The Iphone 3GS is perfect

Can somebody write an iPhone App that reads RSS feeds from tech news websites, reorders the words a little bit (inserting a few spelling and grammar errors), liberally sprinkles with dumb stock phrases like "super soaraway", "fruit-themed", and "inspector knacker", then uploads the HTML to the Inq.

The delicious irony of Farrell being replaced by an iPhone - surely, someone can make this happen?

When I saw the new specs touted by apple people i was left scratching my head

I mean nokia smartphones could copy&paste since ages, sending pictures by mms wow! what a feature!

still some people are missing key features that other phones could do at a much lower price point such as:

Send files via Bluetooth,
Better camera,
Video calling,
Playing mp3 ringtones FFS!

it seems that the new compass and the ability to send mms is all the new features they added oh yes and voice calling lol and the present them like something all brand new

I've had N95's, HTC TyTN IIs and a few other phones recently. I didn't buy into the whole apple iphone thing at all, mainly because my TyTN II could run TomTom and Google maps fine as well as play music- things I use a lot.

However I got the 3GS on Friday and it beats these hands down. It's slicker, easier to use, faster than Windows mobile by a light year and well it just works!

The 3GS isn't perfect but it does add a lot to the spec list:

Faster CPU
More RAM
finger print reducing screen coating (very noticable compared to a 3G)
video recording
better camera
built in compass (very useful with maps)
longer battery life.

I agree the apple PR machine is out of control, but if you add the 50,000 apps on top of the fact the phone is just brilliantly well designed and useable, many apps are genuinely useful, you have to at least give Apple credit.

what a piece of crap, do you actually own both iphones, 3g and 3g s? i'm fed up with this rubbish you've been writing recently about apple. get over it, ppl like their products because they just work.

***ppl like their products because they just work.***

What a load of bollocks, they are no more reliable or work any better than anything else on the market. People buy Apple products because it makes them feel special when the fact is it tends to turn people in to elitist nobs.

I'm an iPhone owner and I’m quite happy with it. It's a good device but lets be honest... the thing doesn't "Just Work" as most fans like to brag.

The feature set is good but they do have their problems such as apps crashing... I don't know how many times Safari has crashed out on me while trying to browse a page! The same with Maps and apps from the app store needing a restart of the phone before they can be launched!

iTunes is not the greatest or most reliable of management software’s either. I have had to rebuild my library 6 times since starting to use it losing my play lists and stats with it, iTunes seems to corrupt or not support its own library especially when upgrading to a new version.

I also find the windows version very slow and unresponsive as an application when compared with similar solutions.

So to say that Apple software "Just Works" and is less buggy when trying to compare with other software in my experience is just wrong! It has its problems, some quite severe like any other software!

Apple is an image more so than functionality. While it has its merits, its stomping adverts over microsoft are not all that sensible!!

Microsoft is more productive and creates more jobs than Apple!

p.s : I LOVE THE PROGRAM YOU WROTE

(You don't mind if I call you Nick right? since we're buddies now...)
I bought an iPhone, it cost me more than it should but I bought it and guess what?! IT'S REALLY SHINY! combine these two elements and all I can say is that IT'S THE BEST EVER, EVER!
Please don't insult my iPhone, I iLove it & stating facts hurts my iFeelings.

Can anyone please help me bend over so I can pay £200 for a $99 phone? PLEASE?!

DID YOU KNOW IT CAN PLAY MP3s TOO?! DID YOU KNOW THAT HA??
A BRAND NEW iFEATURE!!!

Suck my iChakras.

i tell you what. i went straight from a long fiddle with the 3G S, and then went into the orange store and a play with the omnia HD (i8190) and the sammy beats the pants off the iphone in practically every department, even with and i will be honest here, mostly arse symbian OS. but on the samsung, the trademark symbian sluggishness is mostly eradicated by the speed and memory of the hardware, its the fastest symbian smartphone i ever used and a breath of fresh air after the N series. i ordered one on the spot.

frankly there are better specced, more intuitive, quality alternatives to the iphone. far from perfect, but the samsung has the 3G S beat already....

