Why I despise the iPhone.

[waveydavey]

Ok, this started as a quick reply to another post and ended up being a bit controversial to say the least so I've given it its own thread. I know I'm going to get hammered for this one from many sides, but I can be silent no more. I'd be interested in your responses......

<rant>I'm not anti iPhone, ok actually I am anti iPhone but it's because I just don't think it's as good a device as everyone seems to think it is. Apple have cut many corners to make it child proof. Too many in my opinion. I really wasn't that impressed with the hardware (not bad just nothing special) and I think the software is too limiting to do what I want to do. I'm just really hacked off with people telling me that it's so great when it CAN'T do what my Zest or my Touch Pro does for me. Period. I will not sacrifice the functionality I hold so dear because it has a pretty interface. I've got nothing against Apple, but as far as I'm concerned my WM device is a tool, and an iPhone is a toy. It's like the whole EAS functionality. I wish Apple had just left it right alone, or even that MS had just said no. It is not an Enterprise quality email device from neither a functionality or security perspective. It's like because it's really "cool" everyone has forgotten about functionality and security now.</rant>

Glad I got that off my chest. Actually there's more and this goes deeper....<rant part 2>.....one of the things that I find strange and another reason I despise the idea of the iPhone is that here at 4WM, I always felt we were all kindred spirits. The iPhone says we aren't. Back in the day we all had our XDA2's that needed a soft reset every 30 minutes but we knew, through all it's foibles we had the best tech. It did it all. We said no way Nokia, and up yours Sony Ericcson because it was all about the functionality. We hacked, reflashed, spent nights scouring the interweb for cabs and reg files, but we loved it, it was like taming a wild beast but once your device hit that sweet spot there was nothing to touch it. So what's changed? WM is still the only platform that does it all, and it's prettier and easier to use now than it ever was before. So why do you guys even tolerate the lack of bluetooth stereo or GPS navigation software or a hardware keyboard. What happened to you all? I feel like I'm a dying breed, soon to be extinct. It's getting lonely in here, will the last one out turn the lights off.......? </rant over....for now>

[tonybro]

Davey,

YOU ARE NOT ALONE!

I'm in your club too. I have given my iPhone to my 12 year old son as it fits his requirements. Even as a personal phone it wasn't 'doing it' for me and I switched right back to WM. As a business tool, it's a joke. WM leads the way still and you'll have to crowbar my WM business phone out of my cold, dead hands!

WM as an interface is not great but it is getting better, HTC have made efforts as have Spb with the release of the wonderful Mobile Shell 3 but until/unless MS get WM7 sorted and this level of interface deep into the underlying OS we may still suffer funny looks from iPhone users. However, when it comes to actually achieving anything my WM phone leaves them for dead whilst they are still fiddling with the on-screen keyboard and lack of access to storage and functions.

Do not give up hope just yet!

[Bassey]

I'm still here and now have my hardware keyboard back. Couldn't agree more Dave. For me, it is all about the software it runs. There may be a couple of hundred thousand pieces of software on the iPhone but I don't need an app that makes a farting noise when I shake it.

I need professional mapping tools as used by the Mountain Rescue services, RAF etc (had a training course with the RAF yesterday and they use MemoryMap). I need to be able to create spreadsheets to track expenditure, mileage etc. I want to be able to turn on my bluetooth headphones, stick them on, walk out the door and hit play and for my music to come on. And, whilst out and about, I expect to be notified of new emails and texts even though I'm listening to music over bluetooth and tracking my training through the GPS - and I don't want to have to turn all that off just to reply to the message.

Plus, if I need a little app to do something silly that only I or my wife will ever need, I want to be able to write it, compile it and put it on MY PHONE. I paid for the bloody thing after all. What right does someone else have to decide if I can load MY APP on MY PHONE?

So I will be using Windows Mobile until someone else can offer a completely open platform that has the software I need to use on a daily basis - and I think that means I will be using Windows Mobile for a very long time to come.

[boz]

Reply from a non iPhone owner!

I have to agree with you Dave, I have yet to be convinced myself that the iPhone is 'special', it is totally lacking for my needs and from what I have seen of the latest updates for bluetooth and GPS I am still not convinced, I won't be sucked in by Apple as others have been. I have played with the iPhone quite a bit and thought "so what" about it, and to be honest it just doesn't cut it for me.

I really like and enjoy the WM platform and have done ever since it's conception, as you say Dave it is improving all the time, and is oh so customisable. I can't see me going to the 'other side' anytime soon.

[waveydavey]

Well I feel a bit better now , but it'll be interesting to hear some of the other chaps opinions too. The funny thing is, one of my work collegues got himself a new device the other day. It was a touch screen jobby from LG (I can't remember the exact model name) and I thought it was ok. It did what it did well enough, decent form factor and all, nice screen and UI and I thought, hang on, the iPhone is definitely no better than this so why isn't everyone raving about this? Unless I'm missing something the ONLY killer feature the iPhone has is its fashion status. Has the technology world just become massively vane over night?

