[icruise]

We've got a lot of iPhone threads now, and it's getting a little difficult to sort through the information, or to tell where to post certain things. So I'm going to make this thread the central repository for all tidbits of information that we will learn about the iPhone and its features in the days leading up to its launch. Confirmed info would be best, but I guess we'll have to include rumors as well. In any case, the focus is on stuff that we haven't heard before.

Let me start with this bit of info from here (with the most annoying pop-up ad EVER):

10% restocking fee on iPhone?

Lets say for example you just want to buy and test out the iPhone just to see if you like it, then you decide that AT&T doesn’t work out or you just don’t like the phone. You ought to keep in mind that the return policy is going to be different for the iPhone. AT&T return policy normally gives you 30-days to decide. However, that’s not the case here; you only have 14 days, but this is the real groin kicker. Even if you return the iPhone within the 14-day window you will only receive 90% of the money you paid. Apple is keeping 10% for restocking fees. So really think hard before you just buy it, because 10% is a lot.

iPhone not usable with SIM cards other than purchasers?

Also, I’m sure you already know this but the iPhone will have special provisions that will only allow the SIM of the designated phone number that purchased the iPhone to work. For example, my buddy Joe can’t simply remove the SIM card from my iPhone, slop his in and have it just work. He would be able to make phone calls, but that is it. Other features such Visual Voicemail, Internet, and even iTunes will not work. So this is sort of good in a way, acting as a lock-down mode in the event the iPhone gets stolen or lost.

I don't recall hearing any of this before (and of course you need to take it with a grain of salt). The iPhone will be locked so only the SIM card of the purchaser can use it? Interesting.

More disturbing is the claim that with a different SIM, "even iTunes will not work." I don't know if he means that you won't be able to listen to music or watch videos on the phone, or if you won't be able to sync, or what. I'm not sure how much stock to put in this info.

[::maroma::]

Good idea about this thread!
------------------------------

In regards to the SIM card thing and iTunes, I would assume that they mean it shuts down syncing. I don't see how it could stop you from listening to music or watching movies. But then again, maybe its purely a security thing. That wouldn't be so bad I guess.

[::maroma::]

Originally Posted by Mrjinglesusa 

The question I have is if I am an AT&T customer with a phone that already has a SIM card, when I get the iPhone can I just put my SIM card in or will I have to go through an entire activation process?

I thought I read somewhere that the iPhone wont be able to use other SIM cards, they will have to transfer your data to their SIM card from yours. But that's purely a rumor at this point (as far as I know).

EDIT: Forums acting up again, my reply is above your original post.

[Mrjinglesusa]

The question I have is if I am an AT&T customer with a phone that already has a SIM card, when I get the iPhone can I just put my SIM card in or will I have to go through an entire activation process?

[mdc]

I just found this info over at AppleInsider.

Apple says iPhone can be activated by users at home
Apple and AT&T Inc. said Tuesday that iPhone users will be able to activate their new iPhones using Apple's popular iTunes software running on a PC or Mac computer in the comfort and privacy of their own home or office, without having to wait in a store while their phone is activated.

iPhone Rate Plans

Apple posted a video of activating and syncing iPhone

[Visnaut]

Originally Posted by Mrjinglesusa 

The question I have is if I am an AT&T customer with a phone that already has a SIM card, when I get the iPhone can I just put my SIM card in or will I have to go through an entire activation process?

In the activation video, the option is called "Replace a phone on my account with this iPhone".

So it looks as if it will activate the new SIM card, and make your old one inactive.

[Mrjinglesusa]

Originally Posted by Visnaut 

In the activation video, the option is called "Replace a phone on my account with this iPhone".

So it looks as if it will activate the new SIM card, and make your old one inactive.

Sweet. Seems all I will have to do is replace my Treo 650 with the iPhone, add the $20 iPhone data plan to my current Family Plan and I'm done. Then, I will have to call Customer Service to have them remove the $49.99 PDA Unlimited plan from my account. I should end up paying $30 less a month...

