Originally Posted By Sport Goofy << SG is waging war against the iPhone, though presumably he's never had one Hey, if it isn't your cup of tea, fair enough. But I don't get the grudge. >> I generally have a distaste for the way products in America have all drifted towards over-marketed, over-hyped goods where consumers pay more for advertising and slick packaging than they do for actual features. It's sort of like tennis shoes. Nike manufactures tennis shoes overseas for the least amount of money, then charges a premium price to pay for all the advertising and endorsements. You don't get a shoe that's any better, but Tiger Woods gets one heck of a paycheck. It's the same as the iPhone. That's not to say all of the other phone manufacturers aren't following suit, but the iPhone drove the marekting of phones up a notch. The original iPhone did not provide features that were standard on phones before it hit the market (voice recognition, MMS, and video are the big ones). We are moving towards a consumer market in electronics where features become less important than the brand and the marketing. And phone companies are using these branded phones to slow their deployment of advanced services. They figure that the phones will drive customers to the network instead of the network performance. That's why Verizon doesn't feel compelled to roll out much of a 4G network anytime soon, but feels plenty compelled to buy up all the spectrum so no one else can build one either. To me, the iPhone just represents consumerism gone amuck. We've replace American manufacturing jobs with cheap overseas labor, but Americans still pay a higher cost for these products in order to pay for the advertising. For once, I'd like to see the American consumer win. They don't win with the iPhone.
Originally Posted By ecdc Hey I get the frustration. I'm right there with you in a lot of ways. But I think my objection is the mildly insulting (whether intentional or not) accusation that those of us who love our iPhones are just suckers for "slick" marketing and "gimmicky" products. And perhaps I take exception more than I should (we are talking about consumer products, not curing cancer) because I work in the industry (not for AT&T) and I made a very deliberate, well-educated, well-reasoned choice. I did it for a variety of reasons. I'm not a fan of AT&T's network. I've used three networks now over the course of six years and theirs is by far the worst. As for the MMS, voice recognition, etc., I agree those were lacking, but they were hardly the reason people buy cell phones. Voice recognition is notoriously lousy on cell phones anyways. While the lack of these features was silly, plenty of us chose to go with the phone anyways because of other features we loved. I'm an Internet addict and I've tried web browsers on just about every phone there is. Safari mobile blows them all out of the water. Three years and no one's come close to topping it. There are legitimate reasons for people to choose and enjoy their iPhones, beyond ad campaigns with hip songs and lots of colors.
Originally Posted By Sport Goofy << As for the MMS, voice recognition, etc., I agree those were lacking, but they were hardly the reason people buy cell phones. Voice recognition is notoriously lousy on cell phones anyways. >> If you use your phone in the car a lot, voice recognition saves a lot of headaches (and is a safety feature!). The voice recognition on my Samsung worked without a hitch. I don't even recall there ever being a hitch. I don't use my phone in the car anymore since it doesn't have voice recognition -- too dangerous.
Originally Posted By WDWdreamin Wow. Hmm. DH is opposed to the iphone and I have had some issues with AT&T. I know I have to go to the stores and talk to the people.
Originally Posted By DVC_Pongo I use voice recognize constantly. It works flawlessly even with background noise. But the real gem of iPhone voice recognize is this... Me: "Play songs by John Mayer." iPhone: "Playing songs by John Mayer." Followed by me enjoying listening to ever John Mayer song on my phone. It's not just voice recog.... The iPhone has incredible AI and the iPhone literally does whatever I ask it to. Me: "Call Jane Doe." iPhone: "You have more than one number for Jane Doe." Me: "Work." iPhone: (dials Jane's work number. It truly is superior in all aspects. And I dunno why but I have ZERO issues with ATT. None. It can't be luck....maybe ATT covers Atlanta well. I don't care. I'm the kind of person who goes out, turns the car key, if it starts then there's no problem. I'm NEVER EVER without 3G either. Really, you should own something and test it b4 you knock it. It truly IS that fat superior. If nothing else, it just behaves in a way that non-savvy users would intuitively expect it to. Bottom line, it just does what it's hyped to do.
Originally Posted By DVC_Pongo The fact that it's a phone is secondary to all the other zillion things it does.
