N95 8gb or iPone Dilemma [Archive] - 3G forum : your 3G community and resource.

topgearuk

09-11-2007, 01:00 PM

These are all valid replies and it's not a case of being a poser either, I just need a new phone and like many on here I like my gadgets. And i'm well aware of the iPhone's short comings.

I've had the N95 since April and it's been an ok phone and although the 8gb is far superior it's not that much different in the terms features to what i've got.

And if the N95 8gb was available now on 3 or t-mobile (or better data tariff) then you are all right no contest, but it's not and I really am in a dilemma.

topgearuk

09-11-2007, 01:03 PM

no contest in my eyes. Ok, the iPhone is nice but would choose the nokia any day. I wanted an iPhone but then realized just how much of a rip off it is. I mean 35 quid a month for 200 mins and 200 texts is stupid. What I'm doing is using my n95 as my phone, and then I brought an iPod touch which is amazing and in posting from now! That way you get the best of both worlds but without the ridiculous costs.

Yes thought about this option too, but does mean carrying 2 gadgets around with you where an 8gb N95/iPhone would eliminate this to some degree.

ez2remember

09-11-2007, 01:08 PM

Just for the price alone the iPhone is not worth considering. £269 + £35 for 18 months (ONLY 200mins + 200txt). It should be called the iSting!!

I do understand your point about the n95 8GB because although it's a lot better I could easily live with the original n95 as well.

Stezos

09-11-2007, 01:16 PM

Yes thought about this option too, but does mean carrying 2 gadgets around with you where an 8gb N95/iPhone would eliminate this to some degree.

Buy a smart looking bag, its cheaper than the iPhone :-) im being serious. Iv never really understood people wanting one device that does everything but if you were wanting an all in one device then its got to be the n95 8gig.

iPhone- Listen music, watch videos, make some calls, go on the internet, battery dies, your screwed.

n95- Listen music, watch videos, make some calls, go on the internet, battery dies, swap it out for another one.

I personally buy a device that does the job best for me rather than an all in one device. On an average day I carry an e61, a 6120, an ipod nano, an n800 tablet and a psp, and sometimes an archos av500 for movies....... hence the buy a bag comment.

chaslam

09-11-2007, 01:33 PM

Yes thought about this option too, but does mean carrying 2 gadgets around with you where an 8gb N95/iPhone would eliminate this to some degree.

in terms of carrying 2 things around, the touch is hardly bulky. To me, 8gb wouldn't be nearly enough for all my music videos and the like. I would rather carry around 2 dedicated devices that each do what they are made to do well instead of having to sacrifice certain things.

I love my n95 but also love my iPod touch. They both do what they are supposed to do but if I had to choose one it would be the n95. The one thing that is better on the touch is the browser. I done have my laptop on me at the moment and can happily browse the net and even post this reply on the touch, something that i will struggle to do on my n95 at the best of times.

iguanapunk

09-11-2007, 03:34 PM

I would say that the iPod Touch would be far superior to the N95 in terms of music playabilty, sound quality and ease. I don't rate the N95 as a decent MP3 player at all. The rest of it is brilliant though!

Mithent

09-11-2007, 03:47 PM

If the iPod Touch has the same audio hardware as the iPhone though, then most of the reviews were saying that its output was, while good, not fantastic. I'm sure it's a lot better than the N95 though.

topgearuk

09-11-2007, 05:34 PM

Ok think i've come to my sense's!! Am just gonna have to be patient and wait for the N95 8gb..

Or do I get myself down to carphone warehouse by 10pm tonight!!! (Na...)

ajay16

09-11-2007, 05:40 PM

iPhone is whank compared to the N95 8GB!

(just bought the n95 8gb) :D lol

topgearuk

09-11-2007, 05:50 PM

iPhone is whank compared to the N95 8GB!

(just bought the n95 8gb) :D lol

And that is a technical comparison then!! ;-) lol

I think you can use that term for the vodaphone data tariff options!!!

ajay16

09-11-2007, 06:11 PM

iani

09-11-2007, 06:40 PM

Lol yesh its a technical comparison!

If you bought an iphone and saw someone with a n95 8gb and all its features ud jus cry, no comparison between the 2! N95 8gb is a walkover with the iphone, apple should have made the iphone better to start with, like even making it 3g would help!

I have bought mine sim free anyway screw vodaphone lol i allready have a 3 contract neway, i jus upgrade my own phones lol i cant have the same phone for 18 months!! every 6 months n its a change :D

Sorry, I just don't get this. I have an iPhone and an N95, both are good but at least my iPhone will last a couple of days without being charged, my N95 struggles to make 10 hours most days. If it wasn't for the inability to get my corporate mail on the iPhone I'd dump the N95 tomorrow.

Ian

topgearuk

09-11-2007, 10:10 PM

Sorry, I just don't get this. I have an iPhone and an N95, both are good but at least my iPhone will last a couple of days without being charged, my N95 struggles to make 10 hours most days. If it wasn't for not for the inability to get my corporate mail on the iPhone I'd dump the N95 tomorrow.

Ian

I don't get it either, every one says how great the N95 is against the iPhone, which on paper it is, but in reality the Battery's ****e, the camera is ****e for 5m it would be acceptable if it was only 2m, the GPS, the build quality, the lack of RAM, it's unstable, it can't multi task well, the mp3 handling is poor. as I've said before jack of all trades great at none!!

Hopefully the 8gb version addresses a lot of these problems, but for anyone to disagree then I truly believe they are not using this phone to it's designed potential.

biggzy

09-11-2007, 10:23 PM

munkimatt

09-11-2007, 10:25 PM

Well as this discussion is regarding the 8gb model comments about the lack of RAM etc aren't really valid. As for the camera, it's very clear that it's considerably better than a 2mpx camera. In fact its considerably better than the iPhones 2mpx camera. There's some stunning N95 images here http://flickr.com/groups/24298488@N00/. The GPS is really rather impressive on the 8gb but I never had problems with it on the previous model (I use it daily). Also not sure why the previous mdoel 'can't multitask'. I can run a few things together, surely that's multitalking? Not every other phone in the world can do that.

