[littlealex]

It's a little under three weeks before the 3G iPhone is launched and there will probably be a influx of new owners (like me) asking a load of questions which the iPhone experts here can answer. So I thought a thread where those questions could be asked away from the v2.0 discussion might be useful.

It's possible that a lot of answers will feature the phrase "but that might change with v2.0" but if those currently using the phone could give the current answer that would be great.

Please avoid giving answers which involve the phone being jailbroken as most new owners will be getting the 3g and that might not be an option.

I'll start:

I subscribe to a couple of podcasts on iTunes which I sync to my iPod once they've been downloaded. Does the iPhone let you get the podcast over the air or do I still need to go via my pc?

[dejongj]

Originally Posted by littlealex

I subscribe to a couple of podcasts on iTunes which I sync to my iPod once they've been downloaded. Does the iPhone let you get the podcast over the air or do I still need to go via my pc?

At the moment you still need your computer with iTunes as iTunes gets the podcasts and the synching...Haven't hear anything that will change that for the 3G version...

[Stinja]

Not many iPhone newbies about then...

I have a question: how good is the iPhone as a PDA?

As in classic PDA functionality of a Palm or Psion; contact organisation, editing simple word documents and spreadsheets, jotting down quick notes (handwriting and typed), voice-recorder and so on?

Forget the multi-media stuff, i want a really good PDA replacement - Is it easy and viable to use?

[littlealex]

Give it a few weeks and there will be a lot of new iPhone owners. For now there's just people trying to find out if they want one.

Here's another: I know that the iPhone doesn't support Flash so, Youtube aside, there won't be much watching video to be done. But does the BBC iPlayer work? How about streaming radio from a webpage?

Also, there's another thread where someone is asking for a file browser app. Is that a jailbreak situation or can I run such an app on an unlocked v1 now?

And a third: The notes app which is built in looks handy but do those notes get synced with iTunes / Outlook on a PC? Can I email a note from the iPhone to my pc?

[whitestar96]

Originally Posted by littlealex

Give it a few weeks and there will be a lot of new iPhone owners. For now there's just people trying to find out if they want one.

Here's another: I know that the iPhone doesn't support Flash so, Youtube aside, there won't be much watching video to be done. But does the BBC iPlayer work? How about streaming radio from a webpage?

Also, there's another thread where someone is asking for a file browser app. Is that a jailbreak situation or can I run such an app on an unlocked v1 now?

And a third: The notes app which is built in looks handy but do those notes get synced with iTunes / Outlook on a PC? Can I email a note from the iPhone to my pc?

Yes iPlayer works but only over wifi curently.

The file browser app WinSCP will only work on jail broken iPhones, again over wifi.

Don't know about the notes app as I haven't really used it.

[saracen]

I'm an iPhone noob (or will be on July 11th), as Alex says, just scouring the internet for as much info as poss...

[mook1979]

Originally Posted by Stinja

I have a question: how good is the iPhone as a PDA?

As in classic PDA functionality of a Palm or Psion; contact organisation, editing simple word documents and spreadsheets, jotting down quick notes (handwriting and typed), voice-recorder and so on?

I asked this question ages ago and did not get an answer. I would like to view and edit spreadsheets and word documents. Can that be done?

[bluegolf]

Highly unlikely that any microsoft products will make it onto the unjailbroken iphone.

[Moogle]

Originally Posted by mook1979

I asked this question ages ago and did not get an answer. I would like to view and edit spreadsheets and word documents. Can that be done?

Unfortunately not at least not at the moment.

[dejongj]

Originally Posted by Stinja

As in classic PDA functionality of a Palm or Psion; contact organisation, editing simple word documents and spreadsheets, jotting down quick notes (handwriting and typed), voice-recorder and so on?

Forget the multi-media stuff, i want a really good PDA replacement - Is it easy and viable to use?

Contact organisation - Fantastic
Editing - No can do (Have to await the launch of AppStore soon), review yes
Jotting down quick notes - Typed yes, handwritten no it does not use a stylus (and in my personal opinion that is a really good thing)
Voice-recorder - No (Have to await the launch of AppStore)

It all depends a little on your view on what a PDA is....To me it has got perfect integration with my Mac OS-X...And on all the PDA's before I never edited a document and also not really reviewed it due to formatting issues...Review/read I now do all the time...But editing I still wouldn't want to do on such a small screen and keyboard....An eepc might be better...

