iPhone 3.0: First Impressions
[ Photo: Apple ]
The new operating system for Apple's iPhone smart phones and iPod Touch launched this afternoon. Here are some observations on some of the most eagerly awaited features of the new OS, based on my first few hours of using it on my iPod Touch:
The new search feature is brilliant and instantaneous. A quick swipe to the left with your finger summons the Spotlight search app. Start typing a word and all the relevant applications, e-mails, calendar events, songs, etc. instantly become listed. For example, I typed "Paul" on my Touch and the feature instantly searched the device (though not the Web, as the Palm Pre does). I got a list of songs from Paul Simon, Les Paul, e-mails and calendar events concerning my boss, Paul Reynolds, and my colleague, Paul Eng. Just continue typing and the list narrows down in real time to what you're looking for.
The new feature had another benefit for me. During what was otherwise a smooth OS upgrade, my downloaded iPhone apps all jumped to the third page of the Touch's desktop, leading me to think they were gone. The new search feature quickly revealed where my apps were.
The landscape-mode keyboard helps, with some downsides. Tilting the iPhone on its side in e-mail or messaging applications does indeed produce a wider keyboard. That's a real plus for my rotund fingers; I find I can type much faster and make fewer errors.
However, in landscape mode, the keyboard covers more of the message you're typing, so you see fewer lines of text—two or three lines, compared to the five or so when its in portrait mode. There also seems to be a glitch with the keyboard. When I tilted the phone into the vertical position to summon the portrait-sized keyboard, the keyboard became distorted, like two half-keyboards stacked one on top of another. Restarting the Touch seemed to fix the problem—for now.
Cut-and-paste works fine, save for attachments. When replying to an e-mail, I found the cut-and paste-feature works well. Double tapping on text produces the copy button and highlights the word you tapped. You can easily expand the swath of text you wish to copy by dragging your finger along the touch screen, and lifting it when you're done. Double tap in a new region, and the "select, copy, paste" menu appears. Peck "paste" to drop in the copied text. Cool feature: If you make a mistake any time during this process, just shake your iPhone or Touch to undo. You can also copy text from one document and paste it in another, even on a different application. For example, I was able to paste the name of a camera I found in a Google search into the search field of my Amazon.com app.
But the paste function does not work with e-mail attachments, at least without an additional application. When I opened an attachment, a Word document, the only editing option that appeared was to "copy."
Fast downloads. I was able to download a full-length digital movie (Don't Mess with the Zohan, running time: Almost 2 hours) in just 33 minutes.
The software upgrade, which became available at 1 p.m. (EST) today, is free to all current iPhone owners and costs $10 for all iPod Touch users. While I didn't have any problems with the upgrade, The New York Times reports some of the snags—including the loss of some iPhone features—that other up-graders experienced.
I'm impressed so far with all the new features of the software upgrade. And I can't wait to see what's in store on Friday, June 19, when Apple releases the iPhone 3G S, which upgrades some of the phone's internal hardware. Claimed improvements include faster system performance, a higher-quality camera that will be able to digitally capture full-motion video, and voice-command capabilities. (Just speak to the new iPhone and it will obey, is the promise.)
Like ordinary consumers, our secret shoppers will be waiting on line at various retailers to buy our own units on Friday. We'll be putting our new iPhones through their paces and report here on this blog—and on our Twitter page!—as soon as we know more.
Stay tuned! —Mike Gikas.
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Posted by: kim sullivan | Jun 17, 2009 11:54:06 PM
Personally, I am not 'thrilled' with Apple products, and customer service at all....Has anyone at consumers report received blogs regarding the 'water damaged' iphone claims, the genius bar uses when a client has 'issues' with certain software not functioning? It appears to me that Apple is making these iphones way too sensitive to water (why does every iphone have 4 water sensors? especially the 2 placed right next to the headset jack opening and the charger opening on the phone? I've been reading numerous blogs by people from other countries as well, that experienced problems with their iphones (mine for example stop taking photos), whom went to the 'genius' bars, who run 'diagnostic' tests on the software, and then immediately look at the 2 somewhat exposed water sensors which seem activate rather easily. I was told water damage cancels their warranties and that I would have to pay $199 to replace it with a refurbished phone!!! Is this design poorly made (I reassure you and apple that I have NEVER placed this phone in a gym, bathroom or water, bath, pool washing machine ,etc...., and yet I am being accused of doing so because the water sensors have been activated. Could the humidity of New York City be the cause? Did Apple realize that in manufacturing, there was a design flaw regarding sealing of the item which makes it highly suseptible to humid conditions , and instead take the time to correct the problem, place 4 water sensors (2 of which are practically exposed), to be able to avoid taking accountability when iphones fail to work properly? After all, my phone was not even opened to see how much so called 'water damage' was done! I think Consumers report should do an investigation of this issue regarding the 'fraility' of iphones! I've depended on your reviews on products for many years, and a supporter of your organization, I think it is extremely important that not only the positives of an item is featured, but also the negatives! Iphone should not be exempt of this. Thank You for your time and consideration