There is not a single thing in your comments that was not disclosed prior to release. Why did you buy it? Stick with you Palm or Blackberry while the rest of us enjoy this brilliant product. I'll wait for improvements.
The phone does some things nicely, but so far I'm not totally convinced. Some basic things about mail are annoying to me - cannot sort the order of mailboxes, there is not one "inbox" folder where I can read ALL of my messages from various accounts, to many menu screens, etc.
Having a full web browser seems good in practice, but it seems tedious to read messageboards where the browser window doesn't adjust text wraparound when you zoom in - too much scrolling. There is a lot of screen real-estate, but this makes the screen seem much smaller than it is.
Call volume seemed a bit too quiet on the highest setting, and ringer volume is sorta quiet, too. I don't really like any of the ringtones - most of them aren't even ringers.
If my Blackberry had WiFi, I probably would've never switched, as that's the biggest feature to me.
Sooo...waffling. I know a lot of this could be fixed via firmware, but I don't know if it's worth the kind of money I spent to wait around seeing if they will. I owned a Sidekick 1 and 2, so I know how painful it is expecting updates you want.
Thats what I am hoping too. I love this thing, but the OP does bring valid criticisms that I agree with.The great thing about the way the phone operates is that apple can constantly update it with improvements. I Am going to try to be patient.
- Settle down. It's the first day. Updates will come.
- Settle down. It's the first day. Updates will come.
- Settle down. It's the first day. Updates will come.
- Settle down. It's the first day. Updates will come.
- Settle down. It's the first day. Updates will come.
- Settle down. It's the first day. Updates will come.
- Settle down. It's the first day. Updates will come.
- Settle down. It's the first day. Updates will come.
- Settle down. It's the first day. Updates will come.
- Settle down. It's the first day. Updates will come.
I didn't read all the posts yet but I like where it is going... not flaming the device... just want apple to make some minor changes to the device and major changes to the service provider.
#11. No phone insurance for smartphones or the iPhone so if I loose it, it gets stolen, or I break it beyond repair I have to fork out another $600 for the device. (albeit not Apple's fault)
i have been with at&t/cingular for 9 years now..all of their most expensive phones have never been eligible for insurance. Hell, I had a doctor friend of mine by the original razor, when it was over $500.00, and he couldn't get insurance. Unfortunately for him they were a little less than half price a few months later![]()
I read a post in one of the forums that said apple may be releasing an apple care for the phone..don't know how valid the statement is though
I'm sure everyone says this, but look at the iPod.
Does anyone not remember what the first one was like?
Compared to the video one now?
Its just one day and people are wasteing time complaining about the flaws and not exploring and finding the goodies. :]
I mean, I know people are just letting everyone know what they found, but I have an iPhone and I am very happy with it.
-Landon
She has now learned to keep better track of her stuff, but at least she didn't make a $650 mistake, just a $50 one.
My only issue so far is I can't get the thing to work properly on my WIFI network at my house, but it is a pretty substantial one, so I will need to get it resolved.
8. Google Maps -- Before I find where I'm going, let me find where I am. Hold on.
All phones are required to report a latitude and longitude coordinate reading on Emergency calls in the USA. Why they couldn't use this information to point the map to where you're currently standing? There's clearly a reason for why they didn't do this, but having to zoom-in on or type-in where you're at already is just plain annoying.
Where did she get insurance from? Not even my home policy will cover any of my ipods, or phones.
"After 15 minutes, realized that a new version of iTunes (7.3) had been released."
RTFM
"1. The overall lack of a [visible] filesystem... Why did I pay for 8GB of space that I can't friggin use! Is this a joke?"
The joke is only on people like you who buy on assumptions and fantasies, not advertised and documented features.
"Downloading music is not possible from the iTunes Store"
Amen... but I'll bet you within 6 months we'll all be doing this after a small software update.
"There is also no flash support (yet) as many already are aware of, so no cartoons or games either."
Agreed... this sucks. I'm sure there's a good reason. Again, most likely we'll at least get Flash lite via SW Update.
