Well, Apple and Fake Steve Jobs (along with the real Steve Jobs, obviously) can breathe a little easier now that the sultan of consumer tech reporters, the WSJ’s Walt Mossberg, has weighed in on the iPhone and found the hotly awaited device to be a winner. (The review is also posted without a firewall on the AllThingsD blog here.)
Our verdict is that, despite some flaws and feature omissions, the iPhone is, on balance, a beautiful and breakthrough handheld computer. Its software, especially, sets a new bar for the smart-phone industry, and its clever finger-touch interface, which dispenses with a stylus and most buttons, works well, though it sometimes adds steps to common functions.
Surprisingly, Mossberg finds the touch-screen keypad to be a “non-issue.” The biggest drawback is, not surprisingly, AT&T’s pokey EDGE network, which is partly compensated for by the iPhone’s built-in Wi-Fi capability, according to Mossberg.
The iPhone compensates by being one of the few smart phones that can also use Wi-Fi wireless networks. When you have access to Wi-Fi, the iPhone flies on the Web. Not only that, but the iPhone automatically switches from EDGE to known Wi-Fi networks when it finds them, and pops up a list of new Wi-Fi networks it encounters as you move.
In terms of looks, “The iPhone is simply beautiful,” he says. Other raves in Mossberg’s review:
—“The iPhone is the first smart phone we’ve tested with a real, computer-grade Web browser”
—“its battery life is excellent”
—“One great phone feature is called ‘visual voice mail.’”
—Syncing with Macs and PCs via iTunes works well.
—The glass display didn’t scratch despite being tossed around.
Some drawbacks Mossberg flags (aside from the crappy Edge network):
—Some iPod accessories may not work on the iPhone (e.g. the headset jack is deeply recessed and iPod headsets may need an adapter.)
—There’s no overall search on the iPhone (except Web search) and no easy way to move from top of screen to bottom of screen.
—There’s no way to cut, copy or paste text.
—Because the iPhone has no physical buttons, extra taps are needed to start functions.
—There’s no easy way to transfer numbers directly from AT&T. Users must work through computer-based address books.
—There’s no instant messaging, only standard text messaging.
—The built-in camera can’t record video.
—The browser doesn’t yet recognize Adobe flash, limiting some web functions.
Most of the drawbacks (aside from the crappy EDGE network) are scarcely real problems. In any event, Apple is working on fixing them, some of which will likely be fixable by software updates.
Bottom-line, however, Mossberg (and his colleague Katherine Boehret, who shares the byline) likes the thing. “Despite its network limitations, the iPhone is a whole new experience and a pleasure to use.”
Update: Over at Walt’s AllThingsD blog is an interview between Walt and Steve Jobs. Even with Mossberg, Jobs sticks with his mysterious and imperious (and obviously successful) mode, answering most of Walt’s questions regarding iPhone upgrades and fixes with one sentence “We don’t talk about future products.”
Update: The NYT’s David Pogue has this review of the iPhone. The verdict: it’s amazing but not perfect. The phone is so sleek and beautiful that “it makes Treos and BlackBerrys look obese.” The software is “fast, beautiful, menu-free, and dead simple to operate.” Unlike Mossberg, Pogue isn’t crazy about the touchscreen keypad: “Tapping the skinny little virtual keys on the screen is frustrating, especially at first.” Like Mossberg, Pogue hates AT&T’s EDGE network.
Also like Mossberg, Pogue has a video review of the iPhone which, although corny as all get out, is very informative.
Cynthia Brumfield at 6:20 PM|Comments(0)
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