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Nokia N95 8Gb Mobile Cell Phone

October 16, 2011 By Leave a Comment

The Nokia N95 was first released with a smaller memory capacity but the model I have has the larger 8mg a size I thought perfect for storing lots of music and photos.  I had to convince my other half that it was more than just a phone and he should look at it as a mobile life unit.  It not only receives and makes calls, I can access the internet easily where ever I am.  It has a brilliant 5 mega pixel camera that takes videos as well as filming. The phone came with Spiderman the film already downloaded and the quality of this was brilliant so I knew I could also watch things on it.  It really has everything anyone should need in a phone and more!

I am now going to review the phone is sections talking in order about the facilities that are on the phone that I use the most often ending with the ones I use the least or not at all.

==Calls and Messaging==

The calls made via the N95 are as expected meaning they are clear and to date I have had no problems in making or receiving them.  There is the option to make 3G calls which is basically video calling where you can see the other person taking and they can see you.  On the Isle of Wight where I live there is not many areas where the signal level for this option is good enough for it to work.  Plus you also have know that the person your calling has the 3G facility on their phone too and the most important part is you would always have to look half descent otherwise why would you not just phone normally and talk to the person!  I have used this feature once and found it to be rather delayed in the speech therefore conversation was a lot harder and for me this defeated the point of a phone call.

Text Messaging on this phone is a doddle as I find it is on any Nokia as the set up is the same.  Personally I always use predictive text and because I have programmed in some of my own words this is by far the quickest way for me to write a text.  Sending photos or such like is simple and easy to do also.  The set up is again the same as most Nokia’s but there are more little features that are mostly unnecessary and not something I use daily.  One example of this would be the fact you can write a text message in another language.

==Photos and Videos==

I use this feature so much and there is one reason for that, and that is that it works so well.  The camera on the phone is a 5 mega pixel which is very high quality for a phone and the pictures do look good once transferred to my computer.  Also the video options on the phone are brilliant and have literally made my camcorder jobless!  The video option allows you to record for as long as you like unlike some other phones I have had that restrict you to only videoing for 3 minutes.

==Internet Connection==

Connecting to the internet via this phone is a doddle.  Although I have recently cut back my use of this feature because I don’t have any allowance for this in my contract so this can be quite costly.  However it works well and is both quick and easy to use.  You are able to bookmark sites that you regularly use and you can then connect straight to these rather than going through the home page.  I have accessed Facebook on this phone a fair amount and this works well and is probably quicker than using my computer!

==Music Player==

The music player on this phone is very good and exceptionally easy to use.  The main reason why it is so easy to use is because the sliding mechanism of the phone not only works so that when you answer the phone you can slide it upwards but if you want to play some music you only need to slide the phone downwards and this then reveals some hidden buttons situated at the top of the phone which allows you to play, pause, stop, rewind and fast forward tracks that have been downloaded into music files.  I can honestly say I don’t really use this feature that much because I can’t often listen to music when out and about because of having my son with me so I cant very well be plugged into anything!

The available limit for downloading songs onto this phone is vast and I have nearly 200 tracks and there is still tons more I could use.  The phone also has a radio that can be tuned in and a built in hands free speaker that is not too bad but of course still gives out a rather tin like sound.

==Games==

The games that were downloaded on this phone were rather good but these were only demo’s of games that you had to connect to the internet and buy!  None of the games were ones that just came as standard and although I don’t often have any time to play games on my mobile it is nice to have the opportunity.  You are able to play the demo’s for a short while but this is more frustrating when you are cut short in your game of Block Breaker for example and they try to direct you to the internet site so that you can pay a fiver to get the full version! Rip off!

==Video Player==

When I was looking at this phone with a view to getting it I was rather impressed with the fact that it came with full length version of the Spiderman 3 film downloaded on to it.  I had yet to see this film and thought I would sit and watch it as soon as I had a chance.  Well to date I have still not seen Spiderman 3!  I suppose the thing with watching a full film on your phone is the fact that the screen is only a couple of inches wide and this doesn’t make for brilliant viewing.  The quality of the film is very clear and it does look like watching it on a DVD player.  Not only has the size of the screen put me off watching this film but the fact that you need to either sit holding the phone of have it flat on a table to look down at it. 

The idea of being able to watch full length film on a mobile phone is pretty good and does sound rather appealing but in reality it is not very good.  I suppose if I was travelling a lot it maybe handy to be able to watch a film on the train or in the car but other than that I feel this is another feature I just have no need for.

