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10 Things I like About the iPhone 3G : ex-Windows Mobiles User

Posted By Mr.Gadget Published in iPhone

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Yes, I do like the iPhone 3G. Apple have done an extremely good job with their second version of the iPhone and they deserve kudos for it. There will never be a perfect gadget, however for their second try Apple comes close. I’ll talk about these in another post, but I wanted to share the top 10 things that I like about the iPhone 3G.

iPhone 3G Image Link

1. It’s fast - Out of all the PDA phones, I have had, the iPhone 3G is the fast. The speed at which it executes tasks is amazing. This of course can be attributed to its 600+MHz processor.

2. No need for stylus - One of my pet hates of Windows Mobiles devices was the emphasis on using the stylus. Not only was it annoying to use, but stylii are also very easy to lose.

3. Stylish design - Let’s face it, Apple have some pretty hip designers working for them. Sleek, minimalist, suave and white are normally attributes that are associate with Apple products. If you could call devices sexy, the iPhone is it. The large screen, smooth finish and flushed metal buttons, make it tech eye candy.

4. Install new apps / tunes on the fly - There is nothing like finding a good app while surfing in bed and installing it there and then! You could not do this with a Windows Mobile device; involved download a .zip file then unzipping to initiate setup file on your PC. Downloading cool apps, videos or songs wherever and whenever is the way of the future!

5. SMS Threads - Presents SMS in an organised fashion so you can read conversations / multiple messages.

6. Photo Zooming - This has become one of my favourite iPhone 3G party tricks. Everyone loves resizing/ zooming into photos with their fingers.

7. Effective use of memory by closing unnecessary programs - One of the biggest flaws of Windows Mobiles devices is it’s task management. Even with Windows Mobile 6, programs weren’t closing by themselves after you pressed the supposed ‘close’ button.

8. Multi-internet browser instances - So far I’ve run up to 5 Safari browser windows which stay in memory even after you finish browsing.

9. Data input - It’s actually quite accurate in that it doesn’t select the character or letter till you release your finger, so you have time to select the correct letter. I can type around 30 WPM now. Although not super fast, it’s decent speed for data input.

10. iPod Functionality - Amazingly enough, for a person with my name and running a tech gadget store for 5 years, I have never owned an iPod. I use my wife’s when I go on trips but don’t have one personally. Even though there is a plethora of MP3 / portable audio gadgets out there, Apple’s iPod sits comfortably on the throne of music players. Windows Media Player was ok, but the iPod functionality / user interface for the iPhone is much easier to use. I love scrolling through albums via album art and the ease of creating playlists. The built in speakers also provide a decent sound - most importantly, audible when having a shower.

What other aspects of the iPhone do you like or that I have missed?

Don’t worry I’ll be spilling the beans on the bad points on the iPhone this week too. Watch this space

iPhone Accessories Link

Update 27/07/08: My list of 10 Most Annoying Things about the iPhone 3G

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Copy and Paste on the iPhone Now Available, No Thanks to Apple (August 21st, 2008)
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Krusell Leather Cases for the iPhone 3G at Mr. Gadget Australia (August 13th, 2008)

16 Responses To This Gadget Post

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Mike Farho Says, in 7-14-2008 at 23:39:25 from 41.207.1.162

Thanks for a good post Arnold. I dugg it!

I still don’t see great improvements over my Windows Mobile 5 HP 6945 iPaq PPC. No 3g phone service here yet. My battery lasts 2-3 days, even with frequent wifi.

I did improve speed and function by installing closeall to exit all running programs at the touch of a button. Syncing with MS Office 2007 is a snap, Excel is my primary program after Contacts on my PPC. I love how my GPS automatically imprints the location in my photos’ data.

My 2 gig mini-SD has 260 meg free space. It is easily snapped into other people’s computers or devices to share data, using the SD adapter in my wallet.

Three cheers to you, for being the first in Australia to have an iPhone 3g!

