First iPhone 4 Review rolls in...

[TheWart]

Well, here is Engadget's take, which is the first I have seen so far.

This is my favorite part:

This is a big one for many people, and we have some fairly surprising news to report. The battery life on the iPhone 4 has been outstanding thus far, exceeding our expectations for longevity during testing. We've only had a short time to use the phone, but in the week or so we've been carrying the device as our main phone, we've had pretty amazing results under normal to heavy use. In fact, we managed to squeeze more than 38 hours -- yes, 38 hours -- of life out of a single charge using the phone as we normally would. We're talking calls, some gaming, lots of push email and calendar invites, playing music over Bluetooth in the car, and just general testing (like downloading new apps, rearranging icons, tweaking settings). We went from 10:30AM on a Saturday morning till 1:00AM on Monday without needing to charge the phone. O

daaaaaang. I will contain my excitement until more definitive tests are done, but that would awesome.

Here is their conclusion:

We're not going to beat around the bush -- in our approximation, the iPhone 4 is the best smartphone on the market right now. The combination of gorgeous new hardware, that amazing display, upgraded cameras, and major improvements to the operating system make this an extremely formidable package. Yes, there are still pain points that we want to see Apple fix, and yes, there are some amazing alternatives to the iPhone 4 out there. But when it comes to the total package -- fit and finish in both software and hardware, performance, app selection, and all of the little details that make a device like this what it is -- we think it's the cream of the current crop. We won't argue that a lot of this is a matter of taste -- some people will just prefer the way Android or Symbian works to the iPhone, and others will be on the lookout for a hardware keyboard or a particular asset that the iPhone 4 lacks -- but in terms of the total picture, it's tough to deny that Apple has moved one step past the competition with this phone. Of course, in the hyper-accelerated smartphone market where the Next Big Thing seems to always be just around the corner, it's anyone's guess how long they keep that edge.

Makes me even more excited to pick mine up on thursday!

Amazing screen, amazing battery life, and per Engagdet fewer dropped calls...sounds like a winner to me.

Oh yeah, and they said that the background task completer API does allow for persistent net connections, going on to claim that Colloquy used it to stay connected to their IRC server.

EDIT: Here is the BoingBoing review, it has a ton of sample pictures to check out.

 

[Phobic9]

There's some pretty impressive tech and design in the phone no doubt but from owning my iPad 3G (which I like WAY more than I thought I would), AT&T kills this thing dead in the water for me. This is the first iPhone I haven't pre-ordered since the iPhone was introduced.

Also, I'd like to hear "We've been waiting a while to get this right." in regards to the iOS notification system. After using Android for a while, Apple's notifications flat out suck IMO. By the time that's fixed, the iPhone should be on another carrier (or AT&T's 3G coverage has vastly improved to the places I travel to by then) so I can take another look at the iPhone.

 

[OBLAMA2009]

i wonder how long it will take the android people to come up with another second rate knock-off of it.

 

[TheWart]

i wonder how long it will take the android people to come up with another second rate knock-off of it.

let's avoid the trolling please

 

[simonizor]

The hardware of the iPhone 4 may well be the best smartphone out there, but the software is so limiting and closed without being jailbroken. I would definitely not say that it's the best smartphone out there. You also have to deal with ATT...

 

[Phobic9]

The hardware of the iPhone 4 may well be the best smartphone out there, but the software is so limiting and closed without being jailbroken. I would definitely not say that it's the best smartphone out there. You also have to deal with ATT...

Yep, and Engadget mentions a hint of this (and the notification thing) in their review. How nice would it be if Apple added some lockscreen info or a widget/gadget type system so you can see your info at a glance? I'd imagine that iOS will be getting a UI revamp before long. Apple will have to sooner or later to stay competitive.

 

[TheWart]

Yep, and Engadget mentions a hint of this (and the notification thing) in their review. How nice would it be if Apple added some lockscreen info or a widget/gadget type system so you can see your info at a glance? I'd imagine that iOS will be getting a UI revamp before long. Apple will have to sooner or later to stay competitive.

Yea, that is the next area of the OS they need to address, no doubt about it.

However, I -and apparently quite a few others- think that the notifcation system drawback is far outweighed by the device's other benefits.

 

[QueBert]

The hardware of the iPhone 4 may well be the best smartphone out there, the software is so limiting and closed without being jailbroken. I would definitely not say that it's the best smartphone out there. You also have to deal with ATT...

The software isn't limiting at all, outside of a customizable lock screen what really is it lacking? App for app (I own both a Touch and an Android) I can do just as much on my Touch - and that's without it being jail broke. Oh and I have a much better quality of apps available. Closed isn't exactly a bad thing, my WinMo 6 phone has had to be hard reset (reformatted) 3 times since I've had it due to apps I've installed that should have never been released. Jailbreaking are rooting are about the same. But it's much simpler to JB an iPhone. AT&T sucks donkey dick in my area, but the phone will have me selling my Android to switch back to the dark side. It looks to be that good of a phone.

 

[Phobic9]

. AT&T sucks donkey dick in my area, but the phone will have me selling my Android to switch back to the dark side. It looks to be that good of a phone.

