David Pogue, the New York Times: The iPhone Matches Most of Its Hype.
Steven Levy, Newsweek: At Last, the iPhone.
Walt Mossberg, The Wall Street Journal: Testing Out the iPhone.
Edward C. Baig, USA Today: Apple’s iPhone isn’t perfect, but it’s worthy of the hype.
All reviews are positive on balance. The negatives mainly coalesce around AT&T and EDGE as well as getting used to the keyboard. The keyboard gets better, EDGE does not.
The most surprising thing to me was how they all said the iPhone seems virtually scratch-proof. They’ve all tossed in their pockets, knocked it with change and keys, and keep it unprotected during the duration of their tests. And virtually no marks. That’s impressive. Some funky new materials or treatments perhaps?
Come on Friday!!!
Gerald Buckley
on 27 Jun 07Most definitely in the “funky new materials” camp myself. Get this… the Apple Store in Tulsa opens its doors for the first time same day as iPhone launches.
Think we might have Jobs spotting in sleepy little Tulsa? If we have a Gulfstream V land in town I’m changing my plans to go to the AT&T store for my purchase :)
Ben
on 27 Jun 07supposedly it’s a glass surface
jkottke
on 27 Jun 07The materials are neither funky nor new…it’s “optical-quality glass”.
JF
on 27 Jun 07Ben and Jason… I was referring to the rest of the unit. The reviewers said there’s barely a mark anywhere. Seeing that iPods are scratch magnets (especially the metal backs), and the iPhone has a metal back, I’m just curious how they’ve managed to improve. Perhaps it’s a brushed aluminum back this time which would help. I just haven’t seen one up close so it’s tough to know.
Update: It does look like the back is brushed aluminum, but the edges appear to be shiny.
Josh
on 27 Jun 07The only one of the bunch I have read so far is Walt Mossberg, and what I wonder: How is it using the keyboard with your thumbs? Especially with one thumb (i.e., one hand)? Who really types with their index finger as the video shows him doing.
A lot of people use phones while driving (dangerous as that may be), which means in one hand, using their thumb. If the iPhone makes that even more awkward and dangerous… not a good thing. I wouldn’t like a phone that effectively needs both hands for easy use.
Then again, it’s not very likely that I’d ever switch to AT&T, so I guess that’s really all moot. ;)
B
on 27 Jun 07Josh: You aren’t supposed to use your phone while driving. It’s illegal in many places now, in fact. The blame for it being awkward is on your shoulders, not on the manufactures, since you aren’t supposed to be doing it. You’re supposed to have both hands on the wheel and your eyes on the road. If not for your safety, then for the safety of the others on the road. Please drive safely.
Mrad
on 27 Jun 07Man, it’s like waiting for Transformers the Movie...on steroids.
I’m friggin’ stoked. I prolly won’t have one for months, but it’s still fun to look forward to it’s release.
Josh
on 27 Jun 07B: I don’t actually own a car, and have driven one once in the past 3 months. But that’s a moot point anyway. First, using a cell phone while driving is legal is far more places than than it is not, and second, many people do it. I’m more concerned about the other guy on the road, and if you value your life, you probably should be to.
So would I be concerned when a potentially massively popular phone that is even a greater distraction while driving is released? You betcha.
Josh
on 27 Jun 07Note: I use the word “moot” too much, apparently. ;) And it should be “legal in far more” not ‘is.’
Dylan Bennett
on 27 Jun 07From what I can tell, they own review units. It begs the question how favorable they would be to the overall iPhone experience if it was $2,518.76 out of their own pocket. (iPhone 8GB + middle-of-the-road plan.)
For me, that would be a deep gouge in the experience.
Marc Love
on 27 Jun 07The iPhone’s data plans run about half of what you’d pay for the same service with another phone, so in the long run you’re saving money compared to owning other pda devices. Not to mention the fact that the quality of usage of that data service is significantly improved over competitors.
