Editorial: Taking the iPhone 3GS off the job market
By Joshua Topolsky 
posted July 10th 2009 3:10PM
posted July 10th 2009 3:10PM
Before I even got to the "work" part of my experience, I realized I had serious problems. AT&T's service is never anything to write home about in New York City (in fact, it's usually embarrassingly bad), but I found that my 3G connection seemed especially weak in this Manhattan doctor's den. Oh, I had five bars all right, but trying to load just the iPhone-formatted version of Engadget tested my will to live. After nurses denied my requests for assisted suicide, I resigned myself to dealing with the network issues. Honestly, a lot of what I do during the day (namely, hanging out in a chat room and commanding the team to help me pick the perfect pizza toppings) doesn't require the highest-test connection -- though I certainly put pedal to floor at times.
So, stoically accepting the fate of thin 3G, I set about firing up the apps I would need to actually tend to Engadget. First up, I required an IRC session. That's no problem, because the App Store is filled with useful tools for chatting with good buddies. I prefer Mobile Colloquy, so away I went, happily bounding into the Engadget chat room to direct the editors and get the latest gossip about Gyllenspoon. Of course, it took an exorbitant amount of time to actually connect, but once I did it's a reasonable experience... save for one big issue. The iPhone keyboard truly sucks if you're trying to type words it might not be familiar with. You know, like tech terminology which isn't exactly part of its native dictionary. Additionally, typing quickly during a conversation with lots of people is severely hampered by the inaccuracy of the on-screen keyboard.
I would have left it at that, but my work requires that I use a bunch of web tools, look at lots of news sites, and have a feed reader open... basically, things that would require some level of multitasking. Imagine the frustration of having to constantly break the connection in chat to go look at a site or work on a post. It's frustrating, let me tell you. The idea of jumping into and out of applications -- of having to actually quit an app to move to another one -- is
"We don't work like this on our computers -- why does Apple think we want to work like this on our phones?" |
The whole, painful experience set me thinking. Is this really what Apple wants me to be doing with my phone anyhow? The company has added lots of features -- like decent Exchange support -- so that its phone will appeal to enterprise and business users, but can these users really get what they need out of the device? Basic functionality, like calling people, email, and certainly document editing still feel inelegant and clunky due to the onscreen keyboard, and the lack of multitasking makes moving around through those typically important tasks difficult to say the least. The experience on an Android device, S60, the Pre, a BlackBerry, or even Windows Mobile just makes more sense. Let me say that again: those experiences make more sense. Now I'm not saying the execution of those experiences is better across platforms, but the philosophy of letting users multitask is more natural to us. The iPhone doesn't even have a method for switching between recently used or favorite applications.
We don't work like this on our computers -- why does Apple think we want to work like this on our phones?
Well that's the thing -- maybe they don't really care about how we work. Maybe they don't want us to work at all. If you take a look at the App Store, it's fairly obvious where the cash is going -- and it's not to productivity or enterprise apps. Where is it going? To Doom Resurrection, frankly (sorry, not for me -- I hate games on rails). At the end of the day, it's nice to stick the "we love business users" line into your PR, but it's quite another thing to make it real.
Keep this in mind: I'm not a Wall Street lifer -- I'm a guy in new media who needs to get things done. I should be part of Apple's target market.
So, what's the fix here? Well for Apple, the solution is simple -- the virtual keyboard problem is annoying, but not a deal breaker necessarily. The lack of multitasking is. The fact that Apple won't let end users decide to run down their battery with these dangerous, experience-ruining background tasks is galling, but the fact that the company doesn't seem to recognize how important the concept is is even worse. Giving users the option to select even a few apps to juggle would alleviate this problem instantly, but you've still got the hurdle of notifications which are difficult to manage, and an email platform which feels woefully behind the curve. Until the company finds some new paths to beat in those departments, the iPhone -- for all its apps and all its uses -- still doesn't hit the sweetspot for a lot of users who need to work.
For me? Providing this heart holds up the way doctors say it will, I'll be keeping a keen eye on Android developments. But seriously guys... put a keyboard on those things.
But if multitasking is brought to life, the battery will drain fast. That means people will be in uproar when the device lasts 3-5 hours but cannot drop in a new battery and keep keeping on. And/ or they will complain the OS is sluggish even if 4 apps are running. It's a downward spiral that Apple (PR) does not want to handle just yet.
I would love to answer e-mails without Pandora cutting off but at the same time, I walked into the Apple store knowing I could not multitask.
The issue is this- who's problem is it, Apple's or the end users? If you're the chief editor for a worldwide gadget news blog, maybe you should know the iPhone isn't for you before buy it and start complaining.
