I admit it… I just can’t stop touching the iPhone. It’s an engineering marvel on so many levels. However, like Kevin of jkOnThe Run, the iPhone isn’t for me (yet). But before I tell you what I need to make the “switch” I have more iPhone shenanigans to share…
I ran to Kinkos to send a fax ($2/page?!) and since the AT&T store was only a block away, I dropped in for my third 1/2 hour on the device. First off, my thumb typing skills have improved – even without applying Brian Lam’s (slowish) sliding technique. Second, the phone stores text message conversations. An earlier phone number was still on the device, so I took the liberty of texting them “iPhone!” About 30 seconds later, the phone vibrated and the mysterious person with a 202 area code responded, “Take me home!” I assume they wanted me to take the iPhone home. To them. OK, so if you didn’t find that as amusing as I did, go check out this video for a chuckle. Nice job, Mark! That woman’s lucky to only be out $800 and that pompous attitude… I wouldn’t recommend flashing $16k cash in any neighborhood.
So on to those missing features… In order to migrate to the iPhone I need true real-time over-the-air Exchange (or BES) sync. I’m not interested in carrying two phones, thus my personal and work phones are one in the same. And using IMAP to pull email from Exchange doesn’t cut it — What about my contacts, appointments, and tasks? I also need Apple to offer iTunes movie rentals for times when I travel without connectivity. Alternately, if TiVo enabled TiVoToGo on the Series3 I’d be able to meet the same need. (This is why I no longer own a video-capable iPod.) And where the heck is iChat? On the hardware side of things, a $600 über-iPod most definitely needs stereo Bluetooth (especially given the deeply recessed headphone jack). While not necessary to make the switch – a higher resolution camera, integrated GPS, and an iPhone dock or cable with video out are desirable.
So why didn’t you buy an iPhone?