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First iPhone Review from Walt Mossberg

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Apr 12, 2001
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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.
Click to expand...

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.
Click to expand...
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2007/06/26/first-iphone-review-from-walt-mossberg/
Earlier: Pricing hurdle passed (for most.)

A couple of hours ago: Exchange Server test pasts (for IT folk)

Now: Mossburg test passed. (For Press sheep that will now follow his review.)


Good day.

:apple: :apple: :apple:
 
Digital Skunk said:
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.
Click to expand...

It may never show up on Sprint as you prob. guessed... and it won't for 5 years at least because of ATT's exclusive contract.
 
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.
 
bluetooth

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

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


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:



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
Click to expand...

So where the heck is the phone part... this seems like a 6G iPod with phone features and a 10th of the space.:confused:

plumbingandtech said:
It may never show up on Sprint as you prob. guessed... and it won't for 5 years at least because of ATT's exclusive contract.
Click to expand...

I know... I can't wait for the 5 year Beta testing to be over. ;)
 
Macrumors said:
"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."
Click to expand...

This concerns me--- what if he could never type too well on the treo?

I like but am not (yet) in love with the iPhone. Does ATT/Apple have a trial period 30 days or whatever- to see if I can type as fast as I want? What sort of return policy is there on the phone, and the 2 year contract?

I wonder if Apple will meet their sales goals on day 1, and have to return 40% or more on day 15 or 30...
 
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 said:
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.
Click to expand...

He said it doesn't work with T-Mobile sim cards -- it has a sim card...an AT&T one.

carfac said:
This concerns me--- what if he could never type too well on the treo?

I like but am not (yet) in love with the iPhone. Does ATT/Apple have a trial period 30 days or whatever- to see if I can type as fast as I want? What sort of return policy is there on the phone, and the 2 year contract?

I wonder if Apple will meet their sales goals on day 1, and have to return 40% or more on day 15 or 30...
Click to expand...

You have 14 days to return it...standard Apple policy.
 
carfac said:
This concerns me--- what if he could never type too well on the treo?

I like but am not (yet) in love with the iPhone. Does ATT/Apple have a trial period 30 days or whatever- to see if I can type as fast as I want? What sort of return policy is there on the phone, and the 2 year contract?

I wonder if Apple will meet their sales goals on day 1, and have to return 40% or more on day 15 or 30...
Click to expand...

Probably a steep return policy and contract cancellation fee.

MBHockey said:
He said it doesn't work with T-Mobile sim cards -- it has a sim card...an AT&T one.



You have 14 days to return it...standard Apple policy.
Click to expand...

But what about the Cingular cancellation fee?
 
MBHockey said:
You have 14 days to return it...standard Apple policy.
Click to expand...

Is that the standard Apple suck up 10% "restock" or a more realistic return policy? What about the ATT portion? It would suck to return the phone and pay 2 years of service!
 
hotdamn said:
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.
Click to expand...
Whaaa?? The 10 second loop of the same song should alert you to there being a call.
 
Good keyboard!

Macrumors said:
Some highlights:

- 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."

- No way to copy/paste text
Click to expand...

I own a Treo and I love(d) the keyboard (the f-key fails regularly now ... :mad: ), if the touchscreen is really as good -> WOW!

But WHY no copy/paste!?!?

Cheers
 
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