I simly couldn't go for an iPhone because it's a considerable step down. I would lose half of the things I need.

One point I do agree with is the battery though. At least with the N95 you can carry a speare though, something that is impossible with the iPhone.

lsroa

09-11-2007, 10:39 PM

biggzy

09-11-2007, 10:46 PM

For me the lack of mobile data and GPS on the IPhone is the decision maker. I need my 3G and I think the GPS is pretty good. Locks on fast enough for me and doesn't seem to lose a lock.

The battery is a problem, but I have a car charger and a spare battery.

same here and the fact that u got no vid recording and a 2mp fixed focus cam, i know phone cams arent great but the n95s is good enuf and i use it alot and the vid, i also use A2DP everyday with my hifi or bh-500, also i use tv-out quite abit, and use alot of 3rd party apps, so iphone is a big no no

Ian Ross

10-11-2007, 01:45 AM

what do i do? need a new phone asap as other phone is on tempory pay as u go. Was waiting 4 the n95 on any other network other then voda but that is now looking like new year or do i buy an iphone tonight and put up with gsm?

It's a very simple descision really. What do you want to do with your phone?

Do you want to make calls?
The iPhone is average on that.

Do you want to send text messages?
The iPhone can send a text message. However, because it does not have a Copy, Paste or Forward facility if you receive a text that you would like to send on to, say 20 other people, you will have to write it down using a pencil and paper and then enter it into the iPhone using the touch screen QWERTY keyboard and send it off. Oh! Did I mention that you cannot send to multiple numbers. So you will have to do this another 19 times.

Do you want to browse the web?
Well, unless you happen to be in a WiFi hotspot you'll have to use EDGE (30% UK coverage) or 2G which is about 13 times slower than HSDPA.

Do you want to take photo's?
The iPhone has a 2 megapixel camera with no flash.
Don't bother trying to MMs them to your friends though. The iPhone doesn't do MMS. Don't try and Bluetooth them either. The iPhone only connects to it's headset.

Do you want to take video's?
Don't bother, the iPhone doesn't do that either.

Do you want to pay £269 for the iPhone plus £35 a month for 18 months for 200 mins and 200 texts? A total cost of £899 or you could pay £50 a month for 18 months and get an N95 8GB with 1200 mins and unlimited texts. Total cost £900.
Alternatively you could wait until the end of this month, the 29th I believe, and get an unlocked, sim free iPhone from France where their laws do not allow Apple's bully boy tactics.
The choice is yours!

gsivaux

10-11-2007, 05:45 AM

Having just read the above, I will be supprised if they sell any iphones. It dont seem to be crammed with features does it?:confused:

Ian Ross

10-11-2007, 06:02 AM

Having just read the above, I will be supprised if they sell any iphones. It dont seem to be crammed with features does it?:confused:
Funny you should say that.
69 days after its release in the US the iPhones price was slashed from $599 to $399 in an attempt to boost sales. Such was the outcry from the early adopters that Apple were forced, some 48 hours after this announcement, to refund $100 a head to them.
Not something I would have thought that would needed to be done if it was selling well and was indeed, to quote Steve Jobs of Apple, "a revolutionary and magical product that is literally five years ahead of any other mobile phone."
Yeah, right!

ib1-2

10-11-2007, 08:44 AM

Wait until the unlocked version comes out in France next month if you want the iphone. At the moment a rip off in UK.

chaslam

10-11-2007, 09:30 AM

Funny you should say that.
69 days after its release in the US the iPhones price was slashed from $599 to $399 in an attempt to boost sales. Such was the outcry from the early adopters that Apple were forced, some 48 hours after this announcement, to refund $100 a head to them.
Not something I would have thought that would needed to be done if it was selling well and was indeed, to quote Steve Jobs of Apple, "a revolutionary and magical product that is literally five years ahead of any other mobile phone."
Yeah, right!

This is true, but it was because it was over priced in the first place, much like it is here. The UK Market doesnt work the same as it does in the US, and it annoys me that apple thinks it does.
I think, in 2 or 3 generations of iphones, it could possibly be one of the best
phones available, but at the moment, especially for that price, it just cant compete.

candyman39

10-11-2007, 09:39 AM

dont know if anybody has mentioned it but the n95 8g is available on o2 now aswell its free on a £40 tariff, had a look at it last weekend looks well cool in black.

ez2remember

10-11-2007, 09:40 AM

I'm not sure what the uptake will be like. I think the price could well be it's downfall. PS3 anyone?

skalra63

10-11-2007, 09:58 AM

Candyman, can you provide a link to the page with the N95 8GB on O2? I can't seem to find it.

Mithent

10-11-2007, 12:01 PM

Apple's great strength is that, for whatever reason, people just want their products. Not for any rational reason - they don't carefully weigh up features on different devices. They just want the Apple one because it's incredibly cool.

The iPod also became synonymous with digital audio players, to the point that people don't even think about the competition - they just know that if you want a digital audio player, you want an iPod. The iPhone will never have that kind of dominance, though - it's an established market, not a fledgling one that Apple can dominate.

Stezos

10-11-2007, 12:22 PM

The ipod is in my opinion the best dap out there for price, interface and features. Sure its not got the sound quility of some other players but iv not got audiophile hearing so i dont notice. The iphone is different though. Its main selling point seems to be audio/video playback, web browsing and google maps, the phone related features seem to have been a half assed after thought so really shouldnt it be called the ipod touch with phone, like the 5th gen were called the ipod with video. As the phone functionality is minimal if it was sold for the 299 it is now from any electrical store without a contract id probably get one. But i think they really over estinated what the UK market is willing to pay for a contract phone.

Mithent

10-11-2007, 01:22 PM

The iPod may or may not be the best, but my point is that in many consumers' minds it's in fact the only option; I know people who haven't considered any other DAP than the iPod because the iPod is what you get if you want a DAP.

whodouc

10-11-2007, 01:52 PM

Having just read the above, I will be supprised if they sell any iphones. It dont seem to be crammed with features does it?:confused:

Its all down to slick marketing by Apple.

How much for a decent Ibook £1200 ish??? comparable spec Laptop £800??

