My take on the iPhone 3GS

First of all, this is not a particularly informed review. I do not own one of these devices currently, I’m basing my opinion on third party reviews and Apples’ keynote address on the 3GS.

The one thing that strikes me about this whole launch is the amount of hype Apple are creating about the 3.0 software – but overlapping this with the launch of the 3GS. For instance, things like Spotlight search and the new Messages app feature center-stage on the Apple website promoting the 3GS, but these are available on 3G and even 2G iPhones!! That said, the features 3.0 brought to my phone have been sadly disappointing. The vast increases in SDK capabilities haven’t been taken up by developers at all (may do another post on this some time) for whatever reason, and I’m yet to use Spotlight in a ‘non-test’ capacity. The messages app is all well and good – but when I tried to send a contact to a friend of mine, it came out as rubbish. I know there’s not a standard for such messages across phones, but that sort of invalidates the point of having such capabilities!

Voice control is all well and good, I’ve not seen many reviews of this feature out in the wild, so I can’t really pass judgement on that. The addition of a magnetometer within the 3GS will be a huge feature. I personally try to get out and about doing some Geocaching, and hopefully the Groundspeak iPhone application will be updated to allow use of this compass to make seeking caches even easier with an iPhone.

However, the simple addition of video recording (and increase in camera quality) is just about enough to sell me on the 3GS. I’ve whinged about the quality of the existing camera until I’m blue in the mouth – but still I use it for all my day-to-day shooting! People are much more likely to be carrying a mobile phone than a full camera when they need it most. Apple have pulled some really good moves in this hardware update, and I for one am on the end of the hook – I want it!

Skype for iPhone released

Skype have just launched their official iPhone client in the UK! Woop!

My first reaction was definitely one of ‘wow’ – the interface is slick, and a quick phone call to their ‘test service’ (didn’t want to wake anyone!) revealed the call quality to be excellent, although it seemed that a little part of my test message was dropped.

Only problem I can see with it is the lack of cell network support, I’d really like to be able to make calls on the go without having Wi-Fi nearby. Other ‘nice to have’ would be the use of background processing on the iPhone, but that is Apples’ fault obviously. Maybe push notifications could be used somehow in this app? We shall wait and see…

My new addiction

And they say small things amuse small minds? Never been more true!

Found an absolute gem in the iPhone App store the other day: Flight Control [iTunes link]. Here’s my go at a little review!

The UI is much smoother than I’ve seen on many iPhone games, simplistic menu options and tutorials make this game so easy to dive in to. The basic idea of the game is to guide planes onto a runway (you can probably see why I like it already!), whilst making sure they don’t collide with each other. It’s harder than it sounds!

There are 4 types of aircraft in this version: light aircraft, helicopters, medium and large jets. All of which move at a slightly different speed – the controllers nightmare! I’m sure nothing this drastic would occur in real life though (aircraft landing within split seconds of each other?!), or else I’d only be able to land 66 planes before killing someone!

The use of the touch-and-drag interface on the iPhone coupled with clever use of the on-screen graphics and onboard sound make the game extremely easy to use, it takes mere seconds to get started.

Overall, I’ve no regrets on spending 59p on this app, and I can’t wait to see how it will be expanded on in future releases

P.S. I wanted to include some screenshots, but no matter how hard I try, the iPhone won’t let me take them off the internal memory :-(

Nuevasync update

Just been released! Provides support for multiple calendars on the phone (so they appear in different colours) and also for read-only ICAL files.

Well, that's just put gCalCloud out of business! I shall be shelving the project tomorrow, but will post the source code for people to have a look at just how crap it was! Hehe

Anyway, cheers Nuevasync, you just saved me a project!

iBlogger

As part of my resolution to get using this blog some more, thought I'd invest in iBlogger - a iPhone application that's actually quite professional! It's on sale at the moment, down from £4.99 to £0.59 - well worth it!

Anyway, think it's time I slept!

iPhone 3G - me want!

