We’ve been getting lots of iPhone questions. There have some great iPhone FAQs on the web – notably from David Pouge, who was actually able to use the iPhone for 40 minutes or so. You can access his FAQ from his website, linked here:
Here is our version of the iPhone FAQ, listed in the order of how often these questions are asked.
- The iPhone won’t be released until June, and Apple has said there will be changes and advancements to the iPhone before it is released. We should expect this from Apple.
- The iPhone is only available from Cingular (AT&T) stores and some Apple stores.
- Will Small Dog Electronics ever carry the iPhone? Small Dog Electronics is not a cell phone company. However, if Apple ever asked us to carry the iPhone, we’d learn to be a cell phone company really fast!
- It really is Cingular only (Cingular is now AT&T, see article explaining this below).
- If Cingular (now AT&T) does not offer service in your area, you might be able to get a roaming contract to use the iPhone. In other words, here in Vermont it might be possible to get a contract with Cingular in Massachusetts, but only use the iPhone here in Vermont. Some people already do this. Other people who have tried to do this have had their contract canceled. As Cingular becomes AT&T, rules – and possible coverage – might change.
- Apple’s contract with Cingular appears to be for two years.
- Cingular / AT&T have not released service plane pricing for the iPhone. Cingular has special data plans for its BlackBerry phones, and it’s likely, that the iPhone will have its own special plan prices. It currently costs $39.99 for 450 minutes of talk time. Adding features and minutes can send AT&T’s monthly service rate up to $100 or even $200. Also, there is apparently a $175 fee for premature contract termination. Service plan pricing is mere speculation at this point.
- Apple says the iPhone can’t be unlocked.
- Apple says the iPhone will not work with SIM cards from other cellular services.
- No GPS – yet.
- No 3G Compatibility. But 3G coverage in the USA is spotty at best, even in a few major cities. Also, 3G usage is very battery intensive. “3G” refers to the advanced cellular networks that can stream video and audio directly to cell phones at any time.
- Steve Jobs said future iPhone upgrades will work with 3G services, once 3G is more widespread.
- The iPhone’s Wi-Fi will allow for much of the 3G experience when you are in a Wi-Fi hotspot. In most products, Wi-Fi is also causes major battery drain.
- The battery is rated at five hours talk time/ video/ web browsing time. Sixteen hours of audio playback time. The Treo W has a listed battery talk-time of 4.7 hours.
- The iPhone apparently uses a Samsung CPU and video processor, not Intel chips. The Samsung chips are highly regarded.
- No downloads directly from iTunes – according to Greg Joswiak, Apple’s VP of iPod Products. Of course, there is huge incentive for this feature to be added to the iPhone, so it probably will be added.
- It is yet to be determined if songs purchased on iTunes can be used a ringtones. This is a silly feature, but people will want it, and will be disappointed if they can’t do it.
- No iChat, yet, but it will be possible to chat via third-part web applications.
- iPhone supports JAVAscript, but not JAVA. Flash is likely.
- Via web access on the iPhone, you can use many web applications.
- Does the screen get smeared up easily? The consensus is that it does smear up, but not as easily as one would expect. David Pouge said that a quick wipe of the sleeve removes all smears. The screen in made of polycarbonate with an advanced coating. It’s not glass, as some have reported.
- According toe David Pouge, typing on the virtual buttons on the iPhone’s screen is a wash – not perfect, but not horrible. Some people will miss the tactile response of real buttons, while other people will adapt quickly to the on-screen buttons.
- The iPhone runs “OS X lite.” This is less than 500 MB, and it is stored in the flash hard drive in the iPhone.
- The iPhone is Mac and Windows compatible.
- All services are managed through iTunes.
- No syncing with Outlook yet, though this will probably be addressed soon. A third-party company may have to address that issue.
- No wi/fi or Bluetooth syncing – yet.
- The iPhone charges with a cable and /or dock, just like the iPod.
- It is highly likely that a “real” keyboard will be available for the iPhone – from a third-party company.
- For now, Apple wants to control what apps go on the iPhone. Third party applications might be possible as “widgets,” but for now only Apple will be developing full apps for the iPhone.
- Unclear if disk mode will be possible with the iPhone, as it is with the iPod.
- The iPhone has the same 30-pin firewire adapter used by the iPod nano and iPod video. David Pouge says the iPhone will work with current iPod speakers and most other iPod accessories.
- Standard headphone port. Any headphones will work. Headphones included have a special mic and switch on the cord.
- No video-recording on the iPhone yet – however, this feature might be added. People are asking for it.
- The iPhone sports a two-megapixel camera with an auto-focus feature.
- Speed dial appears to be MIA – but they will almost certainly have to add this to the iPhone before it launches.
- Audio quality appears to be excellent on both ends, and speakerphone quality is decent, too.
- The video screen is very crisp and bright. Icons, video, photos, and text all look excellent on the iPhone.
- Price. Is the iPhone overpriced? I personally don’t think the iPhone is over priced. The Samsung Blackjack costs $199, with no wi/fi or flash-based hard drive (it’s 64MB, with an option to add SD mini memory cards). The Treo is $399, again with only 128 MB of memory (and a full-sized SD memory card slot). A 4GB iPod is $199. The iPhone is a phone, and internet device, and an iPod (a widescreen iPod)!
- People would pay $499 for the iPhone, even if it didn’t include a cell phone. I know, because people are calling to buy the iPhone, who only want it’s multimedia and web capabilities.