Apple - iPhone (8 GB) Cell Phone Review

The iPhone is one of the most fascinating achievements in cell phone/PDA technology I have ever owned. I communicate with my company's mail exchange and scheduling system and is the ONLY effective way I can keep on top of my workload.

The touchscreen is cool, but the Operating System is so thoroughly thought out that it actually helps with productivity and communication. The latest iOS 2.2 is significantly faster than previous versions and is very stable.

The THOUSANDS of free and paid iPhone Apps available through the iTunes Store and their ease of acquisition and GUI make the simple work out of everyday chores. I'm a TV Director and need access to movies, commercials, scheduling, camera apps, contacts quickly. This little device never fails.

Small, powerful and elegant, the iPhone is a real business tool and really fun. I find myself playing with it constantly. Call quality is excellent and the visual voicemail is a neat trick. Recent improvements in the OS have improved the clarity of the recorded Voicemail messages. The playback controls allow the user to review any portion of the VM at will without needing to learn cryptic controls.

The lack of Flash support is a major disappointment for me and a continual hassle since the majority of websites I visit require Flash for ANY video. Lack Flash support has been my number one complaint since the introduction of the iPhone. IF you don't use the iPhone web capabilities, then this is a non-issue.

The ability to view movies, podcasts and videos is one of my favorite uses of the iPhone, since I find myself bored while my wife shops, I'm stuck at the airport, or waiting for any number of things. I do wish the controls were as slick as the original iPods (circular forward/backward spinner). It would make it a lot easier to jump to a specific point in the movie, especially a repeat of the last few moments of a video. The linear controls as currently implemented do not allow accurate positioning of the playhead.

To protect the unit I recommend bodyguardz or their equivalent. The clear plastic cases and silicone sleeves create scratches on the chrome bevel around the screen based on my experience.

I can't wait until the third generation of the iPhone. Maybe next Spring ?