Why I'll Most Likely Get the iPhone 4S

I think the 4S is an underwhelming release overall as a tech fan and very much so if you have an iPhone 4. But I think for those of us, with 3GSes, it's a very good upgrade. Since we have a pretty good thing going with our Family Plan and being grandfathered into our Unlimited data plans, we aren't going to go switch carriers anytime soon. That being said, I had been looking into some Android devices a few months back to see what is out there. The best one out there seems to be the Samsung Galaxy S II. It has a few specs that are better than the 4S, but many of them are right on par now. Apple essentially caught up with it and a couple other devices, rather than leaping them like they normally do. I think that's where the disappointment stems from. People are used to Apple completely jumping the competition or redefining the market and with this release they've merely caught up, at least hardware-wise. 

For me, the biggest issue is that my headphone jack has not been working since around Jan/Feb. I can't listen to anything with headphones which is extremely frustrating, so I want to get a new phone. I waited specifically for the announcement of this one to see what Apple would do. While the Galaxy S II looks great, the only major thing that would really convince me to switch is the fact that it can do 4G. The problem is that 4G is still not very widespread and from what I've read, most of the time you end up getting kicked off onto 3G. Verizon's LTE is supposed to be a bit better, but as I already said, we aren't switching networks so it's a moot point.

I'm very much tied into the Apple ecosystem now with the iPad 2 and my Macbook Pro and iOS 5 looks really great. Android still can't interact with the rest of my Apple products quite as well so the cost of switching to a new OS is hard for me to justify. Since most of the specs of the 4S are on par with the Galaxy II, the only real big reason to switch is the 4G, which I've already mentioned.

The 4S will certainly be faster than what I have with the new processor. It also has the better screen that the 4 has. And the cameras are clearly way better. I don't even have a point-&-shoot camera so this would end up being my camera. The Siri thing is nice to have but isn't necessarily something that I need. I know that there are a few features in iOS 5 that won't be available on the 3GS but I can't remember what they are. The integration with iCloud will also be nice as well.

I'll read some more thoughts and reviews on it before making a decision, but will probably get one. From the comments I've read so far the consensus seems to be that no one with an iPhone 4 should get it but people with a 3G/3GS should. I'm also going to take a look at the Nexus Prime, which should be announced next week. I simply am tired of not being able to use my headphones with it when I have all my music on it so I need a new phone soon regardless.

Obligatory iPhone 4 Post

As an admitted Apple fanboy, I'd be remiss if I didn't say something about Monday's WWDC Keynote. So unless you live under a rock, you've heard about Apple's newest phone handset, iPhone 4. Apple's calling this the biggest change since the original iPhone. 

I could simply rattle off the new features coming to the device, but I'll just talk about the ones I'm excited for most.

First, I'm happy to see the A4 chip from the iPad has made it under the hood. I've played with a number of iPads at my old office and the response times are noticeably faster than my 3GS. You can really tell the difference of the chip and this is going to be necessary for some of the other feature enhancements.

The upgraded battery is something I'm glad to see. Generally I don't have too much problem with battery life that some people have with their 3GSes, although it can certainly be improved. The fact that Apple has added in battery-intensive functions and it's still getting more time than the 3GS is impressive.

The upgraded camera system is one of the biggest things I'm looking forward to. Even though most people who know me would consider me the Titan of Tech, amazingly I don't own a Point-and-Shoot digital camera. Somehow I just never got one. I've got my trusty D40, but for daily shooting I just use the camera in my 3GS. Megapixels don't really matter since I'm not likely going to make posters out of my daily snaps, but the ability to print larger images is appreciated with the upgrade to 5MP. More importantly, Apple claims to have used a better quality image sensor, which is what really matters. This upgrade should yield better low-light shots, especially coupled with the LED flash. Right now, my 3GS is worthless for nighttime or dark shots like in a bar or club. Not having a flash on the current one is one reason I've still toyed with getting a proper P&S. But this upgrade could keep me from doing that.

