Why I returned my iPhone

Satori, iphone — Stephen on 29 August 2008 @ 8:49 AM — 12 comments

1. The network, which should be fantastic in a place like NYC, sucks very badly. Not only did I have the switching problems that many others suffered, often times it didn’t matter if I was on EDGE or 3G. With full bars showing, I often couldn’t get web pages to download AT ALL, or they would take forever. Friends of mine in the exact same place and time with other brands of cellphone or first gen iPhones could get on and download easily.

2. GPS has serious problems in a place like NYC.

3. When I bought the iPhone, I assumed it would be able to be unlocked soon (as the first gen was), but that still has not happened. Since I will be traveling in several other countries for long periods in the next few months, I didn’t feel like paying ATT’s outrageous roaming charges. If I can’t pop a new SIM in wherever I go, that is a problem.

4. Constant denials from Apple and ATT about problems are not good customer service. On the other hand, my experience at the Apple Store (West 14th street) when returning my phone was exemplary. They were very helpful and kind and did not hassle me about my return.

I really loved the iPhone when it was working properly, but that was all too rare (at least in NYC. It seemed much better in the Midwest with both GPS and Internet access.) When I return to the US at the end of the year, I will look into getting another. Perhaps the problems will be fixed by then.

The Google tells us to jump off a bridge

Satori, directions, driving, iphone — Stephen on 2 August 2008 @ 10:41 PM — 4 comments

On the way back from dinner with my parents and their friends, I was playing around with the gps/google maps combo of my new iPhone (yeah, it is buggy but super cool. I’m keeping it after all). I decided to look up directions and see which way it would tell us to get home from where we were on the north side of town. It was doing fairly ok until it made a less than optimal suggestion for a turn off the highway.

As you may have surmised by looking at the photo, there is no exit at this place. Google just told us to careen through the barrier, off an overpass, and land on the street below.

Cookies and sweat and shiny objects

Satori, iphone — Stephen on 29 July 2008 @ 10:55 PM — 0 comments

Not much to report from the past few days, but here is a short list:

- Hung out with my friends Blake and Danny while Blake prepared his cookie entries to be judged for the state fair. I found the entire process fascinating/funny and could not stop giggling about it. I kept thinking about that sketch from Little Britain.

- Went out for drinks with my super cool niece Sarah last night.

- Set up a new Skype phone and assembled two Ikea tables and a bed frame over at my brother Mike’s new place, getting totally drenched in sweat in the process.

- Went to the Apple Store with my brother David and purchased a new iPhone on a whim, proving that I am not yet entirely free from the shackles of consumerism. I am less than impressed with its performance and stability and may return it however.

- Booked my tickets for NYC on the 5th. Flying in to White Plains and will attempt to navigate mta into the city.

All in all pretty dull, n’est-ce pas?