Apple's iPhone 3G is pretty darn impressive

When the first iPhone came out I dismissed it pretty quick because I was addicted to my AciveSync DirectPush on my Windows Mobile (WM) 6 device and because the ATT network it was tired to is just slow. All the while I switched my MP3 player over to an iPod Touch and fell in love with the UI & iTunes. Then, upon hearing Apple was adding support for 3G, a GPS receiver and ActiveSync support made me come back and check it out. I've read up, especially over the weekend and played with one in the local store. I also updated my iPod Touch to the 2.0 OS, the same one that the iPhone now runs on, to play with the new features. Suffice to say, I'm very impressed. The thing that I was really eager to see was the response from Microsoft. So far the only close competition that's been impressive is form Sprint... can't wait to see what WM7 has in store for us!

As a WM user for years now, I've known I could download & install apps via my laptop and also surf the web on a browser, but it never felt like a natural experience. I just felt like I always had to get through a bunch of stuff. I know many will disagree... it's just my experience. But when it comes down to it, I've loved WM overall and loved the email experience.

What gets me is just how well information is surfaced to the user in the iPhone OS. after installing the phone, I was pretty surprised how quickly I pulled up a map & setup directions from my house to a friend in my address book. While I don't have it on my iPod Touch, I got to play with SMS on the iPhone in the store... and I love the experience. It brings me back to the days of my Palm based Treo where I could see the whole dialog as it progressed... not just the last message at a time like WM does.

One more thing that I was really impressed with: AppStore. I've always been able to download applications for my WM phone... and you could get them from all sources. However Apple has just nailed the experience. Finding an app, either from the device, iTunes or the browser is a piece of cake. Installing them (only available from the first two, not the latter) is also a piece of cake. I picked up the Facebook & WeatherBug app right off the bat. With WeatherBug, I can quickly check out the radar for my area, or any are in the US. I know, I could do this on my current phone. Maybe it's just the novelty of a new toy that's impressive... dunno... but I don't think so.

The keyboard did trip me up at first. I constantly complained about it and not being able to type my name quickly. I saw a video and read something about how to get used to it so I gave it a shot. After playing around a few times I just took a stab at writing an email as fast as I could, not stopping to fix errors. Results were impressive! So I timed myself writing the same thing on my WM phone & iPod Touch... a dead tie! Now THAT shocked me. <insert foot in mouth />

The only thing I'm not completely sold on is the email experience. At first Apple seems to have been a little unrealistic in a typical business user case. I have tons of folders... easily over a hundred. What I like is that I can now get email in ANY folder, not just the ones I configure to sync (like in WM). As I browse to it, the folder is sync'd ondemand. Would be nice if it fetched it ahead of time. The other disadvantage here is that there's no exploding/collapsing of the folders. Yes, that means I have to see ALL of them. That really sucks. And guess what, sent items is at the very bottom (least I assume it is... I haven't been able to scroll that far :P). For some folders I frequently access, I'd have to move them up towards the top... which is unfortunate. There are plenty of other Exchange ActiveSync issues on the iPhone, covered quite well here. He also complains about lack of document storage on the phone. Not an issue for me as I don't touch that in my WM phone.

I'm seriously considering the switch. If I can deal with the email (thankfully something I get to test out on the iPod Touch via a WiFi connection), I might switch to the iPhone. With the exception of email experience & battery life, it is very appealing.

Technorati Tags: iphone

posted on Tuesday, July 15, 2008 6:58 AM

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# re: Apple's iPhone 3G is pretty darn impressive 7/15/2008 9:07 AM John Ross

The new iPhone looks very cool, I know Randy is thinking real hard about it. I have the same issues that you do with the iPhone -- specifically email. I love Verizon (who obviously doesn't have the iPhone) but I'm really not thrilled with the WM phones they offer. Mine does the job okay, but I think it is kind of clunky. Why is it so difficult to come up with an attractive phone with a good form factor? BlackBerry has done a great job with making some real slick looking phones, could the WM phone makers please make a cool smartphone that isn't gigantic??

JR

# re: Apple's iPhone 3G is pretty darn impressive 7/15/2008 10:17 AM MOSSLover

The only other problem is finding an Iphone...The second they get them into stores they are sold out:(
It's almost as bad as buying a Wii Fit.

# re: Apple's iPhone 3G is pretty darn impressive 7/15/2008 12:08 PM Chris Poteet

AC,

Yes, I've spent a ton of time researching this as well. I also was less-than-impressed with the first go as a business user. I mean, it was slick but not as functional as one would like.

