Comments on: Better Late than Never to the iPhone Party http://blog.scotsnewsletter.com/2007/11/02/a-little-late-to-the-iphone-party/ Operating systems. Broadband. Issues. Reviews ... tech info you can use. Wed, 15 Oct 2008 02:11:00 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: Comter http://blog.scotsnewsletter.com/2007/11/02/a-little-late-to-the-iphone-party/#comment-211 Comter Thu, 27 Dec 2007 22:01:47 +0000 http://blog.scotsnewsletter.com/2007/11/02/a-little-late-to-the-iphone-party/#comment-211 One of the things that I'm looking forward to is the software updates to Bluetooth functionality (which is currently limited to headsets). Bluetooth connectivity will allow for an external keyboard (which is one of your gripes) and an external GPS unit, two of the largest complaints about the current incarnation of the iPhone. Updating Bluetooth (which would just be a software update) would fix quite a few problems and hopefully something will be mentioned about it around the time that Apple releases the iPhone SDK. I'm still on the hunt for an all-in-one device that will allow me to replace my current suite of car gadgets: GPS (Garmin Nuvi 350), mp3 player/FM transmitter (Nokia 770 running Kagu), and car monitoring software (another Nokia 770 running Carman and Bluetooth Car Computer connection). While the iPhone could currently replace the mp3 player aspect, the other two devices could be replaced by the iPhone with the proper Bluetooth protocols and software. One of the things that I’m looking forward to is the software updates to Bluetooth functionality (which is currently limited to headsets). Bluetooth connectivity will allow for an external keyboard (which is one of your gripes) and an external GPS unit, two of the largest complaints about the current incarnation of the iPhone. Updating Bluetooth (which would just be a software update) would fix quite a few problems and hopefully something will be mentioned about it around the time that Apple releases the iPhone SDK.

I’m still on the hunt for an all-in-one device that will allow me to replace my current suite of car gadgets: GPS (Garmin Nuvi 350), mp3 player/FM transmitter (Nokia 770 running Kagu), and car monitoring software (another Nokia 770 running Carman and Bluetooth Car Computer connection). While the iPhone could currently replace the mp3 player aspect, the other two devices could be replaced by the iPhone with the proper Bluetooth protocols and software.

]]> By: nhr2000 http://blog.scotsnewsletter.com/2007/11/02/a-little-late-to-the-iphone-party/#comment-201 nhr2000 Wed, 19 Dec 2007 15:24:21 +0000 http://blog.scotsnewsletter.com/2007/11/02/a-little-late-to-the-iphone-party/#comment-201 Verizon has come out with a IPhone wannabe, the LG Voyager. Have you looked at this? In New York, Verizon is clearly the best network so I'm stuck with products compatible with their network. Verizon has come out with a IPhone wannabe, the LG Voyager. Have you looked at this? In New York, Verizon is clearly the best network so I’m stuck with products compatible with their network.

]]> By: Toonhead http://blog.scotsnewsletter.com/2007/11/02/a-little-late-to-the-iphone-party/#comment-141 Toonhead Fri, 07 Dec 2007 18:47:56 +0000 http://blog.scotsnewsletter.com/2007/11/02/a-little-late-to-the-iphone-party/#comment-141 I know I'm a minority here. I just can't justify the price of the iPhone at least as of this writing. You're basically paying for a phone that's limited to AT&T for your phone service, (I do realize there are ways around this with hacks), but I just don't believe the hype. Plus for me personally, a whole lot of the iPhone's features would be impossible for me to use since I'm visually impaired. The touch-screen interface just isn't going to work for someone like me, no 2 ways around it. So even if I wanted to use one, I couldn't, not without a lot of modifications. Apple really does need to rethink things and at least try to make their products somewhat usable for folks who don't have working eyes. Maybe they could incorporate a smaller version of Voiceover into the phone so it would speak what's on the screen? Trust me, if I knew I could purchase a phone with a built-in screenreader that would make me a lot more open to the idea. But for now, I'll stick to my regular phone. Again I know I'm definitely a minority here so my opinion doesn't match with everyone else's. But that's how it is for me. I know I’m a minority here. I just can’t justify the price of the iPhone at least as of this writing. You’re basically paying for a phone that’s limited to AT&T for your phone service, (I do realize there are ways around this with hacks), but I just don’t believe the hype. Plus for me personally, a whole lot of the iPhone’s features would be impossible for me to use since I’m visually impaired. The touch-screen interface just isn’t going to work for someone like me, no 2 ways around it. So even if I wanted to use one, I couldn’t, not without a lot of modifications. Apple really does need to rethink things and at least try to make their products somewhat usable for folks who don’t have working eyes. Maybe they could incorporate a smaller version of Voiceover into the phone so it would speak what’s on the screen? Trust me, if I knew I could purchase a phone with a built-in screenreader that would make me a lot more open to the idea. But for now, I’ll stick to my regular phone. Again I know I’m definitely a minority here so my opinion doesn’t match with everyone else’s. But that’s how it is for me.

