Advertisement
If you have a new account but are having problems posting or verifying your account, please email us on hello@boards.ie for help. Thanks :)
Hello all! Please ensure that you are posting a new thread or question in the appropriate forum. The Feedback forum is overwhelmed with questions that are having to be moved elsewhere. If you need help to verify your account contact hello@boards.ie
Hi there,
There is an issue with role permissions that is being worked on at the moment.
If you are having trouble with access or permissions on regional forums please post here to get access: https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058365403/you-do-not-have-permission-for-that#latest

to iphone or not to iphone that is the question!

  • 07-12-2009 03:51PM
    #1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 794 ✭✭✭


    Righto folks,

    I have an issue after 12 years of Nokia ( and a brief but unsuccessful fling with an ericisson) I am the most tempted I have ever been to switch platform. At this point I must tell you I have been up till now very Anti apples proprietary nature but given the proliferation of them into the market and the sheer amount of 3rd party offerings I said it was time to review. I currently have an e71 which is great but I've been given a fairly good offer on and iphone 3Gs 16Gb, apart from the 18 month contract, and it's basically going to cost me nothing so the question is...

    Is it really as good as it appears?

    I want the bad stories from folks who have them, we all know the ups, fantastic aps, really neat, great design, one of the best touch screens in the market.

    What I want are the reasons not to get an iphone! The can't forward a text and the transferring the phone book is a nightmare!!!!

    "It's great" posts won't work here we want brass tacks. So if you please, hit me!
    Cheers
    Hick


Comments

  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 68,190 ✭✭✭✭seamus


    You can forward texts now, only took 3 years :D
    The phone book's not that difficult to transfer.

    The battery is ****, really.

    The phone looks great but if you're like me and it spends most of its time in your pocket, the case will scratch and scuff badly, no matter how hard you try to protect it.

    It has no FM radio. Streaming radio over 3G works great but sucks on your battery like a newborn calf.

    There is no easy way to configure shortcuts to the stuff that you would need shortcuts for - switching WiFi/bluetooth on/off, or going directly to your main email accounts.

    No multiprocessing except for playing music. So with the aformentioned streaming radio, you either listen to the radio or you can surf the web or you can play a game. You can't do all/both at the same time.

    There's no easy way to delete texts en masse. It's very easy to let them build up, and then it becomes quite slow to open up texts.

    I would suggest holding off for the moment, if you can. Apple tend to release on a yearly basis, so the next iPhone is due in June 2010. The 3GS wasn't a massive leap in technology in the way that the 3G was, so Apple are expected to release something pretty special next year.

    On top of that, the exclusivity agreements seem to be coming to an end, so in June you may be able to get a 4th Generation iPhone on a one-year contract from either Vodafone or O2, whereas if you lock into an 18-month contract now, you won't be able to upgrade until June 2011 :eek:


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 794 ✭✭✭hick


    now that's the kind of answer I was looking for, thanks a million!

    Any rebuttal out there would be interesting but in the mean time, I'm in the hold off camp again


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 22,924 ✭✭✭✭ShadowHearth


    well, i still whant iphone :(. Even if it has flows...


    3gs is impresive, and a few reviewers said: if you looking to upgrade your old iphone or finnaly get one, 3gs is the one to get!

    Problem is, if you will allways wait for newer better version to come out, you will end up with no phone at all...

    yeah i know iphone cant do multitasking at all, it is limited in fuctions, thought i prefer to have a few functions, which are polished, then having thousands, which are barely working...

    You could get htc hero instead of iphone if you whant better phone over all, but problem is, HTC hero is like an experiment, for which you have to pay big money...

    I am still planing to get iphone before xmas, thought the biggest seller for me was: gaming platform. Not even one phone can beat iphone in this...


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 25 ciarabarry


    ya i was thinking of getting one for christmas, on pay as you go (02) so I am not tied to a contract..i am 15 what do ye think of the phone in general? i am also terrified id drop it and break the screen!! thanks :)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,509 ✭✭✭Donnelly117


    well, i still whant iphone :(. Even if it has flows...