Excellent write-up Josh- I hope this article helps Apple change the way they do things but at the same time, you come off as just another 'entitled' user who wants a billion dollar company to conform to his or her needs. And Apple doesn't seem like the type of company to really try to conform to the general populations needs.
mmhh.. now see.. the thing is.. the iPhone DOES multi-task. You CAN listen to your iPod music or surf the internet while
on the phone.. as long as you use Apple's own apps its no problem to multi-task..
so why are they not allowing this for other apps? I agree with Josh: " ... The fact that Apple won't let end users decide to run down their battery with these dangerous, experience-ruining background tasks is galling,... ...Giving users the option to select even a few apps to juggle would alleviate this problem instantly,... "
I've owned an iPhone for two years now- do not tell me what it can or cannot do. I don't consider your scenerio to be true multitasking.
True, it does prove the iPhone is more then capable then handling multitasking but that is neither the point of Josh's article or my response.
You guys realize the native iPod app and iTunes streaming app runs in the background.
And as far Joshua Topolsky and the article goes...
It sounds like super-nerd knit picking. The reason why the iPhone is selling like crazy is because it wasn't designed for geeks!!!. Well not readily apparent for geeks. Multi-Tasking is way way over hyped. You'd think that people were typing a report in word and creating a spreadsheet at the exact same time.
Better app design>multitasking.
For example:
(and this has nothing to do with which phone is better this is strictly methodology)
Why eat up more memory running two apps when the apps can have extended functionality and do multiple things.
TwitterFon or IM+ are great examples. Both have a built in web browser. Thus allowing an iPhone user not to have to leave the app to see a link sent to them. Oh and the iPod runs in the back ground so I can listen to my music or stream a Podcast via the iTunes app.
The phone can do what the programmers want it to do. If you have a problem about Apples rules, stop whining and get another device. Its sickening to here all these nerdy complaints when the device does what it does well and millions enjoy it for work and leisure.
The Pre and G1 can multi-task the way the Author wants but they pay a steep price in battery performance and may need to buy extra batteries . But it comes down to what you are willing to put up with.
There is going to be a diverse smartphone environment in the workplace. GET USED TO IT! Worry about what specifically makes you happy, and stop WHINING about the iPhone.
Engadget needes to get its act straight and stop fanning stupid fanboyism. All it does is prevent people from truly finding what works for themselves personally. :SMH:
PALM PRE!! THE GREATEST
You are talking about a phone. It wasn't designed for what you're trying to do. No matter how good your Swiss army knife is, it can't do everything.
Sometime it's healthy to take a break. It's good for your heart and mind.
Apple!! Are you reading this?
I'm an iPhone owner and 3.0 has great improvements but my 3G is now so slow (compared to 2.x)
but if I get a new phone, I don't think it will be an iPhone again.. as soon as Andriod OS gets a bit
more sophisticated I'll be an ex-iPhoner
ahh.. don't forget: AT&T are you reading this?!! I think they are a key part of some of the iPhone frustrations right now.. can't wait to change carrier, too.
They are not reading that. Honestly, they've heard it before and the threat from one more customer ain't going to immediately stop them in their tracks and say, "Hey, think green is right. He is a genius!" what they are going to do is keep the majority happy while realizing they cannot make every single person happy.
Next time you go to the doctor bring the Palm Pre and see how that does. Would be interesting to see how it works doing the same things you were trying to do on the iPhone. I agree the lack of multitasking is really lame.
Josh nailed it. That is my experience with the iPhone after the year. The multi-tasking limit is nuts. Also the notification options are lacking. Why do you have to jailbreak the thing to make it start to be useful?
Apple has made an great product that the majority of users WANT & NEED. They have put tight controls on how it can be used and they are clearly focused on the 80 percent of users. For all of us (remaining 20 percent) who want to multi task and really use this phone for work its just not going to happen anytime soon. That is why we reach for our Blackberry.
This was a great article and really pointed out the limitations of this devise. Your articles are always a great read and HIGH FIVES to all of the Engadget team.
On a side note I like pepperoni pizza!
Your forgetting the Apple mantra: cater to the masses, screw everyone else.
The iphone is great for sending the occasional e-mail, surfing the web, etc. It is fine for people(like me) that have a PC available to any actual work. I can use it do my whole job (windows development) either, but I think it's a bit much to expect to be able to do an entire job from a mobile device.
If you really need to do that much from your phone, get a Touch Pro(2) and shut the hell up.
You are my hero Josh. At least the head of Engadget isn't drinking the Cupertino Koolaid. I lost my ATT Tilt 3 months ago then went to the iphone because it was cheaper than the newer HTC phone (that a smaller, but more resolute screen). Now I am living in non-productivity hell. iPhone is a great tool for dicking around though. I was hoping that the Touch Pro 2 would be out by now, but they can never seem to get their act together either for US releases. Oh well, biding my time I guess.
