Did you buy an iPhone 4?

[FG Lurker]

Simple poll thread... Did you buy an iPhone 4?

[(1VB)freels]

No....

[Mike Oxlong]

No. Will stay with my 3GS for now, and keep an eye on either buying a factory unlocked iPhone4 to use with Docomo should the data plans available work out to a reasonable price, or switch to the Droid X over with Docomo when the current Softbank contract is dead and put on a DNR order next June.

[Samurai_Jerk]

No. Not interested in iPhones, iPods, iPads, or anything else Apple has to offer.

[American Oyaji]

I got my first 3GS in March. I'll get the iPhone 4 next year a few months after it's available for Verizon after they get the bugs worked out of their network.

[FG Lurker]

I got my first 3GS in March. I'll get the iPhone 4 next year a few months after it's available for Verizon after they get the bugs worked out of their network.

I'm sure you've heard the latest rumours -- January on Verizon.

If you're going to wait until March or April to buy the iPhone 4 I'd probably just wait until June and see what Apple does with the iPhone 5... LTE perhaps?

[American Oyaji]

Good point FGL. Good damn point.

[FG Lurker]

Quick question to anyone who has a 3GS too: Have you upgraded to iOS4? If so, how do you find the responsiveness of the new OS? Is it noticeably slower than iOS 3.1.x was on your phone?

I'd like some of the iOS4 features but not if it is going to make the phone's interface sluggish.

[American Oyaji]

I thought I had responded to this. It's spiffy. Runs like a champ, though I had a rough patch in upgrading. Had to set my phone up from scratch as a new phone though the problems I was having was with apps that were designed for the IOS3.1.3 not 4. No problems at all. Battery life is noticeably better.

[Christoff]

Waiting on the iPhone 4gs before I give up my 3gs and my money

[Tsuru]

No.... got a phone with a keyboard and where I can be root instead.

[Yokohammer]

Nah ... the Docomo people are nice, and my BlackBerry works just fine. Don't play games other than the occasional game of Sudoku to kill time and keep the brain cells functioning, so there's no need for that. Can't think of any other "apps" that would add any real joy to my life either. I listen to music on an iPod Touch occasionally (even though the Blackberry functions as a pretty nice media player), but I like to keep that separate because I can't see the point of running down my phone battery for that purpose. And I use a camera for photography (remember those?).

Other than a pretty slick browser, I just don't see the attraction of the iPhone, especially if it means I'm stuck with Softbank.

[CrankyBastard]

Quick question to anyone who has a 3GS too: Have you upgraded to iOS4? If so, how do you find the responsiveness of the new OS? Is it noticeably slower than iOS 3.1.x was on your phone?

I'd like some of the iOS4 features but not if it is going to make the phone's interface sluggish.

Yep, upgraded last week, just can't resist clicking on those update buttons!
All in all I'm pleased with the upgrade, interface is more responsive.
At first it was eating through the battery and I thought I'd have to buy the add on pack you suggested (thanks btw) but I ran the battery down to zero and did a full recharge and now battery life is back to normal.
Only one problem I have since upgrading to ios4 is that I can no longer wake or sleep my desktop mac at home from my iphone when I'm out.
If I leave the Mac on, I can access it no problem, but before ios4 I was able to wake it from sleep, grab/upload files, use mail, camera etc, then put it back to sleep.

[FG Lurker]

No.... got a phone with a keyboard

This is of course a matter of individual preference. That said, I really didn't like the onscreen keyboard when I first bought an iPhone. It felt unintuitive and I was very slow typing on it. Now that I have gotten used to it I am far faster with the onscreen keyboard than with any other phone input system I have used, I have no desire to go back to a "real" keyboard now.

and where I can be root instead.

Getting root on *nix based smartphones isn't that big a deal these days, iPhone included. I mostly use my access to modify iOS config files and also for useful shell apps like the SSH client (and server). Which phone are you using and what sort of cool shit are you doing with your root access?