[ghporter]

For what it's worth, (we're on AT&T) I can't take the SIM card from my wife's RAZR, stick it in my RAZR, and do ANYTHING except copy her address book. I can't make calls with her SIM card in my phone-I get a "Wrong SIM Card" message. So swapping out SIMs has never seemed to be a daily activity to me-is it really something people do all the time?

[Mrjinglesusa]

Originally Posted by ghporter 

For what it's worth, (we're on AT&T) I can't take the SIM card from my wife's RAZR, stick it in my RAZR, and do ANYTHING except copy her address book. I can't make calls with her SIM card in my phone-I get a "Wrong SIM Card" message. So swapping out SIMs has never seemed to be a daily activity to me-is it really something people do all the time?

Not really. I forgot that when I previously swapped SIM cards, both phones were UNLOCKED. In other words, I had an unlocked Sony Ericsson, bought an unlocked RAZR, and swapped the SIM from the Sony to the Moto. Np problems. I never tried swapping SIM cards from one locked phone to another.

[Visnaut]

This might be new info, regarding syncing music to your iPhone:

In the activation video, around 5:16 is the Music tab, much as it shows up for other iPods. However, the only options available are limited to syncing your entire music library or specific playlists.

The option for manually syncing your music (available on all iPods that I can think of) is missing.

It might be an omission or oversight in the demo video (much like the 80GB capacity in the storage bar), but if it isn't, it's not a show-stopper for most people.

I do like the fact that with my iPods set to manual sync, I can drag in songs from several of my machines, and create some more flexible smart playlists.

[::maroma::]

I agree Visnaut. I like to manually manage my music as well. But, I think they left this out on purpose. Notice he recommends you make a specific playlist just for your iPhone. That tells me that manual management is not supported. Its odd, I can't really understand why. But I'm hoping you're right, and it was just an oversight.

[mdc]

If I remember correctly, I don't think manual management is available for AppleTV either.
What I'd like for all the iPods is the shuffle's "Auto Fill" feature. For my nano (4gb) I have a smart playlist set to randomly select 4gb worth of music. Before I sync my nano, I delete everything in the playlist causing it to random itself again. Auto Fill is very similar but saves me from manually deleting everything each time.

[::maroma::]

I suppose making a specific playlist for iPhone is not much different than manually managing the music. I mean, you still have to drag and drop, its just one extra step (I think). It wont be as annoying as I initially thought.

[No Time 4 Love Dr. Jones]

Unlimited email and web but only 200 SMS seems weird to me. I'd think it would be the other way around.

[icruise]

Originally Posted by No Time 4 Love Dr. Jones 

Unlimited email and web but only 200 SMS seems weird to me. I'd think it would be the other way around.

Thank god it's not. I don't plan to use SMS much at all.

[::maroma::]

Originally Posted by icruise 

Thank god it's not. I don't plan to use SMS much at all.

Same here. With email on my phone now, and how damn easy it is to use, I'll be emailing more than SMS. I never really SMS'd that much anyways.

I love these plans!

[Simon]

Originally Posted by No Time 4 Love Dr. Jones 

Unlimited email and web but only 200 SMS seems weird to me. I'd think it would be the other way around.

Those that actually need it can buy additional SMS. $10 gets you 1500 and for $20 you get unlimited SMS.

IMHO the $20 flat rate for data is absolutely awesome. I never would have thought it would be that low.

[No Time 4 Love Dr. Jones]

Originally Posted by Simon 

Those that actually need it can buy additional SMS. $10 gets you 1500 and for $20 you get unlimited SMS.

IMHO the $20 flat rate for data is absolutely awesome. I never would have thought it would be that low.

Yes, I understand that. I just thought the volume of data used by email and web use would be more expensive than SMS, and thusly be the thing you'd need to "add" more to.

