Apple iPhone 4

TheChairGuy · « **on:** 28 Sep 2010, 11:28 pm »

I have never felt the premium for most Apple products was worthwhile...and had never bought anything from them previously (despite being modestly computer literate, all in all).

But, in the full-featured Smartphone business, they're all about the same cost....about $200 with 2 year contracts here in the US.

So, I bought an iPhone..half expecting to return it for my 3rd Blackberry in 5-6 years.

Now that I have it over a week now - I can tell you couldn't pry this sucker from my cold, clammy and dead hands if you tried. It's PHENOMENAL

If the Blackberry is a smartphone, then the iPhone4 is a mini-computer. I'm overwrought with love for it already

There is zero reception issues and it's so well sorted out I am amazed each day. It has become an integral part of my life faster than I have thought a 'phone' could. It's less useful with corporate server emails than the Blackberry...but the rest of the features simply trounce it. The APPS store is incredible...and lotsa' free stuff to choose from.

I'd love to hear of any free or inexpensive apps some of my fellow iPhone users have. My list currently includes:

USA Today
SKYPE
Google Earth
iBasket Free (wow, neat game for a hoops fan)
Free Wi-Fi
Mirror
Pandora Radio
Google
Siri (wow, amazing app...your personal valet that you can speak to!)
Dragon Dictation (I can't believe this one is free)
Currency
Yahoo Finance
Fidelity Investments
Convert Units
CraigsPro (nice for combing Craigslists nation and worldwide if you like)
Best Alarm
Talking Tom (alright, my 6yo daughter's favorite)
Hey Tell (turns your phone into a walkie talkie - this is a spoken text program that is amazing)
Genius Scan
Decibels
iTranslate
Dictionary

John

Tyson · « **Reply #1 on:** 28 Sep 2010, 11:46 pm »

You gotta get FFT, which is the best speaker measurement software available for the iPhone. It's from digitalsix software.

TheChairGuy · « **Reply #2 on:** 28 Sep 2010, 11:52 pm »

Quote from: Tyson on 28 Sep 2010, 11:46 pm

You gotta get FFT, which is the best speaker measurement software available for the iPhone. It's from digitalsix software.

wow, I just looked at it Tyson...incredible functionality

The most I have shelled out is $0.99 for any app so far....so I think I need a little more time to consider its usefulness to me before shelling out $24.99 (not a kings ransom by any means, and I've certainly wasted worse money stupidly in the past)

You strolling down the road to be at RMAF this year? We've only 'spoken' to one another for a decade now online - and I'm at about 95% 'all systems-a-go' this year

Thanks, John

Tyson · « **Reply #3 on:** 29 Sep 2010, 12:04 am »

Yep, I'll be at RMAF this year, and giving rides to Pint's for anyone interested in grabbing some rare (or not so rare) Single Malt Scotch shots

Phil A · « **Reply #4 on:** 29 Sep 2010, 01:07 am »

It's good to hear such comments. I'm not due for a new phone until the middle of next May and it looks as though I might as well wait for the iPhone 5 - http://hubpages.com/hub/The-NEW-iPhone-4G-Coming-2010

TheChairGuy · « **Reply #5 on:** 29 Sep 2010, 01:59 am »

Wow - an iPhone5 in HD coming

the relentless pace of high technology is mind-numbing

That's why we make hand trucks - no one needs hand holding on how it works or what to do.

Let me take that back....there are a surprising few that ask some operating questions we are all amazed at sometimes (gawd knows what the folks at the Apple stores get asked if we're asked)

JDUBS · « **Reply #6 on:** 29 Sep 2010, 02:10 am »

Yep, a new iphone comes out every summer. Like clockwork.

I'm pretty happy with my 4. Much better / faster then my previous 3.

-Jim

TheChairGuy · « **Reply #7 on:** 29 Sep 2010, 02:36 am »

Quote from: JDUBS on 29 Sep 2010, 02:10 am

Yep, a new iphone comes out every summer. Like clockwork.

I'm pretty happy with my 4. Much better / faster then my previous 3.

-Jim

My wife has the 3 for about a year now....but between my wife and daughter hogging it, I don't think I logged more than 30 minutes on it total over the year. Moreover, I didn't realize what I was missing...I assumed (wrongly) that it was just a pretty face from Apple and not better than the Blackberry.

But boy, was I ever wrong now that I've toyed around with hers more recently. I did find it a bit slower, as you mention, from the iPhone 4. New, better processor in the 4?

I love the front and rear facing camera on the 4...I'm able to have nation-to-nation video calls (in WiFi only) for pennies a minute on SKYPE this way. It's such a neat little mini-computer this iPhone4 is

John

MaxCast · « **Reply #8 on:** 29 Sep 2010, 03:31 pm »

Got mine last week and am lovin it. No reception problems. I will be getting FFT this weekend. Congrats, John.

now if they would just put in a remote control transmitter, I probably would sleep with it.

Tyson · « **Reply #9 on:** 29 Sep 2010, 04:16 pm »

Maxcast, go to amazon and check out the L5 Remote dongle. It plugs into your iPhone and you can download the sofware for free. Turns you iPhone into a universal remote with excellent IR transmittal.

TheChairGuy · « **Reply #10 on:** 29 Sep 2010, 04:59 pm »

Quote from: Tyson on 29 Sep 2010, 04:16 pm

Maxcast, go to amazon and check out the L5 Remote dongle. It plugs into your iPhone and you can download the sofware for free. Turns you iPhone into a universal remote with excellent IR transmittal.