[Tsuru]

I got a Nokia N900 linux geek-phone... though technically it's more a pocket PC that you can also use as a phone, as it's only really to be used in landscape mode... the browser and the phone also work in portrait, but I don't really use that. For the moment I like to use my rootsh to mount my network storage over wifi to listen to my music when I'm not at my PC or in the living room. One other awesome feature is the seamless integration of Skype into the phone menus, we hardly use it to make normal calls or text, instead we skype and chat. Much to the dispair of our provider I like to think.
The only thing I really miss on it with regards to the iPhone is its multitouch touchscreen, but then again mine does do multitasking and is an otherwise much more capable device for way less money. It's just not as "slick".

The Mrs. liked it so much I had to get 2 as well

[Mike Oxlong]

Quick question to anyone who has a 3GS too: Have you upgraded to iOS4? If so, how do you find the responsiveness of the new OS? Is it noticeably slower than iOS 3.1.x was on your phone?

I'd like some of the iOS4 features but not if it is going to make the phone's interface sluggish.

One Japan-based blogger's experience...

[Caustic Saint]

I'll be getting one - once Softbank has one to give me.

I went to reserve one on the 15th, but got there after their system had crashed. They took my info and called me back the next day, saying I could come do an official reservation. I got to my local shop around 2:30 on the 16th to complete the paperwork. Once that was done they said, "we'll call you when you can come get it."

It sounds like they're slowly getting more in, but I don't expect to have it before the end of next week or so. No hurry, though. I've still got my 3G from launch day 2 years ago and it's working fine. I never got a 3GS, so the 4 should make for a pretty nice upgrade.

[American Oyaji]

Tsuru, Skype on iPhone now works over 3G. I use it to call my GF while she's in Malaysia.

[FG Lurker]

I got a Nokia N900 linux geek-phone...

It's an interesting device, on par with the iPhone 3GS as far as CPU, GPU, memory, and on-board flash. The larger display and more open system are nice, but it's big and bulky with a not-so-good touch display. Trade-offs as always.

It's going to be interesting to see how Nokia fairs as the move towards smartphones accelerates, especially with so many interesting Android phones coming out.

[xenomorph42]

I'll be getting one - once Softbank has one to give me.

I went to reserve one on the 15th, but got there after their system had crashed. They took my info and called me back the next day, saying I could come do an official reservation. I got to my local shop around 2:30 on the 16th to complete the paperwork. Once that was done they said, "we'll call you when you can come get it."

It sounds like they're slowly getting more in, but I don't expect to have it before the end of next week or so. No hurry, though. I've still got my 3G from launch day 2 years ago and it's working fine. I never got a 3GS, so the 4 should make for a pretty nice upgrade.

Same here! Whenever they restock, waiting for one. All the stores are out!! and it's about time, my old Toshiba 911T is on its death bed. She's not gonna hold much more.

[Tsuru]

Tsuru, Skype on iPhone now works over 3G. I use it to call my GF while she's in Malaysia.

The difference is that on the iPhone, skype is a separate program in the phone with its own contact list, messaging, and phone call interface exactly like on my old Nokia. The N900 has it integrated into the phone's own calling application and IM interface, as well as the phone's own contact list. This is fucking awesome as we both use skype a LOT.

[American Oyaji]

The difference is that on the iPhone, skype is a separate program in the phone with its own contact list, messaging, and phone call interface exactly like on my old Nokia. The N900 has it integrated into the phone's own calling application and IM interface, as well as the phone's own contact list. This is fucking awesome as we both use skype a LOT.

Woah! I see what you mean. That IS cool!

[FG Lurker]

[ythd]oJqSpOQYGCE[/ythd]

Video of the 3GS running iOS 4. Looking forward to doing the upgrade sometime soon.