Yes, there are other phones that do everything and more that the iPhone does.

*BUT* the iPhone is the first phone that does those things that doesn't suck.

I've owned other smartphones in the past. I was drawn in by reviews of the Nokia 6682 among others. These became expensive phones. The iPhone, while limited in some ways, is actually useful for checking email and surfing the web.

Here's an exercise. Hop on mass transit somewhere, and look for people reading news or email on their phones. I'll bet you that the vast majority of them are using iPhones. Now consider that the iPhone still has relatively low market penetration, and clearly far more people with iPhones use the 'smartphone' features of their phones than do blackberry owners, nokia owners, etc..

So yes, the iPhone is not perfect. But it's a lot less imperfect than most smartphones. And don't even get me started about the inanity of writing an article on a "tech" site that for its source uses a random forum post on a random website.

Haha... Funny to read the posts here. Mostly from techies and geeks. People, the iPhone is a consumer phone not a geek phone. It does everything an average cell phone user wants and more. Plus, it can be used in an enterprise environment. Good grief!!!! Face it, you geeks are in the minority when it comes to smartphones. Apple has already sold 1 million on the first weekend, mostly to regular Joes.

Ask any regular Blackberry owner if they are able to use all of the phone's features without having to pull out a manual. Get over it, people. Quit hating.

As an Apple fanboy Other things I'm a fanboy of: Brazilian models, summer & Ferraris.

Some things are pretty much perfect.

The iPhone is another thing is the greater of its sum parts ... but if you can't see that - hey whatev

To be a contrarian for the sake of being a contrarian means you can't stand that others might be right and you're wrong and really - that's your problem - meanwhile, we'll enjoy the best things in life. Hasta.

An

It doesn’t need to be perfect...

After all, Job's et all have won the marketing campaign a long, long ago.

It's all about style now. It has become "cool" to own an IPod. Although there are more affordable alternatives out there, they just don't have "Apple" on them.

I agree. I never understood the iphone hype. Sure, it looks great and I like to hold it. Nice chassis, stylish overall. But when it comes to features I can't help laughing when the fanbois are so excited about functionality that I've had in my ugly, heavy Symbian smartphone since 2004.

Get an ugly Nokia E72 and learn how to use it, then you'll realize that the iphone does pretty much nada...

I have now assumed that all the media owns Apple stock.

Great werk!

I know U Not apple bob...
U speak up like U got a pear!

Not every Pater, Mater, Frater and Sorater, will do.

Ahh.. The fanbois chanting..

Jobs is perfect, Iphone is perfect.
I need nothing else.
Jobs provides, Iphone delivers.
I can feel no pain.

Some people just don't get it. THey never likely will. Features are not the end all be all of a given product. They are a part but not THE thing that makes or breaks a product. I read somewhere a poster bragged about his feature rich smartphone that was ugly and heavy but still the "features" in his opinion were better than the iPhone. Then he went onto tell people to purchase a product other than the iPhone and "LEARN" how to use it. He totally missed the point in his own post "LEARN" how to use it... funny that:P

Why purchase a product that has as its feature set having too learn how too use it? Get it?

Pagan jim

As another poster stated to be contrary for the sake of being contrary is the problem. I don't care for Apple's arrogance but that won't hinder me from recognizing their achievements. They moved a million units in 3 days - that is remarkable in this economy and AT&T's total suckage. Apple's success in the mobile device market at least is an example of building a better mouse trap - or rather building a more marketable mouse trap if you will.

There are better devices - on paper. And some that give the iPhone a run for the money like the Palm Pre. Some are just better suited to the individual like a Blackberry. What one vendor may excel at they may lack the triple thereat. By that I mean the flare the ease of use and the level of support.

Consider this the iPhone G1 after two years has received all the firmware and incremental updates that the other iterations of the iPhone has - can't say the same for Winmobile, RIMM or Symbian.