Well that about sums up all the features that I personally use.  However because I have not really delved into all the other options that are available I feel I can only list them briefly rather than give a general idea on the use of said features.  I would say however that all these extra features are there to lure you into paying out for a new phone but in actual day to day use of the phone these options are used very little.

The phone has an option to view maps and to get a sat nav up on screen.  This does cost to use and it is not something I have tried to use or had the need for. 

You are able to make video calls on this phone but because where I live there is never I signal for this and also because it costs more money to use I again have never used the feature.

==General look and use of the phone==

When everyone first sees this phone they comment on just how big it is and they are probably right.  Compared to a lot of other phones that are available this one is rather large and chunky.  To go along with that it is fairly heavy too.  Both these things are not something that bothers me and I would say I am happy with a larger, heavier phone as I can’t loose it as easily in my handbags! 
The phone weighs 128grams
It is 99mm in length
it is 53mm wide and 21mm thick.

The screen of the phone is rather large but of course I see this as a good thing.  Pictures are shown clearly and text messages appear large and easy to read.  The size of the screen is about 2 inches but 1 ½ inches and it displays up to 16 million colours in the display.

As I have said before the phone does have a very large capacity to hold lots of music and will also hold hundreds of text messages, phone contacts and photos and videos.  The technical bits are as follows:
Up to 100MB internal dynamic memory for messages, ring tones, images, video clips, calendar notes, to do list and application.
Up to 8Mb internal flash memory for multimedia content such as music, pictures, maps and ring tones.

I find the battery life was very good at the start but it seems to now need to be charged up sooner than it did when it was new.  I am usually quite good at trying not to overcharge it so that it keeps the battery life for longer.  The specifications of the phone say that one battery charge is meant to give you up to 210 minutes of talk time or 280 hours of stand by time.

Overall I think the phone does look rather smart and nifty.  It may look large and heavy but other than that I think it looks good in comparison to most.  I like the fact that it is a slide phone and the way you are able to slide the front layer up and down it makes it rather unique I feel.

==My overall opinion of the phone==

I am fairly happy with this phone although I have moved on somewhat since when I first got it.  I do think that I will end my  contract in November when the 18 month fixed comes to an end.  I am happy to keep this phone and got pay as you go just because I feel I do not use the phone enough to warrant paying a monthly subscription.

I think honestly that I would be happy with having a bog standard phone now as I have realised that I am not too bothered about having the latest model with all the new applications and things to work out how to use.  The thrill of getting a new phone is always great at the start but the novelty soon wears off.

Yes this one does have a lot of added features that one could use regularly but these are not features that I find myself needing.  It works well as a camera and does take both good pictures and good video clips.  The phone makes good calls and it is easy to send and receive text messages.

The phone really has all I could want and more.  I find it easy to use now that I know my way about it but I would add that my other half can never use it as he finds it all way too complicated (technophobe).

I would give this phone a good rating of 3 stars and give it a recommendation.  I like it but I think perhaps other people may get more use out of all the jazzy features that it has.  I don’t think I would have forked out £335 for it but I have probably paid that by now in my monthly subscriptions.  However it does what I need it to do so I can’t really fault it.

Written by Newby2

I need an iPhone 4 | Facebook Page: www.facebook.com | Twitter: @tinywatches
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Stanza i-phone Ebook reader – How to turn your i-phone in to an ebook reader

October 16, 2011 By Leave a Comment

****What is it?****

The Lexcycle Stanza i-phone ebook reader application is, as its name suggests, a i-phone application that turns your i-phone in to an ebook reader that is capable of dealing with ebooks in all the ‘usual’ formats (such as PDFs) enabling you to carry your whole book library (in addition to your film/movie and music libraries) around with you at all times. 

****Where do I get the ebooks from?**** 

Using the Stanza application ebooks can be directly downloaded to the i-phone from an ebook website of choice or, alternatively from one of the various ‘Book stores’ (accessed through links that are included in the application). The links included In the application are for All Romance Ebooks, Smashwords, Feedbooks, Random House Free Library, Try Harlequin, Project Gutewnberg, Books From Munseys and many more. Some of the books are free but most you have to pay for prior to downloading, which is to be expected. 

