The Official Ipod/iOS Apps Thread

**Womp** · 07-01-2009, 11:05 AM

The problem I have with the iPhone is that it is form over function. I love my Touch, but I couldn't imagine using it as a phone. There is just no way in hell I could manage it. It'd be a downgrade.

**Bill_Loguidice** · 07-01-2009, 11:39 AM

I think the iPhone works just fine as a phone - can't think of anything I'm missing - and I've used several smart phones prior to it. Obviously the big draw with the iPhone is the apps store, which no other device can or likely will ever touch. While a lot of Apple stuff *is* form over function and has been since the original Macintosh days, I think in the iPhone's case it's a case of "having it all", form AND function. Again, what are we REALLY missing on it, especially in the new 3G S version?

**Womp** · 07-01-2009, 12:48 PM

Originally Posted by Bill_Loguidice

Again, what are we REALLY missing on it, especially in the new 3G S version?

A few key things, some more important than others but that isn't what this thread is about so I won't go into it.

If I could attach a phone to my Touch tomorrow, and for all intents and purposes that is what a Touch is - the iPhone without a phone...It wouldn't be the phone I would want to use daily that is for certain.

It has nothing to do with being a sheeple or even anti-Apple intentions, just that it cannot meet my demands as a recent Blackberry follower.

**Bill_Loguidice** · 07-01-2009, 12:53 PM

Fair enough, of course, I'm just trying to figure out what I could be possibly missing out on since I've had a multitude of such devices in the past and can't really see what the omission is. It's still not necessarily 100% enterprise friendly and syncing on more than one system is a bit of a hassle, but I guess I'm in the camp of the "converted", despite it being an Apple product.

**joejet** · 07-01-2009, 01:53 PM

For me blackberry kills iphone in brief:

1) Outlook integration with my exchange server (blackberry enterprise server at work)
2) A real keyboard
3) real multitasking
4) "never" crashes - just friggin works

My son's ipod has been exchanged (no joke) 5 times! I drop my blackberry like every day and its fine except a scratch on the display from where i stepped on it and there was a rock under it at the time.

**Womp** · 07-01-2009, 02:01 PM

Originally Posted by joejet

For me blackberry kills iphone in brief:

1) Outlook integration with my exchange server (blackberry enterprise server at work)
2) A real keyboard
3) real multitasking
4) "never" crashes - just friggin works

My son's ipod has been exchanged (no joke) 5 times! I drop my blackberry like every day and its fine except a scratch on the display from where i stepped on it and there was a rock under it at the time.

These three alone make the Berry superior to iPhone hands down.

I could never live without the multitasking, and I don't mean simply listening to music while I browse the web either. Even the hack Backgrounder that allows this on hacked iPhones isn't perfect. I've unfortunately had to remove it due to massive crashing.

**Bill_Loguidice** · 07-01-2009, 02:16 PM

I think saying the iPhone "crashes" a lot is a bit of stretch, particularly when you jailbreak it to run unauthorized apps. I've had it for several months now and have used tons of apps, and have probably only had only one or two crashes of any type.

The real keyboard thing is debatable and comes down to what you ultimately adapt to.

I'm also not sold on the benefits of multitasking of a mobile device like this. At least in my experience with multitasking on Windows Mobile phones, it was more of a pain keeping track of what was open and what wasn't and getting stuff closed that you wanted closed actually closed. The single-tasking iPhone OS works just fine in most instances, particularly since they finally added in the ability to copy and paste. Of course if I actually saw a proper and usable implementation of multitasking and the hardware was up to the task, I might change my tune.

Of course, as with all this, everyone's individual mileage will vary. Some will think the iPhone is the second coming of Jesus, while others love their Blackberry/Pre/whatever just as much if not more. It's good to have choice. In my case, as a picky bastard with this stuff, I'm extremely pleased with the iPhone as a phone and multimedia device, and just wonder sometimes if the criticism is from actual users or those from the outside with other devices and/or those who are just using the Touch, which IS different.

Nous Anima · 07-01-2009, 06:50 PM

Originally Posted by Bill_Loguidice

I think the iPhone works just fine as a phone - can't think of anything I'm missing - and I've used several smart phones prior to it. Obviously the big draw with the iPhone is the apps store, which no other device can or likely will ever touch. While a lot of Apple stuff *is* form over function and has been since the original Macintosh days, I think in the iPhone's case it's a case of "having it all", form AND function. Again, what are we REALLY missing on it, especially in the new 3G S version?

I have to agree with you there. I've used just about any handheld device known to man and I have to say, while not perfect (what is?) the iPhone does so many things well, and a few things so much better than any other device in existence, that it's got to be a winner ... and indeed, it is a winner. It's not perfect, but in most cases it's better (and in a few cases, far better) than anything else IMHO.

I am very keenly keeping an eye on the evolution of the Android platform, however, since Windows Mobile has been a complete disappointment and the Blackberry is just not for me, period. The only black horse I can see on the horizon is Nokia's upcoming CortexA8/A9 based integrated 3G/net-tablet linux based device (I've been generally more than satisfied with the N800 and N810 so naturally I have high hopes for its successor).

But yeah ... form over function ? No way, there's no way that statement is true. Not perfect for one's particular, highly specific needs, maybe .. perhaps. In some cases, it's possible. But that's very different from making sweeping comments that are simply very untrue and very unfair as well.

**Chewbacca** · 07-02-2009, 11:12 AM

I read about this interesting sounding game called Seek 'n spell. Basically, you go out to a large field, and hit the calibration button. Then, letters appear on the screen and you walk or run to those letters to make words. It is just a different take on the lite exercise games.

**Hatch** · 07-02-2009, 11:57 AM

A fun little distraction I have been playing lately is Doodle Jump. You're basically a little Qbery wanna be alien who is constantly jumping and you direct him to platforms scattered about on the screen, and try to jump to as high an altitude as you can before dying. You can die by falling off the screen, jumping into a hole (think warp in the space time continuum) and being sucked in, or colliding with one of the obstacles which get in your way. You occasionally encounter springs which will jump you even higher, though if an enemy is near (you can tell because you can hear them off screen) you run the risk of colliding with them and dying. As you progress, you will encounter moving ledges, and "cloud ledges" which disappear after you jump on them once. Also, the ledges become more sparse, making you pay closer attention to where you are heading. High scores are kept locally and globally, and if you are so inclined, you can interface with your facebook friends. The controls are very simple. You are in a constant state of jumping, and you direct where you jump tilting your Iphone to the left or right. You can fire at enemies above you by tapping the screen in the direction you wish to fire. Overall, this is a VERY fun distraction, and well worth the .99 I paid for it.