iPhone 3G Impressions

July 22, 2008

The iPhone 3G is has me both extremely excited and surprisingly dismayed. Why?

Simple. The iPhone 3G isn’t very ‘3G’. Despite being blanketed in 3G signal, according to AT&T’s 3G coverage map, I’m consistently getting EDGE speeds on 3G, and even more frustrating, sketchy GPS location via 3G. By the way, if your iPhone can’t locate you or GPS doesn’t appear work, try turning off the 3G network. EDGE seems to find me quickly and reliably every time. Oh yeah, and as the BSTG says, “3G is a myth”.

My second, and final gripe is battery life via 3G. When you do manage to find a 3G signal with blazing broadband speeds, say goodbye to your battery life. Add PUSH email and calendar to that, and you’ll be lucky to last 2 hours. There are plenty of tips to extend the battery life, which definately work, but suprisingly contradict the value proposition the iPhone 3G promotes.

However, those two complaints aside, the iPhone is arguably the most intuitive, powerful, networked, exciting, and productive mobile device available. What’s more, Apple’s ‘Mobile Me’ service has changed the way I think about data portability and syncing; though I wish it were a bit more agnostic.

For consumers, Apple has the strongest hardware and software solution available: Music, Photos, Web Browsing, Chat, Web Authoring, Calendar, Email, Backup, Networking, Search, Application Installation, etc. Seamlessly synced and easy to use.

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