I must admit that I have not downloaded a pay for book directly on to the i-phone although I have downloaded a free ebook. The process is exceptionally easy and fool proof and it is simply a case of following the onscreen instructions however the download time is very, very slow (even using a wi-fi connection) so it is not something that I would recommend unless you are desperate to get a particular book and downloading to the i-phone is the only way you can do this. 

If there is an ebook library set up on the home computer it is possible to transfer books within that library to the i-phone, and since I always buy and download ebooks using my laptop, where I have the freedom to use my ‘tried and trusted’ sites and not those that are preloaded when you install Stanza on the i-phone, this is my preferred method. 

****How do I get ebooks I already own on the i-phone? **** 

If you want to transfer ebooks that you already own from your home computer to the i-phone you will need to get hold of the desktop Stanza software, which is available as a free download from the Lexcycle website. The software enables the home computer and i-phone to hook up and connect to each other. The only way to transfer books between the home computer and the i-phone is wirelessly over a network. Unfortunately it is not possible to link the i-phone to the computer via USB and download via cable, which is a shame. 

The Stanza desktop software is a tiny package that takes up little room. As well as being entirely safe it is un-obtrusive and doesn’t keep linking the home computer to third party sites that encourages the user to spend money, download other programs etc. unlike many sites. 

Once the program is on the i-phone and the home computer it is all systems go and it is simply a case of; 

i) Opening Stanza on the home PC

ii) Adding the book you want to transfer to the i-phone (simply done by browsing, selecting the ebook library or wherever else the ebook maybe and hitting select)

iii) Firing up the Application on the i-phone

iv) Selecting “get book” on the menu screen

v) Selecting your home computer (which will automatically link to the i-phone using the wi-fi connection)

vi) Selecting transfer; and

vii) Waiting for the book to be transferred over

 It should be noted that if you only want to download ebooks directly to the i-phone the Stanza program is only needed on the i-phone and not the home computer. 

****My experience of setting it all up**** 

From the beginning I had little interest in downloading books direct to the i-phone, therefore I knew I was going to need the Stanza i-phone application and the Stanza desktop software, so I was going to suffer the double whammy. When I read about how Stanza works and how to get ebooks from my laptop to my i-phone I have to admit that I felt a bit apprehensive and out of my depth. I read the instructions from the website over and over again, yet they just didn’t make sense to me and it never clicked as I just couldn’t picture it. 

However “no guts, no glory” and all that, so I decided to have a go and install it. After all, what was the worst thing that could happen? Once the programs were downloaded and uploaded/installed on the i-phone and laptop respectively the whole concept fell in to place and it was exceptionally easy, self explanatory and straightforward. I had no problems whatsoever and anyone a tiny bit ‘techie’, and let’s face it those with an i-phone and a home computer are by virtue of their purchases, will sail through the process. 

****Firing up the application on the i-phone**** 

Opening up the application on the i-phone the user is directed to the menu page, which consists of; 

i) The library (where the content is shown according to book, author or group)

ii) Get books (where you can download from the catalogue, computers sharing books and recent downloads)

iii) Now reading (the current book being read); and

iv) Info (help and assistance with the Stanza application) 

Like all menus the user decides the course of action to take and simply follow it through. There is a user guide included on the application but the application’s user face (in conjunction with the i-phones controls) is so intuitive, easy to navigate and user friendly that it is simple to figure out by experimentation. Believe me, you will up and running in no time and there really is no need to sit there and study the user guide. 

****Personalising the Stanza/i-phone Ebook reader**** 

With a traditional paper book “you get what you get” when it comes to font, spacing, layout etc. and whilst this may not be a problem to most people there are going to be some readers who struggle whilst reading. In my opinion, one of the best features of ebook readers is the ability to change the layout of the ebook to make it easier and more comfortable to read, and this is something that the Stanza i-phone reader has also, which is just brilliant. 

There are loads of different fonts to choose from including the standard Ariel and New Times Roman, as well as more ‘flowing’ fonts such as Zapfino amongst many others. I have to admit that I am quite boring when choosing reading text and I will always use Ariel where possible. However boring it is I do find it exceptionally easy to read and pleasant on the eyes without causing any strain, even during extended reading periods. I have tried to use Zapfino, and whilst it looks nice I found myself squinting after a few short minutes which is not good. 

