Brit Blog Names iPhone 'World's Worst'

Rico · November 06, 2009, 05:04:54 AM

I know posting this will stir things up, but hey that's fun sometimes. I have heard (from many sources) that the actual phone call quality on the iPhone is not the greatest. These folks seem to agree and more:

"The iPhone may be the greatest handheld surfing device ever to rock the mobile Web, and a fabulous media player to boot," writes CNET UK's Flora Graham in a mock award citation posted Tuesday. "It may be the highest-rated mobile phone on CNET UK, rocking the pockets of half of our crack editorial team. It's certainly the touchscreen face that launched a thousand apps. But as an actual call-making phone, it's rubbish, and we aim to prove it."

What follows is a litany of complaints no iPhone owner hasn't heard — or expressed — before. But to read them in a publication that four months earlier named Apple's device the "world's best touchscreen phone" is unexpected. And in Ms. Graham's voice, sort of fun.

To quote a few of her sharper lines:

* Say What?

Call quality on the iPhone is pathetic, and it's mostly because of the tiny speaker. It has to be aligned with your ear canal with the accuracy of a laser-guided ninja doing cataract surgery, or else the volume cuts down to nothing as the sound waves bounce uselessly around your ear shells.

* Dropped Calls and Data Gaps

If, like Will Smith in Enemy of the State, you're trying to avoid the eagle eye of Big Brother, the iPhone. could be for you. It drops calls, fails to connect and doesn't even ring sometimes — not for everyone, but more often than any other phone we're currently using.

* You Can't Answer If it Doesn't Ring

Perhaps the worst of the iPhone's problems is its ability to sit there stealthily and ignore incoming calls. With no ring or vibrate to clue you in, your friends and family are redirected to voicemail... or just treated to silence. If you're in a two-iPhone family, it can be a case of the deaf leading the mute.

* The iPhone Might Burn Your Face Off

According to our ultra-sciencey test, it is extremely unlikely that the iPhone will burn your face off... Nevertheless, pressing a large, flat surface to your cheek is always going to be sweaty... Thus the current trend for people to walk down the street with their phones on hands-free, yelling into the mike at the bottom while they hold the rest of the phone away from their faces.

* iPhone Battery Life

A couple of hours of Google Maps over 3G and you'll be lost in the woods without even the possibility of phoning for help. Compare that to the good old days when your phone would last a week without charging, and you'll wonder why you ever bothered to switch.

* The iPhone Sucks — So What?

If the iPhone is inaudible, unconnected, on fire and out of battery, why is the thing so popular? The fact is, although the iPhone is the worst phone in the world, it's the best handheld computer there is.

At least until CNET UK's editors name a new one.

source:
http://finance.yahoo.com/family-home/article/108096/brit-Blog-names-iPhone-worlds-worst.html?mod=family-love_money

Bryancd · November 06, 2009, 05:19:37 AM

LOL! Well, that's it, the iPhone is dead, CNET's UK editor doesn't like the call quality. I hardly think it will "stir things up". Everyone will have differing experiences/expectations about a product. The success of this product can't be denied and will continue unabated, I can assure you. It's just like the iPod. Everyone has been and will try to create something superior and all they will end up doing is creating lesser imitations. As someone who tracks Apple's biz VERY closely as well as future prospects stuff like this is just noise. I told you the iPhone wopuld be huge 2 years ago and I was correct.

Bromptonboy · November 06, 2009, 05:32:08 AM

I have had an iPhone for about a year now, and still love it. The call quality issues are no better or worse than other phones I have had over the years.
Battery life is only an issue for me when using the 3G data network - that gobbles ups the juice to be sure.
Some of the new slew of Android phones are beckoning to me - since I am lusting for a QWERTY keyboard...

Rico · November 06, 2009, 05:33:05 AM

Oh, it's obviously a good product and successful but frankly I think (like the article says) most people like it mainly for the apps and mini-computer aspects - not really the phone part. And an iPod Touch can do all that - minus that nasty monthy phone plan cost. Just a thought.

Bryancd · November 06, 2009, 05:45:31 AM

Call and data issue's also can be very service provider dependent. And of course people like it for the apps and other functionality otherwise they would just buy a plain old phone, that's hardly a realization. That's the nature of the entire smart phone industry. The "phone" part is often secondary to the consumer consideration vs. internet, data, and application issues. THAT'S why people buy them and pay for the more expensive plans. And yet Apple has managed to create a premium product and sell it into a weak global economy. It's really quiet amazing.

