First iPhone Review from Walt Mossberg

[MacRumors]

The Wall Street Journal's Walt Mossberg has posted his review of the Apple iPhone.

Mossberg and Bohret tested the iPhone for two weeks in multiple usage scenarios and in various cities:

Our verdict is that, despite some flaws and feature omissions, the iPhone is, on balance, a beautiful and breakthrough handheld computer. Its software, especially, sets a new bar for the smart-phone industry, and its clever finger-touch interface, which dispenses with a stylus and most buttons, works well, though it sometimes adds steps to common functions.

Some highlights:

- largest, highest resolution screen of any smart phone they've seen, most internal memory
- Impressive battery life and thin
- Feels solid
- Regarding the touch keyboard: "After five days of use, Walt -- who did most of the testing for this review -- was able to type on it as quickly and accurately as he could on the Palm Treo he has used for years."
- Can't use T-Mobile SIM cards
- Wi-Fi capability doesn't fully make up for the lack of a fast cellular data capability
- Multitouch: "effective, practical and fun"
- No way to copy/paste text
- Microsoft's Exchange system support
- Voice call quality was good, but not great
- Can't record video
- No Adobe Flash support
- Songs can't be set as ringtones

Apple says it plans to add features to the phone over time, via free downloads, and hints that some of these holes may be filled.

[A Pittarelli]

not that mossbergs review holds any real weight due to his bias, but a good sign none the less

[johnee]

guess i'll read it even though i don't like the iphone

[diamond.g]

Wait, did he say it doesn't have a SIM card? And we can't use our own music as ringtones?? Bummer.


Slightly concerned about the lack of searchable contacts. Far faster to type some of a name than to have to look through a list.

[dietwater5]

i wonder if you can use bluetooth to make your own ringtones. thats what i do now with my slvr7. i edit an mp3 and selecet the part i want as the ringotne then send it to my phone bluetooth then set it as ringtone. i bet youll be able to with the iphone

[L3X]

can't copy/paste, that sucks. Also, no songs as ringtones...that's idiotic. That's like the first thing i would have done.

[joemama]

Originally Posted by L3X

can't copy/paste, that sucks. Also, no songs as ringtones...that's idiotic. That's like the first thing i would have done.

Exactly! That's a reason not to buy it right there. I mean, the thing IS an iPod too, and no music as ringtone?!?!!?!?!? That is the first thing most teenagers will try and do.

Yawwwn. Rev B.

[nicdel]

Originally Posted by L3X

can't copy/paste, that sucks. Also, no songs as ringtones...that's idiotic. That's like the first thing i would have done.

It's not that idiotic if Apple plan to sell ringtones through the ITMS!

Now if they do decide to do this and it takes off then they wont be the idiots will they?

And as mentioned in previous posts... No songs as ringtones is not exactly a deal breaker once you leave the early teenage years behind.

[momoe]

Originally Posted by L3X

can't copy/paste, that sucks. Also, no songs as ringtones...that's idiotic. That's like the first thing i would have done.

What are you doing now with your songs (in iTunes) to make ringtones? I have found some funky solutions, but nothing very straight forward?

momoe

[SirOmega]

But its battery life is excellent. In our tests, it got seven hours and 18 minutes of continuous talk time, while the Wi-Fi was on and email was constantly being fetched in the background.

Thats impressive - 7+ hours with WiFi on and data going back and forth. Turning WiFi off would extend it even further I'm sure.

[hotdamn]

It kindof makes sense that you can't use songs as ringtones.

Imagine listening to music, getting a call, the music fading out just for another song to come on? If you're not paying full attention, you'll totally forget that you have to answer a call.

A little sad about the lack of video recording.

[diamond.g]

Originally Posted by hotdamn

It kindof makes sense that you can't use songs as ringtones.

Imagine listening to music, getting a call, the music fading out just for another song to come on? If you're not paying full attention, you'll totally forget that you have to answer a call.

A little sad about the lack of video recording.

Whaaa?? The 10 second loop of the same song should alert you to there being a call.

[LimeiBook86]

I think video recording could be a software up-datable feature. If the camera is capable of it of course.

Adobe Flash is power-hungry, maybe in the future they will add limited Flash support. Even if it was only Flash 7 like the Nintendo Wii. I think Copy & Paste would be an easy thing to add.

