Now That The I-phone Novelty Has Worn Off......

[DirkGently]

I am toying with the idea of an I-Phone, but am wary of all the un-locking and hacking.

Based on other factors would you have bought it knowing what you know now?

Does it work well in BKK? Have you traveled with it?

Over all quality. Good?

Thanks.

[bendix]

Bought mine nearly a year ago, and it's by far the longest I've ever had any phone. Not only am I not bored with it, but because there are so many new applications available for download onto it, it's a delight to find new ways to use it everyday.

Works perfectly well in Bangkok. I have an AIS SIM card. No problem. I have global roaming and since I've had it I've used it with no problems in Australia, New Zealand, UK, US, Philippines, Indonesia, HK, China, Taipei, Singapore, Malaysia and Vietnam.

As for buying another - I plan to get the 3G model next time I'm in the states or a market where it's released (most likely NZ or HK in the next couple of months).

[moo9]

I gave mine to my wife and bought a Nokia N95 8GB for myself. The Iphone is a nice toy, I upgraded to firmware 1.14 by myself, installed tons of applications myself (more or less useful). The overall quality of the phone is good, but after some time I got bored with it.

Main disadvantages:

Form Factor: Flat but wide

Camera: ok in daylights, useless at night

No GPS navigation

Bettery life is ok. Best of the Iphone is certainly Internet Browsing.

After all it is a matter of taste, I still prefer the conventional mobile with keys instead of the touchscreen.

Rgds

Moo9

[xbusman]

You would have to pry my cold dead fingers from around my iphone. I would like the GPS model that was just released but its 3G, I think its going to be a while before Thailand catches up.

[HDRIDER]

Hi

Its an Ipod with a Phone, cant use word, but look nice thats it, get a real phone.

http://www.mobileburn.com/news.jsp?Id=4744

http://www.samsung.com/us/aboutsamsung/new...p;news_seq=8999

http://www.htc.com/www/default.aspx

[steffi]

Given the choice of watching video on N95 or iphone I take the iphone anyday.

Likewise reading a PDF file from Mail.

The only area the N95 excels is

1. bluetooth tethering

2. superior camera and video recording

iphone with a N95 like camera would be a killer device

I gave mine to my wife and bought a Nokia N95 8GB for myself. The Iphone is a nice toy, I upgraded to firmware 1.14 by myself, installed tons of applications myself (more or less useful). The overall quality of the phone is good, but after some time I got bored with it.

Main disadvantages:

Form Factor: Flat but wide

Camera: ok in daylights, useless at night

No GPS navigation

Bettery life is ok. Best of the Iphone is certainly Internet Browsing.

After all it is a matter of taste, I still prefer the conventional mobile with keys instead of the touchscreen.

Rgds

Moo9

[nikster]

The iPhone is one year old now and still light years ahead of the competition in terms of software + usability. I don't miss buttons but I do appreciate the very large very bright screen every day.

The iPhone doesn't have any "features" that my Nokia before didn't have, except for the amazing interface and amazing screen and amazing apps. But I use almost every feature it came with, plus some apps I installed. Syncing with the Mac is also fantastic, as is pictures. It's a 2MB cam but frankly I have lots of great snapshots from this camera. When I think back to my Nokia N73, I can take about three pictures, watch them in the gallery, and sent one off via email to my mom in the time it takes for the N73's camera to even start up... also you can show somebody else your pix without being embarrassed. Camera's useless at night but with good light or even not so good light the results are impressive. Won't replace your digital cam, but great for snapshots.

I am willing to bet good money that for any given function there is, I can do it faster on the iPhone that on the Nokia. Exception making a call which is where the Nokia is tops. But everything else, all the "smart" functions are 10 times faster, not only is the software faster but they way those functions are be invoked is so much more efficient. Not to mention fun.

Whatever, one year verdict: Fantastic. Can the competition please get their act together?

[dekka007]

Was playing with a HTC Diamond today (Upgraded Firmware) it really is a wonderful tiny phone...GPS/Wifi/3G/WM6.1 all in a package that is so pocketable......probably end up buying one until the "Stupid" price wears of on the iphone 3g.

