iPhone 4, is it All You Thought it Would Be?

[Jeff Campbell]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/apple_unveils_iphone_4/' target='_blank'>http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/arti...veils_iphone_4/</a><br /><br /></div><p><em>"Apple CEO Steve Jobs introduced the company's next generation iPhone during his World Wide Developers Conference keynote presentation on Monday. The new version of the combination iPod and smartphone looks like the images that leaked to the media, includes a front-facing camera for the first time, and is called iPhone 4."</em></p><p><img src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com/resizer/thumbs/size/600/at/auto/1276003518.usr105634.jpg" style="border: 1px solid #d2d2bb;" /></p><p>In reading the blogs yesterday, I thought it was pretty funny when Steve said "Stop me if you've seen this before" as he unveiled the iPhone 4. Good to see some humor displayed about it. But I digress! Lots of new features, over 100 or so including the new camera with LED flash, video calling, higher resolution display and, according to Steve, the "thinnest smartphone ever." Besides the improved camera and the cool video calling features, what I really liked to hear was the improved battery life. So, now that you've had time to digest yesterdays announcement, what are your thoughts about the iPhone 4?</p>

[Dyvim]

Hardware-wise, about the only miss for me was not going to 64 GB. I really like the display (the iPhone was really lagging behind in this area, esp. compared to my 2003 Toshiba e800 with its 4" 640x480 screen), which has leap-frogged the competition (for now) and set a nice high standard. 326 dpi is insane- can't wait to see it in person (e800 had 200 dpi and was quite sharp).
Better camera with flash and HD recording is overdue but nice- need to see how it really works. Front camera with video chat looks super cool but not sure how much I'll use it. I hope Skype provides support for it soon as I don't think I'll know any iPhone 4 owners to call, but could use it to Skype to family members' computers while I'm on the road.
New processor looks good- wonder what the clockspeed and RAM are.
Longer battery life is always good. It's approaching iPad level of performance.
I like what I see of the new case design, but need to see it in person.
Gyroscope - meh, but maybe it would make Super Monkey Ball actually work right? (ok, I'm not much of a gamer but that stupid ball just won't roll right!)

Software-wise, I'm looking forward to finally having multi-tasking. Or rather fast app-switching without having to visit the home screen, I only need true multi-tasking for 2 scenarios:
1. So I can take a call (over hands-free of course) while navigating via Navigon
2. So I can stream Pandora in the background (I don't use it currently, but think I might give it a try when iOS 4 is released).
But I can think of a ton of scenarios where I'd like to quickly flip between 2 or 3 apps without having to go via home screen or wait while each app reloads- and possibly loses some of its state (that's a programming issue but as an end-user I shouldn't have to worry about that. I just want things to work).

Notifications though is a big fail. Why oh why can't they revamp the notification system? Fortunately, I don't receive many texts or other messages, or else it probably would have driven me to either jailbreak or get another phone already.

Anyway, my boss already offered to buy me the phone, so that's a no-brainer! If I had to pay for it out of my pocket, I'd probably still do it though.

[encece]

Agree with all of the above but, in addition, wish they added an informational homescreen, with appointments, message counts, and possibly even social networking updates.

[Macguy59]

Agree with all of the above but, in addition, wish they added an informational homescreen, with appointments, message counts, and possibly even social networking updates.

I'll second that. I've been saying since January that Apple would have to update the hardware (design & specs) to keep me as a phone customer. They did that. In watching the keynote . . . maybe it's just me but close ups of Steve holding the new phone in his Skeletor hand, it looks downright chunky.

[Jason Dunn]

Agree with all of the above but, in addition, wish they added an informational homescreen, with appointments, message counts, and possibly even social networking updates.

Why would Apple do that? They achieved smartphone UI perfection with iPhone v1 - or didn't you realize that? ;)

(really though, Apple will ride the iPhone UI into the ground - once they come up with something, they don't change it for years and years...)

[Macguy59]

(really though, Apple will ride the iPhone UI into the ground - once they come up with something, they don't change it for years and years...)

That should be a vaugely familiar concept to a Windows mobile user ;)

[Deslock]

Apple will ride the iPhone UI into the ground - once they come up with something, they don't change it for years and years...)

1995
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/d/d1/Windows-95-Start-Button.png

1996
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/4/4e/Windows_NT_4.0.png

2000
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/8/8e/Win2000.png

2003
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/6/60/Windows_Server_2003_Enterprise_Edition_trial.png

[Jason Dunn]

1995...

Touche! But I notice you're not denying it. ;)

[Jon Childs]

Agree with all of the above but, in addition, wish they added an informational homescreen, with appointments, message counts, and possibly even social networking updates.

I really do miss this from my Windows Mobile days. Although the iphone does enough other stuff that I am willing to overlook it, it would be great if it was included.

