iPhone 3G review
Hello everyone, and welcome to my long-awaited full review of my new iPhone 3G, named Darwin. Since Apple-related content seems to be waning in popularity, based on the number of visits and return visits per new post, this’ll be a relatively short little review about the most prominent pros and cons of the new handset. Major features that were initially touted by Apple will have individual sections and then a [rather large] pro or con verdict at the end. Without further ado, let’s get started into the review.
New Design
The iPhone 3G boasts a new and attractive form factor, which, while being only slightly thicker than its predecessor, is altogether very similar. I wish they might have kept the old metal backing, or that I was willing to empty my pockets a little more a white 16GB model, because the plastic black back smudges painfully easily. But it’s nonetheless quite good-looking, so I’ll rate the new design as a PRO.
GPS Navigation
Here’s a new feature I find infinitely valuable and have actually found myself utilizing much more than anticipated. Whereas the old phone could give directions from address A to address B, 3G can route from your current location with GPS location, making it easy to find your way or save yourself when helplessly lost. One of my favorite new additions to the iPhone, GPS earns its PRO rating with flying colors.
App Store
While there are a couple of interesting applications available at the App Store, among them Apple’s Remote (link opens iTunes), PhoneSaber, and various games, I think the whole App Store is slightly ridiculous. Most Apps cost 99 cents, and do just about nothing. There’s an Indiana Jones application called “Whip” that simply makes a whip noise when you move the iPhone, and it costs 99 cents (PhoneSaber provides lightsaber noises, but I don’t complain because it’s free). Based on the near-uselessness and the cluttering of my home screens, as well as frequent and frustrating updates to applications I regrettably downloaded but don’t even use, the App Store is more of an annoyance than a useful innovation for me, leaving it in CON status. Others may love it, but I don’t.
3G Data and AT&T Cellular Network
The most-touted and most-anticipated feature of the new iPhone were the speeds—twice as fast on AT&T’s 3G network. Unfortunately, this isn’t universally true. The AT&T general network may be at fault for this one, but I have terrible network reception almost anywhere I frequent. The best I can get in my neighborhood is a measly two bars, and dropped calls are almost the norm when calling from my house. As I type this, my iPhone has one bar, and is working off the EDGE data network. It’s not even like I live somewhere where this kind of service would be expected and commonplace—I’m in a densely populated suburb. The crap network is another CON for poor Darwin.
There’s the full review—two cons and two pros. I’m going to give what I think is a very fair rating, mainly because I love this phone to pieces. For the aforementioned reasons, the iPhone 3G earns an 8.4 out of 10.