Apple iPhone (news, info, general chat)

How do you write German characters on the iPhone 3G? I see no "ö", "ü", "ä", "ß"...

Where are Tasks? I see no application...

Just ordered via online a white 16GB for my wife. Delivery says 2 weeks. I bet it's less.

unlocked ones in Belgium?? hmmmm maybe I should visit Belgium soon ...wanna be able to use it in Germany and the US ...

Apple's iPhone Activation servers have crashed due to load.
Going against what apple and the carriers have previously stated, AT&T is letting customers take the unactivated phones home for activation
at a later time via the new itunes 7


Its not just the iphones that have issues, its also the new apple app store. Users are finding most of the apps, crap. - Link

Damnit! I plugged in my iPhone to restore it before jailbreaking it, so I can ship it out. I just keep getting the same error. When I google the errors, there are loads of forum messages with the same errors this morning, and it's because they're refusing connections.

I knew I should have done this last night!

I ordered mine immediately as I received the email that they were able to be ordered online but still missed out. Got an email saying that they were not able to deliver because of high demand. I'm going to try a T-Mobile shop outside of Munich tomorrow to see if I can get one, but there seems to be a very low chance that will happen. But I'll give it a shot anyway.

hold your finger down on the button (eg 'a') , and then you will see a selection of extended characters which you have to slide your finger over to in order to select :-)

Looks like most if not all T-Mobile stores are out of stock. Not hard to imagine if every store only had 3 phones.
Thinking you can just pop over to another local EU country.. Think again.


- Link

Watch this space: http://blog.iphone-dev.org/

Video of PwnageTool 2.0: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R63lKICiWfg (kind of blurry but you get the idea anyhow)

Was just at the T-Mobile shop in the Euroindustriepark. They are sold out and they say that everywhere else in Munich is sold out too. I guess I'll just have to wait until they deliver this thing.

They have clearly underestimated the demand here in Europe. Apparently they have loads of them in America.

Depends on the state.. See above link

Thanks to JOB, who found a place with one iPhone left and gave me a call, I now have a 16GB Black iPhone.. sweet..

Now I just have to cancel my online order..

Online order cancelled without question. They said that it could take 3 weeks for people who ordered online to get their phone, and that I did the right thing by buying one even though I had already ordered online.

Microsoft have just announced that they are to enter the market with a competitor to the iPhone.

iPhone 3G.. Yes it even Blends

Found this article today, it describes upgrade costs, and what is going on with using IM/VOIP in respect of T-Mobile.

auf Deutsch
http://www.teltarif.de/arch/2008/kw27/s30482.html

I'm using the iPhone now a bit outside of Munich and suddenly the 3g has dropped out and I'm on edge. The speed difference is huge.

So far I couldn't be happier with the device but the apps in the app store for free are pretty boring and iTunes is possibly the worst most restrictive piece of software I have ever used. I think I'll hack this thing as soon as a reliable hack is out so I can install some stuff that will really allow me to take advantage of this thing.

How far outside of Munich? Do T-Mobile have some sort of map of their 3G coverage anywhere?

T-Mobile say they have UMTS coverage in 60% of Germany, EDGE is 100% - Interactive Map

How's the GPS on the device anyway?
Does it come with certain maps installed, and you have to update over iTunes or something?
Does it compare to units like TomTom, Garmin, etc?

There are currently no Navi. programs for the iPhone to take advantage of the GPS.
The only thing currently avail. is Google maps, which requires a constant Data connection, and doesn't do smart routing.
TomTom have said they have navi software ready for the iPhone, but they don't have a release date.

Darkknight is correct, the GPS just uses Google Maps, and it's not that great for navigation by car, because it has to constantly download the latest map you're on, and it also doesn't scroll with your location - you have to do that manually. Car navigation is clearly something that the software was not made for. However, DK is wrong about the routing - you can plot routes in the application but it makes a call to Google to retrieve the route. It doesn't compare at all to TomTom or Garmin, but we'll have to wait for them to bring out the software for the iPhone.

That said, the GPS on the device is the best on any phone/PDA that I have used. It picks up a signal incredibly quickly and once it locks on it keeps it really well.

Apple: 1 million new iPhones sold in 3 days!

http://edition.cnn.com/2008/TECH/ptech/07/...s.ap/index.html

The navi issues will be solved once TomTom release their SW for the iPhone. They have a SW for Symbian 60 platform which runs great on Nokia phones.

That would be very tidy - to have GPS, phone, camera, MP3 and all that bollox in one unit. I am a typical "occasional" user of all those functions, so to be able to walk out the house with all of them would be great.

Me too. Having a geocoding camera and GPS is a huge plus for me (motorcycle trips).

