The new iPhone 4

[Grandpaw]

For those of you looking at the new iPhone 4, you may want to read the article below, Jeff


http://www.dailytech.com/Steve+Jobs+...ticle18842.htm

[mwfanelli2]

Actually, my dumb phone (just phone calls) also has to be held in a certain way. The head of our department, with a Nokia something or other, has to avoid covering up the antenna. In actual fact, testing this week shows that the iPhone 4 drops a substantially fewer number of calls than the iPhone 3 and similar.

I just don't get it though. Do I really need a phone that does 10,000 different things? Maybe its the geezer in me, but my rinky-dink single-purpose 5-year old phone works just fine!

[Franglais]

...
I just don't get it though. Do I really need a phone that does 10,000 different things? Maybe its the geezer in me, but my rinky-dink single-purpose 5-year old phone works just fine!

Some recent examples:

- On Thursday night I was lost in suburbia looking for a Salsa venue. I called up Google Maps. It found me instantly by triangulation of the GSM signals. Then I looked up the name of the venue with the search in Google. I was miles out but it was easy to find the place after that
- Last week I was stuck in a restaurant and I realsed I'd forgotten to check if there was any SPAM on Photographyreview before leaving. I just used the Internet browser on my Smartphone to check it out. (I have a Smartphone with a 640x360 screen so this is easier than with an iPhone 3GS)
- Any time I want to take a picture
- Any time I want to check my email (not just SMS)
- Any time I want to check my agenda
- Any time I need to know what time it is (I don't have a wristwatch)

[mwfanelli2]

Some recent examples:

- On Thursday night I was lost in suburbia looking for a Salsa venue. I called up Google Maps. It found me instantly by triangulation of the GSM signals. Then I looked up the name of the venue with the search in Google. I was miles out but it was easy to find the place after that

When I get lost, I scream and yell, turn red, and curse the invention of roads. All true but I make sure I know my route before I go. Rand McNally to the rescue. Old age again I guess.

- Last week I was stuck in a restaurant and I realsed I'd forgotten to check if there was any SPAM on Photographyreview before leaving. I just used the Internet browser on my Smartphone to check it out. (I have a Smartphone with a 640x360 screen so this is easier than with an iPhone 3GS)

Leave the work at work!

- Any time I want to take a picture

Already have a sub-compact P&S for that.

- Any time I want to check my email (not just SMS)
- Any time I want to check my agenda

See above, off hours is off hours for me. Nothing is ever that important.

- Any time I need to know what time it is (I don't have a wristwatch)

My $20 Timex is cheaper and more convenient!

Young people grow up with this stuff and can not imagine how the world could survive without these gadgets. I grew up before cell phones, GPS, computers, calculators, digital cameras, etc. and know that many of these gadgets are not really all that important. Sure, my TI-Nspire CAS runs rings around my old sliderule. Word processing is so much better than typewriters. But, in general, for my uses, most of this stuff is just fluff.

To each his own!

[Franglais]

Young people grow up with this stuff and can not imagine how the world could survive without these gadgets. I grew up before cell phones, GPS, computers, calculators, digital cameras, etc. and know that many of these gadgets are not really all that important!
...

I'm 59 this year. I'm not young. I'm sort of retarded.

To be honest, communication inside large corporations - including smartphones - IS my work. I keep a keen eye on it all.

[JordanRHughes]

I also grew up before cel phones, the internet and computers. And like some other people I never saw a need for all this in one phone. Then I got one through work and seriously, it's amazing. The amount of times I've had it come in handy for it's other uses are too many to count.
I'm an avid cyclist and on a couple of separate occasions I've gotten a flat tire while un-prepared and in an area I didn't know. A quick search in Google maps for "bike stores" nearby saved me both times.

No one NEEDS these things, but they sure are wonderful conveniences.
The funny thing is, I never use it for music or videos and I mostly blame iTunes for that.

