My iPhone is Getting Returned
I’ve had the iPhone 3 GS 16 for the past three days. Despite the outward “coolness” of the device I have a number of serious complaints.
1: The “intelligent” and supremely annoying Apple interface, which wants to do things for you whether you like it, or nor.
2: The lousy battery life, averaging only about two hours when surfing on the crappy AT&T 3G network.
3: The imprecise, touch screen-only interface, growl!
4: The phone functionality itself is incredibly clumsy and inconvenient. It isn’t just a software issue, but also the fact that the iPhone (like many others of its ilk) simply feels unwieldy, with its flat and relatively large shape. Until it is unlocked and everything lights up, it is really hard to tell quickly which way is up, or down in that shiny rectangle.
5: Back to the interface. The Apple interfaces, including all of their computers and iPods seem to have been designed by smart people – for morons. They remind me of cars with automatic transmissions – which I despise, preferring to have positive, clear, instant choices, rather than clumsy, usually inaccurate and mushy ones.
6. The need to use iTunes for synchronizing, moving and deleting applications and content. Why can’t the iPhone simply be recognized as another removable drive?
Some of the apps, such as Google Maps and Google Earth are cool. That doesn’t redeem the bad features of the iPhone, particularly in view of the fact that the many of the aps are also available for other smart phones, running on better networks and on better hardware.
In addition, just like in the iPod, Apple has decided to create still another device with a battery that’s not easily replacable. I am aware of the external batteries available, which DO extend the iPhone’s running time, but that would make this already too-large device even bigger.
In short: The iPhone is going back to the Apple store tomorrow, my old phone is getting re-activated and as soon as my present contract expires, I am moving to a better network than AT&T, possibly Verizon.
Haven’t decided yet which smart phone I will get. To be perfectly frank, there doesn’t seem to be a single one out there that is really and truly good. The latest Windows Mobile models are reportedly plagued with too many all too familiar Windows problems. Maybe one of the Blackberries, or maybe even something running on Google’s Android? Not sure yet.
At least I will not be as “trendy” looking like all of those iPhone and iPod-totting people out there. I wonder why supposedly smart people have been recommending the iPhone as the “coolest” and “best” device out there. After quite thoroughly exploring the over-hyped gizmo I can only think that they are naïve, Mac aficionados, or stockholders, or simply people who like to follow the herd.
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Follow up: Despite all of the iPhone lovers’ comments, the iPhone has been returned. As I said, it was a love/hate relationship. I was thinking almost to the last minute about doing it. Finally took the plunge, reset the phone, deleting all (hopefully) my private information and took it back to the Apple store. Couldn’t imagine being locked in for another two years to AT&T’s inadequate network, and having to buy an external battery for the iPhone to make sure that it would work for an entire day away from the charger.
Also, for a variety of reasons, the Apple-type interfaces simply do not agree with my outlook on things. If YOU like them, or love them, great. Enjoy!
Comments such as “Opinionated, but incoherent” obviously come from someone who likes Apple and therefore my opinion might be incoherent to that person, but perfectly coherent to the many millions, who don’t.
In addition the AT&T customer service is very polite, but five days after returning the iPhone and reactivating my old phone, my contract with AT&T hasn’t been rolled back to the previous date. If these people, along with their lousy network think that they will be able to keep me for another two years, they must also believe in the Tooth Fairy 
Tagged with: Apple • AT&T network • batter life • crappy interface • hate it • iPhone • returning to store • touch screen
Filed under: Just Stupid • Smart phone • Technology • Trendiness • propaganda
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I love my iPhone. It’s like scientific magic. Like the future in the present time. Funny how people can have completely different perceptions.
Different stroke for different folks. Good luck in your phone search but if you’re unhappy with this I don’t know what to tell you.
Not sure anyone cares what you are doing with your iPhone.
Opinionated, but incoherent. I can’t make any sense of your complaints.
1. The interface you call “supremely annoying” does things for you whether you like it or not? Exactly what are you referring to? The only thing I can think of is auto-correction of typos.
2. Re: the “lousy battery life” — I complain about it too, except that for me (and for everyone else I know) it lasts a day, not 2 hours.