God bless you Steve Jobs, you never cease to amaze me with your new technology. New iPhone 3G was announced last night at WWDC, with some brand new features:

• 3G (duh!) which actually seems to work at the same speeds as HSDPA(?) It is actually a HSDPA phone, according to Apples tech-specs - which makes it 3.5G!
• A-GPS (Assisted GPS, works with Wi-Fi and Cell tower to calculate positions faster)
• 2.0 software (obviously!)
• Also available in white!
• Flush headphone jack
• All-metal buttons
• Better speakers

The 2.0 software looks good as well, can't wait for some native games to come along!

The best thing of all - o2 offering free upgrades to existing customers! No contract termination fee, just pay for the new phone, sign up for a new 18 month contract, and you're away!

I've already registered so that o2 will phone me up to set the ball rolling on these things in early July - I can't wait!

Update: Just realised I'm away through most of early July - damnit.

1.1.4 a bit of a let-down!

Not actually figured out if it fixes anything yet, not heard any rumours around various other blogs either.

Ah well... roll on next Tuesday - apparently a potential release date for the SDK :D

iPhone 1.1.4 Released

Firmware update 1.1.4 for update has been launched this morning. No new features (apparently, not installed yet), but a few unspecified bugfixes. Nothing in the Apple KnowledgeBase about the security fixes either!

Could this actually be the release of the SDK, but hidden away? I'd expect an iTunes update within the next week or so, to unlock the features of the SDK, and then maybe firmware 1.1.5 to unlock the phone

EDIT: Just tried to update my phone, got a "1602" error, apparently I have to restore to factory settings :(

iPhone Tariffs updated!

o2 are updating the tariffs for iPhone as of 1st Feb!

£35 p/m now gets you 600 minutes and 500 texts

£45 p/m = 1200 minutes and 500 texts

£75 p/m = 3000 minutes and 500 texts

Rolling out to existing users as of 1st Feb, complete by mid-March at the latest :D

http://www.o2.co.uk/iphone/o2tariffsforiphone

You can now also get o2 "Bolt-ons" for extra cash, most interesting for me being the "Unlimited anytime texts" for only an extra £7.50 per month.

http://www.o2.co.uk/iphone/boltons

Apparently all iPhone UK users will get a text from o2 when the conversion is complete :D

Can't wait, I went well over my texts last month!

Changes in 1.1.3

Well, I have to say I'm fairly impressed with the 1.1.3 update I blogged about earlier. Even after my PC crashed and then started the download all over again -.- urgh.

The "Find Me" service on Maps isn't too brilliant it seems... it told me that I am currently somewhere in Poynton. Well duh!

The changing of the home screen is quite nice, however I don't like the shakey effect when changing icons around - I think it looks tacky!

I'm yet to see movie rentals for the UK...

Multiple texts is a bonus though!

On another note - the "MacBook Air" has been shown off to the world (well... the people who were at MacWorld - I'm still waiting for the video to be released!). Not that I'd want a Mac anyway...

iPhone 1.1.3 update

iPhone software update 1.1.3 has been released! Don't know if Steve Jobs has just announced it at Macworld or something, but iTunes now recognises the update, and its downloading for me as I write this!

Unfortunately, several million other iPhone owners are doing the same, so download speeds are quite low - it's going to take about 90 mins to download :'(

New features (from the download menu when you start the update):

• Updated maps
• "Find me"
• Multiple SMS
• Updated home screen
• 9 simultaneous screens side-by-side
• Safari bookmarks on home screen

and a couple more I forgot before clicking "next"!

I will post and tell you all how it goes! 83 mins left!

Lack of blogging

Well, you can all imagine why I've not been blogging much recently... I've got an iPhone!

Yes, almost 1 year to the day of it being announced at Macworld - I hold in my hand the epitome of cool.

The adverts really can't show it at all, its an awesome bit of kit, only got a few complaints:

• No multiple texts
• No MMS
• Headphone jack
• Home button
• Applications "crash" to the home screen quite often

Most problems should be fixed with the 1.1.3 update, however, which hopefully is out next week, being announced at MacWorld!

