First iPhone Review from Walt Mossberg

[Stella]

A load of crap. No - its *Apple's* choice.

On other phones you can use AAC, MP3 etc as ring tones.

Sooo.. those iPhone owners who have *purchased* ring tones from *other* sources are unable to use them their iPhones.

Pretty crap and very odd decision by Apple if you ask me. Apple obviously want you to buy ring tones from iTMS only...

As for songs as ringtones, this is record companies' fault, not Apple's. It's another case of stupid copyright limitation imposed by them, simple as that.

 

[diamond.g]

You know you're right, and it's definitely a poor example that I provided, but think long and hard about what isn't recognized on the iPhone: UPS/FedEx trackers, model ID#s, product codes, a note that you have saved in the iPhone Notes app that you want to text msg to someone. I could go on and on.

Copy and paste is a BIG deal. I know that many of you don't recognize it *right now*, but will as you use your iPhone more and more. Right now, I use a Sidekick, and when I 1st got the phone, I *never* thought I'd be copying and pasting, but I discovered that it is essential. Guess what, the Sidekick has copy and paste. You'd think that the iPhone that supposedly "runs OS X" could copy and paste.

Still, I'll probably be getting one with the hopes that they update this soon, but I hope people here understand that you don't realize you've missed something until you actually find a need for it.

w00master

How would you copy and paste? I was thinking about it. It seems most of the functions that you could use cause the iPhone to do something else. And without a menu that gives you that choice how else could it be done?

Really? You are not going to come up with the ridiculous 'you cant load your own software on it' excuse are you? Its certainly a *lot* smarter than my Windows Mobile smartphone.

I wrote in another thread how I honestly feel Apple shoudn't have called it a smartphone (or maybe a pda phone depending on what side of the bed you woke up on). Applications are important, I posted how we are missing an ebook reader, and app to track vehicle service, bejeweled, solitare, sudokuspace trader (great game). Those apps may not be important to you, but they sure are great time killers when in situations that surfing the web or watching a movie are not possible (or ill advised).

 

[thomasfxlt]

Ringtones...who cares.

Software features missing.....it's software, if a feature is wanted they will build it and update it. The thing should certainly do cut and paste but I can live without it for a while

Edge vs GSM....Verizon has a better current solution for data. Let's see what ATT will do. Who knows, maybe the the hardware is capable of GSM.

The thing I'm most concerned about is the "drilling down" through menu items to make a call. You should be able to retrieve missed calls or all calls with one button and select a callback number and go.

It is also disappointing that there is no voice dial. This probably will not change.

8GB.....this will takes some media management to make it work for me.

Battery life looks greats.

This is a great 1st release. Expensive yes, but I think worth it. The issues I have are generally resolvable by software updates and I'm all in.

I'm certain there will be a new one that is better before my "2 year contract" runs out, but this model is far superior to the Treo I'm using (which is crap).

ATT seems to be the weak link in this thing as far as I'm concerned.

 

[diamond.g]

Edge vs GSM....Verizon has a better current solution for data. Let's see what ATT will do. Who knows, maybe the the hardware is capable of GSM.

EDGE is GSM. You are thinking of either WCDMA or HDPSA (not sure which one AT&T does).

 

[Stella]

A lot of people care about about ring tones.

Why are you comparing Edge v GSM? They are different things. You should be comparing Edge to 3G ( for data transfer rates ).

The hardware IS capable of using GSM..... hence you've got SIM cards, otherwise you'd be using CDMA.

Cut and paste is EXTREMELY useful.

Ringtones...who cares.

Edge vs GSM....Verizon has a better current solution for data. Let's see what ATT will do. Who knows, maybe the the hardware is capable of GSM.

 

[Project]

nvm

 

[hotdamn]

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.

God forbid! Should AT&T ever have any Minus The Bear or These Arms Are Snakes ringtones available, I'd buy them just for the sake of it. Until then, I'll use the default iPhone ringtone because I find it doesn't make me want to run my nails down a chalkboard every time I hear it.

... and if using custom mp3 ringtones is a deal-breaker for anyone, they should seriously consider waiting until they've made it into high school.

Oh, by the way, last time I had to copy and paste on my mobile.... that's right, never. BUT copying addresses from Safari to Google Maps seems like it should be possible somehow.

 

[momoe]

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

 

[MonkeyClaw]

A load of crap. No - its *Apple's* choice.

On other phones you can use AAC, MP3 etc as ring tones.

Sooo.. those iPhone owners who have *purchased* ring tones from *other* sources are unable to use them their iPhones.