The second half of the camera upgrade system is the addition of HD video recording. This is a biggie. I think Giga Om's NewTeeVee hits the nail on the head regarding how this feature will affect sales of Flip's line of cameras. Now don't get me wrong, I'm a fan of Flip's camera lineup, but I think this spells trouble for them. As I think I've mentioned before, I used to own a Flip Ultra and I currently own a Sony HD camcorder, in addition to the video-recording ability of my 3GS. Can you guess which one I use/used the most? The Flip started making this weird buzzing noise every few seconds that the mic would pick up making it useless so I just threw it out. I'm not discounting their quality and I think I would get another one if Apple wasn't adding HD to the iPhone. The Sony takes great quality footage and has plenty of features, but it's just not something I'm going to carry around with me all the time, even in my backpack. The 3GS takes OK video if you've got good lighting, but let's face it, it's going to be way better in HD with a better image sensor, plus some zoom and the LED flash which can be used as a light. The fact is, the best camera is the one you have with you. And I'm way more likely to have my phone with me than any other device. I can't see myself carrying around a Flip plus my iPhone with HD video. And I'll be able to edit it and upload with iMovie right from the phone? Sorry, Flip.

Some of the things I'm looking forward to most will actually be ios4 features that are not necessarily related to iPhone 4 but will probably work even better on it. Multitasking and folders are two of the ones that stand out for me. Can't wait to get my hands on those features. But the one that might be the coolest is the ability to use an external Bluetooth keyboard. This actually may prevent me from getting an iPad, or at least waiting until the 2nd generation comes out. I could throw a small stand in my bag and either a rollup or foldable keyboard, or Apple's offering, which is quite small, and have myself a nice little setup that could handle the majority of the things I need to do. Yes, I know the screen is a whole lot smaller, but I'm pretty comfortable with my iPhone's screen as it is, so this could be a great mobile setup when I don't need the full capabilities of my MacBook.

One more thing...

So about that FaceTime thing...The geek in me says AWESOME! And it certainly is exciting and it's something that's been desired for a long time but hasn't really caught on here in the U.S. like it has around the world. This is going to have so many great uses and could really change how people communicate. The video showing the deaf couple was extremely touching. But (there's always a but isn't there?!), there are a number of issues that make me say "meh."

First, this is WiFi only to start. Now that's not really a surprise- AT&T can barely keep up with the demand for data as it is, so video- fuggettaboutit! This certainly lends credence to the rumors that Apple desperately wants to get other carriers on board who might be able to handle traffic better (although video is very intensive so there may not be a good solution even if they get someone else.) So since we're limited to WiFi to start, this is going to be useful in very few places. I guess you could pair it with a MiFi, but you're going to eat through those bytes awful quickly. It also highlights how far we are behind in the fact that municipal WiFi is virtually unheard of in the U.S.

Second, it's only iPhone 4-to-iPhone 4 right now, so communicating with other devices is out of the question. I'm very surprised this isn't at least compatible with iChat out of the box. I expect they'll be supporting it in the future, but it seems like a no-brainer to get that working from the get-go. I figured for sure that you'd at least be able to video chat with someone on a computer. Steve Jobs also said it will be compatible with millions of iDevices which I interpreted as they're going to add cameras to both the iPod Touch and the iPad. There were outcries from the launch that the iPad doesn't have a camera, which is one reason I'm holding out because I think they'll release that in the next generation. Unless I absolutely needed one, I'd hold off on buying either of those devices for a while, especially with the iPod Touch likely to get an upgrade at the beginning of September.

I'm glad FaceTime is easy to use, requiring zero-configuration and that you can take advantage of both cameras at any time in both portrait and landscape mode, but the limitations seem to say that it's going to be some time before it all takes off to the level of the Jetsons, which Steve referenced in the Keynote.

So Will I Get One?

The answer is yes. As soon as I'm eligible, which AT&T seems to think is 2011 so we'll have to see about that, I'll pick one up. I'll welcome the ios4 features onto my 3GS in the meanwhile, but I think they really have made some great advancements with the new iPhone 4. Despite some of the limitations, there's enough there to justify getting the new one, especially since the price is the same as a new 3GS used to be.

What do you think? What are you looking forward to most? If you're not an iPhone owner, will you get one? If you are, will you upgrade?

Rumor: New AppleTV device coming soon!

According to Engadget, Apple has been hard at work on the new AppleTV and if true, it sounds sick! Essentially, the ATV will be a stripped down version of the current model with very limited on-board storage (a rumored 16GB), a quick A4 processor (like in the iPad and rumored new iPhone), will only have power and video-output ports, yet will be capable of 1080P playback (something the current ATV can't do).

