Best Performance Apple PDA

The bottom line: The iPhone 3G delivers on its promises by adding critical features and sharper call quality. The iTunes App Store is pretty amazing, and the 3G support is more than welcome. Critical features still are missing, and the battery depletes quickly under heavy use, but the iPhone 3G is a big improvement over the original model.

Battery life is pretty good. *

The GPS on the iPhone is extremely accurate. GPS is decent, and gets the job done. *

The new 3G network made it easier to access and watch videos via the YouTube application. Streaming video was smooth, with excellent picture quality. *

Volume is louder, though it's still by no means a very loud phone. Though Nokia phones are much more optimistic in terms of bars shown, the actual signal measured in -db is nearly identical between the 2 phones. AT&T will eventually migrate 3G to their 850MHz band, but they have to do this slowly because there are still plenty of EDGE phones in customers' hands. The new display is warmer, described by some folks as yellow, and this isn't a defect. A -80db signal is very good, -70 is super-ex... *

With its faster networking, GPS for location-based services and, best of all, the App Store, Apple takes a significant step forward with the iPhone 3G as a consumer-centric device. This phone is special, and though it's not for everyone (hardware keyboard lovers need not apply), it is a great choice for consumers who wants a true convergence device. It's not only a decent phone, it's the best iPod on the market and the best portable Web browser money can buy. And with so many new apps coming ...

Call quality was the worst we've heard on a high-end device in years. *

Phone quality is good. The back and the sides are really smooth, so there really is no "grip" on the phone unless you are holding it in your hands. The screen is flat out awesome. Mail iTunes automatically synchronizes your email accounts straight to the iPhone. Sending is quick, as I received the email I sent to my laptop within a minute, both on Wi-Fi and EDGE connections. Music quality is flat out awesome. Video quality on Wi-Fi is awesome. *

The device can get warm with constant use, and you'll need to wipe smudges from the glass screen frequently with the included cloth. The screen is smart enough to darken and deactivate some controls while you're on a call, so you don't accidentally press something with your cheek. The speakerphone was faint. Most calls sounded good, albeit with an occasional hiss that was audible to the caller but not to the person on the other end. A higher-resolution (640-by-272-pixel) copy of Lord of War... *

The phone element of the iPhone is fairly boring. Aside from the lack of tactile response, the main challenge is hitting the right key --the iPhone assumes error on your part and will try to guess what key you intend to press. Apple's unfortunate decision not to include a period in the alphabet section of the iPhone's virtual keyboard. A nice feature of the Safari Web browser on the iPhone is how easy Apple makes it to perform an Internet search, and how simple it is to choose a default sear... *

The phone is very thin, and measures 4.5
x 2.4 x 0.46 inches. The iPhone has a very high resolution display by phone and iPod standards: 480 x 320 pixels at 160 dpi. The email client is slick and pretty. None of our speakers were able to control the volume however, nor did changing volume on the iPhone have any effect-- and that's a problem. The iPhone has good but not top-notch voice quality when working with Bluetooth headsets . Satellite imagery looks great, and loads quickly... *

In reassessing our original opinions about the iPhone, nothing speaks to the phone's abilities more than the fact that it has become our primary phone as well as our primary music player. On long trips, it has proven invaluable as a PMP, and driving around locally, has even replaced our GPS-enabled phones (though it won't replace a good PND, by any means). It is important, in understanding this phone, not to underestimate the importance of a great user interface, and the more we use the iPhon...

The touch screen is easier to use than we expected, and the multimedia performs well. The iPhone's display is the handset's design showpiece and is noteworthy for not only what it shows, but also how you use it. At a generous 3.5 inches, the display takes full advantage of the phone's size, while its 480 x 320-pixel resolution (160 dots per inch) translates into brilliant colors, sharp graphics, and fluid movements. It's easy to find all features, and we like that essential features aren't b... *

Call quality was the worst we've heard on a high-end device in years. *

Phone quality is good. The back and the sides are really smooth, so there really is no "grip" on the phone unless you are holding it in your hands. The screen is flat out awesome. Mail iTunes automatically synchronizes your email accounts straight to the iPhone. Sending is quick, as I received the email I sent to my laptop within a minute, both on Wi-Fi and EDGE connections. Music quality is flat out awesome. Video quality on Wi-Fi is awesome. *