Anyway, back to life...

Got exams this week, had Maths C2 yesterday (went okay, thought of an answer as soon as I left the hall though :( there goes 5 marks). Got Physics resit and Maths C3 tomorrow - fun. I intend to have a fun time at Nic's party tomorrow evening though - I may not make it home!

Handed in my Physics coursework, a month before I had to :o! I'll wait and see if it comes back though, teacher's still had my last piece for 3 months without marking it -.-

I'm rather depressed about going back to school, would much rather be off to Uni tomorrow!

On the subject of Uni - I've had offers from Kent, Nottingham and Edinburgh so far, and have interviews at York and Durham! Kent want me to visit though, which means a 6 hour journey on the train just to get there :( May have to drive... somehow!

I Got iPhoned!

I am now the proud owner of a brand new iPhone!

Words cannot describe how awesome it is... you've got to see it in the flesh to really love it!

I've not put it down since I got it, and only just run the battery down - thats about 6 hours of continuous work (with Wifi enabled), before it went, and it charges pretty fast as well!

I am actually speechless...!

iPhone?!?!?!!!!!

Mum's finally come round to the idea of iPhone! Seems that she wants one as well, however... and also sister wants one. Doesn't seem quite so cool any more :(

Ah well... possibility of going into Macclesfield to get one tomorrow!!!

What not to do

"Do not drop, disassemble, open, crush, bend, deform, puncture, shred, microwave, incinerate, paint or insert foreign objects into iPhone"

Why would I be that stupid?

Steve Jobs - I solemnly swear that I shall never microwave a iPhone. Ever. If I get my hands on one I shall treat it like it is made out of gold.

I recon I've got about £400 in hand at the moment... anyone want to go halves? :P

Wasted weekend

And not in the sense that I was wasted.

Spent all of Saturday doing Maths homework, and then all of Sunday doing various bits of coursework. I think its fair to say that I'm pretty peeved.

FsPortal is nearing release, only 27.5 days left until it gets unveiled to the public... and yet I can't spend my time on it!!! I'm losing out on revenue! And you know I need the money if I'm to get my hands on one of those iPhones. Damn you Steve Jobs.

Anywho... back to the same old monotony for another 7 days. I may just have to start a countdown until I leave this awful school and finally start to live again.

Still... 21 days until Family Guy, and a few less until Halflife 2: Ep2 (which I have ordered :D Before I realised I needed the money elsewhere :( Ah well)

I have a fairly crap day at school tomorrow. 2*Physics, 1*Maths and 1*Tech. Probably no blog tomorrow... will be too busy screaming into pillows. Seems to be a regular occurrence now. Who the hell is responsible for this timetable?!?!?!

I got an iPhone :D

Granted, it does not do anything, none of the buttons work, and it is actually cardboard... but its the closest I'll get!

http://sneakmove.com/images/diy_iphone.pdf if you fancy making your own...

I will carry mine everywhere... :D

iPhone UK release date announced

November 9th 2007 - iPhone hits the UK!

Priced at £269 (eek) for the handset, and then £35 per month minimum (eek).

Bit out of my price range! However, Mobiles.co.uk did have a page selling iPhones for £99, but this may have been a technical error, you can't get at any iPhone pages any more.

You have no idea how badly I want one now... but I doubt I can stump up that much money! :(

iPhone blues :(

It's 1am... and I'm sat up watching Apple Keynote speeches just to see the iPhone in action!

I WANT ONE!!!

The thing looks freaking sweet!

Best information I could find was a "October 2007" release, but I'm now seeing the drop in price... and wanting it even more!

I hope that the price drop is echoed in the UK release price as well!

Probably a bit of a shot in the foot for Apple, dropping the 4Gb model and lowering 8Gb by $200... and then offering a $100 refund. Pissed off a lot of people, and it seems many are flocking back to Apple stores to return their 4Gb, and buy a 8Gb with $50 left over! Bargin!

Anyway... just hope it happens soon. I'm saving my pennies already!