Review of the Apple iPhone 3G (8 GB) -- A New Wave In Smartphones

The move to the Apple iPhone wasn't an intended one, but when we were looking to replace one of our current cell phones on the home account, we needed something that had a strong internal antenna.  What we had been working with was one of the Samsung Sync phones from Cingular, but it wasn't working in areas near where we lived.  We went into the AT&T store to talk with the customer service representative, and they told us that the iPhone has a really strong internal antenna.  After looking around for a while, and then playing with the iPhone for a few minutes, it was decided that it wouldn't be a bad option to purchase.  The cost for the Apple iPhone 3G was $199.99 with an additional fee for having the unlimited internet and unlimited text messaging made available on the phone.  We also bought some accessories to go with it, so it ended up being an expensive night at the AT&T store.

Now this was our first Apple iPhone, and it proved to be pretty impressive to us first-timers.  The sleek look of the phone, and the stylish feel of the phone was the thing that stood out at first, but the usability and internet capabilities were soon winning out amongst all of the benefits for having the phone.  We were told that the Apple iPhone 3G was an upgrade and would be faster than the previous model, but we don't have the experience with which to speak from in that regard.  It is quite fast though, with both the upload and download times, and it is always quick and responsive to online requests.  With a phone like this, it’s really the speed that you want to accentuate the cool factor of the phone, and that is exactly what the Apple iPhone 3G has been doing for us.  It also wasn't quite as expensive as we had thought, and though it was a big chunk of change, it was more affordable than we had believed it would be.

The touch screen for the Apple iPhone is something to behold, and it is also very fun to work with.  From the first screen you can scroll through additional screens with a flick of your finger on the screen, and when you find the program that you want to work with, you just click on the screen with your finger.  There is a re-set button of sorts at the bottom front that you can push to get you all the way back to the main screen, and that turns out to be quite helpful if you want to exit a program or one of the downloaded "apps" that Apple is becoming very famous for having.  Putting text messaging to use for the first time on the Apple iPhone 3G was definitely an experience, as it is a learning process to make sure that you are clicking on the correct letters and numbers.  I don't have small fingers, so it was an adventure at first to figure out the format, but I have since been able to work quite well with the format.  Right now though it puts the keyboard in a small spot at the bottom of a vertical page, and it will be much more helpful when Apple comes out with a landscape keyboard to help us out.

I had heard that there were problems with the battery life on the iPhone as well, but we haven't really experienced that.  It could be that we make sure to charge our phones each night so it hasn't really come up as an issue for us.  The pamphlet states that it provides up to 10 hours of talk time on GSM, and up to 5 hours of talk time on 3G, which is a lot for one sitting if you ask me.  For web browsing it states that it will last for about 5 or 6 hours, and that the phone should be able to function in standby for up to 12 days.  I have a hard time believing anyone would fork over this much money for a phone that would just be sitting idle, and we don't have any experience letting the phone battery just idle out like that.  I think that if you go through your normal use on a given day, and make sure to charge your iPhone at night, that you are going to end up never experiencing any battery related problems.  If you don't like to have to do the charging, focus on making sure you keep a close eye on exactly how much talk time you are putting into your iPhone.

One of the best options that I enjoy using on the Apple iPhone is the camera.  I am now able to take a picture, glance at it, and immediately e-mail it to myself in a matter of seconds.  No hook up necessary, and sure, the camera is only measured at two-megapixels, but it is so easy to use that you can just take another picture if it doesn't work out.  I have continuously ended up with clear images that are print ready right after being taken.  The iPhone doesn't stop there though, as it supports Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, has a ton of memory with the 8GB of space (there is also a 16GB model available), and the operating system on the Apple iPhone 3G is just really easy to work with.  It's very easy to download new iPhone Applications, and a number of them are extremely fun to use.  Just to name a few of them that I enjoy using are a level that can be played with to measure how level your desk is, a white noise provider (plays rain and thunder too), and several games that can really soak up your free moments.  Calls come in clearly, and it seems that there is indeed a nice internal antenna, because the iPhone gets reception where other phones have failed.  It takes a few times to get used to holding a phone like this while talking, but you get used to it, and you can use an ear-piece as well to make it easier.

I think that the Apple iPhone is a big step in the right direction for cell phones, and that it is basically a miniature handheld computer rather than just being a phone.  We are very late on the scene for getting our first Apple iPhone, but we have become very attached to this device.  Whether it is watching a live sporting event, viewing a YouTube video, or watching an episode of a show we missed, this iPhone is getting a lot of great use in our house.  I would have to say that Apple knows exactly what they are doing, and though I have heard plenty of detractors talking bad about the iPhone, I think it is a really cool toy and tool that has made life really easy on the go.  We are in love with the Apple iPhone 3G, and it is probably a sure bet that we are going to switch over one of the other phones to the next iPhone when it hits stores.  We were late to the game the first time around with the iPhone, and after the great experience that we are having with the Apple iPhone 3G, we aren't going to be left in the dust ever again.