First iPhone Review from Walt Mossberg

[Random Ping]

- 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."

That is impressive to read/hear. One-by-one Apple has managed to counter almost every major complaint about the iPhone.

 

[nuckinfutz]

If songs can't be used as ringtones, I'm not buying the phone. I have developed a Pavlovian response to "A New Beginning" by Good Charlotte. It is a perfect ringtone-type song, and the intro ends at the same time my account rolls over to voice mail. I refuse to submit to "Marimba," which is just childish. You'd think the one cool thing about an iPod/cell phone would be you can finally set your favorite songs as your ringtone! If you can't have songs as ringtones, what other obvious features have they forgotten to include?

Well then enjoy your non-iphone

Expecting AT&T to give you free ringtones when the rest of the market charges is foolish.

 

[RyanC]

I'm sorry but I don't understand what the appeal is to have sound clips from your favorite songs as your ringtone...especially for this type of phone

I agree - we're not 13 anymore!

 

[nuckinfutz]

I know... what is your point...?

I have my opinion on the iPhone and AT&T's network... didn't mention anything about the reviews having those comments in them.

Better yet what was YOUR point? Mediocre was your teminology based on Sprints superior network thus you couldn't be talking about iPhone but AT&T's network which are two different things. Perhaps a bit more clarity in your posts would help the situation.

 

[clayfu]

That is impressive to read/hear. One-by-one Apple has managed to counter almost every major complaint about the iPhone.

is he using the iphone with two thumbs or just one finger?
cause the problem isn't the one finger typing quickly and accurately, its the two thumbs!

If he's just using one finger, it doesn't get rid of the complaint at all.

 

[bigjohn]

it doesn't fit in my pocket, i don't see that gripe featured anywhere...

feh, you kids have fun with this one... i'll be gazing into my new 24" display.

 

[Digital Skunk]

Better yet what was YOUR point? Mediocre was your teminology based on Sprints superior network thus you couldn't be talking about iPhone but AT&T's network which are two different things. Perhaps a bit more clarity in your posts would help the situation.

Stop causing trouble.

I agree - we're not 13 anymore!

It's for the 13 year olds that will be getting the iPhone from their parents. Not everyone getting one and waiting in line for it are 30 year olds living with their moms.

 

[clayfu]

Well then enjoy your non-iphone

Expecting AT&T to give you free ringtones when the rest of the market charges is foolish.

How bout instead of free... using the songs you have on your computer like every other phone out there?

 

[diamond.g]

Well then enjoy your non-iphone

Expecting AT&T to give you free ringtones when the rest of the market charges is foolish.

It doesn't matter if the market charges. Show me a smartphone that doesn't allow you to import your own ringtones?

 

[Project]

If songs can't be used as ringtones, I'm not buying the phone. ?

Well, if this is the brunt of the complaints, Apple has done a very good job.

 

[austincharles]

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.

 

[FeralCat]

I noticed a new icon has been added on the main page, it's brownish in color two down on the left. Can any one tell what it is?

Uh, YouTube? Where you been?

 

[Peace]

Or the fact that Jobs said the music will pause and you can hear the ringing going on outside of your earphones. Or the fact that all of sudden you will be hearing a different song playing then the one you started.



No copy and paste because it is still in Beta testing.



BETA TESTING!

I do that a lot already..No difference.I'm a gadget guy.

 

[Matthew Yohe]

"It can also handle corporate email using Microsoft's Exchange system, if your IT department cooperates by enabling a setting on the server."

I hope this doesn't mean "IMAP"... I'm curious as to what "setting" this is.

 

[nemaslov]

I read two reviews!

So I read this Wallstreet review and the NY Times review which also just came out. Two good reviews and they both confirmed my decision, to wait probably one year or so or at least until revision 2 or 3 comes out. A few small improvements will make it perfect and MAYBE ATT will work better by then. Both reviews trashed ATT a bit. I've been with ATT forever (or Cingular) and they have been fine for use with my RAZR.

iPhone for me in late 2008!

 

[nuckinfutz]

Ok ok fellas! :d

I've assimilated.

