iPhone review bonus: one liners
By Ryan Block 
posted July 3rd 2007 1:18PM
posted July 3rd 2007 1:18PM
Ok, fine, so in addition to the exhaustive iPhone review, we thought it'd be fun to yin its yang and let everyone at Engadget who bought (or at least spent some time with) an iPhone to have their say in a line or two.Ben: 9 / 10 - "I'd say as a mobile phone it ranks highly, but it's not a 'smartphone'."
Chris: 6 / 10 - "Great in-the-box wow factor, terrible out-of-the-box wow factor."
Conrad: 9 / 10 - "The only multi-function gadget available that manages to maintain the illusion of not being a device of compromises."
Dante: 9 / 10 - "Finally, a phone that can replace my K800i. But truth be told, I could actually do all these amazing things before."
Evan: 4.5 / 10 - "I got so frustrated by the tiny 'keys' and unusable browser that I just put it down after five minutes."
Josh (the guy that returned his): 5 / 10 - "Annoyed with the keyboard, toy-like interface, and limited ability to customize. Truth be told, if I can't install an NES emulator on it, I'm probably not interested."
Nilay: 8.5 / 10 - "Terrific except for the email app and GSM noise."
Paul: 9 / 10 - "It's pretty much all I want in a phone, and I'd give it a 10 if I could load a SNES emulator on it."
Peter: 6 / 10 - "Beautiful and easy to use, it gets a lot of things right and completely changes the game when it comes to mobile interfaces. Too bad it's really hard to get any work done with it."
Ryan: 7.5 / 10 - "The best converged phone / media device yet, but it's got problems. For instance, the email app. Until they get it together it's fun, but not very productive."
Average score: 7.4 Not bad! Seems like for the most part Engadget editors either loved it, or didn't like it at all. So what else is new?
P.S. -Leave yours in comments!
6/10 - It can't make popcorn and I go to a lot of movies.
I'm not sure I understand the dissing of the keyboard.
I'm a big guy (6'3", 250lbs), and my hands are not small (I didn't move over from the original GBA to the GBA SP because the SP was too small), and when I was playing with my co-worker's iPhone this morning I didn't make one typo on the keyboard.
Maybe people need a tactile response for the keyboard (years of using a Palm and a Sony Ericsson P900 with and without a stylus might have made me more attuned to using the screen and looking for visual feedback), but I found it to be responsive and easy to use.
That said: I'm not buying an iPhone. I just don't need one. I have a SLVR with iTunes and a 60GB iPod... I'm set for now.
Truth be told, I'm amazed so many people bought this and now say it doesn't fit their needs. You could pretty much see what every app did in the various videos and demos Apple posted. Seems to me you are the ones who bought into the hype. So far the iPhone is fitting my needs just fine.
666 /10.000.000 . RND - The Sign of The Beast against the Holy Glory. "And the Jobb`s Mountain DELIVERED a rat!! Irat!!!
A hand held communicating device is a tool to acomplish a task. Wrong tool gives poor results. Match your toolbox to your task. If the tool doesn't do the job, YOU chose the wrong tool. That tool may be perfect for someone else's task. Your choices show how successful you will be at your task;l dare I say how smart you are.
Remember a "smartphone" is only as smart as the person using it. Only pundits (whatever they are?) have said the current iPhone was a "smartphone" when they want to discount it. Phones aren't "smart," but occassionally the person using it may be. Remember most of the world is nothing like those of us who spend our time on sites like this. Most of the world is working for a living right now, and many find the iPhone a useful tool; others don't. If it doesn't fit your task, YOU chose the wrong tool. Noone made you choose it.
Beside the a small black spot in the in the screen. I like the phone, can't wait for the upgrade so I browse the files, hopfully get my exchange account to work with it too. The TWO year contact is the worst part. Plus, it would be nice if it had a memory slot.
OK,
I work for SE on smartphones as a consultant.
I want an iPhone.
But I'd really like an sePhone, Sony Ericssons tech with Apple's interface....ahhh
I'd like to know how an NES or SNES emulator would work with the touchscreen.
great gaming phone, not so great gaming company
What's an iPhone?
Oh, I think you know what this 'iphone' is and aren't telling the rest of us. Now fess up! What is it? Ve haf vays of making you talk.