I'd also really like TV and radio for long daily commutes though... which is why I'm taking a hard look at the Nokia N96

Yeah I have been wondering about a bike GPS again. I keep thinking that the Zumo 550 is due for an upgrade. Shame that the new iPhone does not send Bluetooth stereo for music on the go. But that is also an issue even with the Zumo 550. Would need a specialist waterproof low-vibration holder as well really for the iPhone, but might be able to bodge using some of the existing items from Touratech.

This is what I've been waiting for iPhone GPS review. Sadly, it's as poor as I expected.

well, to be fair, the 3g phone has been on the market for oh, 4 days. The initial beta SDK has only been around since March, thats only 4 months, and the GPS capability was only announced last month! The phone itself has the hardware capabilities, it just needs some time for people like tomtom to turn around the software, which, as has been said, is coming.

Perhaps, but I don't like when things are half-assed. What they should have done:

1) Created a really good GPS application, with local Google Maps cache and industry standard features
2) Worked with TomTom ahead of time to have the software ready for download on Day 1

No big deal really though, like you say, we'll see.

P.S. Isn't there already a non-iPhone smartphone thread? If not, perhaps I'll make one, because I'd love to discuss alternatives.

How about this?

I think people are expecting the wrong thing here. There is no GPS driving/routing software yet for the iPhone. What it does have is not meant for this purpose at all. What they have introduced it for is to find nearby restaurants or stations near your currently location. That is all at this point. I'm sure that there will be proper software for routing available soon, because the device is more than capable of doing it.

iPhone 3G and firmware 2.0: one week later

It would seem that their are many problems with the iphone and its software.. If your in the market for an iphone, I suggest you read this story first.


As for the Pwnage tool mentioned on the previous page..

iPhone Dev Team says Pwnage Tool won't unlock iPhone 3G (for now)

Sometimes I do get these contact scrolling problems, it goes a bit jerky. Also the lag times while typing happen occasionally. I thought that this was normal though, so good to hear that it might be a bug.

I'm waiting patiently for the hack mentioned above. Apple have really screwed up their restrictive approach to this phone. There are so many cool application already out there for it like a proper IM client, VoIP/SIP client, a terminal, VNC, video recorder.. the list goes one. All of these things require the phone to be hacked though and most probably will never be released on the App store because of Apples restrictions.

I've had a look through the App store and so far the applications there are boring as hell, and they want you to pay for that shit. Screw them.

The basic software on the phone though it amazing, they've done this right. Definitely the best device I've bought in a long, long time.

HTC windows mobile powered phones are available with Vodafone, under the name 'VPA Compact' and can do all that jazz. I've been pretty happy with my (now 2 year old) VPA thing. Not 3g, so the connection speed to the internet if there is no wifi nearby is rubbish, and I've not got a GPS version, but it has been fun. I was having a beer in the Arc once, and streamed a couple of TV shows from home straight to the phone.

I'm primarily interested in the iphone from a geek point of view - I like the way the browser works.

Before you go ahead and buy any other smart phone because of what it looks like on paper, first try the iPhone. I guarantee you won't go back to any of the others. There interface on the iPhone is unmatched.

Hutcho, while watching porn on your iPhone, are you wanking over the porn, or indeed the iPhone itself?

Interface is one thing.. But having the ability to run any applications I want without the Makers approval or having to jailbreak/hack the device
to get it to run apps is another issue. Right now there are 100k's more apps for windows mobile devices than there are for the iphone. All work
without having to hack and void your guarantee.

Some people go for the cuteness factor while others go for the usability factor. Right now Windows mobile device offer much more than the iphone
without the Apple hassle and often for a much lower price..

The motion sensing capabilities of the iphone have yet to be really exploited in the online porn sector.

The uability on my window phone was a bit crap, because it was all in krout for starters, but I sorted that by skinning and modding it up. Sure, a bit further than 99% of users will go, but functionality-wise, the option is there.

Still thinking about the iphone though.

I would rather a kilo of gold than a tonne of shit..

One of the best features IMO is how the iPhone 3G displays webpages and enables you to zoom in/out easily and scrool around the page... much better than other devices I have seen/used! :-)

I also have the slow contacts problem and calls dropping :-( Am a bit disappointed and hope that they release the bug fixes soon!

It is still a very cool device and definitely one of the best I have bought in a while... (although a few features were better implemented by Windows Mobile)

But again, that's what most people completely and consistently miss about Apple products.

In reality, there aren't more applications for windows mobile devices. Because:

1) If its too much of a giant hassle to install the applications, they effectively don't exist for you.
2) It's not about the raw numbers of applications, but coverage of desired uses. So horay if I can choose between 6 crappy win mobile applications or one to two good iPhone ones.

What would be an interesting comparison is average number of installed apps per user. I would imagine iPhone users come out higher in that respect quite frankly.

Is it too much of a hassle to click on a cab file and press "yes"?

The shittiest thing about windows phones is that they often come with some stupid powerpoint veiwer pre-installed. What the fuck is that all about? Bloody powerpoint.

Greatly depends on what programs you want to use (Or need to use).


