iPhone Hysteria

[Caustic Saint]

You can turn on audible email alerts in Preferences. You can even pick the sound. It even uses the vibrating buzz when you turn the ringer to silent mode.

When I go to the "Sounds" settings, under "Ring" I can pick a sound for Rington and New Text Message. Next to New Mail all I have is an on/off slider. Same for New Voicemail, Sent Mail, Calendar Alerts, Lock Sounds and Keyboard Clicks.

Odd that you say the camera makes no sound when taking a picture. Mine does. But I'm using a 1st gen iPhone with the 2.0 software.

That is weird. I can assure you I'm not hearing anything, though.

[GomiGirl]

The new MobileMe service should solve the synching issues - mail, calendars, photos etc. Not sure if it is out yet but we have been beta testing it and it is looking good - some issues with sharing a private photo gallery with the baby photos but they got sorted. Just need a .mac account to run it.

I personally know about 10 FG's who got one (including the brother who snuck in with Phoenix_Stu - naughty brother!!) and dozens of Japanese folk who are proud new owners of iPhones. The brother forked out the 8man and didn't blink an eye. Phoenix_stu used his resident rice cooker's deets for registration and got the super cheap deal.

Most of the other FG's I know who got one have PR so it was't an issue with price.

I am doing all my dev work on an iPod touch as it has the same OS and the same everything for me. I shall stick with my DoCoMo nokia for the moment for my personal phone but we have so many in the office, I really don't suffer from phone envy much.

[Doctor Stop]

http://www.5min.com/Video/How-to-Get-Broke-by-Buying-an-iPhone-29134947

[Caustic Saint]

You can turn on audible email alerts in Preferences. You can even pick the sound. It even uses the vibrating buzz when you turn the ringer to silent mode.

Odd that you say the camera makes no sound when taking a picture. Mine does. But I'm using a 1st gen iPhone with the 2.0 software.

It seems my phone was glitching a bit. I had no problem hearing ringtones or playing MP3s through the speaker, but none of the other audible items (email, text, camera, lock, etc.) were working. A bit of googling around got me to an Apple support discussion that held the solution. Going to settings -> general settings -> reset -> reset all settings did the trick.

The "stealth camera" was kind of neat, but I'd rather have all the other audible bits working.

Now I just want the WordPress app to come out. It looks like it'll be a straightforward mobile system, that'll hopefully have less hassles than a lot of "blog by email" systems.

[jim katta]

I got one. 16gb, black.

I've generally been a skeptic about the first gen iPhone, but as this release approached I found myself wanting to give it a try (that and I really needed a new phone). But when I saw the line in Omotesando I basically threw in the towel. I love tech, and I love Apple products, but screw waiting overnight in the rain for a damn phone. Anyway, this saturday I walked past the store and saw that the line was still long, but only up to the end of the block. I decided to chance it on the spur of the moment and wait to see how fast or slow the line moved. It actually moved pretty fast. After about 90 minutes I was standing at the front of the store waiting for my turn. I have a long term visa so I got the cheapest deal available, got my phone and I was outta there.

Now that I've lived with the phone for a couple of days, I need to say that this thing is incredible. It is groundbreaking, and I have owned nearly every popular gadget out there, so I tend to be jaded. But this thing lives up to the hype. Basically it's like having a laptop computer in your hand, it can do so many things on the same level as a normal computer. I don't even care if other people like it, this thing is incredible.

One last thing, suddenly all the Japanese phones I'm seeing on the train and street just look so old. It feels like this platform (whether you opt for the iPhone, the Prada phone, or the Samsung Instinct/www.instinctthephone.com) is the way all new phones should be. So as much as I love the iPhone, my excitement is more about us turning a corner in mobile computing. I also notice that as much as people don't think Japanese people will care about the iPhone, EVERY time I pull it out to answer a call or surf the web, people start looking and chattering about it, so I think the consumer excitement is there. As soon as a few major Japanese celebrities start using the phone (or phones like it that I listed), you will see a fast switch by many people to these kinds of phones.

[RyoHazuki]

Damn that.

I had a 3 years visa (engineer) granted less than a year ago. In the meantime I got married and changed my status to spouse visa, however, they gave me only a one year visa for now.

So whats the deal with that? I would have to pay a downpayment of 8man + monthly of like 7000yen?

[Mulboyne]

Damn that.