[kman42]

How does the VPN work? It's mentioned here, making it official: Apple - iPhone - Questions and Answers


What kind of security features does iPhone offer?
You can protect your iPhone with a four-digit password, which is then required whenever iPhone is turned on or wakes from sleep. For secure Internet access, iPhone supports industry-standard Wi-Fi security and virtual private networking (VPN).

[Kadman]

Originally Posted by ghporter 

For what it's worth, (we're on AT&T) I can't take the SIM card from my wife's RAZR, stick it in my RAZR, and do ANYTHING except copy her address book. I can't make calls with her SIM card in my phone-I get a "Wrong SIM Card" message. So swapping out SIMs has never seemed to be a daily activity to me-is it really something people do all the time?

Not sure what else may be affecting your exact situation, but swapping SIM cards among phones from the same carrier (locked) has always been fine - at least with AT&T/Cingular and T-Mobile. If the statement above about the iPhone locking things down to a number, it would be an issue for many I would think. How would you handle resale for example?

Also, I think the biggest oversight isn't IM. I think it's the fact that you cannot download songs directly from the device. It seems pretty rediculous that as many other cool features as it has, you cannot use a simple combination of web connection and iTunes features to buy a song.

[Eriamjh]

I wonder if you can kill the data plan and surf wirelessly using 802.11b/g?

[Andy8]

iPhone Frequently Asked Questions - AT&T

[Lava Lamp Freak]

I've read conflicting information on the 802.11b/g. Will the iPhone, when connected to my Airport Extreme, slow down the 802.11n connection on my MBP? Some info I've read says it will drop the MBP speed to the slowest connection on the network, but I read a review of the Extreme that said it would continue running at 802.11n speed.

[JKT]

Originally Posted by Kadman 

Also, I think the biggest oversight isn't IM. I think it's the fact that you cannot download songs directly from the device. It seems pretty rediculous that as many other cool features as it has, you cannot use a simple combination of web connection and iTunes features to buy a song.

Given that you will be using iTunes on a Mac/PC to charge and synch the phone, would you really need to be able to buy songs over the air? The song would undoubtedly cost more than if you had bought it on iTunes and it would take longer to download (assuming you have broadband on your computer).

[icruise]

Actually, I agree that iTunes on the iPhone would be a killer app, assuming they could make it cost the same as downloading it on your computer. EDGE would be too slow for serious downloading, but they could probably manage to stream the previews, and that alone would be amazing. They could restrict purchases to when you're using wi-fi. Purchases could be re-synced with your desktop when you got home. Nobody has done portable music purchasing right yet, and I'm absolutely positive that Apple has this in the back of their mind. Heck, it could even be a last-minute announcement.

There's the possibility, though, that they're waiting for a future 3G phone to make this available (both for practical reasons -- it would actually be fast enough for downloads at any time and not just over wi-fi -- and because they need new features to entice people to upgrade their iPhones).

[kman42]

Yeah, they don't want it to suck over EDGE or only work over wifi, pointing out how inadequate EDGE is. I'm guessing this will be a v2 feature or they will allow you to preview and purchase, but not download until you get back to your computer, but this would be a lame compromise since people who buy songs over the cell network will want to listen to them immediately. I, for one, don't see the importance of this. Have we really become so impatient?

[icruise]

Originally Posted by kman42 

Have we really become so impatient?

You might as well ask why we have to use the internet away from our desks, or why we can't just use payphones instead of cell phones. Being able to listen to and download music anywhere is undeniably more convenient than having to do it at your computer, and I think Apple needs to latch on to this capability before anyone else does if they want to keep their position as the top supplier of downloadable music.

I don't know how much I personally would use it, but I can imagine a lot of uses for such a capability. If you're talking to a friend about a band or song, you can listen to them immediately. If you have a song if your head or want to check on the lyrics to something, you can do so right away, while you're thinking about it. Or if you hear a song on the radio or in a store, you could download it right away. Things like that.

