Buying the new iPhone...Questions!

[ManBearPig]

Is there anything I should know before I purchase one? Our 2 year contract is almost up and i want this phone (i decided id get this over a blackberry).

1)Anything that I will probably be pissed about?

2)Will the new OS ship on the new iPhone?

3)Any news about reducing the plan to $20 a month?

4)anyway to NOT get the internet plan and just use it with Wifi?

5)how do upgrades work when the new one comes out (i bet theyll release an awesome one next year, this update seems minor)?

6)Does it use a sim card? I have no idea where itd go if it does!

7)if i fill up all the space with songs, will it be slower? this seems to be the case with the ipod touch i have.

8)Can i get phone insurance for it?

9)are there any recommended clear cases?

10)should i get it at apple or att?

11)How much can i sell a first gen 8gb ipod touch for?

12)How is call quality on the iPhone?

13)Does the data plan that i will have to (unless there is a way around it) buy include texts?

thanks in advance! any other tips would be appreciated!

 

[ViRGE]

1) It entirely depends on what you like and what you're expecting. I'm not a mind reader, you're going to have to fill us in here.

2) Are you buying a 3G today, or are you waiting for a 3GS next week? A 3G today will have 2.2.1, a 3GS next week will have 3.0. Bear in mind that the OS upgrades are free.

3) Nope. Don't expect any price reductions either.

4) Not with AT&T. They know the iPhone IEMIs, if they see one they'll force you to get a proper plan.

5) Apple appears to be trying to stick to a yearly release schedule. So expect a new model next year. Generally the cost of an upgrade depends on the length of your contract. If you have between 6 and 16 months left on your contract, you have to buy it out at half-price, which is reflected by an upgrade cost of $200 more than the fully-subsidized cost (e.g. an early upgrade to get an 8GB 3GS is $399, which is $199 + $200). If you have more than 18 months left you pay a full buy-out price (e.g. $199 + $400). Less than 6 months left, and you qualify for the fully subsidized price. Bear in mind that any upgrade comes with a new 2 year contract.

6) Yes. At the top, there's a very tiny hole to eject the SIM tray.

7) Generally any quirks the iPod Touch has, the iPhone has since they're in the OS. That said I've never noticed a slowdown.

8) You can get an AppleCare plan to cover the second year, however do note that it doesn't cover accidental damage.

9) N/A

10) Both are equally competent at selling phones, although if you want to try one out an Apple Store is a better place to do it.

11) Maybe $100? I'm not eBay.

12) I consider it fine. I don't know what everyone else thinks.

13) No. This is the great dirty scam of all cell phone providers. Texts come in a separate package, starting at $5 for a limited number to $20 for unlimited.

 

[mugs]

Seidio Case + Holster = awesome. It's not clear, it's black. It doesn't cover the screen, but the face-in holster protects it.

 

[alm99]

Are you currently an AT&T customer?

 

[ManBearPig]

Originally posted by: alm99
Are you currently an AT&T customer?

yep

 

[ManBearPig]

Originally posted by: ViRGE
13) No. This is the great dirty scam of all cell phone providers. Texts come in a separate package, starting at $5 for a limited number to $20 for unlimited.

that sucks! so the minimum isnt really $30, its closer to $50? If i have a family text plan, will that still cover the iPhones texting? I hate all these little rules for the iPhone.

 

[ric1287]

Of the 15 or so "smart" phones i've had, the iphone is hands down the best. The only negative is if you're a heavy email'er it may be difficult, but for media/internet/apps, nothing beats it.

The 3gS may seem like a small upgrade, but the new chip/ram/graphics look to be huge improvments (Anand did a review on the main page).

I swear by the Switcheasy rebel case. It combines hard-silicone and a plastic "skelton" and with a screen protector its perfect.

 

[Kmax82]

Originally posted by: Kazaam
If i have a family text plan, will that still cover the iPhones texting? I hate all these little rules for the iPhone.

First of all, yes, the family texting plan covers ALL phones on your family plan.

[rant]
Second, I hate all these little rules for the iPhone? What little rules? These are AT&T's rules. In fact they're the rules of all major cell phone providers. This is not something that's specific to the iPhone. It pisses me off when people didn't read the fine print of their previous phones so they automatically think this is an issue with the iPhone. Yes the iPhone has it's fair share of issues, but pricing is ALL AT&T. Yes you can argue that you can't remove the data plan, but what the heck are you buying an iPhone for if you don't want the data plan? Just get an iPod Touch and stick with a cheaper flip phone.
[/end rant]

 

[torpid]

Originally posted by: Kazaam
1)Anything that I will probably be pissed about?

No tethering or MMS support with AT&T yet. "Coming soon". Most likely you'll pay at least $20/mo for tethering once it is available, based on existing tethering rates. As for the features that do exist, you might get annoyed using the keyboard at first. It takes a while to be comfortable with it.

2)Will the new OS ship on the new iPhone?

I believe so.

3)Any news about reducing the plan to $20 a month?

I don't have any news about this, but when I ordered my 3gs the plan was $30/mo plus whatever for text.

4)anyway to NOT get the internet plan and just use it with Wifi?

This *may* be possible if you unlock it. No guarantees.

5)how do upgrades work when the new one comes out (i bet theyll release an awesome one next year, this update seems minor)?

Software upgrades are thus far free. Hardware upgrades are the same as any other phone generally.

10)should i get it at apple or att?

Preorder it online and avoid lines, IMO. I posted in another thread that this might be unwise due to a discrepancy between the ship dates on the site and email confirmation, but apple has since sent an email confirming that ordering it online guarantees you get one the same day stores sell them.

12)How is call quality on the iPhone?

I can only speak to V1 iPhone (edge/GSM) and it's decent but not great. No idea if it got better with newer versions (will let you know in two weeks)

13)Does the data plan that i will have to (unless there is a way around it) buy include texts?

Nope. $5/200 $15/1500 $20/unlimited or $30/unlimited family.

 

[TangoJuliet]

I went ahead and got the 16GB white iphone 3GS. My account was eligible for a upgrade (original iphone) whereas my wife's phone has one more year. I figure when the next phone comes out next year I'll upgrade her account (and give it to me) and she can have my 3GS.

Originally posted by: ric1287

I swear by the Switcheasy rebel case. It combines hard-silicone and a plastic "skelton" and with a screen protector its perfect.

That looks like a pretty sweet case. Assuming that since the specs on the 3GS are identical to the 3G phone it should fit it, right?

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: Kazaam

Originally posted by: ViRGE
13) No. This is the great dirty scam of all cell phone providers. Texts come in a separate package, starting at $5 for a limited number to $20 for unlimited.

that sucks! so the minimum isnt really $30, its closer to $50? If i have a family text plan, will that still cover the iPhones texting? I hate all these little rules for the iPhone.

I don't know how you define "minimum," but some people don't text. It does suck that cell providers rape you on text rates, but that's how it is.

 

[torpid]

I thought I had read that there is a new switch somewhere to toggle between video and camera. Maybe I misunderstood and it's a button within the camera app.

 

[Kmax82]

Originally posted by: torpid
I thought I had read that there is a new switch somewhere to toggle between video and camera. Maybe I misunderstood and it's a button within the camera app.

I believe it's a toggle in the camera app itself.

 

[ubercaffeinated]

Originally posted by: Kmax82

Originally posted by: torpid
I thought I had read that there is a new switch somewhere to toggle between video and camera. Maybe I misunderstood and it's a button within the camera app.

I believe it's a toggle in the camera app itself.

i wonder if you can embed location data in videos, like you can in pictures