iPhone killer..

[talisman]

@Talisman: Nice to see that some people here have actually tried the phone
[..]Currently they don't really have any market share.

The iPhone is a fine piece of hardware, I really like it. Actually I like it so much that I've been considering it as a second device to carry with me for all my multimedia/entertainment needs (not that BlackBerry/Java was lacking at that, but it's good to have a bit of a change so it's not all the same). Actually the reason I went back to BlackBerry was because of the PDA functionality. Yes, these very applications people used to have on a separate PDA are what made me go back to my BlackBerry. I just feel the e-mail, calendar and tasks/memo applications to be more mature than what is available on the iPhone. Also now that I chose the BlackBerry platform I also had the choice of form factor so if I wanted a touch screen, the BlackBerry Storm be it. Apple have only a touch screen device and depending on your habits and what you're comfortable with maybe it's a good thing and maybe it's a bad thing.

There is Danish language support on every current generation BlackBerry. My Curve 8900 does list Dansk as an option, but I'm a bit afraid to activate it as I won't probably be able to switch it back to English

Anyway you can write the Danish characters on any BlackBerry even with models from 2006 (like 8700c, probably even earlier devices). It is done by simply holding down say the o character and rolling the trackball / trackpad till you get to the special character you want like ø in this example. It does take a bit time to get used to this, but if you're after simplicity like with the iPhone, the upcoming BlackBerry Storm2 will have the same type of "popup" for special characters (you might be familiar with it already, just hold down the character you want like E and then choose a special character from the popup such as É).

I know it's a bit hard to explain so maybe the best is just get hold of a BlackBerry and try it out on your own. By the way RIM do have market share, just not in Europe ... Hehe maybe European citizen have standards much higher than Americans? We do demand a lot

[thefool]

@Talisman: Nice to see that some people here have actually tried the phone
[..]Currently they don't really have any market share.

The iPhone is a fine piece of hardware, I really like it. Actually I like it so much that I've been considering it as a second device to carry with me for all my multimedia/entertainment needs (not that BlackBerry/Java was lacking at that, but it's good to have a bit of a change so it's not all the same). Actually the reason I went back to BlackBerry was because of the PDA functionality. Yes, these very applications people used to have on a separate PDA are what made me go back to my BlackBerry. I just feel the e-mail, calendar and tasks/memo applications to be more mature than what is available on the iPhone. Also now that I chose the BlackBerry platform I also had the choice of form factor so if I wanted a touch screen, the BlackBerry Storm be it. Apple have only a touch screen device and depending on your habits and what you're comfortable with maybe it's a good thing and maybe it's a bad thing.

There is Danish language support on every current generation BlackBerry. My Curve 8900 does list Dansk as an option, but I'm a bit afraid to activate it as I won't probably be able to switch it back to English

Anyway you can write the Danish characters on any BlackBerry even with models from 2006 (like 8700c, probably even earlier devices). It is done by simply holding down say the o character and rolling the trackball / trackpad till you get to the special character you want like ø in this example. It does take a bit time to get used to this, but if you're after simplicity like with the iPhone, the upcoming BlackBerry Storm2 will have the same type of "popup" for special characters (you might be familiar with it already, just hold down the character you want like E and then choose a special character from the popup such as É).

I know it's a bit hard to explain so maybe the best is just get hold of a BlackBerry and try it out on your own. By the way RIM do have market share, just not in Europe ... Hehe maybe European citizen have standards much higher than Americans? We do demand a lot

Ah i meant if it had a hardware keyboard. A thing like the Storm might even get the special chars added to the onscreen keyboard if you choose danish, its just software afterall (the first iphone had it like a popup in the start but a software update fixed that).