This is major news for a device that's received little attention from Apple in its 3 year existence. The best part? It's supposed to only cost $99. I am super, super excited for this and am hoping it's not just a rumor. As Engadget describes, the new ATV will run a much lighter OS, most likely a variation of the iPhone's OS and will rely mostly on a streaming experience (hence the limited storage capacity.) You'll likely be able to access content on your local computers or networks via a Time Machine device or similar (hopefully a external drive hooked up to an Airport Extreme).

One thing Engadget can't confirm, but something I've been expecting, is that the new software will likely run apps and have an app store akin to the iPhone/iPod Touch/iPad. And I firmly believe this is what Apple needs if they want to successfully break into the living room.

For quite some time, I've been considering selling my ATV and purchasing a Mac Mini or possibly the Boxee Box, which has yet to make itself available in stores. It's no secret that the ATV is underpowered and should be able to run more formats and handle 1080P easily if it's going to be a home theater centerpiece. I've wanted to run a Mac Mini with either Plex or Boxee because they're more customizable, they play more formats, and they have app stores that allow you to install third-party apps. Not to mention, they allow you to store your files anywhere rather than directly in iTunes. I've been planning to move all my media onto an external 1TB drive hooked up to my Airport base station.

But this new ATV could change that. An app store would be fantastic for the ATV. Currently, with Boxee/Plex, I've installed a number of different apps- Last.fm, Pandora, Flickr, Picasa, Revision3, among others. One app I haven't found yet but I'm hoping will come out soon is the NFL SuperFan app which allows DirecTV customers to watch the SuperFan, and more importantly the Red Zone, channels on the iPhone but also on a computer. Right now I'd have to use a Mac Mini for it, probably using something like Fluid to make it couch-distance friendly, until they come up with an app for Boxee/Plex. But since the SuperFan app already exists for iPhone, if the new ATV used the app store, it would be relatively ready to go for the big screen.

Also, imagine the possibility for games. Apple definitely wants to improve in that space, especially with the announcement of the Xbox360-like Game Center coming in OS 4.0. Imagine using your iPhone/iPod Touch/iPad as a controller for games you're playing off of the new ATV! I'm not suggesting that the new ATV would compete with the XBox360 or PS3 or even the Wii, but it could definitely be a quick, easy, friendly way to just do some light gaming. I play Shrek Kart Racing on my iPhone all the time, but I would definitely be interested in playing on my TV.

So it's obviously really early to know what exactly they're going to do and Engadget has proffered that there will be no announcement next week when Apple will likely unveil its next iPhone. But this is really exciting, and if these rumors are correct, the AppleTV might finally get the attention it deserves.

iPhone 3GS: The First Weekend

I want to start things off with a quick review of the iPhone 3GS which I happily took ownership of this past weekend.  Coming from the original 8GB iPhone, there was a lot to look forward to now that the platform has evolved over two years.  While there wasn't enough for me to get the 3G, I felt the 3GS proved a worthy upgrade (even with the looming possibility of a major upgrade by Apple in a year's time).  For some perspective, before my iPhone I owned a Nokia N80. 

Design:

The 3GS remains virtually unchanged from the 3G which may be both good and bad depending on your perspective.  Coming from the original phone, I welcome the fact that the phone is lighter than before.  It's obviously great for your pocket and when just holding the phone for web browsing, interacting with the apps, and other activities where you aren't holding it to your ear.  When you are holding it to your ear, though, it does feel a little less substantial than the original.  I think this is something that I'll simply get used to over time, but it doesn't feel quite right just yet.

The screen has been great in terms of the oleophobic coating.  While I can faintly detect fingerprints, for the most part the screen has been relatively clear and smudge-free.  The colors are richer than before and the resolution seems a little bit better, but that might just be me.

I decided to go with the white to match my MacBook and think it gives it a little more pizazz than the old aluminum back.  I also think the phone fits better in my hand thanks to the curved back.

I may be imagining it, but the speaker seems to be louder than on the original.  Playing music and videos seemed to result in a much higher quality experience than before.

The change back to a 3.5mm headphone jack is also a very welcome change, even though I invested in a headphone adapter for my old one (all $.99 of it!)

Features:

The 3GS benefits from a number of new features that obviously were unfound on the original iPhone.  These really helped convince me to upgrade.

