iPhone: real user feedback
Posted on Jun 30, 07 03:07 PM PDT
We bumped into an iPhone early adopter named Ron at University Coffee (Palo Alto) and discussed about his experience.
Unsurprisingly, he thought that the display was just beautiful. He was watching a video in landscape mode, and we could witness how smooth it was. But despite the size of the screen, the virtual keyboard is still far from being as good as a real one. Heavy blackberry users, you can forget about replacing your *real* QWERTY keyboard.
There was a detail that was not widely reported on (at least that I know of): the iPhone audio jack connector. It is so recessed that many non-Apple headphones won’t fit without the ugly adapter shown on the photo (a Belkin, apparently). It’s a faux pas, but it is financially smart: the ugly adapter costs an extra $10 or so. It’s not really a problem: if one has been waiting in line and battling the crowd to unload $499 or $599 after signing a pre-marital contract with Cingular – shelling an extra 10 bucks doesn’t seem so bad.
On the good side, WiFi users can rejoice: Ron reports that the WiFi functionality works really well. The phone is pretty smart at detecting and using available networks. It’s good because the old EDGE data connection that the device supports is weak – or/and lame (as predicted).
Ron thinks that the iPhone will be a commercial success even if it’s not yet the perfect phone (as predicted). Thanks Ron for sharing your experience with complete strangers.
Our sister-site Uberpulse has a video of Steve Jobs doing a field trip to the Palo Alto Apple Store conveniently located a few blocks from his house. check it out and feel the Apple love – without having to rub against hordes of sweaty fans (priceless).
Related links
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Legacy Comments
By gutenmter , 27/03/08 11:24 AM (CommentID #593056)
If you're an avid PS3 gamer, then you know the importance of saving your progress for future game play.
Pls, help me!
By camelcash , 05/12/07 4:33 AM (CommentID #384881)
The artisan flavors—The Earl, The Empress, The Standard and Oriental Rose— quickly became the best-selling cigarettes at the smoking lounge. Now these products will also be available at specialty tobacco stores, Web, phone, and other outlets for about $2 more than premium brands like Marlboro and camel.
Support includes print ads, created by Gyro Worldwide, Philadelphia, in alternative weeklies such as the Chicago Reader and Seattle Weekly, which hail the availability of Marshall McGearty cigarettes at select retailers.
By Wow Bob , 14/08/07 5:03 PM (CommentID #271608)
Oh and someone explain to me how to build a headphone jack that does not need to be modified and can still do the amazing things that the Iphone headphones can do? So please stop complaining that Apple screwed up on the headphone jack. The fact is there is no way to transmit the microphone and send a signal to pause or change the song through the headphones without modifying the jack a little bit. By the way the Iphone DOES support MS Word attachments, PDF attachments and numerous others. I'm gonna stop there but I could take up this whole page listing things the Iphone has that your phone doesn't. Oh and about the price this is actually the only Apple product I don't think is overpriced considering everything it does. Bottom line: no phone is better then the Iphone.
By Wow Bob Cowart! , 14/08/07 2:16 PM (CommentID #271507)
You say you are a computer book author? I won't be reading your book anytime soon. You don't have your facts straight. Iphone does have speakerphone. It also does have stereo headphones. Not only are they stereo headphones but while you are listening to music you can pause or change the song by clicking the button on the wire rather then reaching into your pocket. Oh and if someone calls while you are listening to your song the music turns down and you click the button on the wire to answer which also has a microphone so you can talk to the person with your headphones still in. After the conversation the music automatically starts up again. So you could go without ever taking off your headphones. How about the hundreds of things the iphone does that your phone doesnt like proximity sensors to darken the screen when the phone is up to your ear to save batteries? Or automatically adjusting the brightness of the screen depending on the lighting of the room you are in to save battery? Also, did you seriously say it doesnt have a big screen? LOL, its a lot bigger then yours. What about the amazing video quality? This is the first time I have been able to actually enjoy watching a movie on such a small device. You turn the phone on its side and can utilize the entire screen in widescreen. There is no better screen or picture on any other phone. The ipod portion of the phone has the most amazing interface ever. The ability to scroll through album covers with your fingers is amazing. It is like flipping through albums at a jukebox. Or what about the visual voicemail that you dont have to dial up. You just touch the voicemail you want to listen to out of your visual list of voicemails. Dont get me started on the incredible web browser and the ability to view full webpages. Oh and yes you can have multiple webpages open at a time. Or how about listening to music while surfing the web on 4 different pages. Can you turn your phone sideways while surfing the web and it automatically switches to widescreen mode so you can see more of the web? You may not like the keyboard but it is the fastest keyboard you will find once you get the hang of it. It has by far the best ability to guess the words you are typing. I am not too far from the speed I type on a computer. Maybe the software is only 98 percent perfect but how many other phones out there can be updated so easily? When the phone is plugged into the computer it checks for updates through Itunes. In the month it has been out it has already received one update which means the quality of the phone and programming are constantly going to get better. What about the battery? There is not a smartphone out there that compares to the iphone battery life. I phone may not have every feature out there but the ones it does have are 10 times better then any other phone by far. It is the future and there is nothing near the technology of Iphone right now.