"I got an e-mail from a company..."
Yeah, kind of sucks... but when you really consider how cool everything else is, why the griping?
"3. You can't type fast without a lot of practice..."
Give it time. I am. I certainly like it better than pressing a 1 key 3 times for a C. I also like the fact there are no buttons that will eventually get worn down and/or break.
"..the keyboard still magnifies whatever you're typing to a distance visible from at least 5 feet..."
I agree. I guess we'll just have to be discreet.
"Messaging? What messaging?"
SW Update... soon enough I am sure.
"...lack of any sort of Junk Mail filter."
This is and should be a function of the mail provider, not the client/iPhone.
"Menu navigation blunders."
Not even sure what you're talking about. Do you get lost in your own house often?
"You need an adapter to use other headphones."
Hmmm. I guess I just don't care about petty things like this. 99% of all iPod users I see in public use the standard ones with no problems. If you're such an audiophile get a music player that supports OGG. We all know iTunes/iPod music quality is not the best.
"You cannot use the phone as a modem"
What.Ever.
"It seems that there are no services offered via Bluetooth other than voice headsets (for calling)... "
Yeah, kind of sucks. Again, just a software thing that might change some day.
"Google Maps"
You know, when people call this the Jesus Phone - it's just a joke... not a promise.
"I'm locked in with AT&T for 2 years on this phone!"
3 Words: Freedom of Choice oh, and you can always RETURN THE PRODUCT
Remember all the things we have to do just to get music OFF the Ipod? I imagine Apple has this phone so choked down that we'll have to depend on someone outsmarting Apple again with a hack to allow for custom ring tones, for instance, without the Itunes store feeding it to us.
1. The overall lack of a [visible] filesystem, and web-browser limitations. I want to be able to download things from the web on my phone (ringtones from indie bands, content-creations from Mobile17 or band-promotions at Mozes, images from websites that I want to save and open later on my desktop) -- Why did I pay for 8GB of space that I can't friggin use! Is this a joke?
Downloading music is not possible from the iTunes Store (not accessible on-the-go) or even just random websites. The same goes for ringtones, spreadsheets, and other files. One thing that it does do surprisingly well, though, is read PDFs!
There is also no flash support (yet) as many already are aware of, so no cartoons or games either.
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2. Why can't I do [obvious task]?
Numerous times I've run into problems with not being able to do very simple tasks... the iPhone's simplicity actually makes it MORE complicated.
~~ Example:
I got an e-mail from a company I'd ordered car parts from concerning an issue I'd had, they asked me to take a photo. I jumped at the opportunity to test out the phone's camera (yay!) and was pleased with the quality. I then went back to the Mail section (after taking the picture) and clicked 'Reply', wrote a short note, then went to attach the picture. Wait... you CAN'T ATTACH THE PICTURE! There's no option, since there's no visible file-system.
I then back-tracked to return to the 'Camera' section via the Main menu... clicked the icon I assumed was 'Send this photo' (there are no popup 'text-tool-tips' to help you [as far as I know], so you can only guess what certain buttons do if they're vaguely represented by their icons) and was presented with options to either 'Use as Wallpaper', 'Email Photo' (ding ding ding!), or 'Assign to Contact' -- which I'm sure will sync with your Address Book back to your Mac, very cool.
After choosing the E-mail option, I was presented with a blank message, not including his e-mail address or any of what I'd typed before. Of course he's not in my Address Book, so I had to go back to the Mail section, write his e-mail address on my hand (since you can't copy and paste??) with a PEN.... analog style (wtf!!), then type it in manually into that new message with a new subject. Is this a joke? How is that productive at all... shame on you Apple.
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3. You can't type fast without a lot of practice, and entering passwords isn't so private.
Unlike typing (T9 or even just Multitap) on a regular handset with raised buttons, all of the keys feel the same on this one... and triggering the wrong one is ridiculously easy. It seems like they wrote in something to correct common mistakes, but overall your days of casual typing on a familiar 3x4 grid of keys are over. You really need to pay attention on this one or you're screwed.
