3G iPhone — the drawbacks that haven’t changed
I’m still very enthusiastic about my iPhone. But with today’s announcements, I definitely do plan to upgrade to a new 3G phone when they’re available next month. I’ll get double the storage space, faster download speed, faster processing, plus GPS — all that in exchange for $299, two more years of AT&T contract commitment, and an extra $10 per month for the 3G data plan.
For both new and old iPhones, the app store will be a world-changer when it launches. I know of dozens of interesting, useful and mind-bending applications just waiting to be unleashed for the masses.
However, despite all that positive news, here are the things that one might have hoped would be addressed in the iPhone 2.0 but are still going to be limitations:
- AT&T only. Not a problem for me, but many customers say they can’t stand the company, or live in areas where AT&T’s coverage is bad.
- Battery: It’s still internal, and not user serviceable. (Unless you’re daring enough to trust this scary battery alternative.)
No IM: Even with the application store forthcoming, it doesn’t seem like there will be an instant messaging solution.Never mind, looks like this one is solved.- Camera not so hot. It’s 2 megapixel, with really bad performance in low light situations; the iPhone 2.0 doesn’t seem to change it.
Overall, though, a lot is improved — and a price cut that significant really is incredible.
June 10th, 2008 at 11:44 am
You’re going to shell out another $199 for a new phone? Why? Just to be more gadgety?
June 11th, 2008 at 9:22 am
Um, yeah.
Plus Kimi wants an iPhone, so we’re in the market. May as well wait a month and get the latest and greatest.
June 11th, 2008 at 9:35 am
I think I’m going to hold off, but not sure yet. Seems like a lot to pay. $215.91 for the new phone plus an extra $10 a year for 2 years $240 seems like a lot. the AT&T Edge network does suck big time but I’m just not sure the performance increase with 3G will be worth it. Especially with wifi becoming more widely available which is faster than both it seems like a lot.
Plus if you stick with this phone beyond 2 years the $10 a month still applies. So if you keep this phone 3 years then it costs you actually almost $600. If I was getting double the phone in every respect I might consider it. But probably won’t now. Apple should have grandfathered their hardcore early adopters with the $20 per month data plan price. This would have been the decent thing to do to reward people who paid $600 to them for the phone in the first place.
June 11th, 2008 at 11:07 am
Thomas, I’ve seen you blog complaints about EDGE at least twice! It seems that’s the slowness of EDGE is the part you hate the most about your iPhone.
I do agree the extra $10 per month is onerous — and I agree that Apple should have grandfathered.
It does seem like Apple will be challenged to hit their 10 million by end of 2008 goal with a $30 / month data fee (plus paging fees, usage fees, etc.).
June 16th, 2008 at 1:37 pm
I’ve been IM-ing for months on mine (jailbroke) – it’s OK in a pinch. Spoke to the lead AIM architect last week (at GSP East) and it’s for sure coming to the App Store.
My main beef, though: Where’s the cut & paste?
September 16th, 2008 at 8:07 pm
Way back in the late 70′s when Apple II came to the world to threaten the giant IBM, I was already involved with Apple when we developed the Citibank worldwide network called Citiflash. Let me.remind you that the web was only a figment of the imagination then.
We used Apples then to make the various programs for the main frames, using seven platforms in machine language. I am now a tech gadget trader in the the whole East Asia, headquartered in Hongkong, and I am still very happy using Apple products, except the for iPhone, simply because I find the mobile device very primitive.
What do I get from my other phones? I can now simultaneously watch a movie, get a steady stream of stock quotes, look at a map showing the epicenter of a recent earthquake, and compose/read my SMS. Yes, I get all these all at the same time. I use my phone as a debit card to pay for my various needs – groceries, dining, etc… including fare for the rail transit. I was pleasantly surprised that I can even shop with my phone in the malls in the Philippines, Malaysia, & Thailand. My celebrated iPhone 3G could not handle any of these.
If I were to make a list of the ten best mobile phones, it may land last of the ten. I strongly suggest that you examine the mobile devices available worldwide so that you can have a wider perspective.