I like the Palm Pre because it has a physical keyboard and can multitask.
I'm not an iPhone fanboy that feels comprelled to tweet about nearby sushi restaurants while listening to MP3s all day.
I don't care is Palm Pre doesn't have the lastes "Virtual Farting App".
I actually want to get things done.
I agree with much of the editorial - it can be frustrating when you're trying to do 'work' on the iPhone (trying hopping between 4 email accounts aka the email shuffle!). I regrettably can say that the iPhone is not an enterprise level device - at least not in the current state of multi-tasking. It's a real cool toy.
Apple wants to maintain complete and absolute control on this thing - to the point of strangling real improvements that would make the iPhone a much better professional level enterprise-ready device.
Sorry fanboys - I love Apple too, but after dealing with the iPhone for the past year, I'm bitter because of Apple's imposed limitations and frustrations.
peace
This is an interesting counter-point to the piece that The Boy Genius posted recently on how the Blackberry OS sucks as a multimedia/gaming/internet browsing platform. It will be interesting to see what's out there in the next 5-10-15 years from these companies and if anyone can produce a device that does it all well..
go buy a netbook
I am disappointed by the lack of Paul a. Chapel comments... only 3?
Most of the time, I don't see the point of a lot of these comments - yes, you have to close your current email message to read another one - is there a phone that let's you open multiple email messages simultaneously on a 3inch screen?
Yes, you have to exit email to open the web browser - but iPhone's mail app doesn't always close, and it opens in the same context, so is this any different then minimizing.
Think of the iPhone as if everything is required to be full screen (Windows 1.x anyone?) and you have to minimize one app to access another. Possibly switching between recent applications could be easier, but the Palm Pre appears to trade that for making launching new applications harder, so I'm not sure it is an easy problem to solve well on a small mobile device. I don't think press Home, tap Mail, press Home, tap Safari (both in the dock) can be improved very much.
Those problems could easily be fixed, and here why I say that. The iPhone could easily be twice as thick as it is now and still be thinner than most other smartphones. The increase in size would allow for far more ram, twice if not three times the battery and a larger CPU and GPU. If Apple would just relax a tad on the "do it the Apple way or the highway" attitude they could make an iPhone that could easily out perform most netbooks and some laptops. I mean look at HTC smartphones they are huge blocks compared to the iPhone. I know I could handle double the thickness for say 2gigs of ram and a battery that would easily last all day. I understand what Apple is trying to do, but with the space confinement and todays available tech to truley make the iPhone useful and unbeatable a thickness increase is a small price to pay. Oh but Apple will never do that, because it isn't what mister Jobs wants for the people. :( Mister jobs wants everyone to buy an iPhone that's lacking so then they need a MacbookPro to fill in the gaps, but they also need an Ipod Touch because they want more space for music and videos. Then they need a Mac Pro because the MacBooks like to crap out. It's an endless cycle, because next year it starts all over again. Alass all is not lost there's kyptonite on the way to end the evil tyranical empire of the so called SuperJobs. Least one can always hope right?
all those points are remedied by my Pre :)
All I have to say is Amen! You speak the minds of all iPhone users!
I won't turn this into a flame war by saying which platform I use, but I will say that the lack of multitasking is why I use a different platform than the iPhone, since I definitely use my phone for managing a business that requires constant back-and-forth between email and a web browser. I love the option of not carrying a laptop.
I believe Apple will make multitasking happen eventually; I think they will have to in order to stay relevant in the years to come. But with multitasking comes memory management which can cause stability problems, so it's not a "check-the-box" addition that will guarantee a better user experience across the board.
The iPhone users I know use it to make phone calls and read email. For that it seems to get the job done really well (and I love the hilarious typos in their emails).
ok, "Treo_user," dont tell us your platform
Did anyone else find the writing style of this post a little forced? Seems like he spent a little too much time with a thesaurus app on his iphone.
Jealous much? Folks with expansive vocabularies similar to the author's didn't have any trouble keeping up... go read a book.
Finally. The post that should have been written 2+ years ago.
The iPhone is a great device. Super technology, wonderful interface, superior app selection. All that said, IT IS NOT a power phone. Compared to what WinMo can do from a productivity standpoint there is NO comparison.
Can iPhone users please stop pretending that the device is really a smartphone? Acknowledge the fact that the device is great for consumers who want to do light gaming, listen to music, check email, and do casual web browsing. If you need more than that look elsewhere for a device.
read this carefully
JAILBREAK YOUR PHONE:
download Backgrounder, and iQuickSMS, SBSettings...solves your problem...
the three of those apps are fairly stable and wont crash your phone like most people (who problably havn't tried jailbreaking) seem to think.