2Gb Nano @ rrp £75 take your pick on any Non brand 2gb Mp3 player £40ish

Iphone in my eyes is like having a very pretty G/friend, nice looking but they usually come with no brain attached. Great to look at but not much else. On the other hand, your average looking bird, comes with a brain (sometimes looses it though!) can cook, can clean and is a wh**e in the bedroom, a bit like my 95 really, it does almost everything I want.

marlin026

10-11-2007, 01:58 PM

I am a fairly recent Apple convert, As in the last 3 years. I have had an iBook a Macbook and I am about to upgrade to a Macbook Pro shortly. I also have an iPhone.

Why? you ask....

Well because it just works! And im not kidding you, they really do. To go back to the sham they call Vista is not an option for me.

Apple computers are well built with quality components along with great tech support and customer care. All of these are second to none. You just dont get this with a £299.00 acer lappy!

ramjam69

10-11-2007, 03:38 PM

Why do Apple trumpet Google Maps for the iPhone anyway?I've got it for my N95 and having played with Apple's 'killer' phone(don't make me laugh!!),I couldn't see any difference in it.
I did like the touch screen, the size of the screen and the look and feel of the iPhone,but like I told the salesperson at theO2 shop,my N95 does loads more and didn't cost me £270!!!!

wesbar

10-11-2007, 05:14 PM

I've had an iPhone for a few weeks now and it has to be the best phone I've ever had. Far superior to the N95. It shouldn't be on paper but it just works and once the SDK is released I don't think there'll be any stopping it. The 8gb N95 is a close second though.

candyman39

10-11-2007, 11:49 PM

skalra63 i havnt looked on the net but i got a sim only for my n95 from my local o2 shop last sunday and i was asking about the n95 8g she said they had them n the shop for free on a £40 and above tariff didnt ask what minuites or texts you got for that but they had them in stock because i was very tempted

Damo0001

11-11-2007, 12:20 AM

To be honest I find this whole thread to be a style vs substance affair... if you like the look and usability of a device and are not bothered about the features of a phone and are one of the 1 people on this planet that probably don't own an iPod go for the iPhone, at least youll have an mp3 player!

Personally though if you want a phone that does what an iPhone does but has a bit more stuff under the bonnet go for the LG Viewty.... it does everything the iPhone does and more (although it probably isn't as usable) and pick up a memory card to put in the thing- you can have divx movies without the memory problems then!

Personally go for the N95 8GB, is cheaper on a new contract or if you want o2- they are doing a good deal at the moment to have an N95 with an 8GB memory card and get pretty much the same thing with the unlimited data (which is available on non-iPhone tariffs... bargain.

skalra63

11-11-2007, 07:07 AM

Candyman, the 8GB N95 is exclusive to Vodafone until at least the end of November, most likely the end of the year.

ManInBlack

11-11-2007, 07:09 AM

I think you'll find that retail staff in O2 are referring to the N95 with the 8gb card as the '8GB N95'. Just got one when I took my k850i back as a 14 day exchange. Decided I wanted another N95 as the SE phone was driving me nuts. Salesperson said 'we have the new N95 8GB which has bigger memory and new software, you could have that if you like'. I was chuffed as a butty and then he brought out the box, which was the old N95 box with sticker saying '8GB card included'....

I did try to explain, but the conversation was going nowhere.... this was the assistant manager too! :D

May not be all O2's fault, though, because when I registered the IMEI on MyNokia, it does indicate that I have a Nokia N95 8GB, including a little picture of one. Now figuring how I can blag Nokia into giving me an N95 8GB! :bandit:

candyman39

11-11-2007, 08:36 AM

ye no n95 8g on there web site just the option of an n95 with a 8 gig card this is oviously what they meant.

pa49

11-11-2007, 09:05 AM

If anyone wants 3G and hsdpa internet access then forget the iPhone, period!
If you don't then choose whatever you want.
If you already have an N95 and are thinking about an iPhone you shouldn't have chosen the N95.

DeniseR

11-11-2007, 09:55 AM

Well, i am trying the N95 8gb from voda and the iphone to see what they are both like.

The iphone has style and build quality that apple products are accustomed to.
The UI and screen size are just a dream to use.

Pros Great screen size
Lovely UI
Ability to view all texts in a conversation with the same person
Sync is simple

Cons Expensive to buy
Expensive tariff
No 3g
Can only send texts to one person at a time
Unable to use own ringtones or text alerts
Unable to use 3rd party applications, therefore the phone as you buy it
is as it will stay due to the inability to customise
Ringing vol not very loud
Visual voicemail, I needed to put my ear to speaker even with external speaker on to hear the message left

The N95 8Gb I do not feel I can list its pro as I would be here til Xmas 3007 lol

Chrisp7

11-11-2007, 09:57 AM

munkimatt

11-11-2007, 11:56 AM

topgearuk

11-11-2007, 03:20 PM

It's a very simple descision really. What do you want to do with your phone?

Do you want to make calls?
The iPhone is average on that.

Do you want to send text messages?
The iPhone can send a text message. However, because it does not have a Copy, Paste or Forward facility if you receive a text that you would like to send on to, say 20 other people, you will have to write it down using a pencil and paper and then enter it into the iPhone using the touch screen QWERTY keyboard and send it off. Oh! Did I mention that you cannot send to multiple numbers. So you will have to do this another 19 times.

Do you want to browse the web?
Well, unless you happen to be in a WiFi hotspot you'll have to use EDGE (30% UK coverage) or 2G which is about 13 times slower than HSDPA.

Do you want to take photo's?
The iPhone has a 2 megapixel camera with no flash.
Don't bother trying to MMs them to your friends though. The iPhone doesn't do MMS. Don't try and Bluetooth them either. The iPhone only connects to it's headset.

Do you want to take video's?
Don't bother, the iPhone doesn't do that either.

Do you want to pay £269 for the iPhone plus £35 a month for 18 months for 200 mins and 200 texts? A total cost of £899 or you could pay £50 a month for 18 months and get an N95 8GB with 1200 mins and unlimited texts. Total cost £900.
Alternatively you could wait until the end of this month, the 29th I believe, and get an unlocked, sim free iPhone from France where their laws do not allow Apple's bully boy tactics.
The choice is yours!

