The iPhone

[Avaj]

I think you would love it!!

 

[theogt]

Spend the extra money for the 3GS.

 

[WoodysGirl]

That upgrade, I'd assume, was the newer iphone 3G "s". Which is the one that costs $300+. It's the third generation iphone.

The one that I have, and that you can get from ATT for $50 right now refurbished is the iphone 3G (2nd gen)....its been good to me, and with the updates that automatically download from itunes, I just don't see enough improvement in the "s" model to justify its cost.

If I had the money to spend, I'd go with the new model, but it isn't like a completely different phone, so I didn't. I love the regular 3G.

Also, if yo go this route, listen to Danny White and get one of the iphone radio apps like Pandora. It's badass.

I love Pandora. Pandora just expanded their mobile compatibility. At first they were only available for a few mobile phones and iPhone, but now they're available for almost any phone.

1. Occasional random reboots. Not as frequent with the newest update, but I don't think they fixed the memory problem completely. Where if you don't push the "close" option on the BB menu instead of hiting back or some other button to close the app, the app remains in memory, even though you can't see it. So you eventually have a ton of apps running in memory. When driving, it can be difficult to navigate the Storm menu to push close. Much easier to hit the back button.

4. This just started happening with the newest release but when your phone is locked, when you either plug the charger in or take the charger out, the phone unlocks. So when you have the phone charging over night, you are rushing to get to work, so you uplug the charger and put the Storm in your pocket it unlocks and you never know who you could accidentally dial or what apps may be running. It should stay locked until I push the unlock button.

6. One of the most annoying thing is when you are text messaging and you go over the "160" character limit, the Storm prevents you from typing further and just say "field full". Yes, this is a limit for all Cell Phones, but it is my understand that with the iPhone, it will let you keep typing, but send "N" number of text messages (Example: If you type 480 characters, the person receiving the message will get 3 text messages in 120 characther blocks). Very annoying. Just checked and this hasn't been addressed on the latest upgrade.

Can you modify your messaging settings to change that function? I've got a pearl, but Blackberries pretty much run the same. I've installed the latest software update and haven't run across that issue. If I go over a certain amount of characters, it automatically starts a new message, and the receiver gets both when I hit send.

I had one big problem with memory and basically learned that I just need to save all my media to my media card instead of the device memory. After that, no issues. Basically what I was told re: memory is to make sure I had a certain amount of device memory available. So I check it occasionally to see how much I have in cache.

Re: lock/unlock. Have you put a password on your keypad lock? I know what you're talking about, but since mine has a password, nothing happens.

 

[Danny White]

I wonder where I got the $300 figure as the cost of the iPhone?

I went to an ATT store about 4 months ago to test drive the iPhone and he told me there was a huge update coming in July that would fix alot of issues.

I am going to go back to the ATT store tomorrow and just play around with the keyboard as I remember it being kind of hard to type.

I am very interested in Song ID, username/password tracking and Theatre information applications.

It would also be nice to find a nice calendar app that has great scheduling and reminder features.

I miss plugging my IPod into my car radio and someone at work told me that I could use the iPhone as an IPod, so that is a big plus.

Yes, I am going to get the "newest" model.

Am I understanding this correctly, I cannot play Youtube videos on the iPhone because it doesn't play Flash? If I "jailbreak" it, I will be able too?

Also, do we have any T-Mobile and/or G1 users in the house?

I just bought the 3Gs, got the 32GB model, and it cost me $299. I think that's pretty much the going rate for it. You can get a 16GB model for $199.

For Song ID app, you want Shazaam, but there are some others out there as well. The App Store makes it very easy to search for stuff like that.

Password tracking I've never tried, because I'm paranoid about having all my passwords loaded into something like that.

For theater info (and buying tickets) Fandango has a really good app.

In addition to the radio ones I mentioned, the separate Google App is one of my favorites. It has voice recognition, so you can say anything you want into the phone and seconds later the search results pop up. It's accuracy isn't 100% but is far far better than you might expect.

Not only can you watch YouTube vids on the iPhone, but it comes pre-loaded with an App that makes it as simple as pushing a button. It couldn't be easier.

