Seven Reasons Why the New iPhone Sucks - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

freelod · 07-23-2008, 12:13 AM

Quote:

Seven Reasons Why the New iPhone Sucks

Look before you leap before buying the new iPhone. This is the iPhone that all of us have been waiting for. It promised to address the deficiencies of the first generation iPhone, but does it really?

Here are some reasons why not:

1. Too expensive to own.
Apple and AT&T may have shaved a couple of hundred dollars off the price but they will more than make up for it in monthly fees. If you take into account the regular monthly fee, the data fee, the text message fee, which used to be free, and the $99 annual mobileme fee you could end up spending over $1,000 a year to own an iPhone, that's 200 gallons of $5 gas.

2. Can't use the GPS like a GPS.
Forget about getting turn-by-turn voice directions in your car from the new iPhone 3G. The iPhone SDK makes it pretty clear it’s not allowed, “Applications may not be designed or marketed for real time guidance.” Yes it will superimpose your position on a Google map, or show you the closest pizzeria but what about getting real-time route guidance? If you read reviews for other GPS devices you never come across a GPS that doesn’t provide some form of guidance. There’s a rumor that TomTom may be developing a guidance application but you have to wonder how they’ll get it past the Apple police.

3. Can’t tether the iPhone to your laptop.
Want to save sixty dollars per month for a 3G card for your laptop and use the iPhone instead? Not going to happen—not allowed. Although there are plenty of phones, including AT&T's Tilt, that will allow you to use your 3G phone as a high speed modem for your laptop, the iPhone won’t be one of them so you can add the cost of a 3G card for your laptop at $720 a year to your total cost of ownership.

4. Still no cut and paste.
Cut and paste has been around on Apple computers since the earliest Mac Plus computers. What’s the big problem with implementing it on iPhones? Why is cut and paste so important? Suppose you’re browsing a web site and want to capture some text or a URL, or someone sent you an email and you want to grab some text from it and send to someone else. Not possible on an iPhone. Speaking of email, where’s the spell checker? Predictive typing is fine but spell checkers are everywhere else but here.

5. Wimpy 2 MP camera.
In the world of 5 MP Smartphones and 10 MP point and shoot cameras that you can buy for under $200, why is the iPhone still stuck with a measly 2 MP? That’s so 2003. While we’re at it how come we can’t record video, afraid the non-existent SD card might fill up? The iPhone should be able to stream video by now just like many other cell phones can already do right now.

6. No stereo Bluetooth.
We thought the iPhone was supposed to be part iPod. At least they fixed the recessed headphone jack flaw (and called it a new feature) but the A2DP stereo Bluetooth standard has been around for a while and is missing from the iPhone.

7. The list goes on.
Still no Flash player for rich media content (what grudge does Steve Jobs hold against Adobe). Still can’t send pictures in MMS messages, still no native voice dialing, no mobile TV, no replaceable battery, no flash memory card, and on and on.

Okay, now that I got that off my chest, I feel better and what the heck, so it’s not perfect but it’s still the coolest smartphone out there (other smartphones) and I still want one. I look forward to seeing you on the line.

Enjoy your new iPhone (and here are some accessories while you are at it).

Look before you leap before buying the new iPhone. This is the iPhone that all of us have been waiting for. It promised to address the deficiencies of the first generation iPhone, but does it really?

telekinetic · 07-23-2008, 12:17 AM

What a fucking whiner. I'm not willing to concede a single one of those points as legitimate, and he goes on to say "but it is most clearly an awesome phone and I want one" so I suspect he's just trolling for ad views with an inflamatory blog title. Here's the article so he doesn't get any (more) blog hits from this post:

Quote:

Look before you leap before buying the new iPhone. This is the iPhone that all of us have been waiting for. It promised to address the deficiencies of the first generation iPhone, but does it really?

Here are some reasons why not:

1. Too expensive to own.
Apple and AT&T may have shaved a couple of hundred dollars off the price but they will more than make up for it in monthly fees. If you take into account the regular monthly fee, the data fee, the text message fee, which used to be free, and the $99 annual mobileme fee you could end up spending over $1,000 a year to own an iPhone, that's 200 gallons of $5 gas.