These are all really good and vaild points!!

topgearuk

11-11-2007, 03:35 PM

The iPod also became synonymous with digital audio players, to the point that people don't even think about the competition - they just know that if you want a digital audio player, you want an iPod. The iPhone will never have that kind of dominance, though - it's an established market, not a fledgling one that Apple can dominate.

I think this is total nonsense, Apple could have sown this market up if they had put a little more thought into the 1st version i.e added 3g and the like, Established or not.
Take Sony no prior console experience entered into a very competitive market with the PS1, got it right 1st time and controlled the market for years, Sega, Atari and almost Nintendo fell by the wayside. So this is prof it can happen. I think the phone market is crying out now for revolution.

And I think the iPhone coming along is a good thing whether you like it or not it will up the stakes from other companies and so we will see better products coming from the likes of Nokia and SE, which in the long run can only be a good thing

marlin026

11-11-2007, 03:42 PM

I want to know about this 'it just works' comment. What it turns on? You can make a call? You can take a picture? You can do all the things you can do on plenty of phones for years?

Bravo Apple, bravo. I can totally see how that's 5 years ahead...

It is a case of joined up thinking on apples part really. You want a device that syncs seemlessly with your pc and imports all your email, pics, vids, songs, contatcs etc. How many times do we see threads on here about how to put this that and the other onto my phone! Apple products do what they say on the tin!

munkimatt

11-11-2007, 04:24 PM

And how many times is that because people seem to ask before actually thinking something or spending 30 seocnds to figure it out?

wesbar

11-11-2007, 04:41 PM

I want to know about this 'it just works' comment. What it turns on? You can make a call? You can take a picture? You can do all the things you can do on plenty of phones for years?

Bravo Apple, bravo. I can totally see how that's 5 years ahead...

This is just my opinion and i'd like to think I know a fair bit having owned many smartphones over the years form palm, wm and symbian. The UI on all these systems have been terrible. Sure the N95 is a technical marvel but it's running behind a disjointed UI which spoils the experience for me along with the random hangs/crashes. The Iphone may not have all the bells and whistles of the N95 (although a 700mhz processor, 512mb ram, amazing screen and mac osx are impressive) but its a joy to use and is seamless. Its difficult to explain but the whole exerience flows.

Hopeflully Nokia's new touch interface can go someway to rectifying the current s60 interface and with their hardware it should be amazing.

wesbar

11-11-2007, 04:48 PM

I want to know about this 'it just works' comment. What it turns on? You can make a call? You can take a picture? You can do all the things you can do on plenty of phones for years?

Bravo Apple, bravo. I can totally see how that's 5 years ahead...

This is just my opinion and i'd like to think I know a fair bit having owned many smartphones over the years form palm, wm and symbian. The UI on all these systems have been terrible. Sure the N95 is a technical marvel but it's running behind a disjointed UI which spoils the experience for me along with the random hangs/crashes. The Iphone may not have all the bells and whistles of the N95 (although a 700mhz processor, 512mb ram, amazing screen and mac osx are impressive) but its a joy to use and is seamless. Its difficult to explain but the whole exerience flows.

Hopeflully Nokia's new touch interface can go someway to rectifying the current s60 interface and with their hardware it should be amazing.

Stezos

11-11-2007, 06:13 PM

The trouble with the iphone is not that its not got advanced features of the n95 like gps or auto focus 5mp camera. Its that its one of the most expensive mobile on the market seeing as its only available on contract but it cant do simple things that phones 3-4 years ago were doing, like 3g, mms, group txt, video, crippled bluetooth (this may have changed). If it had been claimed to be 5 years ahead of any dap it would have been a fair comment, but five years ahead of any mobile is a joke.

ez2remember

11-11-2007, 06:48 PM

10 reasons I can't live with the iPhone:

1) I send text messages to multiple recipients all the time so it would annoy the hell out of me.
2) I take pictures and the iPhone's "5 years ahead technology" 2mpx camera just doesn’t cut it. lol
3) I occasionally send MMS.
4) I hate turtle pace internet.
5) The damn thing is software locked at the moment.
6) I heard the signal jumps up and down like a yoyo causing disconnects.
7) Its a grease & dirt magnet.
8) Non removable battery.
9) Its bluetooth implementation sucks!
10) It doesn't come with much features compared to other smartphones.

I could go on... I'm sure it's not just me who want some of these basic features.

Speedbird800

11-11-2007, 07:46 PM

You just can't beat the nokia N95 and N95 8GB. Apple have a long way to go before they will beat Nokia. My first phone was a Motorola 8500x that was 18 years ago. I've had 2 Motorola's and 16 Nokia's.

I was in Chicago in September, in a bar. A guy had an Iphone and tried to convince me that it was the best phone ever. "Poor Miss-Guided chap"

For all you who have brought an Ipod that can make calls! Your not really using a phone. You are using an Ipod. The Nokia is so much more!

Chrisp7

11-11-2007, 07:51 PM

This is just my opinion and i'd like to think I know a fair bit having owned many smartphones over the years form palm, wm and symbian. The UI on all these systems have been terrible. Sure the N95 is a technical marvel but it's running behind a disjointed UI which spoils the experience for me along with the random hangs/crashes. The Iphone may not have all the bells and whistles of the N95 (although a 700mhz processor, 512mb ram, amazing screen and mac osx are impressive) but its a joy to use and is seamless. Its difficult to explain but the whole exerience flows.

Hopeflully Nokia's new touch interface can go someway to rectifying the current s60 interface and with their hardware it should be amazing.

