About To Be Assimilated

[filkertom]

My god, I'm seriously thinking about getting an iPhone.

Discuss.

Comments

[sarutobe.livejournal.com]

Plants Vs. Zombies is on iPhone, but if you get that, get the 3GS phone. The fact that the framerate chugs on my 3G is about the only thing I don't like about the portable PvZ.

[filkertom.livejournal.com]

Actually, I have it on my iPod. Plays quite decently. But, yeah, the larger screen would help. Bluntly, my reasons for getting the iPhone would be at least twofold: [1] having a decent phone that won't completely fall apart, and [2] credit-card-processing apps, of which there are several and looking way better on the rates than CD Baby is these days.

There are also a few very cool music apps that use voice, and it's simply easier to get a phone rather than a Bluetooth headset that's compatible with the rather truncated list the iPod will accept. Coulda sworn part of the appeal of Bluetooth is, y'know, working with other Bluetooth....

[wingus.livejournal.com]

Whatever you wanna do, man.

Though if you do, will you do a sequel song to "iDon'tCare" called "iGaveIn"? ;)

[filkertom.livejournal.com]

Very possibly.

[drzarron.livejournal.com]

I'm an Touch user, so I love the aps, the form factor. The iPhone is an okay phone, but the PDA aspect shine.

If you can swing the data package price, you're in good stead.

[filkertom.livejournal.com]

That is a big if, though. It won't be immediately in any case.

[hughcasey.livejournal.com]

I have an iPhone, and since getting it in July it has turned into my indispensable companion.

Like most people, I'm not THAT impressed with ATT, but it's coverage for the places I need to be is adequate.

The device itself, though, is easy to use, is AMAZINGLY intuitive, and has so many apps that I feel like I've got a freakin' TRICORDER. (The day they offer an app that lets me scan for life-forms, my life will be complete!)

There ARE some issues, of course. You can ONLY get apps through iTunes, unless you decide to jailbreak the phone (which carries it's OWN risks). The phone/data plan is kinda pricey. And, as mentioned, ATT. However, if those aren't serious issues for you, then I'd say go for it.

[nimitzbrood.livejournal.com]

This.

I love my iPhone despite the limitations. The apps man! You just can't get away from the apps! :-)

Two things:

1) Get a screen protector for it. It won't save it if you drop and shatter it but it will prevent everything else.

2) Whatever carrying case you get for it make DAMN sure it latches completely. I have a belt pouch for it that has weak velcro and more than once I've found my iPhone lying on the seat of the car or on the couch, etc.

[atalantapendrag.livejournal.com]

I've known two people with iPhones. One totally loves it, has a ton of (free) apps, and is always playing games on it. The other loved and raved about his at first, then started having trouble with AT&T coverage and got a Droid instead.

[dadandgirl.livejournal.com]

I'd suggest to anyone who is considering an iPhone to look at the Droid instead. I love mine, and it's a constantly useful tool. Not only have I been able to find an app for every function I've wanted my Droid to do, usually there are a selection of apps to choose from, and 90% of them are free.

[loosecanon.livejournal.com]

A few things I hate about my iPhone;
The battery is not easily replaceable. My last phone outlasted 4 batteries, I hate planned obsolescence.
There are no arrow keys on the keyboard. I have to scrub a whole word to correct a single letter.
The camera is awful. There is no control over it whatsoever. Better none than one this poor.
It seems to work by heat sensors. Gloves render it useless. I have resorted to my nose at times.
Battery life is apalling. I use a 4 AA cell booster. At least there is one available
As with most touchscreen phones, the writing window is tiny.
Can't change font size while typing, for tired eyes

Lots of good things about it, really. I love mine, but it is not perfect.

[mg4h.livejournal.com]

I believe this fix should work across all iPhones, if not, I'm sorry.

I have to scrub a whole word to correct a single letter.

If you put your finger over where you want to move the cursor to, and hold it there for a second or three, it will magnify and highlight the words you are typing, and you can move the cursor to the offending letter. Then backspace, edit it, and move it again to the end of where you were typing to continue.

It seems to work by heat sensors.

It actually works on capacitance, where the touchscreen determines where you are pointing by the fact that your skin can transmit a very (VERY) small electric current. Gloves over a certain thickness will keep this from happening, yes. Fabric under a certain thickness, won't. I've accidentally hung up by putting my active phone in my pants pocket, screen side in. My pants pockets are pretty thin, enough to "touch" buttons.

[ldyerzsie.livejournal.com]

We have AT&T on our current cell phones--not iPhones--and we have decided that we will get iPhones when we can get them on Verizon. As soon as this contract runs out--it was NOT AT&T when we started it--we are changing to Verizon. That's what we have for the cells at work and they have coverage in seriously BFE Indiana. In fact that's the company most of my Ohio country-folks family has because AT&T doesn't cover where they live. Check the coverage maps versus where you plan to travel, it might make a difference.