Some recent examples:

- On Thursday night I was lost in suburbia looking for a Salsa venue. I called up Google Maps. It found me instantly by triangulation of the GSM signals. Then I looked up the name of the venue with the search in Google. I was miles out but it was easy to find the place after that
- Last week I was stuck in a restaurant and I realsed I'd forgotten to check if there was any SPAM on Photographyreview before leaving. I just used the Internet browser on my Smartphone to check it out. (I have a Smartphone with a 640x360 screen so this is easier than with an iPhone 3GS) Life cover real

- Any time I want to take a picture
- Any time I want to check my email (not just SMS)
- Any time I want to check my agenda
- Any time I need to know what time it is (I don't have a wristwatch)

[OldClicker]

I'm an avid cyclist and on a couple of separate occasions I've gotten a flat tire while un-prepared and in an area I didn't know. A quick search in Google maps for "bike stores" nearby saved me both times.

"Avid" cyclists have what they need to fix a flat. TF

[mwfanelli2]

"Avid" cyclists have what they need to fix a flat. TF

That's what I was thinking. When I used to bicycle all the time, I never called a bike shop or even thought of doing that. From flat tires to chain problems, I knew what to do!

[Skyman]

I own an iphone3g. I would like the 4g model but I don't need it and can't afford it. I got the iphone for its music player capabilities. At the time I was spending a lot of time on public transport and it made sense to ditch my failing mp3 player (not an apple product) and since my telephone contract was due for renewal and I was already on a contract that would enable me to get an iphone "free" I got it. In the two years i have had it, it has become more and more handy. I didn't think the internet and email in a phone would be handy until I had them. I didn't think I would need the maps until I got used to using them. I love the apps I have, some of them time wasters, some of them tools, like the banking app. I pay all my bills from my phone now. My 9 month old son loves the apps I have for him. flash cards animal sounds and learning games. So yes it is correct that I don't NEED and Iphone, having owned one I doubt I could go to anything other than a smartphone. It has simply become too useful. The final kicker for me is having my phone contacts automatically backed up so that if I loose my phone I don't loose my contacts. I have tried address books, I am not dillignet enough to keep them up to date so they don't work for me.

[JordanRHughes]

Ahh yeah, there are definitely many times I go out woefully under prepared. It's usually one of those days where its hot enough that I want to ride without a shirt so I get brave and leave the pack at home.
I'll also admit to being a little lazy sometimes and would prefer to have a cup of coffee while they toss a tube on the bike next door. ;)
I am full of shame! haha

That's what I was thinking. When I used to bicycle all the time, I never called a bike shop or even thought of doing that. From flat tires to chain problems, I knew what to do!

life insurance policies

[Greg McCary]

AT&T really doesn't have the best coverage in my area so I have Verizon. I use an HTC Incredible. It's awesome. I don't have to sync it, just drag and drop on any computer.1ghz processor, replacable battery, 8 mpix camera, 8 gig micro sd expandable to 32 gig, flash ect. Plus coverage that is soooo much better than AT&T.

[EOSThree]

On a given day, with my iPhone:
Check the weather for a flight(I are a professional airplane driver)
File a flightplan based on the weather I just checked.
Fill out paperwork for work(flight time and duty sheets)
Email said paperwork
Log my flight
Check with the rules in the Federal Aviation Regulations for my flight
Perform calculations for my flight
Perform simple calculations
Make a Vonage call over the web...Free
Find the nearest brewery
Find a good restaurant
Check the sports scores
Check the ski report
Check the weather for personal use
Play a game while standing by(waiting for my next assignment)
keep up with email, sms, phone calls
Wake up to an alarm
Check my calendar
Listen to music
Listen to a book
Read a book
Surf the web...

I am not young either, I am pushing 50. If you told me that I would find I wanted or needed an iPhone 3 years ago, I would have told you that you were nuts. Now that I have one, it's hard to live without. I have all of the tools I need to do my job right at my fingertips. On top of that it provides a fair amount of distraction and recreation for a job that entails a lot of sitting around waiting.

