iphone advice

[robbie]

Me and the missus want us some iphones. Never had one. What do I need to know, apart from how not to hold the new one?

[Dom]

They're expensive, they have sub-standard hardware, you'll be tied into iTunes, it's a pain in the bum to develop apps for them now thanks to Apple, and there's no Flash support.

There's a million and one other things wrong with them too, but it's too early on a Monday morning for me to be ragequitting.

[net-curtains]

I bought the previous model about a month ago.

Pluses:

Even though I'm in the middle of nowhere and won't get 3g, the 2g signal is fine for browsing and email.

iTunes sounds better than my iPod

Loads of free apps, lots of useful stuff available.

The phone is nice to use, and the speaker clear.

I can use the sound recorder for field recordings, it's as good as any minidisk or DAT I've used.

Good selection of paid apps, and well priced.

No problems with battery life, though it's new so I'm sure it'll decrease.

Video is good quality for a phone.

Minuses:

Being tied to iTunes, which is a pile of crap.

Took ages to set up, due to problems with the above.

Camera isn't great, but I've already got a good camera so it's not an issue (though this has been improved on the new model)

Email software is basic (though this might have been improved in the new OS)


Overall I'm extremely happy with it. I had a good deal and had a free upgrade from 16 to 32gb, so plenty of storage. I was worried about buying so soon before v4 but pleased I did now as I don't really need any of the new features and certainly wouldn't have wanted to pay an extra £150 for them.

For me it earns it's keep - I use it for work, and for keeping in touch with clients via phone/messaging and email it does the job very well.

I'd recommend it.

[Matt]

I hate itunes, but I think I have only ever used it 3 times with the iphone, once to activate, and then iOS updates.

I wouldnt give my iphone up, its much more then a phone, and for everything I want it to do, it does it well.

[sarahA]

Probably the best phone I've had. We took them out on a business contract with O2 and on a lower cost tariff than what we were paying combined on Vodaphone. The first 3 months savings (in free line rental which we happened to get, plus the monthly saving) covered the cost of the two phones. We now save £30+ a month on what we used to pay out. Never really had a problem with coverage except when in the middle of the peak district or out in the sticks.

As far as the phone goes, plenty of free apps and being a tight bum I've only paid for a couple and found everything else I wanted for free. It means I can shut my laptop off at the end of the day and leave it in the office and just check on email, twitter etc. via my phone downstairs, giving a much more relaxed evening plus giving my laptop a few hours break! The phone is easy to use, very robust (I keep dropping it). I've been doing my current 365 just on the iPhone using a specific camera app (pretty cheap) which just means I can capture each day as it goes and am pretty happy with the results. The camera for a phone camera is very quick, quicker than most compacts too.

I've got the 3GS and to be honest unless you want the new features I'd maybe look at one of those as you'll find them a lot cheaper now as they're not the newest on the block.

Once you've activated the phone via iTunes, I don't really feel that you're tied to iTunes except for backing it up and upgrading software (which isn't exactly often). I've not had iTunes installed for 3 months since formatting my computer and only put it on to upgrade to the new OS. You can buy apps and music straight via the phone, and back up photos taken via My Documents (on Windows) so it's not like you need to be running iTunes 24/7 (which can be a bit resource hungry although never really found a problem with it myself anyway except for it's ever increasing size).

Definitely worth shopping around to get the best deal and see who you can play off each other as the companies are now all in competition with each other, and as I say, I reckon you'd get a good deal on the 3GS if you're not fussed on the new features (but I'm sure someone with a new one will say otherwise )

[Matt]

Tesco are offering 12 months Iphone 4 contracts: http://www.tescomobilepaymonthly.com/iphone-deals/

[Dom]

Despite my hate for them, the iPhone (especially the new one) does look nice, and it's very easy to use. They've used the touch-screen idea to great effect, and aside from the limited (or complete lack of) multitasking, it's a nice phone to use.

