iPhone observations

I've had my iPhone for just over three weeks now and as expected, I love it. More than I thought I would actually. As my wife likes to tell people, it's pretty much an extension of my arm.

I'm not going to bother doing a full review, it's been around long enough for thousands of those to have already been written, but I thought I would offer up a few observations from my time with it.

I use it a lot

Yes, this seems like a silly thing to say but I really do use it a lot. Mostly for surfing the web, reading my RSS feeds in Google Reader (which is awesome on the iPhone by the way) and email. I seem to get between 5 and 6 hours of mixed usage out of it, which actually means it needs charging almost every day because it won't last 2 full days with that level of usage. I use it much more than any other mobile device I've ever owned.

People love it

Everyone I've shown it to also thinks it's awesome. It's one of those things that you don't fully appreciate until you see it in real life and play with it. They seem to be particularly impressed by photos and videos (my wedding video has been watched a lot!). People just love flicking through photos with the multi-touch screen.

My Google Reader stats have tripled

Or maybe even quadrupled! Since I have it with me all the time, any spare moment I get I find I'm checking my feeds. I've gone from reading less than 100 items a day on average to reading somewhere in the order or 2 or 3 hundred items a day with peaks of 4 or 5 hundred! Below you can see my Google Reader trends graph showing usage in the last 30 days, the first week being pre-iPhone.


I recommend an anti-glare screen protector

I got a Power Support anti-glare protector and I much prefer it to the normal glossy screen. This gives a nice feel with more traction and also doesn't show greasy finger marks at all.

Using the touch keyboard is fine

It takes a little bit of getting used to but once you do, you'll be typing pretty much as fast as on a Blackberry or other QWERTY mobile device. The auto-correct and other clever things sort out most of your typos.

I don't need 3G

I'm happy with EDGE and where that's not available, GPRS is actually not too bad either. As long as you're not using heavy sites they'll load just fine with a little patience. I use Google Reader a lot on GPRS and as it's optimised for mobile, it loads in a reasonable time. Wi-fi is obviously the best connection though and is fantastic when you have it.

There are loads of iPhone optimised sites

A surprising number of sites have iPhone optimised interfaces and look great. I love Facebook, Google Reader and BBC iPlayer in particular. Expect a more in depth post about the best web apps.

Sometimes it replaces my laptop

I don't need my laptop with me nearly as much as I did before. I can do my email and keep up to date on my feeds, facebook and loads of other things perfectly well from the iPhone. There are even good IM apps.

A few frustrations

Not everything's perfect in iPhone land, there are a few frustrations. For example, you can't use landscape mode in every application. It would be particularly nice to be able to compose email and text messages in landscape so you get the wider keyboard. It would also be nice to have a signal in my office (!) but that's more of an o2 issue and the fact that we're in an old building with thick walls I think. My old phone didn't work in the office either. I'd also like to be able to view a unified email inbox and be able to switch between them more quickly rather than trudging through the hierarchy of my mail accounts. These are fairly minor niggles to be honest.

It's amazing

Generally, it's an amazingly well thought out and extremely usable device. It's leagues ahead of anything else and if you do truly want a multi-functional, multi-media, all-in-one device then this is for you. Don't even bother looking at anything else because it won't match up. Put it this way, almost everyone I've shown it to wants one, even non-techie, non-geeky people. Very, very glad I finally got one.

iPhone on sale, reviews and videos

The queues are growing and the reviews are flooding in but the wait for the iPhone is finally over today as it goes on sale in the US.

If you want to see it in action, Apple has posted up a whole load of really cool videos that show off all the features. Highlights include the full 20 minute guided tour and the keyboard demo.

So now we just have to wait for the European release later this year. 3G anyone?

The iPhone cometh

If you live in the US, June 29th is the day you'll be able to get your hands on an iPhone, the most anticipated gadget of the year, if not ever. Apple announced the date in some new ads that aired yesterday on US TV.