[Shaunio]

As in classic PDA functionality of a Palm or Psion; contact organisation, editing simple word documents and spreadsheets, jotting down quick notes (handwriting and typed), voice-recorder and so on?

You can view Word Docs and Spreadsheets, but you can't edit them. You can't save them on the iPhone either, you can only view them from inside an email or on the web.
Guess this answers your question about whether it would be a good PDA replacement, as from the looks of it the answer for your needs would be no. There may very well be apps available on the app store soon that would allow you to do this though so maybe wait and see.

Here's another: I know that the iPhone doesn't support Flash so, Youtube aside, there won't be much watching video to be done. But does the BBC iPlayer work? How about streaming radio from a webpage?

iPlayer does work, so do websites formatted in the same manner (i.e with the same type of video encoded in them). You can also stream music from website such as last.fm, seeqpod, etc.

The notes app which is built in looks handy but do those notes get synced with iTunes / Outlook on a PC? Can I email a note from the iPhone to my pc?

Notes don't get synced, nor will they in the new software update by the looks of things but you can email the note to yourself (there's an email button on each note).

(These answers all apply to a non-jailbroken iPhone)

[Stinja]

Cheers for the answers guys - i did think the point of "smart phones" were to replace PDAs, so it sounds like the iPhone is more a multimedia device than a real smartphone, and maybe i need a N95 or hideous Windows Mobile thing...

[Paul_T]

1. iPod - I have a 5.5g iPod Video currently - I plan selling this to part fund my 3G iPhone - is syncing with iTunes the exact same procedure?

2. Contacts - I've seen in iTunes the contacts tab when syncing my iPod - is the easiest way to get contacts onto the new phone to list them in Outlook (I'm on XP, not OSX) and then import into iTunes? And if someone new calls me and I store the number will it then update on my computer?

3. Battery life - I'm abit concerned about this. I use my current iPod as basically a CD interchanger in the car, however I think as the battery never gets fully discharged / recharged the battery life has degraded which is notice when I take it out when going for a walk, getting the train to work or just being a lazy bugger on some foreign beach - how does the current iPhone's battery perform over time?

[Shaunio]

Originally Posted by Paul_T

1. iPod - I have a 5.5g iPod Video currently - I plan selling this to part fund my 3G iPhone - is syncing with iTunes the exact same procedure?

2. Contacts - I've seen in iTunes the contacts tab when syncing my iPod - is the easiest way to get contacts onto the new phone to list them in Outlook (I'm on XP, not OSX) and then import into iTunes? And if someone new calls me and I store the number will it then update on my computer?

3. Battery life - I'm abit concerned about this. I use my current iPod as basically a CD interchanger in the car, however I think as the battery never gets fully discharged / recharged the battery life has degraded which is notice when I take it out when going for a walk, getting the train to work or just being a lazy bugger on some foreign beach - how does the current iPhone's battery perform over time?

1) Yes. The only additions being that as part of the sync it will sync your contacts, calendars and email accounts from Outlook during the sync (if you want it to, they are all selectable in the iTunes tabs when you plug in the iPhone).

2) Yes. You tell the contacts tab in iTunes where to get your contacts from (i.e Outlook). Also yes, your contacts get synced back to your computer.

3) In my experience the battery is superb, and works exactly (if not better) than Apple state on their website. Not sure about over a long period of time to be honest but I've had mine about 6 months or so and use the internet over WiFi a lot and haven't noticed the battery getting any worse.

[Paul_T]

Another Q.

Can you use the iPhone as portable storage like a flash drive - I know the iPod can do this although I've never used it - just wondering if you can use it to transport Word documents, AutoCAD drawings etc around to take from work to work on at home...

[dejongj]

Originally Posted by Stinja

Cheers for the answers guys - i did think the point of "smart phones" were to replace PDAs, so it sounds like the iPhone is more a multimedia device than a real smartphone, and maybe i need a N95 or hideous Windows Mobile thing...