3. The “imprecise, touch screen-only interface”? What alternative do you suggest? Trackball? Stylus? Telepathy?
4. “Incredibly clumsy” phone functionality — pray, enlighten us what you mean.
5. Re: “clumsy, usually inaccurate, and mushy” Interfaces — again, what alternative do you suggest?
6. Using iPhone as a removable drive — actually, not a terrible idea.
7. Lack of a serious search function, inability to change wallpapers — um, I search my contacts just fine on my iPhone. I also have ability to change wallpapers.
“Naive, Mac aficionado[sic], stockholder, people who like to follow the herd” — funny, I like my iPhone because it works. Good luck finding something that you’re happy with.
It is a shame you feel that way about the iphone, a lot of what you say is not really true especially the interface, everyone who has used it from my mother to my 4 year old daughter are up and running with it within half an hour, but if you prefer super complex devices then I guess this phone is definitely not for you, I have it now for about a week and can use it heavily (surfing, calling, viewing movies and music videos) for at least 7 hours, and if I use it like I use my normal phone then I can get 4 days of usage out of it without the need for recharging. The device has made me incredibly productive, and replaced my blackberry which to me was not conducive to use at all. Even though I admit it has minor issues and weaknesses, and I am also not too happy about the app approval process, my only real major issue with the device is that it can not decompress .zip files for viewing.
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Toocoolracing, to each his own. I really TRIED to like the iPhone. That’s why I got it in the first place. Enjoy yours, if it suits you. It really doesn’t suit me.
I might just wait for some of the phones running on Google’s Android. There should be some good choices before the end of the year.
K, except for you, I suppose. Are you a Mac, iPod and iPhone aficionado?
Sixmemos, I suppose that we are very different in our perceptions of what is well-designed and what isn’t.
Muthir, I had no real problem with using the interface, but I deeply dislike it, just as I very much dislike the iPod and Mac interfaces. It is maddening that the phone (is it a phone?) suggests things, drops me in the last places I have been to, etc, instead of allowing full, crisp and unfettered control. I do not have thick fingers, but the virtual keyboard is not only too small, but also quite inaccurate and I end up hitting the wrong keys all the time.
The battery life on the AT&T 3G network is in fact between two and three hours and the network itself is extremely poor. That is of course not iPhone’s fault.
Interesting that this is such a popular phone but everyone else is an idiot except for you. Hmmm…
I own a Palm Pre because I refuse to switch to AT&T. It works but damn, I see how bad it is ONLY because of the iPhone interface which is head and shoulders above the rest.
If you’re going to post publicly, you ought to think things out before you type…
Jp, as you might have noticed not everything popular and trendy is necessarily good.
Of course the lousy AT&T network is one of the problem issues here.
And, yes, I have thought things out quite carefully before I posted this article.
There are lots of beefs, including the poor battery life, but my main beef is precisely what you call “iPhone interface which is head and shoulders above the rest.”
I happen to disagree strongly on that point as I really and truly hated any Apple interface that I have ever had the misfortune of using.
I’m sure you can find a phone running DOS – or CPM if that’s to radical for you. I hear the Android phone is quite good. Several people I know have it and like it a lot.
Harrison, radical is not the issue, but rather good vs bad, or what it always comes down to – personal preference.
There is a limited number of Android-based phones at this point. When a good one comes along, on a good network, I will certainly consider it.
You might try the Blackberry Bold or Verizon’s newest QWERTY keypad Blackberry.
Thank you, Lightloch. I have looked at the Blackberry Tour at Verizon. It seemed OK, but not quite what I was looking for. The Bold seems kind of nice as well, but it is available only through AT&T, which would defeat my quest for a better network. Since I have at least a month to decide, I think that I will wait for the new crop of Android phones to supposedly appear soon at Verizon and see what they have to offer.
Gee, wonder why you didn’t take our advice initially about it.
hmmm I see you are following it now. goodwork.
Go with a Nokia – you’ll be quite satisfied – Trust Us This Time.
As you know – we do know our devices.
obtw, looking at getting that vw c this spring.
you may have convinced us to try it out
I am very happy with the TDI
Unfortunately that Nokia Morph phone is still a concept in the works. Not sure when something as cool and advanced as that will actually be available.