Originally Posted By Sport Goofy << It's not just voice recog.... The iPhone has incredible AI and the iPhone literally does whatever I ask it to. >> Your voice recognition scenario works exactly the same way it did on my Samsung phone -- 5 years before the iPhone ever offered that capability. I'm sure the iPhone has great AI for their voice recognition -- since it already existed in the marketplace and was perfected by other companies first.
Originally Posted By Sport Goofy << Really, you should own something and test it b4 you knock it. It truly IS that fat superior. If nothing else, it just behaves in a way that non-savvy users would intuitively expect it to. >> And there's the rub -- if you are non-savvy, these slick bells and whistles mean everything. However, if you have used advanced phones over the years, it's easy to realize that the iPhone offered fewer technological features than its predecessors. And it's not necessary to own something and "test it" before you knock it. Like all consumer electronics products, I always read the technical specifications and list of features before I buy something. With the iPhone, it had fewer features than the phone alread in my pocket. It also came with a network plan that cost hundreds of more dollars a year than my carrier. So, a more expensive product with fewer features -- yeah I'm going to rush right out and get that!
Originally Posted By DVC_Pongo ecdc works for the competitor carrier and yet loves the iPhone and owns and pays for one. I like the way you use the word, "had". How that is "has". The other devices are clunky and you know it. The key, again, is the iPhone works the way a "noob" to smart phones would intuitively expect it to. It is slick and easy. It works like a high quality computer. The iPhone caused the market of smart phone users to explode. Hate Apple if you like, but the nubmers are there. They OWN OUTRIGHT the entire music download industry (well an insane majority of the market share) from downloading to storage to listening. Fight it if you like, the phone industry is next, and the iPad is the first gen of what I have been expecting to come out 20 years from now... a single device that can do EVERYTHING. I mean that is what we are moving toward. That will be THE silver bullet. A single device that does it ALL is what we don't realize we can't live without. To say Apple came along and took stuff that was already out there and repackaged it is true conceptually I suppose, but in reality, they started with a clean slate and created something light years beyond what anyone else has out there today. They didn't steal anything from any other company. That would be Microsoft with it's office and Word produts. I posted some figures in another thread, called Steve is quietly taking over the world... Impressive. I just don't understand the hate. I really don't. You don't feel like you get what you pay for, fine. I respect that. I do get what I pay for.
Originally Posted By DVC_Pongo <<<<And it's not necessary to own something and "test it" before you knock it. Like all consumer electronics products, I always read the technical specifications and list of features before I buy something. With the iPhone, it had fewer features than the phone alread in my pocket. It also came with a network plan that cost hundreds of more dollars a year than my carrier. So, a more expensive product with fewer features -- yeah I'm going to rush right out and get that!>>>> Fair enough. I'm not saying you should buy one. It's probably not the right phone for you. I am only saying that I am very happy that I did.
Originally Posted By amazedncal2 DVC, I was messing with you because you said you didn't know what AT&T was It's your carrier, silly. You and DS#1 sound alike about your iphones. It drives him crazy that we can't get one. We keep hearing that Verizon will carry them but so far DH just has whatever fancy phone Verizon has.
Originally Posted By ecdc >>And there's the rub -- if you are non-savvy, these slick bells and whistles mean everything. However, if you have used advanced phones over the years, it's easy to realize that the iPhone offered fewer technological features than its predecessors. And it's not necessary to own something and "test it" before you knock it. Like all consumer electronics products, I always read the technical specifications and list of features before I buy something. With the iPhone, it had fewer features than the phone alread in my pocket.<< But that's just it - plenty of us who love the iPhone ARE tech savvy. Pat yourself on the back all you like for not having the wool pulled over your eyes like us rubes, but you're missing the point. Devices are more than the sum of their parts. Your argument is that my Honda Civic is the same as a BMW because they both have an engine and air conditioning. I HAVE used advanced devices all along. And the iPhone is the best one. Period. To this day, it's the best one. Like I said, if it's not your cup of tea, fair enough. But the need to convince everyone it's not that great is a little odd.
Originally Posted By LOVE-DCA I have verizon…and I like it, I got GREAT coverage in Oregon when I was there and out at Newport, Oregon. Not once did I get bad reception or loose a call, but also verizon has plans that cover long distance. ..and i love my cell phone plan and the coverage.
Originally Posted By LOVE-DCA We have 6 cell phones on one line, but each of us have our own type of plan, so when the bill comes, it just shows each phone and the usage, etc. We also got our own phone numbers, and we don’t have to share minutes. Soo maybe a plan like that might work for you!? Who knows.?
