iPhones - Are they just a wank?

[Grumpy John]

My beloved Motorolla V6 has finally expired and my kids and just about everyone else is telling me to get an iPhone. Trouble is the iPhone doesn't use an SD card (or so I've been told) and it's going to be a PITA to put all my contacts into the new phone also my photo's etc. I've also been told iPhones don't link via bluetooth to other phones.

Are they worth getting, what are the alternatives?

[daninjt]

I have an iPhone and its the best phone I've ever had and I've had many smartphones all the way back to the Revo and original XDA.

If you can get your contacts into Outlook you can sync them to the iPhone using Google.

Dunno about why it wouldn't link with Bluetooth to other phones.

16gb or 32gb is heaps for me to handle all the music and data I need.

The form factor, touchscreen and the Apps you can download make it useful all day every day.

I'm not a fan of Apple but cant deny this is a great phone.

Cheers,

Dan

[Jim Carroll]

John all depends if you want lots of things you may never use or a phone for people to call you and you to call back,

[Daddles]

iPhones do all sorts of stuff that has little relevance to this thumb flattened woodworker. I confess that I've learned to appreciate SMS (in English, not SMSlish) but all my phone does is tell me the time, make phone calls and send SMS messages. For me, an iPhone would be an utter wank. However, if you have a use for enough of the guff to justify buying the thing, why would it be a wank?

Richard

[kiwigeo]

If you're young and so socially inept that you cant string a few words together in order to communicate verbally with another human being then definitely get an iPhone. You can communicate with your buddies without ever having to move your lips....even if theyre in the same room as you are.

Cheers Martin

PS Not anti-Apple...I own an Apple Mac and love it.

[Daddles]

...I own an Apple Mac and love it.

Thereby blowing his credility out of the water :D

Richard
sorry Martin, you left yourself open to that one :wink:

oo oo, could we turn this into a Mac vs Winblows thread? 'd love that, he hasn't had one in ages :dev:

[Bob38S]

oo oo, could we turn this into a Mac vs Winblows thread? 'd love that, he hasn't had one in ages :dev:


Yes please

- I could do with a good laugh as the Windoze people go Blah Blah Blah

:q

[RETIRED]

:~

[kiwigeo]

Mac versus Windows war....a waste of time. It's like arguing which State Beer is the best. Just for the record I live in SA and I think the beer here is cr*p.

[mjmjm]

If you use your phone to make er..... phone calls, then you don't need an iphone.
I've got a tradie's nokia which has more gadgets than I could ever remember but i never use em. But it's rough and tough and doesn't mind being dropped on concrete so I'll hang on to it as long as i can. Don't think they make em anymore.

[Grumpy John]

Well call me a wanker (there's an invite for you all) I've just aquired a new iPhone. Pretty impressed so far, they do take an SD card (don't know what the salesman was on who told me thay don't) so no problem with contacts. Apparently they don't do bluetooth to other phones to stop people swapping Apps.

[Daddles]

Well call me a wanker (there's an invite for you all) I've just aquired a new iPhone. Pretty impressed so far, they do take an SD card (don't know what the salesman was on who told me thay don't) so no problem with contacts. Apparently they don't do bluetooth to other phones to stop people swapping Apps.

Oi, he's hijacking the thread and trying to turn it back to the original topic :D

Have fun with it mate (it's got to be good for something)

Richard

[Bebbo]

They are semi-wank.

I had a play with one, its useless for me as my finger tips are huge. Its too slow to actually use efficiently.

I got a htc dream on my business cap. Set up my business email on it.

Its touch screen + it has a full qwerty keyboard, so it doesn't take 50 miss types and 3 hours to write an email or quick reply to an sms.

The rest of the features are the same, gps tracking with maps and access to the android market of apps.

Much better phone IMO.

[wolften]

Well call me a wanker (there's an invite for you all) I've just aquired a new iPhone. Pretty impressed so far, they do take an SD card (don't know what the salesman was on who told me thay don't) so no problem with contacts. Apparently they don't do bluetooth to other phones to stop people swapping Apps.

..a 58 year young yuppie:cool:

[Grumpy John]

..a 58 year young yuppie:cool:

Without the ponytail :D.

[Calm]

waiting waiting:?:?:? no call yet :?:?:? mustn't make calls at all :?:?

:D:D

[Grumpy John]

Been waiting for you to weigh in :rolleyes: :D :p.