For watching other Flash stuff, here's that video explaining how to do it that I mentioned earlier:

[youtube]321ueOiBw7s[/youtube]

 

[DIAF]

If you dont need a massive music library at your fingertips, i'd suggest going for the $99 iPhone 3G 8gb. That's what I did. I've seen the 3GS in action, and its faster but not 100-dollars-more faster. If your main draws to the iPhone are the data/apps/snazzy interface, then the older 3G makes more sense. Especially at 99 bucks.

 

[theogt]

If you dont need a massive music library at your fingertips, i'd suggest going for the $99 iPhone 3G 8gb. That's what I did. I've seen the 3GS in action, and its faster but not 100-dollars-more faster. If your main draws to the iPhone are the data/apps/snazzy interface, then the older 3G makes more sense. Especially at 99 bucks.

Disagree that it's not $99 faster, but I guess everyone places value on that differently.

 

[tomson75]

Disagree that it's not $99 faster, but I guess everyone places value on that differently.

I haven't seen the 3GS in action, but is it $149 faster?

I thought they were starting at $299...hence my recommendation of the $50 refurbs.

 

[TheCount]

Get an iPhone.

I've had one since the day they were released and it's the best phone I've ever had and I generally hate phones. I use it everyday for much more than just talking, so it really is a useful device even beyond the core functions of iPod and cell phone.

If I were you, I wouldnt waste money on the 3GS though, the only real difference is video and a faster processor, which I don't think justifies that it costs $100 more than the 3G.

 

[theogt]

I haven't seen the 3GS in action, but is it $149 faster?

I thought they were starting at $299...hence my recommendation of the $50 refurbs.

From tests I've seen, you're talking 20 seconds to open Safari and completely load a high graphics web page vs. 45+ seconds on the 3G. Or for some high powered apps, 5 seconds to load vs. 15-20 seconds.

To me, that's worth $149. To others it may not be. But I'm the type of personality that gets "road rage" when someone is driving 55 in a 60.

 

[tomson75]

From tests I've seen, you're talking 20 seconds to open Safari and completely load a high graphics web page vs. 45+ seconds on the 3G. Or for some high powered apps, 5 seconds to load vs. 15-20 seconds.

To me, that's worth $149. To others it may not be. But I'm the type of personality that gets "road rage" when someone is driving 55 in a 60.

That's pretty impressive. I'd love to have one, but I think I'll be skipping a generation barring any tragic mishap to my 3G.

 

[Maikeru-sama]

I'm at the att store now...they are so busy you have to sign in. Looks like this could
Be a $500 transaction..$300 for phone...$135 to get out of verizon contract and iphone
Accessories...have to make sure it is worth it.

 

[Dallas]

What a great iphone discussion thread. There is some very good advice for newbies in here.

I personally have tested my 3g against the 3gs we are getting in at my office. I do not see either being faster than the other. I know the 3g network doesn't run any faster on the 3gs than the older 3g.

There is a battery difference between the two. The 3gs initally had some issues w/ life but its been fixed looks like. They do last longer than the 3G.

The only thing I see being better is battery and size of data stores between the phones. I have the 16gb 3g and now Im preparing to buy the 3gs model. Size difference between the 2 being the only driving force for me right now.

If I were a new customer like it lookes Maik will be, I certainly would purchase the newer 3gs 32g like DW did.

 

[Dallas]

I'm at the att store now...they are so busy you have to sign in. Looks like this could
Be a $500 transaction..$300 for phone...$135 to get out of verizon contract and iphone
Accessories...have to make sure it is worth it.

I had to pay like 475 when I got my iphone. I had to buy out my old contract w/ a local carrier and then sign up w/ ATT.


Im glad I did. It's nothing like the nightmares I had w/ my old phone/carrier.


Good luck

 

[theogt]

What a great iphone discussion thread. There is some very good advice for newbies in here.

I personally have tested my 3g against the 3gs we are getting in at my office. I do not see either being faster than the other. I know the 3g network doesn't run any faster on the 3gs than the older 3g.