Is it really worth it though? I thought about the same thing but figured what good would it be to have a snazzy phone when I don't have the luxury of infinite WiFi hotspots? AT&T isn't that bad in my area is just not even close to as good as VZW is for me. I unfortunately rely on 3G too much when I'm not home.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

Yep, and Engadget mentions a hint of this (and the notification thing) in their review. How nice would it be if Apple added some lockscreen info or a widget/gadget type system so you can see your info at a glance? I'd imagine that iOS will be getting a UI revamp before long. Apple will have to sooner or later to stay competitive.

I thought Apple said they'd be improving the push notifications, but it seems we haven't gotten anywhere yet. That's kinda ugly.

 

[Phobic9]

I thought Apple said they'd be improving the push notifications, but it seems we haven't gotten anywhere yet. That's kinda ugly.

Only thing I've heard was that they (Apple) hired the guy that designed the notification system for WebOS on the Palm Pre, which I think is pretty damn good.

 

[sjwaste]

Sounds like a nice phone. My wife will be excited. She's due for an upgrade from her first gen iPhone. Not my cup of tea anymore after getting the Evo, but to each his own. I just like a bigger screen.

Will be cool to get to use both.

 

[QueBert]

Is it really worth it though? I thought about the same thing but figured what good would it be to have a snazzy phone when I don't have the luxury of infinite WiFi hotspots? AT&T isn't that bad in my area is just not even close to as good as VZW is for me. I unfortunately rely on 3G too much when I'm not home.

Not worth it, but I can't help myself here, maybe in 2011 Verizon will get the iPhone and I can jump to a good carrier. But I will be getting the iPhone 4 as soon as I can afford it. It's kind of sad how a phone can possess such power.

 

[JS80]

This is great news for Android fan. This should light a fire under Google+HTC anus and fuel competition.

 

[finbarqs]

I've got to say, I never had an iphone, and never had a desire to own one until now... Sure it's locked down, sure I wont get my emulators, but heck, there's an app for almost everything and anything we care about! The only thing I hate about it is the stupid AT&T... I currently have the EVO 4G, and I'm already jealous... the bigger camera sensor blows away the pictures my stupid 8MP evo can take! It's never about MP, but always about sensor size!!! higher mp is arguably a marketing tool these days...

Apple would be the PERFECT company if they would make a product that enthusiasts would also look at! (yes, the 10% out there that want to develop their own stuff for their product/phone!)

If apple made a gaming console... goodbye Nintendo, Sony, Microsoft. It would dominate the gaming market in a heartbeat, with developers BEGGING to sign up with them!

I'm a PC, and I wish I was a Mac...

 

[shortylickens]

Shame its only on AT&T.

i wonder how long it will take the android people to come up with another second rate knock-off of it.

 

[Spoooon]

I just want to see the screen in person so I'll know what I have to look forward to when I get the Droid 3.

 

[speg]

I think it's time to finally upgrade my 1st gen iPhone. I was on the fence, but with Apple selling unlocked phones here (Canada) I think I may be able to justify it

 

[Zebo]

I've got to say, I never had an iphone, and never had a desire to own one until now... Sure it's locked down, sure I wont get my emulators, but heck, there's an app for almost everything and anything we care about! The only thing I hate about it is the stupid AT&T... I currently have the EVO 4G, and I'm already jealous... the bigger camera sensor blows away the pictures my stupid 8MP evo can take! It's never about MP, but always about sensor size!!! higher mp is arguably a marketing tool these days...

Apple would be the PERFECT company if they would make a product that enthusiasts would also look at! (yes, the 10% out there that want to develop their own stuff for their product/phone!)

If apple made a gaming console... goodbye Nintendo, Sony, Microsoft. It would dominate the gaming market in a heartbeat, with developers BEGGING to sign up with them!

I'm a PC, and I wish I was a Mac...

This this and this. Apple finally has the killer app with this phone. I have got to live vicariously through my wifes gs for about a year but the 4's industrial design has put me over the edge finally. I hope I can stand T though or it goes back under 30 day policy. Oh an I want white with a green bumper so I will have to wait a bit since Apple seems to have dropped the ball on white.

 

[Zebo]

I think it's time to finally upgrade my 1st gen iPhone. I was on the fence, but with Apple selling unlocked phones here (Canada) I think I may be able to justify it

Cool! very very interesting...
I go the eagle lake ontario twice a year for fishing can I buy one while there?

How much?

Do you need a contract?

Do they have White?

Does it work with AT&T USA?

Does it work with tmob?

Does visual voicemail work with tmob?

 

[foghorn67]

Looks impressive. First iphone I actually really like. (Design wise).
--edit-- I actually wouldn't be surprised if they made a mid-cycle release for a 64GB version.

 

[TheStu]

Looks impressive. First iphone I actually really like. (Design wise).
--edit-- I actually wouldn't be surprised if they made a mid-cycle release for a 64GB version.

Is there single chip 64GB NAND yet? The reason the iPod Touch has double the storage capacity of the iPhone is that it doesn't need the cellular radio so they have room to stick another NAND on the logic board. The iPhone only has one chip.