THIIIS close to getting an iPhone

[waynerd]

I need a bit of advice on what to do here....

I was in the market for a new cell phone with a camera, since mine doesn't have one, and I now find it'd be darn handy when the kids are being too cute and no camera is within reach.

When I was in the "real" world, I carried my FranklinCovey planner everywhere. But since becoming a stay-at-home dad, I found I didn't need to use it that much anymore, plus it's a pain to lug around a book everywhere, along with all my other kid stuff. I've been using iCal for scheduling, but my "to-do" lists are growing out of control. I don't want to go back to the paper planning, so I figured, get an iPhone and have iCal, as well as replace my iPod.

Trouble is, it seems like an iPhone for me would be such a waste, since I get about 10 emails a day, mostly jokes, etc from my brother, cousin and neighbor. And when I'm out and about with the phone, I would rarely ever have time for "browsing" with 2 kids under 5 in tow.

Plus, somebody told me the camera feature on the iPhones takes pretty lousy photos.

Then the kicker for me was, since I mostly use my iPod classic directly wired via a Neo adapter in the van, I'd have to use the iPhone in airplane mode to avoid reverb through the speakers...basically not have a phone in the van. I could keep my old iPod in the van, but then the iPod feature on the iPhone seems to be a waste.

Sooooo, my next thought was to get a new cell phone with camera, and getting an iPod touch. That way I can use the iPod in the van without problem, have my iCal, and a decent camera/phone. I'd put my old iPod in the kid's playroom.

I thought it seemed a bit excessive, but adding up the cost of the devices and 24 months of service, this option is about 1/2 the cost of the iPhone.

Am I missing something here?

[robrecht]

Another possible fearure to consider is GPS. If you don't have GPS in your car and think you might like it, there's some other phone/PDAs out there now that can offer you that option as well.

BTW, I have 3- and 5-year-old boys and they love to watch YouTube cartoons or TiVo or DVDs on my phone sometimes. If you don't mind learning Windows Mobile Professional, there's still additional functionality on our side of the pond.

[jay]

The iPhone is optiimized for YouTube, so don't go there. It's the Hillary of iPhones, ready to lead and play YouTube videos on day one!

And Google Maps does a great job as a GPS-lite. The real time traffic data is worth the admission price.

[robrecht]

Originally posted by jay
The iPhone is optiimized for YouTube, so don't go there. It's the Hillary of iPhones, ready to lead and play YouTube videos on day one!

And Google Maps does a great job as a GPS-lite. The real time traffic data is worth the admission price.

Have they finally caught up with YouTube? Good. But you're still stuck with that slow data connection. Don't recommend GPS-Lite unless you only want to get within 1.6 miles of your destination.

BTW, the iPhone is Barack Obama, ie, thin and mostly hype and delusion.

[waynerd]

I was also considering a Blackberry Curve, which figuring the cost of the device and service plan, costs as much as the iPhone. It has the GPs Feature, but, its another feature I think I'd rarely ever use.

The kids are more into Elmo and Thomas the Tank engine (free downloads on iTunes!) than anything else.

I've got all Macs, and I'm not returning to the dark side anytime soon. I am, however, looking at Microsoft Outlook in lieu of iCal for tasks/calendar stuff. Anybody use Outlook on a Mac? How 'bout any add-ons to iCal?

Figures, this'd turn political! I'm already taking this election as choosing the "lesser of the two weasles".

[jay]

If you're okay carrying two devices, your iTouch plan seems like the way to go.

[colorider]

Moved to Off-topic.

[robrecht]

Originally posted by jay
If you're okay carrying two devices, your iTouch plan seems like the way to go.

I have to agree with Jay. Since you're both already well immersed in the iTunes universe it doesn't really make sense to consider WMP for your current needs. Personally, I would still favor the integrated iPhone over the iTouch for those times when it will allow you to stay connected with a single device. I would also keep your current iPod in your car or buy one of the newer cheap ones and just keep it connected in the car for ease of use and thereby limit the two device juggle factor. It would be a 2nd device in the car but it would be a semi-permanent dedicated device that would elminate the need to hook and unhook every time you get in and out of the car. And when your kids are teenagers they can demomstrate to you the technological inferiority of Apple's current mobile solutions.

[jay]

But back to something else you said about the Neo adapter an airplane mode. Is the Neo adapter a dock connector?

I just use a Belkin cable to connect my iPhone to the aux jack on my radio, and keep it in phone mode. It has a quite long battery life for music, so I don't even bother plugging in a power adapter.

You're certain you have to put the iPhone in airplane mode in your setup?

[robrecht]

Also, I heard 2-3 weeks ago that another price drop on the iPhone was expected soon. Not sure if it's happened yet. I'm anxious to see what the improvements will be with the iPhone II, or maybe we should call it the iPhone ii? I trust Jay can fill us in on what all the revolutionary changes will be, all the while maintaining how completely unnecessary they were last summer, of course.

[ramirami]

Originally posted by robrecht
Also, I heard 2-3 weeks ago that another price drop on the iPhone was expected soon. Not sure if it's happened yet. I'm anxious to see what the improvements will be with the iPhone II, or maybe we should call it the iPhone ii? I trust Jay can fill us in on what all the revolutionary changes will be, all the while maintaining how completely unnecessary they were last summer, of course.

I still cannot understand why its taking aapl so long to come out with the 3G iphone...

[jay]

Originally posted by robrecht
Also, I heard 2-3 weeks ago that another price drop on the iPhone was expected soon. ...

Bogus rumor from what I can tell.

[jay]

Originally posted by ramirami



I still cannot understand why its taking aapl so long to come out with the 3G iphone...

Battery life, I'd expect. And maybe the chipset won't yet fit in the form-factor.

I have mixed emotions about 3G. I had a Samsung Blackjack that was 3G, and even with the extended battery, I was hard pressed to get through a day of light use when it was in a 3G area. When I was in the office, it spent most of the day tethered to wall power.

And frankly, the 3G just wasn't so overpoweringly speedy. Edge on the iPhone is a better overall internet experience, IMHO.

[waynerd]

The Neo is a dock connector that I wired into the XM pre-wire under the dash. It was a quick install once I figured out where I wanted to run the wires.

According to the "advisor" at the Apple store I visited last weekend, you can't use the iPhone on a dock adapter in the vehicle or the cell waves will cause feedback in the speakers. I'm not sure about using an FM transmitter, but I ditched that piece of trash a year ago. I also have a Belkin adapter in the Subaru that runs to the cassette player.....but no cassette in the Ody EX-L.

The 2 device "thing" isn't a big deal for me, since that's what I'm essentially doing now, and it works alright. The cell I'm thinking about has music capabilities, so if I ever want to listen to some of MY music instead of Sesame Street or Veggie Tales while going for a walk or watching the kids play, I have that option, without needing 2 devices.

And, yes, the kids have already commandeered Mommy's old iPod shuffle ( the original stick type) and will probably want their own Blackberries or iPhone or implanted cell technology before they even reach puberty.

[jay]

I just tried my iPhone in my Bose SoundDock, and it tossed up a menu asking if I wanted to go into airplane mode to reduce audio interference. I just touched "no," and the iPhone is playing away, and sounds great.

Do you have any friends with iPhones willing to let you test it in your setup?