iPhone review - Mobiles
It’s not every day that launching a new device gets people excited. However, the iPhone is no ordinary gizmo—it is Apple’s entry into the phone arena, and it generated a lot of hype when it was announced. In fact, according to the New York Times, the iPhone was the subject of 11,000 articles and got 69 million hits on Google. Today, we look into why people went into a frenzy when they got their hands on the iPhone.
The iPhone is a revolutionary device. There is literally nothing quite like it: It’s a slim, small computer that combines several gadgets like a mobile phone, iPod, organiser, digital camera and internet browser, into one. It also makes any other phone look massive and archaic. The iPhone looks stunning and people will envy you when you pull it out of your pocket.
The device feels solid and its display looks more glass than plastic. The display is the phone’s best feature as are well laid out and animations are fluid. There is no way you can lose your way around the simple menus. The iPhone is a huge leap in usability. Have we mentioned it’s fun to use?
The multi-touch screen is much easier to use than expected, but it certainly helps that the touch commands are intuitive. To zoom in, just tap an area of the screen with your thumb and index finger, then move them apart. Move these fingers closer to zoom out. Scrolling through lists is as simple as flicking your finger upward or downward.
Typing messages is easy. The phone lacks a tactile feel but you’ll get used to it eventually. SMS messages are displayed like an instant messaging chat, allowing you to keep better track of the responses. If you’re a stickler for neatness, you might take issue that the screen attracts fingerprints and smudges easily.
The iPhone comes with other problems as well. Since there are hardly any buttons on the device, you would have to press an extra number of keys just to do each function. You can’t just enter a number and start calling—you need to access the keypad first. Furthermore, the hard drive is a bit small. Compared to the iPod, which can be used as a portable hard drive due to its size, the top iPhone model can only carry a maximum of 16GB.
For some reason, the socket is deeply recessed into the body. Because of this, the iPhone is incompatible with most earphones. Fortunately, the earbuds that came in the box works just fine. If you lose/break them or wish to use another pair, then you’ll need an adapter. Unfortunately, the device has no 3G or multitasking either..
The iPhone is a mix of great and somewhat annoying, but these minor flaws are nothing compared to what its innovations bring to the table. If you are looking for a drastic leap from your aging, painfully middling mobile phone, then get the iPhone. If you can’t live with the omissions, then wait for the next iteration. There’s one thing we’re sure of: mobile phones will never be the same.