But that aside, it's just not worth paying all that money for. I know a couple of people here have pointed out the negatives of the phone (such as the rather poor camera) and then said "but I don't mind as I don't use it/want it/ got an alternative anyway", but for the money you pay for it, you should want everything to be perfect. That's what I don't understand about iPhone lovers - they seem to point out that the phone has one or two negative points, and then make excuses for them, like it's OK to charge £600 for a phone that you can't hold in your left hand properly. The mind boggles! If I pay £600 (or even £300) for a phone, I expect £300 worth of phone. But maybe that's just me.

Angry Birds is a great app though. If you haven't played it, do so.

[Matt]

Despite my hate for them, the iPhone (especially the new one) does look nice, and it's very easy to use. They've used the touch-screen idea to great effect, and aside from the limited (or complete lack of) multitasking, it's a nice phone to use.

But that aside, it's just not worth paying all that money for. I know a couple of people here have pointed out the negatives of the phone (such as the rather poor camera) and then said "but I don't mind as I don't use it/want it/ got an alternative anyway", but for the money you pay for it, you should want everything to be perfect. That's what I don't understand about iPhone lovers - they seem to point out that the phone has one or two negative points, and then make excuses for them, like it's OK to charge £600 for a phone that you can't hold in your left hand properly. The mind boggles! If I pay £600 (or even £300) for a phone, I expect £300 worth of phone. But maybe that's just me.

Angry Birds is a great app though. If you haven't played it, do so.

Very few people on here have paid outright that amount for the phone (in fact mine is completely free ;0) and it does have a few minor flaws - but until you have one and use it, you just wont get it - I used to think the same!

Also for the record, you can multitask on the 3GS and Iphone 4 - you can also do it opn the normal 3g if its jailbroken.

[net-curtains]

I know a couple of people here have pointed out the negatives of the phone (such as the rather poor camera) and then said "but I don't mind as I don't use it/want it/ got an alternative anyway", but for the money you pay for it, you should want everything to be perfect.

The camera isn't that bad on the 3gs. If I'm off on a photo jaunt then I'll take a dedicated camera, but if I haven't got a camera with me it's fine for snaps.

As Sarah said, it's great to be able to switch off the laptop/PC in the evenings yet still have access to email and the web if you need it. I could probably have bought something cheaper, but the touch screen and usability is superb. I love the keyboard, even with my giant mits it's easier to type on than a normal phone keypad. So when on holiday a couple of weeks ago I could check my email, reply to enquiries, field the odd support call, and login to my web accounts. As a result I got a couple of new jobs which has paid for the cost of the phone.

One of the 'extras' that attracted me was the number of music making apps available, so I've downloaded most of the synth/sequencer things available for fiddling with in my spare time.

At the end of the day though you need to see if a product is going to match your requirements and budget - there's plenty of alternatives, but for me the quality and usability of the iPhone make it work the extra few quid.

[Shirker]

Despite my hate for them, the iPhone (especially the new one) does look nice, and it's very easy to use. They've used the touch-screen idea to great effect, and aside from the limited (or complete lack of) multitasking, it's a nice phone to use.

But that aside, it's just not worth paying all that money for. I know a couple of people here have pointed out the negatives of the phone (such as the rather poor camera) and then said "but I don't mind as I don't use it/want it/ got an alternative anyway", but for the money you pay for it, you should want everything to be perfect. That's what I don't understand about iPhone lovers - they seem to point out that the phone has one or two negative points, and then make excuses for them, like it's OK to charge £600 for a phone that you can't hold in your left hand properly. The mind boggles! If I pay £600 (or even £300) for a phone, I expect £300 worth of phone. But maybe that's just me.

Angry Birds is a great app though. If you haven't played it, do so.

I was extremely skeptical and dismissive of them but when it was time to replace my old N95 I decided to give the iPhone a go and haven't looked back once. Went from a 3G to a 3GS a few months ago and to be honest the difference seems to be tiny - its a wee bit snappier but the difference between the two is small.

[Mr Anderson]

The camera on mine is perfectly fine and works how I want it to (there's no such thing as a perfect camera, and definitely not a perfect phone camera, just ones that do what you want/need them to do). The phone multitasks and there's a ton of useful apps (something missing from other phones I've used despite what the adverts try to say). I also have no issue with iTunes as I actually like it and use it as my default player

I've had other smart phones but what I have now is 'better' (for me).

