IPhone

[DEN MONKEY]

I know I'm a bit behind the times but my phone contract is up next month and I'll be looking for a new one.

I was considering the Sony xperia but it's only available on one network which I'm not with. More than happy with my current provider to will stay there.

All that said it looks like the Iphone is the phone of choice.
Not wanting to follow the pack but some of the apps have made it the one to have for me.

I'm into my astronomy and have found a few star map type apps which will come in handy in the middle of nowhere on a dark night with the scope and save me taking the laptop.

I've also spotted the inclinometer which will help with setting up the scope.

So far these to very functional apps pretty much have me sold .

As much as I'm not a fan of the touch screen I don't see any other alternative which will offer such functionality in one piece of kit.

Tell me if I'm wrong.

The other questions that have popped up are what's the deal with getting apps.

Do I need to go though their app store or is this jail break business allow me to use 3rd part apps?

Fill me in on all the goss fellas.

Pros/cons and what ever else is in between.

I also don't see the extra value in the 16gig over the 8 since I won't be using it for vids or music etc.
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meh

[Phil.]

Without looking into the apps you have quoted i cant help but feeling they will not be as good as they sound.

Any apps involving reliance on the accelerometer can be temperamental. Not only non apple apps come to think of it, sometimes safari decides it doesn't want to go into landscape mode. SO i hope you have read alot of good reviews about these apps.

The probability is that you wont need to jailbreak, if you have found these apps through the itunes store then defiantly not.

Far as the phone goes in general it's alright, good for media and the web but lacking in other areas, no mms copy and paste.

If you do decide to go for it, consider contract options. If you are not going to be making the most of that data plan then it might work out cheaper to buy a pay as you go one and unlock it.

[DEN MONKEY]

yeah checked out a few reviews on the apps listed and they appear ok thus far. Never really know til you try it yourself.

I've spotted a hack of sorts on youtube which permits you to send mms but seems to have some drawbacks as well.

Only ever get the odds rude message from mates or a tit shot from the occasional ex and I can do without those
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meh

[Phil.]

Aye i have tried out swirly, i didn't find it very reliable.

Also if you do jailbreak you can get cracked apps easy enough. So send me the names of these apps i will try them out as best i can.

[Rob]

I have the sky app and its actually pretty good, as is the inclination software.. pretty accurate!

I definately recommend the iPhone, I've had no real problems with it! The lack of MMS isn't a problem for me as people just email pics/sound etc which is much more reliable. The cut/paste issue isn't really a problem either! I don't think at any point have I thought "I wish I could cut/paste this". There are alternative ways around most of that!

The touch screen is actually very good when you get used to it. I can now type pretty fast with only a few mistakes occasionally. I really used to hate touch screens but this one has changed my opinion of them!

The one thing I really miss is the ability to have bluetooth stereo headphones.. I hate wires! There has been a lot of talk about Apple changing this in a future software update though. There is an app about to be released that allows bluetooth file transfer so audio won't be far away! Even taking that into consideration, all the other things the iPhone does makes up for lack of bluetooth stereo!

The apps are great but you are tied into iTunes store unless you jailbreak your phone, which is actually really easy if you want to! I've never felt the need to but I know people who have! The apps range from free, to 59p to some over £1 to some over £10 but generally most are free or 59p which isn't exactly a fortune to spend if you really want the app!

The other downside to remember is that if you are using lot of WiFi and apps you will start to get through your battery quite quickly, with constant use during the day I have to charge mine up every night. Occasionally with really heavy use I've had to charge during the day too but no worse than you would using a laptop on a battery!

PM me if you want to know any more about it! Definitely the best phone I've had and I have been through a few phones in the past!!
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Love is 1050cc

[DEN MONKEY]

Thanks fellas for the replies.

Is the battery internal ? i.e can't be removed or get a spare ?

Rob if you're interested in the star map type software here is a review page of a few of them.

Seems starwalk is best suited to my needs.

https://physics.weber.edu/schroeder/iPhoneStarApps/
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meh

[Rob]

Yeah, the battery is internal so no quick swapping!!

I've bought a Powermonkey which is quite good to carry around if you think you will run out of charge, or you can buy a Mophie which is a battery that fits on the back.
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Love is 1050cc

[Drew]

one little thing that annoys me (apart from the copy and paste) is you don't get a character count when typing texts, so if your on limited texts or get charged per text, you don't know if you have gone into a second text or not (unless you count all the characters)

[Phil.]

[DEN MONKEY]

[truslack]

[gmanxiii]

As mentioned MMS and copy and paste is sorted if you jailbreak it. Few other apps ive got so far that are pretty useful and kinda fun are

Cycorder - Record video to quicktime format

Qik - Live web streaming from your iphone camera to your own little youtube style page (yes works over 3g as well and then allows you to download any recorded video)

VoiPover3G - Allows you to use skype over 3G

PDAnet - uses your iphone like a 3g dongle for web

NES and Megadrive emulators
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I kills hondas

VFR400NC30 > ZZR600 > CBR600FX > CBR1000rr

[DEN MONKEY]