"Gimme my ringtones Apple ye cheap bastids"

I was falsely under the impression that the current Smartphones didn't allow this. Thanks for setting me straight with the quickness.

Ok Digital Skunk....I'll be good. teehee.

 

[gorillapond]

"It can also handle corporate email using Microsoft's Exchange system, if your IT department cooperates by enabling a setting on the server."

I hope this doesn't mean "IMAP"... I'm curious as to what "setting" this is.

Exactly. Don't get too excited about this people, this may only be IMAP Exchange email access. Exchange can do much more than email..

 

[Stewie]

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.

So you are saying you will never have a iPhone then? I can't see Apple making a CDMA version of the iPhone.

 

[darwen]

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!

The 10% is added to anything with a serial. So yes, there will be 10% on the return in 14 days.

 

[YoMamasPyjamas]

If songs can't be used as ringtones, I'm not buying the phone. I have developed a Pavlovian response to "A New Beginning" by Good Charlotte. It is a perfect ringtone-type song, and the intro ends at the same time my account rolls over to voice mail. I refuse to submit to "Marimba," which is just childish. You'd think the one cool thing about an iPod/cell phone would be you can finally set your favorite songs as your ringtone! If you can't have songs as ringtones, what other obvious features have they forgotten to include?

i can't let this go without saying something. i'm dumbfounded on so many levels. the fact that you can't have a terrible song blaring out of your gorgeous new phone is a deal breaker? if anything, i think iPhone would be doing you a favor by restricting your heinous musical taste to your earbuds only. also, the unintentional comedy inherent in calling "Marimba" childish, while referring to a good charlotte song as "perfect" is, well...perfect!

 

[bob_hearn]

Audio recorder?

So, no video recorder; anyone seen anything about whether there's an audio recorder?

 

[Digital Skunk]

I do that a lot already..No difference.I'm a gadget guy.

Except this time you have to pay $600 and a 2 year contract and monthly fees.

Ok ok fellas! :d

I've assimilated.

"Gimme my ringtones Apple ye cheap bastids"

I was falsely under the impression that the current Smartphones didn't allow this. Thanks for setting me straight with the quickness.

Ok Digital Skunk....I'll be good. teehee.

Me too... lets me friends like all good MacFanBoys. As for the ringtones... I would think that would have been standard for Apple given that they "revolutionized the music industry" and now the phone industry. My GFs Treo can use different songs for different people so she knows whose calling by the music playing. (i.e. India Jones theme song for her crazy brother)

 

[travishill]

I hope this doesn't mean "IMAP"... I'm curious as to what "setting" this is.

I'm pretty sure that's what he means. The initial mail client can get email pushed to it via IMAP on Exchange (open standard).

Who knows if the other rumors are true about integrating directly w/ Exchange's closed protocol...

 

[Tattoo]

Looking for the Perfect Beat?

I have some Afrika Bambaataa that I want as my ringtone. And I would always know it was my phone ringing (I mean come on how many people here even know who they are???)

Universal people, looking for the perfect beat
All the world nations, looking for the perfect beat
The Mighty Zulu Nation, they have found the perfect beat
Afrika Bambaataa, I possess the perfect beat beat beat beat

Looking for the perfect beat (Searching for the perfect beat)
Looking for the perfect beat (Seeking for the perfect beat)
I must get mine (I'm out to get it)
I must get mine (I'm out to get it)

Now in this world of music, there are many different tones (Tell 'em)
If there's no satisfaction, just pay for some action (Listen up)
On your radio, you hear perfect beats playing (Hey)
If it makes you satisfied, just get a pony and ride! (Giddy up!)

 

[diamond.g]

Ok ok fellas! :d

I've assimilated.

"Gimme my ringtones Apple ye cheap bastids"

I was falsely under the impression that the current Smartphones didn't allow this. Thanks for setting me straight with the quickness.

Ok Digital Skunk....I'll be good. teehee.

No big deal. It was the first thing (okay maybe second thing) my wife and I did with our phones. Especially since we have the same phone. I notice that lots of tv shows use Treo's as prop phones. Hey I wonder when they will all switch over to using iPhones?