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Apple iPhone

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Anthony Fiti
Kurtis
N/A
Jul. 8, 2007

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What's in the Box

Inside the box is of course the phone, a dock to place the phone in, the Apple 20-pin connector to USB cable, and headphones specially made for the iPhone that have a microphone and button built in.

In a small folder inside the box came a special cloth to wipe off the display of the iPhone (it will collect smudges) along with an instruction book, a "Finger Tips" book which goes over how to use the basic functions of the phone along with a product information guide which has the legal disclaimers and basic information on the use of the device (charging, not using it while driving, warranty details, FCC disclaimers, etc).

The box did not include an installation CD or any software other than what's built into the phone. You'll need to go online and download the most recent version of iTunes to begin using the phone.

First Looks

The phone is an impressive device, from both an aesthetic standpoint as well as function.

The corners of the phone are rounded, making it more comfortable to hold the phone. Previously phones I have owned have had more defined edges, and I could always tell if the phone was in my pocket because I could feel the edges up against my skin. Over the time I've owned it so far, there have been several times where I frantically grabbed my pocket to make sure the phone was still there because I'm used to being able to tell whether or not I had it in my pocket.

The iPhone is very thin, thinner than the Samsung Blackjack I reviewed a few months ago. It is slightly heavier than the Blackjack though, weighing in at 4oz. However, I didn't feel like it was too heavy, especially considering all the features packed into this one gadget.

There is the singular home button at the bottom of the front face of the phone. This is the only part of the phone that requires an explanation for first time users. It will always take the user back to the home screen on the phone. I had expected it to be more of a button, with a convex button face, but rather the button is concave, indenting into the face of the device.

The top of the phone has a multifunction button to the top right of the device, the removable SIM tray in the top of the phone, as well as the input for the headphone / microphone input. The multifunction button will turn the device on and off, as well as send a call to voicemail and put the device to sleep or wake it from sleep. The left side of the device has a switch for vibrate/ring, and below that switch is the volume control. At the bottom of the phone is the standard 20-pin Apple connector.

The LCD is bright and vivid. I was astounded that I was looking at an LCD display. It almost seems too real, as if I was looking at a picture and not a display device. The animation of the icons and transitions between menus is amazing.

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Page 3 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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