Sam Says, in 7-15-2008 at 09:24:10 from 220.238.17.186

Number 4 isn’t exactly right - if you manage to find a link to the CAB file, it will install on your WM device without the need for a PC. The downside is there is no backup of that program on your PC in case you need to do a restore.

And number 5 is reportedly in WM6.1.

I agree with all the other points though, especially number 2. I’m hanging out for the Nokia E71 to be available from the mobile networks though…

Bits & Pieces Says, in 7-15-2008 at 09:36:49 from 61.95.15.182

1. Yay

2. I hardly use stylus on my Cruise

3. That’s all perception and frankly, iPhone is nothing special

4. That would be nice for WM but users are so in-tuned with zipped files they dare not break it; tragic

5. WM has it

6. HTC Touch series

7. WM can close or minimize depending on settings used.

8. Not sure what you mean; sounds like something WM does too

9. HTC Touch Diamond

10. One of the few pros of the iPhone.

All in all, nothing special.

Mr.Gadget Says, in 7-15-2008 at 09:58:18 from 203.58.120.11

@Bits & Pieces - The title of the post is 10 things I “like” about the iPhone, not “10 things the iPhone can do that WM6 can’t”. Please read before spamming Windows Mobile bias

@Sam re Point #4: Agree with possibility to do CAB-on-the-fly-installs, however as you mentioned, they aren’t all in the one place and you have to find them. The iPhone does this for all available apps, through the one interface and in the same way. Re: Point #5, iPhone’s interface is much prettier

@Mike Farho: If you’re happy with your WM5 then by all means stick to it. I did like being to able exchange data via memory cards to different computers / devices and I will incorporate this in my next article about the “10 things I don’t like about the iPhone” in the next couple of days.Thanks for your feedback.

Tim Says, in 7-15-2008 at 12:15:40 from 203.49.102.2

Quote MrGadget “Agree with possibility to do CAB-on-the-fly-installs, however as you mentioned, they aren’t all in the one place and you have to find them. The iPhone does this for all available apps, through the one interface and in the same way”
You can see that as an advantage and it’s certainly user friendly, but it also means that you MUST get every app you want/need from Apple. There’s little room for competition and Apple have no good reason to ever want competition anyway. They can tie up their exclusive deals with developers and “sell” their developers a monopoly of the iPhone user market in that type of application. This is clearly a disadvantage as well, and ties every iPhone user to a particular system or application. Echoes of Microsoft?

Mr.Gadget Says, in 7-15-2008 at 12:20:43 from 203.20.35.102

Tim, the iPhone SDK has been available for a couple of months now so it means that anyone can write an iPhone app and sell it through the store as long as it abides by Apples standards. So in fact, Apple does not have a monopoly on the apps. In a way, it’s good that all apps can be bought in one place as it ensures quality, well at least helps with it.

True, having more resellers of apps would possibly help with lowering prices.

Tim Says, in 7-15-2008 at 15:38:03 from 203.49.102.2

I know anyone can write an app for the iPhone - but Apple maintains control over what gets onto the AppStore, and for what price. Apple say this is so they can maintain quality control (and it works, presumably) but it also means Apple can dictate what’s available for users.

For instance, I have read that Apple (in all their wisdom) won’t allow turn-by-turn navigation from iPhone. That means that despite having a good GPS receiver, a fast processor, a nice big bright touchscreen and an external speaker, there is never any prospect of having turn-by-turn navigation, even if the developors queue up to make software to do that. Why? Because Apple said so, that’s why.

Alternatively, they could let, say, Tomtom make a navigation program for iPhone, and prevent anyone else from releasing a competing product. So Tomtom can charge whatever they want, knowing that people will suck it up regardless of cost because there’s no alternative. And then they can sell map updates to the same captive audience at whatever price they choose.

Google Maps is “poor cousin” alternative, but it isn’t proper navigation and requires a data connection - which costs money every time you use it and relies on having a decent data signal.