I wonder about the ringtones, like if you can add a custom one at all. Even a standard QuickTime file to it to use as a ringtone, maybe there is a way to send it to the iPhone?

A phone without custom ringtones is sort of lame, I mean we've had custom ringtones for a long time. Taking that away wouldn't be smart, I think there has to be a way to add a ringtone... either by Apple or a clever hacker.

So I think we just have to wait for some updates on a few things, other things may be more far-fetched. But, you never know.

[austincharles]

Originally Posted by hotdamn

It kindof makes sense that you can't use songs as ringtones. ... If you're not paying full attention, you'll totally forget that you have to answer a call.

I like your point. Although the point other people are trying to make, I believe, is to possibly create or acquire ringtones and add them among the music library and be able to select them for the ringer.


I personally don't know what the huge deal is with ringtones. I just don't see the excitement. Vibrate has always worked nicely for me and is usually quiet enough in sound-restrained environments. Ringtones usually break the seal of silence or just seem rude in many places.

Thankfully the iPhone has that wondrous feature of playing music. They have a great idea there.

[pale9]

Originally Posted by hotdamn

It kindof makes sense that you can't use songs as ringtones.

Imagine listening to music, getting a call, the music fading out just for another song to come on? If you're not paying full attention, you'll totally forget that you have to answer a call.

A little sad about the lack of video recording.

i think you dont get it. they (att) will want to SELL you the ringtones. i am sure this was a bargaining chip that jobs had to hand over.

[lofight]

Originally Posted by dietwater5

i wonder if you can use bluetooth to make your own ringtones. thats what i do now with my slvr7. i edit an mp3 and selecet the part i want as the ringotne then send it to my phone bluetooth then set it as ringtone. i bet youll be able to with the iphone

No , you won't be able to use your own mp3's a ringtones...but you an listen to them in coverflow on your iPhone while searching the internet and getting attachments in mail and then there's a call, your music faids out and you can call....

[ziggyonice]

Originally Posted by diamond.g

Wait, did he say it doesn't have a SIM card?

He simply said you can't use T-Mobile SIM cards. I thought that seemed kinda obvious though..

[mambodancer]

[quote=diamond.g;3820575]Wait, did he say it doesn't have a SIM card? And we can't use our own music as ringtones?? Bummer.

I distinctly remember seeing a ringtone tab in the original iPhone demo that Steve Jobs introduced.

I'm betting that there is a new iTunes version available on 6/29 and I'm betting you'll be able to download ringtones and use songs as ringtones too.

[rdrr]

Note to self... Don't complain about the keyboard after only using it for three days.

Since I haven't used a phone network for data since the sidekick version 1, I don't think I'll be disappointed with the network speed. Speaking of which, I heard an AT&T commercial on a Boston radio station saying that they have kept their promise to improve the wireless network speeds in the area. I wonder if the timing of that spot has anything to do with the upcoming launch.

[bytethese]

You know, the not being able to set as a ringtone is a crappy deal, but I'll still get the phone. My SLVR is currently set to ring like the phones from 24. Maybe we'll be able to browse the iPhone like I browse my SLVR and I'll be able to dump a rintone in whatever format the iPhone uses?

[artalliance]

Let me just quote you David Pogue from the NY Times Review:

"But even in version 1.0, the iPhone is still the most sophisticated, outlook-changing piece of electronics to come along in years. It does so many things so well, and so pleasurably, that you tend to forgive its foibles."

And remember, a LOT of fixes can be executed via software updates.

[princigalli]

nice phone. not perfect. too many features missing, but it's a new gadget with a good design. Apple made a big mistake to make it ATT exclusive. They could have launched a new phone and immediately grab a large proportion of the market. instead, they preferred trying to squeeze extra income with ATT.

All considered, I'm glad I have my Prada and Nokia E61.

[coolfactor]

Originally Posted by johnee

guess i'll read it even though i don't like the iphone

State. Reasons. Please.

[nxent]

awesome... nevertheless... must.. hold... till revb....

[Digital Skunk]

Good review for a mediocre product... I will wait till the phone is on the Sprint network which had cheaper data and voice plans and better speeds.