iPhone 3G- jkOnTheRun first impressions
I’ve had the iPhone 3G in my hands for less than a day but as tradition dictates I’m offering up my first impressions of real world usage for your amusement. Granted my impressions will no doubt firm up as I use it in the workplace but here’s what I think as of right now.
MID first, phone second
My initial impression of the iPhone 3G is a very firm one. I find that using the iPhone 3G for very long drives home the point that the device is a web-centric gadget first and foremost. It’s a combination of how well web apps function versus how easy and intuitive they are to use. Surfing the web is a snap with Safari, it’s easily the best mobile browser the way it’s implemented. Couple that with the tight integration the iPhone has with the AT&T network and it’s a simple affair. I find it thoughtless to pick up the iPhone to check something quickly online, and that’s the mark of a well-designed interface that provides a good user experience. Working with email couldn’t be easier making the iPhone a true communications powerhouse. Sure it’s no Blackberry but I find for the most part it doesn’t need to be.
I have never considered the iPhone to be a Mobile Internet Device (MID) but my thoughts on that are rapidly changing. I am finding it super simple to check my RSS feeds using Google Reader (iPhone interface) and it’s already become my "go-to" device for doing that. It’s fast and easy to go through hundreds of items in a short amount of time, delving into individual items of interest as deeply as the mood strikes me. For those items I want to check out later it couldn’t be easier to "star" it for saving, just tap the star and there you go. Having Google Reader open items in detail inline also keeps everything easy to use and minimizes the need to refresh the screen making it even faster. I am very happy with the internet capabilities of the iPhone 3G whether it’s on WiFi or AT&T 3G. That smacks of a true MID to me.
I haven’t gotten quite comfortable with the MobileMe syncing yet. I did my initial sync with my MacBook Pro via iTunes and everything came over fine. All of my 3,000+ contacts were there on the iPhone when done just as they should be. I then set the iPhone settings to sync them via MobileMe and all of the contacts disappeared, something I need to research to see what happened. I simply turned off push contacts with MobileMe and resynced with iTunes and all the contacts came back. I think my problem is on the MacBook Pro configuration so time should see me get this straightened out.
The iPhone is working fine on the phone front, although it’s not the best phone I’ve used. Then I see a lot of evaluation phones so I don’t expect it to be the best. It performs OK, though, and pairing it with my Bluetooth headset was quick and easy, in fact I did that in my car after leaving the Apple store yesterday. Today I had a one hour 3-way conference call using the BT headset and everything worked as expected. I’ll reserve any further impressions of the phone functions until I’ve had a chance to use it more.
It’s all about the apps
The real strength of the iPhone 3G’s functionality definitely comes from the Apple App Store. I’ve already loaded about ten free apps and they work very well as a rule. Of course I installed Super MonkeyBall which I have to admit is a HUGE time-waster, albeit very cool. My favorite app is already eReader but that’s no surprise since I have been a long-time eReader user. Once Fictionwise adds the ability to buy books direct from the phone it will be absolutely killer.
ereader
Another free app that is absolutely killer is the Evernote app that allows remote access of your entire note collection from the iPhone. You can add notes as you go and they can be text, images from the web or even snapped photos. It make be the killer app on the iPhone.
Evernote
Twitterific is a pretty interface to your Twittering buddies to keep you up-to-date with your online friends. There’s nothing that special about it rather it’s an easy way to interact with Twitter. Plus it’s free. Another cool free app is the Mobile News app which does simply that. Pulls news to your mobile.
Twitterific
That’s it for now, I’ll have further observations over time but wanted to share these for you now. I am very pleased with the purchase so far.
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Hahaha! Another convert to the Holy Apple Cause!
Next, I predict you’ll buy a MacBook Pro!
Oh wait …
Having Exchange at my disposal I didn’t buy into the MobileMe thing. I can report, however, that it works perfectly with Exchange and the push feature works at least as well as with my Sprint Touch.
Overall, I like the phone and while I’m about 50/50 on keeping it, my reservations are apparently being addressed so patience is probably a virtue. However, data rates around here are abysmal. Maybe 1/3 the speed of Sprint’s network, at best. That should go up significantly in time but right now it sucks. Second, there’s no Slingplayer and I bought the Comcast MLB package specifically to watch via Slingplayer. I know one is coming…eventually….one day…but I’ve had it on the Touch since day one. I’m actually kind of surprised it wasn’t available when the App Store launched. I’d be a lot more into the iPhone if it had Slingplayer. Or even something that could play Orb. And finally, apps don’t run in the background…a major, major drag. I hear that’s to be addressed this fall but if there’s one thing I’ve learned over the years, it’s to never buy a phone based on what might happen in the future. I did that with the Sprint Mogul and what an ungodly piece of trash that turned out to be.
In the end, I might return the phone and cancel account and wait until fall to try again. Or I might not. Like I mentioned above, I’m on the fence about it. But that’s not to say it’s a bad phone, it’s just not what I’ve grown accustomed to.
Sounds like everything worked out for everyone. You got a neat new phone, and your wife got a manicure and a pedicure. I’d call it Even Steven.
:)
Thanks for the great comments. I’m much enjoying my 2.0 iPod Touch, but I’m tethered to the wifi. Your comments will help a lot in deciding whether or not to join the 3Gers.
I’m not a game player, but had to buy Monkey Ball for my kid. What a crackup…the whole game is controlled by the gravitometer (or whatever the correct term is). It’s great active fun and wonderfully colorful, and it downloaded directly to the iPod in a few minutes.
It going to be tough for Treo, Blackberry, Samsung, et al, to catch up when each Apple phone comes with a huge network of apps and content.
We’ll be interested to see how the 3G battery holds up with all the interesting things to do.
Al
Santa Monica
Here’s a secret I want to share about app store. If you have purchased one app you can install it to another device for free. see http://www.pimpmyumpc.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=64&Itemid=9
James, can you figure out how to connect to the fictionwise bookshelf instead of the ereader one in that ereader apps. It says it suppose to be able to, but I can’t find the place to do it.
Richard, I was told by fictionwise that is coming in a future version. Right now you can only connect to your ereader bookshelf I’m pretty sure.
Valto, I’m sure you’ll get caught, probably sooner than later.
I use the 2.0 iPod Touch and a Treo Centro. I find the Palm contacts and the one handed use while driving in California (mandatory ear piece). I have trouble sometimes using the ipod touch spelling. I am able to use the centro almost without looking. I find the Touch great(at Star$$$$$) when I do not need to utilize my Laptop.
I use the 2.0 iPod Touch and a Treo Centro. I find the Palm contacts and the one handed use while driving in California (mandatory ear piece). I have trouble sometimes using the ipod touch spelling. I am able to use the centro almost without looking. I find the Touch great(at Star$$$$$) when I do not need to utilize my Laptop.