I was not originally a big fan of the Apple iPhone. In fact, it didn’t win me over until the launch of both the App Store and the 3G. Before that, I felt it was an ambitious device, but missed the mark on some fundamentals.

Since then, I have been a *mostly* happy convert.

Yes, like most iPhone users, I do have my gripes about the iPhone:

1. Service cost.
2. AT&T coverage and call quality
3. Inability to use Apps not approved by Apple
4. Annoyance of the use of ‘authorized computers and libraries’ and DRM confounding media management.
5. Inability to run apps simultaneously

As a developer, I have my gripes also:

1. 30% APPLE ROYALTY!
2. Price pressure which makes support of small market apps unattractive.
3. ‘Narrow’ marketing hose of the App Store Storefront, which makes marketing more difficult the more apps are introduced.
4. Overcomplicated provisioning procedures.
5. Inability to measure out-of-app-store marketing conversion efforts.
6. Inability to communicate directly to userbase via email.
7. Slow and random approval process.
8. Insertion of Apple Store into conflicts between developer and third parties.
9. Restrictions on app content.
10. Poor developer communications.

So, I am definitely looking forward to the new Motorola Droid, and hope it gives Apple a run for its money, because as spectacular as the iPhone is, it desperately needs competition.

My life would be much, much easier if I could sell apps direct to users. I could charge less, make more, market effectively, push updates at will, make any app I wanted without fear of rejection, and communicate directly with my userbase via email.

I would also love to have a phone with the features of the iPhone but with Verizon.

Originally appeared on: StationStops - Metro-North Train Schedules and NYC Commuting Blog See the original post here: Rooting for the Motorola Droid

When I originally got it, very few people had aftermarket GPS systems – now I see them stuck on windshields all over Fairfield County. Starting with the Nuvi, GPS systems got a hell of a lot easier to use, and are now about half the price I paid for mine.

Know who else likes GPS units? Thieves! According to the Stamford Police, over 50 units a month are now being reported stolen in Stamford alone.

This week, my wife found this stuck under her wiper at the Metro-North station:

Police are advising that people not only remove or hide their GPS units when parked, but also wipe tell-tale suction cup marks from the windshield. All it takes is a few seconds for a burglar to smash in your windshield and grab your GPS – its just about the easiest crime going right now.

Originally appeared on: StationStops - Metro-North Train Schedules and NYC Commuting Blog See the original post here: GPS Thefts Out Of Control In Stamford, Greenwich

With three interchangeable heads (camera tripod thread, suction cup, adhesive clip), the Joby can latch on to just about anything, and with its flexible legs, can keep it steady just about anywhere.

This thing belongs in any point-and-shooter’s camera bag for taking low-light shots without blurring or choosing grainy high-iso settings. Its extremely light weight (much lighter than my traditional mini-tripod), and is very easy to use. You could even grip the legs together hand-held in between tripod shots if you wanted to.

Another advantage of this unit is that the feet are rubber, so it wont scratch car roofs, etc.

In the picture I have it supporting an iPod Touch, because as any iPhone/Touch user knows, it can be a pain in the butt trying to watch a movie while holding the thing in your hand. They also have a larger model for SLR’s and another for SLR’s with a zoom.

Now if they only had an attachment so it would stick to the back of a Metro-North seat.

Disclosure: Amazon.com sent me this item free of charge for review on Amazon.com as part of the Amazon Vine program.

Originally appeared on: StationStops - Metro-North Train Schedules and NYC Commuting Blog See the original post here: Joby Gorillapod Tripod Supports Cameras, iPhone, iPod Touch, and More

1. Read the Reviews!

Seriously, Apple has started this fanaticism with buying their stuff on the day it comes out – make sure you read the reviews first. I would have bought an original iPhone except for Walt Mossberg’s concern about data speeds over EDGE. (Mossberg says the new iPhone is 3-5X faster)

Walt Mossberg at All Things Digital: “Newer, Faster, Cheaper iPhone 3G”

David Pogue at The New York Times: “For iPhone, the ‘New’ Is Relative”

Edward C. Baig at USA Today: “Apple’s new iPhone 3G: Still not perfect, but really close”

2. Make sure its the right phone for you.

Don’t be a sheep. Think about how you use your phone, about the features you use on the phone you already have, vs the features on the iPhone. Do you send a lot of email or text messages? You might want to think about not having a keyboard. Do you want to tether the phone to your laptop for 3G? It’s not clear whether the new iPhone will allow it. One handed operation? You might want a Blackberry.

3. Consider the cost of the phone – and the plan.

The iPhone’s handset price has dropped to $199, but the plan price went up so that the actual cost of ownership over 2 years is higher. Make sure you know what you’re getting into before entering the store – including text message costs. Check out the 3G iPhone pricing plans at AT&T.

