Last week I wrote about my quest for a new international travel smartphone. I discussed my criteria for choosing one and gave a thumbnail review of my three smartphone finalists. Having chosen the iPhone, I’ll report on my experience with it.
In purchasing the iPhone, I admit to having had some apprehension about the purchase, but the iPhone met more of my criteria than any other device. I’ve read about a few problems some uses have had with the iPhone, including marginal battery life for heavy users, and a possible overheating problem. Some have reported a problem keeping a solid 3G connection.
I chose the latest iPhone, the 3GS, 32GB from AT&T. The phone isn’t inexpensive at $299 (with a two-year contract). In addition to a monthly voice plan, you are required to have a $30/month data plan for unlimited nationwide data (Internet). I also purchased Apple Care ($69) which extends the warranty to two years.
I’ve been using the Palm Desktop as my personal information manager (PIM) on my computers for more than a decade. I’ve yet to find a PIM equal to the Palm Desktop. For Windows, Apple requires Microsoft’s Outlook as the iPhone’s PIM, synchronizing with it via iTunes. Outlook as a PIM isn’t bad, but it’s not the Palm Desktop.
While researching the iPhone, I delved into the details about syncing it with Windows. Syncing is a critical operation for me. I’ve got more than 3,000 contact entries. It allows me to make data entries in my computer and phone, later to be synchronized, and back up the phone’s data in case of problems. I investigated:
• Syncing both the iPod and iPhone on one computer.
• Syncing an iPhone on multiple computers (desktop and travel laptop).
• Syncing the iPhone’s contact list, calendar and notes with Outlook.
• Converting my Treo 680 contact list, calendar and notes data for use on the iPhone.
iTunes allows you to have multiple “i” devices on your computer. iTunes permits the user to decide what to sync with each “i” device. You can also sync iPhones to multiple Windows computers, but you must edit the Windows registry, and copy setup files from the initial sync’ed computer to any other computer you want to sync it to.
Sadly, the iPhone does not sync with every contact field in Outlook. You must be careful in populating contacts so all your information synchronizes. Outlook’s calendar categories don’t sync with the iPhone. If you want calendar categories on the iPhone, you need to put each category’s dates in separate Outlook calendars.
While researching converting Palm Treo 680 data for use on the iPhone, I discovered CompanionLink software. According to its site, using CompanionLink Express I could sync my iPhone directly (through iTunes and Outlook 2003 or 2007) to the Palm Desktop via a USB cable. I tried it and it works! I couldn’t have found a better sync solution, for me. The iPhone permits me to sync directly to the computer by wire instead of the Internet, and via CompanionLink, I can still use the Palm Desktop as my PIM.
Since purchasing the iPhone, I’ve found its operating system stable and extremely fast. It pulls in signals better than my Treo 680. Its speakerphone is satisfactory, but could be louder. I can pull up, view and edit data in the calendar, contact list and notes while on the phone.
I’m a heavy cellphone user. I use the phone about 1,200 minutes a month. I pull in 300+ emails every day, periodically browse the Internet for specific information, average 20 text messages daily, and use Bluetooth. Despite that, I’ve found I safely have enough battery power to complete each day’s usage without recharging.
I have a Bluetooth headset, and a friend a Bluetooth enabled car. The iPhone easily paired successfully with both.
The screen is bright with superb resolution and clarity. It’s large enough to be useful browsing the web and reading Microsoft Office and Adobe Acrobat documents. The keyboard is easy to use, with keys of sufficient size that I have no trouble typing individual characters. Zooming in and out is easily accomplished.
The 3G data speed is broadband fast, and WIFI connectivity is excellent. WIFI is set as the preferred connection method when available. I’ve personally had no 3G connection problems.
The iPhone is a quad-band GSM cell phone which can be used almost anywhere in the world cellphone service exists. It has a great GPS which can be linked for use in software applications which run on the phone.
I’ve found a myriad of useful business and travel applications which run on the iPhone, some free. I have been wowed by some of Rick Steves audio/video tours, a Paris Metro application, Zagat to Go, ACTCurrency, and Flight Update Pro.
So far the iPhone 3GS has exceeded my expectations.
After many years working in corporate America as a chemical engineer, executive and eventually CFO of a multinational manufacturer, Ned founded a tech consulting company and later restarted NSL Photography, his photography business. Before entering the corporate world, Ned worked as a Public Health Engineer for the Philadelphia Department of Public Health. As a well known corporate, travel and wildlife photographer, Ned travels the world writing about travel and photography, as well as running photography workshops, seminars and photowalks. Visit Ned’s Photography Blog and Galleries.