The device can get warm with constant use, and you'll need to wipe smudges from the glass screen frequently with the included cloth. The screen is smart enough to darken and deactivate some controls while you're on a call, so you don't accidentally press something with your cheek. The speakerphone was faint. Most calls sounded good, albeit with an occasional hiss that was audible to the caller but not to the person on the other end. A higher-resolution (640-by-272-pixel) copy of Lord of War... *

The phone element of the iPhone is fairly boring. Aside from the lack of tactile response, the main challenge is hitting the right key --the iPhone assumes error on your part and will try to guess what key you intend to press. Apple's unfortunate decision not to include a period in the alphabet section of the iPhone's virtual keyboard. A nice feature of the Safari Web browser on the iPhone is how easy Apple makes it to perform an Internet search, and how simple it is to choose a default sear... *

The phone is very thin, and measures 4.5
x 2.4 x 0.46 inches. The iPhone has a very high resolution display by phone and iPod standards: 480 x 320 pixels at 160 dpi. The email client is slick and pretty. None of our speakers were able to control the volume however, nor did changing volume on the iPhone have any effect-- and that's a problem. The iPhone has good but not top-notch voice quality when working with Bluetooth headsets . Satellite imagery looks great, and loads quickly... *

In reassessing our original opinions about the iPhone, nothing speaks to the phone's abilities more than the fact that it has become our primary phone as well as our primary music player. On long trips, it has proven invaluable as a PMP, and driving around locally, has even replaced our GPS-enabled phones (though it won't replace a good PND, by any means). It is important, in understanding this phone, not to underestimate the importance of a great user interface, and the more we use the iPhon...

The touch screen is easier to use than we expected, and the multimedia performs well. The iPhone's display is the handset's design showpiece and is noteworthy for not only what it shows, but also how you use it. At a generous 3.5 inches, the display takes full advantage of the phone's size, while its 480 x 320-pixel resolution (160 dots per inch) translates into brilliant colors, sharp graphics, and fluid movements. It's easy to find all features, and we like that essential features aren't b... *

Call quality was the worst we've heard on a high-end device in years. *

Phone quality is good. The back and the sides are really smooth, so there really is no "grip" on the phone unless you are holding it in your hands. The screen is flat out awesome. Mail iTunes automatically synchronizes your email accounts straight to the iPhone. Sending is quick, as I received the email I sent to my laptop within a minute, both on Wi-Fi and EDGE connections. Music quality is flat out awesome. Video quality on Wi-Fi is awesome. *

The device can get warm with constant use, and you'll need to wipe smudges from the glass screen frequently with the included cloth. The screen is smart enough to darken and deactivate some controls while you're on a call, so you don't accidentally press something with your cheek. The speakerphone was faint. Most calls sounded good, albeit with an occasional hiss that was audible to the caller but not to the person on the other end. A higher-resolution (640-by-272-pixel) copy of Lord of War... *

The phone element of the iPhone is fairly boring. Aside from the lack of tactile response, the main challenge is hitting the right key --the iPhone assumes error on your part and will try to guess what key you intend to press. Apple's unfortunate decision not to include a period in the alphabet section of the iPhone's virtual keyboard. A nice feature of the Safari Web browser on the iPhone is how easy Apple makes it to perform an Internet search, and how simple it is to choose a default sear... *

The phone is very thin, and measures 4.5
x 2.4 x 0.46 inches. The iPhone has a very high resolution display by phone and iPod standards: 480 x 320 pixels at 160 dpi. The email client is slick and pretty. None of our speakers were able to control the volume however, nor did changing volume on the iPhone have any effect-- and that's a problem. The iPhone has good but not top-notch voice quality when working with Bluetooth headsets . Satellite imagery looks great, and loads quickly... *

In reassessing our original opinions about the iPhone, nothing speaks to the phone's abilities more than the fact that it has become our primary phone as well as our primary music player. On long trips, it has proven invaluable as a PMP, and driving around locally, has even replaced our GPS-enabled phones (though it won't replace a good PND, by any means). It is important, in understanding this phone, not to underestimate the importance of a great user interface, and the more we use the iPhon...

The touch screen is easier to use than we expected, and the multimedia performs well. The iPhone's display is the handset's design showpiece and is noteworthy for not only what it shows, but also how you use it. At a generous 3.5 inches, the display takes full advantage of the phone's size, while its 480 x 320-pixel resolution (160 dots per inch) translates into brilliant colors, sharp graphics, and fluid movements. It's easy to find all features, and we like that essential features aren't b... *