Apple is a media darling like it or not and yet they've earned at least some of their of reputation by producing solid products if not over priced.

Their competition will do well to keep them on their toes while their loyal customer base will continue to drink the Kool Aid and buy whatever Apple says is hot....so yeah I have a 32GB iPhone 3GS

So as my title says, if I were to follow your logic, if Apple designs and produces a car for the public, any idiot without driving lessons can just hope in it and get it going down the highway?

It is nice to see Apple FINALLY update the damn iPhone to something somewhat comaparable in features to some older phones. And the speed increase is also nice.

That being said, I still prefer my BB over the iPhone, much more practical to use. The iPhone is great for everyday users, but people who like to stay in contact with close friends and possibl work, the BB is still the phone to beat

Did you try any of the modified ROMs for the TyTN 2? I owned Tilt and I'll admit that it sucked as it shipped. However, using a cooked ROM like those found over at xda-developers.com speeds things up significantly and gets rid of the sluggish feeling.

I'm on my second HTC device, now the Fuze/Touch Pro. With a cooked ROM, I'd argue that it's just as fast if not faster in some cases than my iPod Touch.

So my question is, were you using the carrier encumbered garbage on the HTC's or using a ROM that didn't cripple the phone's performance?

Yes it is no surprise to me that some people won't bother to learn to use nice features because they're either lazy or uninterested.

That might be ok if they don't need the features at all and don't mind paying extra for style alone. My girlfriend is that way. I on the other hand want to do many things I can't do with an iPhone, so I will never get one.

The apple toy does not annoy me at all. I like it. I'm just annoyed having to hear about how wonderful, complete, sophisticated and adequately priced it is - any one who can use a good smartphone (like a solid Symbian) knows that too much is lacking on iphone.

If someone is buying or upgrading their phone I understand choosing an iphone. What I don't understand is what a friend of mine did..

He paid $600 to break his current contract, $199 for the 3G S and signed a contract for $100/month for 3 years.

I called him on it and he is insisting the true cost is $199. He doesn't see the $600 as a cost... or the $1200/year x 3 years as a cost. He insists he got a great deal. He said he chose that specific data plan for his email (doesn't do much web browsing). Ironically he gets 2-3 emails per day. It's literally costing him about $0.75 per email.

I really don't understand.

For the majority of the last 5 years I've worked for 3 mobile in Australia as a Tester. My job is to test the portal on ALL supported Mobile Phones; our emergency cut-down list is 20 handsets. To do a full regression, we generally do over 60-80 handsets.

Up until this point, 3 hasn't sold the iPhone. And to be honest, I know how to use any phone you can throw at me. A few months ago I was mocking the iPhone in front of all my Apple mates, and my Canadian mate laughed at me and asked me if I'd ever used one. Yes, I had used one for ~30 seconds, and decided it was overpriced fluff.

Well, he lent me his 2nd, unlocked iPhone for 2 weeks, and challenged me to properly use it. Anyway, being the phone geek I am, I took him up on it. Suffice it to say, it has quite a cut down feature list, however what it does it seriously does very well. Cultic nature of Apple aside, I have taken quite a shining to it. It really is a perfect phone for non-geeks; consumers, you know, the other 90% of the world who fork over their money to keep us employed? Those people!

It's perfect for it's market segment (the 90% of unwashed, tech illiterate masses) and so much so I introduced it to my father who is computer illiterate, has a very busy schedule, trades commodities futures, and really would like a personal organizer but doesn't have the time nor inclination to spend days learning one. He took to it within the space of an hour and was very impressed. Not only that, my mother (potter, doesn't know how to turn a computer on - literally. And I've tried to show her how to use one; hopeless.) learnt how to use it also! She LIKED IT!