[kman42]

Originally Posted by icruise 

Or if you hear a song on the radio or in a store, you could download it right away. Things like that.

Why would you be listening to the radio if you have an iPod?

Just kidding. I can see the utility in a few circumstances, I just don't think it will be the killer feature that everyone seems to make it out to be. I'm sure it will happen sooner rather than later, so my point is really rather moot anyway.

kman

[stevesnj]

So will the USB port on a computer be the only way to charge the iPhone? I was planning to just take the iPhone to Europe and not a laptop since i can check mail on it. If I need a computer to charge it thats bull!!

[::maroma::]

I am almost 100% positive that Apple will do this fairly soon. But I think I agree that it wont be until 3G is in the iPhone. Apple doesn't do things unless they know for a fact that its incredibly simple and seamless, if they have a choice. They wont do it where you have to be in WiFi to download, etc. That's something MS would do, and it would confuse people and inevitably piss them off.

I firmly believe they're waiting for v2 of the iPhone with 3G, and then we'll see full iTunes support. Its not going to happen with this version.

[::maroma::]

I thought of something last night that I'd LOVE to see in the iPhone. How about a way to stream music through your iPhone, as you can in iTunes?

For example, say I'm chillin in the library (or somewhere with WiFi) and I want to listen to my local NPR station (or any radio station that streams), I just pull up the stream and listen away! I think this would be fairly reasonable to implement. Of course it would only work in WiFi on this version of the iPhone, but 3G iPhone would be sweet with it.

[icruise]

Originally Posted by stevesnj 

So will the USB port on a computer be the only way to charge the iPhone? I was planning to just take the iPhone to Europe and not a laptop since i can check mail on it. If I need a computer to charge it thats bull!!

Any iPod charger should charge the iPhone. The only unknown right now is whether the iPhone actually comes with a charger or not.

Originally Posted by ::maroma:: 

I thought of something last night that I'd LOVE to see in the iPhone. How about a way to stream music through your iPhone, as you can in iTunes?

For example, say I'm chillin in the library (or somewhere with WiFi) and I want to listen to my local NPR station (or any radio station that streams), I just pull up the stream and listen away! I think this would be fairly reasonable to implement. Of course it would only work in WiFi on this version of the iPhone, but 3G iPhone would be sweet with it.

There may already be web-based solutions for this kind of thing that would work with the iPhone.

[stevesnj]

Originally Posted by icruise 

Any iPod charger should charge the iPhone. The only unknown right now is whether the iPhone actually comes with a charger or not.

wouldnt that be something? a phone that doesn't come with a stand alone charger?!

[Rumor Addict]

Originally Posted by ghporter 

So swapping out SIMs has never seemed to be a daily activity to me-is it really something people do all the time?

I do it all the time. I travel abroad often and have sim cards for the country I am in to have a local number. I will be most annoyed if it isnt unlocked. I dont want to have to keep a spare phone for travel. I dont care if alll the features dont work but I want to be able to place cards with any sim.

[Mrjinglesusa]

Originally Posted by stevesnj 

wouldnt that be something? a phone that doesn't come with a stand alone charger?!

From Apple's Question and Answer site posted above:

Like an iPod, your iPhone charges using the included USB 2.0 cable connected to your computer or to the included USB Power Adapter.

[icruise]

There we go. Good news.

[stevesnj]

Originally Posted by Mrjinglesusa 

From Apple's Question and Answer site posted above:

thanks...i've done so much reading on the iPhone it's hard to keep up with every detail...GOD BLESS MACNN FORUMS!!!!

[Andy8]

iPhone packaging on YouTube

[icruise]

Interesting video, although the shots of the iPhone in use don't sync up very well with what the guy was talking about, and he didn't seem to understand the question about watching Youtube over EDGE. The packaging looks pretty much exactly as I would have expected.