[Screwed-down Hairdo]

Everyone I know who's bought an iPhone 4 has had trouble with it.
When I eventually buy a mobile phone, I'm gonna do it through GomiGirl and get something she recommends because I can't trust anybody else.

[sublight]

No interest in any of the iStuff out there right now. Although the iPad seems like the closest to what I'd be looking for. Question for the clueless (me): do you have to subscribe to a service provider to use the iPad, like you do with the iPhone, or is it just a an independent device like an extra-large iPod Touch?

Unpredictable service costs are the main reason I don't want an iPhone. Most of the people with iPhones I've talked to can't tell me how much everything is, but say they think they're spending around 10,000/month. That's double what I'm spending on phone, cable and internet combined.

[FG Lurker]

No interest in any of the iStuff out there right now. Although the iPad seems like the closest to what I'd be looking for. Question for the clueless (me): do you have to subscribe to a service provider to use the iPad, like you do with the iPhone, or is it just a an independent device like an extra-large iPod Touch?

You can choose. If you buy the wifi version then you get data to/from the iPad via your wifi and there are no data fees. If you buy the 3G version you get both 3G and wifi but if you want to use 3G then you need to pay Softbank monthly for a data plan.

Unpredictable service costs are the main reason I don't want an iPhone. Most of the people with iPhones I've talked to can't tell me how much everything is, but say they think they're spending around 10,000/month. That's double what I'm spending on phone, cable and internet combined.

Like your current phone, how much you pay depends on how much you use.

If you go and buy a brand new 32GB iPhone 4 today this is what you will pay:
1. Phone cost: 2400yen/month (for 2 years)
2. 2 year Contract Discount: -1920/month
3. Calling Plan (White Plan): 980/month
4. Calling Plan Upgrade (W White Plan): 980/month
5. S-Basic (Data Charge): 315/month
6. Unlimited Data: 4410/month

Total: 7,165yen/month

The above gives you the following:

- Unlimited data, email, SMS, MMS. No tethering to your computer allowed.
- Free calls to other Softbank mobile phones between 1am and 9pm.
- Calls to Softbank mobiles between 9pm and 1am are 10.5yen/30secs
- Calls to non-Softbank mobiles or land lines (24/7) are 10.5yen/30secs

Exactly how much you will pay depends on how many calls you make that get charged at 10.5yen/30secs. If you take the rough estimate of 10,000/month that you have heard from a lot of people that means they are making about 150mins/month of calls that are billed at 10.5yen/30secs. If you make none of these sorts of calls you'll pay 7165yen/month (in fact if you make very few billable calls you can remove the 980yen calling plan upgrade too). If you make 300mins/month of these calls you'll pay a total of about 13,500yen/month. Generally I pay about 12,000/month for my iPhone 3GS.

[Samurai_Jerk]

they're spending around 10,000/month. That's double what I'm spending on phone, cable and internet combined.

How do you pay so little?

[FG Lurker]

How do you pay so little?

Prepaid phone and combined cable/internet?

[BigInJapan]

If you make none of these sorts of calls you'll pay 7165yen/month (in fact if you make very few billable calls you can remove the 980yen calling plan upgrade too).

I pay 6,049 yen/month for my iPhone 3GS.
More than 90% of my Internet/mail access is over Wifi as I work at home, I opted out of the fancy voice mail plan, and as I work at home I make very few calls.
Anyway, I'm definitely an exception, but that is an example of how little you can pay.

[sublight]

How do you pay so little?

I've never used my keitai for chatting. I don't know why, it's just not something I do. So my bill has never gone over the minimum service charge of about 1,700 (I also don't use it for internet and don't send more than a few messages a month). And now with Skype my land line bill is next to nothing as well.

Cable is about 2,500/month, although that's out of laziness. I've wanted to sign up for the premium package (closer to 4,000) but have never gotten around to it.

Fiber Internet was included with the building when I bought my house, so I don't pay anything for that (or if you want to count it as part of the building management fee, I'd estimate it's about 500-1,000).