So, for it's target market audience, it's better than any other tech-snobbery geek-hubris device out there. It's not my cup of tea, I personally don't pay any more than $200 for a phone, and I like my Cybershot 5MP Sony Ericsson w MMS & Video messaging & manual keypad too much, but for Mum & Dad who hate phones, to have them both raving over it (they didn't buy because the price scared the daylights out of them) is an astonishing achievement.

Hey,
I'm a professional geek (a programmer). Any time I want to screw with technical gizmos I have 3 laptops, HTPC, workstation, web server, MS SQL/MySQL DB server etc... and yes, I have iPhone 3GS. Yes, iPhone doesn't have too many features, but the ones I use (Web browsing, email and phone book) it does well. If I wanted features I'd use my laptop (with built in WAN card) + Skype + you name it. How many of your phones can make phone calls while defragmenting a harddrive or serving files over FTP or HTTP? Better yet, anyone with UltraBright 17" screen, QuadroFX (512MB dedicated RAM) card and BlueRay ROM??
My point is that if I wanted to have "features", I could have gotten a Windows Mobile phone, a Palm or the Android. I can even write my own features. Nope. All I want is to make a phone call here and there, send/receive SMS or an email and read the news. At $200 (AKA 1.5 months worth of Starbucks) iPhone goves me all I want... I don't care if it's perfect, and I don't even care who made it. It works for me so I bought it...

Regards
Yuriy

No other phone on the planet can boast so many fart apps.

sure other phones can do what the iPhone can do and then some, but can they do it *well*? I've had plenty of experience in smartphones and have yet to come across one that is as easy and quick to use as the iPhone, whose large touchscreen actually makes finger operation on the go a pleasant experience. Take for example the HTC wizard or TyTn II - they both use the more typical resistive touch panel with a huge bezel around the edges. Between the touchscreen materials that stick to your fingers -making gestures impossible- and a slow interface, the useability pales in comparison to the iPhone, which was designed for such use from the start. TouchFlo 3D on the HTC diamond and the like does little to remedy this, and the next windows mobile looks to disappoint too. the iPhone might lack some basic features, but it's blasting everything else out of the water when it comes to actually interfacing with the thing, and that's more important than many people here seem to think it is. That's why they're so popular... because what could take a myriad button clicks or stylus wizardy on any other phone -no matter how much better the result might be- can usually be achieved in a couple of taps on the iPhone.

pre palm.....HTC touch HD.....samsung omnia HD. three phones i would have ahead of the iphone IMO

What's all the Hipe about that crappie Iphone anyways? I mean, is an overprice pice of ... Equipment. It looks cute like an ITouch but all of the app's (except for Opera) are a little useless. Anyways maybe I missed something so my Apologies OK?
Still Apple is making a furtune out of the Poor fanboys out their. Hope they invest in something more "creative" in a near future.

Don't mention those phones, they are evil like how Iran views the USA as far as Apple fanatics are concerned.

Apples adoption of technology is very slow. Look at there computers, they dropped there hardware and moved to another hardware platform because they couldn't keep up nor could be bothered. Then they go and do as Dell etc does and makes the junk in China.
A Mac is basically a super model, but is riddled with disease on the inside and has a cocaine personality complex.

re:DanielD, 22 June 2009.
Firstly your comment is contradictory at best with everything you say.

Secondly quote "People, the iPhone is a consumer phone not a geek phone." - jbreaking the phone makes it a serious tool for the geek and the similar nerd alike, I'm guessing you have yet to experience the JB scene, for that I call you a noob that paid too much for his (maybe her) gadget, waste of $800+.

Thirdly quote "mostly to regular Joes" - they would be the ones pulling out the manual for an iphone let alone a BBoy! and everything else for that matter. Lol I’m guessing like yourself there.

Love how ppl go overboard with only the slightest idea of the facts.

I have a jb iphone 3G, does what i want it to do, but I actually use it for what it can do, Unix and media device (with every codec supported). Every1 else bought an over rated, over priced, style conscious toy.

PS, it must be said that I wont pull this thing out in public because I like my manhood firmly intact lol. That’s saying something all of it’s own.