I tweeted about my surprise seeing a woman at Starbucks rocking a first-generation iPhone earlier today since I realized I hadn’t seen anyone using one in a long time. Fellow MacRumors member Longofest replied that it was a good, solid design and I agreed, thinking of the spare first-gen iPhone that spends most of its time on my desk as an understudy for my iPhone 4 should anything catastrophic happen. Because I know in my heart of hearts that I couldn’t make do with just any phone, even temporarily, if I lost my iPhone 4.
That aside, I started thinking more about why I missed that first-gen iPhone so much. And I realized that it’s partially because technology seems to be moving so fast now that we never have the time to really appreciate a product before it’s replaced by a new model. Think about it – how many new cell phones, GPS devices, tablets and computers are released every year? Manufacturers want us to buy those new models and try to entice us with snazzy marketing conveying that the latest model is *the* one to have.
I won’t bore you with the details again but I was so very excited to get the first iPhone on that warm Friday evening in June 2007. I coddled that shiny new iPhone, installing a screen protector right away and trying out case after case after case to protect it.
The first iPhone was a perfectly good smartphone that handled email, web browsing, media playback and more with aplomb. It was sturdy and sleek, even by today’s standards for the most part. A little more than a year later, I convinced myself I needed the iPhone 3G because it was faster and had GPS. Less than a year after that, I convinced myself I needed the iPhone 3GS because it had an auto-focusing camera. And last summer I convinced myself I needed the iPhone 4 because it was faster yet, had an even better camera and the most beautiful display to date in an iPhone.
And I’ll probably go through this mental justification exercise again in September or October or whenever the iPhone 5 is coming out even though I love my iPhone 4 and it can already do more than what I need. Why? Partly because my day job is all about Apple and its products. And also because I’m not clearly strong enough to resist the “new is better” mindset that seems to pervade western society.
Where does it stop? Well, it could stop anywhere I want it to, of course. I could exercise some (well, an extraordinary amount, really) self-restraint and not get the iPhone 5. I could simply continue to enjoy the marvelously capable device that is the iPhone 4. But I do wish it had a bigger screen. And since my iPhone is my primary camera these days, an 8-megapixel sensor would be nice too.
Oh, hell.
I completely understand and sympathize. I’ve since repurposed my 1st Gen iPhone as a music player for an iHome stereo. Just having it around and working makes me feel good. I skipped the 3G (took a lot of restraint). So when I finally got the 3GS it was an amazing upgrade. Now, iPhone 4 in hand, I await the iPhone 5. It better be a significant upgrade because I love the 4. Bigger screen would be nice, but that aside, I just love the sheer elegance of this design.
I’m pasting a review of a review I wrote of the 1st Gen years ago. I’m not a great writer or anything, but it’s an interesting read seeing how far this device has come:
The iPhone Review ~
1. Driving
When I initially got in my car, my first thought was that I would love to see if I can hook up my iphone to my in-dash audio jack (like I do with my nano) to listen to tunes and maybe take calls? Well, nothin doin. At least not yet. The headphone jack on the iphone is recessed, so much so that any cord with a fat body around the connection, will not fit. So until I get an adapter, I am s.o.l. ~ The good news?…. that’s my only complaint.
When there’s an incoming call, a quick glance at the phone, a tap of a virtual button and boom, you’re on. Be it with the headphones on, speaker phone, bluetooth or phone to cheek, you’re good.
2. Call quality
While in a loud and busy reception room, I found it a bit difficult to hear my wife using the phone against my cheek, but I would expect that of any phone really. The bluetooth and headphones (stereo I might add….nice touch) is great and often too loud at it’s highest setting. I like that…..cause I might need it sometime.
Anyway, no blips, beeps, drops, static or anything. Very consistent whether with 1 bar or 5.
3. Photos
Meh…. ya know, I’ve always considered a camera on a phone, at best, an occasional convenience. So I don’t get jazzed about them. That said, the huge screen, the cool virtual aperture, the nice “click” and the ease of use, all add up to a very enjoyable experience. It’s a 2mb camera, sans flash. So the final pic is what you’d expect, and really big….and resizeable….more on that later.
4. Text
This went from interesting, to slightly frustrating, to surprising, to amazing.
Interesting: Hmm…virtual keyboard….letters pop up big beyond my fingertip. Cool. Little clicks (that you can turn off in preferences) follow each key stroke, nice.
Slightly frustrating: Kept hitting unintended letters, hard time backspacing and correcting.
Surprising: I remembered something I saw on a website regarding texting: “Use the force, let go and trust the system”. Yeah, okay I’ll give it a whirl. Well, dudes and dudets it was exactly like being Luke threading that needle along the edge of the deathstar with Vader on his tail. I used it, trusted it, and MAN did it pay off. That little exercise got me from 60% accuracy to 95% accuracy instantly. Blown away.
Amazing: Later on as I was working, my wife texted me several times and I responded between shooting. After about 5 or 6 texts, I realized something….out of habit with my treo, I had been using one hand and my thumb to send several texts with no trouble at all!…..absolutley amazing.
