I-Phone Envy

norm · #1 21-09-2009, 10:08 PM

Not.....

I been approached over the last month or so with work colleagues crapping on about their i-phones as if they are the must have accessory.

Don't get me wrong, by the sounds of it they've got some nifty apps, gadgets etc but at the end of day, I couldn't give a rats. If I want one, I'd get it, but the point is, I have no interest in them not now or foreseeable future.

These people then go on about it with their so called great deal plans, blah blah.

Has anyone encountered this ?

PS: I not here to bash I-phone users, only except when they rub it down your throat like some must have item and that I should be jealous.

Ok, thats my rant.

DavidU (Dave) · #2 21-09-2009, 10:15 PM

I use my mobile (an old one) as a phone, ie: to talk, as short as possible thats it. $20 credit lasts me a couple of months.

mithrandir (Andrew) · #3 21-09-2009, 10:28 PM

Only a couple of months? We have one guy who is on his 3rd iPhone, the first one he picked up overseas before they were released in AU. He still doesn't shut up.

Wavytone · #4 21-09-2009, 10:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by norm

as if they are the must have accessory

Forget the Apple logo. Stick a Windows one over it, if it bothers you.

You will change your mind after using StarMap Pro, at the scope. Never mind the rest of what it can do.

DistroMan (Trevor) · #5 21-09-2009, 11:00 PM

I felt the same way when they first came out and a few friends wouldn't shutup about them. I had a Palm Lifedrive at that time that virtually held my life in its palm.

Then it died. I wept like a baby. Then I went to replace it and found that it was cheaper to get the new iphone as it could not only do what I had been doing on the palm, but much more besides and also meant I had one less device to carry around. As it was, to me, time to replace my old mobile it was a no brainer.

I apologise to those I annoy by talking about how good it is. But it is. Really.

Insert usual disclaimer about not being an apple employee or holding apple shares >> here <<.

rally · #6 21-09-2009, 11:03 PM

Best portable device I ever got

For Astro -
It controls the entire telescope system via VNC - that works really well.
It is a Planetarium and has many programs for planning and moon phase
StarMap Pro - truly amazing - point and it will tell you what you are pointing it at - if its not in its own databse of 1.5 Million objects it can look it up on the net for you
It is a real GPS - no need for the $200 one for software setup
Its is an inclinometer no need for $70 Wixey or the $250 ones for setup
Its a compass - no need for the $20-100 compass for setup
It has a torch function - good for keys but not for spotting possums !
It holds all your documents for when you need your notes or a manual in the field.
It has Google Earth
Pocket Weather
Satellite tracker
Planet program

It also has games on it to keep the kids quiet in the car or anywhere else - no need for the video games unit $200
On the other hand it also has a high frequency oscillator to scare them out of the room !
It has educational 'games' on it - it has been teaching my 4YO to spell
Its a web browser
Its an email client
Proper calculator, Metric Conversion tool, Chronometer . . .
It holds all your documents for when you need your notes or a manual in the field.
Its a Photo album for showing things if you want
Its a camera - great for diagnosing problems on the spot
Its has Todo lists, voice recorder and tons of personal time management stuff

It has nearly 100,000 applications that can do almost anything you want and most of them are either free, a US$1 or less than $5, some are more

Maybe the people who are raving about them are actually excited at what they can do as opposed to trying to ram it down your throat.

It can play videos and MP3s but I am yet to bother - I got it to help me do things and it does this in a way that works for me - its now my portable office.
I dont even need a mobile data plan because I am usually connected to a local network and it uses that automatically when they are in range.

Ohh - nearly forgot - its also a phone.

That just happens to work better than my last 3g phone in poor reception areas where I live and travel !

So it has saved me money and time.

Not bad for a phone I say !

Calibos (Keith) · #7 21-09-2009, 11:35 PM

I would have been in complete agreement with Norm and used my simple phone like Dave. I was always a bit of a tech head and gadget freak but in terms of phones that soon wore off with the advent of camera phones and smartphones. Never used the cameras, never used the smart features, paid extra for the priveledge of having these features and the phones always died within a year or two. I figured if a phone isn't going to last longer than a year in my pocket, I want to have paid double figures for it and not triple figures

However, I did borrow an I-Touch from my brother when I went on holiday and loaded it up with TV shows, movies and music which were great for the flights and long coach journeys.

Still wasn't interested in the I-Phone nor the I-touch for personal use. However, when I read about the new version of Starmap pro and all the other astro apps never mind all the non astro apps, I have started to have second thoughts. The Author of Starmap is working on using the bluetooth functionality of the I-Phone for direct connection between the Starmap planetarium I-Phone and any mount via ascom without any laptop in between like the current fudge. Remote handheld GOTO planetarium control. How cool will that be!!

I see an I-Phone in my future!

