iPhone - My Report

So, it's been 3 or so weeks, was it worth the NZ$1,142 + $40/month I spent on it?

Yes.

But not 100% yes, here's the "not so good things" first (no particular order):

• It is heavily (not 100%) dependent upon iTunes which doesn't work on Linux/Ubuntu
• Can't sync my iPhone Contacts with my Google GMail Contacts (both personal and work)
• Can't sync my iPhone Calendar with my Google Calendar (both personal and work)
  note: this is sorted in new version of the Apple OS ... if you have that
  
• No "To Do" app that will ping me - I don't want to use a full calendar entry, just a simple "do this on a particular day/time"
• No zoom on the camera
• Apart from the iPod, which can run in the background, it's a "one thing at a time" machine - for instance can't have a call and surf the web
  
• No video camera
• USB'ing to a computer (Ubuntu or Windows) has stopped finding photos on it even though there are some
• No cut-n-paste
• Saving numbers txt'ed to me seems bloody hard for some reason
  

And now the goodness, the reason for buying one (no particular order):

• It fits into every darned pocket I have
• It's bevelled edges make it a doddle to get the thing out of said pockets
• It fits my hand perfectly
• It powers up through the USB cable - means I am no longer without a power source
  
• It plays sounds of the Internet
• It connects to WiFi (great at home, no Vodafone connection charges)
  
• It plays YouTube vids
  
• The glass multi-touch screen works even if I let it get icky from little food covered hands
• The interface is natural - so natural that I discovered Jack had worked out how to unlock it, find the "Sleeps to Christmas" app and open in it before closing that and taking many photo's of his sister ;-)
• It knows where I am using GPS - particularly fun to watch the wee blue pulsating map marker move when driving
  
• The apps supplied do exactly what they say
• I can load apps on it
  

The 'all touch screen' interface IS what makes the phone.
But it's the Apps (both installed and available for download) that moves it on from being a toy to being something bloody useful. So far I've only installed free apps but as my iPhone requirements grow I am sure I'll start to look at the

And so what do I use it for - this is probably what I do (in order of regularity):

1. Txt / SMS
   
2. Phone calls
3. Twitterific
4. iPod
   
5. Safari web browser (usually called from other apps)
   
6. Email
7. Google (calendar / email)
8. Facebook /LinkedIn
9. Fire Fone
10. Stanza
11. Maps (Google Earth if there's a good connection)
    
12. Camera
    

And then there's a heap of stuff that's:

• location based - how funky is this place (Funky-O-Meter), what's here (Locly), find Panoramio pictures of around here (NearPics)
  
• photo based - mostly ways to send them up to Flickr such as AirMe or PixUp
  
• search stuff - find a song from what's playing on the radio (Shazam); or find CD info from a photo of a cover (TinyEye Music)
  
• just for the hell of it - Sleeps2Xmas, BigOven, Dog Years, iConcert, Light sabre ... you get the drift
  

What I haven't yet really got to grips with is how this puppy plays alongside iTunes. So far all I've done is upgrade the OS to 2.1, hook it up to iTunes (for Apps) and made sure it can sync with a CD.

More adventures lie ahead once I get a laptop :-)