4. Do you use your mobile phone in an AT&T 3G Coverage area?

AT&T has relatively little 3G coverage compared to Verizon and Sprint, although most well-populated areas are covered. Use their coverage viewer to check the areas you spend your time in. In most cases, you will still have slow EDGE connectivity when you don’t have 3G – but check your region to make sure.

Regular StationStops readers may wish to check out our map of AT&T 3G coverage over the Metro-North Railroad lines. There is also a link to a large nationwide AT&T 3G coverage map there.

5. Will you use the multimedia features?

The Apple iPhone is, of course, also an iPod and a web browser. But how much time do you spend away from a computer during the day that you will use it? For some commuters – like train commuters – you could probably get a lot of mileage out of this. However, for car commuters with computers at work and home, you might not even have the opportunity – never mind need – to use it much at all.

A study showed that smartphone users most often used their phone’s data features while in the bathroom. This illustrates how seldom the average user has an opportunity to use these features.

If you want it to watch video, keep in mind that video isn’t as reusable as music. You will need to either buy, create, or download new video content more often than music if you use it regularly.

When I first got my iPod Touch, I watched video on it on the train every day – but getting new video content every day (besides podcasts, which I don’t care for) turned out to be kind of a hassle and/or expensive, and the iTunes store was always behind my Netflix queue in new releases.

After a while, I just got tired of selecting, downloading, and syncing stuff every day and eventually reverted to my previous favorite train commuting pastime – sleeping.

Another issue I always have with my Blackberry is that I never seem to have my headphones with me when I want to listen to music or watch video.

6. If you buy one, get a case and screen protector with it – if they are available.

Probably the most annoying thing that happened when I bought my iPod Touch was that it was just different enough in size from the iPhone that none of existing cases fit. As Apple was typically top secret about revealing the dimensions and specifications before launch, no one had cases and screen protectors ready for the first few weeks.

By the time Touch cases came out, the unit was already well scratched. Whereas the iPhone is a beautiful and sleek device, it is not designed to gracefully handle the kind of abuse most of us give our phones. The first thing I do whenever I take a new iPod out of the box is put it in a case and slap on a screen protector.

7. Buy it locally, know your return policy, and commit to return it if its not for you.

Some people (like me) hate returning things. Companies like AT&T and Apple rely on that. It is rumored that the return policy on the new 3G iPhone will be extended to 30 days, and you will have to return the equipment to the store you bought it from, so be sure to buy it near your home, rather than on your summer vacation on Cape Cod. Also keep all your packing, receipts, etc. in a bag and ready to go should you choose to return it.

Check out the AT&T Retail Store Locator and the Apple Store Locator for stores near you.

If you are changing carriers, you also might want to think about not moving your mobile phone number to the new iPhone until you are certain you are going to keep it, and keeping your original account & phone active during the return period. Also make sure you are aware of any early termination fees for your original mobile phone if you are still in contract.

8. Consider the options of keeping your phone and compare other new phones and plans.

The Blackberry Bold and Samsung Instinct are the major competitiors to the new iPhone.Although the reviews of the Instinct declare it is not on par with the iPhone, it does have one interesting unique feature – some limited live tv channels.

The Blackberry is still a favorite amongst businesspeople and people who do a great deal of email and texting on the phone. Although many iPhone users are fine with the touchpad qwerty on the iPhone, some people never really get used to it and perfer the physical thumboard on the Blackberry.

The new Blackberry has a higher-resolution screen, which in video comparisons actually seems brighter and has better contrast than the iPhone, although the screen is still significantly smaller.

9. Know the iPhone’s shortcomings.

• It cannot be tethered to your laptop for 3G surfing like a Blackberry.
• It has no cut and paste functionality
• It has no global search feature
• There is not support for bluetooth stereo headsets (still a head-scratcher)
• The web browser has no Flash or Java support
• The battery is not swappable by the user (Mossberg has had his die on him one day already). Battery replacement by Apple is a whopping $86 – almost half the price of the entire phone.
• Voice calling is sketchy (Mossberg had a call dropped 3 times on a Manhattan cab ride.)
• The base plan does not include any SMS messages
• There is no expandable memory slot
• The camera is only 2MP and does not record video or have a flash
• There is no MMS support
• The GPS is not good enough to do turn by turn directions, and doesnt hold a signal well among the Manhattan hi-rises.
• There is no voice dialing or recording
• It does not support mobile Java applications (although there will be a new Apple mobile application store for third-party software)
• Some older accessories will not charge the new iPhone, but there may be adapters coming.
• AT&T’s 3G coverage is relatively poor compared to Sprint and Verizon’s (reviewers have experienced 3G dead spots – even in metro nyc area)
• The phone is cheaper but cost of ownership is higher because of the increased pricing plan
• The reception quality is below average as noted by Mossberg.
• Upcoming games for iPhone are limited by lack of buttons – tilting iPhone will be used for some, but screen is hard to see when titlted.