[Bebbo]

Well call me a wanker (there's an invite for you all) I've just aquired a new iPhone. Pretty impressed so far, they do take an SD card (don't know what the salesman was on who told me thay don't) so no problem with contacts. Apparently they don't do bluetooth to other phones to stop people swapping Apps.

I think you mean Sim Card not an SD card.

SD card is the memory card in most cameras.

Sim card holds your mobile number and also contacts of your phonebook.

The iphone has 8gig onboard memory. No real need for an SD card.

[Calm]

yep it does work - real calls

[Grumpy John]

I think you mean Sim Card not an SD card.

SD card is the memory card in most cameras.

Sim card holds your mobile number and also contacts of your phonebook.

The iphone has 8gig onboard memory. No real need for an SD card.

You're prolly right, the correct terminology escapes me sometimes :doh:.

[m2c1Iw]

The iphone is the most universal woodworking tool made eg.

1. It tells you when it's too hot or cold to work in the shed.
2. It gives you the tides so you know when it's better to go fishing than planing.
3. It can measure an angle when you've lost your protractor
4. Check a joint for square.
5. Serve as a reasonable box when your doing stupid things on the TS.
6. Adds up when you run out of fingers and toes.
7. Reminds you when it's time for a beer.......limited usefulness I know.:rolleyes:

Oh and ah I'm pretty sure you can use it to ring people as well, although I'm yet to see one operate in that manner.:doh:

And perhaps best of all it keeps you in touch with the Forum when you are on the go.

Just to name a few things......:hmm: don't know why I don't have one really.

Mike

[RETIRED]

Without the ponytail :D.Lack of hair?:D

[Calm]

...........................:hmm: don't know why I don't have one really.

Mike

You're from Adelaide - 1/2 hour behind the rest of us :p:p:p:p:D:D:D:D

Cheers

PS sometimes ya just gotta say it:D

[watson]

You're a bad man Calm...but check Hack a Day (http://www.hackaday.com) and these blokes could run a war from their Ipods.

[Sir Stinkalot]

Are they worth getting, what are the alternatives?

The Stinkette and I recently purchased two 32gb Iphones and think they are great. I wasn't too sure about getting one as I don't tend to call anybody but I find that I now use it for internet, email etc.

I can get my home email by clicking on mail, go to the web to get work email and answer questions when out of the office, use the google maps to find where I am and where I am going. It has semi replaced my Ipod (except for the reduce storage) and the speaker is handy for listening to music in the garden or cooking etc.

Quite often when walking around the city we use the internet to find a store we need to get to then google maps to help find it. The other day I was looking for a friends house, pulled over, selected his name in the address book and then google maps gave me my exact location and where I needed to go by just clicking on the name in the address book.

Only problem so far ...... the sound quality of the phone isn't great :doh:

[m2c1Iw]

You're from Adelaide - 1/2 hour behind the rest of us :p:p:p:p:D:D:D:D

Cheers

PS sometimes ya just gotta say it:D

Brave too for someone from Ballarat, didn't they only get the phone on there last year. :rolleyes::D

[Daddles]

Brave too for someone from Ballarat, didn't they only get the phone on there last year. :rolleyes::D

That's only because the bloke who bred the pigeons got pinged by the EPA :oo:

Richard

[Bob38S]

Came across this concerning iPhones, prepaid and Telstra which may be of use to those considering one.

Tips and tricks for using an iPhone on Telstra Pre-Paid - MacTalk Forums (http://forums.mactalk.com.au/18/78942-tips-tricks-using-iphone-telstra-pre-paid.html)

[Blocklayer]

For some wood related uses for the iPhone, fire up the web browser and take a look at Construction Calculators Mobile English Imperial (http://blocklayer.mobi)

Or get a free QR code reader for the phone and just scan the QR code below to go straight to the site.

[Expat]

Here in the land of the highest mobile phone charges in the world - for real - the iPhone was only available through one provider who just happens to be the single worst carrier in all of Canada. Of course a week after the wife and I get our new Blackberry Curves the bloody thing becomes available through our carrier as well!!
The BB is okay but I would much prefer the iPhone simply because it would interface with my Macs and the software I run my business on so much better than the BB does. Plus those little keys on the BB give me the yits!
The wife got an iPod Touch last Xmas and loves it but that would have passed to our girls as the music player in their room had we gone iPhone. Now we have to wait 2 years for our contract to run out or pay a bag load of extra cash for the things.

