Video:iPhone Review

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Transcript:iPhone Review

Hi, I'm Don Schechter for About.com Gadgets. After months of speculation and hype, the first version of the iPhone was released. Today I'll talk about some of great features of the iPhone as well as what it is lacking.

Access the iPhone Home Screen

First and foremost, the iPhone is a lot lighter than you'd expect. It's got a beautiful design and futuristic look. To wake up the phone, all you have to do is press the sleep wake button on top and slide your finger.

That brings us to the touch screen and the home screen. It seems to gets smudgy right after you use it, but that doesn't seem to affect how well it works.

Apple includes a small cloth to wipe away your fingerprints, but I haven't found it to be too magical.

Access the iPhone Controls

All you have to do is press on any icon to bring up your phone controls, mail, iPod, stocks, camera, and more.

One of the great physical features of the phone is the one actual button on the bottom of the phone. No matter where you are, if you click this button once, it will take you back to the main screen.

Locate Important iPhone Buttons

On the side you'll find volume up and down buttons, as well as my personal favorite, a silent ringer switch. On top is the headphone jack and sleep wake button.

On the bottom is the iPod connector, a speaker, and the microphone. Unfortunately, sometimes when I'm watching movies through the iPod, I find that my hands cover up the speaker.

Rating the iPhone's Service Provider

Before I go any further, I should mention that if you are thinking about buying an iPhone, then make sure you are ready to use AT&T as your cell phone service provider.

I had to pay an early termination fee to transfer over from Verizon to AT&T.

Rating the Edge Network

I've found my current service to be worse than what I had, but it's been worth living with. Another downside of switching over to AT&T is the use of the slow Edge network. The iPhone looks for any Wi-Fi access that is available.

If you know a network's password, or if it is unprotected, your Internet connection is pretty good.

However, if there aren't any wireless networks available you are stuck with the Edge network. It takes quite a bit longer to check your email with the mail program or visit a web page.

Surf the Web on the iPhone

Speaking of Web pages, the Safari application is currently pretty close to providing you with full Web access.

Unlike other phones, you get full color, text, layout, and images. You see most everything and can zoom in by just moving your two fingers apart.

When you tip the iPhone over, the page can be viewed horizontally. Click on a link to load the page.

However, this first version of the iPhone does not allow you to view flash, which is one of my biggest complaints.

Manage Content on the iPhone

Speaking of complaints, unlike with other iPods, you can't exactly manage what is on your iPhone.

When you connect your iPhone to your computer, it syncs your mail, music, contacts, and more. However, you can't choose to go in and delete a song or movie off your iPhone without moving it out of iTunes.

It would be nice if you could set up profiles in iTunes. For example, one profile with what you wanted on your iPhone and one with what you wanted on your Apple TV, and so on.

Other fun and useful features include Google maps and widgets for stocks, YouTube, a camera, and more.

Call With the iPhone

As for the phone itself, you can't make a phone call without pressing a few keys. You have to click phone, keypad, and then you can do your dialing.

However, I do like the options to create and look at a favorites list, recent calls, and most especially, how voicemail works. Your messages are listed like emails and all you need to do is click to listen to any one message.

To be honest, one of the least necessary but most fun features is the ability to scroll through your contacts list by flicking your finger.

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