhone OS- they are at complete opposites to the whole idea of the iPhone in the first place; hardware and software integration offering higher quality. What your asking for is to make the iPhone or the iPhone OS as generic as anything else; it's the hardware and software cohesion that has made it so successful and special in comparison to the rest of the market.

What it comes down to is, if your this against the closed ecosystem that the iPhone offers, then it isn't for you. There's no need to justify this decision; I don't see why you feel bad about the fact that iPhone doesn't suit you. As you've said yourself there are tonnes of other phones and OS's out their, any of which seem to be more suited to you based upon the opinions you've voiced. I hope your happy with whatever you get, that's the most important thing; in the last quarter, Apple sold 7.2 million iPhones- they obviously make these people happy.

Good luck :).

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Gary2MBz

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O2 aren't that great too, their data network has suffered problems over the past few months. But since wife works for O2 I get a discount I won't switch carriers.

Find her a job at VodaFone, I hear from relatives in Europe they are decent but prove me wrong if they are not.

Grand Master

peacemf

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I have my iPhone on vodafone and find it can be patchy with data sometimes too

data is really messed up in the uk, with 02 i cant get a proper signal for data in my living room! but with vodafone in europe i can get superb data in basement! (no austrian basement jokes please!!!)

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Pablo2008jedi

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But to get back to the point the reason why I choose the iphone is:

1) I don't need multitasking

2) I don't need to "theme" my phone, a wallpaper is just fine.

3) Apple demand how the developers design their apps meaning there is consistency through out the UI.

4) The OS, much like the Mac (and I don't own one), is designed particular for the hardware. (i.e. no inconsistency between chip-sets meaning less buggy)

5) More general support for the iphone (iplayer, tvcatchup)

6) And flash isn't a big issue for me.

Grand Master

DukeEsquire

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Oh I am so sorry for expressing my opinion. I was just giving my two cents on why I didn't like a certain product, didn't know it had to conform to your quality standards, or to the way you saw things..

What's wrong with me expressing my opinion about how your opinion is unreasonable?

Apple's entire marketing angle with the iPhone is that is has an awesome touchscreen and no keyboard. If you want a keyboard, get a different phone.

I never said you can't express your opinion, I'm just saying your opinion doesn't make any sense. If you just wanted to rant about something and not actually look for help, I think you should have posted on Soapbox instead of here. The whole point of Soapbox is to just give your two cents and rant, whereas this sections is more about finding help and discussing a topic. If you don't want people to push back on your opinion, then maybe don't publicize them.

You seem to be taking it rather personally that not everyone agrees with you.

I'm just saying that the iPhone is not the perfect device for everyone, including you. If you find it doesn't meet your needs, then--maybe--don't buy an iPhone.

Grand Master

Subject Delta

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3) Apple demand how the developers design their apps meaning there is consistency through out the UI.

Nope, it means Apple can ban apps that cut into the networks prophet margins, and compete with any of their own apps, and basically anything else for any random reason they choose. Apple like to try and convince people they do it to improve the quality of the apps but they really don't ;)

Collaborator

PhillAholic

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This Debate is not unlike every other debate. iPhone OS vs. Andriod vs. Blackberry or Windows vs. OSX vs. Linux. If one were perfect we wouldn't be having these discussions. I own an iPhone 3G, and for the most part enjoy it, but I can't say it's the perfect phone. There are things that both Apple and AT&T do that drive me crazy. But I understood that going in, and everyone should. Apple isn't hiding anything. Your getting their phone, with their OS. Your going to be able to get Apps from their store. If that's not for you, check Android out. Your going to have to wait a lot longer to get a large majority of the useful apps because unfortunately Android is very new and up until the release of the Hero fairly limited in availability in the States.

That being said, Android has one fatal flaw. Because it's open, there are forks in development and certain aspects aren't going to be available on all Android phones. Take the HTC Hero's Sense UI which I personally think is awesome. It's not going to be available for G1 owners. Though both phones are Android they aren't the same. And these kinds of things are only going to get worse.

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OOOOOOOO

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My thoughts ... I have an iPod touch ... I agree with the limiting nature of the iPod ... I mean ... no desktop wallpapers?! WTF! It's annoying! That said ... the iPod is VERY intuitive and I love it in many ways. But the fact it is that limited is definitely irritating.

Grand Master

Mr. Gibs

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That being said, Android has one fatal flaw. Because it's open, there are forks in development and certain aspects aren't going to be available on all Android phones. Take the HTC Hero's Sense UI which I personally think is awesome. It's not going to be available for G1 owners. Though both phones are Android they aren't the same. And these kinds of things are only going to get worse.

