At&t phone recommendations

[genuinegirly]

It's long overdue for me to get a new phone. I've been enjoying a motorola sliver-like thing for a few years. Not too many features compared with the current smart phones.

Life has changed to the point where it looks like I'm going to need something that allows me to...
- access google maps
- easily check my e-mail on the go
- view pdf files
- listen to audio files
- record audio

It'd be handy to have a few applications like:
- plant identification keys
- birding guides
- compass
- trail tracking/mapping

My husband and friends are currently recommending an iphone. I'm not opposed to the idea, I just have no idea if it will perform well on these particular functions. Basically I'll want it to take over the role of 3 of my current handheld devices: cell phone, a dell miniature computer with voice recording function and pdf accessibility, and an old-school waterproof garmin field gps.

[Xerxys]

Yeah, an iPhone will pretty much do all that because of the apps available to it. Not to mention ease of use. Most of your requirements are also free, which is a plus.

[genuinegirly]

Thanks, Xerxys. Do you know where I can find these applications? Is it best to search through the iphone website, or can I trust applications from other sources? I'd like to see what's available.

[Redlemon]

iBird - Field Guide to Birds for the iPhone and Android is great.

[Stare At The Sun]

An iphone seems to fit what you're looking for. They are a bit pricey(upfront and monthly), but they are a great phone.

[genuinegirly]

Thanks for the encouragement, everyone. Redlemon, that's a nifty ap!
Do any of you have iphones that you've used to record lectures? I'm curious if it would be able to handle recording for 2 hours at a time, and if there would be any sort of interruption if there is and incoming call or text. Also, I'm skeptical that it would be able to pick up the voice of someone standing 20 feet from the phone.

[Frosstbyte]

In my experience the iphone is not a good tool for recording lectures. They work well if you're talking right at them, but their mic drops off dramatically after a few feet. If you want to record lectures, you probably will want to purchase another device or go searching for an iphone accessory with a better mic.

As far as battery life goes, it should be ok to be active for 2 hours, but it won't have much juice left at the end. If you can keep it plugged in at the lecture hall, that would do wonders.

Finally, phone calls will interrupt ANY application on the iphone, period. I am not aware of a way to prevent phone calls from interrupting other than to set the phone to airplane mode, which leaves you completely unable to send/receive data, texts or calls. Depending on the situation, that might be just fine though. Switching airplane mode on and off takes all of about 2 seconds.

And super finally, I would highly recommend paying more and getting an iPhone 3GS instead of a 3G. The next iPhone OS is coming out this summer and they've decided to give the 3G a stripped version of it. You can only get all of the new goodies and features on a 3GS. Additionally, the 3GS has native compass support, as opposed to needing an app for it on the 3G. I imagine that the 3GS's native compass is meaningfully more accurate than 3G compass apps, but I can't guarantee that.

I hate a few of the iPhone's limitations, but I use mine for hours every day. It's a pleasure to use...unless you want to use flash. XD

[girldetective]

No question. Youre going to love it.

[noodle]

I have the 3GS and am greatly looking forward to the OS4 coming out this summer that will allow multitasking. I'd never had anything other than a phone that texted and took pictures before getting the iPhone.

For the times that it has saved me from certain doom on dead-end dirt roads, allowed me to check my work webmail and catch a meeting I almost missed, and look up stupid things at bars to prove that I'm right, the thing has paid for itself over and over again. There are limitations, but to me, it's the best option. And even has signal coverage between Jacksonville and Gainesville... the cell phone reception Bermuda Oval...

[genuinegirly]

Great work-around Frossbyte. I probably wouldn't have thought of using the flight-mode for such a situation. I wonder if there's a way to hook up an external microphone. 3GS sounds like the one to get - for the internal compass, if nothing else.

Noodle, thanks for your perspective on switching to a more advanced phone! It's also good to know that the coverage is decent in that no-man's-land between Jacksonville and Gainesville. Hopefully it's just as clear around Cape Canaveral. I haven't had much luck getting reception in the lab there.

One of my friends was saying that Apple releases a new iphone every summer, and the older models dip in price at that time. Do you think this will happen? I'm not entirely sure it'll be worth it for me to wait - how much will the price drop, if it happens?