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Apple iPhone

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Anthony Fiti
Kurtis
N/A
Jul. 8, 2007

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Missing Features

Notably, the iPhone is missing a few features that make the phone seem not-so-complete. The first and biggest surprise when the phone was announced is that it wouldn't be 3G and utilize HSDPA, rather it would be a 2.5G phone and use the EDGE network. Given my experience with how quickly the battery was used up on the Samsung Blackjack, I'm not terribly surprised. I would predict that battery life of the phone would be noticeably worse (25% or more) had Apple included HSDPA in the phone.

The ability to use Bluetooth in any meaningful way other than during a phone call is another complaint. The phone lacks the ability to utilize stereo headsets (A2DP), can't tether with another Bluetooth device to provide internet access and can't sync contacts, calendar entries, pictures or music over Bluetooth. Granted, you probably wouldn't want to sync a firmware update or a movie over Bluetooth given its paltry 3Mb/s throughput, but just to update contacts and calendar entries would be sufficient for most.

Likewise, the next most requested missing feature is real GPS for turn by turn directions. The Google Maps widget does provide some turn by turn information, but if you were to miss a turn, you would need to replot your route in order to get rerouted driving directions.

The internet forums are abuzz with people loudly complaining about the lack of Adobe's Flash and Sun's Java platforms on the phone. While one can understand why, as they are both CPU intensive - and therefore drain the battery quicker - it is still a large chunk of functionally that is present on the "real internet" that wont be accessible from the phone.

The lack of a replaceable battery is a big issue for those who will use the phone often. Estimations are that the battery in the phone may only last 350-400 cycles (charge, discharge). If you have to charge the iPhone every night, that's only about 13 months of usage. The Apple battery replacement for the iPhone is $85 including shipping, and that does not include the user of a rental phone while yours is in the shop. And given that you might not get your phone back, you'll get someone else's that was formatted, you'll need to sync and make sure that all your data has been backed up from the phone.

Finally, smaller features like instant messaging through AIM, MSN or Yahoo, multimedia messaging (MMS), and being able to shoot video with the camera are also small sticking points for those not convinced of the iPhone's worth.

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Page 13 of 14

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Page 1: Introduction
Page 2: The Line
Page 3: What's In the Box & First Looks
Page 4: Plans and Activation
Page 5: User Experience - Interface
Page 6: User Experience - Battery Life
Page 7: User Experience - the Keyboard
Page 8: User Experience - Widescreen iPod
Page 9: User Experience - Mobile Phone and Text Messaging
Page 10: User Experience - Internet and Email
Page 11: User Experience - Widgets and Other Features
Page 12: AT&T's Network - From Fine Edge to Broken Edge
Page 13: Missing Features
Page 14: Conclusion

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5 User Comments

1 - Posted by ebernet on July 9, 2007 - 3:05 pm

Instead of buying another apple cable, I bought a car charger that included both a USB>Mini USB that works with my camera and will charge a blackberry, and a USB>Dock connector cable. Both cables AND the cigarette lighter dohicky were the same $20 as just the cable, AND they were black. I even bought it at the Apple store. It was made by Griffin, I am sure others do it.
Eytan

2 - Posted by ebernet on July 9, 2007 - 3:53 pm

Some more comments - Yahoo provides free push email, and will sync your address book up to Yahoo - a great feature and a way to get address book syncing between machines without paying the .mac tax.

As for the battery issue, a full charge cycle is a full discharge/charge, which I have had 2 so far. After the 350-450 FULL cycles you are at 80% of your battery.

As a longtime iPod owner, the battery has never been an issue for me. My hope is that by the time I need a battery replacement (2 years down the line or more) an after market of doing the installs will exist - and while it will not be 35 like it is now for the iPod, it will be a cheaper $50 or so then Apple's 80+, and by then the battery capacities will be higher. I think we need to wait and give the battery grief when the battery deserves grief, when problems start...

3 - Posted by Kurtis on July 9, 2007 - 7:37 pm

Thanks for the comments, ebernet. And welcome to TheTechLounge forums. :)

BTW, regarding battery life, I think it's a valid concern, considering that the brand new battery under heavy use only lasts a single day. 2 days tops for moderate-heavy use. My treo650 used to go for a week before I'd have to charge it, and after a year and a half or so, now it dies in 2 days. Of course, mine is easily replaceable, but the point is that if it has such short battery life NEW, any decrease in that battery life is going to be a big issue down the road, and that is inevitable.

4 - Posted by ynYmpmTbMbfl on December 3, 2007 - 9:57 pm

IXiMcB post, Thanks. That’s Ben. a super ,

5 - Posted by Max Slowik on December 3, 2007 - 11:02 pm

snorkt.

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