Really now? http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=563294

Xda-dev pretty much has ported every app there is to other phones.

Phones that didn't have touchflo 2d/3d, now do. G1 can use the sense ui or the motoblur ui. Hero can use the motoblur ui.

Winmo 6.5 has been ported to pretty much every winmo phone. And when winmo 7 comes out, you can be sure it gets ported too.

Android is being ported to windows mobile phones as we speak.

edit: maybe port isn't the right word, but you get what I mean

Veteran

bob_c_b

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Nope, it means Apple can ban apps that cut into the networks prophet margins, and compete with any of their own apps, and basically anything else for any random reason they choose. Apple like to try and convince people they do it to improve the quality of the apps but they really don't ;)

Nonsense on many levels, but you are always spouting anti-Apple bile.

Grand Master

Mr. Gibs

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Nonsense on many levels, but you are always spouting anti-Apple bile.

Explain why these were blocked then:

- Skyfire

- Google voice

- Bing maps (previously known as windows live maps)

- Qik

- The original sling app that could use 3g

- Netshare

- Podcaster

And I'm sure there's tons more.

Yes the appstore does help to improve the quality of the apps, but that's not the only reason it exists.

Veteran

bob_c_b

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Explain why these were blocked then:

- Skyfire

- Google voice

- Bing maps (previously known as windows live maps)

- Qik

- The original sling app that could use 3g

- Netshare

- Podcaster

Duplication of features or excessive strain on ATT networks. Both ATT and Apple have every right to control and profit from the iPhone and overall the only people who think this is an issue are non-iPhone owners trying to feel good about their decision. Just use another phone and stop complaining, it's not like you don't have plenty of choices.

Grand Master

Mr. Gibs

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Duplication of features or excessive strain on ATT networks. Both ATT and Apple have every right to control and profit from the iPhone

Skyfire does so much more than just duplicate safari. It runs flash/quicktime/silverlight. And everything is rendered on a server, compressed and then sent to your phone. So less strain on networks.

Google voice, don't see any duplication or strain here?

Bing maps - So having 5 GPS applications for iphone isn't considered duplication, but having a map program thats similar (and at times better than google maps) is?

Sling - Sure it can cause strain, but then again winmo/symbian/palm/blackberry works fine on 3g and at&t allow it to run.

Netshare - Tethering program, I can see why at&t would request to block it

Podcaster - Similar to the itunes podcast program but runs better.

As for duplication of feature, theres tons of GPS programs that all do the same thing, tons of iFart programs that all do the same thing. Those all get allowed.

As for me not being an iphone owner, go check page 3 and I'm sure you'll find your answer.

EDIT: Sorry qik is available on the iphone now, and allows you to use 3gs. Was first banned, then apple allowed wi-fi only and recently allowed it to work on 3g too.

Edited by /- Razorfold
Mentor

zagor

Posted
Posted (edited)
Duplication of features or excessive strain on ATT networks. Both ATT and Apple have every right to control and profit from the iPhone and overall the only people who think this is an issue are non-iPhone owners trying to feel good about their decision. Just use another phone and stop complaining, it's not like you don't have plenty of choices.

Why do you think apple has every right to do whatever they want with Iphone? Apple does not own it, you own it. And there are a lot of things that apple is doing which works against customers' own interest and benefit. Why do people prefer being screwed because it benefits apple? As a customer, if there is something to my benefit, I want it. If there is anything that is against competition, I am against it.

I am an iphone owner, and I want google voice on my iphone. I want to be able to access music subscription services. and more..I don't give a ** about apple's profits...and neither should you, unless you own apple stock..

Edited by zagor
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OOOOOOOO

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Why do you think apple has every right to do whatever they want with Iphone? Apple does not own it, you own it. And there are a lot of things that apple is doing which works against customers' own interest and benefit. Why do people prefer being screwed because it benefits apple? As a customer, if there is something to my benefit, I want it. If there is anything that is against competition, I am against it.

I am an iphone owner, and I want google voice on my iphone. I want to be able to access music subscription services. and more..I don't give a ** about apple's profits...and neither should you, unless you own apple stock..

Erm. Apple owns the licence on every last bit of code installed in the OS of the iPhone. So therefore, while you may own the metal and glass the iPhone is made of, you don't own the software. You are entitled to use that licence.

That said ... I agree about Apple being restrictive and I think other features should be allowed ... if they don't cut into profits ... ie: Firefox etc ... why can't that stuff be?

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