Sure its up front cost is expensive, but its a top-of-the-line, game-changing product. Would you expect any different?
rich
on 27 Jun 07“They’ve all tossed in their pockets”
You really might want to consider rephrasing that! :-)
Doug
on 27 Jun 07On that glass they are probably using a technology called “nanolayers”. The concept is to be able to apply a layer one molecule thick to something. Various companies have developed various uses, preventing scratches, making things harder, non-stick and the list goes on.
John Topley
on 27 Jun 07I find it surprising that they switched from a plastic to a glass cover for the display so late in the day. Makes me think that this major change was made months ago and was only announced recently.
Regarding the back – it looks to be the inverse of the iPod’s back i.e. the iPod is shiny with a matt finish Apple logo, the iPhone is matt with a shiny logo. I’m surprised it doesn’t have “iPhone” written underneath the logo. I guess it’s even more iconic with just the Apple logo.
Brandon Eley
on 27 Jun 07Jason, are you going to order one from Amazon or stand in line and get your paws on one Friday afternoon? (I’ll be in line getting one at 6PM hopefully)
Walter Davis
on 27 Jun 07@John Topley Yes, I have to agree. I have been watching in amazement at the PR skill that has been applied to this launch. Brings to mind a certain computer and 1984. Every new detail revealed in the past month or so has had full-scale wire service pickup.
brad
on 27 Jun 07I think the PR strategy with the iPhone is reminiscent of the PR strategy used for The Blair Witch Project…you’ve had six months of buildup and buzz and now everyone’s talking about it. The iPhone would have been a smash even if it had been introduced like the iPod (on the day it became available), but because Apple keeps tantalizing us with little glimpses and details and updates it has created a frenzy.
I’ll let iPhone 1.0 pass, but can’t wait to see how good it gets when it’s up to 2.0.
JCK
on 27 Jun 07@Brad: Apple better hope they fair better than that Blair Witch Project… ;) (Yeah, it did well the first go around, but fizzled fast, and the follow up completely tanked … the directors are only just now starting to get back into making movies).
aw
on 27 Jun 07I don’t know JF…Apple definitely has too many features in the phone, very un-Apple.
ML
on 27 Jun 07Thought this bit, in Newsweek review, about Jobs personally following up with reviewers was interesting:
heather wallace
on 29 Jun 07Hi IPhone people – www.orato.com is looking for someone to write an IPHone review…if anyone is interested, please e-mail [email protected]
Sincerely, Heather Wallace senior editor www.orato.com
Jimmy Woo
on 01 Jul 07some other notes:
The iPhone does not have a battery that a user can replace. That means you have to send the iPhone to Apple to replace the battery after it’s spent (Apple is estimating one battery will last for 300 charges—probably less than a year’s worth of use). but like many things missing on the iPhone, it would be nice to have a removable battery, especially for such an expensive phone. Contrary to earlier reports, the SIM card is removable via a small drawer on the top of the iPhone, but the iPhone’s SIM card will not work in other AT&T phones. see more at http://www.badspace.com That’s especially troubling, as it completely defeats the biggest advantage of using a GSM phone with a SIM card. Some people have multiple phones and like to change the SIM card between their different handsets. Also, you can’t use the SIM card to import contact information from another handset. more info is listed on http://www.thesopranets.com
Truth be told, there is one feature that is new to the iPhone’s iPod—the integrated speaker. While the iPhone’s speaker sounds thin and is prone to distortion, it works in a pinch for sharing a song with a friend but doesn not sound good, especially for a 600.00 phone.
While the iPhone’s speaker sounds thin and is prone to distortion, it works in a pinch for sharing a song with a friend.
Lastly, a few drops of water will render the phone useless…go to http://www.durexcondoms.com and buy one to keep the phone dry.
stephen Byrd
on 01 Jul 07the iPhone will not rotate to the horizontal position when sending an email or text. it will allow rotation when using the browser and allow a full width horizontal keyboard for typing there. it should allow this same functionality when sending email and text. this where most of the typing is done so a horizontal keyboard would make typing tremendously easier. not to mention the iPhone is easier to hold this way while typing. this is a deal killer for me and should be addressed right away or mine will go back to cingular.
stephen Byrd
on 01 Jul 07iPhone call volume is inadequate as well as the speakerphone volume.
This discussion is closed.