2. Can't use the GPS like a GPS.
Forget about getting turn-by-turn voice directions in your car from the new iPhone 3G. The iPhone SDK makes it pretty clear it’s not allowed, “Applications may not be designed or marketed for real time guidance.” Yes it will superimpose your position on a Google map, or show you the closest pizzeria but what about getting real-time route guidance? If you read reviews for other GPS devices you never come across a GPS that doesn’t provide some form of guidance. There’s a rumor that TomTom may be developing a guidance application but you have to wonder how they’ll get it past the Apple police.

3. Can’t tether the iPhone to your laptop.
Want to save sixty dollars per month for a 3G card for your laptop and use the iPhone instead? Not going to happen—not allowed. Although there are plenty of phones, including AT&T's Tilt, that will allow you to use your 3G phone as a high speed modem for your laptop, the iPhone won’t be one of them so you can add the cost of a 3G card for your laptop at $720 a year to your total cost of ownership.

4. Still no cut and paste.
Cut and paste has been around on Apple computers since the earliest Mac Plus computers. What’s the big problem with implementing it on iPhones? Why is cut and paste so important? Suppose you’re browsing a web site and want to capture some text or a URL, or someone sent you an email and you want to grab some text from it and send to someone else. Not possible on an iPhone. Speaking of email, where’s the spell checker? Predictive typing is fine but spell checkers are everywhere else but here.

5. Wimpy 2 MP camera.
In the world of 5 MP Smartphones and 10 MP point and shoot cameras that you can buy for under $200, why is the iPhone still stuck with a measly 2 MP? That’s so 2003. While we’re at it how come we can’t record video, afraid the non-existent SD card might fill up? The iPhone should be able to stream video by now just like many other cell phones can already do right now.

6. No stereo Bluetooth.
We thought the iPhone was supposed to be part iPod. At least they fixed the recessed headphone jack flaw (and called it a new feature) but the A2DP stereo Bluetooth standard has been around for a while and is missing from the iPhone.

7. The list goes on.
Still no Flash player for rich media content (what grudge does Steve Jobs hold against Adobe). Still can’t send pictures in MMS messages, still no native voice dialing, no mobile TV, no replaceable battery, no flash memory card, and on and on.

Okay, now that I got that off my chest, I feel better and what the heck, so it’s not perfect but it’s still the coolest smartphone out there (other smartphones) and I still want one. I look forward to seeing you on the line.

Enjoy your new iPhone (and here are some accessories while you are at it).

Shauk · 07-23-2008, 12:39 AM

good, i clicked on his link cuz I freakin hate the iPhone hype. meh

RetroGunslinger · 07-23-2008, 08:21 AM

I despise the iPhone. Not only is it obscenely priced when you compare it to many other, better smart phones, but it fucking ruins my sales. This coming from a complete Apple freak.

Willravel · 07-23-2008, 08:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RetroGunslinger

Not only is it obscenely priced when you compare it to many other, better smart phones,

I don't think so. $199 for a 3G smart phone seems very competitive to me.

Quote:

Originally Posted by RetroGunslinger

but it fucking ruins my sales. This coming from a complete Apple freak.

OH.

Baraka_Guru · 07-23-2008, 08:30 AM

None of these reasons would apply to my potential usage of the device. It still seems like a decent phone. There are better ones, I'm sure, but as a Mac user, I wouldn't mind the integration you get through MobileMe (formerly .Mac), which I just got!

I'll probably own an iPhone one day.

Jinn · 07-23-2008, 08:33 AM

I pay 39.99 a month for my Tilt, which gives me unlimited 3G data, 500 text / pic messages, and 400 anytime minutes.

It has a GPS, and the GPS allows real-time guidance. It works with Google Maps and Windows Live's versions.

I can tether it to my laptop with one button click.

I can cut and paste in every application.

It has a SNES, Genesis, NES and GBA emulators and the games for it on it.

It has a full QWERTY keyboard as well as a touch screen one.

It has real-time weather built in on the main screen.

It has speak-to-dial and a rotating cube which contains pictures of my friends. I can just press their face to dial.

It has three different software picture albums out of the box.

It supports Java, Javascript and Flash out of the box.

I can install any Windows Mobile software I want to, whether signed or not.

I can use PocketIE or Opera Mobile/Mini.

It comes with the entire Office Suite (Word, Excel, PPT, Outlook, Access, Notepad, Wordpad) out of the box.