As well as the type of font there is the option to change the appearance (which includes things such as font size, text colour, background colour, background image, image opacity), layout (which includes alignment, hyphenation, margins, line spacing, paragraph spacing and paragraph indent), controls (which includes locking/unlocking book rotation, enabling/disabling sleep, page turn effect, page turn duration, vertical swipe, pinch and spread, left/right screen tap and tap and hold duration) and general (which includes auto loading of books, tips, enabling/disabling notifications, cover flows and thumbnails). There is a special “night theme”. 

Whilst the ability to personalise is great, I must admit that I thought the amount of options was a bit of an overkill and just far too much to tinker with, however after spending a bit of time playing around with them and seeing what the features do I have to admit that the correct settings really do enhance the reading experience and make it that much more comfortable, especially during extended reading periods and with so many options and settings available there should be enough to keep even the fussiest reader happy. 

****So is it any good?**** 

In my opinion this is one of the best i-phone applications I have found, and what’s more it is totally free, FOC, nada, nowt, zip, zilch……the best price. 

Using the program is an absolute doddle. From obtaining the required software to downloading it to itunes/the home computer to uploading it to the i-phone to transferring books to using the application on the i-phone, everything is so easy it is fool proof. 

Before using the program I was a bit skeptical, especially since the i-phone screen is so small. I was under the impression that there would be few words on the screen at any one time and the writing would be so small it would be awkward and uncomfortable to read, but I was so wrong. I use Arial font in a size 12, which even for my Mr Magoo eye sight is fine. Using this combination the screen holds 18 lines of text, which I agree is far less than an actual book therefore there will be more page turning, but I think this is quite impressive. Page turning simply involves tapping the screen in the bottom right hand corner, or if you want that more authentic feel sliding a finger along the bottom of the screen from right to left, which is no real chore. 

Personally I am getting to the point where I am starting to prefer using the i-phone reader over an actual book. I appreciate some people like the ‘look and feel’ of a traditional book and I was one of them up until I started using my i-phone. With the i-phone  there are no dog eared pages or covers, you don’t have to worry about tears, rips or missing pages, you don’t have to worry about getting coffee mug rings on the cover as the i-phone will never accidentally be used as a coaster, the i-phone Ebook reader allows night reading without needing a light (which is great as I no longer disturb the other half), in fact I can think of many reasons why Ebooks are becoming more appealing to me, but perhaps the best thing for me is that i-phone Ebook reading is just so comfortable. The i-phones sits perfectly in the palm of my right hand enabling me to “turn” the page using a left hand finger. There is no holding a book with both hands and letting it slip as you fumble the page over meaning you have to adjust the book so you can see it etc. etc. I also like the way you can change the layout, format, font etc. allowing the user to set up the i-phone for the ultimate in comfort and reading experience. 

The amount of Ebooks your i-phone will hold will not only depend upon the exact model you have (i.e. 8gb, 16gb or 32gb) but the amount of ‘free’ space available on your i-phone. Ebooks, especially when in PDF format, are very small so there is the potential of carrying around thousands of books at all times.  Wonderful, but is there any real need to carry that amount around with you? Personally, I think not. 

One thing I have noticed is the more books you have held on your i-phone the slower the Stanza program will run (but this happens with my other half’s Sony Ebook reader once it is fully loaded) as loading time increases, the time between page turning increases, in fact just carrying out simple actions takes much longer. For this to be a problem I found there needs to be a fair amount of books on the i-phone, more than anyone would be able to read in a month, therefore I would advise in keeping a maximum of ten Ebooks on the i-phone at any one time and as one is finished uploading a new one. With this number of books the loading times of the program, as well as the general responsiveness is not compromised. 

Overall, this is an awesome application that has definitely enhance my enjoyment of reading books and I cannot recommend it highly enough. I appreciate I have barely scratched the surface of the i-phone Ebook reader although I hope it has given an insight and a bit of a taster as to the possibilities of the i-phone and the Stanza software, which I think will only get better with time, although they are fantastic as they currently stand. 

Written by yackers1
ACCA qualified accountant who thirives in the world of business and finance

High-Tech Magician Marco Tempest got himself an iPhone and it can do magic things. More about Marco Tempest’s magic: www.marcotempest.com Thanks for watching!
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Apple i-phone 3G – The best cell/mobile phone?