What's wrong with the Engadget guys saying it's a nice phone, but they're not overly impressed (their ratings seem to reflect that oppinion). Some of the comments by posters seem to suggest that anyone that doesn't think the phone is revolutionary or the best availible is simply hating all things apple. With some of the missing features on the iPhone I think if everyone was honest, if they had paid $600 for a phone missing some of those basic features by any other manufacturer, there would be outrage. Truthfully, everyone is so sure apple is going to roll out all these software upgrades to enable or add these missing features, but history would say your wrong. Apple always get's around to adding features, but they are usually accompanied by the next version of the hardware as opposed to bring current models into full compatibility. If everyone that got an iPhone didn't see a single update to the software until the the second generation iPhone came out, how would everyone rate the current phone then. I'm thinking the 6 to 7 range looks about right.
But that's just not true. If they'd wanted, Apple could've made the newer versions of OSX intel only. That'd screw over everyone with a PPC machine, and make everybody buy new hardware (like you're suggesting). They didn't. Going the Universal Binary route meant that they could keep all OSX users up to speed without forcing anyone to buy new hardware. Also, look at any of the statistics regarding what percentage of OSX users are using the newest version of OSX; it's always a huge percentage of OSX users that're using the newest iteration of the software - and not because they all bought new machines, but because the software is backwards compatible. What's more, Apple updates both the individual apps of OSX an OSX itself fairly regularly, so your claim that "history would say your [sic] wrong" is not only unfounded, but also just contrary to fact. Add to that the fact that Apple has dedicated a LOT of its development efforts to the iPhone (the iPhone's development is such a priority to Apple that they were willing to concentrate their resources on that, even at the expense of pushing the Leopard release date back to October), and I would be shocked if Apple didn't release updates within the next months.
Listen. If you wanna talk sh*t about the iPhone, be my guest. But if that's your inclination, I'd appreciate it if you'd at least base your criticisms on reality, chief.
Hey Is that the new I powne?
I just found this posting online:
http://www.howardforums.com/showthread.php?t=1191647&page=1&pp=15
Whether or not this is true, I think it highlights the main point everybody is forgetting about (especially the naysayers). New features are but a software update away for the iPhone.
Did I just miss it or did the review not talk about the wi-fi at all?
9.9/10. The most gratifying phone purchase ever, possibly most gratifying PURCHASE ever. For those who say they can do everything on their brand X device, THIS ISN'T FOR YOU. If gorgeous looks, high style, and ease of use don't excite you, keep your smart phone.
While not perfect, missing many obvious features, and not as efficient to use as other devices, it's the most amazing user experience ever in a convergence device in terms of beautiful GUI, ease of use, polished look and feel, and uber-integration (read: doesn't feel patched together).
For those who say only fanboys like it, my 4 employees, none of them Apple users, are drooling over mine. It's no wonder Apple chose carefully who to give review units to; some people out there are hell-bent on hating it; bias cuts both ways.
Somebody should own up to high-ranking every negative comment.
The reviews here present the problem of an "all in one" that tries to be too many things. I have no use for all of these devices wrapped in one, and they present nothing but problems. I would never own one of these, or anyting like it.
I want a simple phone that works, with a good interface, usable bluetooth, and long battery life. As a lawyer that has to go through court security, I cannot have cameras on a PDA or phone. I don't want ring tones, music, or games. I want a phone because, err, to call people.
Nor do I want all of these gizmos on my PDA. In fact, I believe my blackberry would be perfect if it had a better calendar. In many instances, I am blasting away on the blackberry while talking on the phone - I don't want them on the same device either.
Also, I would never supply an iPhone to my employees. The blackberries are reliable, easy to maintain, include only mission-specific applications, and we often disable even that functionality (Internet access, SMS) for different users.
I'm still stinging from my nightmare experience with Helio's "Ocean". From now on I will NOT be buying any devices from new mobile players until they have some experience under their belt. I have been a MAC user since the Apple IIe, but in the mobile game they are noobs. It looks awesome, really beautiful in fact, but looks ain't everyting. I am still waiting for my refund from Helio so I am not gonna be rushing out to buy one anytime soon. Of course if you wanna give me one, then that's another story! Hey Engadget! Who won the free Iphone anyway?