[onnut]

I had two iphone's and smashed them both in a temper. the biggest waste of money ever.

imagine, a guy has spent millions of dollars on design and making this thing the "best" phone.

you cannot forward text messages or send to groups unless you use third party software.

no video camera unless third party software

send contact info.

three basic things that phone should be able to do.

I have gone back to Nokia.

but have to say that the internet on the iphone was the best, and it did look stunning.

[girlx]

Bought mine nearly a year ago, and it's by far the longest I've ever had any phone. Not only am I not bored with it, but because there are so many new applications available for download onto it, it's a delight to find new ways to use it everyday.

did you buy yours in bangkok, and if so, may i ask where? i have been thinking of buying the older 8 or 16gb version when the 3G comes out and prices drop, but have heard a lot of stories about problems with hacked versions and unlocking etc. yours is ok though?

[PattayaDavid]

Bought mine nearly a year ago, and it's by far the longest I've ever had any phone. Not only am I not bored with it, but because there are so many new applications available for download onto it, it's a delight to find new ways to use it everyday.

did you buy yours in bangkok, and if so, may i ask where? i have been thinking of buying the older 8 or 16gb version when the 3G comes out and prices drop, but have heard a lot of stories about problems with hacked versions and unlocking etc. yours is ok though?

I have the same question.  I had read somewhere that the older firmware versions (don't know firmware #) were easier to hack, but there was difficulty hacking or maintaining the hack on newer models.  I had also read that you lose the hack when performing updates then have to reinstall the hack again.  Is this correct?  Is the iPhone a hack and forget or a constant stuggle to keep it functioning?

Pattayadavid

[Sabum]

If "hacking" and unlocking the iphone is a big deal to some people there is absolutely no reason to upgrade the firmware and have to unlock again as you are not savvy enough to even gain any benefits from upgrading. Just unlock it once and forget about it.

[PattayaDavid]

Two quick quesitons:

1. Where are iPhones made; made in only one country or at various sights around the world?

2. Is there an alternative solution for battery replacement, possibly here in Thailand, other than to return your iPhone to Apple?

[nikster]

Bought mine nearly a year ago, and it's by far the longest I've ever had any phone. Not only am I not bored with it, but because there are so many new applications available for download onto it, it's a delight to find new ways to use it everyday.

did you buy yours in bangkok, and if so, may i ask where? i have been thinking of buying the older 8 or 16gb version when the 3G comes out and prices drop, but have heard a lot of stories about problems with hacked versions and unlocking etc. yours is ok though?

I have the same question.  I had read somewhere that the older firmware versions (don't know firmware #) were easier to hack, but there was difficulty hacking or maintaining the hack on newer models.  I had also read that you lose the hack when performing updates then have to reinstall the hack again.  Is this correct?  Is the iPhone a hack and forget or a constant stuggle to keep it functioning?

Pattayadavid

The short answer is there is absolutely no problem with a hacked iPhone. Hack and forget. You should turn off automatic updates in iTunes but that's very easy. Even if automatic updates are enabled, it will ask you before doing anything so you just say no thank you, please don't update. Then you turn automatic updates off.

As for hacking and the very early hacks breaking the very early iPhones - true. But that's all history now. There are new ways of hacking that hack all versions of the non-3G iPhone safely and at the push of a button.

What's also changes is Apple's attitude towards hacked phones - they have given up the revenue-sharing business model so they have no incentive anymore to disable existing phones. In addition there are now millions of hacked iPhones, so breaking them with a future update would be a huge own-goal. It's not generally very smart to get millions of enthusiastic customers angry...

[Sabum]

Two quick quesitons:

1. Where are iPhones made; made in only one country or at various sights around the world?

2. Is there an alternative solution for battery replacement, possibly here in Thailand, other than to return your iPhone to Apple?

Not sure about 1, there is no battery alternative but there is no problem with the battery, at least, after 1 year there is no problem with the battery, guess we will have to see down the road.