• Speed:  The speed of the new phone is significantly faster, from booting up to moving through and launching applications to typing, everything is noticeably faster.  I'm certainly not using a stopwatch, but the improvement is nothing to scoff at.
• Camera: The upgrade in quality is something a lot of people have been excited for and I'm no different.  The quality of still images does seem to be improved, but I am yet to put the two head-to-head in an official test.  One of the big upgrades obviously is the video recording capability.  So far, the video recording on the 3GS has been simply awesome!  I was previously using a Flip Ultra video camera that lounged in my backpack ready at a moment's notice.  After using the 3GS's camera for two days, I've now put the Flip up for sale on eBay.  I think the 3GS makes a perfect replacement for the standard Flip.  For shooting quick videos and then being able to upload them, the 3GS really outshines the Ultra.  You can edit the footage right on the phone or sync back to iPhoto when you get to your computer.  I won't for a minute pretend that the iPhone can compete with any sort of dedicated HD video camera.  But for what it does, I think this is great.  Despite all the gadgets I own, a point-and-shoot camera is not among them.  I'm currently rocking a Nikon D-SLR and a SONY HD Handycam.  The 3GS will be my daily go-to and I think it will do a fine job for taking quick snapshots and videos.
• Voice Control:  The voice control feature has worked so-so thus far.  Most of the time the matches have been spot-on but there have been several times so far where the phone just did not get it right.  I haven't played around with it enough but it doesn't sound like you can do anything besides make calls or launch music with it.  I think that's unfortunate- the voice control feature of OS X on laptops/desktops works great so it's disappointing that you can't use it to launch apps or, say, tell it to launch a new e-mail to a certain contact.  Hopefully Apple can add more functionality in a software update.
• Compass:  I feel this is more of a gimmick than anything.  Don't get me wrong, I appreciate that there is a compass functionality built into the maps application.  I'm one of those people who when exiting a New York City subway station, usually has to take a moment to orient myself.  The ability to see exactly which way you are going when you come out is great.  But I really don't see the need to have an entire application devoted to this.  I suppose if you're the outdoorsy type and you're on a hike and you don't have cell service you could use it to guide yourself along a trail, but then again the iPhone has GPS built in so I'm not sure what the point would be.

Battery:

Ah, where to begin?!  Coming from the original iPhone it appears I have been super spoiled in terms of battery life.  The new phone can't hold a candle to the original batteries.  With low to moderate usage of my original phone, I could easily get through the day and have juice to spare the next day (of course by using proper battery-usage techniques.)  The battery life of the 3GS is abysmal compared to the original.  From what I have read, the battery is supposed to be better than the 3G, but it's still disappointing.  I've had to be extra diligent in terms of monitoring what I do.  I am constantly turning off WiFi when not in range and even keeping 3G off when I don't actively need data.  When I'm using WiFi, I've got 3G turned off as well.  I think I may be playing with my phone a bit more than usual since it's a new toy, so I don't have a great frame for average useage, but so far things have not been encouraging.  I am definitely planning to invest in an extra battery pack but I haven't yet decided whether I'll get a traditional spare battery that hooks up to the dock connector or if I'll spring for something like one of the Mophie cases with a built-in battery.

Overall Impressions:

Overall, I've been pretty pleased with the 3GS thus far.  The new features and improved performance made it pretty easy to upgrade coming from the original iPhone.  If you don't have an iPhone and are looking for a new phone- get it.  If you have an original iPhone- get it.  But if you're coming from an iPhone 3G- wait.  I think the features are certainly evolutionary and not revolutionary compared to the 3G.  Will Apple come out with something crazy next June?  Probably.  But I wouldn't let that hold you back if you need a new phone.  I didn't need this version but I'm glad I have it.  Coming from an N80, many of the features of the iPhone are things I had several years ago.  If you're a number-cruncher and live for tech-specs, then, no, the iPhone does not thing revolutionary.  But I think the way it brings everything together is fantastic. 

In my next post, I'll talk about the 3GS and its impact on communications.  I think there's a lot of great stuff there and I'll address how I think this device will be HUGE for communications.

Tip:

If you have an original iPhone (or any gadget for that matter) and you want to get some cash for the 3GS, use these guys.  I've sold a number of gadgets back to them when I didn't feel like using eBay.  You won't get as much cash as you would selling it on your own, but you'll definitely get paid and it's super easy to use.  I set up my old phone for sale yesterday and they offered me $128 for my 8GB- not bad at all considering a new 3G goes for $99!