October 16, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Reviewing an i-phone, of any model, is a difficult task. All phones in the range contains so many features and functions I would be able to write thousands and thousands of words, well I could if I had the patience and inclination and thought all the users of this review would actually read it. Scouring the internet there are hundreds of reviews about the i-phone that range from the very detailed and “techy/geeky” to those of a few lines saying “it’s great”, along with everything in between. During my research I never found a review that covered the “stupid” questions that I daren’t ask the sales staff in the O2 shop or any i-phone owners, so hopefully I have covered most of these “stupid” points that potential consumers may have, within my review. This review is to give a ‘taster’ of living with the i-phone, broadly describing advantages, benefits, key features and problems I have experienced to date. The only way to definitely know if the i-phone is for you is to take the plunge and get one. I admit that I was skeptical at first however I wouldn’t be without mine, even though it is ‘only’ the entry level model of the current range. 

***The model of choice**** 

There are a few models of i-phone currently available including the 8gb 3G, 16gb 3GS and the 32gb 3GS. Whilst the higher level models have more features than the more ‘basic’ models they are all pretty much the same core product. 

After weighing up my needs, finances and information I gathered from the internet I decided the best option for me was the 8gb 3G. In my opinion 16gb, let alone 32gb, is just too much and whilst these 3GS models had additional features of which some, like the video camera (although like most things “There is an app for that”), would be nice there was no way I could justify the additional cost, so I plumped for the 8gb 3G model. 

****In the box**** 

When I was presented with my i-phone box I must admit that I was quite disappointed. The box is very small and contains the i-phone, a plug with a USB slot for wall charging, a USB lead, headphones, the sim card removal tool (ensure you keep this safe), a quick start “finger tips” guide and two Apple stickers. 

Everything to get you started is included but given the value and status of the i-phone I was expecting more. Maybe a bigger box? Maybe a few more user guides? Who knows, I just thought there would be something a bit extra. The small box is good for the environment though so as few trees as possible were harmed in the manufacture of these phones. 

****Size**** 

I have to admit that I am a fan of small phones and I always have been. The Motorola Startac, the Samsung GSH600, the Razr were all small phones and I loved them all. They may not have had all the features of other phones during their time but I simply loved the fact that they could be chucked in a pocket of the tightest fitting jeans and they wouldn’t be obtrusive. 

Unfortunately, the same can’t be said about the i-phone and at around 12cm x 6cm x just under 1cm it is a bit of a beast. Compared to my previous phone, a Blackberry Pearl, it is huge and I did (and still do) notice the difference in size. That said, I think the i-phone is the perfect size for the features it has to offer. Any smaller and many of the features and applications just wouldn’t work. 

Size v features and functionality is a trade off and compromises have to be made, therefore I am more than happy to have a slightly bulkier phone that is packed with features so I am more than happy with my i-phone. 

****Battery life**** 

Whilst in the O2 shop I was treated to a demonstration of the basic features of the i-phone and how to use it. During the demonstration the salesman commented on how poor the battery life of the i-phone was compared to other mobile phones on the market. When he said his friend (being a heavy user) had to charge his phone on a daily basis and the battery went dead twice in a 24 hour period I thought he was exaggerating. 

Watching podcasts or movies, surfing the net and listening to music all depletes the life quickly, which is to be expected really. In addition, if you leave the phone in 3G mode in an area where there is no signal the battery life will also be used up quickly as the phone is constantly looking for a signal (and using its power) that just isn’t there. In order to preserve the battery life it is best to leave the 3G off unless you are actually in a 3G area. 

After owning the i-phone I can confirm that this mobile devours its battery very, very quickly. If the phone is left alone with no use then the battery will last around a day and a half to two days. Compared to my previous phone (a Blackberry Pearl) the battery life is diabolical and I find that I have to charge my i-phone daily.

 Personally, I have no problem with this since the i-phone can be charged via USB, a wall charger, car charger or one of those instant chargers so there are no excuses for not being able to top up the battery. I should also point out that you can even buy a solar charger that plugs in to the bottom of the i-phone so you can even charge it on the beach, by the pool, trekking through the Himalayas or wherever else your travels may take you. 

****Instructions and user guides**** 

Where to start with the instructions and user guide? I can only really describe this as minimalist. Don’t get me wrong, I am all for saving trees, reducing my carbon footprint as far as possible (within reason) etc but I do like to have some form of written instructions when I buy any product, let alone something like the i-phone, which is technologically advanced and requires a bit of getting used to the ‘controls’. 