I also bought it for 179.99, but that was through my company. Refurbished Tilts sell cheaper than 3G IPhones..

boink · 07-23-2008, 12:28 PM

wow, reasons 1-4 are pritty big imo. dealbreakers. especially when you think of the "beat you over the head" marketing of all things Apple.

the Tilt sounds awsome Jinn..this thread is now an add for Tilt !!

I've never even had a cell phone and now I'm gonna look up the Tilt !

Halx · 07-23-2008, 12:55 PM

I have an iPhone. I love it because its very straightforward to use. You just touch ... the .. screen. I hate how different phones have different buttons that do different things. I forgot how to use my old cell phone a few months after I set it down for an iPhone, but I instantly knew how to use the iPhone as soon as I picked it up. There is nothing about it where I feel, "Oh, glad I stumbled upon this feature or else I would have been really lost if I tried looking for it later."

Yeah its expensive. Yeah its large. Yeah its yuppie. It still has the best interface on the market.

xepherys · 07-23-2008, 01:55 PM

Hal... I see where you're coming from. However...

MacOS still has (any pretty much always has had) the best interface around. A great interface does not a great product make. A combination of a good interface and great options beat a great interface and lame options any day. A lot of the problems listed in that list would prevent me from owning one. I think the iPhone is great... but it needs to be greater still before I break.

ASU2003 · 07-23-2008, 02:34 PM

I understand that it would be nice to see a few of those features, but it takes a while to develop them.

xepherys · 07-23-2008, 03:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ASU2003

I understand that it would be nice to see a few of those features, but it takes a while to develop them.

Uhm...

1) Apple began development of the first iPhone several years ago

2) This is not the first gen of the phone

3) They are features that other smartphones have had for a while now

4) Jailbroken iPhones have a lot of features that Apple didn't bother to put in that are fairly common... if hacks can do it, why not the Steve Jobs Crew?

blahblah454 · 07-23-2008, 05:34 PM

This reminds me of a video I saw on cnet yesterday. I do not know if its possible to imbed cnet videos though, so have a link.

Okay forget the link then. My internet is being a bitch, I am in a crappy Super 8 and it is terrible. The video is called "CNET top 5: Reasons to hate the iPhone"

Find it if you can and post the link.

Daniel_ · 07-23-2008, 10:32 PM

CNET Top 5: Reasons to hate the iPhone Video - Free Video Downloads - CNET TV

passthru · 07-23-2008, 11:25 PM

This reminds me of Maddox's first gen iPhone commentary, except it's not funny or harsh.

The iPhone is a piece of shit, and so is your face. (Probably NSFW..)

Rekna · 07-24-2008, 11:58 AM

I agree the the iphone is missing a lot of key features. And it is likely I won't get one because of it. I'm waiting to see what the blackberry thunder has to offer.

mrklixx · 07-24-2008, 02:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jinn

I pay 39.99 a month for my Tilt, which gives me unlimited 3G data, 500 text / pic messages, and 400 anytime minutes.

I us a Tilt as well. There are even mods and programs out there that can make the tilt replicate most of the iphones UI. For example, I run S2U2 which replicates the iphones "slide to unlock" feature.

Jinn, that's a heck of a plan, what carrier is it with?

boink · 07-24-2008, 03:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by passthru

This reminds me of Maddox's first gen iPhone commentary, except it's not funny or harsh.

The iPhone is a piece of shit, and so is your face. (Probably NSFW..)

damn that was funny. can't wait for his next phone review. freakin Nokia looks like some kinda ninja throwing star opend up

LoganSnake · 07-24-2008, 03:44 PM

He posted the same shit on another forum I post at. Fucking bots.

blahblah454 · 07-28-2008, 04:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LoganSnake

He posted the same shit on another forum I post at. Fucking bots.

uhh.... what?

jewels · 07-28-2008, 05:25 PM

I ain't no bot but found this

DISCLOSURE: I love my Blackberry Curve and wouldn't trade it for 10 iPhones equipped with multilingual GPS. And I love Macs over all other computers.

digme · 07-28-2008, 07:39 PM

I feel that Apple had the opportunity to really shake things up in the US cell phone market, but they didn't really have the balls to go through with it. You now HAVE to activate the phone in store and you HAVE to buy applications from the app store... those are just two examples where I feel they took the easy way out.

I have (small) hope that the Google Android project will be what the iPhone should have been.

LoganSnake · 07-28-2008, 09:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blahblah454

uhh.... what?