I agree the UI is great, as is its internet/touch interface..but thats it. You seem very sold on apples marketing - theres osx in there!? - oh come on, thats just not true. Why I am happy the iphone exists is so that Nokia get their GUI sorted out, however for what you have said certainly doesnt make the iphone superior to the N95 (as you mentioned earlier)!

ez2remember

11-11-2007, 07:57 PM

...
I was in Chicago in September, in a bar. A guy had an Iphone and tried to convince me that it was the best phone ever. "Poor Miss-Guided chap"

You should of asked him to bluetooth you some pics. :D

Speedbird800

11-11-2007, 08:02 PM

SirGbolalot

11-11-2007, 09:01 PM

No Point. The N95 has 5MP Cam. The iphone has not. Also, one of the things that blew his head away was the fact that I could call the UK from the USA free of Charge using Sip settings on my N95. He just couldn't understand how I had a Geographic USA number ringing on my N95.

If you want an Ipod then by and Iphone. If you want a Mobile Phone then buy a Nokia N95

I think ez2remember is trying to say that your friend would have been stomped because the iPhone is incapable of sending files to friends via Bluetooth!:eek:

iani

11-11-2007, 09:15 PM

Speedbird800

11-11-2007, 09:28 PM

The thing is, if you want a business tool the Iphone just doesn't cut the mustard.

Thats why I have the N95. Also HSDPA does drain the battery on any handset. If you are using Wifi, it will last for longer.

Does the Iphone have HSDPA?

Nokia have never needed to give money back after they have sold it!

Sorry guys I don't mean to diss the Iphone. It's all about preference. I prefer the N95. Some of you will prefer the Iphone.

lets check back in 6 months time.
PS

Blackberry's get on my nerves and I have one. Not that I want one! I'd rather use the push function on my N95!

Ian Ross

11-11-2007, 10:34 PM

Well, it seems that the launch of the iPhone in the UK came in with a whimper, rather than the bang seen in the US, despite all the pre launch hype as this report shows.

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/11/11/iphone_uk_flop/

Looks like you can fool all of the people some of the time and some of the people all of the time.

pa49

11-11-2007, 11:10 PM

I am finding this thread very interesting, all these people lining up to say how much better than an iPhone the N95 is, well, as an owner of both I am still convinced my iPhone is much better than my N95, the laughable battery life of the N95 makes comments about the iPhone's lack of a replaceable battery frankly hilarious. I have a DSLR if I want to take "proper" photographs, far superior to my N95, as for MMS, I've owned mobile phones for over a decade now and haven't needed the capability yet.

Ian

The N95 is a highly developed communications device.
The iPhone is pure eye (thumb?) candy.
You cannot need and grab a file at mobile broadband speed with an iPhone.
That on it's own shows the backward tech spec that has been designed into the iPhone. It is low tech and in desperate need of contemporary device connectivity. If you can't connect in the most up to date manner why is anyone considering it as being 'better'.
Surely broadband is better than dialup.

ez2remember

12-11-2007, 05:32 AM

I am finding this thread very interesting, all these people lining up to say how much better than an iPhone the N95 is, well, as an owner of both I am still convinced my iPhone is much better than my N95, the laughable battery life of the N95 makes comments about the iPhone's lack of a replaceable battery frankly hilarious. I have a DSLR if I want to take "proper" photographs, far superior to my N95, as for MMS, I've owned mobile phones for over a decade now and haven't needed the capability yet.

Ian

lol, what kind of argument is this?

First off the N95 8GB was launched to compete with the iPhone. Remember the title? "N95 8gb or iPone Dilemma" so your argument about the battery being poor is invalid. It has been drastically improved by a bigger battery and software optimisation.

Eh, so I should lug around a DSLR to "capture the moment"? The point is I carry my phone everywhere... I don't with a DSLR!!

Well wthether you send MMS or not is your problem. Some people do...

The fact is that for a phone that is "5 years ahead", it's more like a few years behind since it can't do the simplest of things. Even my very old Nokia can do that.

You have to give credit where credit is due and no one is arguing the iPhone has a brilliant UI and it has a lot of "sex" appeal but doesn't have much substance.

Leeds Fan

12-11-2007, 07:03 AM

Did anyone know that you cannot remove the sim card from an iphone? It is built into the phone same as the battery.

DeniseR

12-11-2007, 07:27 AM

Did anyone know that you cannot remove the sim card from an iphone? It is built into the phone same as the battery.

Yes you can remove the sim card, just need a paper clip ;)

timbo_baggins

12-11-2007, 07:49 AM

Stezos

12-11-2007, 09:42 AM

Take this story with a pinch of salt (it IS The Register, after all) but it doesn't look like the iPhone launch was up to the thundering success the hype would have you believe:

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/11/11/iphone_uk_flop/

Tim

My mate was in Liverpool on friday and vid called me from outside CPW to show me the queue, it had about 25 people max but it did have a queue even if nothing like the ones at the US launch. The point is he vid called me, so obviously he wasnt using an iPhone :-)

martinjohnson

12-11-2007, 01:21 PM

just upgraded from the n95 to the 8gb version & let me tell you its lovely!! the bigger screen does help & the phone itself feels faster & more realistic to touch, the software upgrade is good showing faster movement & the dreaded battery life (which wasnt a real problem in the end!) is vastly improved....i can actually download several web pages now without the 'memory full' warning coming up!!
VERDICT...go get it!! if you loved the standard n95 this is a well worthy improvement.

drwalker

12-11-2007, 03:14 PM

Anyone catch the piece on Newsnight? Good lord. People waving their hands in the air and all sorts, as if they'd won the world cup as opposed to forking out the ugly part of a grand for the iPhone. And then there were the hackers.
Christ. 'Yes, I can unlock it so I can use another network.' Okay, and third party apps.
But would it not have been easier to just BUY ANOTHER PHONE! Congrats. You've just invalidated your warranty because you felt like it, and when the fruits of the SDK kits come along next year, Apple will most likely find a way to prevent their working on cracked handsets. Lovely.
Saw a bunch of teenagers playing with the iPhones on display in O2 - considered going in for a look, but then again, I have the N95 in my pocket, and I found myself wondering just what, exactly, was I going to do? Try to write a text, bring up a calendar, maybe even play a tune or mess with a picture.
I wonder how many forum posters come across as being against the iPhone, when the reality is, it just has not delivered what we were expecting - although in all fairness to Apple, looking back at Steve Jobs's keynote, he didn't really promise us all that much in the first place.

