iPhoneBuzz Review – iPhone 3G

I'm a first-time iPhone buyer, which may seem a bit strange for someone like me. Honestly the lack of 3G capabilities and 3rd party applications were a deal breaker for me. I loved the idea that was the iPhone, which is why I ended up purchasing an iPod touch and sticking with my current 3G phone. With those two major features added, I figured it was time to get my hands on one. I've been using it since Friday morning (yes, mine activated without issues first thing) and figured it was time I shared my thoughts with you, our loyal readers.

Looking at the phone it's just as sleek as my iPod Touch, though considerably thicker. At it's thickest point, it's actually larger than the original iPhone. While that may sound unattractive, Apple has smartly curved the entire back of the case, making it seem much slimmer than it actually is. The shape contours to my hand quite well, and the weight feels about perfect; not too heavy, not too light. The plastic case worries me a bit since it's likely to get scratched easily (though none yet), and does get a lot of smudges, however, it does look better than the original backing.

The first thing I did after walking out of the store (after letting half a dozen people in line fondle it) was make a few phone calls, all of which were crystal clear. All of my subsequent calls have been equally as clear.

As soon as I got home, I plugged my shiny new phone into my PC so it could sync. I had already browsed the App Store and chosen several new programs, so I kept myself busy as I waited for my music library to transfer to my iPhone. Some of the more useful apps I installed were the iTunes Remote, YPmobile, BoxOffice and AIM. There are plenty more to choose from, which is a good part of what sets the iPhone above the competition.

I've owned smartphones in the past, and downloaded applications, but there was never a centralized place to get these, and rarely did I ever find anything really useful that was free. Apple's App Store is simple to navigate, and even allows you to download programs straight to the iPhone from anywhere (unless it's over 10MB, then just tap into a Wi-Fi connection or sync it to your computer).

Since I've already been using my iPod Touch for some time, the iPhone's Safari browser wasn't anything new to me. However, it had only worked while tethered to a Wi-Fi connection, which wasn't always that handy. I'd love to tell you that the 3G speeds on my iPhone were great, but unfortunately I don't have 3G service in my area. In fact, most of the US is without 3G coverage, which is just disgusting. What's the point of releasing a 3G phone, when most of your customers can't take advantage of it? Luckily they are putting up new towers in my location this September which will enable 3G. Until then, I'm stuck with EDGE speeds, which are lackluster at best.

The lack of 3G coverage in most of the country brings up another sore spot. AT&T is asking an extra $10 a month for their unlimited data package. I totally understand the increase, as you're paying for the faster connection, and will thus likely use more data. I'm cool with that. However, when most of your customers don't have 3G coverage, why force everyone to dish out the extra cash? Bad form, AT&T.

While we're talking about disappointments, I'll go ahead and mention the rather dull camera which is leftover from the original 2.5G iPhone. This is an area that many people have asked for an improvement in, yet it was left untouched. A 2MP camera isn't anything to write home about, especially when there is no flash, and you can't zoom or shoot video. I don't use MMS much, but seriously, I thought every phone came with it, you'd think Apple would be able to add this to the iPhone's arsenal of features. The GPS is also a bit of a disappointment. It's not accurate enough for turn-by-turn directions, which I think many of us were hoping for. That's not to say that it doesn't still have its uses. I really enjoy it being able to geotag my photos and search within Google Maps without needing to enter my location.

So far the battery life hasn't been too bad. I've only charged it twice (though it does pick up a bit of a charge while connected to the stereo in my car, so lets say two and a half charges) since Friday, and once was the initial charge shortly after I got it. A few things to consider with this is that I'm not the heaviest talker (I rarely use 200 of my anytime minutes a month) and I am still stuck on EDGE speeds.

So in all, I'm pleased with my new toy. Like any other product, there is room for improvement, but some of the largest shortcomings from the original iPhone have been addressed. Would I recommend the iPhone to others? Yes and no. If you don't own and iPhone and have thought about buying one for a little while, I'd definitely take the plunge and buy the iPhone 3G. However, if you already own the original, you very well may just want to stick with what you have. You also get the 2.0 software update which allows you to have the same 3rd party apps, which is one of the major things that sets it apart from the rest of the pack. There's also a good chance that you can't even get 3G service (in the US) unless you're in a major city, so you may as well stick with your trusty 2.5G device.

iPhone 3G Live unboxing at Apple Store on 5th Ave. in NYC