[sickpuppy]

(in fact mine is completely free ;0)

No contract, no minimum term?

One thing I miss with mobiles these days is the battery.
I could take my old Nokia 6210 on holiday for a week and not need to take the charger with me. My Palm is lucky to last a day.

[Dom]

Very few people on here have paid outright that amount for the phone (in fact mine is completely free ;0) and it does have a few minor flaws - but until you have one and use it, you just wont get it - I used to think the same!

Also for the record, you can multitask on the 3GS and Iphone 4 - you can also do it opn the normal 3g if its jailbroken.

I have used one plenty of times, which is how I know that they're easy to use and quite fun to play on. It's also why I know I won't be shelling out for one. Perhaps I just don't use my phone as much as other people do anyway, which makes it even more pointless for me to get one.

Also, I don't consider their "minor flaws" to be minor considering the price you pay for the phone. It's true enough that the iPhone 4 costs £599 for the 32Gb model (on Pay As You Go, I assume) and that contract users get it much cheaper, but only if you sign up for another 18- or 24-month contract. In the end, you still pay through the nose, which in my opinion, just isn't worth it.

The camera isn't that bad on the 3gs. If I'm off on a photo jaunt then I'll take a dedicated camera, but if I haven't got a camera with me it's fine for snaps.

As Sarah said, it's great to be able to switch off the laptop/PC in the evenings yet still have access to email and the web if you need it. I could probably have bought something cheaper, but the touch screen and usability is superb. I love the keyboard, even with my giant mits it's easier to type on than a normal phone keypad. So when on holiday a couple of weeks ago I could check my email, reply to enquiries, field the odd support call, and login to my web accounts. As a result I got a couple of new jobs which has paid for the cost of the phone.

One of the 'extras' that attracted me was the number of music making apps available, so I've downloaded most of the synth/sequencer things available for fiddling with in my spare time.

At the end of the day though you need to see if a product is going to match your requirements and budget - there's plenty of alternatives, but for me the quality and usability of the iPhone make it work the extra few quid.

Well as you know from owning an N95 (which is over 3 years old now) the camera is nowhere near as good as it could be for a new phone. I don't take many pictures myself, and I too have got a dedicated digital camera, but if that's the case, why would I want a phone with a camera at all? In my opinion, they should either build a decent camera into the phone (which is what you pay for, at those prices) or not bother at all.

Some of the apps are great, as I mentioned before. But as far as using them "in your spare time" goes - I don't have any. I've had a phone that's been able to run Ovi Store apps since forever... and I've never used any of them. Which again, means I don't really need to fork out for a phone like the iPhone.

Don't get me wrong - I love the UI. It's the one saving grace of the phone. And as much as I hate the other OS's on phones these days, a fancy touchscreen just doesn't justify the spend in my case. I think it's a case of hype, fanbois, and advertising, and the results you get don't warrant the price of the phone.

I was extremely skeptical and dismissive of them but when it was time to replace my old N95 I decided to give the iPhone a go and haven't looked back once. Went from a 3G to a 3GS a few months ago and to be honest the difference seems to be tiny - its a wee bit snappier but the difference between the two is small.

Well that's one of the other things I don't like. It's now on it's 4th iteration, and the iPhone is still playing catch-up, in terms of features and hardware (but mostly hardware). I can understand it not having the best hardware when it first came out, as it's the unique UI and ease of use that were the selling points. But after three years, the novelty has worn off, and it should really have better hardware. As you say, there seems to be very little difference between iterations.

The camera on mine is perfectly fine and works how I want it to (there's no such thing as a perfect camera, and definitely not a perfect phone camera, just ones that do what you want/need them to do). The phone multitasks and there's a ton of useful apps (something missing from other phones I've used despite what the adverts try to say). I also have no issue with iTunes as I actually like it and use it as my default player

I'm not a fan of iTunes. It's bloated and unecessary, and that's coming from an amateur DJ who consumes a LOT of music. If anyone would have a use for it, it would be me, but I can't stand it. I also don't like it trying to shove QuickTime down my throat.