[Photo-John]

"Avid" cyclists have what they need to fix a flat. TF

Oh oh oh! Wham!

That was a good one. It happens to the best of us, though. I switch backpacks all the time and sometimes I forget to transfer my pump, tube, tire levers, etc.

[Photo-John]

My addition to this thread - besides heckling people for flat tires...

http://blog.cagle.com/2010/07/16/ste...-and-iphone-4/

I saw that today and thought it was funny.

Full disclosure - I own an iPhone 3G and use the hell out of it. It's a marketing tool.

[Anbesol]

I am really surprised they are making such a big deal out of the antenna issue. There have been phones before that have had much worse problems and nobody bats an eye. Probably a cause of the iPhones popularity.

I've been loving my 3GS, I may return it for the 4 though - I still have a couple weeks.. My 5 year old son also loves some of the apps, his favorite is the voice recorder, he can open it up and start recording, he usually sings a song or something, or, sings something that sounds like heavy metal. He is intense..

[EOSThree]

I am really surprised they are making such a big deal out of the antenna issue. There have been phones before that have had much worse problems and nobody bats an eye. Probably a cause of the iPhones popularity.

I've been loving my 3GS, I may return it for the 4 though - I still have a couple weeks.. My 5 year old son also loves some of the apps, his favorite is the voice recorder, he can open it up and start recording, he usually sings a song or something, or, sings something that sounds like heavy metal. He is intense..

Yeah in todays press conference they pretty much proved that every smartphone has the same antenna issues. The iPhone simply has a huge spotlight on it. I love my 3Gs, although seeing the 4 has me tempted too.

[Franglais]

I just ate my lunch at the local Flunch cafeteria. There was a paper serviette on my tray saying "Flunch iPhone - Download the application". My new client also has a new application to allow their clients to do their bank accounts on iPhone. Plus the only devices I can use to connect to the messaging system is Windows Mobile (for loosers) and iPhone.

This has gone too far. The iPhone has become the new standard, like the PC in its day. Six months ago I could ignore it but it's getting to be like you're a social deviant if you don't have an iPhone.

I go with the crowd. Always buy number 1 or 2 in the marketplace (Nikon camera, Citroen car, etc.). Grumble..

Note: This is a bit tongue-in-cheek, especially the bit about the "PC in its day". But I have a horrible feeling that it's going to happen

[Greg McCary]

Yeah in todays press conference they pretty much proved that every smartphone has the same antenna issues. The iPhone simply has a huge spotlight on it. I love my 3Gs, although seeing the 4 has me tempted too.

I have had my HTC Incredible for three weeks, hundreds of calls and I haven't dropped one yet where I was in any kind of coverage and even in bad areas I have only dropped a couple.
My first Droid was a nightmare at dropping calls.

[Frog]

Never owned a cell phone.
When I get lost, I just follow whatever road until I accidentally know where I am.
I can tell pretty much what time it is by sun position and I don't care what time it is at night.

Wife owns a cheap t-mobile phone which she makes take with me when I go on a jaunt but I usually forget to turn it on. The good part is we get internet phone service for $10 a month.

[Greg McCary]

I will stick with my Incredible. I never follow trends. But I do enjoy owning a smartphone. I probably rely on mine to much.

[Franglais]

An iPhone turns out to be the best compromise for a number of reasons

Last night I explored all the possibilities of Windows Mobile using my pretty recent HTC Touch Diamond system, ruined by my service provider's customisation. I'd forgotten just how awful it was - slow to react, links to commercial sites I don't need but can't get rid of, necessity to use a stylus to hit precisely the right area of the screen because the user interface is based on windows and sliders.

I acquired an iPhone4 + revised service contract this morning. The iPhone 4 takes a micro SIM card which won't fit in the HTC or in the Sony-Ericsson SATIO that I was using so basically I now have the iPhone and two useless GSM units that I can't use as backup devices.