You are right about the tasks/todo things though, you'll have to go to the store; i found something free that suited my needs easily at least. The calendar and e-mail is more than satisfying for me, but its likely because i demand speed and ease of use more than features. Its quite basic, but has what i need instantly available. And easy syncing with outlook. But i much prefer the iPhone over the standard things in windows mobile (eg. the HTC), finally i have a phone which i trust. I mean, i know what its doing. With the nokias and windows mobile phones there was always this uncertainty, at least for me. The iPhone is extremely consistent and no doubt the phone i learned to use the fastest. Of course, if you have to do advanced schedule and progress planning you'd hit the wall. But simple planning with multiple alarmed events etc isn't a problem with the included software. Of course, you can always buy one of the larger planning systems in the store, but i get your point

The blackberry storm looks interesting, though. I'll certainly look more into them next time i'm getting a phone
Yeah we do demand a lot heheh

[talisman]

Forget about HTC or any other company, iPhone and BlackBerry ftw
(Sent from my BlackBerry)

[the.weavster]

You know, touch is the future but not for everyone, don't blame it just because you don't find it comfortable.

I wouldn't blame it if it were appropriate for the task. If you have an app (like Chordica for instance: http://www.148apps.com/wp-content/uploa ... _00055.png) where the buttons are large enough and well spaced out it's really cool, but trying to type an email on those tiny little adjoining letters is very frustrating.

The iPhone browser is one of the best if not the very best right now. Pages load up quick and fast and it is really good at rendering complex websites as well. Saying the Safari browser on iPhone is bad is like saying Firefox on PC is bad.

If it were as good as Firefox I wouldn't be complaining.

iPhone battery does in fact last long, this is only a minor con.

But it doesn't, if you surf it's wipes out the battery pdq.

iPhone is a consumer device anyway. BlackBerry/HTC/Palm for your business critical needs.

Yes the iPhone is a great toy, my kids love it, but as you say it's probably not for business.

The camera is just fine on the iPhone...

We'll have to agree to disagree on that one, I thinks it's so bad as to be worthless. I have four kids, I like the idea of being able to whip out my mobile and taking a snap of them when we're out and about and they're up to mischief but it's just not up to it.

It is true that you can not simply attach the iPhone to your computer via USB and have it act as a Mass Storage device. There is no expandable memory option either. Well, I can live with that. There's a reason that iPhone is sold currently as a 16GB and 32GB model; so you already have plenty of space you're not likely fill up that quick.

It's not really the amount of space that's the problem, it's the wanky way you have to access it.

Many iPhone and BlackBerry users for instance just pay for unlimited data on the go

I have an unlimited data package but the combination of the poor browser and short battery life have significantly reduced it's benefit.

I know this sounds like an advertisement of BlackBerry devices, but please understand I am a true CrackBerry addict

Hey, it's good you've found a mobile you're so happy with.

I still don't think you've spent enough time with the iPhone to say this about it.

? I've had it 10 months.

[thefool]

I guess its just about taste and needs. I like the iPhone for doing what i want like i want it, you don't like it because it doesn't do what you want. But saying that nobody is buying it for the features is not a good comment. Because usability and ease of use IS a feature that a lot of products sadly doesn't have. And i'll gladly give up a better camera for that

[talisman]

the.weavster: do you have the 3G or 3GS?

Anyway, turn off the 3G network and use WiFi for web surfing, it's like having your battery last twice as much (3G is a battery killer on BlackBerry too, not really worth using it). It is sad that you think that way of your iPhone, I hope it is not on contract because otherwise seriously go get yourself something else, don't shoot yourself. The camera on the iPhone is not sufficient? If you really had planned to get a camera phone for those moments with your kids... why didn't you just get something like what Samsung offers? Schneider-Kreuznach lens with 5 megapixels and flash. For instance KU990, a low cost touch enabled phone with that kind of camera. The iPhone excels in other areas so it's a bad excuse to rank it down only for its poor camera. Mind you the KU990 uses a resistive screen and not a capacitive one like the iPhone and I have personally not used it, just wanted to bring up an example of what is available out there.