For now I will stick with my Blackberry Pearl. Which as hideously designed as it is, as embarrassing as the ringtones are, as mindnumbingly counter intuitive as the software is...the fact remains that it works. All of the time, without problems. *Sigh* I may not be cool, but I'm functional.
Serious question here: Who has ever went otu bought a "cell" phone to find software problems, that you just knew would be fixed with updates? Your all saying this will be fixed and that will be fixed and update this an update that. How do you guys actually know all these problems will be fixed? just curious.
Evan really must go on a diet to reduce his fat fingers.
More exercise I think.
He's not wanking enough maybe
I returned mine also and went back to my BlackBerry for the following reason.
The iPhone is what I call technology porn. It is super hot, you just want it, lust for it, and want to play with it. But it only gives you short term satisfaction, you don’t get a relationship with it and it will let you down. Unlike with my BlackBerry Pearl its cute, sweet and reliable. I know that I can count on it when I need it. It’s not flashy and hot, but you can build a good relationship with it
Enhance your phone experience would be better definition rather than creating a new phone experience.
This phone is great. Lots of cool features and love the amount of music it holds and how you can sort through your albums. Also love that it can give me morning head and that it cured my hemmroids.
Ben: 9 / 10 - Who needs "smart phones" anyways? What useful applications could you get on 3rd party on a smart phone that the iPhone can't do natively or with the webapps?
Chris: 6 / 10 - And yet you provide no reasons. Hater.
Conrad: 9 / 10 - Quoted for truth.
Dante: 9 / 10 - Yes, but could you do it with the ease and elegance that only Apple can deliver?
Evan: 4.5 / 10 - If you spent more than 5 seconds using the keyboard they way they show you on the site you'd have no problems with it. And what about the browser? I've had no problems with it. Stop trying to make your problems look like it is a problem with the iPhone.
Josh (the guy that returned his): 5 / 10 - God knows you need your shitty 8-bit games and "manly" complicated interfaces that do nothing but slow you down (Windows or Linux anyone?) Well either way, you still gave Apple money, so good job!
Nilay: 8.5 / 10 - I haven't noticed the GSM noise.
Paul: 9 / 10 - Give it time, Apple will open it up.
Peter: 6 / 10 - Your statement holds no water.
Ryan: 7.5 / 10 - I'll give you that one.
not bad but as they say not smart but pretty, its sexy as hell but when i head to the office i switch to my blackberry***note** huge issues trying to sync with vista a error pops up and says uninstall and reinstall itunes i did 8 times never worked finally loaded it on Win XP and it worked....nice add in apple bet you it so easy with a mac =)
It's now official -- you must pledge hatred against Apple to get a job at Engadget.
Purely amazing the best phone i have ever purchased ever. Apple has really made the perfect phone with the perfect user interface.
From a conversation with an iPhone buyer:
IB: Hey, wanna check out my iPhone?
ME: Will it make me a sammich? No? Then I'm not interested.
IB: The phone you have now won't make you a sandwich.
ME: True, but I didn't pay $600 for it to not make me a sammich.
5/10 - incredible gap between commercials and reality
iFans seens to swallow this gap easely
Mitch Hedberg: I was in a band. People either loved us or hated us, or thought we were okay.
I really cannot decide between the iphone or the htc touch. The touch has wifi which is important and it is wm6 where I can add 3rd party apps. On the other had it has a poor web browser compared to the iphone and the touch has a small keyboard that requires a stylus. Does anyone know both of these products that can help me compare?
The best thing to happen to the iPhone is all the employees getting on the end of July. After 5,000 people email me and whine to product development as they try to eat lunch, they will fix the keyboard.
Lets face it, the Nokia N800 is a the closest machine in comparison to this device.I own both devices, but the N800 wins because of the larger screen and the voip add-ons.
i give it a 1/10 because it's so darn original, and revolutionary
You can have my iPhone when you pry it from my cold, dead hands!
If you're going to spend $600 on a phone, you might as well just buy a laptop. It can do everything the iPhone can do ten times better, except for the calls, which is what free phones are for.
8/10 I just wish I could get pic messages! Oh and sending them would be nice too, my V3xx could do almost all of this just with a smaller screen...oh well, what do you want for $600?
I love the smell of full-price beta testing in the morning.
I'm looking forward to some firmware updates for my iphone, though that won't get me 3G. Anyways, I have an iphone, and I love it. Isn't that all that matters?