by Techburrito.com Executive Editor, Alan Natale
Okay, first things first- I WANT this new iPhone4 buuut, I am going to hold onto my iphone 3GS. I am not-so-secretly hoping that in a few months, once AT&T has had its fill by trapping all the new iPhone4 folks, Apple will announce it is done with exclusivity so carriers like T-mobile or whomever will emerge and the black spell on the iphone will be lifted. I could be wrong and so I will not enjoy the hi-def video, the FaceTime (which I would definitely use since I’m a big Skype and Google video chat user)… and I have to say I’m still very happy with my 3GS and even moreso now that I’ve got the new operating system.
But the gazillion pound ugly fat-ass gorilla in the room is AT&T. I had to spend an additional $150 to buy this stupid microcell to boost my intermittent one bar signal to five at my house AND, although I now have signal- there is a delay like when you call long distance to Europe kind of delay. I never liked AT&T, in fact, didn’t they sort of die down back in the 90s? Anyway, it’s no lie that I’m an Apple fanboy and I’d gladly get this new phone but frankly, it’s not worth another two years with AT&T.
I waited in line with my better half on iPhone4 day just to get in on the excitement. I was literally in line behind Alex Albrecht of Diggnation and Jason Bateman of Arrested Development (etc.). I spoke briefly with Alex and his lovely girlfriend Heather about the situation; Alex tried to use his “Nerd Cred” to get ahead somehow but he was shot down amusingly enough. Not the same for Jason Bateman though. He was by himself and kept his nose buried in his iphone3G (must’ve been locked in an engrossing Bejeweled playoff) however, Paparazzi soon zeroed in on him. Since he was so icy with those of us standing in line right next to him for hours (see picture below, no lie- I’m the guy with the hat on behind him), we didn’t feel like we should make a human blockade to help the guy out; I mean he REALLY worked hard to not give us the time of day. So, after a short while, one of the Apple Store guys came by and escorted Mr. Bateman away only to be booed by the line as he entered the store- cutting everyone else.
The shlub in the hat behind Jason Bateman is me.
But back to the iphone4. I took some pictures of it with my iphone3GS to actually give you this blog entry from the iPhone3GS perspective. My impressions of the phone: IT DOESN’T LOOK LIKE AN IPHONE ANYMORE! I love the curvature of my iphone3G3 – it’s unique. Also, the retina display is kinda freaky as it really does look like something “printed” as everyone is saying. It seems lighter to me and thus more fragile. Apple says the surface is oleophobic but my greasy fingers must be extra greasy because I got fingerprints all over that bad boy. Lastly, it takes great pictures! I had the iphone3G and it took GREAT pictures but my iphone3GS for some stupid reason does NOT; it darkens everything and the focus really screws up a lot.
What impresses me most about the iphone4 (in particular from the other iphones) is that it really does take us that one step farther into the future with FaceTime and HD video on board. No matter how you feel about Apple, you may consider that they are really working hard to push the envelope of human technological development. As the son of a Computer Engineer I am impressed with all things Computer and this iphone4 is no less than a powerful computer in a hand-sized, cool-ass package.
