tell me about ... iphones

[CoolGirl]

hello orgers.

my mobile is on its last legs, and I'm tempted to go for an iphone, mostly becasue it's got a big screen what I can see. But I've heard about difficulties users have had with them, so could you give me the low down on a few things. How about these for starters:



I'm on a network that doesn't support iphones - is it difficult to switch?
if I wait a bit longer will they be cheaper and better?
are they expensive to run - my current tariff costs me a tenner a month for 300 mins + 300 texts, and I never get through them.
is the battery life as short as people say? will this be tedious?
is there a place where I can get genuine feedback on useability of apps? can i test them out?
anyting else it might be worth knowing?

(please don't get into techy gobledegook as this post has a built-in geek filter and you will self-destruct 30 seconds after posting:smt073. either that or you'll clog up the thread, rendering it useless to me):smt119

[hindle8907]

there is about 10000 iphone related threads within idle banter.
but yeah imo there gr8 lol.

[plowsie]

Re : the battery life. I use mine all day, texting, music, internet, facebook. I charge it everyday.

[Drew Carey]

I've just moved off iphone onto a Nokia so am happy to give a view point......

They are brilliant phones, easy to use, does everything you would want from a mobile and more. Plus, if you listen to music, there is no better phone IMHO.

BUT.......

I wanted a smaller handset, not a tablet on my ear. You do have to charge it most nights if using it a lot. Plus I think they are too expensive at the moment. The minimum contracts are tend to be about £25 per month, but you would need to pay a couple of hundered towards the handset. To get the handset for free, you are (or were on O2) looking at paying £40 per month as a minimum so you didn't have to buy the handset.

What do you use your phone for.......then can possibly help give you some alternatives that may be cheaper.

[Mr Speirs]

1. No just take out a new contract with the new provider. Cancel your old one.
2. Yes probably but I doubt it will be for another couple of years as they released the 3G S not that long ago.
3. They are much more expensive, the tariff's run from £35 a month but to get an iPhone for free you have to taker the £45 a month tariff on a 24 month contract 1200mins 500 texts
4. Battery life never really affected me but I plug mine in almost every night, there has been times when I forgot and I was outta juice the end of the next day. I believe the new ones have better battery life.
5. Most apps have a free demo version or testing version that you can download for free. TBH its just a frivilaty and the novelty wears off quickly, I hardly use it.

Anything else worth knowing? I got my iPhone when they first came out and have been using one ever since. Whilst you can now get them on contract for free I don't think you are better off from when you had to pay for the phone and the contract as now you are locked in for 24 months.

The thing that makes the iPhone for me is the internet browsing and the maps, and TBH I probably would be lost without mine.

That said if I was going from a £10 a month contract and not wanting to really pay much more than that the Blackberry's would be way more attractive in terms of price.

The blackberrys are also very good.

[CoolGirl]

The blackberrys are also very good.

I just got rid of my work blackberry as I struggeld with the small screen and buttons (I'm visually impaired).

I mostly use my phone for calls and texts, but it's quite basic. If I had more options, I'd probably use them - such as maps, news, diary, etc.

[Drew Carey]

I just got rid of my work blackberry as I struggeld with the small screen and buttons (I'm visually impaired).

I mostly use my phone for calls and texts, but it's quite basic. If I had more options, I'd probably use them - such as maps, news, diary, etc.

Nearly all phones, including the new Blackberrys, come with diaries, news access and maps etc.

If visually impaired, I would say an Iphone is quite a good choice as the touch screen keys are quite big.

Best advice is go to a Carphone Warehouse and have a play with all the phones, pick one you like the look of and good size keys etc.

[Mr Speirs]

I wouldn't say the iPhone had an advantage over the blackberrys in terms of screen. Yeah the iPhone has a bigger screen but that just means they put more on it rather than fill it with the same content.
The web browsing allows you to zoom in which is great.
Get yourself down to a O2 or Apple store and go have a play with one.

[lily]

- not difficult, if currently on contract can start a new contract with one of the 3 networks that currently offer the iphone, can even take your number with you if you wish.

- as already said they have just updated them so can't see another change soon, if you can get your hands on an older version may be a bit cheaper, but i think they may have all gone.

- they are a lot more to run than your current contract

- I use to charge mine every night, after using it for the day including an hour listening to music. Would be charge twice a day when i first got it.

as others have said the novelty soon wears off, I've just come to the end of my contract and have gone for a blackberry this time, it does fit what i use my phone for better.

can you not get an upgrade on your current contract?

[Viney]

I just got rid of my work blackberry as I struggeld with the small screen and buttons (I'm visually impaired).

I mostly use my phone for calls and texts, but it's quite basic. If I had more options, I'd probably use them - such as maps, news, diary, etc.
Debs

I find that the keyboard ont he screen is fairly tiny. I would check that out 1st. However, the new Nokia N900 is a bit of a tool. Has a full qwerty keyboard that is of a fair size. maybe not as cool looking as the iphone, but it gives it a run for its money thats for sure.

