iPhone: Is it "the Best iPod Ever?"
Steve Jobs called the iPhone "the best iPod ever" back in January, but just how well does the iPhone stack up to the claim? We know it can make calls, surf the Web, and do all kinds of other smartphone-type tasks, but is it good enough replace your trusty old iPod or Nano? For more on these questions and other iPhone-as-iPod related points, check out Rolling Stone's in-depth iPhone review (written by this Switched post's author, who is a regular contributor to Rolling Stone).
Or, check out this quick summary:
What's Good: The interface, which is super-responsive, innovative, and simply fun to play with. In the iPod application, Cover Flow 3-D-album-art-browsing feature is even more fun on the iPhone than it is on the iTunes desktop. The iPhone's other strong suit is the quality of the video, which looks crisp and colorful on the iPhone's high-res, 3.5-inch screen. Everything from iTunes-purchase videos and podcasts to YouTube videos (yes, now that they're in the iPhone-friendly, higher-quality H.264 format, the iPhone's YouTube videos look better than what you'd see on your desktop.)
What's Bad: The lack of outside hardware buttons makes it a several-step experience to control your music while walking down the street, and there's a dearth of decent headphone options (since the iPhone has a proprietary recessed headphone jack). And, of course, it would be nice to have more than 8GB of memory.
Bottom Line: The iPhone is the best iPod ever, despite its skimpy on-board memory and high price (whatever you do, don't buy the more or less useless and even more overpriced 4GB version). It's heavy, though, so you might not want to take it jogging.
For full details and the complete review, visit "Is the iPhone "the Best iPod Ever?"
Related Links:
Switched iPhone Hub
More iPhone News from Switched
Which iPod Accessories Work with the iPhone?
Or, check out this quick summary:
What's Good: The interface, which is super-responsive, innovative, and simply fun to play with. In the iPod application, Cover Flow 3-D-album-art-browsing feature is even more fun on the iPhone than it is on the iTunes desktop. The iPhone's other strong suit is the quality of the video, which looks crisp and colorful on the iPhone's high-res, 3.5-inch screen. Everything from iTunes-purchase videos and podcasts to YouTube videos (yes, now that they're in the iPhone-friendly, higher-quality H.264 format, the iPhone's YouTube videos look better than what you'd see on your desktop.)
What's Bad: The lack of outside hardware buttons makes it a several-step experience to control your music while walking down the street, and there's a dearth of decent headphone options (since the iPhone has a proprietary recessed headphone jack). And, of course, it would be nice to have more than 8GB of memory.
Bottom Line: The iPhone is the best iPod ever, despite its skimpy on-board memory and high price (whatever you do, don't buy the more or less useless and even more overpriced 4GB version). It's heavy, though, so you might not want to take it jogging.
For full details and the complete review, visit "Is the iPhone "the Best iPod Ever?"
Related Links:
Switched iPhone Hub
More iPhone News from Switched
Which iPod Accessories Work with the iPhone?
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Lex @ Jul 3rd 2007 3:08AM
Jobs has always been the 'artist' , the visionary who inspired, pushed, his team's brillance to create life-living-art , for your everyday life.
Gates ( a now heroic effort of measurable results with his world efforts of charity, comfort and fighting desease in the next generations , in changing thousands of lives in medicine, etc.') , ...just cut and pasted other people's ideas and muscled it in the marketing , becoming rich and powerful, but not respected.
Peter @ Jul 3rd 2007 6:09AM
I have been a loyal Apple user since their Lisa computer (grandmother of the modern Mac)came out in the mid 1980's. Apple's design has always been impeccable, but the history has been that version one of everything has serious problems. Case in point: my version one Intel Powerbook burned to a crisp following heat control issues. iPhone tickles me in all the right places but to pay $600 to play test a phone--not for me. I will wait for the next version.
Michael @ Jul 3rd 2007 8:23AM
This IPhone is sure to lose some respect very soon. The reason I say that is because it has no removable battery (Customers are told not to remove the battery), no removable memory, Is NOT able to connect to the internet just anywhere- only in wifi "hot spots", is very slow, Does not have the ability to send or receive pictures or video messages to other devices other than your computer, Can not download full length songs wirelessly, etc, etc, etc.-- Believe me, I can name more. LG 9900 and Chocolate can also be used a modem and can be used in Verizon Wireless's broadband network, now capable of average download speeds of 1.4 Mbps and are only around 149.99 and 99.99 with 2yr agreement. These phones, along with many others at Verizon Wireless can do all of the above mentioned things plus more. Even Cingular has phones that are much less expensive and is capable of doing more! Will I be buying an IPhone? You guessed it! The answer is no, not when I can spend much less money and get much more on a better network!
Michael @ Jul 3rd 2007 8:33AM
Correction--- Iphones CAN connect to the internet in more places than just in WiFi spots but is limited to AT&T's "sporadic" area of data coverage and again is very slow. Check out phones with other carriers before making your decision.
Paul Levinson @ Jul 4th 2007 7:14PM
Saying the iPhone is the best iPod ever is like saying television is the best radio ever - it misses the point that the iPhone is really a brand new beast....
Gary @ Jul 7th 2007 2:34AM
Can't wait to get my hands on the new phone!!