iPhone and the Prius - Yes, I got one...

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Mr. Zorg @ Jun 30 2007, 12:01 AM) [snapback]470517[/snapback]</div>

I got one also (about 1.5 hour wait at the AT&T) store. I was very pleased that the bluetooth hooked up just fine to the Prius, but I noticed also that there is no way to update the contact list.

But here's the thing: once you put in "dial by name" recordings, how often are you going to want to update that contact list? I assume you lose all the voice recordings and have to do that over. I've been thinking that I can stand having to update that list by hand, at least for a while.

Anyway, it's a great phone. I was at MacWorld when this thing was first introduced, and I've been looking forward to getting one ever since. I'm a gadget freak, what can I say? Perhaps that's why I own one of the coolest gadgets of all: a Prius!

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(priusincc @ Jun 30 2007, 02:17 PM) [snapback]470717[/snapback]</div>

I'll assume you are waiting to buy a Prius until then too. Right?

 

I am in the frustrated group that can't get the freakin' thing activated. I got a family plan, ported over from verizon. My wife's regular flip phone works fine, my $500 iPhone won't activate. Only "more time is required to activate your phone". ATT says could take 48 hours from yesterday. I'm on the 24th hour now...

Oh yea, I have no cell now b/c my Treo (verizon) is now dead, and the iPhone won't activate. This sucks... better be worth the wait...

Speaking of wait, I walked into the Apple store at 8:30pm, no line, bought phone and left.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Rxmxsh @ Jul 1 2007, 11:27 AM) [snapback]471034[/snapback]</div>

Maybe that's why. Maybe you need a separate plan for the iPhone alone.

 

i hope not. both apple and att said it was ok... plus a buddy of mine has it set up the same as me...

 

HOW LONG DID IT TAKE AT&T TO ACTIVATE?

I was in and out of the Apple store in 5 minutes this morning (Boca Raton Town Center). So far the Apple activation process is a snap, but I hit a road block with AT&T. The AT&T Activation Screen has been on the "Your activation requires additional time to complete" screen for an hour and Rebecca at AT&T said activations have been running as long as 24 hours "Please be patient".

My Treo has been deactivated and I can't move forward with the iPhone install until I get the OK from AT&T. It's a shame all of Apple's planning is still victim to AT&T's "can't do" attitude!

 

Considering the sales figures, it sounds like everyone is trying to activate their phones at the same time.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Vincent @ Jul 1 2007, 01:47 PM) [snapback]471063[/snapback]</div>

Just reporting my own activation experience. I stood in line at an ATT store for 4 hrs and was one of the first ones with the iPhone. Fearing server glut for activation literally ran out of the ATT store into a coffee shop with WiFi with iPhone and laptop.

My activation was immediate even though I was switching carriers.

So far the iPhone has met or surpassed all expectations.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Alric @ Jul 1 2007, 01:59 PM) [snapback]471076[/snapback]</div>

Despite a few hiccups from AT&T (slow activation due to heavy demand, Edge data transfer slower than others), and limitations of the iPhone itself (no removable battery or memory), the iPhone sounds like a success, at least initially. And this is a win-win situation for everyone: the new iPhone owners are happy, and it raises the bar for other cellphone manufacturers/companies to introduce cellphones at the same (or higher) level of service and features.

So, while the new iPhone doesn't seem revolutionary to me, its success means that when I am in the market, maybe an improved version (from Apple or another manufacturer like Motorola) will be available, hopefully at a substantially reduced price.

 

Thanks a ton, Mr. Zorg! Its great to know that the DICE unit works with it.

Anyone out there with a VAIS?

(I'm really sorry to hear about the difficulties some are having with activation. I was one of the lucky ones who called AT&T, changed my plan (I was already an AT&T customer, but my contract had run out- updated to a new plan with more minutes for the same price) and was online with the iPhone in under 15 minutes of getting home. Keep trying though ... the phone is great.)

Sassy Pamela: You got great taste in cars! (I really like the tinted window idea -- I may have to copy you!)

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Godiva @ Jul 1 2007, 10:30 AM) [snapback]471052[/snapback]</div>

No, you should not need a separate plan for the iPhone. I replaced my phone with an iPhone on an existing family plan for only $20 more a month.

I think a lot of people coming from other providers have been having problems with the activation; I don't know why that is. A real blemish on an otherwise stellar product.