Mithent

12-11-2007, 03:36 PM

Ian Ross

12-11-2007, 03:47 PM

- although in all fairness to Apple, looking back at Steve Jobs's keynote, he didn't really promise us all that much in the first place.

On the contrary. Steve Jobs stood there and said, "iPhone is a revolutionary and magical product that is literally five years ahead of any other mobile phone."
From that moment until its launch it was the most discussed and sought after device on the planet. The only thing that Apple did wrong after Steve Jobs statement was to actually release it so that people could see that it wasn't "revolutionary" or "magical" and NOT "five years ahead of any other mobile phone."
It was in fact, in many ways, five or more years behind any other mobile phone. When the American public realised this after the initial launch then sales of the iPhone dropped off dramatically and Apple were forced to slash the price by $200 only 69 days after release.
Not a commercial decision one would take if your product was the most sought after item in the world and was truly "revolutionary", "magical" and "five years ahead of any other mobile phone."
That statement will live to haunt Apple as they have failed to live up to Steve Jobs promise.

andykn

12-11-2007, 03:49 PM

It does surprise me that lots of people are prepared to pay for the phone plus an O2 contact, and then just want to take it to a different network.. you're tied in to the O2 one for 18 months whatever you do, so I don't see the benefit?

You don't have to sign up to the O2 contract to buy the phone for 269 quid. So once an unlock method is devised for 1.1.2 UK firmware you can use it on any network and just pay for the handset. So you could get an N95 8GB on contract and sell it for 300 quid, buy an iphone and use that.

Once the 1.1.12 unlock is found.

drwalker

12-11-2007, 04:09 PM

On the contrary. Steve Jobs stood there and said, "iPhone is a revolutionary and magical product that is literally five years ahead of any other mobile phone."
From that moment until its launch it was the most discussed and sought after device on the planet. The only thing that Apple did wrong after Steve Jobs statement was to actually release it so that people could see that it wasn't "revolutionary" or "magical" and NOT "five years ahead of any other mobile phone."
It was in fact, in many ways, five or more years behind any other mobile phone. When the American public realised this after the initial launch then sales of the iPhone dropped off dramatically and Apple were forced to slash the price by $200 only 69 days after release.
Not a commercial decision one would take if your product was the most sought after item in the world and was truly "revolutionary", "magical" and "five years ahead of any other mobile phone."
That statement will live to haunt Apple as they have failed to live up to Steve Jobs promise.

And yes, everyone fell for it. But what did he actually demonstrate on the phone to back it up? Nothing. And we still listened. He made a phone call, showed off a map... That was it. The interface was the magical part, and from what I've seen of it, the touchscreen works well. Well enough for me to turn my nose up at the rest of the phones of that ilk. What made us salivate over the iPhone was the sheer potential of the device, what bored us was the outright commitment by Apple to emasculating it to iPod levels of usability.

topgearuk

12-11-2007, 04:13 PM

You don't have to sign up to the O2 contract to buy the phone for 269 quid. So once an unlock method is devised for 1.1.2 UK firmware you can use it on any network and just pay for the handset. So you could get an N95 8GB on contract and sell it for 300 quid, buy an iphone and use that.

Once the 1.1.12 unlock is found.

And apparently it already has!!

http://stuff.tv/blogs/future/archive/2007/11/09/uk-iphone-hacked.aspx

DeniseR

12-11-2007, 08:43 PM

It's not been unlocked on 1.1.2 for UK iphones as the bootloader is different to the US models so the unlock won't work. What can done is the jailbreak to allow 3rd party applications to be installed and run on it. The firmware is the same on the ipod touch, so it can be jailbroken and applications installed. Therefore in my opinion an ipod touch for the same price as the iphone for double the memory is the much better option, as it can be jailbroken too to install applications on

topgearuk

13-11-2007, 06:37 AM

Well I have finally come to my decision, N95 8Gb it is!! :D

Thanks to all the interesting comments on this thread.

It has been quite entertaining at times. The passion some people hold there N95 in is amazing, I've never felt like that with mine but do hold out hope that the 8gb is going to address some of these issues that I personally have had with mine.

And the hatred for the iPhone too is also interesting almost like it is threatening in someways!! I think this is also a great phone, but it is a shame as I think with just a little more thought it would have been amazing. Maybe iphone 2 will address these issues as the N95 8gb did with it's??

ez2remember

13-11-2007, 06:53 AM

We're all trying to advise people to make the right choice, aka n95 8GB. ;) LOL
Better than wasting £1000 on an iPhone they may live to regret.

Peter321

13-11-2007, 09:41 AM

I have an N95 (first "beta" edition)

I want an iPhone - but not yet!

The iPhone has a great userinterface and a beautiful screen, but in the current version here is what I'm missing compared to my N95:

Good camera with photo-light (The N95 actually takes really nice photos, especially outdoor)

Good video camera (although not DVD-quality as NOKIA says, it's pretty good when you don't have a real video camera around)

GPS Navigation (even just using a BT GPS unit - I love TomTom on my N95, this is just impossible on the iPhone)

HSDPA (not a must, I think I could live with Edge, but becoming more and more important).

These are the reasons I bought the N95 instead of the iPhone - now if the N95 8GB had been out I would have gotten that to overcome some of the "beta" problems with the original N95 - but I would miss the camera cover.

drwalker

13-11-2007, 12:55 PM

Once the SDK kits come out for the iPhone, it should not take too long for it to reach 'smartphone' status, and hopefully office apps will be the first item on the agenda. The other key issue from my perspective is the email attachments issue and bluetooth (plus downloading from the web - something that is missing from the iPhone manual, and I assume from the phone itself). Surely it would be possible for it to store items in a downloads folder which the iPod software cannot access until the downloads have been stored on the parent PC/Mac and synced?
As for the camera, I have heard good things about it, with the lack of flash being the only serious issue.
In terms of 3g, if wi-fi becomes more widespread, and they stop charging so much for it, 3g for many people would not be as important.

topgearuk

13-11-2007, 02:50 PM

I was out round the shops today and popped into an o2 shop and had my 1st play with an iPhone and wow what a lovely and desirable piece of kit it is, that screen is fantastic.
I tried most features on it including the web using wifi and gprs and it wasn't as slow as I thought it was going to be. That user interface is great, watching a movie and the cover flow were also awesome.
Although close to temptation I did walk out, and went into the Vodaphone shop and took my 1st look at the 8gb. Also very very nice, they are offering new deals on this because of the iPhone but the only thing that stopped me from walking out with this is the very limited data package they offer, even though this was now included in the monthly price plan, for me this was just not enough being only 120mb where I use around 800mb a month. So the wait continues!!!

siksik6

13-11-2007, 04:15 PM

Yeah Vodafone really need to sort their lives out with that data tarriff. I'd be tempted to jump ship for the 8gb N95, but that tarriff sucks!