Pretty crap and very odd decision by Apple if you ask me. Apple obviously want you to buy ring tones from iTMS only...

No actually it is the record companies because of the deal between Apple and them and iTMS. If you don't believe what people are telling you, read the damn EULA.

I think this is unfortunately simply an issue of Apple starting to stretch itself into too many markets. Hopefully they aren't making those damn in car computers like the rumor of yesterweek stated (yea I like making up words :-D)

 

[thomasfxlt]

EDGE is GSM. You are thinking of either WCDMA or HDPSA (not sure which one AT&T does).

My bad. I meant 3g.

 

[thomasfxlt]

God forbid! Should AT&T ever have any Minus The Bear or These Arms Are Snakes ringtones available, I'd buy them just for the sake of it. Until then, I'll use the default iPhone ringtone because I find it doesn't make me want to run my nails down a chalkboard every time I hear it.

... and if using custom mp3 ringtones is a deal-breaker for anyone, they should seriously consider waiting until they've made it into high school.

Oh, by the way, last time I had to copy and paste on my mobile.... that's right, never. BUT copying addresses from Safari to Google Maps seems like it should be possible somehow.

Agreed!

 

[Zadillo]

No actually it is the record companies because of the deal between Apple and them and iTMS. If you don't believe what people are telling you, read the damn EULA.

I think this is unfortunately simply an issue of Apple starting to stretch itself into too many markets. Hopefully they aren't making those damn in car computers like the rumor of yesterweek stated (yea I like making up words :-D)

But still, that only explains why you couldn't use iTMS purchased music as a ringtone.

What could the record companies do to prevent someone from using their own mp3 file as a ringtone if they wanted?

 

[diamond.g]

... and if using custom mp3 ringtones is a deal-breaker for anyone, they should seriously consider waiting until they've made it into high school.

wow

Oh, by the way, last time I had to copy and paste on my mobile.... that's right, never. BUT copying addresses from Safari to Google Maps seems like it should be possible somehow.

Have you ever owned a Treo or WM phone? Copy/Paste is quite useful.

But still, that only explains why you couldn't use iTMS purchased music as a ringtone.

What could the record companies do to prevent someone from using their own mp3 file as a ringtone if they wanted?

Sue them.

 

[MonkeyClaw]

But still, that only explains why you couldn't use iTMS purchased music as a ringtone.

What could the record companies do to prevent someone from using their own mp3 file as a ringtone if they wanted?

Apple is probably restricted from allowing it via pressure from the companies. I mean what you say is true but its also true in saying, what could apple do to prevent record companies from saying F you? I dunno, I feel like though that this is probably mainly a legal issue rather than some cockeyed conspiracy theory that a lot of people are suggesting. But in the end, is that really a showstopper for anyone that isn't under the age of 16?

 

[Zadillo]

wow

Have you ever owned a Treo or WM phone? Copy/Paste is quite useful.


Sue them.

Sue them? Has anyone in the history of cellphones been sued for using one of their own MP3's as a ringtone?

Regarding your first point, btw.......... I've been using a Treo 650 for 2 years now, but I have to admit I've never used copy/paste. I guess I could see how it would be if I wanted to, say, copy text from a memo and e-mail it or something. Just haven't really ever done it or needed to though.

 

[Zadillo]

Apple is probably restricted from allowing it via pressure from the companies. I mean what you say is true but its also true in saying, what could apple do to prevent record companies from saying F you? I dunno, I feel like though that this is probably mainly a legal issue rather than some cockeyed conspiracy theory that a lot of people are suggesting. But in the end, is that really a showstopper for anyone that isn't under the age of 16?

Again, I can understand if the record companies are telling Apple to not let iTMS purchased music be used as a ringtone (or at least not without some extra purchase or whatever), but how or why could they have any influence over a basic function like being able to set custom ringtones using your own music?

It's not a showstopper for me (my Treo 650 doesn't have a built-in way to use mp3's as ringtones either; you need to get third party shareware to do that), but it does seem like a sort of obvious thing for a music-oriented phone.

 

[diamond.g]

But in the end, is that really a showstopper for anyone that isn't under the age of 16?

Why are people here attacking the maturity level of individuals that value having personal ringtones? I understand there are folks that have annoying ringtones, but why attack their maturity level or age? It seems like a childish thing to do.

 

[momoe]

Heh.

The funny thing is tho, I have the Apple Sci-Fi ringtone as the ringer on my Blackjack , lol...so don't everybody go usin' it.

And um, yeah, ringtones will be a revenue item...

And if my Appledar is working right, they will have "revolutionary pricing" at 49¢

RnSK:

Can you please elaborate on your ringtone... Apple Sci-Fi?