The latest ver. of Opera for WinMo Devices does the same thing. Firefox Mobile will also have the same features.


1. How hard is it to copy over a .CAB file a double click it to install.. This shows you never have had/used a Winmo device, or just Don't know what your doing with it.
2. Thats, just the thing.. There arn't as many programs for the iPhone. If you find an email program for example, it may work for 80% of your needs but has problems.
In the Apple world, your stuck with the default app, or 1-2 others. In the WinMo world you have dozens of email apps to choose from until you find the one that does
everything you need. Its about freedom of choice and availability.


Some do, but most don't.. Even if they do you can download stripped down or specialized ROMS that remove them.. How many different ROMS are avail for the iPhone?
With Winmo 6 The viewers have been replaced by pocket versions of Excel and Word. Pocket Access is also avail. for download but not included.

Apple has sold just over 1 million 3G iphones worldwide since it's launch, which is a great achievement. However Winmo device have sold 2-3x as many in
the same time frame. I wonder why that is.. Perhaps its because you can get better hardware/features, cheaper than the iphone without being limited by DRM
and asinine Restrictions, such as those put in place by apple and its partners.

No, it shows I have a realistic understanding of what the average cellphone user is able to accomplish. As I said, I'd honestly be curious as to the number of installed apps on an iPhone versus average Windows Mobile device.

Seriously, do you honestly believe that? What a great Apples to Oranges comparison. You might as well have said Porche makes great cars, however 4 door cars vastly outsell them.

Why do I even bother, your reputation for outright lies about Apple products is both well documented and honestly, quite puzzling. Even if you don't like Apple and have some beef with it. One thing you can't argue against is that they benefit non-Apple users tremendously. The cellphone market got the swift kick in the ass it needed with the iPhone and competitors are at least making interesting competition instead of simply shoving higher specs into and ugly palm sized box (see the Nokia N95 as a prime example of the pre-iPhone "spec-worshiping" mentality)

Opera mobile pales in comparison to Safari on the iPhone.

When you say average. do you mean stupid? Installed how? By default or by the users?


How is it apples/oranges. Both the iphone and Winmo devices are phones. They both make calls, they both surf the net and do other things... How many companies make
the iphone? Need a guess..1 - How many companies make Winmo devices... Many, so it would stand to reason they ship more devices than apple..


Perhaps its because your more clueless than you think. Oh, yes bring out the "Lies, Reputation and Hate" of Apple Devices.. I recommend Apple computers to many people, Even Family.
I have even owned them myself. So yeah, I guess I really hate apple hardware... As for your "benefits non-Apple users tremendously", I don't know about the "tremendously", part of your
statement, but it would have happened anyway without apples "help". Many of the features of the iphone 3G are still behind those of other devices. While others have been out before the
iphone (Orig Ver).

In the end, each person will need to decide for them self which phone suits them. As of now to me it is not justified to spend 750 Eur for a non-contract iphone when I
can get something like an HTC Diamond or Victor which has many more features, and by default even comes with an iphone'ish interface (Which can be turned off if wanted)
for 300-350 Eur.

@DW
Perhaps, Have you tried the latest beta of Opera? I'm holding out for FF Mobile.

Again, I can't be much more clear than I am. I think that if you examine the amount of applications installed by users on iphones, on average, it will be more than the number installed by users of Windows Mobile. The iPhone is just insanely easy to install apps. There's a central browsing location, and one click for install.

Survey all iPhone 3G owners, see what the average number of apps they installed is
Survey all Windows Mobile owners, see what the average number of apps they installed is

I bet the first one will be higher.


Obviously it stands to reason, that's why its a useless comparison to make. It's comparing a single model of phone to an entire class... like comparing a Porche 911 to 4-door cars.. obviously the 4 door cars outsell the 911. And what does that tell you? Nothing about either.

Sweet

That is a fact. If you want me to, I can quote you. You consistently repeat things which are provably false. Most recently, you stated the Macbook air had modified firmware which prevented it from using any other external DVD drive than an Apple one. I asked you for a source 3 times, and called you on this lie.


That is exactly what I keep trying to tell you. That's Apple's biggest contribution to this, and the PC, markets. It isn't anymore about simply increasing specs. A good case in point, by the way, is Nintendo. Raw spec increases aren't what (most) people want. The Wii is mopping up because they tapped into something profound that Apple also knows... Features are becoming relatively meaningless, because people are discovering one key points about technology:

If it doesn't easily integrate into your life, and is easily usable, it is effectively non-existent.

So many "techie" people fail to really understand that concept. It's exactly why, unfortunately, Apple has no real competition. It's exactly why people find technology so incredibly frustrating and difficult to use.

Confirmed: MacBook Air SuperDrive does NOT work with other machines
Read the story, and you'll also see that standard USB Optical drives won't work on the Air.

How to Mod the Superdrive to make it work with any computer.


The MBA Superdrive uses a non-standard Bridge chip/software.