Bucher 49

13-11-2007, 05:36 PM

I say each to their own. Where i work everyone is phone/gadget mad. All i can say is EVERYONE is talking about the iphone. no one mentions the N95/N95 8 gb. Everyone has got an N95 and most people i know are on their 4th or 5th handset cos they keep failing. The Iphone is such a clever bit of kit. Look at the hype and look at everyone moaning about it on this site. I can say one thing if the iphone was free on talk plans then all N95 owners would drop the N95 and have the iphone. Thats its only down fall the price.

siksik6

13-11-2007, 05:48 PM

Well I don't know about it's only downfall, but it's certainly it's major one!

The iPhone is all about the user experience, and in that regard it's truly in a league of it's own. If you don't need the best camera in the world, and some other features it's missing, then it's a no brainer.

As you quite rightly say, to each his own :)

munkimatt

13-11-2007, 06:20 PM

Look at the hype and look at everyone moaning about it on this site. I can say one thing if the iphone was free on talk plans then all N95 owners would drop the N95 and have the iphone. Thats its only down fall the price.

I wouldn't for one single second. It wouldn't even cross my mind to consider buying one. As I repeat the point made many times on this thread; It's a touchscreen stuck on very old tech. The hype is one of the main things that's put me off it. Do you know how excited I was when the keynote was made? '5 years ahead...' and I believed it! But then the spec turned up, and it crushed me. I've been using a 3g network since 2004 and I'm a heavy user, so a 2g network is not an option for me. I use my camera often and I upgraded from 2mpx about 2 and a half years ago, so I'm not going that way (incedentally the same reason why i wouldn't consider a N81). A closed system. Stupid stupid stupid Apple. Yeah I know, you woke up and are going to open it up, but you've bugged a lot of people with that, especailly a lot of the techy crowd who love the advances created by the applications available for their respective systems.. And for that reason... I'm out (I'm watching Dragons Den).

The iPhone is all about the user experience, and in that regard it's truly in a league of it's own. If you don't need the best camera in the world, and some other features it's missing, then it's a no brainer.

I'm confused about this 'experience' thing. Do you buy a TV because it's got the nicest menus? No, you buy it for the feature set. Do you buy an Xbox360, a PS3 or a Wii because of the dashboard? No, you buy it for the games. So why would you buy a phone because 'it's great to use'? You're the one spending the money, ask for the best, not the prettiest!

The great thing about this is that because people are buying it (thankfully the UK didn't have the same amount of ridiculous hysteria that our American cousins did) is that every manufacturer has just got a huge kick up in the arse. The downside is that every manufacturer now thinks that the touchscreen is the way forwards. It's not. It's one path if it's done right.

The Symbian Touch OS looked great and all, but how will it work? Touch feedback is a great thing, so it's still nowhere near the responsiveness a power user needs.

P.S. I've not quoted it, but my friends and colleagues are very tech savvy people, and the iPhone is the office joke. Interesting on how it polarizes opinion.

drwalker

13-11-2007, 07:58 PM

The great thing about this is that because people are buying it (thankfully the UK didn't have the same amount of ridiculous hysteria that our American cousins did) is that every manufacturer has just got a huge kick up in the arse. The downside is that every manufacturer now thinks that the touchscreen is the way forwards. It's not. It's one path if it's done right.

The Symbian Touch OS looked great and all, but how will it work? Touch feedback is a great thing, so it's still nowhere near the responsiveness a power user needs.

Certainly, Nokia seem to be making progress with their feedback system (just hope that their chosen name for it doesn't incite Immersion's legal department), and thankfully Symbian see fit to maintain compatibility with S60v3, meaning that the wireless keyboard app will still be an option.
Going all touchscreen is something that technical people would love to achieve, but it just isn't plausible. Actual buttons mean that you can refuse a call without pulling it out of your pocket, which is something that I prefer to be able to do.
And do not even get me started on the whole accelerometer thing. Okay, I've downloaded Lightsaber, but if someone can tell Sony that it is just NOT a good thing to have people rattling their phones to go to the next track (surely no one thinks it looks cool) compared to pressing a button. Although I'm sure that there are more than a few tunes that would make us throw a phone (especially someone else's) if they started blaring out of the speakers.

gadgetnutter

13-11-2007, 08:24 PM

Curiously, I've seen very little mentioned about the Iphone's touch screen keypad. I had a go of one in my local CPW and frankly hated it.

Sure the screen looks cool and the whizzy icons are OK. Then I tried to send a text. Now I've got big hands, but don't seem to struggle with my N95 keypad..but the Iphone's...blimey..every other letter was incorrect..it took ages backspacing etc..to type a short message..It would drive me absolutely mad.

Also, I loaded up Sky's pda page and it was tiny by default! Sure you could resize by moving your fingers on the touch screen, but then you had to scroll to see the whole page..not particularly innovative!

Also as O2 know they've got a captive audience, they've really taken the pi$$ with their tariffs and still charge £269 for the handset!

Even the girl demoing them (not from CPW) was calling it the Iphone beta..says it all really!

munkimatt

13-11-2007, 08:42 PM

Although I'm sure that there are more than a few tunes that would make us throw a phone (especially someone else's) if they started blaring out of the speakers.

Like Boris Whatshisface?