The other thing I noticed was that when you're logging into various websites... even though Safari blocks out the text as you enter your password... the keyboard still magnifies whatever you're typing to a distance visible from at least 5 feet. Not very safe. This is unfortunately a design flaw with the text entry in general, don't plan on surfing the web in public yet.
So far, the best way I've found to type on the iPhone is by flipping it sideways like a T-Mobile Sidekick. With both thumbs doing the work, you can keep the device steady with your palms and your lettering consistent. However, you can't activate the tilt feature in any area but the web-browser (so you're screwed in the SMS/E-mail areas, where you really need to be able to type). Why would they do that?
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4. Messaging? What messaging? Sorry, distracted by all of the Junk E-mail.
No AOL/MSN Instant Messengers, no picture messaging, no video-conferencing (although that's a bit of a long-shot).. and even just sending pictures via e-mail is a pain in the arse unless it's the start of a conversation. (see problem #2)
Also, clearly visible is the lack of any sort of Junk Mail filter. I get a lot of SPAM and this is absolutely critical. Having my e-mail on-the-go always seemed like a luxury to me.... Now that I have that opportunity, anyone looking over my shoulder will see me scrolling through ads for fake health products and notices from banks I've never even heard of saying my accounts have been compromised. How irritating, it could at least import the rules I've setup on my Mac's mail client.
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5. Menu navigation blunders.
"Back" buttons change into "Edit" buttons in a few areas... so just when you expect to be taken back further to the Main menu, you get sent into a completely new area. You then have to toggle back out of it with the same button. Argh... extra tapping.
Also, I have to click several times needlessly past the Mail folders just to toggle between Mail accounts... similarly structured to that of an iPod, but with another useless level. Think about how annoying "Artist -> Albums -> Useless -> Songs" would be... having to tap that extra time for no reason -- it's like that. I don't need to go into the "Sent" folder of any given mail account unless I'm going out of the way to look for it. Even better would be a single screen that I can view the three newest [non-SPAM] messages I've received at each address, but now I'm just dreaming based on what I've seen so far... Sigh.
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6. You need an adapter to use other headphones.
The iPhone's earphone connector IS standard 1/8" jack... but it's recessed. You need an extender to plug in any other type of headphones. Apple's earphones hurt my ears so I have no choice but to lug around an antenna-like product from Belkin that cost an extra $10 and is easily lost. Lame.
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7. You cannot use the phone as a modem, or browse/transfer files via Bluetooth. Don't forget your iPod cable!
This is a HUGE dealbreaker for me. I loved being able to occasionally tether through my old phone via Bluetooth and surf the web on my laptop... especially on trips. The iPhone does not support this. I am outraged... every phone I've owned in the last 5 years has and this doesn't? And this costs how much?
The only option you have (so far) is to take the new AT&T SIM card included with the iPhone and insert it into any other phone to emulate this feature. It can be removed with a paperclip or sewing needle inserted into the small hole on the top of the phone (there's a panel that releases and slides out from the phone). Tricky, but functional.
It seems that there are no services offered via Bluetooth other than voice headsets (for calling)... not even syncing when you don't have an iPod cable handy! Lame!
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8. Google Maps -- Before I find where I'm going, let me find where I am. Hold on.
All phones are required to report a latitude and longitude coordinate reading on Emergency calls in the USA. Why they couldn't use this information to point the map to where you're currently standing? There's clearly a reason for why they didn't do this, but having to zoom-in on or type-in where you're at already is just plain annoying.
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9. I'm locked in with AT&T for 2 years on this phone!
Argh! I hope this all goes well since they sure have most of us in a bind.
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10. I had to make this list...
...which is the first time I've ever been really disappointed with such a major product.
"You need an adapter to use other headphones."
Hmmm. I guess I just don't care about petty things like this. 99% of all iPod users I see in public use the standard ones with no problems. If you're such an audiophile get a music player that supports OGG. We all know iTunes/iPod music quality is not the best.