If it weren't for the whole AT&T thing, we would probably have iPhones.

[catsittingstill.livejournal.com]

I couldn't afford the monthly fees for an iPhone and got an iPod Touch instead. I had needed a new PDA for more than a year, and the guy at Radio Shack said they didn't make them anymore; everyone was going to smartphones. And I thought, "Oh yeah, I can afford that--a PDA you have to *ransom* every month. I'll go back to paper first."

Then I found out that an iPod Touch could do most of the things a PDA could--and wham it went on my birthday/Christmas wish list.

I *love* the Touch (I got the second gen one). I use it all the time. The timer for cooking, the alarm for getting up in the morning, Stanza for reading free e-books under the covers, 4 track for recording song ideas when I'm caught out without my Zoom, Calendar and Contacts for the usual.

Sometimes I even listen to music or podcasts on it.

It might be worth looking into whether you *must* have the actual iPhone to handle credit cards or whether a Touch could save the transaction until you're in wifi range again. Most hotels have wifi, after all.

In my experience the phone part is more cheaply handled by a pay-go phone anyway. Of course, I don't use my cell much, so maybe the AT&T plan is a better deal for you.

[filkertom.livejournal.com]

You might have just undercut one of the reasons for getting it. Cannot brain, have dumb. Of course the transactions could be sent in later by WiFi.

Hm. Still want to be able to use a couple of vocal apps, though. Like VoiceBand.

[unclelumpy.livejournal.com]

Might not be so bad. Just don't go overboard.

[aiela.livejournal.com]

I've never had an iPhone, but I love my Droid, and since you travel a lot you might want to look at AT&T's 3G coverage vs. Verizon's 3G coverage.

Other than that, I think it's basically platform wars and you shoudl go with whatever makes you happy.

[jenrose]

I'd sooner get one of those snazzy little netbooks you can actually type on. Probably cheaper in the long run. Then again, my cell phone is not an integral part of my existence.

[rivkaesque.livejournal.com]

Well, I think it depends on what you think of the planned obsolescence/poor coverage vs. the apps you need. I'd check if a different smart phone platform has the apps you need - perhaps an Android phone? I went with the first gen (g1) and was highly underwhelmed, but I understand they're much better now.

[redaxe.livejournal.com]

My sympathies. I gather that the Nexus One and the Droid don't cut it, then.

[wrenn.livejournal.com]

Well... I'm with T-Mobile and I FINALLY changed to a 'driod phone yesterday. I'm surprised you haven't heard the SQUEE from here (2 year contract came up last month). I was surprised, when I went to the data package, which included unlimited text and data (and so dropped off the messaging package of unlimited text) my monthly phone bill will only go up $17 a month. I'd expected it to be higher. I've been busily customizing the toy. :)

Keith adores his IPhone, he's a unrepetant phone fondler. I, however, wanted a 'real' qwerty keyboard, so was heading droid no matter what. My oldest brother has worked for AT&T and now works for T-Mobile (in a line engineer/hardware/cell sites, etc. capacity), and I asked him a lot of questions about the phones. He keeps both his IPhone and his newer droid, utilizing both services, and said they both have their appeal. He was also a bit leery about AT&T, and, yeah, well, they laid him off over a year ago, but his issues with them were that they have cut far back on their infrastructure support, and that's not a good idea.

Given that what you do, however, that credit card app would be extremely useful.

[allandaros.livejournal.com]

At least your Borg implants will be shiny white plastic.

[smoooom.livejournal.com]

Well, I love my i-touch, it's way better than the palm that died. i-phones up here are way expensive, and I don't really feel the need to be in touch 24/7 any way. But the apps. There really is an app for every thing. You need either a touch or a phone. And since you guys get way cheaper phone rates go for the phone. And look at the apps. Look at all the way cool geeky guitar apps, really, there are some really really cool ones. I don't usually go on about technology but I do in this case. You need an I-phone.

[filkertom.livejournal.com]

Like I said, I've got an iPod. It took awhile to get used to it, but I am definitely finding useful and fun apps. And it's much, much easier to lug around than a laptop. The question basically comes down to: Is it worth it to get the iPhone contract? That's what I'm going to have to look into. AT&T is already -- well, not exactly gouging me, but there are... annoyances. Mostly based on their corporate bullshit. Customer Service is usually great, which is a point in their favor.

[mg4h.livejournal.com]

So, yeah. It's expensive. The data plan and the minimal minutes per month is expensive. Some people have trouble with the range, but so far it's worked everywhere I care about (aside from a 2 mile stretch in nowhere-VA). It's ATT.