I had a 3 years visa (engineer) granted less than a year ago. In the meantime I got married and changed my status to spouse visa, however, they gave me only a one year visa for now.

So whats the deal with that? I would have to pay a downpayment of 8man + monthly of like 7000yen?

In case you do run into that obstacle you could probably get around it by having your wife apply for a contract on your behalf.

[Caustic Saint]

So whats the deal with that? I would have to pay a downpayment of 8man + monthly of like 7000yen?

Going by their terms, if you got it in your name, you'd have to pay in full up front. (Of course, your wife could just get it in her name and skip all the visa hassles you'd run in to.)

I bought my phone up front, and here's how my bill should be breaking down:

980 - White Plan
315 - S! Basic Pack
5985 - Unlimited data
315 - Visual Voicemail
------
7,595

- 1920 (Super Bonus discout, deducted 24 times over two years)
-------
5,675

Not bad, and of course I'll be hit up for any calls to non-Softbank customers, or calls made to Softbank users between 9PM and 1AM.

[GomiGirl]

Phone calls? Who makes phone calls?

[Mulboyne]

That's a graphic from this article in the English version of the Nikkei electronics. I suspect the details from the original Japanese version have already appeared elsewhere:

...According to the survey, 14.5% of the respondents are planning on/considering buying an iPhone, a 5.6% increase from 8.9% of the previous survey. More specifically, 6.1% began to plan on/consider purchasing one because of the announced handset price and price plans, 6.3% had been planning on/considering buying one before the announcement, and 2.1% are planning on/considering buying one for other reasons. By mobile phone carrier, more than 20% of the subscribers to Softbank Mobile are planning on/considering purchasing an iPhone, and about 10% of the subscribers to other carriers are planning on/considering buying one. On the other hand, 85.5% of the respondents answered, "The iPhone is unnecessary" or "I am not interested in the iPhone." The reasons are as follows: "I prefer the mobile phone that I am currently using" (29.3%), "The handset price is too expensive" (18.4%), "The mass media made too much fuss" (16.7%), "It seems difficult to use" (14.2%), "It does not have a 1-seg digital TV tuner" 12.6%) and "It does not feature 'Osaifu-Keitai (contactless mobile IC card)' capabilities" (11.2%)...

It is still too difficult getting through the hype to know how the iphone is likely to fare in Japan.

[Caustic Saint]

Phone calls? Who makes phone calls?

Sounds silly, i know.

You'd be surprised, though. I've got some friends, who, no matter how tech-heavy the rest of their lives may be, will always call first before sending a text.

[RyoHazuki]

In case you do run into that obstacle you could probably get around it by having your wife apply for a contract on your behalf.

thanks for the answers everyone.

BTW, I forgot to mention that I am already a Softbank user, does that makes any difference to them? or they would still have me pay up front or bring my wife sign for me?

Caustic Saint - Thanks again. how much is the upfront payment? 8man?

[Caustic Saint]

BTW, I forgot to mention that I am already a Softbank user, does that makes any difference to them? or they would still have me pay up front or bring my wife sign for me?

Caustic Saint - Thanks again. how much is the upfront payment? 8man?

I changed from Docomo to Softbank, so I'm not sure if they're going easier on existing customers or not.

I got the 16gb phone, so I paid 80,640. The 8gb one is 69,120. In both cases the Super Bonus discount amounts to 46,080 over two years.

[jim katta]

Just so you know, Softbank is not giving existing customers any better treatment. I had a Softbank contract already when signing up for the iPhone and I was essentially treated like any other new contract signer, the only upside being that I was able to keep my old number. But if I couldn't prove my long term status they would have charged me the 80,000 price just the same.

[Cyka UchuuJin]

does anyone know if an iphone purchased in europe would work with a softbank sim? at the moment, i can put my sim (which still says vodafone) into my kenyan sony ericsson with no problem and have put the sim into several phones also with no problem.

[RyoHazuki]

does anyone know if an iphone purchased in europe would work with a softbank sim? at the moment, i can put my sim (which still says vodafone) into my kenyan sony ericsson with no problem and have put the sim into several phones also with no problem.

It should work. but as far as I know the new iphone 3G have not been simlocked as of yet (at least the simlock procedure is not available for the geneal public).

Once it will be, you'll be able to use your softbank sim without any problems.

[IkemenTommy]

It should work. but as far as I know the new iphone 3G have not been simlocked as of yet (at least the simlock procedure is not available for the geneal public).