4.5 Migration
I was very worried that migrating from my Treo 650 would be a serious hassle. My contacts and calendar are vital to me. But I use only palm interfaces on my mac, not the onboard “ical” and “address book” software. Well, long story short (with no tech details) I quickly realized how to do this and within 5 minutes I had everything on my iPhone and now seemlessly work with iCal and address book.
5. Photo albums
nothing to be said other than, believe the hype. Everything you see on the commercials with all of the fluid movements and speed….all hold 100% true. Very fun and engaging way to touch and manipulate your images like never before. So simple and elegant and seemless, that after a few moments you catch yourself smiling as you flip through your albums.
6. YouTube
Great, easy, fun, just like the web experience. Easy to view, bookmark fav’s, on and on.
7. Stocks
ooooooo stocks. Something I HOPE to enjoy one day! LOL….hmmm apple stock is up, go figure.
8. Weather
A nice convenience. Very helpful in a pinch when you don’t want to log onto your laptop or desktop just to check the dam weather.
9. Clock, calander, notes
What you would expect and very pretty.
10. Maps (my KILLER app)
Unfreakinbelievable! So great man…soooo great. Directions ‘ala street by street, satelite view (Amazing) or a list of texted directions. This is one you just have to experience to get the full impact. It aint GPS, in that it can’t “tell you where you are”, but that’s where the deficiancy ends. Find someone with an iphone and go right to Maps, it is fantastic.
11. Internet
I’m not a fan of Safari, but I didn’t notice the difference on this. Seemlessly connect to the net via WiFi (very speedy) or AT&T’s edge network, slower, but in my experience nowhere NEAR as bad as reported by others. That said, the net on this thing is a real blast, addictive even. I sat here, in front of my laptop today, using the net on my iphone. Comical. But there is a reason why….more later. The net rocks, zooming, panning, stretching, plugging in passwords, clicking links, all easy and fun and fast. On the net (apple.com/trailers) is a great site to visit on an iphone as it gives you speedy and large movie trailers of all the latest flicks. I used it today and was really amazed at how great it was. No skips or stuttering at all. Very cool.
12. The iPod
Rest assured my friends, the next iPod will NOT, I repeat, NOT have a clickwheel. As revolutionary as it was when it was first introduced, the time for that human interface has now oficially passed. The experience of “touching your music” is so far superior to any competing interface (ipod or otherwise) that it will create an entirely new market not only of phones but of MP3 players. Mark my words. The public will demand it. It is in fact that good. Otherwise, the sound is on par and the video outstanding. Album art can now be fully appreciated.
13. The screen/interface….and the point
One word, dazzling. I don’t say that in a “fanboy” way, I mean like….you find yourself drowning in the experience. The fluid motion, the saturation of color, the incredible resolution, the feel of the smooth screen as you touch it to interface. One reviewer said “when you sit it down, and you see just the home icons there, the resolution is so high, that it looks faked or photoshopped. Like if you saw it on the net, you would think that it was fake”. He was right. The functionality and practicality of all that I have described thus far, is just slightly surpassed by the incredibly detailed and all encompasing interface.
Think I’m gushing? Go use one, you will be swept up if you give it a real go ’round. An in store sample and a few flicks does it an injustice as it will just seem like a novelty. To make a real determination you have to put it to some good use, but be warned…… make sure you have the cash to plunk down before you do this, becasue you will buy it. Keep in mind that additional apps (web based) are already out there and they are really great. So the experience will continue to broaden and expand with time as developers do their jobs and the functionality of the iPhone increases with each software update. And keep in mind, you get to take this with you, EVERYWHERE! It’s the “full” mac experience on the road. It’s fun and dam gratifying to have that in your pocket. Makes the cash spent seem well worth it.
If you think my experience in my last post (my iPhone purchase) was unique, let me leave you with this respected Cnet tech rep’s simmilar experience, and then go check one out for yourself. For me…. all the hype, was no hype at all. From a tech point of view, it is a breakthrough on several levels. From an end user’s viewpoint, iPhone is simply amazing:
CNET Rep, Veronica Belmont:
Yesterday I went over to the Apple Store at the Stanford Shopping Center in Palo Alto, to cover the line over there for CNET TV and to secure another test unit iPhone for our labs. I was there for about 4 hours, and by the time 6PM rolled around, the line was pretty damn long. I wasn’t intending on buying an iPhone that day, but when I got up to the counter and the smiling Apple clerk asked me what he could get for me, I blurted out “Two eight-gigers, please!†I caved under the non-pressure.
So now I have an iPhone of my very own………
I have to tell you, I didn’t want to get sucked in like this, but itâ`€™s cool… really cool. Yes, the keyboard can be a little flaky. And yes, the EDGE kind of sucks. But my initial feeling is that it’s a very fun and easy to use phone……
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P.S. – You may read on the web some activation woes that some are having, but this is limited in relation to the amount of phones sold. Also, I was an existing Cingular/AT&T customer. So the $20 bump in the price of my plan (which includes UNLIMITED internet and data with all plans) was a no brainer. The activation process for me was quick (20 minutes) and painless. Those with contracts with other providers, proceed with caution. Just inform yourself and know that no issues are unresolvable. Patience Luke…paitience.