Users sign up all over the internet on message boards and link to sites. This site is one of those being linked. It's gotten to a point where we get a few weekly.

Sometimes it's bots and not actual people who post these messages.

piismyname · 08-21-2008, 06:26 PM

Does the tilt do MP3's as well? To me that is a deal breaker. If i need to carry a whole separate piece of gear just to play music, I don't want one. OTOH, it sounds awesome in general

fresnelly · 08-21-2008, 07:21 PM

I just bought a used Ipod Touch which is the iphone without the phone part. I love the interface and the wifi capability is super handy. I got a sweet deal and will sing its praises.

However, the lack of a flash player is a staggering weakness and a real disappointment.

07-23-2008, 08:21 AM	#4 (permalink)
RetroGunslinger eats puppies and shits rainbows Location: An Area of Space Occupied by a Population, SC, USA	I despise the iPhone. Not only is it obscenely priced when you compare it to many other, better smart phones, but it fucking ruins my sales. This coming from a complete Apple freak. __________________ It's a rare pleasure in this world to get your mind fucked. Usually it's just foreplay. M.B. Keene

07-23-2008, 08:30 AM	#6 (permalink)
Baraka_Guru warrior bodhisattva Super Moderator Location: East-central Canada	None of these reasons would apply to my potential usage of the device. It still seems like a decent phone. There are better ones, I'm sure, but as a Mac user, I wouldn't mind the integration you get through MobileMe (formerly .Mac), which I just got! I'll probably own an iPhone one day. __________________ Knowing that death is certain and that the time of death is uncertain, what's the most important thing? —Bhikkhuni Pema Chödrön Humankind cannot bear very much reality. —From "Burnt Norton," Four Quartets (1936), T. S. Eliot Last edited by Baraka_Guru; 07-23-2008 at 08:32 AM.. Reason: Added last sentence for closure.

07-23-2008, 08:33 AM	#7 (permalink)
Jinn Lover - Protector - Teacher Location: Seattle, WA	I pay 39.99 a month for my Tilt, which gives me unlimited 3G data, 500 text / pic messages, and 400 anytime minutes. It has a GPS, and the GPS allows real-time guidance. It works with Google Maps and Windows Live's versions. I can tether it to my laptop with one button click. I can cut and paste in every application. It has a SNES, Genesis, NES and GBA emulators and the games for it on it. It has a full QWERTY keyboard as well as a touch screen one. It has real-time weather built in on the main screen. It has speak-to-dial and a rotating cube which contains pictures of my friends. I can just press their face to dial. It has three different software picture albums out of the box. It supports Java, Javascript and Flash out of the box. I can install any Windows Mobile software I want to, whether signed or not. I can use PocketIE or Opera Mobile/Mini. It comes with the entire Office Suite (Word, Excel, PPT, Outlook, Access, Notepad, Wordpad) out of the box. I also bought it for 179.99, but that was through my company. Refurbished Tilts sell cheaper than 3G IPhones.. __________________ "I'm typing on a computer of science, which is being sent by science wires to a little science server where you can access it. I'm not typing on a computer of philosophy or religion or whatever other thing you think can be used to understand the universe because they're a poor substitute in the role of understanding the universe which exists independent from ourselves." - Willravel

07-23-2008, 12:28 PM	#8 (permalink)
boink Addict Location: Seattle	wow, reasons 1-4 are pritty big imo. dealbreakers. especially when you think of the "beat you over the head" marketing of all things Apple. the Tilt sounds awsome Jinn..this thread is now an add for Tilt !! I've never even had a cell phone and now I'm gonna look up the Tilt ! __________________ when you believe in things that you don't understand, then you suffer. Superstition ain't the way.

07-23-2008, 12:55 PM	#9 (permalink)
Halx Please touch this. Owner/Admin Location: Manhattan	I have an iPhone. I love it because its very straightforward to use. You just touch ... the .. screen. I hate how different phones have different buttons that do different things. I forgot how to use my old cell phone a few months after I set it down for an iPhone, but I instantly knew how to use the iPhone as soon as I picked it up. There is nothing about it where I feel, "Oh, glad I stumbled upon this feature or else I would have been really lost if I tried looking for it later." Yeah its expensive. Yeah its large. Yeah its yuppie. It still has the best interface on the market. __________________ You have found this post informative. -The Administrator [Don't Feed The Animals]

