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Verizon iPhone 4

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Re: Verizon iPhone 4

#141

Post by ohhmaagawd »

modoc wrote: post #48
schammy wrote: post #36

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Incoming calls will interrupt data activity. I don't see why people make a big deal out of this. How often do you really need to talk AND use data at the same time? I've never, ever, ever, ever, ever had to or even had the inclination that I wished I could. I think it's one of those features that sounds cool, but in reality no one really uses.

I use it all the time. I'll often be on the phone (using a headset) and pull up information online, or send out an e-mail to someone on the con-call, or pull up a new document in DropBox, or..... Add in using it a Wifi hotspot, and getting your VPN connection/download/SSH session/whatever interrupted every time your phone rings would be REALLY annoying.

it doesn't drop internet when it rings, it drops when you answer. right?

Re: Verizon iPhone 4

#142

Post by wiredfool »

mdasen wrote: post #139
takameyer wrote: post #76

Earlier quoted context omitted.

4.) Not having an AT&T carrier in the area. Being from a state where AT&T is not an available phone service (South Dakota), this is a big deal. I'm not sure how many other states have this issue. We have been waiting for this since the iPhone was released. It will be great to finally have another smart phone option from a big player. Though I'll probably stick to my Android phone.

AT&T is converting Alltel's network in the Dakotas to UMTS. You can see the coverage at http://www.att.com/network/ (just click on the coverage tab at the bottom). Alltel had served rural western markets well for many years and the network will likely be stronger than Verizon's once it's launched (likely later this month). Because of the way cellular licensing was done (two licenses in each market and 700ish markets…

Where I live, It's rural and all the GSM and CMDA are in the kinda sorta 1 bar on a good day category. The only one that works everywhere around the island is Sprint's IDEN network (which they got from Nextel), but the phones are really expensive, the plans are worse, and there's no coverage anywhere else.

Re: Verizon iPhone 4

#143

Post by Lewisham »

Anechoic wrote: post #122
code_duck wrote: post #93

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If people wanted an iPhone, they could have just gone to AT&T and bought an iPhone. While this will probably reduce sales of Android phones through Verizon, I certainly don't think it means it is 'all over'. I agree prices may drop on Android phones, and manufacturers may have to step up their game a bit more especially in terms of software. With Android phones you have a choice of prices, different hardware configur…

If people wanted an iPhone, they could have just gone to AT&T and bought an iPhone. My sister really wanted an iPhone but she absolutely did not want to switch from VZW (she travels a lot and voice calls are a priority), so she got a Droid. The Droid has been good enough, but she's been asking me about iPhone on Verizon ever since the rumors started; a couple of weeks ago when the rumors started to heat up, she told…

I know anecdotes aren't data but I doubt she's unique in this regard.

Yes, my experience is the same. Don't discount the power of free minutes for calling inside your network. If all your friends and family are on Verizon, not only do you worry about your phone bill going up, but the network effect of everyone else saying their bill will go up too is intense.

I've been trying to change networks for years, but my wife has always successfully talked me out of it, not because of my contract (which would go down on T-Mobile) but because hers would go up so much it would be a net loss (she likes to talk to me, which I guess is a good thing :) )

Re: Verizon iPhone 4

#144

Post by Lewisham »

m104 wrote: post #106
WesleyJohnson wrote: post #98

I'm seriously debating pre-ordering one on February 3rd as I'm an existing Verizon customer. My only hold-up is whether or not they'll release and LTE version in June. Assuming Apple does have the hardware ready by then, what's the likelyhood of Verizon having a substantial LTE presence by then as well? Does anyone know what their LTE coverage looks like or how soon it'll match their 3G coverage? I'm under the impres…

I highly recommend (as I do to all interested family, friends, and coworkers) that you wait, just a few months, until Apple has launched the new iPhone. The worst case is that the iPhone 4 will be half the price of what it is today and you waited a bit (assuming no beneficial upgrades; unlikely) and the best case is that you'll get the new phone, with all of its features benefits, for the same price of today's iPhone…

I really hope this year is the year iOS also gets a refresh too. Apple has really let it stagnate and let their hardware do the talking. Windows Phone 7, I think, is a much prettier interface. Android has some killer features, like Navigation. Apple has the apps, which I guess is a perpetual motion machine for them, but iOS feels old. I worry that that won't change, as Mac OS has stayed fairly stationary from a UI perspective since 10.3, despite obvious and continually complained about problems, such as Finder.

I think the thing that turns me off is that Apple don't really want to make a communicator or a dumb terminal, they want to make a small computer. That the notification system has been so broken for so long, and the cloud integration has been non-existant, shows that Apple really aren't all that interested in the "phone" aspect. I think that's a real shame.

Android does it right: "What's your Google Account?" taptaptap "Oh hey, great. Here's all your contacts, all your email, all your calendar appointments. Good thing the Internet exists. Have fun."

Re: Verizon iPhone 4

#145

Post by WesleyJohnson »

thaumaturgy wrote: post #119
WesleyJohnson wrote: post #98

I'm seriously debating pre-ordering one on February 3rd as I'm an existing Verizon customer. My only hold-up is whether or not they'll release and LTE version in June. Assuming Apple does have the hardware ready by then, what's the likelyhood of Verizon having a substantial LTE presence by then as well? Does anyone know what their LTE coverage looks like or how soon it'll match their 3G coverage? I'm under the impres…

I'm genuinely curious -- really don't want to start a debate -- what do you prefer about the iPhone over the other devices announced at CES this year?