]]> By: GailLA http://blog.scotsnewsletter.com/2007/11/02/a-little-late-to-the-iphone-party/#comment-112 GailLA Fri, 07 Dec 2007 00:11:47 +0000 http://blog.scotsnewsletter.com/2007/11/02/a-little-late-to-the-iphone-party/#comment-112 Thanks Scot, for your great analysis of the iPhone. I got my iPhone to the day that you first wrote this entry. I've never owned anything Apple before including an iPod. I have ripped every CD I own, and bought additional downloadable music at iTunes and Amazon. I am totally loving this thing! I agree about the typing. I'm not about to write a research paper on this, but for occasional texting and brief e-mails when I'm away from my desk, it works just fine. Reading news and other surfing is working just fine for me on Edge. Having You Tube is good for "anytime" entertainment, as long as I have Web access, which is about anywhere I can get an ATT signal. Being female I do have smaller fingers, but the keyboard is still a little difficult to get used to. Still, I've never owned anything quite as well put together and nice as this phone. It really feels like the having the world in your pocket, or in my case, pocketbook. Thanks for sharing your thoughts. Thanks Scot, for your great analysis of the iPhone. I got my iPhone to the day that you first wrote this entry. I’ve never owned anything Apple before including an iPod. I have ripped every CD I own, and bought additional downloadable music at iTunes and Amazon. I am totally loving this thing!

I agree about the typing. I’m not about to write a research paper on this, but for occasional texting and brief e-mails when I’m away from my desk, it works just fine. Reading news and other surfing is working just fine for me on Edge. Having You Tube is good for “anytime” entertainment, as long as I have Web access, which is about anywhere I can get an ATT signal.

Being female I do have smaller fingers, but the keyboard is still a little difficult to get used to. Still, I’ve never owned anything quite as well put together and nice as this phone. It really feels like the having the world in your pocket, or in my case, pocketbook. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

]]> By: LabCzar http://blog.scotsnewsletter.com/2007/11/02/a-little-late-to-the-iphone-party/#comment-106 LabCzar Thu, 06 Dec 2007 21:35:15 +0000 http://blog.scotsnewsletter.com/2007/11/02/a-little-late-to-the-iphone-party/#comment-106 Scott Now that you are seeing why crazy people like me love the iPhone, why not buy The iPhone Fully Loaded by Andy Ihnatko. I made the error of buying some "Missing Manual" and "for idiot" type books with my iPod. Not so good. But Andy's book really has lots of useful stuff and shows you how to do stuff that you don't find on the Apple Web site. http://tinyurl.com/2hnnxk Scott Now that you are seeing why crazy people like me love the iPhone, why not buy The iPhone Fully Loaded by Andy Ihnatko. I made the error of buying some “Missing Manual” and “for idiot” type books with my iPod. Not so good. But Andy’s book really has lots of useful stuff and shows you how to do stuff that you don’t find on the Apple Web site.
http://tinyurl.com/2hnnxk

]]> By: Scot http://blog.scotsnewsletter.com/2007/11/02/a-little-late-to-the-iphone-party/#comment-67 Scot Fri, 30 Nov 2007 12:24:29 +0000 http://blog.scotsnewsletter.com/2007/11/02/a-little-late-to-the-iphone-party/#comment-67 One downside I would add to the negatives about 3G is that AT&T only offers it in major urban centers, and it's pretty spotty. So it may not matter to some of us. Also, what I've found is that in the two places I use my iPhone the most -- home and work -- I have access to solid Wi-Fi networks, and so don't need the 2.5G EDGE network. OTOH, the benefit of posting this a few days later than you, now that the cat's out of the bag that Apple is intending to ship a 3G version of the iPhone sometime in 2008, does that change your point of view? It doesn't change mine. If they ship it in January, it might anger me a bit. But I doubt it'll ship before the middle of the year. One downside I would add to the negatives about 3G is that AT&T only offers it in major urban centers, and it’s pretty spotty. So it may not matter to some of us. Also, what I’ve found is that in the two places I use my iPhone the most — home and work — I have access to solid Wi-Fi networks, and so don’t need the 2.5G EDGE network.