    3gs is impresive, and a few reviewers said: if you looking to upgrade your old iphone or finnaly get one, 3gs is the one to get!

    Problem is, if you will allways wait for newer better version to come out, you will end up with no phone at all...

    yeah i know iphone cant do multitasking at all, it is limited in fuctions, thought i prefer to have a few functions, which are polished, then having thousands, which are barely working...

    You could get htc hero instead of iphone if you whant better phone over all, but problem is, HTC hero is like an experiment, for which you have to pay big money...

    I am still planing to get iphone before xmas, thought the biggest seller for me was: gaming platform. Not even one phone can beat iphone in this...

    i agree with this, if you keep waiting for the next big thing then you will never buy anything. and as for the HTC Hero, the second gen one will be great but the current one is too glitchy because its so new, and is very expensive


  • Advertisement
  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,613 ✭✭✭Lord Nikon


    I have one for sale in adverts.ie , just saying. oh, and i would never go back to a Nokia.

    http://www.adverts.ie/showproduct.php?product=164190


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 794 ✭✭✭hick


    so why sell then :rolleyes:


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 2,300 ✭✭✭nice1franko


    seamus wrote: »
    There is no easy way to configure shortcuts to the stuff that you would need shortcuts for - switching WiFi/bluetooth on/off, or going directly to your main email accounts.
    jailbreak - sbsettings app
    seamus wrote: »
    No multiprocessing except for playing music. So with the aformentioned streaming radio, you either listen to the radio or you can surf the web or you can play a game. You can't do all/both at the same time.
    jailbreak - backgrounder app
    seamus wrote: »
    There's no easy way to delete texts en masse. It's very easy to let them build up, and then it becomes quite slow to open up texts.
    It's very easy - easier than any other phone imo!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 68,190 ✭✭✭✭seamus


    Jailbreaking doesn't mitigate the "bad stuff". Jailbreaking has its own hassles and downsides.

    The last phone I had was a Sony Ericsson. The text message inbox had a "Select All" function, which then let me deselect the last ten (or whatever) texts, or texts I wanted to save and delete everything else. The iPhone can't do that.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 2,300 ✭✭✭nice1franko


    seamus wrote: »
    Jailbreaking doesn't mitigate the "bad stuff"...

    I thought that was exactly the point of it
    seamus wrote: »
    The last phone I had was a Sony Ericsson. The text message inbox had a "Select All" function, which then let me deselect the last ten (or whatever) texts, or texts I wanted to save and delete everything else. The iPhone can't do that.
    True... but all msgs are grouped per user so you can delete all msgs to/from another person with a swipe and click (or individual msgs within that conversation). Can a Sony Ericsson do that?

    The whole sms interface is different to any other phone that I've seen - and vastly better imo.

    Look, I'm no apple fan boy. I'm just providing *a few* (note: I haven't defended battery life etc, etc) rebuttals, as per the OP's request.


  • Advertisement
  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 68,190 ✭✭✭✭seamus


    I thought that was exactly the point of it
    It "fixes" some of the issues, but presents issues of its own. For example, the fact that you're installing an OS which could theoretically be from any Joe Coder who's embedded mailicious code in the hack and is using your phone to spam people or steal passwords.
    There are "trusted" sources for the jailbreak, but it would be easy enough to appear legit while injecting your own code into the OS image.
    The SSH hack earlier last month also showed that jailbreaking opens you up to risks which don't exist in unbroken phones.

    Background processing on jailbroken phones I've heard anecdotally will rape your battery, and is cited as the primary reason why Apple haven't implemented it yet.

    I'm not saying that jailbreaking is a bad idea, but it's not a perfect solution, it doesn't suddenly remove all the flaws on the phone.
    True... but all msgs are grouped per user so you can delete all msgs to/from another person with a swipe and click (or individual msgs within that conversation). Can a Sony Ericsson do that?