To be honest, I haven't really surveyed the competition recently. I'm currently using the HTC/Droid Incredible and aesthetically, I love it. It's sleek, I love the feel of it in my hands and the durability is great. HTC Sense is also a nice sheen on top of Android, but I hate waiting for updates while HTC battle tests the new versions of Android. I could stick with Android and get a vanilla install on a Motorola, but I haven't seen one that I like the looks of yet. Maybe I should look through the latest offerings from CES as you mentioned, but the original Droid, Droid X and Droid Pro just haven't peeked my interest.

Even though I'm a programmer (web developer), I'm not one to tinker with my phones so rooting and getting exactly what I want out of my Incredible doesn't appeal to me too much.

I suppose I'd be lying if I didn't add that there is a small protion of me that is an Apple Fanboy as well. I know their products are overpriced; I cringe at paying $100 for an extra 16gb of RAM instead of being able to pick up a cheap SD card. I also know that iOS is inferior in ways to Android, but Apple just sells it to me better than Google does somehow.

Realistically I don't have enough reasons to justify the switch, I really don't. But sometimes you know you want something and you just can't reason as to why.

I will, of course, do some more research before I decide to make a purchase. I appreciate you reminding me to check out thew new stuff that came out of CES. Any device(s) in particular you would suggest taking a look at?

Re: Verizon iPhone 4

#146

Post by ohhmaagawd »

kbd wrote: post #100
ayb wrote: post #15

Since Apple normally releases new iPhones in June, does this mean the Verizon iPhone 4 will be obsolete in less than 6 months? It will be lame if Verizon has the iPhone 4 and then AT&T gets a new GSM-only iPhone 5 in June.

I would be very surprised if the iPhone 5 comes in GSM-specific and CDMA-specific models. I'd expect a unified model. I only wonder whether it'll support LTE as well.

then why didn't they do this for the Verizon iPhone 4?

Re: Verizon iPhone 4

#147

Post by TetOn »

kenjackson wrote: post #129
roc wrote: post #121

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> "In any case, I think the sales on Verizon will be telling" Somehow I get the feeling that they won't. Armchair observers opining on the internet have never felt the need to rely on data before. They've long since drawn their conclusions and simply shop for justification; freely inventing some if acceptable evidence doesn't present itself. So no-one's mind is going to be changed, regardless. If you were bullish and…

So no-one's mind is going to be changed, regardless. I think people's minds will be changed. Just the most outspoken, like Gruber or Siegler, dominate the conversation and their minds never change. For example, I thought the iPad would be a modest success and a disappointing product (after seeing the launch). Now, it is obviously a huge success. But more importantly I think it fundamentally changed how we think about…

Gruber has made definite predictions based on Verizon's ability to move iPhones (one example among others): http://daringfireball.net/linked/2010/12/09/verizon-iphone

In that case, either they sell a million on day one or they don't (this presumes that we are ever told or can divine a semi-reliable sales estimate). His opinion doesn't enter into it.

I'd say part of the reason he is and remains popular is that he pretty consistently tries to present the data or line of reasoning behind the opinion, and on occasion adjusts to fit the new data...and but says so when it happens.

Re: Verizon iPhone 4

#148

Post by steverb »

ecuzzillo wrote: post #103
steverb wrote: post #82

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm honestly confused why the opportunity to pre-order is considered a perk.

Depending on demand vs. production, being first in line might mean a difference of weeks or even months in when you actually receive the phone.

Makes sense.

Re: Verizon iPhone 4

#149

Post by ohhmaagawd »

Lewisham wrote: post #144
m104 wrote: post #106

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I highly recommend (as I do to all interested family, friends, and coworkers) that you wait, just a few months, until Apple has launched the new iPhone. The worst case is that the iPhone 4 will be half the price of what it is today and you waited a bit (assuming no beneficial upgrades; unlikely) and the best case is that you'll get the new phone, with all of its features benefits, for the same price of today's iPhone…

I really hope this year is the year iOS also gets a refresh too. Apple has really let it stagnate and let their hardware do the talking. Windows Phone 7, I think, is a much prettier interface. Android has some killer features, like Navigation. Apple has the apps, which I guess is a perpetual motion machine for them, but iOS feels old. I worry that that won't change, as Mac OS has stayed fairly stationary from a UI pe…

Eh? They have had 2 iOS refreshes in the past year.

Re: Verizon iPhone 4

#150

Post by thaumaturgy »

WesleyJohnson wrote: post #145
thaumaturgy wrote: post #119

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm genuinely curious -- really don't want to start a debate -- what do you prefer about the iPhone over the other devices announced at CES this year?

To be honest, I haven't really surveyed the competition recently. I'm currently using the HTC/Droid Incredible and aesthetically, I love it. It's sleek, I love the feel of it in my hands and the durability is great. HTC Sense is also a nice sheen on top of Android, but I hate waiting for updates while HTC battle tests the new versions of Android. I could stick with Android and get a vanilla install on a Motorola, but…

Thanks for the feedback. :-) I'm trying to get a sense of which devices various people prefer. I get what you're saying about the "Apple allure" -- although other devices now are very, very close to Apple's design, there's still something compelling about Apple's presentation and overarching design of its products.

As for the new stuff at CES, there were a handful of pretty powerful new devices announced, but the two that really caught my attention were the Motorola Droid Bionic and the Motorola Atrix. All of the feedback on the Bionic has been positive so far, with a lot of it centering on how fast the device feels. The Atrix really stole the show though -- it's a phone that can be docked into a laptop or desktop form factor and used almost like a normal computer for most tasks. Expensive though, but a really cool concept.

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