Thanks,
momoe

 

[diamond.g]

Sue them? Has anyone in the history of cellphones been sued for using one of their own MP3's as a ringtone?

Regarding your first point, btw.......... I've been using a Treo 650 for 2 years now, but I have to admit I've never used copy/paste. I guess I could see how it would be if I wanted to, say, copy text from a memo and e-mail it or something. Just haven't really ever done it or needed to though.

I have the same Treo, I use Copy Paste mostly for phone number updates, btw if a contact of yours changes their phone number does the iPhone give you the option of just adding the number or better yet replacing the existing number? As I had stated earlier I am unsure of how they could implement a gesture based copy and paste.

 

[benspratling]

I've never heard that song and I'm starting to hate it. Please stop talking about it so much.

As for the ringtone argument, I'm convinced it will be addressed. I've personally added one ringtone to my current phone... specifically to make it sound like a frakking phone. Phones these days come preloaded to sound like a casio keyboard or something.

Adding ringtones used to be the only real 'unique' or 'fun' thing you could do with your new phone after you had it set up. With the iphone I think there'll be plenty to keep you happy until they update that feature.

Wow, like, can anybody believe this guy typed this after my big long post about how people hate my music without ever hearing it? And if you think all ringtones sound like casio keyboards, do you have any idea of the clarity of moder casio's? Furthermore, with the *modern* ability to play .mp3's as ringtones, the ringtones cease to be those simple sin-wave synthesis chips and become true music.

My dad has a 100-year old phone sound as his phone ringer, too. I guess that obnoxious, repetitive, totally non-musical clanging sound was the only ringtone AT&T allowed back then, before the Macintosh chime. At least his doorbell plays music

 

[benspratling]

Apple is probably restricted from allowing it via pressure from the companies. I mean what you say is true but its also true in saying, what could apple do to prevent record companies from saying F you? I dunno, I feel like though that this is probably mainly a legal issue rather than some cockeyed conspiracy theory that a lot of people are suggesting. But in the end, is that really a showstopper for anyone that isn't under the age of 16?

Not being able to choose your own ringtone is like not being able to wear your own sandles on a beach. And in this case it's not just, "you can't wear your own sandles, you have to buy one of our pairs," it's "you must choose from one of these pre-approved, kosher, designer pairs, that you must return when you are done with the beach. Now take off your comfortable, familiar pair that fits your personality and makes you happy and replace it with one of our original and perfect ringtones; and don't forget them either - or you'll never speak to your friends again."

So steve, let me play my ringtone, please?

Besides, as I've stated before, the ringtone I want is not one I purchased on iTunes - there's no legal problem whatsoever.

 

[MBHockey]

Not so worried about the ring tone. I'm 23, getting a little to old to have Bad Boys for Life blast when I get a call at the office

 

[w00master]

How would you copy and paste? I was thinking about it. It seems most of the functions that you could use cause the iPhone to do something else. And without a menu that gives you that choice how else could it be done?

I thought Apple was the masters of UI? Copy and Paste *should* be in there. There's absolutely no excuse for this.

I've been using a Treo 650 for 2 years now, but I have to admit I've never used copy/paste. I guess I could see how it would be if I wanted to, say, copy text from a memo and e-mail it or something. Just haven't really ever done it or needed to though.

Just because YOU haven't found a use for copy and paste in a phone (which I do find hard to believe since you use a smartphone), I find it absolutely essential and often used feature on my SIDEKICK.

w00master

 

[MonkeyClaw]

Why are people here attacking the maturity level of individuals that value having personal ringtones? I understand there are folks that have annoying ringtones, but why attack their maturity level or age? It seems like a childish thing to do.

Im not attacking the maturity level of people on here. Hell I'm only 19, but it seems ridiculous for a sensible person to not get a phone simply because they can't choose a song to play for 10 sec when your phone rings.

I'm not saying that its immature to have custom ringtones, but instead that if that is the deciding factor in buying a product, then you probably aren't in the demographic that apple is going after.

 

[odemadrid]

Im not attacking the maturity level of people on here. Hell I'm only 19, but it seems ridiculous for a sensible person to not get a phone simply because they can't choose a song to play for 10 sec when your phone rings.

I'm not saying that its immature to have custom ringtones, but instead that if that is the deciding factor in buying a product, then you probably aren't in the demographic that apple is going after.

Well Apple is stupid for not targeting a broader demographic group. How much work could it really be to add custom ringtones? They should have had included the feature. If you dont like it, dont use, but let others make up their minds!