iPhone, iPad, iPod Forums at iMore.com

[Kevin Michaluk]

Hey All,

Week 4 of the Smartphone Round Robin has me back on frenemy #1, the iPhone. Though this year it's the iPhone 3GS.

I actually bought one the day it came out, but since then have only logged 24 hours of total use on it.... it mainly sits here with a dead battery. So, I need you all to tell me what's compelling about the iPhone 3GS and why I should maybe give it more time.

I tend to use my smartphone for communication first, other stuff second. Need to know what I can do (without jail breaking) to speed up that iPhone user experience... how do I make it a quick user experience for completing those everyday little communication tasks.

From there, what's everything I need to know from your perspective of the new iPhone. Would love if you guys could tell me:
- what you love!
- what you hate!
- what you wish was different
- what a BlackBerry user would love about switching to the iPhone
- what a BlackBerry user wouldn't like about an iPhone
- how many apps you have installed on your phone
- how many of those installed apps do you actually use on a regular basis
- how you use the device... what do you spend most of your time doing on your iPhone when you have it in your hand
- what's your favorite app?

and anything else you think this BlackBerry addict would benefit in knowing.

All the best. Thanks for the help!

Kevin

[flyingember]

They're very different devices.

A blackberry is a PIM device with some extras. The recent OS versions don't all do a great job of these extras and the carrier ability to hobble stuff is annoying. Don't get me started on mass moving photos to a memory card, it's not possible in 4.7.

The iPhone does about everything else better. It's not as good as a blackberry for the PIM stuff.

Both customize differently. Both have different preferences. I wish the iphone had the time-based rules a blackberry has (i.e. 10-7 don't ring and turn screen on, only vibrate unless it's from X) But I like the notification idea on the iphone.

No blackberry is as internationally friendly as an iphone. With my iPhone I could have both a Russian and English keyboard on a device with a French language interface and the date/time in Australian style.

For me, it's a convergence device. I lookup stuff online, check email, facebook, tom tom, phone calls, notes, documents, weather, credit card terminal, budgeting, movie info, read books, wikipedia, etc, etc, etc

sure, the blackberry can do most of what I need too but not all of them, and finding the solution for all of what I need is not near as easy.

The iphone models are basically the same thing. Take the Tour, Bold, Bold 9700, Storm 2 and Curve. Now find me one model that is the top in everything. They don't sell a Tour to everyone or a Bold to everyone.

I have 50-some apps. Some of them are for very specific uses. Some I need the app to keep the notifications I setup via the website most of the time. Others I use only in specific cases but having them is super nice. I don't have a favorite, just a list of useful ones.

[woodman500]

I have had a Bold since they came out. There are pro's and Con's as with any phone. Recently, my best friend has gotten a iPhone from his Curve and I have had the pleasure of being able to play with his iPhone. I like the memory, the response, the functions that it can do. I Love My Bold, but with OS updates from AT&T taking so long, I feel they are way behind. I'd really like to Win that iPhone Kevin. I'll always be a CrackBerry Addict!

[realphood]

well I would luv to have a 3GS too as well as my good buddy bb bold onyx
I would do comparisons all day long hehe and post them for you gouys!


iphone 3gs has of course tons of apps and more leg room for getting around but it lack in audio sound quality and signal is a bit weak, also battery as most people have mentioned.

iphone is a good device and a very nice platform for developers contrary to the media hype saying the troubles in getting listed on app store. It can't be that bad if you got 90,000 apps out there lol

as a rule don't believe the hype

the display is nice and clean the GUI is cool, but pictures tend to be pixelated and its not all that good in low light.


sms sorta sucks on iphone as does chatting email too slow, you need a 3rd party push - coming from BB its a do or die situation for me.

the accelerometer is pretty good and size of the device I found to be decieving actually in a good way its smaller than it looks , reasonably comfortable to use and pocket with out padding an dit fits in most cases

the movie editing is a great feature
and well its a touch screen with a very nice feel



- Also I have done a A.B with docs to go for both platforms and well
its a bit smoother on BB but very nice still

If 4.0 OS comes out with multi tasking and other email fixes it will be the
device to beat for sure

[1magine]

Had a BB for about 10 years. Tried a number of family & friend's different I-Phones and always liked them because of the speedy UI and great web browser. The S2 is a close second in UI, and love the new themes. If Apple ever adds a flash and perfects SECURE push e-mail it will be THE ONLY device. Or alternatively, if RIM solves the browser issue (I believe its more related to their NOC servers than software) and allows applications to run off of the SD cards Apple will go bankrupt.