When I was handed the box I instantly knew there wasn’t going to be a (hard) paper copy as the box was just so small. There is, however, enough room for a CD so I thought there would be a user guide disc lurking somewhere at the bottom, however I was very mistaken. There was a tiny ‘scrap’ of paper, which Apple refers to as a quick user guide, although it is pretty useless and contains information about features that can be worked out within 30 seconds of getting the phone out of the box. Now this user guide, was a total waste of paper. 

The full user guide can be downloaded free of charge from the internet. Just do a Google search and you’ll soon find it for download. Even though the i-phone is easy to use I would highly recommend reading the user guide to get started. 

****The home screen and included features**** 

The i-phone comes preloaded with features including messages, phone, mail, contacts, calendar, camera, youtube, maps, weather, calculator, settings, iTunes, Safari, ipod, stocks, photos, voice memos, clock, App store and notes. 

The above is a good selection to get any i-phone user started, however, I doubt most people are going to use all of the features above. Personally, I will never use the stocks, notes or voice memos and these are icons that are just sat there. One thing that surprises me is the fact that the above features can’t be deleted. It is possible to “get rid of them” by moving them to an additional ‘home screen’ so you can keep all the features and apps you’re going to use together, so all is not lost. 

One thing that surprised me about the i-phone is the limited number of ringtones and message stones that are bundled on it from the factory. I would have thought there would have been much more variety and a greater number of sounds than is actually included, especially given the emphasis that is place on ringtones. This is more of an annoyance than a disadvantage as it is exceptionally quick and easy to seek out tones that say something about you and a five minute internet search will give you access to thousands of ringtones and sounds that can be downloaded for free and uploaded on to your i-phone. I can remember the days when you had to pay a fortune for ringtones and the only way of getting them was to receive them by text, so there was no way of getting them for free, so the modern day MP3 tones (which are limitless and free from most places) are an absolute god send. 

****Navigation and general overview**** 

The i-phone uses touch screen technology. Having had touch screen appliances before, including and Archos MP4 player amongst other things, I was a bit skeptical of how responsive it would be. Not only do I have fat finger syndrome but I also suffer from dry finger tips and rough skin and these are not a good combination for other touch screen products I own as it does affect the responsiveness somewhat. I have to confess that there are no issues over the responsiveness of the touch screen of my i-phone and is both fast and accurate, which makes for an excellent experience. 

Texting and emailing is a pleasure. The i-phone has a full qwerty keyboard that instantly ‘pops up’ when you want to write an email, text, web address etc. Because of the issues I have above I did have some concerns and thought there would be many instances of the i-phone recognising incorrect characters when I typed, however I do have few problems. There are accuracy issues at times, there is with all phones, whether touch screen of the traditional button style, but I have to admit that the touch screen is far more accurate and far more responsive than the qwerty keyboard of my Pearl and my texting speeds, now I am used to the i-phone, are much quicker and contain far fewer errors than ever before. 

****Music/video and podcasts**** 

Even the 8gb i-phone, which is the one with the smallest amount of memory, has enough room to store a few thousand songs, many small video files (or nearly two full length feature DVDs) and podcasts, which is more than enough for several hours entertainment. 

In a nut shell the i-phone has a video i-pod built in. It works in exactly the same way and has all the same features of an i-pod so any consumer who is au fait with an i-pod will have no problems operating this feature. All media is uploaded to the i-phone using iTunes, which is pretty much expected, and it is possible to upload all current movies, playlists, tracks etc. 

Personally, I prefer Media Monkey to manage my MP3 library, although since I have had the i-phone I have reverted back to iTunes since it is so user friendly and easy to use. 

****Surfing the internet**** 

The internet is accessed using wi-fi, 3G or GPRS depending on what is available. A wi-fi connection is best, which is to be expected. Using the internet on a wi-fi connection is very fast and pages load up very quickly. Despite the i-phones relatively small screen size surfing the internet is a pleasure and text on the screen can be enlarged by simply doing a “spreading of fingers” action on the touch screen. Navigating around web pages, via the touch screen is also easy and very responsive.

 Compared to my friend’s Blackberry Storm the i-phone performs much faster on a wi-fi connection, which kind of annoyed him a little. That said, when connected to the internet via 3G or GPRS the i-phone is no faster than the Storm, which surprised me a little. Surfing the net using GPRS is slow, and this appears to be the case regardless of what appliance you use, and it is something that I avoid unless I really need to find something (such as addresses or contact details from a website) whilst out and about. 