Think of it like this...
iPhone = excellent multimedia (hey it comes from the same people who made the iPod too!)
BlackBerry = hands down the best for PDA, business and professional use. Obama has one too.
Windows Mobile = Kind of inbetween: Windows Media and many business grade applications.
Palm Pre = A good competitor to the iPhone combining simplicity with PDA functionality.
Android = Great, but most to benefit of this are programmers on the go (it's open source).
Maemo = Definitely a powerful software, but like Android maybe not that consumer friendly.
Symbian = Good for consumers, kind of a mix of "dumbphones" and smartphones.

Pick whatever you like. No one forces you to.

[the.weavster]

the.weavster: do you have the 3G or 3GS?

3G - the 3GS hadn't been released then.

don't shoot yourself.

No, not when there's plenty eager to do it for me

why didn't you just get something like what Samsung offers? Schneider-Kreuznach lens with 5 megapixels and flash. For instance KU990, a low cost touch enabled phone with that kind of camera.

I like Samsung's products, I probably could find one in their range I would have preferred.

The iPhone excels in other areas so it's a bad excuse to rank it down only for its poor camera.

But where does it excel? I haven't discovered that bit yet. What's the point in a really nice interface if there's very little underlying it?

Because usability and ease of use IS a feature that a lot of products sadly doesn't have.

Again, WHAT is easy to use? I don't find it easy to type emails or texts, I don't find it easy to add/remove files. The bits that are actually worth using are not easy to use.

Think of it like this...
iPhone = excellent multimedia (hey it comes from the same people who made the iPod too!)

I thought this would be a great feature too, I used YouTube Downloader to download some tutorials and convert them to MP4 so I could watch them on my iPhone at my leisure. Unfortunately again not being able to have a spare charged battery proved to be a fly in the ointment.

Symbian = Good for consumers, kind of a mix of "dumbphones" and smartphones.

Symbian might seem a bit fusty compared to the iPhone but it's not dumb, at least you can talk in your hands free kit and look up data on the web simultaneously.

Pick whatever you like. No one forces you to.

Actually the iPhone was bought for me by the company

[thefool]

Because usability and ease of use IS a feature that a lot of products sadly doesn't have.

Again, WHAT is easy to use? I don't find it easy to type emails or texts, I don't find it easy to add/remove files. The bits that are actually worth using are not easy to use.

I find it easy to type e-mails and texts. Thats my point! In my opinion it works really well! And i do find it easy to install and remove applications (now, you do say files but what do you mean?). I love the way texting works, i love the e-mail client, i like the calendar, i love the browser, i like the appstore and that the software in there is controlled (to some degree, obviously) etc etc i could go on.

[talisman]

iPhone certainly isn't a multitasking wonder, BlackBerry smartphones lead the field here. This is a prime example of how different all these smartphones are. Symbian can multitask to some degree (if you didn't know it, just hold down the Symbian key on a Symbian phone and a popup menu comes up), however the level of multitasking a Symbian "smartphone" can do is very limited compared to BlackBerry for instance. That's why it is "between" dumb and smart. You have to admit S60 is very similar to S40, which is not based on Symbian. This makes Nokia look bad, because the user interface is basically the same whether it's a dumb or a smart phone.

What I like most on iPhone is installation of applications and the removal of applications. To install just get to the App Store, search for the app, install. Done. To remove, push and hold the application icon till you see a small x and then press that x. It's gone. In comparison BlackBerry does have the same type of excellent and easy over the air application installation (either via App World or OTA link on a website), but removal can be a tedious process. Go to the application icon, highlight it, hit BlackBerry button, choose Remove. No, this is not the hard part. The hard part is when the device asks you to reboot! Almost resembling Windows. Of course not all applications require a reboot but if you actively install applications on BlackBerry then be prepared to reboot your device 5 or 7 times a day. It gets annoying because BlackBerrys are slow to boot... however don't we all have our imperfections? The BlackBerry is forgiven

[ricardo]

> Why do I need internet etc everywhere? Is it really so important?

