Who's Actually Getting an iPhone?

[Kins123]

Companies send out products (sometimes thousands of them) to magazines, website owners and individuals to test it for them and to get feedback.

http://www.digitaltechnews.com/news/2007/01/iphone_review_h.html

http://reviews.cnet.com/Apple_iPhone/4505-6452_7-32180293.html

http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/01/09/some-hands-on-time-with-the-iphone/

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1895,2082435,00.asp

http://www.yourmobilephonereviews.co.uk/apple_iphone_reviews.htm

Most companies do this yes, but in the case of the iPhone (and other Apple products) this didn't happen. If you note the date from these reviews they are all from around the time of MacWorld. Several reporters did get to play with the iPhone including David Pogue but with supervision and for very little time. I believe there were only 2-3 iPhones at MacWorld.

 

[gewhite3]

It's too damned expensive.

As far as Cingular, they are my service provider and I love them!!!

 

[BrandonSBCA]

I'm just waiting for this really.

http://smashmyiphone.com/

 

[judas731]

I went to a Cingular store about a week ago and asked about the wait list. They told me they had one but had to throw it away a couple weeks earlier and now I am #1 on the list. I am very excited about getting it =-)

 

[Riverrick]

Is it only compatible with Apple computers? Or will it sych with PC's also?

..

 

[Kuja]

I'm not really impressed with the camera feature. My w810i has a 2MP camera and it takes great photos with all kinds of built in features. The iPhone apparently will come with a 2MP camera - I'd rather have 3-5MP with a gadget of that (supposed) calibre.

http://www.pocketpicks.co.uk/latest/index.php/2007/04/30/the-first-photos-taken-with-iphones-camera/

http://www.mobileguerilla.com/articles/2007/04/28/first-pictures-taken-with-apple-iphone.php

Here's the EXIF data from one of the images:

Camera: Apple iPhone
Aperture: f/2.8
Orientation: Rotated 90 degrees clockwise
Date and Time: 2007:04:21 10:23:45
Color Space: sRGB
Tag::EXIF::0xA500: 11/5
Compression: JPEG
Image Width: 1600 pixels
Image Height: 1200 pixels

They could have done so much more with the camera. I mean, it's supposed to be the most advanced phone on the market (come 06/07), right? The freaking KRZR has the same camera! For $499-$599, it should be so much more. Maybe they've upgraded it since they first announced it.

 

[Kins123]

Is it only compatible with Apple computers? Or will it sych with PC's also?

PC and Mac. It will sync with any computer with iTunes.

 

[Riverrick]

PC and Mac. It will sync with any computer with iTunes.

Thanks!

 

[Kins123]

If you need iTunes to sync it etc. then I'll never own one.

What's wrong with iTunes? Have you ever used it? iTunes rocks

 

[looseliam]

I also heard that you could buy them from the Apple Store and then take it to your service provider (in my case, Verizon) and have them set it up for my use. Can anyone confirm this?

As far as I know, the iPhone will operate on GSM networks for now. I am not sure if there's a CDMA version in the works.

 

[tx_doc]

I also heard that you could buy them from the Apple Store and then take it to your service provider (in my case, Verizon) and have them set it up for my use. Can anyone confirm this?

No. Currently the phone will be locked for use only on Cingular/ATT's service. They have an exclusive contact with Apple that will last 2 years, I believe. I'm definitely getting one since I own everything Apple. I still have a Newton that works.

 

[Kuja]

I'm guessing eventually you'll be able to. At least in Europe. Isn't it illegal for companies to lock your phones in Europe? I think the US recently passed a similar law.

 

[judas731]

My friend has Sprint and is under contract with them for another year. He is going to pay the earlier termination fee ($150) and then sign up with Cingular as a new customer and see how good of a deal he can get on the Iphone then.

 

[sheep]

If hubby could get rid of his Sony Ericsson S710A piece of crap he would get one in a heartbeat. The other problem here in Canada is Rogers hasn't said if they will be selling it. The problem with the Sony is although the price was about the same as an iPhone, you needed to buy the USB cable separately which costs a fortune. Why does Sony do that to us Canadians? We didn't drop bombs on them!

 

[lifeout]

When they come out with a version that's substantially smaller, lighter weight, with a better camera, and uses something other than EDGE for internet access, then I'll consider buying it. Otherwise, the technology is far from amazing. It's just different because no one else has combined all of these devices into one with a nice interface.

 

[lifeout]

Well no one has answered my question from above!!!! Is there ANY possible way I can get an iPhone to work on my Verizon service plan? Illegal or Legal?

You can be sure that "the new" AT&T will be quite involved in ensuring that the iPhone will NOT work on any other network unless you want to pull and replace chips on the circuit board.

 

[trinket]

The other problem here in Canada is Rogers hasn't said if they will be selling it.

I think there's strong indications that they will be, but as with anything I guess it's subject to change until we actually see it happen. They're the only GSM provider in Canada (they bought out Fido, also on GSM) while other carriers are CDMA. Somebody posted this Rogers reply to an E-mail about being an iPhone carrier in Canada on a tech forum:

Thank you for taking the time to write to us, we appreciate your use of
online customer service.

In your recent email, you have informed us that you wish to inquire when
the new Apple iPhone will be available through Rogers.

Description
On Tuesday, January 9, 2007, Apple announced the unveiling of their new
iPhone, a combination mobile phone/digital music player/camera

Availability
* The iPhone will first be introduced in North America
* Cingular is the only wireless carrier to launch the iPhone in the
United States
* Rogers is actively working with Apple to launch the iPhone in Canada
as soon as possible and will be the exclusive provider of the iPhone in
Canada
* Apple is planning to introduce the iPhone in Europe (Q4 2007) and Asia
(2008 )
* Please be advised that Rogers will be offering the iPhone exclusively
in Canada
* Launch date and pricing for Canada are not yet available
* Other Canadian wireless carriers will not launch the iPhone, Rogers
will be the only Canadian wireless carrier to offer the iPhone

To learn more about the iPhone, you may visit www.apple.com/iphone .

Unfortunately we are unaware when new products and services will be
released until they are launched to the consumer market. We suggest you
visit www.rogers.com/phones because when new products are released they
are listed here.

We appreciate your continuing patronage. Please contact us at your
convenience if you have any further inquiries.

 

[sheep]

I think there's strong indications that they will be, but as with anything I guess it's subject to change until we actually see it happen. They're the only GSM provider in Canada (they bought out Fido, also on GSM) while other carriers are CDMA. Somebody posted this Rogers reply to an E-mail about being an iPhone carrier in Canada on a tech forum:

I phoned Rogers today and the person I talked to said that they would carry the iPhone. As to when this would happen, methinks it has more to do with getting rid of the stock of phones they have on hand.

OTOH, I need an iphone like I need a hole in the head.

 

[theworldwithout]

I would not waste 500 bucks on a phone, no matter what the hell it could do.