In order to use iPhone you have to install iTunes and create an account with Apple. The first thing that is asked for (after your name) is your credit card details which seems rather ominous and somehow sets the tone..

Apart from that it's a beautiful job which works perfectly. I'll try out the photo part tomorrow.

[daq7]

The real question is why do you need a cell phone at all. I never owned one until six months ago. I got one because I figured I needed one for potential road side assistance on the bikes. I have used it twice in six months. Cell phones are a scourge.

Of course, once I can be connected 24-7 to the internet by an implant of some sort, I am all over that.

[Franglais]

The real question is why do you need a cell phone at all. I never owned one until six months ago. I got one because I figured I needed one for potential road side assistance on the bikes. I have used it twice in six months. Cell phones are a scourge.

Of course, once I can be connected 24-7 to the internet by an implant of some sort, I am all over that.

This is a Smartphone, not just a cell phone. The uses are much wider than that:

- For my work I am often out of the office. I need to be able to receive and send telephone messages AND Corporate email all the day, wherever I am.
- The Smartphone also has my agenda and all my contacts with their telephone number. I also need access to the Corporate address book for people I don't have as contacts
- Internet access is very useful for all sorts of things when you're out on the road to find information
- A pocket GPS system is VERY useful when you're out somewhere and you're lost. If it can show you traffic conditions as well then that's great

On a more personal note:
- It's nice to be able to take photos
- Facebook access lets me keep in touch with my tribe

Much of this I can also do with my portable PC, but when you're travelling or in a meeting then it's cumbersome to use.

[SmartWombat]

In order to use iPhone you have to install iTunes and create an account with Apple. The first thing that is asked for (after your name) is your credit card details which seems rather ominous and somehow sets the tone.

Apparently you can remove your credit card details?
There have been some problems with people being charged in the AppStore for things they never purchased.
Either their account details have been compromised, or some applications are doing in-app ordering.

Some games allow you to BUY points and there are stories of people running up $1400 bills for in-game points purchase - that kind of application is one to steer well away from !!

One developer has had all their applications removed in a rather high profile move because he bought his way into the top 50 apps, and it's suspected it was done fraudulently by the programs in an App Farm ... but Apple is keeping very quiet about it and not admitting anything.

[Franglais]

OK I did a few tests with the camera part.

Image size: 5 Mpix "back-lit" sensor. This might be exclusive to Apple, I haven't seen this specification elsewhere. 5Mpix is more than enough for an 8x10 print
Lens: Fixed focal length moderate wide-angle (about 35mm in 24x36 terms)
Lens aperture: f2.4 (doesn't seem to have a diaphragm)
ISO range: 80 ISO to 1000 ISO automatic
Noise reduction: No noise at 80 ISO. At 1000 ISO noise is visible on an A4 print but it's not unpleasant and the image is still quite sharp
Shutter: Slowest shutter speed = 1/15s
Program logic: f2.4 constant. In low light it seems to let the shutter speed drop to 1/15s before boosting the ISO
Built-in flash: Yes but you can turn it off
Autofocus: Continuous. Camera displays a rectangle around what it has chosen as the subject. You can override by touching the screen to choose another zone
Shutter release: Instantaneous, no lag observed so far
Lens quality: Sharp except at the very corners where it softens a bit. No obvious light fall-off. No flare or vertical bands around bright lights
Manual override: Flash on/off/auto and choice of focus zone.
Time to get ready: Pretty fast. You just press on the Camera icon and it's ready in less than 2 secs.
General impression of an A4 print: Looks flat and lifeless compared with a DSLR or 4/3 camera but that's typical of a point-and-shoot
Bonus: Shoots HD video but I haven't tried it yet

Conclusion: It's a real camera for situations where I don't have a better one with me. My Sony SATIO included a full-feature point-and-shoot camera. The iPhone4 is not at that level but it's quite usable. In low light I'm going to have to watch out for that 1/15 shutter speed which is too slow to avoid camera shake and subject movement blur.