[timekeeper]

You would have to pry my cold dead fingers from around my iphone. I would like the GPS model that was just released but its 3G, I think its going to be a while before Thailand catches up.

i have had mine from almost day one.

i love it, my supplier in pattaya says he will have the new model in 3 weeks

[alexth]

the I-Phone just looks nice, but that's pretty much it. Was never excited about it, plus, the thing is wider than a dam_n brick.

[steffi]

That's not exactly true. The iphone has the best display I've seen on any phone. PDFs are actually readable and the ability to scale the font size easily is a big plus. There isn't a superior video/audio phone than the iphone but also the Mail and Browser on the iphone are second to none.

the I-Phone just looks nice, but that's pretty much it. Was never excited about it, plus, the thing is wider than a dam_n brick.

[nikster]

You would have to pry my cold dead fingers from around my iphone. I would like the GPS model that was just released but its 3G, I think its going to be a while before Thailand catches up.

i have had mine from almost day one.

i love it, my supplier in pattaya says he will have the new model in 3 weeks

Great to know, however I wonder what the advantage of the new model really is vs. the current one?

iPhone 3G has:

- A-GPS. Will be better than the 1st generation's triangulation location system but until there are compelling location based apps not that useful.

- 3G, obviously. Doesn't matter in Thailand though since there is no 3G here and even though DTAC will try to introduce it by the end of the year, AIS and CAT are doing their all to prevent them. 3G licenses are going to be just as non-existent as before as long as the hopelessly incompetent Samak government is around - these old gentlemen don't give a hoot about 3G.

- Louder ringer - nice but...

All of these are evolutionary enhancements. Nice but not enough to make me buy a new model. Did I miss anything?

There will be software improvements in the iPhone OS 2.0 - however those will be available to older generation models as well.

[nikster]

That's not exactly true. The iphone has the best display I've seen on any phone. PDFs are actually readable and the ability to scale the font size easily is a big plus. There isn't a superior video/audio phone than the iphone but also the Mail and Browser on the iphone are second to none.

the I-Phone just looks nice, but that's pretty much it. Was never excited about it, plus, the thing is wider than a dam_n brick.

The true value of the iPhone only becomes apparent if you use it for a while. The initial wow factor wears off quickly - but what makes it amazing is the amount of detail and thought that went into the interface. And the quality of the hardware - the glass doesn't scratch, the steel makes it very solid in your hand. Initially I thought it was rather big too - but the reason for that is that it has a _giant_ high resolution screen. Considering the size of the screen, the phone really is as small as it can be.

It takes a while to get used to typing on the keyboard, but once you do it's faster than on any other phone, and close to the computer keyboard.

I could point out many of the nice details but it's not that it has this or that - it's that it has it all, and it ends up just working really well in all kinds of situations.

[percy2]

I think I've had mine around a year.

Will probably replace it with the 3G , probably when the battery in this one performance starts to noticeably decline.

The pro's and con's have been discussed in many places so suffice to say I'm still using it and will continue to until a product comes out that has as many people talking about it as the iPhone.

Cheers

[bendix]

Bought mine nearly a year ago, and it's by far the longest I've ever had any phone. Not only am I not bored with it, but because there are so many new applications available for download onto it, it's a delight to find new ways to use it everyday.

did you buy yours in bangkok, and if so, may i ask where? i have been thinking of buying the older 8 or 16gb version when the 3G comes out and prices drop, but have heard a lot of stories about problems with hacked versions and unlocking etc. yours is ok though?

Yes, I bought it in Bkk, but it was a private sale from a friend who bought a batch over from the US shortly after they were released.

Had no problem unlocking or hacking. In fact, I've just upgraded it to the 1.14 software - it's a new phone with this upgrade.

As i said, it's by far the longest I've ever owned a phone, and the new ending supply of new software applications (some of which patch up earlier missing features such as lack of SMS forwarding) make it a new phone everyday.

[Rice_King]

"light years ahead of the competition... amazing interface and amazing screen and amazing apps... Syncing with the Mac is also fantastic... I can do it "faster on the iPhone that on the Nokia. Exception making a call which is where the Nokia is tops."

So what you're saying is that the iPhone is best in its class... as long as you're not planning to use it as a phone?