The hype machine is in overdrive and some rumours suggest that even Apple themselves are worried the device won't be able to live up to the massive buzz that has been generated since Steve Jobs announced the breakthrough device at Macworld in January.

Having watched the ads, I still think the iPhone looks pretty amazing and I can't wait to see the first reviews from people that get their hands on one. But will the touch screen be as good as it looks, will the battery life be decent enough, will it even work well as a phone?

Don't forget this is Apple's first attempt at a mobile phone and they don't always get things right first go. Look at the first few generations of iPod for example and their battery problems and more recently with the iPod nano screen scratching debacle.

But they've had a pretty long lead time with the iPhone and haven't had to keep it secret since January, so they should have been able to iron things like that out by now.

Nevertheless, I expect there will be some kind of backlash/disappointment but it won't stop it from selling shed loads and I still can't wait to get my hands on one.

Roll on the European release later in the year.

Apple announces incredible iPhone

Apple announced the iPhone today at Macworld San Francisco. A clearly excited Steve Jobs introduced the device to a standing ovation and astonishment from the crowd.

In some ways 'iPhone' is not an apt description of the multi-functional device at all. Apple describes it as "a revolutionary mobile phone, a widescreen iPod with touch controls, and a breakthrough Internet communications device with desktop-class email, web browsing, maps, and searching - into one small and lightweight handheld device."

"iPhone also introduces an entirely new user interface based on a large multi-touch display and pioneering new software, letting you control everything with just your fingers. So it ushers in an era of software power and sophistication never before seen in a mobile device, completely redefining what you can do on a mobile phone."



iPod

iPhone uses iTunes to sync with your Mac or PC in just the same way as an iPod so all your music, audiobooks, videos, TV shows and movies can be enjoyed on the 3.5 -inch widescreen display.

Mobile phone

iPhone allows you to make calls by simply pointing your finger at a name or number in your address book and it will automatically sync all your contacts from a PC, Mac, or internet service such as Yahoo! or Gmail. It also introduces a new 'Visual Voicemail' feature that allows you to go directly to individual voicemail messages without having to listen to them in order, just like email.

SMS messaging is handled using an on-screen software keyboard with predictive input and error correction. The interface is very iChat like and is more like sending instant messages than text messages.

It also features an integrated 2-megapixel camera and iPhoto-like photo management software that is far more sophisticated than current mobile phones.

Internet communications

iPhone features a rich HTML email client that can fetch or be pushed your IMAP or POP3 email in the background and a mobile version of Safari which is the most advanced web browser ever on a portable device. It automatically syncs bookmarks from your PC or Mac and includes built-in Google and Yahoo! searching. It's fully multi-tasking, so you can read a web page while downloading your email in the background over WiFi or EDGE.

The iPhone's Maps application integrates with Google Maps to offer map, satellite and local information, all controlled with the touch screen interface enabling you to easily move around and zoom in or out.

The iPhone also borrows Widgets from OS X to give you quick access to weather, stocks and other data in real-time through the internet.

Technology

It's a pretty incredible device and has to be seen to be fully appreciated. The multi-touch screen and OS X operating system looks extremely intuitive and well thought out with the rich HTML email, full-featured web browsing, and desktop-class applications such as widgets, Safari, calendar, text messaging, Notes, and Address Book.

The iPhone is also well connected with quad-band GSM, EDGE, 802.11b/g WiFi and Bluetooth 2.0.

To top it all off, the iPhone can sense when you rotate it from portrait to landscape and automatically changes the contents of the display, so you immediately see the entire width of a web page or a photo in its proper landscape aspect ratio.

A proximity sensor detects when you lift iPhone to your ear and immediately turns off the display to save power and prevent inadvertent touches until it's moved away. And an ambient light sensor automatically adjusts the display’s brightness to the appropriate level for the current light level, enhancing the user experience and saving power at the same time.