One thing I miss with mobiles these days is the battery.
I could take my old Nokia 6210 on holiday for a week and not need to take the charger with me. My Palm is lucky to last a day.

Another gripe I have (with a lot of phones, not just the iPhone). I remember when a phone lasted for ages, and even now, my N95 still lasts a few days without a recharge. The fact is, I don't use/check my phone for a few hours at a time sometimes, but I'd like to know it would still be on when I did! I can't be arsed with checking the battery and charging the phone every night... it'll just be yet another thing to do, and another inconvenience if I forget to do it.

Also, the comment about "being able to switch your PC off and still check your email" from earlier - my phone allows me to do that as well. The Gmail app is fine and does what I need it to, so I don't need an iPhone for that. Plus, my PC is on 24/7 anyways.

[Matt]

Your obviously not going to listen to people who have one and are happy with it Dom

When we were looking for the right phone, I had about 5 different ones from o2, we didnt want iPhones - but they are the best out there, what other phone is better then it?

I used to be the same, but using it everyday its just a great bit of kit, and I think the upgrade from the iphone4 from my 3g will be worth it.

@sickpuppy - work pay for it

[Dom]

Maybe I'm just being stubborn.

How does the HTC Desire compare to the iPhone, just out of interest? I haven't used an Android phone, but I hear good things about it.

[samhs]

My own view on this is that once you go to iPhone, most people are really happy with it. It doesn't attempt to compete on having the latest hardware or highest specification - in most cases at least - Apple don't bother telling you how much RAM its got because actually that's not important. The user experience, user interface and phone performance is what is important. Once you spend a week with one you come to understand that. I was also a complete skeptic before getting one, but I won't change now because it offers the best usability, least hassle and most functionality that suits me out of all the phones I've ever had.

I've just upgraded to an iPhone 4 from a 3G (not 3GS) and I'm currently loving the super-high-resolution screen, video recording and editing on the phone, facetime which works flawlessly etc. I didn't upgrade to a 3GS because it didn't offer enough of a performance improvement over what I had to make it worthwhile. You know they're doing something right when your non-techy sister goes out and gets one, or your mum does - and that's where the iPhone is at. I can't recommend it enough

[robbie]

Thanks all. Useful advice as always. You've convinced me it's a good idea.

[Dom]

Oh dear.

[Charisma Bypass]

Don't get stuck on price.  One mans expensive is another mans cheap.

For me, my iPhone would be good value at 5 times what I paid for it - it's allowed me to work smarter, which means more time for me. 

Also it has an App to tell me when the tide is going to be good to get on the board, that alone is worth a couple hundred quid a year in fuel savings (ie, not going to the beach to find it's as flat as a pancake).

[samhs]

I was worrying that was you disappeared off cornwall over the w/e Burt - glad you're still alive

[sickpuppy]

Apple don't bother telling you how much RAM its got because actually that's not important.

They don't tell you because they believe their users are a bunch of dribbling imbeciles who'd have a heart attack if they so much as saw a circuit-board.

Apple don't want to spoil the "magic" with how things work in much the same way the church doesn't spend a lot of time discussing Jesus eating or going to the toilet.

[samhs]

You're right, in an extremist-style. Apple recognise that consumer electronics are all about the consumer experience, not the tech specs. My mum couldn't care less what type of processor or ram there is - she just wants to know if she can get her email, make a phone call and take a photo, or play solitaire, check in to her flight, or read an article etc etc. Tech specs are only interesting to techy geeks, who the phone isn't really aimed at - it's a consumer device that happens to work well enough to appeal across the broad spectrum.

[slaughteredlamb]

Personally speaking I LOVE the iPhone and honestly couldn't imagine not using one now which was something I didn't expect. When I bought the iPhone 3G I bought it because I have a very long daily commute and was carrying with me my phone, a Sony PSP (to watch films and play games on) and occasionally my iPod to listen to music. The iPhone meant I could do all of that in one AND be able to surf the Internet and not just useless WAP sites as well as pick up my e-mails both at home and at work via an Exchange server. All of which made buying the iPhone a no brainer. What I didn't expect was what a difference it would make, even I hate the ads but there really is an App for everything and I now have several that I really wouldn't want to be without and rely on heavily everyday.