50+ with no pony tail and have had my business on the interweb since the late 80's so I guess that makes me a geek rather than a hippie or a yippie.

[Grumpy John]

Big issue with iPhone.........
It cannot be set up to auto answer, nor can you set it up for voice command. This makes my hands free bluetooth car kit virtually useless as I now have to take my hand off the steering wheel to answer a call :((. A big no no in Victoria :no:.

[DJ’s Timber]

as I now have to take my hand off the steering wheel to answer a call :((. A big no no in Victoria :no:.

If the phone is in a cradle, you're allowed to answer or make calls whilst driving, according to the rules (http://www.roadrules.vicroads.vic.gov.au/14_rule_using_mobile_phones_and_visual_display_units.html)

[Mike B]

It cannot be set up to auto answer, nor can you set it up for voice command.

Never had a use for auto answer but as far as voice command I use it every day. It does an amazing job of finding anyone in my contacts list (probably 95% success rate).

Have my iPhone hooked up to my old Nokia CK-7W bluetooth car kit and it works a treat. I have no problem with pressing a single button on the car kit to answer a phone call or initate voice dialling.

I've had my share of mobiles - smart and not so smart - but despite some of the iPhones limitations it's still the most usable phone I've used. Solid apps, email, maps and browsing when out-and-about have been invaluable. Of course other smartphones do this but the iPhone is just the most straightforward and consistent to use... and usability is the most important thing for me.

[Harry72]

I found out a cool trick the other day using a "me2phone"(it works on most mobiles apparently), if your having trouble with a remote control(tv's etc etc) you can check if its working by using the phones camera and view screen to see the if infrared signal LED thingy is flashing on the remote!

[rsser]

I spend a week XC skiing out of the Bogong Rover Chalet each year and the only mobile that gets coverage up there is the iPhone.

[Groggy]

Have my iPhone hooked up to my old Nokia CK-7W bluetooth car kit and it works a treat. I have no problem with pressing a single button on the car kit to answer a phone call or initate voice dialling.Thanks Mike, that is the same setup I have and I was wondering if it would work :2tsup:

[Grumpy John]

If the phone is in a cradle, you're allowed to answer or make calls whilst driving, according to the rules (http://www.roadrules.vicroads.vic.gov.au/14_rule_using_mobile_phones_and_visual_display_units.html)

Thanks for that DJ, I thought that having to manually answer the phone was a no no. I'll fit it to a cradle and all's good :2tsup:


Never had a use for auto answer but as far as voice command I use it every day. It does an amazing job of finding anyone in my contacts list (probably 95% success rate).

Have my iPhone hooked up to my old Nokia CK-7W bluetooth car kit and it works a treat. I have no problem with pressing a single button on the car kit to answer a phone call or initate voice dialling.

I've had my share of mobiles - smart and not so smart - but despite some of the iPhones limitations it's still the most usable phone I've used. Solid apps, email, maps and browsing when out-and-about have been invaluable. Of course other smartphones do this but the iPhone is just the most straightforward and consistent to use... and usability is the most important thing for me.

Is the voice command a feature of the Nokia car kit? If not how do you get the iPhone to operate with voice command?

[Mike B]

Is the voice command a feature of the Nokia car kit? If not how do you get the iPhone to operate with voice command?

Well the car kit activates it but it's the iPhone that has the feature. Can't see why it wouldn't work with other car kits as long as they have an answer/dial button on them.

To activate Voice Control on the iPhone directly just make sure you're not in an application then hold down the "Home" button for 3 seconds.

Groggy, glad to be of help, my only criticism would be that the ring the Nokia kit makes can't be changed. It's just a utilitarian generic ringing sound.

[Grumpy John]

.......................................
To activate Voice Control on the iPhone directly just make sure you're not in an application then hold down the "Home" button for 3 seconds.
.......................................


Thanks for that Mike :2tsup:.

[Groggy]

Is the voice command a feature of the Nokia car kit? If not how do you get the iPhone to operate with voice command?
I have this vision of Scotty from Star Trek talking to an Apple saying "Computer...Computer.." :D

[RETIRED]

Or worse still, "beam me up Scotty."

[Harry72]

Computer says NO!

[derekcohen]

I am not big on mobile phones - generally only carried around for emergencies - but I bought an iPhone via Vodafone (as they offer much cheaper running costs).

