Over the last weekend, I was looking forward to just one thing - my new iPhone 3G.
That’s right after months of reading and waiting I’ve given up on the Samsung Omnia as well as the HTC and moved on to the Apple corner.
You see, I would have got the Samsung, however usability, from what I understand, is a bit crap. It’s got these small little ‘x’ to close the window on the corner where your finger may have to tap it several times before you get it. It’s not multi touch and the response of the TouchWiz isn’t comparable to the iPhone.
Then there is the screen resolution and colour, which on the iPhone demolishes the Samsung hands down. The HTC Touch HD may have been good - but god knows when that’s coming out.
When it comes to the Camera - the Omnia would have taken that trophy, however, I figured, if I want a camera - I should get a proper camera. What you get on the iPhone is basic enough for me.
So my final decision was to jump on the band wagon with other iPhone owners.
I’m on a Virgin plan, which is $70 per month + $4 for the phone (16GB Black). This includes $520 worth of calls (incl. international which I often make) and 1GB of data per month. However, for an extra $30 you can go on the $100 plan per month where the $4 fee is waived, and you get the same amount of call credit but 5GB of data instead.
I was told that if you started on the $70 plan (+ $4) and then decide to later move to the $100 - you will still have to pay that additional $4. So either start at $100 or later upgrade to $104. But seriously, 1GB is quite enough really.
Once home, I activated the phone over iTunes. The phone already had the latest firmware. I got it connected to my wireless network and then it was time to find some applications and games. The Apple App store does have a great selection. You can find paid or free apps. Do a bit of research, as sometimes you might find that a free app could almost do what the paid app would do.
So far I’ve installed
Wordpress (to write and review blogs on my website),
MotoChaser (cheap and fun),
Audi A4 (free and not so good - a marketing stunt I think. Will uninstall soon),
Urban Spoon (finds restaurants near your current location),
Shazam (don’t you find yourself listening to a song and trying to get the name of it? This app records what the iPhone can listen and then gets back to you with the name & the artist)
Fring (Skype and MSN contacts on my phone)
Remote (control iTunes on my wireless network)
WinePad (to record the wines I’ve tasted before)
Hold’em (great poker game for $6)
I’ve also configured my Gmail (primary mail account) with the Mail app that comes standard. My mobile number transferred from Vodafone to Virgin (it took about 24 hours starting Sunday afternoon).
Virgin runs off the Optus network - which I heard from various write ups and forums that they are having issues. And I’ve seen a little bit of it. Where I work in Pyrmont the coverage isn’t fantastic. Not always on 3G in the building. But voice calling was fine.
I’ve moved some of my music from my iPod to the iPhone. My iPod is now my 80GB external hard drive *sigh*
At the end of the day, I am quite satisfied with my choice. It’s more than just a phone as it comes with heaps of entertainment to fill the void while you wait around.
I’ll keep you posted as I find new apps (or if I write any).
As predicted, new iPod have hit the virtual online shelf at the Apple store.
These include new ranges on the Shuffle, Nano, Classic and Touch series.
The Shuffle starts from AU$65 with 1GB and AU$89 for 2GB.
The Nano, which now comes with a much bigger screen (2 inches) to support better video viewing, starts from AU$199 for 8GB and AU$279 for 16GB.
However the 16GB has a 7-10 day delivery period within Australia while the other will ship withing 24 hours.
The Classic - which only has one model storing 120GB sells for AU$339
Finally the iPod Touch, starts at AU$329 for 8GB, AU$419 for 16GB and AU$549 for 32GB. It has the biggest screen of all at 3.5 inches supporting Multi Touch and is WiFi capable.
I haven’t had a hands on feel on any of these models - but I’m sure the Apple Store on George St, Sydney as well as other Apple Stores in Myer and David Jones would stock them too.
Despite the new releases of the iPod range - Apple’s stock have dropped $6.24 (-3.95%) closing on Tuesday 9th (American time). I will be reviewing this tomorrow to see the results of stock close on 10th Sept (American time).
In a week from now we may potentially see a new line of iPods from Apple.
It has been confirmed that Apple will have a press conference scheduled on the 9th Sept 08 to unveil “unspecified new products”.
The event has been themed “Let’s rock” and some believe that Apple will launch a new generation of iPods and possibly a price cut to be more competitive in today’s market.
Last month, Digg cofounder Kevin Rose predicted that the following could be some of Apple’s announcement:
- Revamp of the entire iPod Line
- Cosmetic changes to Touch but Nano will have a significant change (the above picture is taken from his blog)
- Price drops to separate the iPod from the iPhone
- new iTunes (version 8.0)
What is unclear is whether Apple will release any updates to their MacBook line.
Recently, BigPond has made deals with various music industries including Sony BMG, Universal, Warner Music and EMI, as well as with independent labels MGM and Liberation.
This would mean giving Telstra’s BigPond the rights to even more music, raising their inventory from 20,000 to nearly a million.
The advantage they stand with, is the ability to download the music to almost any portable device including media centers or your Xbox.
Each downloaded song will not have any restrictive copy protection limiting it against a single device. This gives the iPod owners an alternative from iTunes and “puts consumers in the driving seat”, says BigPond MD, Justin Milne.
It is estimated that the inventory would grow up to 1 million by Jan 09. However, in the meantime it shouldn’t be too long before BigPond users get access to more than just the current 20,000.
I came across this article, on The Big Chair, that was written earlier this year - and I laughingly agree with Conrad Walters on this following extract from the article:
10 things that won’t change in 2008
1. Google will still have access to more information about you than your mother has.
2. The DVD drive on your computer will still be ideal for holding your first cup of coffee while Windows Vista loads.
3. Internet filters will still require children to help their parents view the websites they want.
4. Spammers will still exploit the inverse relationship that exists between IQ and greed.
5. Social networking sites will still be the best place for identity thieves to refine their craft.
6. People will still visit Second Life trying to discover if there’s something to do other than to see if there’s something to do.
7. YouTube will still be the definitive source for guidance on how to train cats to flush a toilet.
8. Mobile phones will still come with a choice of 200 ring tones, none of which anyone wants.
9. Broadband in rural Australia will still involve paper cups and string.
10. Video iPod users will still squint into postage-stamp screens and convince themselves they’ve enjoyed watching something.