The cheapest iphone deal, that i know of, is Tesco mobile. The phone is £220, but its a 12 month contract at £20 per month. Its all swings and roundabouts.

Ohters to look at
Blackberry StormII (Touch screen)
Nokia N900 (Keyboard)
Sony Eric Xeperia X2 (Keyboard)
Sony Eric Sato (Touchscreen)

If swapping then you need to get a PAC code from your current supplier, then take this to your new network and they will transfer your number. If you need help, let me know.

If you want good 3g stuff on your phone, then orange do have the best network for stuff like that. They support Iplayer, and suchlike, which o2 dont! Well they dont on my hopne anyhoo, although its capable of playing it!

[Mr Speirs]

The new software allows you to turn the phone to the side which enlarges the keyboard to a decent size. Previously it wasn't available on the SMS pages but it is now, which helps a lot and negates the keyboard size problem.

Also the auto correct function corrects 90% of mistakes made by hitting the wrong key.

[malks]

you say your visually impared, now i dont know exactly what this entails, but i would go and have a play with the iphone before buying one just to check you get on with the colours/layouts/size of text on offer. now most phones let you choose colour of text/size of text and stuff like that, but the iphone doesnt (unless you 'jailbreak' it, but it doesnt sound like you'll be doing that)

but as a phone its brilliant, my contract was up and i considered getting a new phone, but then realised what ever i got i would only wish i had stayed with the iphone. i'd just get to a shop or speak to someone you know with one and have a play and check you get on with it.

[FG1]

Any thoughts about getting a HTC Touch HD2 ??

Similar size screen to I Phone but windows based.....

[gettin2dizzy]

The new one will be out in June/July. It won't be an 'update' like the current incarnation, but a completely new design. Likely to be smaller with a better screen and much better battery life.

As with all technology ... hold out for the beta model. :thumbsup:

[plowsie]

I got my phone free, not sure on minutes, I think 300 + 300 text, unlimited internet, £35 per month.

[TC3]

I looked at several phones before the 3GS i got.

Nokia N900 seemed interesting but after a lot of research and reading upon the N900 web forums i found to much i did not like about it.

Sony Xperia X2 which is a Windows phone and has basically the same old insides as the older X1. Probably the last Sony windows phone.

Did not wait for the release of the new Google phone, the Sony Xperia X10 or it's lil sister the Mini Pro (these models look very promising) and so ended up with iphone.

Brilliant lil phone with a good choice of software both free or pay. Nice screen too. Negatives are there too. Crap battery life which sometimes needs charging more than once a day, limited text and email notification sounds, the vibration motor often gets stuck and needs a slight knock (taking mine back when i get a chance) and the camera is pretty poor but hey it is a phone and not a camera.

[TC3]

[QUOTE=malks;2182508]you say your visually impared, now i dont know exactly what this entails, but i would go and have a play with the iphone before buying one just to check you get on with the colours/layouts/size of text on offer. now most phones let you choose colour of text/size of text and stuff like that, but the iphone doesnt (unless you 'jailbreak' it, but it doesnt sound like you'll be doing that)

QUOTE]

You can still use the accessibility features such as the 3 finger double tap to zoom and pan, the white on black text option, the voice over which speaks items u touch on the screen but i think thats about it.

[BanditPat]

I was in phones for you last week getting a temp phone til i can afford another contract and the salesmen in there said if i was going for an iphone wait until July because that's when the new ones coming out.

[kwak zzr]

i ain't long had mine but i DO love it to bits <sad i know:)

battery life is one charge a day if you use it loads, i can get 2 days out of one charge with mine.

links well to your e mail, facebook, ebay and such programs.

Paid 89 for the handset on a £35 p/m contract over 24 months / (car phone warehouse gave me £109 for my old nokia so that more than covered it :)

Apps are good especially "whats App" this costs 59p but allows you to make free texts and calls to any other mobile with the whats app software on :)

I'd recommend them, its the best phone Ive seen/used anyhow :)

[Mej]

i have the 3GS and i can honestly say its probably one of the best tech things i have ever bought.



I'm on a network that doesn't support iphones - is it difficult to switch? No not really, i switched from orange to o2 and kept the same number
if I wait a bit longer will they be cheaper and better? they are not supposed to be dropping prices for a while so i have heard, and i cant see them bringing out a new one for at least a couple of years. they just keep updating the software.
are they expensive to run - my current tariff costs me a tenner a month for 300 mins + 300 texts, and I never get through them. cheapest contract 02 do is about 35 a month, with 600 mins and 500 texts.
is the battery life as short as people say? will this be tedious? battery if fine i use mine all day and charge it everyday or every other day.
is there a place where I can get genuine feedback on useability of apps? can i test them out? you cant try before you buy so to speak but most have free versions (lite) that you can try. But just read the reviews and there are a fair few people with them on here so you could always post up a question before spending your money.

[CoolGirl]

thank you for all your lovely replies - I think I need to go to AppleStore and have a go...