Why an iPhone? Well I needed a GPS, and I uploaded a package for $79 that is simply superb. It has saved my bacon a few times already.

I like the 16 GB memory for a music and photos (no interest in video), and this makes a wonderful alternative to my iPod.

The still- and movie cameras are excellent, and they get used.

As a phone I find the large buttons such a relief for someone with fingers that are as thick as mine and whose eyesight requires glasses for reading.

Plus, the on-board keyboard is actually useable for emails.

This past weekend was spent on Rottnest Island with the family, and I was able to not only receive all my emails, but view the forums with full graphic content on a decent sized screen. I doubt that I will do this very often, but the option is great.

Regards from Perth

Derek

[Sebastiaan56]

Im a bit surprised this thread hasn't been flooded by the usual "Blackberries as just so much better you need your head read for being moronic enough to buy a stupid iPhone" crowd. I love mine.

All of the above comments but I will add one app that makes for great time on holidays with the kids. Its called Geocaching, go to Geocaching - The Official Global GPS Cache Hunt Site (http://www.geocaching.com) to find out all about it but there is no other device on the market that gets close to the iPhone for caching. Makes it the stand out IMO.

[NCArcher]

I've had an iPhone for nearly 2 years and i wouldn't use anything else now. I love it.
I recommend it to everyone who asks (and some who don't) and without exception, everybody who has got one on my recommendation has said "yeah you are right, these are great"
Also surprisingly good to watch movies on.
Thousands of applications to download, with more being developed every day. I've got a few that I thought were good enough to pay for but most of the ones i have are the free version.

Sebastiaan56, we've been Geocaching for years. Great fun. There are some really clever puzzles involved in some of the caches. :U

[ST John]

I was hesitant at first to purchase an iPhone. After my missus and me both got one each for the first week I was pulling my hair out with this contraption. Sending messages made my blood boil and there were so many new things I was really confused....

But after a month or so of 'iPhone Experience' I love the bloody thing. I could not ask for a better phone. I mean, fast internet speed at my beck and call? You could not imagine how many times a quick Google Map search has helped me out.

[Grumpy John]

I've had the iPhone for 2 months now and I'm pretty happy with it. The only thing that really pees me of is the position of the mute switch. I am constantly (accidently) switching the phone to mute and because of this I miss quite a few calls. I've seriously considered putting a drop of CA on the switch to stop it accidently being moved. Does anyone else have this problem?

[Ray153]

I spend a week XC skiing out of the Bogong Rover Chalet each year and the only mobile that gets coverage up there is the iPhone.

This in itself is the most important reason to get an iPhone, as someone who has slogged it up the hill to the gate in the middle of winter on more occasions than I can recall makes me very glad to hear this.

[Clinton1]

two things I might add:

1. battery life... investigate it and make your own decision.
2. $120 Chinese copies on epay, bonus is dual sim, probably don't do all the apps, same battery life, a little slower.

[pellcorp]

I've had the iPhone for 2 months now and I'm pretty happy with it. The only thing that really pees me of is the position of the mute switch. I am constantly (accidently) switching the phone to mute and because of this I miss quite a few calls. I've seriously considered putting a drop of CA on the switch to stop it accidently being moved. Does anyone else have this problem?

You guys have me curious about the iPhone. I have been making fun of my colleagues many of whom have iPhones. I currently have a telstra phone, must be 4 years old and itching to upgrade. So whats the best plan? I like the sound of a 32gb iPhone to replace my iPod.

What provider did you go through GJ, What about Stinkalot?

Did you guys sign up to a plan or is this prepaid?

Did the phone cost a lot to buy?

How much bandwidth do you get per month for internet?

[Grumpy John]

I'm with Telstra, The iPhone cost $99 (8 gig) on a $40/mth plan. Not sure of limits I wasn't paying much attention to the salesman. Got the phone at JB. I think the 32 gig was $200 up front. HTH

[Sir Stinkalot]

What about Stinkalot?

We have two 32gb 3GS phones connected through 3. As we have been with 3 a few years we also get a loyalty credit per month which is handy.

Mine is on an older plan as it was better value to upgrade for me so I am on a $29/month plan with 1gb data (upgraded due to older plan) ...... cant remember the exact monthly cost for the handset but it did work out cheaper than the new plans when everything was considered. Call costs are lower than current plan but not by much.