OTOH, the benefit of posting this a few days later than you, now that the cat’s out of the bag that Apple is intending to ship a 3G version of the iPhone sometime in 2008, does that change your point of view? It doesn’t change mine. If they ship it in January, it might anger me a bit. But I doubt it’ll ship before the middle of the year.

]]> By: rich http://blog.scotsnewsletter.com/2007/11/02/a-little-late-to-the-iphone-party/#comment-64 rich Wed, 28 Nov 2007 02:42:36 +0000 http://blog.scotsnewsletter.com/2007/11/02/a-little-late-to-the-iphone-party/#comment-64 fyi... Interesting post on why the iPhone doesn't need 3G: http://www.seekingalpha.com/article/49988-why-apple-s-iphone-doesn-t-need-3g In a nutshell higher bandwidth on a cell phone does not necessarily equate to a better user experience. Time will tell on the numbers. Took a look at the gadget show link, hope the tv show was more thorough than the post. No offense intended but the web post wasn't what I'd call a review. Usability is huge for me and no other phone I've had comes close overall. While text input isn't optimal, its usable and considering no other phone I've ever had is this easy to use (no manual) It's worth the cost of entry to me. Rich fyi…

Interesting post on why the iPhone doesn’t need 3G:

http://www.seekingalpha.com/article/49988-why-apple-s-iphone-doesn-t-need-3g

In a nutshell higher bandwidth on a cell phone does not necessarily equate to a better user experience.

Time will tell on the numbers.

Took a look at the gadget show link, hope the tv show was more thorough than the post. No offense intended but the web post wasn’t what I’d call a review. Usability is huge for me and no other phone I’ve had comes close overall. While text input isn’t optimal, its usable and considering no other phone I’ve ever had is this easy to use (no manual) It’s worth the cost of entry to me.

Rich

]]> By: Malcy http://blog.scotsnewsletter.com/2007/11/02/a-little-late-to-the-iphone-party/#comment-60 Malcy Sun, 11 Nov 2007 17:46:47 +0000 http://blog.scotsnewsletter.com/2007/11/02/a-little-late-to-the-iphone-party/#comment-60 The iPhone has just been launched in the UK and appears to have been a resounding flop. I read an article in the Register which had aggregated some of the launch stories: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/11/11/iphone_uk_flop/ We have a TV show in the UK called the Gadget show and last week they tested the iPhone against it's main rival the Nokia N95: http://gadgetshow.five.tv/jsp/5gsmain.jsp?lnk=401&featureid=454&pageid=937&show=s7e1&section=Features They came to much the same conclusions about data entry and the surfing experience as you have. The N95 won fairly easily because of this and also because it has 3G which has widespread availability over here and has a seriously higher bandwidth. The iPhone is also a large amount of money (£270/$540) when we are used to getting handsets either free or at minimal cost with our phone contracts (including the N95). I won't be getting one but I am looking at the iPod touch which seems to have all the iPhones good points as a multimedia machine. The iPhone has just been launched in the UK and appears to have been a resounding flop. I read an article in the Register which had aggregated some of the launch stories:

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/11/11/iphone_uk_flop/

We have a TV show in the UK called the Gadget show and last week they tested the iPhone against it’s main rival the Nokia N95:

http://gadgetshow.five.tv/jsp/5gsmain.jsp?lnk=401&featureid=454&pageid=937&show=s7e1&section=Features

They came to much the same conclusions about data entry and the surfing experience as you have. The N95 won fairly easily because of this and also because it has 3G which has widespread availability over here and has a seriously higher bandwidth. The iPhone is also a large amount of money (£270/$540) when we are used to getting handsets either free or at minimal cost with our phone contracts (including the N95).

I won’t be getting one but I am looking at the iPod touch which seems to have all the iPhones good points as a multimedia machine.

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