10. Know the iPhone’s Advantages

• Best-in-class mobile web browser has virtually no competition
• Interface is very fast, attractive, and intuitive
• Best mobile phone for music and video
• Massive content library at iTunes Store
• Best photo viewer of any phone
• Will enjoy large 3rd party accessory support – cases, speakers, etc.

Although the list of advantages to other smartphones may be smaller, I would argue that in most cases they are more significant. For example, the video and web browsing experiences on the iPhone aren’t just better than most other phones – they’re MUCH better. Also, the lack of a comprehensive multimedia store for other phones makes the music and video features of other phones far less usable.

As I mentioned before, choosing the 3G iPhone for yourself will require some research as to other people’s impressions – but more importantly, deciding which features are most important to you.

Originally appeared on: StationStops - Metro-North Train Schedules and NYC Commuting Blog See the original post here: Apple 3G iPhone Reviews, Buying Tips [Apple 3G iPhone Reviews]

However, I will gladly settle for any anecdotal estimates in the comments!

(update: I just got an alert from MNR relating to 10-15 minute ‘heat-related’ delays. I would imagine these delays would involve the conductors carrying off near-lifeless bodies at stations.

Originally appeared on: StationStops - Metro-North Train Schedules and NYC Commuting Blog See the original post here: How Hot Was Your Train Ride Today?

If you are going to buy a new 3G iPhone and have already had an original iPhone for just a year, you probably don’t even want to do the math on what your 2-year COA is.

Apple and AT&T have clearly identified device threshold cost to be the greater barrier to entry than monthly subscription price.

Keep in mind that just months after the release of most smartphones, you will start to see them discounted or even distributed for free with cheaper 3G plan contracts. The original iPhone only saw a modest 20% discount over its entire first year of service.

Originally appeared on: StationStops - Metro-North Train Schedules and NYC Commuting Blog See the original post here: Surprise: The New 3G iPhone Actually Has A Higher Cost Of Ownership

]]> http://www.stationstops.com/2008/06/09/surprise-the-new-3g-iphone-actually-has-a-higher-cost-of-ownership/feed/ 0 http://www.stationstops.com/2008/06/09/apple-3g-iphone-2-announcement-first-impressions/ http://www.stationstops.com/2008/06/09/apple-3g-iphone-2-announcement-first-impressions/#comments Mon, 09 Jun 2008 20:45:20 +0000 Chris (Admin) http://www.stationstops.com/?p=469 Originally appeared on: StationStops - Metro-North Train Schedules and NYC Commuting Blog See the original post here: Apple 3G iPhone 2 Announcement First Impressions

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Now that the 3G iPhone 2 has been officially announced for a July 11 release, lets review whats new in the new iPhone.

First off, it is clear that Apple has directly addressed some serious issues with the original iPhone.

Speed: EDGE vs 3G

Obviously, its biggest drawback was the slow EDGE speeds, which were targeted at launch by Pogue and Mossberg. With the new 3G support, that’s mostly a non-issue. However, other 3G phones can still load formatted-for-mobile pages faster than the desktop-formatted pages for iPhone, even when in Wifi mode.

Price

When the iPhone was originally released, there were competing 3G Windows-mobile based phones (like the Motorola MDA) with compliant headphone jacks, enterprise support, and even 3G which were being given away for free with a reasonable contract. Meanwhile, the iPhone was an astronomical $599 with a very expensive 2-year contract which led to a minimum cost of ownership between $2000-$6000 depending on model, plan, and options.

With the new $199 and $299 price points, Apple has done a surprisingly good job of getting the iPhone into the realm of practical affordability, although I do not know if the details and pricing of the AT&T plan have changed.

Apple has not been known for affordable pricing. Curiously, an Apple employee emailed me today to ask if I could recommend a good $500-$600 Windows laptop for his friend, as the cheapest Macbook is twice as expensive. At one point, Apple released a $499 Mac Mini, but despite the fact that computer prices have continued to decline years later, the Mini is now even more expensive at $599.