[ocd ss]

Originally Posted by 1magine

Had a BB for about 10 years. Tried a number of family & friend's different I-Phones and always liked them because of the speedy UI and great web browser. The S2 is a close second in UI, and love the new themes. If Apple ever adds a flash and perfects SECURE push e-mail it will be THE ONLY device. Or alternatively, if RIM solves the browser issue (I believe its more related to their NOC servers than software) and allows applications to run off of the SD cards Apple will go bankrupt.

I've been issued a Storm2 for work and find the browser very annoying, but I'm surprised that iPhone owners would be all that impressed with the Storm UI...

So the big question is when will the iPhone land on VZW, and also (perhaps more importantly for this SPE roundrobin), why don't SPE account user ID's and log ins work across the variety of SPE message boards?

[jamesus]

Originally Posted by CrackBerry Kevin

I actually bought one the day it came out, but since then have only logged 24 hours of total use on it.... it mainly sits here with a dead battery. So, I need you all to tell me what's compelling about the iPhone 3GS and why I should maybe give it more time.

Apps apps and more apps! This is what sets the iPhone apart from all other smartphones.

Originally Posted by CrackBerry Kevin

I tend to use my smartphone for communication first, other stuff second. Need to know what I can do (without jail breaking) to speed up that iPhone user experience... how do I make it a quick user experience for completing those everyday little communication tasks.

I have all of the communication apps (mail, messages, beejive, etc.) on the home screen so I can quickly see the badges for notifications.

Originally Posted by CrackBerry Kevin

From there, what's everything I need to know from your perspective of the new iPhone. Would love if you guys could tell me:
- what you love!
- what you hate!
- what you wish was different
- what a BlackBerry user would love about switching to the iPhone
- what a BlackBerry user wouldn't like about an iPhone
- how many apps you have installed on your phone
- how many of those installed apps do you actually use on a regular basis
- how you use the device... what do you spend most of your time doing on your iPhone when you have it in your hand
- what's your favorite app?

• Love - Apps
• Hate - AT&T
• Different - Notification system
• BB Love - Apps...can't beat them!
• BB Hate - robust email app
• Apps installed - 209 (apps on home PC - 472)
• Apps used on regular basis - around 50 or so
• Device usage - internet is the most used part of it, whether it is via an app or using Sarfari or the Mail app
• Favorite App - Reeder

Originally Posted by CrackBerry Kevin

and anything else you think this BlackBerry addict would benefit in knowing.

You'll never know just how useful the apps are until you try to live without them...

[AndrewWestSide]

Another great week of Round Robin!

[nguyen.k89]

Personally I am a crackberry user, but have always been torn between the two, I love the interface of an iPhone because it is so hands on, but I like how crackberries don't need to be jailbroken/hacked to get the full use out of it (I only say this because I'm a student and am not rich LOL). A huge plus is the ability to jailbreak the iPhone. What I find especially handy is how certain GPS apps, do not require a data plan (e.g. Tom Tom). Hoping to win the 3GS so I can have the best of both worlds =), keep up the good work kev (Y)

[skylar2ups]

I'm a 21 year old male who has used many BBerry models, the pearl, the curve, an 8830 and a bold. I am currently using a Samsung Eternity and I hate this phone, I miss the ease of use on the Blackberrys and the touch screen on this Samsung is a joke, I'm only using this phone until I can upgrade in May. I would get an iPhone 3GS like my parents and boyfriend but with everyone talking about the next iPhone coming out sometime around summer I'm trying to hold off. I love everything about the iPhone, even though the battery kind of lacks I don't mind having a charger with me at all times and one in the car. The apps on iPhone can't be touched by Blackberry because of the constantly changing OS, and all the different screen sizes/revs.
All phones come with their own sets of problems but it's what you are willing to deal with and what else the phone gives to make up for the problems it has.