THEN You'll be able to GTD like a champ.
That is all.
You're preaching to the choir my friend,
People are either too dumb to fathom this concept or too locked into their smartphone jihad to actually get the concept of rooting a device and making it 100x better via the underground dev scene.
Android peeps being an exception of course.
i thought the whole point of the iphone was that "it just works"? that doesn't sound like it works to me. stupid apple fanboys.
Great article. iPhone is just an over-expensive toy designed part fools from their money. It's not really very good at doing anything worthwhile when you break it down, especially when you consider how much it costs over a two-year contract and the piss-poor battery life. No serious businessperson would use one. Looks nice though, eh?
Hey Joshua I've got news for you - you ARE part of Apple's target market - for a nice 13" or 15" MacBook Pro! - with a Verizon EVDO card installed.
The fact that you can successfully do each of these different things you discussed, and then put that tiny multi-tool BACK IN YOUR POCKET, doesn't mean it was designed to take the place of a full-sized laptop computer -- with a full-sized screen, keyboard, and OS.
You know, my Dad was a builder, and he taught me that when I had a big job to do, I should use a big hammer and a big screwdriver and a big shovel. Likewise, tiny job, tiny tools.
So get real.
Even when Apple's super-low-power chips are running the iPhone 5G a few years from now, along with the new triple strength battery, all of which allows for a reasonable multitasking experience, it'll still be a pocket-sized device.
A small set of nifty tools for occasional but urgent tasks, wherever you are.
You know, like a Swiss Army knife.
My point exactly. Why are you TRYING to do so much work on your phone anyway? I don't care what interface or OS is used on the phone, doing REAL work on a tiny 3-4" screen is just stupid.
Yes, because carrying a computer around with you everywhere you go is ever so practical.
You're missing Josh's point. There are other smartphones on the market that CAN do exactly what he needs to do right now (and have been for a couple of years).
Virtual keyboard may not be ideal, but it lets you add new languages easily. Try that with hardware keyboard.
The luck of multitasking is annoying and push notifications are not as elegant as Pre implementation.
Still, after two years of using iPhone I don't see anything better on the market.
The virtual keyboard does not suck. Are your fine motor skills so terrible that you're unable to perform the function of pressing a specific place on a screen? I can't stand when people complain about the virtual keyboard - this is a non issue.
Now you do have a point when it comes to multitasking - but of course if there was multitasking, you would complain about the iPhone's speed performance.
Nonsense. I've been using a virtual keyboard for over a year now, and even though I'm pretty fast on it, when I try out friends phones with a real keyboard, I type faster (though that G1 keyboard hump is annoying). Muscle memory works a lot better when there is an actual tactile difference.
Plain and simple.
Are we stilllll - - seriously stilllll - talking about virtual keyboard? If you don't like it - get a friggin Pre or a BB! Not every phone is meant for every person. I personally get a TON of work done on my iphone - much more than I did on my BB - namely due to the better interface.
Sick of the whining. If you don't like the phone - don't use it.
That's why I just went out and bought a Palm Pre:
I can multitask and have a physical, tactile keyboard.
I wouldn't use a virtual keyboard on my home computer, and that was a major consideration for me.
Plus, I'm not an iPhone fanboy. I get more work done on my Pre than I did on my previous iPhone 3G.
BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH. Can you tell me of a phone with which you could have performed the job you needed? Any BlackBerrys? HTC devices? Nokia? You're basically asking your phone to do everything that your computer can - all at once. And instead of blaming phones in general (because they're incapable of doing every little thing you nitpicked about perfectly), you picked on your iPhone because it is just soooooo in vogue to talk shit about the iPhone. Good job.
The Palm Pre......... Yeah
tennis_king81: you're full of it. If you don't think other phones can manage to keep an IRC client open while you pop into email, then you have no clue.
Glad I have my 2 year old HTC TyTN II with the slideout keyboard and the laughable Windows Mobile task manager that lets me swap between different open apps running in the background without an issue. Didn't Jobs laugh at that silly task manager that "ate up memory" on the phone by running things in the background?
Props for an excellent article. Glancing through the comments it seems like everyone has something meaningful to add. Good discussion.
A major keyboard hurdle could be alleviated if Apple just allowed us to program our own Auto-Text bank and dictionary like on the Blackberry. It is truly absurd that they don't allow this.
I think you just put a fine point on it. It really is thoughtless for Apple to omit this necessary tool. I wonder if there is a solution through jailbreaking?
That's what they omitted so they can release it on 4.0
Just jailbreak it and install Backgrounder.
No way far too complicated
/s