I like the Exchange support, but apparently you have pay $15 extra dollars a month for the ActiveSync support in the data plan. After adding SMS and phone I would easily have a $100 phone bill. AT&T pulls the rug out from underneath you with a subsidized iPhone but then charge the fool out of you.

# re: Apple's iPhone 3G is pretty darn impressive 7/15/2008 12:12 PM Kanwal

I have been thinking the same thing. A great contender is the HTC Diamond and HTC Diamond Pro... both windows mobile 6.1 phones that bring alot to the table...

# re: Apple's iPhone 3G is pretty darn impressive 7/15/2008 9:58 PM AC [MVP MOSS]

Chris-
Everything I read and hear says you don't need the extra $45 biz plan to use Exchange. I've set it up on my iPod Touch and tons of people are setting up themselves without the extra plan. Check out this thread I started for more info: http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=1605181&tstart=0

The prices of their plan matches, pretty closely, my current Sprint plan with the same number of features and such.

# re: Apple's iPhone 3G is pretty darn impressive 7/16/2008 12:27 AM Sahil Malik

What have I done. I first turned you to VMWare, next iPhone. LOL.

I agree about your email comment. I use it as a 2 minute executive teflon coating. I keep clearing emails on the go. On my desktop is where I use the folder version.

I'll explain when I see you next.

SM

# re: Apple's iPhone 3G is pretty darn impressive 7/16/2008 2:40 AM Aaron Powell

Haha look at the fan-boy go, first a MBP and now an iPhone!

Just razzing ya AC.

But a real question/ comment. As a MOSS developer do you have any thoughts on generating iPhone-targeted content from MOSS?

We've just done our first iPhone targeted site (but using a different .NET based CMS) and it got me wondering how you would do iPhone targetting from MOSS...

# re: Apple's iPhone 3G is pretty darn impressive 7/16/2008 10:06 AM Chris Poteet

Thanks for that tip AC.

# re: Apple's iPhone 3G is pretty darn impressive 7/18/2008 12:59 AM Arno Nel

Check out SharePoint on the iPhone:

http://sharepointmagazine.net/news/microsoft-sharepoint-on-the-iphone

re: Apple's iPhone 3G is pretty darn impressive 7/18/2008 3:46 PM Praveen

its Yet to launch in India, once it does .. .. lets see.

re: Apple's iPhone 3G is pretty darn impressive 7/31/2008 12:52 AM Zac B

I know the iPod Touch is pretty neat in all but I'm surprised you aren't sporting a player that supports subscription based content. For me music is the key to my media player so that's a pretty big deal.
I bought my fiance the Instinct from Sprint, I think it's the one you were mentioning, I liked it so much that I exchanged my Mogul in for it. Two 5.7 hr batters, voice command, turn by turn nav, text, picture & video messages (which I didn't ever get into until now). It only has 2gb storage but that's why we both have 80gb Zunes. I think it supports 25 email accounts including two flavors of exchange. I believe I setup mine to the owa option but I'm not sure. There hasn't been any features added yet but there are a few decent email settings. The voice activated Live Search is great and has good weather & wave report features I use. There are the other things I'm not to interested in, Sprint TV & Radio, news, etc. Sprint Desktop Sync keeps my contacts intact. $130 a pop was an easy decision (although the final deal was that I have a 3rd line up for renewal when WM7 is released).
Like you mentioned about the downloadable apps for WM, there are some really great ones that can really recreate all the features of these new phones. The screens just aren't great though.
In response to John Ross, there just hasn't been any demand for phones with power. The only real clients have been the corporations who would rather save a little cash than have a phone have some extra ram, brighter screen etc.

I'm going to let a little loose here because I'm curious what you think. Obviously it has to do with the iPhone, well it has more to do with the respectable mobile phone review sites. It is very annoying to read a mobile phone review which compares these new similar phones. They will list many of the features that most mobile phones do and that users want/use: Picture/Video Mail, voice command, real GPS navigation, keyboard options while text messaging. I then read that the iPhone can't perform them but the, wait all, reviewers start talking about a pretty screen for video playback, youtube access, the store, etc and then say that it's all worth it. I keep thinking to myself, "Is this a review for a mobile phone or is it a mobile media player review which includes mobile phones in the lineup?". I then start to drift off and imagine a mobile phone review which features mobile media players; "This phone can do free streaming HD movies & music, store a few hundred gigs, browse the internet with your mind, it just doesn't make phone calls… It sure has my vote though!

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