Originally Posted By Sport Goofy << But the need to convince everyone it's not that great is a little odd. >> Sorry, I just get frustrated as the choices for products in the marketplace continues to diminish. It's not just phones -- it's everything. The pace of innovation in the marketplace is slowing down, being replaced by marketing and design gimmicks that gloss over functionality. I had to replace my old phone last year. None of the "latest" smart phones had the same amount of features as my old phone because they were all benchmarking the iPhone, which lacked a number of features that we've already discussed. Sure, all the new phones had nifty touch screens and built-in applications, but it came at a compromise for other things. It happens everywhere. They don't make shoes in my size anymore. I guess it doesn't matter to most folks if shoes fit or not -- it just depends on what kind of swoosh is on the label. And your analogy of cars isn't far off the mark. There really isn't a fundamental difference between that Civic and a BMW -- did it really cost BMW that much more to manufacture their car? It's pretty easy to look up the profit margins on these vehicles, and the answer is no. People pay an excessive premium for that BMW emblem, though. Here on the Disney message boards, look at how much of Disney's spending on theme parks has shifted from world-class rides and attractions to marketing campaigns. When I first started to go to WDW in the 70s, they never advertised one bit. Now, that seems to be the core of their efforts to get people to show up. The way consumerism and marketing has ruined products in the country is a pet peeve of mine. That's why I'm interested in discussing them. I also think that folks need to realize that all this marketing hype is not good for our long-term economy. Motorola used to make phones in the United States. They sold a bunch of them. They made money. Now, you can't make money on a phone made in the United States because you can't afford the marketing costs. The only way to survive in our economy is to manufacture things with Chinese prison labor so that the bulk of your budget goes toward the ad campaign. If you work in the U.S. advertising business, I guess that's a good thing. Otherwise, you're in the unemployment line.
Originally Posted By LOVE-DCA Ohh forgot to add I have the LG Dark Cherry Chocolate for Verizon. It’s a burgundy color.. I get VCAST on it and it has a GPS with turn by turn directions, etc. i have the voice thing to and it's awesome
Originally Posted By ecdc Re: 36. I really am there with ya. I agree 100%. I just disagree that the iPhone falls into that category. I think it's a giant leap forward in cell phone functionality - especially for those of us who need a good mobile web browser, video, and music.
Originally Posted By WDWdreamin Oh, where are my manners? Thank you everyone for your opinions. And, LDCA I don't know if you were talking to me, but I'll only be one person on my plan.
Originally Posted By JeffG >> "I HAVE used advanced devices all along. And the iPhone is the best one. Period. To this day, it's the best one. Like I said, if it's not your cup of tea, fair enough. But the need to convince everyone it's not that great is a little odd." << I see a bit of a contradiction, though, in stating that "the iPhone is the best one. Period." and then later finding it odd that someone else would be trying to convince everyone of the opposite. I completely acknowledge that the iPhone is a fine device and an excellent choice for many people. In fact, I bought one for my wife and she is extremely happy with it. It has enough shortcomings compared to some of its closest competitors that I think it is ludicrous to suggest, as you did, that it is objectively better than everything else out there. The phone fell short of my requirements in a few key areas, though, and I opted to purchase a Palm Pre instead. The phone has a very similar user interface to the iPhone, with a few refinements that I personally feel put it ahead. In particular, it has an exceptionally elegant implementation of multitasking, the one omission from the iPhone that even most of its biggest fans admit to be a shortcoming. On a considerably more subjective note, I personally feel that Palm's decision to supplement the touch interface with a physical keyboard makes a big difference in usability. Finally, I think that Palm's online synchronization and consolidation of contacts and calendars from Google, Yahoo, Facebook, Exchange, etc. are a vast improvement over Apple's iTunes-centered design. I will say that the iPhone still has definite advantages when it comes to the range of 3rd party applications that are available. Its music player is also considerably superior to Palm's offering. Both of those are not as important to me as the other advantages, but I can easily see how they might be for other people. Finally, the web experience on the two phones is nearly identical, with browsers based on the same engine and using nearly identical controls. Palm has announced that Flash support is coming to the Pre next month (and to Android, Windows Mobile, and Blackberry not too long after), though, while Apple steadfastly refuses to add it to the iPhone. Unless Apple changes their mind on this, I think their web experience is going to be way behind the competition very soon. -Jeff
