The iphone is the over hyped and most wanted gadget of this year, I think its over inflated Hype was bigger than ipod and the long queues for PS2.
The first impression:
Super Sleek and Sexy design. Seriously the touch screen, flicking menus and keys/button-less mobile is tempting.
The only problem that constantly bothered me was "What if it drops? and what if the screen scratches?
The answer was its a Scratch proof touch screen and if you drop it, you are simply an idiot ! but jokes apart, it doesn't have a grip on the edges, bad ergonomics.
The menu overall interface is simple, clean and effective.
Currently I'm using a Nokia N73 and I love it, the only thing that my phone lacks is Wi-fi, but I might try the GNUbox for bluetooth Internet usage.
Compared to my N73 which is a year old, I'd say Apple is a little outdated on the cellphone current specs list.
Steve Jobs as so excited with the new design and Flicky touchscreen he forgot to make a checklist of mobile phone features.
The Screen
I like the touchscreen, the flicking menu is amazing. Even HTC is come out with Touchflow screen and LG too is not too far behind with Viewty, whatever Apple makes everyone duplicates. The new mobiles for 2008 will defiantly all be touchscreens. The 3.5" (diagonal)size is decent, not to large or too small just right.
480-by-320-pixel resolution at 163 ppi - not bad too.
I am happy they got rid of the 'must-have' stylus pens that everyone lost somewhere.
The accelerometer that automatically switches from landscape to portrait mode and back is eye-candy.
The Keyboard
Not easy to use, try sending an email, and if you got fingers of a 6 year old you will never feel the keys are cramped up. I hit wrong buttons all the time- think my fingers are too big !
Memory
8GB in a phone is excellent.
No additional memory slots sucks.
Connectivity:
Wi-fi's slow and unimpressive. I thought this was a major drawback.
No bluetooth FTP ! You can't transfer files, you must use a WIRE ! Isn't everyone trying to cut down on the wires? Even Nikon's got a Wifi digital camera !
Damn I transfer files between my laptop and N73 via bluetooth all the time, be it mp3s, images, videos or back up.
Web usage
Slow is the keyword here. I think Steve Jobs wanted to be unconventional here, when everyone was going fast he invented slow !
There's no Flash or Java, welcome to the world of Youtube !
No HOME or STOP buttons in the Safari browser.
You cannot download an attachment in your email, my Gmail attachment didn't !
Mail
You cannot batch delete emails and there is no universal mailbox setup.
The Camera
A Joke ! A sorry ass 2 mp ! The quality is terrible, it looks like a 640x480 blurred result.
No zoom- which was also a shock.
Seriously we were expecting 5 mp, if Nokia's N95 can do it so can you.
Hell my N73 has 3.2 mp with a Carl Zeiss lens.
No video- erm I don't know what to comment here honestly, I had a video recording phone in 2002 !
No Video calls, my faithful N73 never fails me there. So that means no 3G network support.
Voice dialling - None !
Visual voicemail that was to create a revolution is a promised hyped illusion. Nothing really remarkable.
Customization
You CANNOT import your ringtones ! and you cannot set your mp3s as ringtones either. This is a phone made for Fred Flintstone.
Games
Dream on, you wish something interesting was there.
Smart or dumb phone?
Get this there's No Copy & Paste ! My Nokia super ancient communicator had it in 1999 !
Compatibility
64bit versions of XP and Vista are not supported
SMS
Hear this: No group recipients and you cannot forward an SMS either!
Headphones
Over 95% of headphones don't work.
Battery
Terrible usage- Five hours of talk/browsing/email or 16 hours of audio playback?
Built in battery- why?
Overall verdict:
If you want to show-off, this is the phone. If you want to use it for calling only or listening to mp3s and can ignore the flaws- get it.
I love my N73.
If I were to go for a PDA or a new phone it would either be an I-mate or the Nokia E90.
Design: 9/10
Usage: 7/10
Features: 3/10 (lacks all the basics)
Overall: 4/10- disappointing.
Full specifications here.
