iPhone Review

So I decided to go ahead and buy an iPhone, and take my chances with the unlocking software when I get back to the UK.It’s an amazing gadget and actually really useful. As someone who’s never had any kind of Smartphone before, it’s a huge step up. After a couple of weeks of use, here’s what I like and dislike about the iPhone:

Pros

• Great User Interface. It’s simple to use and everything just works.
• I can now check my email where-ever I am
• The maps application is genuinely useful and usable, even with slower EDGE network speeds. You don’t really miss GPS that much, because you can usually work out where you are. The ability to zoom in on maps is good.
• Browsing the web is fine for short tasks. Frustrations are minimal. I can check the news, type a few comments on basecamp, that sort of thing. You obviously won’t want to do hours of research or work on it.
• Using the web over EDGE (rather than Wi-fi) becomes more feasible if you are a bit selective with sites. For example, yelp.com is horribly slow, but mobile.yelp.com gives you all the functionality you need, and is fast and light. Using an RSS reader works well (I use Newsgator mobile, which syncs with my laptop).
• The included headphones come with a microphone embedded in the cable. If you are listening to music and a phone call comes in, the music gracefully fades out, and you hear the ring tone. Squeeze the mic switch once to answer the call. Squeeze again when you’re finished. The music fades up again, resuming exactly where you left off. All without removing the phone from your pocket. Great user experience design!

Cons

• Camera is very poor in low light or abnormal light, and there are no settings or controls.
• iCal items are merged from all calendars. If you have synced a calendar from someone else over the internet on your Mac, on your iPhone you’ll see their events as if they are your own.
• TV show syncing in iTunes lets you select ‘3 most recent episodes’ but not ‘3 earliest unwatched episodes’. Don’t most people want to watch episodes in the correct order?
• Can’t update podcasts on the iPhone; no podcasts accessible from the mobile version of the iTunes music store.