Once it will be, you'll be able to use your softbank sim without any problems.

I noticed the demo phones at Bicamera didn't have any sim cards in them and so the phones didn't have that ugly "Y!" Yahoo internets icon. This led me to suspect that they are not simlocked or career-locked.

[Cyka UchuuJin]

It should work. but as far as I know the new iphone 3G have not been simlocked as of yet (at least the simlock procedure is not available for the geneal public).

Once it will be, you'll be able to use your softbank sim without any problems.

that's what i thought. thanks!

[FG Lurker]

I think I'm going to buy an iPhone when stock comes back in. Haven't had any new toys for awhile and I can even justify this one as a "business" expense.

Does anyone know when the next batch is due?

[RyoHazuki]

I think I'm going to buy an iPhone when stock comes back in. Haven't had any new toys for awhile and I can even justify this one as a "business" expense.

Does anyone know when the next batch is due?

http://www.tuaw.com/2008/07/17/iphone-3g-shortage-could-last-for-a-month/

[GomiGirl]

Reality check.

Am in Beijing for a few days work and people have barely heard of the iPhone or Apple for that matter.

But then there is no 3G network here either. Well not yet but restructing is under way that will change the mobile landscape here.

[Greji]

Reality check.

You're there with out Boyfriend v1.02 correct? That means get your meat hooks off the hot Chinese dudes!

[GomiGirl]

You're there with out Boyfriend v1.02 correct? That means get your meat hooks off the hot Chinese dudes!

Nah - am traveling with one of my work team. She and I are so busy there is no time for play. Things take so long here - especially the internet and the dodgey connections. We forget how good we have it in Japan with fast internets.

[RyoHazuki]

Contract *UPDATE*

I visited today Softbank @ Harajuku. They are sold out, however, I did talked to them about the contract issue, 27 months remaining on the visa etc.

Just a reminder, I used to have 3 years visa until 2 months ago. I changed my status to Spouse Visa but granted only 1 year to begin with.

In light of that, I am required to pay for the phone, upfront.

Well, Wrong. I was told today that if I pay with a credit card and have a japanese insurance card which carry my name and address, I dont need my passport nor my alien registration card.

Worth mentioning, I am a SB customer already, so I am not sure whether it has anything to do with it or not.

FYI.

[Caustic Saint]

Am in Beijing for a few days work and people have barely heard of the iPhone or Apple for that matter.

That may change after today. Apple's opening their first store in China today. It's in the Village at Sanlitun. (Wherever that is.)

[GomiGirl]

That may change after today. Apple's opening their first store in China today. It's in the Village at Sanlitun. (Wherever that is.)

I dropped by it today - just got back from there. Got some photos. Didn't wait in the huge queue though. Way too hot. iPhones not on sale yet. No carrier agreements.

[Caustic Saint]

The 3G isn't hacked yet (at least not in any publicly usable way) - but who cares! You can still do some nifty tricks with it. Here's my current favorite:



Notice anything odd? Check out the carrier.

That image was not PhotoShopped. I took a screen capture off my phone as that's easier than getting another camera and snapping a pic. (You can do screen caps on the iPhone by pressing the Sleep/Wake and Home buttons at the same time.)

There's an app (Mac-only) called Caption Crunch, which comes in two tasty flavors. The original flavor allows you to replace the clock at the top of the screen with a message of your choosing. The more prank-worthy flavor allows you to rewrite the carrier ID that shows in the top-left corner of the screen. (Both are available for download at the link above.)

Just make sure your chosen carrier takes up less space than "SoftBank" or else it will get chopped off and have an ellipsis at the end.

Enjoy!

[SIZE="1"](And don't worry. If you ever have to take your phone somewhere to get it serviced or whatever - assuming it's not so dead that you can't access it - the app has a one-button "revert" function to get the carrier and/or clock back to normal.)[/SIZE]

[Mulboyne]

Notice anything odd? Check out the carrier.

I can't see the image. Caustic. Does your site allow hotlinking? If not, you could stick it in the FG gallery.

[Mulboyne]

Actually, I can see it now so ignore me.

[Adhesive]

After discovering this oddity, I've decided to go ahead and get an iPhone. I imagine it's only a matter of time before the chinese handwritting recognition implements Japanese, and this stylus should make writing characters mich easier than it would be with my greasy fingers.