By Quatermass , 01/08/07 4:40 AM (CommentID #259853)
That adaptor will destroy the sockets pins of the iphone if it's leaned on.
Big long stick is another name for a lever!
By aldric , 31/07/07 3:45 PM (CommentID #259362)
WM based devices is the way of the future. I have IPaq HW6955, have wifi, GPS, EDGE, bluetooth, thumb keyboard, mini SD card slot, battery lasts 3 or so days, 1.5mm jack which doesnt need an ugly adapter, just a CHEAP 1-2 buck adapter will do conversion just fine. Not to mention, it costs a few hundred dollars cheaper but with more stuff.
By DungeonX , 30/07/07 5:25 PM (CommentID #258322)
Like a 12 yearold needs a phone like that. :/
Spoiled little girl..
No, i really don´t want one myself. It´s cool and way ahead with it´s interface, but pathetic in features and it´s stupid webapp ways.
I want my apps on MY DRIVE not having to use EVERYTHING online.
Typical Bilderberg Group feature to spy on people.
Kiss Illuminati and the 33° asses if you want.
By Carlyn , 30/07/07 5:11 PM (CommentID #258315)
Hi I just got an Iphone and Im in love with it im only 12 but my dad said its a must have. I can chat w.friends ona im and you tube and stuff its totally fab.
By Hubert , 23/07/07 9:27 PM (CommentID #252441)
iPhone owners... what's the real battery life of your iphone?
By Ryan , 16/07/07 11:41 PM (CommentID #246812)
I see a lot of people ranting about how earlier phones had the same features, more features, better features and whatnot but the thing about the iphone is that its super easy to use the features. those phones are complicated and annoying. not pretty and inviting like the iphone. its like the drunk chick at the party, not the best but easy.
By Gael Dalton , 16/07/07 11:07 PM (CommentID #246771)
Thanks for info on the adapter. Any suggestions on where to buy it?
By Bob , 14/07/07 8:28 AM (CommentID #243661)
Excuse me, but once again, Apple's spin team seems to have bamboozled the public. My three-year-old AudioVox PPC 6600 from Sprint does so much more than the iThing that it should be embarrassing to Apple. Dial the phone by voice (to any of my 2500 contacts), using Voice Command. This along will prevent the car crash that will save me thousands of dollars. How about integrated video cam and voice recorder? Physical keyboard, huge screen, voice recorder, built in MS Word and Excel? Easy over the air syncing with Outlook? Touch screen. Bluetooth. WiFi is easily addable with SD card. I have a 1G SD card in it now. Plays video and MP3. OK, no hard drive, but with a 4G card, that's a lot of MP3 music anyway. Stereo sound in headphones. Speakerphone. I use this PPC as a word processor using a Bluetooth fold up keyboard from Think Outside. The Verizon version of the PPC 6600 has high-speed broadband WITHOUT having to find a WiFi spot. How about handwriting recognition? The PPC has that too. Just write on the screen longhand, and itturns it into typed text. Believe me, the iPhone is no draw for me. The MS mobile platform is superior, even if a tag buggy.
Bob Cowart
Computer book author
www.cowart.com
By Bryan , 13/07/07 7:17 AM (CommentID #242342)
Iphone is wack I do not see a whole lot of 'innovation' I used to play with my ipaq 3765 and Linux familiar opie/gpe all kinds of apps, games, pdf, minimo/embedded opera.. video (lil slow .. damn arm proc) but it was still cool for the time. I never got GPRS/GSM working with a pcmcia card but I think the card was locked. Anyway, I did get sip working. My point is I did almost as much on a much older piece of hardware than apples new iThing. The main prob that makes iphone sucks is Apple not realeasing a SDK. Of course their not ATT dont want people having VoIP apps...iphone = marketgeering .. its very unfortunate considering it is nice hardware.. I am taking my $700 elsewhere...
By ninjatickets , 08/07/07 11:51 AM (CommentID #235883)
I have a video review of the iphone on my blog. blog.ninjatickets.com
By zee12 , 01/07/07 7:08 PM (CommentID #228285)
Perfect? The iPhone is the most perfect phone available at this time. Blackberry all you want. I'd prefer to have an elegant UI, an iPod etc. in a truly integrated and natural package everyday of the week. As usual it is another great addition to a line of great devices that has dominated functionality, usability and style for the last decade.
By Hubert , 01/07/07 6:43 PM (CommentID #228263)
Oh and my buddy Robert just reminded me: the iPhone is the only modern cellphone in the USA that does not support MMS. Not that I'm a big fan of MMS, but isn't that weird?
By ficelle , 01/07/07 3:21 PM (CommentID #228144)
salut Hubert
si tu as l'occasion d'en croiser un prochainement, fais nous une petite photo avec safari et l'accueil streambox ;)
By Hubert , 01/07/07 1:22 PM (CommentID #228026)
Ficelle said that he was expecting more critisism from this post.
Ficelle, I reported what I saw, and even though I criticise Apple when I think it's right, I'm not a mac-hater.
I think that our January post (follow the -as predicted- link) says pretty much everything. No big surprises.
By ficelle , 30/06/07 3:50 PM (CommentID #227015)
lol, elle a mis du temps à venir, cette première réaction à chaud !
je m'attendais à plus critique... déçu ;)
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