The actual Phone parts of the iPhone I don't really use and aren't that interested in, I mean I've had my iPhone for around £15 months and I think I've made/received 2 possibly 3 phone calls on it but I do text 2 or 3 times a day. Because I use the phone so little there was no need for me to go onto a contract seeing as on Pay & Go I can put on £20 and it'll last me 2-3 months and that is why I actually bought my iPhone 3G outright. Yes it did cost a fortune, yes it was really more than I could afford BUT it was honestly worth every single penny. Do I care that the camera on the 3G is not that good? Not really, the camera on my old phone was worse and I only ever use a camera phone for snap shots so I don't need or expect high quality images. Do I care that the battery life on the 3G is poor? Yeah a little but it's really not that big a deal. Watching videos, surfing the net, e-mails, games etc for 180mins a day will kill the battery which is what I do every day on my commute. So I charge my phone at work during the day and then again when I get home. At the weekend when I'm not using the phone so intensely I don't really need to charge the phone at all. Yes I do want the battery life to be better and I would love it to go back to the old days when a single charge would last all week but the old days had phones that couldn't do anything like what the iPhone can do.

I so love the iPhone that despite the fact that I make so few calls I'm seriously tempted to upgrade to a Contract just to get the iPhone 4 as I cant afford at the moment to buy an iPhone 4 outright!

In fact does anyone know if/how you upgrade with O2 from Pay & Go to contract with the iPhone 4 or are you just treated like a new customer?

[net-curtains]

I think it's a case of hype, fanbois, and advertising, and the results you get don't warrant the price of the phone.

It's obviously not for you, but you shouldn't dismiss those who own one and are happy with their purchase as 'fanbois'. I'm about as far from an Apple fabboy as you can possibly get, I hate their computers and OSX, but in this instance the hype is justified. It's very well designed and works beautifully, and to be honest it's not that much more expensive overall.

I bought mine solely from a business point of view, using my head not my heart, and for me it's represented good value for money.

[Dom]

I don't have a business use for my phone, and at work, the company pays for the phones. It may well turn out that we all get iPhones, but I won't be paying for one.

To be honest I don't agree with the prices that firms charge for phones these days anyway. I remember the good old days when a brand new 3210 would cost 70 whole pounds! £70 I can handle, but hundreds... nah.

[spannaa]

How does the HTC Desire compare to the iPhone

The HTC Desire is a fantastic piece of kit and it does everything an iPhone does.
With Android 2.1, it's fast but, when Android 2.2 is released, it'll be even faster.

I picked mine up free on an £25/month 18 month contract with a free month and £30 cashback from Quidco.

Total cost of ownership: £400 - the same as if I'd bought it PAYG!

[Dom]

Blimey, sounds like a winner. And Android is developed by Google, so I'm slightly biased and leaning towards it.

I've never had a contract phone, would you believe! I've never really had the need for one, and my PAYG SIM gives me 300 free texts a month for £10 anyway (on top of the £10 credit of course) but I'm tempted to see what all the fuss is about.

Where did you buy your Desire from? And were you an existing contract customer? I've heard contract noobs get a raw deal...

[spannaa]

I Bought it from buymobilephones.net (via Quidco) on T-Mobile as a new customer.

[Matt]

Blimey, sounds like a winner. And Android is developed by Google, so I'm slightly biased and leaning towards it.

I've never had a contract phone, would you believe! I've never really had the need for one, and my PAYG SIM gives me 300 free texts a month for £10 anyway (on top of the £10 credit of course) but I'm tempted to see what all the fuss is about.

Where did you buy your Desire from? And were you an existing contract customer? I've heard contract noobs get a raw deal...

If you are not on a contract and want to take one out, you usually get a better deal!

The HTC Desire (and its other latest models) are nice phones and good alternatives, but everything you say about the iphone and apple could be put into your statement there that your like google android and it does everything the iphone does! (Just not, imo, as well)

[Dom]

...but everything you say about the iphone and apple could be put into your statement there that your like google android and it does everything the iphone does! (Just not, imo, as well)

Erm... wait, what?