Holee crap, Tyson

Amazing. The software is free (from the iPhone apps store, too), but the 'dongle' (the little physical IR transmitter that plugs into the bottom of the iPhone) is $43.99. Still, it's a reasonable cost for letting your phone be the remote for all in you house.

Wow. Impressive. Poor Mrs Maxcast....she'll be ever lonelier since the iPhone4 purchase

John

jmc207 · « **Reply #11 on:** 29 Sep 2010, 05:21 pm »

I know this thread seems to be an iPhone 4 lovefest, but does anyone else think that the phone voice quality is not that good? I don't really have many reception problems, it's just that the calls sound distant and mumbled. Had my 4 for about 6 weeks now and love it as a mini computer, but don't love it as a phone.

cryoparts · « **Reply #12 on:** 29 Sep 2010, 05:59 pm »

Quote from: TheChairGuy on 28 Sep 2010, 11:28 pm

I have never felt the premium for most Apple products was worthwhile...and had never bought anything from them previously (despite being modestly computer literate, all in all).

Now that I have it over a week now - I can tell you couldn't pry this sucker from my cold, clammy and dead hands if you tried. It's PHENOMENAL

If the Blackberry is a smartphone, then the iPhone4 is a mini-computer. I'm overwrought with love for it already

I was the other way around, while I still have 4 or 5 Windows machines around, the other 10-12 are all Mac's, and assorted iPad's, iPod's, etc. But, I was a holdout of the iPhone, until about three weeks ago.

All I can say is WOW! Why did I wait so long? Amazing piece of tech, just amazing.

Peace,

Lee

cryoparts · « **Reply #13 on:** 29 Sep 2010, 06:10 pm »

Quote from: Tyson on 29 Sep 2010, 12:04 am

Yep, I'll be at RMAF this year, and giving rides to Pint's for anyone interested in grabbing some rare (or not so rare) Single Malt Scotch shots

Oh, YEAH!

Lee

MaxCast · « **Reply #14 on:** 29 Sep 2010, 07:17 pm »

Quote from: Tyson on 29 Sep 2010, 04:16 pm

Maxcast, go to amazon and check out the L5 Remote dongle. It plugs into your iPhone and you can download the sofware for free. Turns you iPhone into a universal remote with excellent IR transmittal.

Yes, I remember that gadget. $50 is not that bad for a universal remote that will only show the buttons I choose, work with all my devices and is back lit. Hitting home and swiping just to change a channel may be a bit cumbersome tho. Between my phone and two touches around the house seems like a useful tool.

Tyson · « **Reply #15 on:** 29 Sep 2010, 08:42 pm »

You can assign any button to any screen and give those buttons any function. For example, I combined my DirecTV remote and my DEQX preamp functions all on the same screen, so I could change channels, change sources, do volume, mute, and record from a single screen.

TheChairGuy · « **Reply #16 on:** 30 Sep 2010, 02:11 am »

Quote from: jmc207 on 29 Sep 2010, 05:21 pm

I know this thread seems to be an iPhone 4 lovefest, but does anyone else think that the phone voice quality is not that good? I don't really have many reception problems, it's just that the calls sound distant and mumbled. Had my 4 for about 6 weeks now and love it as a mini computer, but don't love it as a phone.

Coming from Verizon and the Blackberry 8650 (I think that was the model)...I find the AT&T coverage area to be tattered (I was in Concord, CA, about 40 miles out of San Francisco today and I had near zero coverage...whereas I doubt there would have been an issue with Verizon), but the call call quality of the iPhone4 is equivalent or better than my old BB in areas with equivalent, good service.

I think, but don't know and neither did the guy at AT&T Mobility store where it was bought, that more recent examples of the iPhone4 (I have mine less than 2 weeks now) may have been subtly improved by Apple for reception. The left handed 'death' grip (held tightly above, at and below the seam on the left side) did nothing to the reception on mine...whereas all the many early reviews indicated that there was immediate dropouts of calls when this was done.

Thus far, no calls drops have occurred in at all yet...tho, getting Facetime (so amazing!) to reliably work requires two good, strong WiFi systems (one on either end)

John

low.pfile · « **Reply #17 on:** 30 Sep 2010, 02:15 am »

john, on apps. so many out there. and this is an obvious one, but if you are a NPR listener. the NPR news app allows you to stream many NPR stations. so when you need to leave the car and want to hear the last ten minutes of a broadcast, this is great.

http://www.npr.org/services/mobile/iphone.php

relieves me from having to hang in the car after reaching destination!

navi · « **Reply #18 on:** 30 Sep 2010, 12:00 pm »

hipstmatic for the iPhone is the best! i use it for all my photography. it runs soooooooo much better on the iphone 4.

also the only time i ever go on audio circle is on the phone.

TheChairGuy · « **Reply #19 on:** 30 Sep 2010, 03:46 pm »

Quote from: low.pfile on 30 Sep 2010, 02:15 am

john, on apps. so many out there. and this is an obvious one, but if you are a NPR listener. the NPR news app allows you to stream many NPR stations. so when you need to leave the car and want to hear the last ten minutes of a broadcast, this is great.

http://www.npr.org/services/mobile/iphone.php

relieves me from having to hang in the car after reaching destination!

Cool Ed - just downloaded.

I rarely listen to NPR...but, when I remember to, I often enjoy the change of scenery from other news outlets...or that of background music in the car.

Cool stuff - for free - thanks!

John