[icruise]

A few tidbits from David Pogue's iPhone FAQ:

No voice dialing.
No lyrics display. (Hadn't thought about this, but it seems like a step backward.)
No disk mode for storing files. (Surprising.)
Bluetooth is only used for the bluetooth headset (and built-in Bluetooth systems in cars) -- no Bluetooth headphones or the like.
No tethering.
No wireless syncing.
No password storing in Safari. (Ugh.)
No to do items on the iPhone.
Notes made on the phone don't sync to the computer. (Seems dumb.)
The keyboard *does* rotate when you hold the phone horizontally, but only in Safari.

[Kadman]

Dismissing the ability to download songs straight to the iPhone by considering it a matter of "instant gratification" or the like is missing the point. It's more a matter of workflow. So many development efforts (including those of Apple) strive for the ease of integration of their technologies into our lives. This is no different. To hear a song while out with friends or have someone discuss a new artist and then having the ability to look it up on iTunes, hear the short clip as is done with the full client, and then downloading it to your iPod (for the same price) on the spot isn't far fetched at all. One song at that sample rate doesn't take too long via edge. Many people do it right now with other phones that have been available for quite some time.

I suspect the only reason it's not available has more to do with protection. In other words, it would likely scream for the ability to then copy that back to your computer once you dock. We all know that's a big no-no...with native tools anyway.

[icruise]

Originally Posted by Kadman 

I suspect the only reason it's not available has more to do with protection. In other words, it would likely scream for the ability to then copy that back to your computer once you dock. We all know that's a big no-no...with native tools anyway.

You can already copy iTunes Store purchases from an iPod to iTunes using Apple's own software, so that's not the issue.

[stevesnj]

Only 2 phones MAX per person. Apple - iPhone - Press Release

Apple Tech specs on the iPhone and 'whats in the Box' Apple - iPhone - Tech Specs

Apple Official Q&A Apple - iPhone - Questions and Answers

Yes I can go to Europe with it WOOOHOOO!!!

[ghporter]

Originally Posted by stevesnj 

Only 2 phones MAX per person. Apple - iPhone - Press Release

Interesting. That means that, if I wanted to replace my three RAZRs with iPhones, AT&T would probably not want to oblige me, at least not in a single visit anyway. I wonder how they will handle corporate purchases...

[icruise]

Obviously this stipulation is just for stores around launch day, to keep one guy from snapping up a huge number of iPhones for resale while others go without. I would imagine you would have no such restrictions buying online, and certainly not for corporate purchases.

[Stogieman]

Originally Posted by stevesnj 

wouldnt that be something? a phone that doesn't come with a stand alone charger?!

Not only does it come with a USB power adapter, but it comes with a dock as well. It looks like you can charge the iPhone and the bluetooth headset at the same time.



Check out the bottom left corner of the Tech Specs page:
Apple - iPhone - Tech Specs

In the box
iPhone
Stereo Headset
Dock
Dock Connector to USB Cable
USB Power Adapter
Documentation
Cleaning/polishing cloth

[icruise]

People are reporting that their EDGE speeds have suddenly increased.

[Krusty]

Originally Posted by icruise 

People are reporting that their EDGE speeds have suddenly increased.

Mine have increased over the last week. I used to get an average of about 115k where I am with an absolute max of 145k that I've ever seen. I've clocked 160k regularly this week and I can honestly say, though I know the tests are flawed, my connection does feel faster than before and that feel is actually what prompted me to go do the tests again in the first place. I tether through a Nokia 6126 to my iBook and iBook surfing this week has seemed downright acceptable.

[edit]almost forgot to mention that I use an IP widget and after years (as long as I've had the widget) of having an IP that was 166.xx.xx.xx through my EDGE surfing, I have been getting an IP of 32.xx.xx.xx all of this week. So,it DOES appear that SOMETHING is going on with Cingular's EDGE network .... allocation more space to it or reshuffling it in some way and we're not just imagining things [/edit]

[StickClicks]

Happy iPhone day (where I am at least)

[Stogieman]

iTunes 7.3 is now available through Software Update. 31.5 MB