Fair enough as you think that, but that is not the positioning of smart phones. Do you really need to edit MS Word/Excel/PowerPoint on the move? In that case I would go for a Windows Mobile powered device...Alternatively PALM do a PDA Phone!

Remember in most cases the clue is in the name

[Shaunio]

Originally Posted by Paul_T

Another Q.

Can you use the iPhone as portable storage like a flash drive - I know the iPod can do this although I've never used it - just wondering if you can use it to transport Word documents, AutoCAD drawings etc around to take from work to work on at home...

At the moment, no, but there is an app coming out on the app store for this in July called "Briefcase".

[littlealex]

I think Briefcase only works with OSX though.

I can't believe there won't be an equivalent for the pc in time though. It's like the early years of the iPod when iTunes was Mac only.

[colonel_smith]

Does msn work on the Iphone??
I have changed jobs and now cant use msn at work so would like to use the Iphone for this..

[miles safer]

I'm well keen on getting an iphone when the 3G one is released soon but want to know is there the facility for text templates in SMS as I send the same texts repeatedly in a week ("leaving now", etc) & it will be a pain in the bum to have to type my standard messages over & over.

Hope someone can help. Cheers.

[Jonobigblind]

Ok, then - a few more questions that probably seem really simple to answer...

1. I'm currently running a Blackberry Pearl and have three personal email accounts running smoothly. Can I migrate these over to the iPhone without subscribing to the mobileme service? I'd hate to think that I'm going to have to pay extra per month over the £45 I'm going to be forking out.
2. Is there any way that the phone can be tilted horizontally to make the keyboard bigger when typing an SMS or email?
3. Does everything really have to be done through iTunes (including deleting photos)?
4. I don't have a Mac so am I right in saying I can't use GarageBand and therefore can't edit songs for my ringtones?
5. If I wander into CPW on the 11th and purchase the 16GB, what's the procedure for setting it up? Can I go straight over to my mate's place and start using it or do I need to activate it through my iTunes?
6. What are the limitations with Bluetooth - is there anything that I can't do that I'm currently 'enjoying' with my Pearl?

Sorry for the long list - just curious as to how easy a transition this is actually going to be.

Jono

[SeedyR]

Originally Posted by Jonobigblind

Ok, then - a few more questions that probably seem really simple to answer...

1. I'm currently running a Blackberry Pearl and have three personal email accounts running smoothly. Can I migrate these over to the iPhone without subscribing to the mobileme service? I'd hate to think that I'm going to have to pay extra per month over the £45 I'm going to be forking out.
2. Is there any way that the phone can be tilted horizontally to make the keyboard bigger when typing an SMS or email?
3. Does everything really have to be done through iTunes (including deleting photos)?
4. I don't have a Mac so am I right in saying I can't use GarageBand and therefore can't edit songs for my ringtones?
5. If I wander into CPW on the 11th and purchase the 16GB, what's the procedure for setting it up? Can I go straight over to my mate's place and start using it or do I need to activate it through my iTunes?
6. What are the limitations with Bluetooth - is there anything that I can't do that I'm currently 'enjoying' with my Pearl?

Sorry for the long list - just curious as to how easy a transition this is actually going to be.

Jono

1) Yes you can have more than one email account set up. I think the maximum is six. As for smoothly, I couldn't get hotmail setup (more to do with hotmail than the iPhone) but gmail works great. You do not need need to subscribe to mobileme, but there is a free 60 day trial if you want to see what it's like.

2) Not at the moment, unless writing the email on a webpage, ie you go to gmail.com and login in there. On the SMS app and email app you can not type with the big keyboard. To be honest i thought this would bother me, but now I type with one thumb very quickly.

3) Yes everything has to be synced for iTunes, but once again this doesn't bother me as much as I thought it would. It's a very quick and easy process this way. You can delete photos and videos off the phone by simply hitting delete on them. Music and other stuff has to be unsynced on iTunes.

4) No, you will still be able to create ringtones on a PC, click here

5) The new iPhone activation still seems a bit up in the air as no one knows exactly yet. It seems that you will need to sign up in the shop, then take it home and set it up on your iTunes.

