By Seb Janacek, 18 December 2008 10:00
COMMENT
5. RSS reader
Google Reader is a fine service for accessing and managing RSS feeds on the iPhone and has a real application feel to it.
However, what I'd love is a native app that not only offers a compelling user experience for RSS on the iPhone but is backed up by a MobileMe synching service that keeps my RSS feeds up-to-date across all my Macs' Mail accounts and devices.
Currently MobileMe syncing works for mail, calendars, dashboard widgets and other elements but not for RSS feeds in Apple Mail.
4. Better navigation between multiple email accounts
I have three email accounts configured on the iPhone. The Mail indicator on the home page indicates how many emails I have on the device but to access all my new messages I need to open each inbox independently. The route from an email in my Google account to a new email in my MobileMe account breaks down like this:
Current email>Inbox>Gmail>All Inboxes>MobileMe>Inbox>Next email message
Six steps. There has to be a better way. Or maybe there is. If anyone does know how to navigate more efficiently to emails in multiple accounts please leave a Reader Comment below. Otherwise a View New Mail screen/inbox that displays all new messages regardless of account would be a welcome addition, much like a screen showing aggregated RSS feeds (as mentioned in Wish Number 5).
3. A useful Bluetooth function
I paid for the Bluetooth module inside the iPhone and I'd like to use it rather than have it reserved solely for a wireless headset.
For starters, 3G network tethering for the MacBook Pro would be fantastic (see Wish Number 6) but how about simple Obex file exchange so I can send and receive photos and files to and from other computers and devices?
My devices and the devices of friends and colleagues who use the Bluetooth standard protocol for the purposes for which it was created.
2. MMS
This is one of the most commonly requested iPhone features. I get sent at least a few photos every week of the tiny Janaceks. To view them on the iPhone, I need to follow a link to an O2 web page, actually remember my phone number and a PIN then squint at a tiny image in the centre of the iPhone's otherwise enormous screen.
There is a better way - it's called MMS. If everyone had mobile email clients as good as the one on the iPhone, this would be less of a problem as we'd just email photos like Apple suggests we do - but they don't. Even if everyone did have iPhones then people would still use MMS because it's easy and it's fun. Two concepts Apple is very familiar with, so what's the problem?
1. Better power management
The 2.1 firmware update helped eased the pain but battery life remains the single biggest problem I have with the iPhone. It has to be charged daily. This is not a major problem normally as I'm used to docking an iPod with the home iMac on a nightly basis but away from home and it means I need to carry an extra lead and power connector.
In an ideal world, the iPhone would have a swappable battery to allow a spare to be taken on the road (yes, they're tiny but that's not the point). A removable battery is not likely any time soon but I'm hoping each firmware upgrade brings with it a tweak to the power management settings to enable longer battery life.
Comments
There are 12 comments. Join the discussion
1. Tim Hill
True Cut & Paste function between apps?
Picture Messaging?
2. Fred
The one iPhone feature I would really like for Christmas is the ability to DOWNLOAD programs from BBC iPlayer (over Wifi). Please Apple listen to those who spend a fortune on your products AND GIVE THEM WHAT THEY WANT.
Another great Christmas present would be from O2. The publication of plans showing additional 3G coverage rollout followed by rapid implementation. I find coverage in the Bath area to be crabby although the coverage map indicates otherwise.
3. Jacques S.
Please be aware, that if you're a heavy cellphone user that the following options will be lacking from your iPhone (as I recently discovered):
+ no possibility to create different profiles (one for meetings, other for outside, other for plane, other for completely silent)
+ no way to count # characters in a text message (which might lead to sending more than 1 message at the time, since limit is 160 characters per message)
+ not possible to forward a received message
+ not possible to copy/paste text from any application to other application. (isn't nice when someone sends you some useful information which you wish to keep somewhere else)
+ unlike Nokia phones there's no way to receive a "delivery receipt" for any text message sent
+ Notes are not synched to your computer/mac, unless you mail them to yourself (??)
+ MMS messages (Multimedia Message, often including photos) is not possible
+ Switching applications on iPhone will usually loose all the screens you had open when you move to the other application. (f.i: copying phone number from contact to text message... you have to reopen the contact everytime)
+ build-in Maps application might behave strange, situating you in one location and 5 seconds later a mile further away (is it true GPS? or does it use the cellular network to calculate location)
+ typing text while you're walking: impossible...
+ no way to record video
4. anonymous
The death of the iPhone?
5. Roy Corneloues
I agree with Jacques S. my wife and daughter have iPhnes and constantly complain about all the things mentioned in his comment.
Especially the lack of MMS and not being able to forward text messages...
Oh, and one other thing, the lack of a reset button. When an iPhone hangs (which is quite often from what I've seen), the only way to reset the phone is to call O2 who do it remotely.
Bizarre!!!
6. JM
Is anyone else experiencing a Bluetooth issue with the iPhone 3G? My wife is on her 2nd iPhone because of this problem and we keep constantly up-to-date with Apple updates but her iPhone freezes when she uses her car as a headset and calls, or receives a call, from a landline, specifically our home! It's fine working with mobile numbers and the issue exists across multiple car brands, so not tied to one car.
7. anonymous
I so agree with what is said , but the simple work around to synching notes is an called Evernote and reminders is by Rember the Milk since I have these on there my iphone is actually usefull. if only safari didnt keep hanging and deleteting photos when you synch with Itunes.
Im on site all the time and my Iphone is my contact with the outside world please let us have a more business like experience how else do we get a smile if we cant forward to joke texts or pictures.
8. John Dixon
Roy - you can reset a hung iPhone by holding down the power and home buttons together for 10 seconds or so, until you see the Apple logo.
Agree with most of the things here - data over Bluetooth, a stack that allows copying and pasting, MMS for picture messaging, video, a full range of SMS functions (forwarding, delivery receipts), Flash.
I'll add one thing of my own - being able to choose a virtual phone keypad instead of a virtual qwerty keyboard, and using T9 predictive text. I'm so used to it with other phones, and the larger virtual buttons would make writing SMS messages on the go much easier.
I'm a huge Mac fan, and I love my iPhone, but it is flawed. I can't help but feel that it's not much more than an iPod Touch with a rather inadequate mobile phone, that can't even do many of the things I took for granted with my first Motorola housebrick, bolted on.
9. Len
A2DP Bluetooth support please, stereo bluetooth headset support would be good.
10. Richeyyy
Missed THE biggest thing mobile business users need with this product. The facility to "push" all folders via exchange to the iphone not just the inbox. Yes flash is a pain but nowhere as big as this
11. anonymous
Yes, agree with most things especially lack of Flash - very frustrating as you know they could easily allow it, and cut & paste. Don't like the 'opt-out' style spell checker either. Also its difficult to use the touch screen to change songs while driving. Lack of Notes syncing too.
Still like it though, but it could easily be so much better, if Apple could get over their hang-ups.
12. John Maher
Your article was very useful for one who is contemplating buying an iPhone - I am an iMac user whose history with Apple goes back to the Apple II. What's that Daddy?!
However my iMac is now six years old and still working adequately. It has up-to-date OS 10.5.6 and 1.5GB memory, let alone a lot of software. It is very difficult to find out whether the iPhone will connect to my old iMac since the Apple blurb says that a USB 2 is needed - I'm back with 1.1. Unsurmountable - not completely since I have a MobileMe account.
Another problem is iPhoto and MobileMe.
My version does not allow direct connection to the Cloud and all that lovely 20GB space, so getting it available for the iPhone is possible but a bit painful.
So should I buy an iPhone?