58 replies to this topic

[SDG]

I am posting this... from my iPhone.

This is really cool.

[Overstreet]

Yeah, well...

Opus is posting... from his new iChild.

Which is cooler?

Edited by Jeffrey Overstreet, 30 January 2008 - 07:33 PM.

[SDG]

Ha ha! I'm checking latest posts and replying on my iPhone!

Re. Opus's newborn child: Hey, I've had kids for over thirteen years... I got five of them. There's nothing better... But my iPhone is brand new!!

[Overstreet]

Sorry.

My joke didn't work. I'll make a modification.

Congrats, SDG. And yes, I am jealous.

Edited by Jeffrey Overstreet, 30 January 2008 - 07:34 PM.

[SDG]

My joke didn't work.

My iPhone is better than your joke because it works!

However, there are limits. I just discovered that there's no obvious way to type square brackets, and I tried twice to reply selectively to the quote above, but every time I inadvertently deleted a square bracket in the "quote" code and gave up. (I'm momentarily back on my iMac.)

[TexasWill]

However, there are limits. I just discovered that there's no obvious way to type square brackets...

It may not be obvious, but push the .?123 key, and then push the #+= key and you will have all the brackets you need. [[[]]]

FYI, the message has been posted from my iPhone.

[SDG]

Ah, thanks, TexasWill. I figured there was a way to do it, but I'm only just learning how it works.

It's remarkable how quickly you improve at typing with just two fingers while holding the iPhone with your thumbs and middle fingers.

[Christian]

Is everyone already familiar with David Lynch's choice words about watching films on devices such as the iPhone? (Warning: Strong language)

[SZPT]

Is everyone already familiar with David Lynch's choice words about watching films on devices such as the iPhone? (Warning: Strong language)

I'm not sure who of consequence would want to argue with that. Most people only upload movies to the device that they've already seen either at the theaters or on their big screen TV. Others are ubergeek types who probably enjoy the novelty of it all.

Now, I have seen a mother use Ratatouille on her iPhone to entertain her child at the airport. By the same token, when I'm on a shoot in the middle of nowhere with no TV, no entertainment, etc. It's nice to know that I've got the option if I want it. Hasn't happened yet, but there was a production with those qualities that I was preparing for. It was cancelled last minute.

Also, I've put some of my own work reel on my iPhone. It's nice to be able to show others my work wherever and whenever. [plug] Which you can find very low rez versions of here, btw: http://www.youtube.com/samshann [/plug]

And the screen allows amazingly crisp and clear images for that sort of thing.

[CrimsonLine]

So, I am close to deciding to get an iPhone.

How are you guys liking yours? Pros? Cons?

[MattP]

Love it. I rarely use it for ipod/music/video, but love it for email/internet. No regrets.

[TexasWill]

Still love mine. I use it primarily for e-mail, Web-browsing on-the-go, video, calendering, YouTube, weather data and forecasts, the mapping/direction features (quite a bit more than I expected), clock and alarms, and the calculator.

Oh, I also use it to make and receive telephone calls.

My brother came to visit between Christmas and New Year's and spent much of his time playing with my iPhone. A few weeks after he returned home, he bought one himself and is very pleased.

[CrimsonLine]

Still love mine. I use it primarily for e-mail, Web-browsing on-the-go, video, calendering, YouTube, weather data and forecasts, the mapping/direction features (quite a bit more than I expected), clock and alarms, and the calculator.

Oh, I also use it to make and receive telephone calls.

My brother came to visit between Christmas and New Year's and spent much of his time playing with my iPhone. A few weeks after he returned home, he bought one himself and is very pleased.

I'm really interested in the calendaring feature, and the mapping/directions - how does that work, is it GPS?

Anybody have a Bible program for it to recommend?

It's basically a small computer, right? That is also a phone. Is that the best way to think about it?

Edited by CrimsonLine, 26 February 2008 - 03:49 PM.

[MattP]

Oh, I also use it to make and receive telephone calls.

It also makes phone calls!?!

[SZPT]

Love mine too. Great for when I travel, both as a communication device and for entertainment on the road.