To get this somewhat back on-topic, I miss the beep (which my old phone emitted) when the phone connects with the Prius. I minor nit, but bugs me a bit nonetheless.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(rudiger @ Jul 1 2007, 02:01 PM) [snapback]471135[/snapback]</div>

The battery not being user replaceable is NOT a limitation. Our 3rd Gen iPod is going well a few years after we bought it. I used it in the beginning and gave it to my wife when I bought a Gen 4 iPod. It still plays as long as it did the first month. All you have to do is make SURE you don't let the battery go fully dead but charge it before it gets below 20% and the battery will last a long, long, long time. 99% of people that have battery problems are those that let the battery go dead.

As for memory limitations. Check out all the other cell phones on the market. Sure they are upgradeable. They HAVE to be since they only come with 64mb or maybe 128mb of RAM which is pathetic compared to 8GB of RAM. This one is easy. Do you have any clue how many hours of entertainment you get with 8GB of RAM? All you have to do is be organized.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(rudiger @ Jul 1 2007, 02:01 PM) [snapback]471135[/snapback]</div>

That's because you haven't gone into a store and actually played around with it yet.

Here's an idea. Take your phone with you and try out the different things that Apple says the iPhone does. Try it on yours and then on the iPhone. THEN let us know how you feel.

I can easily gone down the list of why my wife's Palm Treo is mediocre compared to the iPhone and why my Motorola Razer is horrible for anything other than making and receiving calls. As for big messes you have no further to look than any phone with Windows Mobile.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Mr. Zorg @ Jun 30 2007, 02:01 AM) [snapback]470517[/snapback]</div>

I guess I am in the majority of people who did not have any problems activating the iPhone.

Now regarding the Car Kit capabilities.
iPhone seems to fully support Bluetooth protocols. I do not have a factory installed bluetooth and use Bluetooth capabilities of my Garmin navigation unit. There was an initial hiccup, with iPhone not seeing my GPS unit. What really helped was turning the Bluetooth off and on again, the re-initiating the paring procedure. It took me about 30 seconds to do all of it. Do not forget to remove pairing left from a previous phone as it might interfere with the pairing and address cards pushing.

I am pleased so far. The link during the call is very strong. iPhone wouldn't lose the BT signal at all. The implementation is the best I have ever seen. During the call iPhone shows three big buttons that let one chose where to throw the voice: car kit, Phone, Phone speakerphone. The switch happens instantly as one pushes the button. No delay at all.
So yes I am very happy. The old phone (LG) would constantly drop the link, no address book etc etc

 

It is being reported that Apple and AT&T sold (conservatively) over 500,000 iPhones over the weekend not including any iPhones purchased on Apple's on-line store.

For those that think the iPhone is too expensive. The first thing I would point them to how much an iPod costs. Plus add the price of a PDA phone and suddenly the iPhone costs less. Especially since you'll actually be able to figure out how to use all the features of an iPhone as compared to the confusing ways of other cell phones.

Another thing is the service contract which is less for this device than others. Over a two year period includin the cost of the iPhone and service as compared to a unit Steve Balmer of Microsoft said was a better deal, it turns out the iPhone costs less. Over $200 less.

It also talks about what some people feel is a problem with not being able to replace the battery. I don't find this a problem at all. They talk about this too.

See here for the article http://forums.appleinsider.com/showthread....;threadid=76200

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Mr. Zorg @ Jun 30 2007, 06:04 AM) [snapback]470535[/snapback]</div>

What? Say that again; I think you broke up there.

Tom

 

I was entering a few sweepstakes to win an iPhone, but since AT&T won't just let me swap my activated SIM card into it, and they'll want a data plan too, if I do ever win one it'll be up for sale soon after...

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(jamarimutt @ Jun 30 2007, 01:12 PM) [snapback]470636[/snapback]</div>

In an iWord, no.

B)

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(mikepaul @ Jul 2 2007, 01:37 PM) [snapback]471583[/snapback]</div>

Despite the protestations of rabid Apple devotees (I didn't realize how rabid or defensive until I posted a few minor negative comments about the iPhone here), and as nice as the iPhone appears to be in its current iteration, it still has flaws. Whether the flaws are major or minor, or with the product itself or the carrier, is immaterial, since the carrier was chosen by the manufacturer and the product is exclusively linked to the carrier for at least five years.

I didn't buy a 1G Prius, either, and history seems to have shown it to be okay. As with the Prius, I'll pass on the iPhone until it becomes a proven winner (or another similiar, or better, less-expensive product comes out from one of the other, non-exclusive carriers).