Enterprise support: Microsoft Exchange and Cisco VPN

The lack of these two built-in features of the original iPhone officially prevented it from competing directly with the Blackberry in the Enterprise market. Fully secure VPN and messaging are a must-have for enterprise use, and now the iPhone has them. However, Blackberry’s deep entrenchment into this market will probably make this a long road for the iPhone. Enterprise doesn’t go with whats new and exciting, enterprise goes with whats known, what works, and cost of ownership. Inertia plays a large role in this space. Neither is enterprise big on giving out devices to employees which double as extraordinarily entertaining time-wasters. If they thought Brickbreaker was bad…

Third-party SDK support

This was another big complaint of the original iPhone, as Apple and its proprietary ways insured that it was locked down solid from developers. Apple spent the majority of the keynote (which addressed a developer audience) touting the major improvements to the iPhone SDK, which will seemingly appease third parties and consumers.

GPS

For people who have never had GPS in their phone, I suspect they will be largely unimpressed with GPS in the long term. A proper car unit is far more usable for driving, while I never use my phone’s GPS while walking – its more trouble than its worth. In addition, handheld GPS does not work well when walking in the one place I could use it the most – Manhattan – because of the tall buildings.

Once in a while it is good for locating a store or service nearby, but I have had better results faster with Beyond 411 than, say, with Google Maps & GPS. Sometimes Google Maps on mobile can be a serious exercise in frustration, but looks great under ideal conditions.

Flush headset jack

No need to go into detail on this, but Apple’s poorly engineered jack on the original iPhone has been fixed, so it will actually work with third-party headsets.

Stuff that remains unresolved:

Qwerty vs Touchscreen

Probably the biggest fear leading up to the original iPhone’s release was the touchscreen. Up until the iPhone, touchscreens did not historically work very well, especially without a stylus. Although not perfect by any means, the iPhone touchscreen was definitely much better than anyone anticipated.

However, there are few people who will argue that the touchscreen is as usable for typing as the Blackberry’s infamous qwerty thumbboard – at the very least, it is usable with twice as many digits at a time. I will admit the virtual keyboard on the iPhone is surprisingly good, but I would never prefer it over the thumbboard.

Quite frankly, I think there is no winning in this race – there are always going to be people who prefer a thumbboard. I would have been really impressed if Apple had announced a thumbboard version or clip-on/slide-out adapter for the new iPhone.

One-handed usability

Again, a domain of the Blackberry. Walking around New York City, the iPhone is a stealth device compared to the Blackberry. Why? You see people with arm extended massaging their Blackberry everywhere while walking and riding public transit. However, to use the navigation on the iPhone the user is required to stop and pay attention to what they are doing – it wasn’t designed to work with one hand, and its not designed to take a drop as robustly as a Blackberry (which my wife has thrown down a flight of concrete stairs at a Red Hot Chili Pepper’s concert to no ill effect).

Is it a good phone?

Everyone agrees the iPhone is an amazing device, but most also agree that purely as a mobile phone, it falls a little short in usability, signal strength, voice, and call quality. This wasn’t touched on at the keynote, but here’s to hoping that 3G will solve a lot of these complaints.

No user-replaceable battery

Apple, for whatever reason, pretty much refuses to allow users to replace their batteries themselves. Not only has the iPod never had a user-replaceable battery, but recently Apple made the surprisingly awful move of putting a non-replaceable battery in – of all things – an ultraportable notebook – the Macbook Air.

There is no argument for this practice on the consumer side whatsoever, its just the way things are at Apple, one of their quirky proprietary fetishes no one ever understands.

As the iPhone serves the purpose of a phone, video player, mp3 player, web browser, and email device – and now supports games as well – it is inclined to use more battery life during the typical day than a regular phone – the ability to hotswap to a charged battery would avoid a lot of very nasty situations. Alas it is not to be.

I think this is another issue which would keep it out of enterprise – true mobile professionals – people who are always on the move, and always on their phone – simply balk at the idea of a non-changeable battery.

On the upside, it seems that battery life for most features has been very much improved with this new iPhone, so the necessity for the extra battery for most users will be negligible.

3G Tethering

The lack of discussion of this feature at the keynote was disappointing. A 3G card and plan for a notebook is about $60/mo + hardware – a price all but the most mobile and well-heeled can stomach.

At the same time, there are few mobile users who do not often find themselves in a situation where they could really use a high-speed connection, and there is no free wifi available.

A perfect example, especially for our readers, is the train. There is no wifi on Metro-North, nor any plans to add any. However, there are 10′s of 1000′s of commuters heading to their office and back on 20-120 minute train commutes with their laptops every day, and most are in 3G range most of the time.

Additionally, most are heading off to work, where they can charge their laptop and cellphone, so driving down the battery on either via tethering is a non-issue in the morning. In the new M8 cars, there will be power adapters.

This is another strike in the enterprise space – free 3G tethering is an outstanding feature for business, and again, can be a unique problem solver in important emergencies.

Originally appeared on: StationStops - Metro-North Train Schedules and NYC Commuting Blog See the original post here: Apple 3G iPhone 2 Announcement First Impressions

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