    The whole sms interface is different to any other phone that I've seen - and vastly better imo.
    I think we'll have to agree to disagree on that one. The conversation-style layout and the qwerty keyboard are great. I otherwise find messaging lacking. Clearly Apple considered that the iPhone would be primarily an email messaging device and only provided SMS for legacy purposes, forgetting that most of the users' text communication is with non-email devices.

    Something as simple as being able to adjust the layout to list everything by date instead of by conversation, when needed, would go a long way.
    Look, I'm no apple fan boy. I'm just providing *a few* (note: I haven't defended battery life etc, etc) rebuttals, as per the OP's request.
    Hey, no problem :)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,608 ✭✭✭Victor_M


    seamus wrote: »
    You can forward texts now, only took 3 years :D
    The phone book's not that difficult to transfer.

    The battery is ****, really. So are all smart phones, anyone I know with Nokias N96's and Samsung taco's have them charging in the office regularly

    The phone looks great but if you're like me and it spends most of its time in your pocket, the case will scratch and scuff badly, no matter how hard you try to protect it. Not true, plastic scratches, on anything, my 13 month old iPhone hasn't one scratch on the screen, compare with the N96 one of the lads bought at the same time, and it's in bits, mine has no cover or plastic protective case on it, the screens are brittle, so it they break it will probably be a shatter rather than a scratch, but mine is still perfect and I use mine all day every day. This is the first phone I've ever had that doesn't look tardy after 6 months yet along over a year.

    It has no FM radio. Streaming radio over 3G works great but sucks on your battery like a newborn calf. Does it? I haven't tested it, but I have used the streaming FM a few times and haven't noticed that battery depleting any less than usual, as in less than usual whilst being used

    There is no easy way to configure short-cuts to the stuff that you would need shortcuts for - switching WiFi/bluetooth on/off, or going directly to your main email accounts. Well if the 2 screens you need to go to once or twice to turn on/off BT wiFi is too much for you than SBSettings on the jailbreak will save you the 'effort' by giving a toggle on/off option, mail icon brings you directly to the last folder in the last account you were in. You back out of the inbox and select your other account if you like, of set up a rule that redirects all mails to one account, not a big issue here at all.

    No multiprocessing except for playing music. So with the aformentioned streaming radio, you either listen to the radio or you can surf the web or you can play a game. You can't do all/both at the same time. Not true, some of the apps allow you play the radio in the back ground while you are doing other things, the FM104 app for example allows this, not sure how many other ones can, but it can be done, maybe if there is enough demand they all will, as someone else mentioned backgrounder via cydia will do this too if you really need it.

    There's no easy way to delete texts en masse. It's very easy to let them build up, and then it becomes quite slow to open up texts. Again not true, this is the easiest phone I've ever had for clearing specific texts, particularly from specific contacts without going through the list one by one of like the SE having to select all and deselect those you want to keep.

    I would suggest holding off for the moment, if you can. Apple tend to release on a yearly basis, so the next iPhone is due in June 2010. The 3GS wasn't a massive leap in technology in the way that the 3G was, so Apple are expected to release something pretty special next year.

    On top of that, the exclusivity agreements seem to be coming to an end, so in June you may be able to get a 4th Generation iPhone on a one-year contract from either Vodafone or O2, whereas if you lock into an 18-month contract now, you won't be able to upgrade until June 2011 :eek: I have mine 14 months but I have been eligible for an upgrade since August!

    OP, there are a lot of haters for the sake of being haters out there (for many reasons, network fanboys, Nokia fanboys, can't afford them, Apple haters etc. some people genuinely don't like them, but from my experience these are in the minority without being influenced by the fanboy/hater bias in some way), it's by no means perfect, but there is no such thing as a perfect device, nor will there ever be, what it is though IMO and the opinion of millions of users is the closest thing available at the moment to a perfect mobile jack of all trades device wrapped up in a user friendly aesthetically pleasing, albeit expensive device (but show me a market leading product that doesn't have a price premium attached to it). There are other devices out there that purport to do the same thing for less, but threre is always a catch, usually the 'lack of touch' touch screens, I nearly drove over my HTC touch with the car last year in frustration, none of my previous SE phones lasted a year without developing a fault (usually the joystick) any Nokia I've had has been dull as dishwater, the newer Nokia touch ones have rubbish touch screens and the UI looks the same as circa 2001 Nokias.