However, it's a fun phone, it has lots of useful apps, and the credit card reader is definitely a plus. I would suggest you wait a bit, however, because if that's one of your major reasons, it's fairly new and I am myself waiting to see if they get regulated out of existence.

And also, yes - if you can still do it with the Touch, it's much much cheaper. Instead of having to pay the monthly data fee, at worst you have to pay $20 for the hotel wifi, or find the nearest coffee shop with free wifi to download things.

[valkyrwench.livejournal.com]

I've had my iPhone for two and a half years. Eventually, I'll upgrade to the 3G, but I have to tell you, I'm so in love with my iPhone. It's my brain. It keeps my appointments; addresses and phone numbers are just a touch away; I throw on headphones, and it's an iPod when I walk; I can read my Kindle books on it if I'm absolutely desperate; Twitter; Facebook; Amazon; websurfing; tons and tons and tons of apps. I've never had a problem with AT&T coverage, although that may be an artifact of living in the Dallas metro area.

[stormsdotter.livejournal.com]

My partner has both an iTouch and a Droid.

The Droid works better as a phone, and Verizon has MUCH better nationwide coverage than AT&T. Plus, you don't have to deal with iTunes and their DRM bullshit. (My office used Macs. I loved every aspect of the machines and wanted to kill iTunes.)

If you want a cell phone, get a Droid. If you want apps and a decent PDA, you can get an iPhone, but the Droid does those too.

The only reason I didn't buy one is becuase they won't fit in women's pants pockets. I got the Rock, which I really think should be called the Vader. :)

[alverant.livejournal.com]

No Tom! Stay good! Stay good!

Think about what you REALLY need and if there's a cheaper way of doing it. Do you REALLY want to get trapped in a monthly payment plot? Does it have the range you require? Isn't it REALLY just a flashy toy that will become obsolete while you're still paying for it?

[solarbird]

I have a very, very early, secondhand, first-generation unaltered/un-battery-replaced iPhone. It runs the newest OS, every current application (that doesn't require GPS, since it doesn't have a GPS), and the battery is just fine. I don't understand this "planned obsolescence" thing that people keep throwing out there. OMG replacing the battery is SOOOOOOOO HARRRRRRRRRRRRD!!1! What the fuck, people, we're geeks! Cowgirl up and pop open the case!

[strredwolf.livejournal.com]

I have the iPhone 3G since they introduced it, and I'm waiting for what Evil Stevie (Jobs) will pull out for it's upgrade. I've been very happy with it.

That said, check the pricing and coverage. I have a minimal plan (lowest minutes, set amount of text, unlimited data) and pay $75/mo for it. I'm in the Baltimore/DC corridor; AT&T's got the 3G data service around all major cities and is pushing out more coverage in heavy-use areas. I get very good coverage where I'm at. (Compare T-Mobile, where I get 2-3 bars; Verizon, where I loose international traveling; and Sprint, where I loose signal and customer service)

For some of the apps, Plants v. Zombies plays very well on the original 3G. Heavy action does make it skip frames, but it does that on older laptops and netbooks.

You will need to tweak the settings a bit. If I keep the Wifi and Bluetooth on, I'll only have 4 hours of battery. Turning them off lets me get through with 9 hours of battery. Adding a Morphie Juicepack adds a bit of a cushion for me (something I'm holding off on buying a replacement pack until I buy the new iPhone).

[jannyblue.livejournal.com]

If AT&T has good coverage where you are (or is at least adequate to your needs) then it's a good idea. Everyone I know that has an iPhone loves it. The only serious complaints I hear are call coverage areas and lag-time when browsing.

If you are concerned about screen-size and/or typing on said screen, you may be better off with a Verizon Droid. The screen's bigger. Also it has a slide-out physical keyboard, which the iPhone does not.

Please note: I've been with Verizon for almost 10 years and have had very good experiences with them, so I am biased. Also, I totally want a Droid, partly because it comes with a free turn-by-turn GPS app powered by Google maps including their real-time traffic volume overlay option.

[autographedcat.livejournal.com]

Once you have an iPhone, you'll never look back. (Looking back is highly overrated, anyway.)

[redaxe.livejournal.com]

Boys of Summer should never look back.

[eleri.livejournal.com]

I like my Eris better than the iphones I've fussed with *shrug*

[banjoplayinnerd.livejournal.com]

I'm afraid I won't go anywhere near an iPhone so long as they are tethered to AT&T. I'm still massively unhappy at them for diverting the Internet through their offices so the government could go trolling for terrorists -- a tactic known not to work and is an invasion of privacy and the Fourth Amendment besides, not that that stopped them.

I will grant they're cool and all, but I just don't want anything to do with AT&T.

Unfortunately I may be hosed anyway. I have a WinMo6 phone and the word now is that Windows Phone 7 or whatever they're calling it will NOT be backward compatible with WinMo6, so there go all my games and apps.