There is a battery difference between the two. The 3gs initally had some issues w/ life but its been fixed looks like. They do last longer than the 3G.

The only thing I see being better is battery and size of data stores between the phones. I have the 16gb 3g and now Im preparing to buy the 3gs model. Size difference between the 2 being the only driving force for me right now.

If I were a new customer like it lookes Maik will be, I certainly would purchase the newer 3gs 32g like DW did.

The internet speed isn't faster -- the processor is faster, much faster. When you place the two next to each other, it's very noticeable in just about everything you do. Pull up the Maps application and it's much much faster in 3GS. We're talking 2X and even 3X faster.

 

[Maikeru-sama]

I just bought my iPhone. I went with the 3GS w/ 16 gigs of memory. Every sales person in the ATT Store had 16 gigs and told me they have a ton of stuff on their iPhones and have not reached half of their memory usage, so I just went with that.

One thing I didn't understand is that there is an "Apple Store" and an "ATT Store". I went to the ATT Store and they basically told me for phone issues, go to the Apple Store which there aren't exactly that many.

Also, when I was driving home, when I tried to surf the Internet, it said "Safari couldn't connect to the Internet", so maybe I have to set something up? With the Storm, you just clicked Internet and you were on the Web.

I read something about you either had to choose a WIFI or it would connect to something called EDGE. So hopefully there is a setting to make it automatically figure out what to do.

Downloading the newest version of iTunes now, so I can start loading song onto the iPhone.

Although I am concerned about the keyboard, this phone is stupidly easy to use and just seems to all flow together.

 

[Maikeru-sama]

WG, the way the Storm works, when you press a "button", you are literally pressing the entire screen. I disabled the password option because it is difficult to type the password in while driving to make a phone call, so I just went with just clicking the button.

Question to all (ATT stores are closed now), if I don't have a WIFI, will I not be able to surf the Internet?

Another question, right now, when I try to surf the Internet, it asks me to select a WIFI connection. If I go ahead and select my WIFI at home, will it always try to connect to it from this time on?

Looks like my FIOS router is preventing the iPhone from connecting. Interesting...

 

[theogt]

It should automatically pick between 3G, Edge or if there's free WiFi available. You may have just hit a spot while driving where there was no signal.

You can surf the web without WiFi. And yes, it will automatically connect to your home WiFi from now on (with the password saved).

 

[Maikeru-sama]

I had to pay like 475 when I got my iphone. I had to buy out my old contract w/ a local carrier and then sign up w/ ATT.


Im glad I did. It's nothing like the nightmares I had w/ my old phone/carrier.


Good luck

Yeah, it turned out it wont be anywhere close to $500.

I'm already liking the feel of the phone. Once I get the Internet issues figured out, I will be good to go.

Go thing is, everyone at work has an iPhone, so there are a ton of people to ask questions.

 

[Dawgs0916]

It will automatically connect to the internet when you hit Safari, if you are in connection range.

It's only when you lose signal, which doesn't really happen very often unless your in like a locker room, or way out in the boonies, will it ask you to connect using Wi-Fi.

 

[Dallas]

Yeah, it turned out it wont be anywhere close to $500.

I'm already liking the feel of the phone. Once I get the Internet issues figured out, I will be good to go.

Go thing is, everyone at work has an iPhone, so there are a ton of people to ask questions.

Get Bump. Cool application. Bump iphones w/ a friend and it auto updates each contact list w/ the phone/person you just bumped.

Im using a new case now. I initially had the Griffin hardcase w/ a simulated leather back. It was nice in the beginning but then the leather skin started peeling away when the phone would get warm from talking to much on it. It was a sticky mess after that. Hated it so I went w/ a new incase hardcase gunmetal grey.

Love it.

You also might want to use the screen protector skins. They just peel n stick and are replaceable.

If you travel a lot like my son and I do, you might want to check out FlightTrack. It is an awesome flight info app.

There are some very nice free apps avail too.

You made a wise decision in going w/ the iphone. I don't think I know anyone who has switched over who is regretting that decision.