Conclusion

iPhone shifts the landscape of the mobile industry just as the original Mac did for home computing and the iPod did to the music industry. I honestly think it's that significant.

Steve Jobs said during the speech that it's "5 years ahead" of anything else and I think he's right. The seeming simplicity and ease of use sets a new standard for mobile operating systems, like only Apple could, and belies the complexity and breadth of features beneath.

My only real concerns are with the absence of any 3G connection for high-speed data when not in reach of a WiFi network and the relatively limited 4 or 8GB storage capacity.

3G and a second camera on the face of the iPhone would allow for video calling and could also be integrated with iChat for VoIP video calling, which would be truly awesome.

8GB of storage worries me as well. My nano has 8GB and that is not enough to get my music library on, let alone all my email, photos and video! I would have expected more like 16GB to make the device capable of holding a decent amount of content or at least some kind of memory expansion via SD or something. On the other hand, for a mobile phone, 8GB is way more than the average device.

Overall though, this is an absolutely stunning product. Just reading the transcript of the keynote as it was taking place, I was completely gob-smacked at what Apple have managed to achieve with the iPhone. It's up there with even the most fervent rumours but now it's a reality.

It's much more than just a mobile phone with music playing features, it's a Mac in your pocket.

To see the iPhone in action make sure you head over to the Apple site and watch the QuickTime demos. It really will amaze you.

Apple WWDC rumour roundup

OK, so it's that time of year again. Apple rumours abound with the prospect of the Worldwide Developer's Conference (WWDC) and a Steve Jobs keynote speech on the 7th August only a few days away.

The rumour mill has been pumping them out as you would expect, so below is a summary of the main threads.

1. Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard
   
   OK so this isn't really a rumour, we know there's going to be a showing of the next version of the Apple operating system but what we don't know is what the update will include. Virtualisation? Enhanced finder, spotlight, iChat and safari? New iCal? More on the details over at AppleInsider.
   
   
2. Mac Pro and Xserve?
   
   The last remaining PowerPC offerings from Apple are due to be launched with new Intel processors. But which ones? Xenon for the Xserves and Core 2 Duo for the Mac Pros?
   
   
3. Macbook Pro and iMac updated with Core 2 Duo?
   
   With the launch of the new Intel Core 2 Duo chips only a week ago, it seems likely that Apple will go for an update to the higher end computers currently running the Intel Core Duo chips. But will they announce it at WWDC or later, maybe at Paris expo?
   
   
4. New cinema displays?
   
   We're into the less likely bracket here as far as I'm concerned but it is possible that with new Mac Pros, we'd also get new cinema displays. Built in iSight and IR ports for Apple remotes?
   
   
5. iPhone? iChat mobile?
   
   OK, now we're talking. The long-rumoured, highly anticipated, so-called "iPhone" has seen a lot of attention lately on the rumour mill. Apple have even eluded to the fact that they're making one. We just don't know when they'll announce it. With WWDC traditionally focussing more on Macs, maybe this is a little too soon but you never know!
   
   
6. iPod updates?
   
   Neither the nanos or full-sized iPods have been updated since they were introduced last year. It's surely only a matter of time before the nano at least gets bumped up to 8GB. I must admit, I've been holding off buying a nano and sticking with my 4g iPod until they release one with higher capacity. As for the 30 and 60GB iPods, we may see a slight capacity bump but the rumours go that the highly anticipated "real" video iPod, possibly with touch screen, has been delayed until later in the year or maybe even early next year.
   
   I think iPods may come at the more consumer orientated Paris expo in September rather than here but frankly, a baboon's guess is as good as mine.

No doubt Apple will surprise us all and announce something no-one expected. That's the beauty of it, you never know what they've got up their sleeve (can anyone say iTablet?). I can't wait!

Add your comments below and let us know what you think Apple is going to say and do next week!

Tags: apple, rumours, wwdc, mac, osx, leopard, iphone, ipod, macbook, macbook pro, imac