I really only use the

• phone
• internet (love that I can add icons for various websites to my home screen)
• e-mail
• iPod (music, podcasts, and video -- I put samples of my HD vid work on there. It's a very sharp screen image)
• maps (LOVE the locater feature! LOVE the integration with my contacts list. LOVE the integration with Safari where if a map comes up in your Google search and you select it, the Maps feature is automatically activated)
• notes
• texting (AT&T's iPhone usage plan really fits me)
• weather (especially when traveling, I can add multiple cities on there)
• clock (alarm & timer)
• camera, photos (scanned in all of the family photos that I used to carry in my wallet)
• calendar (syncs great with iCal on my home Mac)
• YouTube
• calculator

Wish I had a reason to use it more. Sigh.

Crims,

The software development kit is supposed to come out this week, but if you're looking for a Bible program, visit Apple's web app page. I think that they have some there to peruse before you buy the iPhone.

I assume that the map locater works off of cell tower locations. Not really sure, but it is pretty accurate - within a mile usually.

If you have a Mac the Calendar syncs well with iCal. I don't know about PC syncing.

And yes, it's basically a small computer integrated with a cell phone.

Edited by SZPT, 26 February 2008 - 08:35 PM.

[TexasWill]

I'm really interested in the calendaring feature...

I use it to sync with iCal (Macintosh calendaring) but I have no experience with using an iPhone with Outlook. One of my coworkers uses his with a Windows computer and an Outlook calendar, so I'm sure it can be done, but I have no idea how well it works.

...and the mapping/directions - how does that work, is it GPS?

The mapping feature is great. You can type in an address (or do a search using key words) and the iPhone will find the location(s) on a map. Furthermore, it can give you directions (both in text and pictures) as well as give you contact information that you can tap and dial/e-mail. I use it all the time to locate restaurants and place takeout orders.

It does not have true GPS. However, there is a location button (shaped like crosshairs) on the maps screen that estimates your location by triangulation from nearby cell towers. It is surprisingly accurate in most cases. Once you know your general location, it is very easy to figure out where you are based on street names or landmarks (when using the satellite view of the area). It won't completely take the place of a full-blown GPS unit, but it comes close.

Anybody have a Bible program for it to recommend?

At this point, the iPhone is officially closed to outside developers. However, Steve Jobs is announcing the developers kit next week (along with some new "enterprise solutions") that should create a flurry of activity around the platform. I expect to see Bible software for the iPhone sometime in 2008.

It's basically a small computer, right? That is also a phone. Is that the best way to think about it?

That's pretty much it. It is running a version of Mac OS X, so there are all sorts of opportunities to develop the platform.

[CrimsonLine]

Thanks, guys! Another question:

What do you pay extra for? What I mean is, you pay for the phone up front, and you subscribe to the data plan. What does the contract not cover, that generates extra charges that show up on your phone bill? Is it extra to do e-mail? To surf the web? To send text messages? What about using iChat? Is that the same as sending a text message? Which features cost you on a per-use basis, as opposed to being covered under the contract?

[TexasWill]

What do you pay extra for?

I don't pay extra for anything. In theory, if used more than my allowable minutes per month AND somehow used all of my rollover minutes (thousands of hours) or exceeded my text message limit (also unlikely) I would pay extra.

What I mean is, you pay for the phone up front, and you subscribe to the data plan. What does the contract not cover, that generates extra charges that show up on your phone bill? Is it extra to do e-mail? To surf the web?

The data plan was the only thing I added to my AT&T account when I purchased and activated the iPhone. The data plan is a flat rate "all you can eat" plan.

[MattP]

Thanks, guys! Another question:

What do you pay extra for? What I mean is, you pay for the phone up front, and you subscribe to the data plan. What does the contract not cover, that generates extra charges that show up on your phone bill? Is it extra to do e-mail? To surf the web? To send text messages? What about using iChat? Is that the same as sending a text message? Which features cost you on a per-use basis, as opposed to being covered under the contract?

I believe you pay extra for converting iTunes songs to ringtones if you want to do that, but that's about it. Haven't tried that feature myself. My bill's been exactly the same month in and month out within a few pennies, and I've used pretty much all the features it has to offer.

[TexasWill]

I believe you pay extra for converting iTunes songs to ringtones if you want to do that, but that's about it.

If you have a Mac, you can make your own ringtones in Garageband (using iTunes songs, or any other unprotected audio for that matter) for no charge. You can also create original music/sounds too.