****Applications (“Apps”)**** 

There are thousands and thousands of apps available for the i-phone. The Apple store claims there are over 85,000 where as some websites claim there is in excess of 100,000. 

There are applications across a whole range of ‘genres’ and health and fitness, books, entertainment, games, business, finance, sport, travel, utilities, navigation, themes, wallpapers and ringtones provide a flavour of the types of things out there. 

With so many apps to choose from there is something, in fact there are many things, for everyone so finding something for you will not create any problems. I should point out that many apps are a total waste of time and are nonsensical juvenile rubbish that some people may find offensive. That said, there are many fantastic apps that not only provide hours of entertainment but are also useful in day to day life. 

One thing I have noticed about many of the free game apps is that they provide a quick taster or demonstration of the game only and after a very short time of game play you are directed to the site where you can download the full version for a fee. 

****More than just a phone**** 

The i-phone is far more than a just a phone and this is largely down to the apps that are available for it. I am constantly finding my i-phone is starting to replace other gadgets I have bought over the years and I am finding that I am using it; 

For satellite navigation (replacing my Tom Tom)

As an MP3 player (replacing my Ipod and various other MP3 players I have bought)

For internet browsing on the move (replacing my Archos)

For watching films/TV series on the go (replacing my Archos and portable DVD player)

As an E-book reader (I no longer have to ‘borrow’ my other half’s Sony Ebook reader)

As a GPS map reader for hiking (replacing my Garmin Etrex)

As a GPS training tool (replacing my Garmin Edge 705) 

Whilst the i-phone may be an expensive outlay initially once you start using it to its full potential and realise exactly what you can do with the device it can start saving you money. Look at my gadgets it has replaced. Over the years I have spent hundreds of pounds and the i-phone now replaces them. I know for a fact I will never buy another MP3 player or an E Book reader or an MP4 player ever again and it is only a matter of time before the i-phone has paid for itself and actually starts saving me money.

 The thing that really makes the i-phone stand out for me is the fact that most of the useful apps I have found are totally free which is great for the consumer. There seems to be loads of people worldwide that not only has the capability of developing these apps, but also the want and desire to produce them and then let i-phone users benefit from their creations for nothing, which is great for the consumer as it keeps a steady flow of new and useful apps that just keep getting better and better. 

I have to admit that I have had to pay for some apps, although the cost of these has been a couple of pounds at the most. In my experience it appears that the apps that cost the money are for games, most of which don’t really excite me that much. Whilst the cost of games is low, usually around 99 cents per game, if games interest you then it can be quite easy to get sucked in and spend a fortune on games. I have witnessed this in a friend who had the “oh, it’s only 99 cents” mentality and proceeded to buy several games a day which amounted to a lot of money over the space of a few short months. Quite sad given most of the games kept him entertained for five minutes before they were deleted from not only his i-phone but his i-tunes directory as well. 

****Cost**** 

As you’d expect the i-phone is not cheap. This 8gb 3G version is available on a PAYG tariff for £350, which is a lot of cash to part with. I should point out that a year’s unlimited internet browsing/ data transfer is included in this price so all you have to do is put in a sim (the O2 simplicity scheme is £15 per month) and away you go. 

This 8gb 3G version can be bought for around £100 on the cheapest 18 month contract or free on the cheapest 24 month contract. The exact price you can expect to pay will obviously depend on whether you opt for a PAYG or contract, and if you have a contract the type of contract you sign up for. 

****Conclusion**** 

I hate to jump on the bandwagon and follow the heard but in this instance I just have to. The i-phone truly is an amazing phone and whilst you may not fully believe the hype and hysteria it has caused (I was very, very skeptical) I have to admit that it does live up to it and rise to the challenge. I cannot recommend this product highly enough. 

The i-phone oozes class and style and looks awesome like many phones but unlike a lot of the competition the i-phone also performs. This phone is the real deal, the ultimate package. Hey, I would even go as far to say it is the “Dogs danglies” (an expression I haven’t used for years) and I now see why the Gadget Show is so obsessed with it. The full features of this excellent product cannot be written down and the only way to find out what it is capable of is to get one and play with it.

Written by yackers1
ACCA qualified accountant who thirives in the world of business and finance

Apple Inc’s Phil Schiller shows John Blackstone the many features of the iPhone. Apple’s latest product will go on sale this June.

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