DeniseR

14-11-2007, 09:30 AM

If you look around a lot of the UK iphone screens are having a problem with negative black syndrome

Ian Ross

14-11-2007, 09:47 AM

If you look around a lot of the UK iphone screens are having a problem with negative black syndrome
I thought that that was just an iPod Touch problem.

Hopefullyuseful

14-11-2007, 11:01 AM

Yeah Vodafone really need to sort their lives out with that data tarriff. I'd be tempted to jump ship for the 8gb N95, but that tarriff sucks!

Vodafone have recently updated the charges for using their Mobile Internet (http://www.vodafone.co.uk/datapricing). You can also view information on the Data pack, and a usage calculator to show you how you use your data on this page.

pa49

14-11-2007, 12:12 PM

News Flash.
I just had to do it!
Went to the O2 shop and asked for a N95 8Gb demo. Assistant didn't know what I was talking about!
I said what other smartphones have you got? He said if you want cutting edge internet then we have the iPhone?????????????????????????????
Yup, that's what he said.
Anyway, told him it was cr*p and nosed around and was impressed with the LG Viewty (did anyone think about that name?).
Nice and responsive touch screen. But, he didn't have a demo with a SIM because all the SIMs were in the iPhones.
Couldn't check out web access or browser response.
Anyone have any experience with this phone?

timbo_baggins

14-11-2007, 01:00 PM

News Flash.
I just had to do it!
Went to the O2 shop and asked for a N95 8Gb demo. Assistant didn't know what I was talking about!

Well they wouldn't. VF have exclusive contract resell on the 8GB until December. And if the assistant was one of the "1400" new staff recruited by 02 to cope with the fanatical hordes* of iPhone wannahaves then all they would be able to do is point you at an iPhone anyway.

*never happened.

drwalker

14-11-2007, 01:04 PM

Like Boris Whatshisface?

Oh yes. And you can probably add William Shatner's version of Tambourine Man to that list too.
And Agadoo. But that particular piece of aural terrorism will never get anywhere near a hard drive of mine.

As to the LG Viewty, I think that that would be an unfair contest. It does have HSDPA and it even vibrates for touch feedback, but it is first and foremost a cameraphone, not a smartphone, running pretty much the same UI as the Prada (flash based?). It IS compatible with more audio and video formats than the iPhone, though, if that is important (no WMA on iPhone is certainly a big no no for me). Stephen Fry did a brief write up on one for the Guardian a couple of weeks ago - if you do a search on the Guardian website, it should come up.
If a smartphone is what you're after, there is always the upcoming LG LS20 which runs Windows Mobile 6.

topgearuk

14-11-2007, 02:40 PM

Vodafone have recently updated the charges for using their Mobile Internet (http://www.vodafone.co.uk/datapricing). You can also view information on the Data pack, and a usage calculator to show you how you use your data on this page.

Yes this was what was offered to me when I enquired about the 8gb yesterday,120mb was already included in there new price plan for this phone.

Free phone, 300 mins, 250txt and 120mb all for £35 which is a great deal. However for me 120mb is to limiting and the cost for going over is still far too great. I use at least 800-900mb a month and this is without streaming anything.

The sling box deal on 3 looks like a great package, when the phone becomes available!!

DeniseR

14-11-2007, 04:46 PM

I thought that that was just an iPod Touch problem.

No it's a problem with the iphone too

DeniseR

14-11-2007, 04:50 PM

The sling box deal on 3 looks like a great package, when the phone becomes available!!

I have a slingbox but not through 3. i have the player on WM device as it was not out for symbian at that time. It is very much worth it. i watched Wimbledon whilst waiting outside school earlier in the year.

If voda data was better. You can buy a slingbox and then the symbian version of the player to install. So if you can not connect to a wifi hotspot voda data would soon mount up with the N95 8gb

drwalker

14-11-2007, 05:46 PM

Vodafone have recently updated the charges for using their Mobile Internet (http://www.vodafone.co.uk/datapricing). You can also view information on the Data pack, and a usage calculator to show you how you use your data on this page.

I just could not chance it with Vodafone. That usage calculator would just fill me with dread if I was looking for a contract right now.

Orson

17-11-2007, 02:44 PM

Having just read the above, I will be supprised if they sell any iphones. It dont seem to be crammed with features does it?:confused:

I have just had my first extensive play with an iPhone at the swanky new Carphone Warehouse* in town (*all wood, silver and glass - v.posh!).

Having been nonplussed by the iPod Touch - I thought the Nano had much more 'wow' factor - I wasn't expecting much from the iPhone... basically I was expecting a fat-Touch.

I also hadn't paid the iPhone any attention due to its many shortcomings in terms of hardware (e.g., not 3/3.5G, only 2M pixel etc.) and software (e.g., no MMS, inability to use YOUR music as a ringtone etc.). What really is there to get excited about?

So I was expecting to be unimpressed. But wasn't. In fact I think I can say that this is the single most desirable piece of technology I've ever had the pleasure (for that is the right word) to use. I thought it was awesome! All its shortcomings were blow away by the interface, which was lightning fast. It is like a gadget from a sci-fi movie! Scrolling through your music by flicking your finger to spin down faster, excellent! Pinching the screen to zoom in and out of Google maps, wow!

Why was I more impressed with this than the iPod Touch? For some reason it felt bigger & better, the weight was a good thing, it felt like quality!

So, is the iPhone style over substance? Yes, but in a very good way. Having owned an N95, and now a K800i, and have had on my list for a new phone the LG Viewty and the i-Mate Ultimate 9502, I will now by adding the iPhone to my list. I will however be waiting for the 2nd gen. version, hopefully with 3.5G and at least 16Gb memory (next year surely?).

topgearuk

17-11-2007, 03:46 PM

andykn

17-11-2007, 07:45 PM

I have just been offered in the last 10mins an iPhone brand new UK spec from a good friend of mine for £125!!!!!!!

And for this price it's gonna be rude not too.. i'm gonna take a punt on it, wait for an unlock hopefully to appear soon. If not sell it on. And still get an 8gb N95 when it comes out on 3

I believe that, currently UK iphones they can be jailbroken to run other apps and the activation can be bypassed, which means any O2 SIM can be used. Its just the unlock for any other network that's awaited.