The Stinkette has the newer 3 iPhone plan of $49/month + $10/month for the phone and 250mb data. For some reason reason (only known to 3) even though she was previously on the $49 version of my plan it was better for her to switch to the new iPhone plans but not me on the lower cost plan ..... perhaps as the entry level iPhone plan is now $39/month.

I would have thought that I would have used a bit of data as I often check work email via the internet when out of the office or surf the net when waiting at the airport etc but so far I haven't even put a dent into the allowance of 1gb. I think that they give me 1.125gb for some reason and after sending a quite a few work emails during the week it is still 1.08gb. The Stinkette doesn't use her 250mb as far as I can tell.

As for a replacement for the iPod it is handy to have the music on the phone but I still love the capacity of the iPod classic ..... but on short trips it saves having to pack the iPod and phone. Better than the iPod for watching video podcasts.

Everybody will have different requirements however I like the fact that it is basically a little pocket computer where I can check home and work email quicker than booting up the laptop, can easily keep track of the calendar and notes as well as access the internet. This is more important to me than using it as a phone.

[derekcohen]

I am with Vodafone as they offer about 4 times the download capacity as Telstra. Telstra have better coverage but they are very expensive when it comes to one using the internet.

Regards from Perth

Derek

[pellcorp]

Vodaphone and 3 are merging, so that might make the offers from vodaphone / 3 very interesting in the long run.

[pellcorp]

In fact vodaphone / three merged sometime ago (1 year or so ago apparently). Nothing much has changed except that 3 now roams to vodaphone and telstra networks where three coverage ends.

I am close to signing on the dotted line for a Three $49 cap (+ $5 rental) for 250mb data and a 16gb iPhone (black)

At the same time SWYMBO will be signing up for a $29 cap with phone included (has no interest in iphone or data)

We are both on a joint account at telstra at the moment and our phones are 5 and 10 years old! This is the last thing we have with telstra as our home phone is now voip over ncable.

However before i do that Sir Stinkalot has agreed to visit to confirm our coverage at our house in lara. The reason being that the edge of a Three network gap actually slices through the icon representing our house on the Three network map :~ All I care about is that I do not roam between two different networks at home even if no data is available. So hopefully early next week,

[pellcorp]

Update on my iPhone saga :)

I checked the network coverage map myself on the three.com.au website and we are now smack bank in the middle of broadband without a 2g site in range!

Suffice to say I am really confused. Surely they can't have updated their maps during the day.

I am remaining pesimistic to avoid disappointment, (but inwardly hoping its true)

Edit - Map was updated yesterday, so maybe the three girl this morning was looking at old data!

Cheers
Jason

[Wongdai]

Trapster = the greatest iPhone app ever. This app alone makes iPhones worthwhile.

[rsser]

Jason, I'm right in the metro area with 3 and some days the phone signal shows near max reception and other days low signal.

Really p*sses me off when I make a call with a low signal and only when finished does the screen show the phone was roaming and Telstra's cash register has been filling.

Re low signals, I've read of guys getting a directional antenna (where their phone has a socket for one) and aiming it at the nearest tower. There's a govt website somewhere that indicates tower locations.

[pellcorp]

Really p*sses me off when I make a call with a low signal and only when finished does the screen show the phone was roaming and Telstra's cash register has been filling.

It might have been vodaphone cash register as three roams to vodaphone first as I understand it.

[rsser]

Whatever. Still Telstra in the country, and in the last year or so my unit mostly recognises the network there but refuses to connect to it.

I now use a cheap Telstra 'blue tick' phone outside of the capitals for emergency comms. Have got connection in marginal areas where those with supposedly Telstra roaming capability on their 3 phones have had nothing.

[pellcorp]

Got the 3 iphone this morning. If we have issues with roaming in the country will consider a prepaid telstra for emergencies too. Very pleased with it already. I can see the attraction.

[BRADFORD]

For those of us who live in remote areas with no coverage, a mobile phone is just something we have that's handy when we go to the city. I do have one of those hi gain aerials on my car, and that extends the range by an incredible amount and is a must if you live in the country.
It is very noticable when we ever go to some function in town that there are so many people pretty much permanently on the phone, whereas at any local function there is never anybody on the phone (no service here). Makes you see how antisocal these things really are, after all we all survive quite nicely without a phone glued to our heads all the time.