    I've had a mobile phone since 1992, the iPhone is my second apple product (bought an iPod about 6 years ago still working perfectly) I've gone through almost every brand of mobile out there and this is the longest I've ever held onto one phone, I'm holding off until the new one get release in the summer as there isn't enough of a difference between the 3G and the 3Gs.

    Try one out, and try out the same features on competing phones and make your own decision.

    My €0.02

    One more thing, it is the only phone that can render web pages properly, without going to the mobile versions of sites, this in itself is almost reason enough to buy one as mobile internet access is one of the new generation of phones primary functions.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 68,190 ✭✭✭✭seamus


    This is the first phone I've ever had that doesn't look tardy after 6 months yet along over a year.
    I got a new one 2 months ago and it looks scruffy already. :) Depend on how you use it I guess. My point is that although it looks great, you only get a limited amount of time like that.
    Well if the 2 screens you need to go to once or twice to turn on/off BT wiFi is too much for you
    Well it is a bit much when you factor in waiting times. Switching WiFi/BT on or off are "common" functions of the phone, something which you may do 5 or 6 times a day. So it's click on Settings...wait...click on WiFi...wait....turn off...wait...go home. Takes about ten seconds. A shortcut would switch it on or off in one go.
    mail icon brings you directly to the last folder in the last account you were in.
    Again, waiting times. If I have unread mail, I should be able to say, "Take me to the first new email". At present if I'm in a mail, again it's
    Back to Inbox....wait....back to accounts...wait....select other account....wait....select inbox...wait....select new email....wait.
    The interface is great for contextual movement - going where it *thinks* you want to go, but in some instances like this, it's just lacking.
    Not true, some of the apps allow you play the radio in the back ground while you are doing other things, the FM104 app for example allows this
    Pretty sure that a requirement of getting listed on the app store is that your app can't do background. In fact, I think the API doesn't allow this. I could be wrong.
    Again not true, this is the easiest phone I've ever had for clearing specific texts, particularly from specific contacts without going through the list one by one of like the SE having to select all and deselect those you want to keep.
    Again, have to agree to disagree.

    In case anyone thinks they need to come to the defence of the phone, I have one of these and it's by far the best mobile device I've ever experienced.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,608 ✭✭✭Victor_M


    seamus wrote: »

    In case anyone thinks they need to come to the defence of the phone, I have one of these and it's by far the best mobile device I've ever experienced.

    In fairness, I'm trying to not sound like a fanboy, as I'm not, I am a fan of the iPhone but based on my satisfaction as a customer and a gadget fan, not an undying love of anything Steve Jobs releases. I didn't even contemplate the 1st gen one as it's failings were huge, as was it price, but the 3G rectified most of the previous gens shortfalls, and any other failings are being sorted with firmware upgrades as customers needs are being listened to and addressed.
    It's the only phone that completely replaces the need for a seperate mp3 player, a SatNav, and netbook.

    Tbh, if someone released a keyboard and monitor dock to allow it be plugged into a monitor & keyboard, it would replace my laptop for 99% of what I use it for.

    I've just never had a phone which has sparked so much negativity from some people, mainly those who are jealous or so loyal to other networks or to Nokia that they can't see the iPhone for the good phone it is, albeit with it's flaws.

    On the FM104 app thing, i'd never seen it before buy it seems to open a player in a new web page with contuinues to play in the background after you close safari


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 54 ✭✭nigeloconnor


    Here is my thoughts on why not to get an iPhone coming from having Nokia 6220, N95, N96 and used N97 briefly but not owned.. and numerous Nokia's through the years to getting an iPhone a few months back.

    No FM radio.. I used this a lot of my previous Nokia's.. still you can stream and with a 1 GB data you will do well to use it in a month.. still an FM radio is something Apple should have had on the iPhone ages ago as the norm..