6) Bluetooth is very limited. You can pair with a headset and thats about it. You can not send or receive files such as pictures, music etc. This may change when the app store opens, but I know Apple said they didn't like the idea of being able to bluetooth music to each other, but maybe they will allow an app to send photos via bluetooth.

Any other questions please feel free to ask.

[Jonobigblind]

A the risk of sounding like Les Dennis, top answer - thanks for the speedy response. You have put my mind at rest and I think I'll be signing up for the 16GB model on the 11th.

Just need to exercise my right to cancel my 02 contract for the BB under CPW's insurance..so nice of them to let me do this.

Of course, if 02 were to let me upgrade (c.3 months left on current 18 month contract...fat chance).

I've also ordered an invisible shield from zagg.com as they are doing $5 discount (down to $19.96 with FREE UK shipping - was £30). I figured even if I don't end up with the phone someone will take it off my hands for roughly what i paid for it.

Thanks again

[dejongj]

Originally Posted by Jonobigblind

A the risk of sounding like Les Dennis, top answer - thanks for the speedy response. You have put my mind at rest and I think I'll be signing up for the 16GB model on the 11th.

Just need to exercise my right to cancel my 02 contract for the BB under CPW's insurance..so nice of them to let me do this.

Of course, if 02 were to let me upgrade (c.3 months left on current 18 month contract...fat chance).

I've also ordered an invisible shield from zagg.com as they are doing $5 discount (down to $19.96 with FREE UK shipping - was £30). I figured even if I don't end up with the phone someone will take it off my hands for roughly what i paid for it.

Thanks again

I wouldn't say fat chance...O2 Did allow, for the first iPhone, it's customers in contract to upgrade to an iPhone....Can't see a reason why they wouldn't do it now...

[Jonobigblind]

I checked their website and all existing iPhone customers can upgrade but their party line is that all others will be contacted around the time that their upgrade is due.

No harm in asking, although I do like the ability to break the contract after a while with the CPW insurance - I tend to bore relatively easily with phones and can't recall the last time I went full term on a contract.

I've registered with both CPW and 02 for pre-reg info so I'll just have to wait for them to get in touch unless I want to play lucky dip with the generally not too clued up advisers (thanks to the over protective marketing departments and their poor internal communications)

[Paul_T]

Is anyone using their iPhone in the car connected to their HU with an iPod dock?

I have a Kenwood HU with the iPod connected to it, will I still be able to do this?

[greyhound74]

OK - as you will all soon be able tell - N00B ALERT !!!!!

i'm thinking of getting a new iphone - however a few questions which in my eyes haven't been fully answered (i don't think). i also don't want to start hacking my iphone straight away.

Bluetooth
Can you use *any* Bluetooth headset with this phone or does it have to be the apple version ?

Video
Can you capture video with the camera and send it via MMS ?

Pictures
Can i take a photo and send via MMS

Apps
how much roughly and what apps will be out (the main ones) and will these cover any of my questions above ?

Cheers all.
Greyhound

[littlealex]

Originally Posted by greyhound74

Video
Can you capture video with the camera and send it via MMS ?

Pictures
Can i take a photo and send via MMS

I'm a noob too but I know you can't do either of these. You can't capture video at all (though it could potentially be enabled in the future) and you can't send any MMS on a non jailbroken phone. However, I wouldn't be at all surprised if MMS has arrived, possibly via the Appstore, by Xmas.

[greyhound74]

Originally Posted by littlealex

I'm a noob too but I know you can't do either of these. You can't capture video at all (though it could potentially be enabled in the future) and you can't send any MMS on a non jailbroken phone. However, I wouldn't be at all surprised if MMS has arrived, possibly via the Appstore, by Xmas.

NO MMS - what is this the stone-age ?
ok - the app the may enable this - how much would it cost (roughly) ?

[dejongj]

Originally Posted by greyhound74

NO MMS - what is this the stone-age ?
ok - the app the may enable this - how much would it cost (roughly) ?

Welcome to the iPhone...You've got unlimited e-mail who needs MMS That has been the Apple line since the first one went on sale over a year ago, and to be honest hasn't stopped them selling a few...