[Rick GM]

Now the non teckie perspective. Someone tell me what an *phone can do that my Ignito can't (by the way Dave that's the only point I disagree with - I just do not need a keyboard and can type, write, or use whatever SIP I choose with the on screen version as quick as anyone with a keyboard). As for WM devices in general, I've had loads of fun (and the odd tantrum) since I got my XDA II in April 2004 and have learnt so much from web research and from guys like you lot on here. The only downside as far as I can see is there's always a must have new device around the corner and they are addictive !! An *phone is a toy for posers (although in its defence I think it does what it does pretty well), a WM device is a small form computer that you can use as a phone (and an ipod, and navigation and .....).

[johnston411]

I think the long and the short of it is it depends what you want/need your device to do and what you are prepared to live without to gain the benefits each platform offers.

Business and security wise the iphone cannot match wm and for user friendlyness vice versa.

I'm a greedy bugger and want both and am lucky enough to be able to do this.

Recently i have chosen to use the combination of iphone and netbook and for me that works fine. I don't work in IT or security or use exchange so for me they are non issues. Are the exchange/security issues really as bad as some say as it's not something i know about? (from your ire i guess they are)

The main reason for this is i like the iphone for media purposes and checking my email accounts. I can then fire off a quick reply where needed or use the netbook for something more involved like attachment editing.

If i was forced to have just one device it would be wm.

Why? it works and works well and has mobile office capabilities, compared to my beloved mda vario which taught me very much and wasted many hours, wm has come on quite a lot in terms of not needing to hack things and install cabs to hit the sweet spot. Now you can pick up the latest device and pretty much use it stock.

It is established and supported very well, albeit mostly through forums. It has the capability to do everything the iphone does and more (although there is a lot of functionality to be gained from hacking the iphone it's not the same).

Still MS needs to produce with wm7 in terms of a useful ui and good media player and of course making it more developer friendly so that it is not left behind.

So wavey you're not alone, in fact i would say far from it. I just get frustrated that every time we get a point release from MS it is on the whole underwhelming and pretty much the bare minimum in terms of what they could accomplish.

Two of my mates asked me which phones they should get last week and are now both extremely happy owners of Touch HD's. Both have never used wm before but based on their descriptions of needs this is the device that suited both best.

I may like my iphone but i still love wm

Edit: once you jailbreak your iphone and install mobilesubstrate and mobileinsatllation and a few other core utilities you can run pretty much anything on it as long as you know how to write the software for it. you can run apps at the same time after jailbreak and installing (forgotten it's name now) a program that allows it and the majority of programs reload in the state they were shut in such as the tabs in safari reloading and the ipod running in the background is not affected by other apps either unless they use sound themselves. I think there is a lot on the iphone you can do that maybe people do not know of but without the inclination or time you are limited to a stock install which has some serious elements lacking.

[The Mailman]

I do not hate the iPhone - I just would never have one. Why?

1. Its Apple - nuff said. But I will go on, I have been an MS stalwart since 1984 and during that time all I have heard is how rubbish MS products are and how much better Apple ones are. There are Apple users who would regard MS as the dark side and I am doing my bit for the ying & yang in the universe - no Apple product crosses the threshold of my house (and that includes the Beatles).
2. I have hated mobile phones since my very first Eriksson and subsequent Nokias. All of them had so called customisations which really did nothing. When I first got a WM device it was a mind blowing experience, especially once I realised you could even change the ROM. Why would I go to a device that limits what you can do with it. Yes you can "break" it but then when Apple put out updates there is the risk they will really BREAK it.
3. I won't even go on about the Apple Store, well not much. If you want to develop for the iPhone you do it their way or not at all. So personal tweakers etc or left out.
4. Has it got a replaceable battery yet - one where you don't have to send it back?
5. Where is the choice - keyboard/screen only, GPS or not, screen size, feature set. No - you will have this one and like it.

But the biggy is probably the hypocrisy.
MS are supposed to be the monopoly kings but Apple have overtaken them with this device.
ONE device, ONE operator, ONE app shop and One way - the Apple way.

My personal thoughts with no doubt some errors but my thoughts anyway

[windows]

I've got an iPhone as you know, but these days the WM devices are the ones I carry around, mainly as they are more functional and suit work needs.

The iPhone still has it's uses (Toodledo support / facebook, Twitter, etc) but these days it is a more social phone but stays at home. I don't regret buying it as I do love the ease of use of the OS, and the capacitive screen which is fast in operation, but for most of my weekly use WM still scores for eBook reading, email checking and SatNav. If I had to be forcds to buy one device it would of course have to be WM as the iPhone although cool is not quite there to fullfill all my needs.

[mgdorbit]

I've only used an iphone to mess around in a shop though it didn't grab my attention at all. considering the interface is meant to be user friendly,in terms of picking it up easily, I didn't find this at all. my phone contract has run out and I'd rather have my orbit2 than an iphone any day.
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