07-23-2008, 12:39 AM	#3 (permalink)
Shauk Confused Adult Location: Spokane, WA	good, i clicked on his link cuz I freakin hate the iPhone hype. meh

07-23-2008, 01:55 PM	#10 (permalink)
xepherys <3 TFP Location: 17TLH2445607250	Hal... I see where you're coming from. However... MacOS still has (any pretty much always has had) the best interface around. A great interface does not a great product make. A combination of a good interface and great options beat a great interface and lame options any day. A lot of the problems listed in that list would prevent me from owning one. I think the iPhone is great... but it needs to be greater still before I break. __________________ The prospect of achieving a peace agreement with the extremist group of MILF is almost impossible... -- Emmanuel Pinol, Governor of Cotobato My Homepage

07-23-2008, 02:34 PM	#11 (permalink)
ASU2003 immoral minority Location: Back in Ohio	I understand that it would be nice to see a few of those features, but it takes a while to develop them.

07-23-2008, 05:34 PM	#13 (permalink)
blahblah454 Let's put a smile on that face Location: On the road...	This reminds me of a video I saw on cnet yesterday. I do not know if its possible to imbed cnet videos though, so have a link. Okay forget the link then. My internet is being a bitch, I am in a crappy Super 8 and it is terrible. The video is called "CNET top 5: Reasons to hate the iPhone" Find it if you can and post the link.

07-23-2008, 10:32 PM	#14 (permalink)
Daniel_ Evil Priest: The Devil Made Me Do It! Location: Southern England	CNET Top 5: Reasons to hate the iPhone Video - Free Video Downloads - CNET TV __________________ ╔═════════════════════════════════════════╗ Overhead, the Albatross hangs motionless upon the air, And deep beneath the rolling waves, In labyrinths of Coral Caves, The Echo of a distant time Comes willowing across the sand; And everthing is Green and Submarine ╚═════════════════════════════════════════╝

07-23-2008, 11:25 PM	#15 (permalink)
passthru Addict Location: Portland, OR	This reminds me of Maddox's first gen iPhone commentary, except it's not funny or harsh. The iPhone is a piece of shit, and so is your face. (Probably NSFW..)

07-24-2008, 11:58 AM	#16 (permalink)
Rekna Junkie	I agree the the iphone is missing a lot of key features. And it is likely I won't get one because of it. I'm waiting to see what the blackberry thunder has to offer.

07-24-2008, 03:44 PM	#19 (permalink)
LoganSnake We work alone Location: Cake Town	He posted the same shit on another forum I post at. Fucking bots. __________________ Maturity is knowing you were an idiot in the past. Wisdom is knowing that you'll be an idiot in the future. Common sense is knowing that you should try not to be an idiot now. - J. Jacques

07-28-2008, 05:25 PM	#21 (permalink)
jewels Eponymous Location: Central Central Florida	I ain't no bot but found this DISCLOSURE: I love my Blackberry Curve and wouldn't trade it for 10 iPhones equipped with multilingual GPS. And I love Macs over all other computers. __________________ We are always more anxious to be distinguished for a talent which we do not possess, than to be praised for the fifteen which we do possess. Mark Twain

07-28-2008, 07:39 PM	#22 (permalink)
digme Crazy Location: madison, wi	I feel that Apple had the opportunity to really shake things up in the US cell phone market, but they didn't really have the balls to go through with it. You now HAVE to activate the phone in store and you HAVE to buy applications from the app store... those are just two examples where I feel they took the easy way out. I have (small) hope that the Google Android project will be what the iPhone should have been.

08-21-2008, 06:26 PM	#24 (permalink)
piismyname Upright Location: massachusetts	Does the tilt do MP3's as well? To me that is a deal breaker. If i need to carry a whole separate piece of gear just to play music, I don't want one. OTOH, it sounds awesome in general

08-21-2008, 07:21 PM	#25 (permalink)
fresnelly Functionally Appropriate Location: Toronto	I just bought a used Ipod Touch which is the iphone without the phone part. I love the interface and the wifi capability is super handy. I got a sweet deal and will sing its praises. However, the lack of a flash player is a staggering weakness and a real disappointment. __________________ Building an artificial intelligence that appreciates Mozart is easy. Building an A.I. that appreciates a theme restaurant is the real challenge - Kit Roebuck - Nine Planets Without Intelligent Life