iPhone 3G Review

The iPhone 3G is a very unique phone, and it is the first touch screen device I’ve ever owned. Despite the hype, I was not interested in owning an iPhone at first. I didn’t think it was worth the money, and I was perfectly happy with my Sidekick ID. My cell phone contract ended this month, and my mom and I decided that it was time to get new phones. I looked at several phones on the T Mobile, Verizon, and AT&T websites, but I still could not decided what phone to get. Then I saw a few of Chris Pirillo’s iPhone videos (not his iPhone rant videos lol), and it made me want to get one. My mom and I preordered two iPhone 3G’s, and picked them up 11 days later.

After messing around with my iPhone for a few minutes, I noticed that it lacks instant messaging ability. This is the one thing I really dislike about the iPhone. You can use the AIM app from the app store, but there are many flaws in the application. It does not stay connected when you close the app, or when your iPhone locks. It also does not allow you to use it in landscape mode, making it harder to type. Another way of instant messaging, is meebo.com. Its a web based instant messenger, and I prefer it over the AIM app, but there are still problems with it. Just like the AIM app, meebo will disconnect when the iPhone locks, or when you close the safari web browser for a certain amount of time. Hopefully there will be a better instant messaging application in the future, but for now, the iPhone is not the right choice for IM addicts, like myself.

Along with the lack of decent instant messengers, the iPhone has many glitches in the software. My iPhone has frozen many times, where even holding the Home button for 6 seconds wont close the application I’m in. I have to hold the Shut off/Lock button and the Home button until my iPhone resets. That’s not a big deal, but its not something I want to be doing on a daily basis.

As with any other device, the iPhone has its flaws and its strengths. One of these strengths, is the 2.0 firmware. The app store is included in the 2.0 firmware. The applications are really what amaze me about the iPhone. There are image editors, applications that integrate with the GPS to find pictures, news articles, and more, about the location you’re in, games, and many other awesome applications. I don’t want to go too deep on the applications, because there’s just too many to talk about. I will review some of my favorite iPhone applications in the future.

Another strength is the 3G connection. 3G vs Edge is like Cable vs Dial Up. I’m not saying that the 3G connection is as fast as using wifi, but it is pretty fast. If you own the original iPhone, you may want to check if your area has the 3G network before purchasing the iPhone 3G, because it would be pointless to upgrade to the iPhone 3G, and still have to use the Edge network.

The iPhone is definitely a great phone, but for all of you instant messaging addicts, its probably a good idea to wait until better instant messaging applications are developed, before purchasing the iPhone.