[griph]

Touche! But I notice you're not denying it. ;)
Its certainly moved faster than WP - and as predicted we will have iOS4 in June and we are STILL waiting for WP7 (which is now looking pretty crap in my book - no excitement there) - at this rate Apple will have iOS5 out before MS get off their butts to expose the squashed laurel!

[Jason Dunn]

That should be a vaugely familiar concept to a Windows mobile user ;)

Yeah, but the difference is that Microsoft actually gets it now - WM 6.5 was radically different from 6.1, and 7 is going to be radically different from 6.5. The iPhone UI is virtually identical over the years: the 2007 iPhone has the same home screen as the 2010 iPhone. I like my iPod Touch, but when I turn it on, it doesn't TELL me anything at a glance. I have to drill into each app to get my email, weather, tweets, etc.

And the cute screenshots of Windows ignore the obvious: the basic UI has stayed the same (Start button at the bottom left), but that start menu has evolved with every version of windows, and in Windows 7 the taskbar/quick menu is completely overhauled.

My point is simply that I've heard more than a few people hoping that Apple would change the iPhone to give it a "real" home screen - something with glance-able information, and they haven't yet after four generations of product. And they probably never will, because Apple believes in superiority of their UI beyond all rational norms...

[ptyork]

And the cute screenshots of Windows ignore the obvious: the basic UI has stayed the same (Start button at the bottom left), but that start menu has evolved with every version of windows, and in Windows 7 the taskbar/quick menu is completely overhauled.

I'm surprised you didn't shoot back with screen shots of the Apple / File / Edit / View menus from 1984's System 1 (http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/5/50/Apple_Macintosh_Desktop.png) to 2010's Snow Leopard (http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/8/82/Snow_Leopard_Desktop.png). Though in fairness, 26 years later they have added the app name menu (since there's app switching now) and a universal help menu. And the logo has undergone some radical changes, moving from color stripes to chrome. And don't forget the recently added support for two button mice. THAT's real progress in UI design right there, dawg!! :)

Seriously, the lack of a customizable info screen ticks me off royally. Why do I have to hit so many (virtual) buttons to check my email count, next appointment, or perhaps (gasp) see the current temperature? Even Palm OS would let you hijack the default app launcher window to make it actually useful.

Sure, when you get something right (or mostly right), don't change it. But the dumb lock screen and the circa 1996 grid-based app launcher that HAS to be the one and only thing front and center really ISN'T right. It works okay for the "for dummies" crowd, but it is definitely something that should get some attention. And of course the ridiculous modal notifications. Especially in mail when you are in and out of shady coverage and it pops up "Can't get mail" notifications as fast as you can dismiss them (I already downloaded the message you stupid effing POS...I just want to read it!!!). ;)

[Deslock]

Apple will ride the iPhone UI into the ground - once they come up with something, they don't change it for years and years.

Touche! But I notice you're not denying it. ;)

No, though your implication appeared to be that Apple is somehow different from other companies when it comes to sticking with a UI for "years and years".

Apple, just like Microsoft and other computer companies, will usually stick with what seems to work well. Recent radical changes to WM are being done because Microsoft is getting its ass kicked. Likewise, Windows Vista and 7 were redesigned because there was widespread criticism that Microsoft's UI had become stale and lacked features common to OSX and some Linux shells.

Note that Apple has made some tweaks (better iPod controls, task switching, categories, etc) and more are expected: they recently hired the guy who created WebOS' far superior notification system (he had actually been at Apple before going to Palm). But iOS' UI has been successful and well received, so a complete overhaul is unlikely.

Having written all that, I agree that the lack of a customizable home screen is a drawback for the iPhone... IMO, there should be an option to display more info on the lock screen.

[Jason Dunn]

I'm surprised you didn't shoot back with screen shots of the Apple / File / Edit / View menus from 1984's System 1 (http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/5/50/Apple_Macintosh_Desktop.png) to 2010's Snow Leopard (http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/8/82/Snow_Leopard_Desktop.png). Though in fairness, 26 years later they have added the app name menu (since there's app switching now) and a universal help menu. And the logo has undergone some radical changes, moving from color stripes to chrome. And don't forget the recently added support for two button mice. THAT's real progress in UI design right there, dawg!!

I haven't have enough experience yet with OS X to criticize or praise it; my few hours with a Macbook in May sure had me puzzled though at times. There's a lot about OS X that doesn't make any sense; it's not as intuitive as the fanboys like to say it is. I'm planning on getting a Mac Mini though if they get refreshed in September, so I'll have more experience with OS X by the end of the year...

[Sven Johannsen]

You know what gripes me about my iPhone/iPad home screen? The alert. Not how it pops up, but the fact there is no usable link once you hit the start button/swipe. There is a notice, from some app, but once on the home screen, there is no indication where it came from, and no easy way to get there. If an appointment pops up, there should be a quick way to get to the calendar and that appointment. (I might humbly suggest swiping the popup left to dismiss, and right to go to the source, direction being configurable)

Yea, I too would like useful info on the lock screen besides. Sometimes a bit more than what time it is would be appreciated.