    Camera is not as good as on iPhone.. IMO

    You have to mind it more.. I dropped the Nokias loads of times and not a bother on it.. I will get sick if I ever drop the iPhone.. However..I have a Incipio case and it's excellent.. Really Really slim and feels great..

    Battery life is poor if you use it's features a lot.. (which is tough not to cos they are so good) I have 3 chargers for it.. one at home, one in the car and one in the office.. I need to charge it everyday without fail and it takes almost 3 hours to charge fully!! Nokia's took 1.5 hours to charge.

    Sat Nav's on iPhone in my opinion aren't as good as Nokia's.. I have Garmin XT on my Nokia's and found them excellent (and free).. I have Navigon on the iPhone not convinced by it yet..

    However... I have a 3gs unlocked and jailbroken on 3 network and is by far the best 'phone' I have ever had.. without doubt.. !!


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 8,763 ✭✭✭Jax Teller


    seamus wrote: »
    The 3GS wasn't a massive leap in technology in the way that the 3G was, so Apple are expected to release something pretty special next year.
    would have to disagree with this after owning a 3g then a 3gs , 3gs is way faster at doing stuff . 3g was a 2g in a black case if you ask me


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,608 ✭✭✭Victor_M


    would have to disagree with this after owning a 3g then a 3gs , 3gs is way faster at doing stuff . 3g was a 2g in a black case if you ask me
    2.4 times faster, a digital compass and voice control hardly constitutes a "massive leap" cool additions maybe, but the leap from 2g to 3g was massive, faster, more RAM, GPS, Bluetooth, 3G, capacity, and price were all significant improvements as opposed nice to have but not essiential as the 3Gs is.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,608 ✭✭✭Victor_M



    Sat Nav's on iPhone in my opinion aren't as good as Nokia's.. I have Garmin XT on my Nokia's and found them excellent (and free).. I have Navigon on the iPhone not convinced by it yet..

    However... I have a 3gs unlocked and jailbroken on 3 network and is by far the best 'phone' I have ever had.. without doubt.. !!

    Get rid of navigon, get TOMTOM and/or IGO satnav's, both of which are as good as stand alone PNA's, the GPS receiver is a bit hit and miss as it faces forward and not a flip up or mounted on the top like on some standalone PNA's but if you place you holder correctly it works perfectly in portrait and landscape with minimal loss of GPS signal.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,458 ✭✭✭MarkN


    Victor_M wrote: »
    On the FM104 app thing, i'd never seen it before buy it seems to open a player in a new web page with contuinues to play in the background after you close safari

    It takes you to a live stream from the website... so the app closes and you're redirected.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,940 ✭✭✭dingding


    I had Nokia's as well since the mid 90's and I found the last few phones (E Series) very cumbersome to use. It was fery hard to navigate the menu systems and to set up.

    I have an iPhone for about a year and find it brilliant. The Exchange integration of calendar and email is brilliant and it can view most attachments.

    The settings are very intuitive and you can use the apps to extend the functionaltiy of the phone.

    I got a external case with a built in battery which is great as I don't have problems with battery life.

    Go for it.


  • Advertisement
  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 22,924 ✭✭✭✭ShadowHearth


    well i just got myself iphone, cant say anything about it, as its not even unpacked :P


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 19,969 ✭✭✭✭mikemac


    And you came on boards before opening your new iPhone?

    Get off boards will ya! :D


  • Posts: 17,378 ✭✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    Get on the iphone and then post on boards more like!


    I've been debating in my head if I'd like an iPhone and I have to say I wouldn't.. I love my itouch and sony ericsson separate. Battery life being the only reason. Until they sort this out, I wont enjoy the iPhone knowing if I play a game for half an hour, I might be out of battery later.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 22,924 ✭✭✭✭ShadowHearth


    wel lol, i did a mistake, i turned on pc, and logged on Ventrilo, so mine giuldies from WoW got me in to raid.. and i thought i was late enought to miss it, i wasnt :D

    So i am still stuck there! thought having 2 monitors helps, got itunes and made account :D. so some hassle out of way


Advertisement