Yes, for some people. I travel by train to work, one hour each way. I'd love to be surfing the net and reading my emails during that dead time, rather than doing it when I get home when my kids want my attention. What else can I be doing on the train instead?

Looking girls?

[blueznl]

I currently have a BlackBerry 8900 and it's a great little thing, better than most regular phones. If I would buy something new right now at this moment I might be tempted, however, to buy in iPhone.

If your primary focus is email, email, email, you definitely want a real keyboard, so that's BlackBerry all the way.

If you need battery time, try to find an old BlackBerry 8820 which lasts forever.

If you are using it as an iPod, agenda, mail, phone, gadget, wanna-do-everything-on-a-single-box then you definitely want an iPhone. I would have bought an iPhone if the 3G would have been available at that moment, but it wasn't.

Biggest disadvantage of the BlackBerry are the data packages, in general mobile subscriptions are a little more expensive.

Besides the hardware applications are everything. For the iPhone you can buy about everything, although Apple's policy is very annoying, and stiffles competition and progress, IMHO.

Some applications on the BlackBerry could be a bit better, but you can ofcourse augment it with downloaded stuff. Here's what I use:

- PocketDay - my generic frontend
- Google Sync (synchronize with Google Calendar and Gmail contacts)
- AmazeGPS - navigation package
- Google Earth - navigation package
- GPSed - GPS tracker

Especially PocketDay helps me out, as I've mapped almost all my applications to hotkeys, and I have a single frontend which shows me all at once. Lately I tend to use my BB as well as an audio player (music isn't too good on it, but it's good enough for audio books).

[talisman]

blue, I'm up with a CurveBerry 8900 too

You might want to take Google Sync one step further by the way, it can do push Gmail for you as well (requires standalone Gmail application, but bye bye expensive BlackBerry Data Plan!)

IMHO music is excellent if not already iPod quality on BlackBerrys. Quick tip if you're not familiar with it already; hit the Mute key for play/pause, push down Volume Up/Down for changing the song. I'm with you on the battery though, I see myself charging the battery every second day if I play games or listen to music with my CrackBerry. I had a 8700c if you remember and it lasted forever literally. Maybe had to charge the damn thing once a month?

As you seem to be concerned of GPS utilities and stuff, maybe you want to load up MGMaps on your CrackCurve 8900? Best feature of the application is that it supports offline maps, you can choose to download a specific area offline from Yahoo! Maps, MSN or OpenStreetMaps (my favorite) and some others as well.

I personally wouldn't recommend the iPhone as a "do-everything" device. Sure it can do that, but even the simplest functions like phone and SMS are inferior on iPhone versus BlackBerry. We (CrackBerry users) have threaded SMS too, but we also have AutoText (which iDon't)

[thefool]

Autotext, i guess my nokia had that too but never really used it. What do you mean with threaded sms'ing?

[Fangbeast]

- AmazeGPS - navigation package

How often do you use AmazeGPS? What sort of data charges have you racked up with it?

Do you know of a Free GPS application that just uses the satellite?

[PB]

>> What else can I be doing on the train instead?
>
> Ahhhh, one of the pod people

I don't get it.

> Actual face-to-face interaction with other people? Conversation with other people?

Um, no thanks. You'll find 99% of them wearing iPods or asleep anyway, so interaction is impossible and/or rude. Besides, just because you sit next to someone doesn't mean you're obligated to strike up a conversation. A nod as I sit down is the best I'll give them -- I don't ignore their existence or anything. I myself am usually very tired on the trips and don't want to sit there discussing life with total strangers. It's a work commute, not a holiday, and that means the time is my own to get things done. Of course it'd be different and I'd certainly chat if it were a train crossing the Swiss Alps.

> Read a newspaper? Read a book?

Yes, I do that too. Just not as often. Coding is the best use of the time for me, as I don't get distracted by anybody... except for the next bit...

> Looking girls?

Ooooooh yeah.