Mr.Gadget Says, in 7-15-2008 at 19:51:01 from 121.44.173.48

“there is never any prospect of having turn-by-turn navigation”…actually Tim, TomTom has already developed the software and it’s not too far away (thankfully). See: http://tinyurl.com/6qv6uh

I hear what you are saying. Let’s give it time and see how it pans out.

Having been a very active Windows Mobile User (I am still a moderator on http://www.Mtekk.com.au - a site that was dedicated to Windows machines) I can tell you now that the apps are similar in pricing, sometimes even cheaper than Windows Mobiles apps. To be quite honest, I’d rather deal with Apple than the likes of Handango…but that’s another story…

Tim Says, in 7-16-2008 at 08:39:51 from 203.49.102.2

Sorry for the long previous comment, I may have gotten a little carried away….hopefully my point is clear though.

I agree that the Apps site is potentially a great idea….but it also means Apple hold a lot of power over iPhone users. I just hope they don’t abuse that power, like Microsoft does.

I will wait to see the details of the iPhone Tomtom deal, as it would be a deal-maker or deal-breaker for me. GPS navigation requiring a data connection (eg Google Maps) is a rort designed to keep telcos happy.

BTW I’m a regular on Mtekk too, and I have found it very useful on a number of occasions.

Mr.Gadget Says, in 7-16-2008 at 08:47:06 from 203.58.120.11

No problems Tim. That’s what this comment section is for - to share your opinion.

Yes, I too am eagerly awaiting official release of the TomTom GPS for iPhone!

Sean Carmody Says, in 7-17-2008 at 19:08:58 from 211.30.243.38

From what I’ve heard, the GPS is pretty battery-hungry, so it’s been designed to fire up, get coords and then shut down again. Presumably turn-by-turn would require it to be on continuously and the ban on turn-by-turn apps is to avoid problems with battery life (especially since you can’t swap the battery out for a fully charged one).

Mr.Gadget Says, in 7-17-2008 at 20:09:03 from 121.44.173.48

The current “GPS” functionality with Google Maps chews battery power consistently as it constantly updates your blue circle bleep. There is no time to shut down while it updates every 1-2 seconds.
I don’t believe that turn-by-turn will chew up much more battery life as it will be performing the same process, i.e. sending location data, receiving location data, updating positioning software.

Tomtom have been in the game for a while so here’s hoping for a battery / processor efficient turn-by-turn GPS app for the iPhone.

Cheers.

Tim Says, in 7-18-2008 at 08:41:18 from 203.49.102.2

I’ve used PDAs with built-in GPS for about 3 years, and there’s no doubt GPS uses a lot of power - you’ve got a screen that’s always on, a GPS receiver going flat out, voice instructions and quite a bit of processing. It gets even more intense for Google Maps where a data connection is also required.

If you’re using navigation in the car (which you will, 99% of the time) just get a car power adaptor and plug it in - money well spent.

Mr.Gadget Says, in 7-18-2008 at 08:54:08 from 203.58.120.11

Very good tip for the battery-power-deficient iPhone. It’s one of the prices that you pay for being at the forefront and having so much functionality on a device.

10 of the Most Annoying Things about the iPhone » nohurry Says, in 7-28-2008 at 08:13:35 from 210.72.225.62

[...] the end of the day, it is still a fantastic device - see my post on the top 10 things I like about the iPhone 3G. I think that both these posts together will give one a well-rounded [...]

Kathy Says, in 7-31-2008 at 12:55:40 from 131.236.1.5

I’ve had mine a couple of days now. I love it - it’s by no means perfect, but the app store fills a number of holes.

I also have a Tomtom and will keep that for in the car, but love the fact that if I get confused while walking in an unfamiliar town I can check my position - and how to get back to the car - without having to carry an extra gadget.

I’ve also got rid of quite a few ‘essential’ bits of paper, with all of this now in my iPhone.