[rsser]

Yeah, I survive quite nicely on min. calls per month too Bradford. Most for work, and a few to hook the laptop up to the net with the Tesltra phone as modem when my partner and I go travelling. Pay through the nose for that but it keeps us in touch with the family and otherwise helps us manage our affairs remotely.

[Grumpy John]

I think that this thread has moved somewhat off topic :~. As I recall my original post was about the wank factor of the iPhone, not about the merits of various carriers. My earlier question still has not been adressed,

"I've had the iPhone for 2 months now and I'm pretty happy with it. The only thing that really pees me of is the position of the mute switch. I am constantly (accidently) switching the phone to mute and because of this I miss quite a few calls. I've seriously considered putting a drop of CA on the switch to stop it accidently being moved. Does anyone else have this problem?"

I'm still waiting to find out if I'm the only person clumsy enough to keep knocking the mute switch on.<!-- google_ad_section_end -->

[I_wanna_Shed]

I think that this thread has moved somewhat off topic :~. As I recall my original post was about the wank factor of the iPhone, not about the merits of various carriers. My earlier question still has not been adressed,

"I've had the iPhone for 2 months now and I'm pretty happy with it. The only thing that really pees me of is the position of the mute switch. I am constantly (accidently) switching the phone to mute and because of this I miss quite a few calls. I've seriously considered putting a drop of CA on the switch to stop it accidently being moved. Does anyone else have this problem?"

I'm still waiting to find out if I'm the only person clumsy enough to keep knocking the mute switch on.<!-- google_ad_section_end -->

Nope I don't get that problem. I've got one of these (http://cgi.ebay.com.au/CLEAR-SILICONE-RUBBER-GEL-COVER-CASE-FOR-IPHONE-3G-S_W0QQitemZ260575452255QQcmdZViewItemQQptZAU_MobilePhoneAccessories?hash=item3cab81dc5f)type of silicon type covers on mine which prevents the mute switch from being accidentaly switched.

[ian]

As I recall my original post was about the wank factor of the iPhone, not about the merits of various carriers. My earlier question still has not been adressed,

"I've had the iPhone for 2 months now and I'm pretty happy with it. The only thing that really pees me of is the position of the mute switch. I am constantly (accidently) switching the phone to mute and because of this I miss quite a few calls. I've seriously considered putting a drop of CA on the switch to stop it accidently being moved. Does anyone else have this problem?"

I'm still waiting to find out if I'm the only person clumsy enough to keep knocking the mute switch on.<!-- google_ad_section_end -->John
I gave my wife an iPhone for Christmas 2008
She loves it and convinced me to also get one, so I've had one since January 2009

It's a great photo album
It's a great web browser, when you don't want to cary a laptop with you
It's a great toy for keeping kids ammused
It's a capabe GPS
It's a capable iPod and portable movie player
and some of the apps are really useful

BUT as a phone I hate it.
More than once it's been within a second of being crushed under my boot or smashed into a wall -- I even walked into an Optus store one day about two months after I got it and asked "how much to take it back?"
the only reason I keep it is that I've loaded some WW videos on it

as a phone it's such a complete dog that I've put the SIM card back into the 6 year old Nokia

[BobL]

I think that this thread has moved somewhat off topic :~. As I recall my original post was about the wank factor of the iPhone, not about the merits of various carriers. My earlier question still has not been adressed,

"I've had the iPhone for 2 months now and I'm pretty happy with it. The only thing that really pees me of is the position of the mute switch. I am constantly (accidently) switching the phone to mute and because of this I miss quite a few calls. I've seriously considered putting a drop of CA on the switch to stop it accidently being moved. Does anyone else have this problem?"

I'm still waiting to find out if I'm the only person clumsy enough to keep knocking the mute switch on.<!-- google_ad_section_end -->

I have no problem with my silent switch thinging but I do use a silicone cover.

Now to move back off topic.

As far as wank factor is concerned, I use the wank factor aspects much more than the phone capability - I only instigate about 3 mobile calls a week. Except when I go overseas my mobile calls rarely exceed $10 a month. 99% of my use is via wireless networks at home and work.

In terms of the wank factors, it's definitely the best synchronized PDA thingo I have ever owned and would have bought one sooner even just to use as a PDA if I had known this.

I listen to and watch a lot of pod casts in bed so I made this stand (http://www.woodworkforums.com/f122/iphone-tripod-mount-bracket-112479/)up for it so that it can sit on top of a tripod. Also useful for making movies or taking pics of myself doing woody stuff with the phototimer.