Gizmos and Gadgetry
I'll be blogging about the technology that makes geeks around the world go crazy.
Real Name: Brandon Member Since: June 03, 2008 Last Signed In: October 13, 2008 Profile Views: 158 Blog Views: 443 Parents, kids bond playing video games Ebay: Your source for flights and much, much more Looking past the Web to mobile newspapers Toyota to segueway into Winglet Tweet. Tweat. Twitter. Tech Saavy Churches To dream of thee, iPhone AT&T, iPhone not connected at the hip? iPhone 2 to hit shelves Friday The end of Christmas? June 08 July 08 August 08 September 08 October 08 
RSS 2.0    |
|
|
iPhone 2 to hit shelves Friday
Location:
2701 Houston Highway,
Victoria, Tx 77901
The rumors started in May that Apple had something new on the way when the supply of the year-old product started to dry up. The highlights: - Thinner, faster and cheaper: an 8gb version will be available for $199 with a 2-year service agreement and a 16gb for $299. (Unfortunately, the 3G network provided by AT&T, which makes it faster than other phones, will cost $30, a $10 increase. So while it costs less up front, customers will pay a little more over the life of their contract.) - A slew of new features: built-in GPS, faster Web browser and e-mail downloads, longer battery life, bulk message delete, bulk message move, contact search and full support of Microsoft Office and iWork. The phone is definitely something for nerds around the world to gush over. While I try to hide how much I would love one, I always come back to how practical would one be. For me, even ranging in Jackson and Wharton counties three times a week, I would not use all of its capabilities. Nor do I feel like paying the monthly service fee for one. In the end, I will use another phone, not a smartphone, with messaging, Web browsing capabilities and a plan with a smaller price tag. And with touch-screen phones coming out more frequently, like The Dare's release last week, I can have that feeling of being on the cusp of technology's frontier without paying an arm and a leg for it. What about you? Do you think iPhone 2.0 is practical for you and your life? Or would you get something else? 7 comments from 4 users
1
posted by
fatboy
on Jul 8, 2008 at 06:07 AM
look at phonedog.com also verizon will convert a cell phone to land "home" when you are home for a small fee. Your minutes are not used either. woohooo. I can get rid of my home phone!! $$
posted by
cjcastillo
on Jul 7, 2008 at 08:06 PM
How about the Samsung Instinct (touch screen, GPS) and the LG Voyager (touch screen and keyboard)? The Voyager is about the same price as the iPhone, but has different features.
posted by
bleonard
on Jul 7, 2008 at 07:42 PM
Fatboy, I've been looking at several iPhone3G-comparable phones that are more affordable (and those that most users wouldn't recognize the difference in service). I'll try to get a smackering of them together before the iPhone's debut Friday. To all, other than Blackberry's Thunder and the LG Dare, do you have any other phones you want me to check out? Cj, thanks for the comment too. posted by
fatboy
on Jul 7, 2008 at 12:51 PM
to me the Iphone is a PDA. Also, Blackberry is coming out with Thunder. I am looking at getting the LG Dare through Verizon and cheaper data plan. look those 2 up on the net.
posted by
cjcastillo
on Jul 7, 2008 at 10:16 AM
I also haven't heard anything said about any improvement on the 3G's touchscreen keyboard. There have not been any demos out of the iPhone 3G yet, but there have been rumors that AT&T stores will be receiving demos this week and have them on display on July 11.The iPhone 3G uses a A-GPS, which is a combination of GPS, Wi-Fi and cell towers. It uses what is available. From what I read, this type of GPS is faster, but you won't always get a strong signal if you are inside a building. It uses Google Maps so you wouldn't have to pay extra for the maps. There are some companies that said they were working on navigation apps for the iPhone, such as TomTom. However, the SDK license agreement for the iPhone states that applications cannot be designed for real-time route guidance. So many navigation software companies may be waiting to see what Apple is going to do. Perhaps Apple will offer their own subscription service in the future? I could go on and on about the 3G, I've been waiting for this one to come out for a while now. With all that said, I'll probably get the new iPhone. I have a smartphone data plan with AT&T right now, so the data plan for the 3G will be about the same as I am paying now. Hard to say how many people in Victoria will line up for one. Don't know how many will like that they have to add a $30 data plan for the phone, and that doesn't even include a texting package. posted by
bleonard
on Jul 7, 2008 at 08:13 AM
From what I've read, I don't know much about the iPhone 2's keypad. Not having played with one myself, I could only speculate from what I've read, but I'll save myself the embarrassment. The way most wireless cell providers are doing GPS is a monthly fee. I was at Verizon on Saturday and the sales rep told me it was an extra $10 a month, but the maps update quarterly. The software comes installed on the phone for free. Weighing that against an actual GPS unit, I would prefer the one on my phone. For one, it wouldn't cost me any extra to update my maps and info on the phone, whereas some GPS car units cost upwards of a hundred dollars to update each year. The more expensive models that come with automatic updating cost so much up front that I could pay the $10 fee for a while before I spend more than it costs to buy one. Then, there's also GPS subscriptions where the device updates automatically for a fee. When it's all said and done, I'd just rather pay $10 per month and have it on my phone. No additional cost for the quarterly update or any type of subscription fee. posted by
ChrisCobler
on Jul 7, 2008 at 08:05 AM
Have you played around with the keyboarding on the iPhone? I'm wondering if they've approved that with the new model. I like the touchpad on my Palm Treo 650, but the iPhone is awfully tempting if Apple works out the messaging. I'm also intrigued to see how the built-in GPS works. Do the maps automatically update, or is there an additional fee for that, too?I wonder how many people will be lining up for iPhones in Victoria.
1
|
