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sanford · Aug 26, 2007, 03:52 PM

Some of you may remember me as the official anti-iPhone voice on this site. Well today I eat my ate. I bought one. It was either that or a new iPod, and since the new iPods are presently unknown as to features, etc., and I'm keeping a great 30GB video iPod too, I went for the iPhone. (Those of you who remember my posts from a while back, laugh at me; I deserve it. And, no, I'm not doing the unlock hack thing; I'm going with AT&T as if I'm going in, I want the full experience as designed.)

Anyway, what's the one best resource for listing of iPhone apps, 3rd party or Apple's, that don't come built into the iPhone? I'm not interested in anything requires hacking the iPhone to add an app or anything -- can you add apps directly to the phone or just use web-based apps? Web apps are fine with me but I'm having trouble finding a good single resource, as Apple isn't maintaining a list yet and when I Google I get a ton of hits.

mduell · Aug 26, 2007, 05:36 PM

Originally Posted by sanford

I'm not interested in anything requires hacking the iPhone to add an app or anything -- can you add apps directly to the phone or just use web-based apps?

Web pages (I cringe to call them apps) only.

Top 25 Web Apps for iPhone is a list of a few good apps; Wired has a similar roundup.

sanford · Aug 26, 2007, 10:40 PM

Originally Posted by mduell

Web pages (I cringe to call them apps) only.

Top 25 Web Apps for iPhone is a list of a few good apps; Wired has a similar roundup.

Cool. Thanks. I have to say I was wrong. AT&T customer service has been great so far. I accidentally used my nickname, which is so common for me it's like my first name, as my legal first name to try and activate the phone and triggered a fraud alert with AT&T -- name didn't match SSN -- through iTunes. Guy at the AT&T store stayed on the phone with me for about an hour until it was working; also had similar good experience calling 800 line earlier today to talk about plans.

The device itself is sublime, even missing some features a lot of people want and/or expect. What's there works and works like crazy. I have always *hated* mobile phones. I don't anymore. EDGE speed in my area is obviously not WiFi or even 3G but plenty quick for loading up web pages for reference, etc. Totally fine for e-mail, even with a photo or two attached. Screen is incredible. I mean you can actually watch stuff on it. My PSP has a larger screen but the iPhone screen, while smaller, is definitely superior.

Only thing: I'm still glad I have a click wheel video iPod for my full media collection -- though I can't imagine watching video on it now. Touch interface is great for the amount of stuff I'll carry on the iPhone, and I have zero complaints with it on the iPhone -- obviously the iPhone interface couldn't survive with just a click wheel -- but the click wheel, for me, has it's place in the iPod line and I will be hanging onto my 30GB click wheel video iPod until it flat falls apart, for full-service iPod use, video out, etc.

Really, though, for $600 plus tax plus contract... I expected to have at least some buyer's remorse. I even called my wife and told her I'd changed my mind, not to buy it on her way home. But she'd already bought it, so I figured I'd give it a shot and eat a few days service fees and a restock fee if I had any regrets at all. None. This one is not going back. Definitely will change consumer expectations for mobile phones.

Cold Warrior · Aug 26, 2007, 10:43 PM

Did you get the bluetooth headset?

sanford · Aug 27, 2007, 07:49 AM

Originally Posted by Cold Warrior

Did you get the bluetooth headset?

No. I already have a BT headset, and I bought the iPhone it at an AT&T Store because it was only like a mile from my house, and they didn't have them in stock. As of Wednesday, I'm actually going to have *two* Jabra Bluetooth headsets -- one comes with a game I'm getting for PlayStation 3 -- and as I'll be using this as an iPod *a lot*, and I've never really used the BT headset I had with my mobiles before, so I seriously doubt I'll buy one. I just don't talk on the phone enough to warrant it. (I've already used the data phone since activation yesterday evening for about 4 hours; like two minutes of that is a phone call.) And I don't drive so I don't really need a handsfree kind of thing -- the included wired stereo set works for me.

mutelight · Aug 27, 2007, 11:56 AM

I am really glad you are enjoying it. I can't even remember how many times I tried to tell myself I would wait for a revision but then I used a couple of my friends' and loved it. That weekend I went out and bought one and it is leaps and bounds better than the WM2005 device I had previous. The people I know who originally were highly against it tried out mine and were nothing short of blown away. Even with it lacking some features some would expect to see on a phone in its price range it makes up for it in ease of use and all around design in regards to the physical design to the software interface.

maxintosh · Aug 27, 2007, 12:29 PM

I caved and bought one too. It's phenomenal except the SMS alert tone is way, way, way too quiet and it doesn't vibrate enough for me to notice. Big pain, but I still love the thing. Hopefully they'll make alerts more customizable in an update.

mitchell_pgh · Aug 27, 2007, 08:07 PM

I'm stuck in a Verizon contract, but I'm really considering buying one. From everything I've read, it's really only a software update from being nearly perfect. I played with one a few weeks back at the apple store and loved the device.