Starkler (Geoff) · #8 22-09-2009, 02:44 AM

I like a phone to have the following attributes:

1) Ability to make and receive phone calls.
2) Ability to send and receive sms.
3) As a consumable item of limited life I want it to be cheap.

Octane (Humayun) · #9 22-09-2009, 04:30 AM

Norm,

You need to get an iPhone.

Regards,
Humayun

Kevnool (Kev) · #10 22-09-2009, 06:47 AM

No one put a price up or there just to expensive to buy outright?
Cheers Kev.

Rod66 (Rod) · #11 22-09-2009, 06:54 AM

When you experience the iphone - you will turn to the dark side.

Its been fabulous for me - only got it 4 months ago. I used to take out all my star atlases, my laptop, planisphere and other tools, setup and get ready for a good night of stars. Remember my scope is on a dob and I don't use any fancy navigation tools.
Now all I take out is my iphone, my new bunnings pelican lookalike box with all the eyepieces and my scope. I'm ready in about 5 mins. I use Sky Voyager on the iphone if anyone is wondering - absolutely incredible piece of software.
As my colleague goes over to his laptop, looks up an object, goes to his scope finds the general area, goes back to his laptop does another check... I'm usually sitting there looking at it with my scope. Annoys him no end.
Then, I switch to memo mode and record my observation log. Then its onto the next object.
Finally a device that does actually improve efficiency and make life easier.
There is a reason people rave about iphones Norm...

cheers

Rod

[1ponders] (Paul) · #12 22-09-2009, 07:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Starkler

I like a phone to have the following attributes:

1) Ability to make and receive phone calls.
2) Ability to send and receive sms.
3) As a consumable item of limited life I want it to be cheap.

Hear hear Geoff. I had my first mobile for 3 years and you could count on two hands the number of calls and txts I sent. After 3 years it died. Oh well.

matt · #13 22-09-2009, 07:57 AM

I would've agreed with you, norm..until I got one.

They're great!

Satchmo · #14 22-09-2009, 08:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rod66

When you
Its been fabulous for me - only got it 4 months ago. I used to take out all my star atlases, my laptop, planisphere and other tools, setup and get ready for a good night of stars. Remember my scope is on a dob and I don't use any fancy navigation tools.

This is my simple way around the dilemma of the somewhat overpriced Iphone ( something like $800 for the 16gb version) . I'm keeping my $90 prepaid phone, as I seem to drop them and lose them often enough.

The 3rd Gen 32gb Ipod Touch is $398 and makes more sense if you want to listen to music and use the applications without a phone and video otherwise identical to the Iphone. I'm looking forward to getting my whole music collection on to one and I have about 40 applications picked out too..many of them are free.

kustard (Simon) · #15 22-09-2009, 08:57 AM

I recently upgraded to a smartphone mainly because I wanted the email feature. An iPhone was on the cards but I know in the end I wouldn't use all the features and it would be a waste like my PDA. I just need a phone to make calls, receive calls, SMS and the occasional email.

As for running astro programs on an iPhone I think it's a neat idea but personally I prefer my laptop with the bigger FOV that the screen provides.

stephenb (Stephen) · #16 22-09-2009, 11:25 AM

I must admit I cannot embrace the newer technology. My wife and I each have a mobile...

- we can talk free between phones for 5 minutes at a time.
- our text messages average 10-20 per month
- our total bill is about $20 each per month.

- NO MMS, 3G, internet access etc. We just cannot see the point.

Life is complicated enough.

Fossil (Jonathan) · #17 22-09-2009, 12:09 PM

The main thing I (and my wife) like about the iPhone is its ease of use. We've both had 'smart phones' from other manufacturers, but you needed to carry the manuals around if you wanted to do anything more complicated than make a phone call.
The iPhone is very intuitive and we both find ourselves using most of the features it offers, simply because it is so easy to use.
Having said that, I do believe it is horses for courses and if you don't need, or won't use, the features then don't get one.

Davros (Lauren) · #18 22-09-2009, 03:10 PM

I tossed up between an iphone and a Samsung Omnia when they came out and went with the Omnia. Terrible mistake the thing is next to useless. Very much wish i had gone with the iphone.

Omaroo (Chris Malikoff) · #19 22-09-2009, 07:05 PM

Ditto Rally

it has changed the way I work and play.

stephenb (Stephen) · #20 22-09-2009, 07:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fossil

The main thing I (and my wife) like about the iPhone is its ease of use. We've both had 'smart phones' from other manufacturers, but you needed to carry the manuals around if you wanted to do anything more complicated than make a phone call.
The iPhone is very intuitive and we both find ourselves using most of the features it offers, simply because it is so easy to use.
Having said that, I do believe it is horses for courses and if you don't need, or won't use, the features then don't get one.

Yep, don't get me wrong, I agree - horses for courses etc - I think the explosion of tecnology is just amazing. We can only begin to imagine what it will be like in 10 or 20 years.

Anyway, I normally don't turn my mobile phone on because it runs the battery down.