You're not having buyers remorse for opting not to get one, are you? ;)

Rico · November 06, 2009, 05:49:31 AM

Quote from: Bryancd on November 06, 2009, 05:45:31 AM
You're not having buyers remorse for opting not to get one, are you? ;)

Nope - not at all. I'm paying $10/month for my phone and it does what I need well - call people. I have multiple computers for all the rest.

Bryancd · November 06, 2009, 05:52:22 AM

Quote from: Rico on November 06, 2009, 05:49:31 AM
Quote from: Bryancd on November 06, 2009, 05:45:31 AM
You're not having buyers remorse for opting not to get one, are you? ;)

Nope - not at all. I'm paying $10/month for my phone and it does what I need well - call people. I have multiple computers for all the rest.

I'm with you on that, I just have a cheapy Verizon phone and all I do is make calls. I have to say, though, the apps are strating to make me want an iPhone more and more.

Rico · November 06, 2009, 06:00:07 AM

Just get an iPod Touch then Bryan, since you have Verizon and not AT&T.

Bryancd · November 06, 2009, 06:05:14 AM

Quote from: Rico on November 06, 2009, 06:00:07 AM
Just get an iPod Touch then Bryan, since you have Verizon and not AT&T.

I know, I have thought about that, but now Jamie wants an iPhone.....

cosmonaut · November 06, 2009, 06:12:02 AM

Quote from: Bryancd on November 06, 2009, 06:05:14 AM

I know, I have thought about that, but now Jamie wasn't an iPhone.....

*chuckle*

and I'm glad I'm not the only one who uses the phone to make calls! :)

Bryancd · November 06, 2009, 06:17:47 AM

opps! Fixed. :)

cosmonaut · November 06, 2009, 06:31:29 AM

I'm a bit sick today and you made laugh. Thanks! :)
I know it's just a wrong click with the spell check , but I liked how it turned out.

Bromptonboy · November 06, 2009, 06:47:26 AM

iPod touch is great - but since I was already an AT&T customer - I opted for the iPhone since I only want to carry around 1 device. I was skeptical about the phone at first - fearing I would not use it enough to justify the expense.
I end up using the Facebook and Geocaching apps, as well as the iPod portion & Google maps very often. Most calls are made from my car using the Bluetooth integration.
It is not perfect, but I am (so far) quite happy.

jedijeff · November 06, 2009, 06:49:35 AM

Not to get jumped on, but it is nice to read an negative article from time to time about Apple. I am sure some of the comments are playing up some complaints greater then they are, or that they are no worse then any other product, but some criticism warranted or not from time to time is not a bad thing, keeps them on their toes.

Mobile phone market is a pretty crowded one, and Apple is not going to have all the advances in it, as they are still very new to the market place. Though I read an interesting article the other day about Nintendo, and how the iPhone/iPod touch have hurt their sales of the DS due to the games you can get on the Apple products. Not sure if Apple was expecting that, or if it was unintentional, but I thought that was an interesting side effect.

I got a Palm Pre recently, and I must say, Smart phones are sort of like PVR/HD TV's, once you have one, you really can't see yourself ever not having one. The phone stuff seems really secondary to me, as I mainly use my phone for Data. I like the Idea I can keep up with people from my phone, and if I am out and I need to check something, like movie listings or an address, it is right there a few clicks away. I think since I got my phone a month ago, I have only had 3 or 4 calls on it, but that is probably more due to the fact the amount of people I know I can count on my hand lol .

Bryancd · November 06, 2009, 06:57:36 AM

Quote from: jedijeff on November 06, 2009, 06:49:35 AM
Though I read an interesting article the other day about Nintendo, and how the iPhone/iPod touch have hurt their sales of the DS due to the games you can get on the Apple products. Not sure if Apple was expecting that, or if it was unintentional, but I thought that was an interesting side effect.

Oh, absolutely Apple saw the hand held gaming potential and that's been a big part of the phones strength. I was out 6 months ago talking to clients about the potential growth in gaming and how both Sony and Nintendo were seeing their sales taken away by the iPhone being used as a gaming platform. Very little Apple does is by chance or luck, they tend to be very methodical.