Life with an iPhone

It’s almost two years now since the iPhone made its international debut in January 2007. Although it hit the US market in July of that year, Kiwis have had to enjoy risky affairs with grey-imported, digitally ‘jailbroken’ versions - until the end of July 2008, when the second-gen iPhone 3G arrived with Vodafone support.

Well, Apple, you’ve finally made honest geeks of us, but are we still in love with the iPhone a couple of months down the line? Is it a sensitive partner that nurtures your interests, or a needy primadonna that bends you backwards to suit its own needs? We caught up with two very different iPhone users, and got their takes on usability, performance, the glamour factor and more.

Name: Richard

Primary Use: Communication & Entertainment

Describe yourself as a cellphone user.

Mostly entertainment. I use texting and calling most, and very little mobile data.

What account type are you using with the iPhone and is it working for you?

I brought the handset outright so that I wasn’t tied to a Vodafone plan. I’d have been happy to be on an iPhone plan, except that I’m travelling next year, and all the plans are 24 months. I use my old SIM card on a YouChoose plan, so it’s no big change.I use the iPhone plan applications from my wireless network at home – which is a bit of a pain when I'm lost on the road and want to use 'maps'!

What made you choose the iPhone?

I’m a huge cheerleader for Apple from years back. As a teacher they’re really useful in education so I always use Apples at work. I was quite keen to get one of the first generation iPhones, but they didn't seem that much better then normal phones - I think I finally decided on it because it integrated my music player with my phone, meaning one less thing in my pocket. The beautiful design was a selling point, I guess, but it was more about all the things that I could do with it.

What do you think of the interface?

Love the touch screen, especially the keyboard that just pops up when ever you need it. It’s really easy to use, although sometimes I find my fingers a bit big for the keys – luckily the phone is a better speller then I am and fixes any typos itself. No complaints about the touch screen at all, although I do worry because I have a tendency to drop my other phones, and it seems like it could be easily damaged.

Do you use the iPhone for pretty much the same purposes as your old phone, or have you changed your habits?

I use it so much more then I used my old phone, because it does so much more! I rarely use a computer to check e-mail or Facebook anymore, because I can do it on my iPhone so much quicker and easier. If I’m just browsing the Internet to check something I will often use my iPhone again because it is so much faster – it’s in my pocket and ready to go, and it’s just as fast on a wireless network. There are so many applications, both to purchase and for free, so I have also got heaps of games on there that waste away any spare time. I download music from iTunes on my phone, so it’s right where I want it, and then when I connect to a computer it transfers across to my iTunes there.

What are the best and worst aspects of everyday life with an iPhone?

I really love the phone - totally worth the investment in the handset, and I’d say the best part of it is how many things it does all wrapped up into one. It’s great to always have my iPod with me because I always have my phone. I love that it automatically puts a signature on my outgoing Gmail saying “sent from my iPhone” – it took me a fortnight to find out how people knew I was using it to email them!

No real hassles so far, but other peoples reactions can be a little embarrassing, since it was so hyped before they went on sale. It took one and a half days for the rumour to spread through my whole school, and for a college student to come and find out if I really had an iPhone – I teach lower primary and never see those older children! I’m a real fan – hard to see anything wrong with it really.

Name: Leigh

Primary Use: Mobile Business

Describe yourself as a cellphone user.

Except in airplanes, or during equipment failure, my cellphone is never off. Fax is dead and letters are few and far between. Communication is now for the most part face to face, by phone or via email and txt. These modes of interaction are (slowly) converging via the cell phone.

When it comes to communication, I initiate. I'm "a talker" - for me, the information-rich and personal nature of voice will always win over typing. If I strike voicemail and I’m in a hurry to get an answer, I’ll txt.

What kind of account are you using with your iPhone?

I think I’m on a 1gb plan. So far I think it’s fine - if it runs over I’ll have to step it up. Telecommunications is always a significant expense but having the service isn’t a matter of choice anymore - it just costs what it costs.

What made you choose the iPhone?

Although it doesn’t deliver the goods on every competitive available function, it represents another major step forward in the evolution of the telephone. To date ‘smartphones’ are mostly like warthogs – maybe effective, but not pretty, or something you would by choice lug around all day. The iPhone gets past this through form and function – it’s both big enough and small enough to be a practical voice and data device, and it’s less ugly than most other options.

What do you think of the touch-screen? Is it easy or hard to use? Are some things easier than others?

Having large (guy) fingers, the touch screen is still a bit of a challenge for typing accurately – and for now the predictive texting sucks compared to its competitors. As soon as I could, I brought a transparent protective overlay for the screen to save it from scratches; this worked just fine, and there’s no difference in performance. The interface is quite good; although there are some latency and software issues, the iPhone is better than any prior touchscreen phone.

Has the iPhone changed your mobile phone habits?

I own three cell phones, two smartphones, and two data cards for laptops. With the iPhone on board, I’ve now dropped my daily arsenal down to just the iPhone and an LG PDA as backup. The iPhone brings together my Mac email, three Exchange business accounts, contacts and calendars over multiple Apple and Windows setups at work and at home.

What are the best and worst aspects of everyday life with an iPhone?

Hassles? Average battery life and camera quality, and sub-par predictive text. High points? I’m down to one device for voice and data, the WiFi connection is good, and it’s an iPod with great video abilities into the bargain.

Moment of triumph?

Getting it to work with Microsoft Exchange! I didn’t have to wait in line either - I got great service from our corporate account manager (Rodney Russell of First Mobile) who had it ready for me to pick up, so I happily refer you to him. And will I buy the next one? It’ll be better – they always are – so yes!

Links:

Get your iPhone accessories here: http://www.mytoys.co.nz/SearchResult.aspx?KeyWords=iPhone

First Mobile

http://www.firstmobile.co.nz/index.php