Our First Few Weeks with iPhone

Hey Guys,

It’s been a pretty warm few weeks in England, far too warm for us gamer types but none the less it has been really nice to walk around in t-shirts and sunglasses and actually feel like we live in a nice country for a change. It’s still warm even now but looking a lot more grumpy. Anyway, as you probably guessed from our comment talk a few weeks ago we were eyeing up the new iPhone 3GS. We haven’t ever been an Apple using guild so this was a big step for us but the gadget allure was finally enough. Myself, Jesta and Onimi all got shiny new iPhones, here’s all our initial thoughts, it’s good and bad points and top 5 iPhone apps from each of us!

Diablos Says….

I actually ended up with the 32GB even when I went out with the intention of getting a 16GB, they had “no more in stock” :D Anyway I am really enjoying the iPhone, a few things have really surprised me about it, first and foremost build quality.

No one ever seems to talk about this but the build quality on the iPhone is amazing, I can feel where some of that money went when I hold it.  I had to hold on to my old SE k850i while my numbers switched over and I always liked this old phone but when you press buttons on it next to the iPhone it feels cheap as shit and everything just looks low quality (except the camera which is better). The iPhone is relatively heavy but in a good way, it’s heavy because it’s solid and not gonna break if drop it a few inches to a table. The screen too feels good quality, as I saw Stephen Fry comment it actually seems to magically repel dirt and grease and never seems to get too icky.

The other thing that I love way more than I thought I would is having email access all the time. I work as a SEM and having 24/7 access to emails without having to boot a computer is really useful, the Twitter access for similar reasons also saves me so much time. Granted other devices can get emails but it’s a hell of a lot easier and smoother on an iPhone, i.e. I don’t need a Blackberry Server that costs $1000 to do what I want.

From a gaming point of view it’s also stunning, loads of the free games are amazing and the paid one just tend to get better, I am not gonna go through every available game but if you are a serious gamer then having the iPhone is like having that amazing missing link between the good games of the DS and the awesome tech of the PSP.

My Top 5 Apps

5) The official eBay App is pretty awesome, it’s easy to use, relatively fast and does exactly what I need it to do. Well done eBay for getting this sorted.

4) I really like the Last.fm app, it lets me get free music even if I don’t have 100% control over it. Last.fm was overshadowed by Spotify in my eyes but until Spotify get an app out this is my number 1 music app.

3) This is my games section! Tap Tap Revenge 2 is just an ace idea, it’s free, it’s fun and it’s multiplayer. For those who don’t know it’s a rhythm game similar to Guitar Hero but on your iPhone. Get it now if you don’t have already. Field Runners and Crystal Defenders Vanguard are both paid apps but very low cost and awesome defence games, if you liked  Pixel Junk Monsters or Savage Moon on your PS3 get both these apps.

2) TweetDeck is super useful if you are a Tweep. It’s got an attractive interface, you can sort things easily and type replies and posts with minimal effort, more importantly it’s FREE.

1)  The shock winner for me in PandoraBox, this awesome little app lets you know when other Apps become free or drop in price, I love it and have already found loads of fun games and useful apps because of it, best thing about it? The App itself is FREE :)

Jesta Says….

I love it, it goes everywhere with me, I no longer need my PSP for WiFi access as well as my old Sony K800i.  It gives me Internet and email access at work and is well built and versatile.  Picked up a smooth case and screen protector on ebay and it’s ready to travel.  Can’t wait for TomTom later this month, will need to pick up a car charger!  Speaking of which, battery life is not amazing.  Can turn WiFi off when not in use to help but otherwise it needs charging daily.

My Top 5 Apps?

5) Skype technically gives free phone calls.  Very good if you and your mates are Pay-and-Go.

4) Facebook’s app gives quick access.  Has most of the features of the full website and I’m sure the rest will come with updates.

3) Having Internet access isn’t strictly an app but it’s one of the reasons I got one in the first place.  Very useful when at Cricket, I don’t have use of the Internet at work daily so it comes in handy.  It’s not a big distraction as I thought it would be so I do resit using it at my desk. :)

2) Games – Assassin’s Creed, Puzzle Quest and Simcity are three of the great well know games I’ve bought.  Very much like their DS, PSP and PC equivelants respectivly.  There’s loads of Tower Defence style like Field Runner, strategy like Uno and Flight Control.  Being a Vampire fan I also play Vampire Bloodlust.

1) e-Mail isn’t an app again but I didn’t know the iPhone had it built in!  I have my email addresses set up and get a nice “beep” when a message arrives.  Very handy.