Cell phones forum: Poll: Are you planning on buying an iPhone?

"it can't play any of the music I've already purchased in WMA format, and it can't play the music I download from Napster to Go"

WMA iand Napster are not a music formats; mp3 IS

iTunes will automatically import all STANDARD (= mp3) music on your computer when you install iTunes.

The second person who replied is correct. WMA is a digital audio format that competes with MP3; the major difference is that WMA files can be protected and MP3 cannot. I have bought protected WMA files from music stores like Urge and MSN Music, and now I am subscribing to the Napster To Go service, which also uses protected WMA files.

I like how I can listen to the WMA files on any of my computers, stream them to my Xbox 360 and play them through my stereo, or download them to my Sandisk Sansa. Music downloaded from iTunes uses a protected AAC format which will not play on anything I own except for my laptop. The reverse is also true - none of the WMA files I have already bought will play on the iPhone or on any iPod.

Yes, iTunes can convert WMA files into AAC, but not if they're protected, so that wouldn't work for any of the the music I have bought from music stores or downloaded from Napster To Go. (And yes, I've heard that EMI is now selling AAC files with no protection, but they still wouldn't play on my Sansa or Xbox 360.)

Maybe someday every player and every music store will use the same formats and protection; until then, I'll have to stick with Plays For Sure devices. (Which, BTW, already includes several PDA phones sold by my cell phone carrier, Verizon.)

When will they invent a phone that sends and receive calls consistently without dropping the call and dead spots?

WRONG STATEMENT! And C|NET should know better!!!!!!!!

It has been offered to ALL CARRIERS. Cinguar was the only one to come to an agreement with Apple.

All reviews I have heard tout the new wiz bang stuff but readily admit it is a lousy phone. Run that by me again!? The iPhone is a lousy phone on a bad carrier (AT&T)!? Yep, that's what I want for Christmas.

Here in Miami,FL just like other places, we have MetroPCS. No contract,no counting my minutes, none of that. For someone to take on the DEBT of the phone over two years ($600+($60+TAX(which is 21%)) comes out to be over $2340.00 dollars for what? I have a phone, make calls and that's it. Besides, can not change the battery, slow internet connections on the iPhone and for what...so I can look "GQ"? For $40 a month I get all I need. I make and get calls.
And the hype on this is like that of Paris Hilton...am I only one in the USA that has a life???????

The positives:
1. I am already a Cingular/ATT subscriber. My current plan in no longer under contract so I can upgrade with no penalty.
2. If you look on Apple's site there is a page that tells you how to have all your stuff ready to sync with the phone. I already do all that stuff since I already have an iTunes account and a .Mac account which I use to Sync and backup all my settings and everything else they suggest.
3. I am of the Apple cult so there is no need to convert me and I know it will be a breeze to use.
4. I won't need to carry both my cell phone and my iPod to have access to my calendars, address book, appointments, etc.
5. I have 3 Macs at home and there is no way to get the same answer from any company or tech about which phones will sync with a Mac since it is bluetooth and not software driven. You can call ATT 3 times and talk to a technician and get 3 different answers. At least with an iPhone I KNOW it will Sync with my computers.


The negatives:
1. I am not a gadget junkie so there is no way I am going to wait in line.
2. NOTHING ever works best on its first release. Not Apple! Not Microsoft. Let someone else be the Beta tester.
3. Apple is using WiFi rather than MMS technology and that means there may be some issues with the texting to people who do not have an iPhone. I need to see how that all works out.
4. I know that within 3 months there will be opportunities to get an iPhone that is under warranty and brand new without paying the full retail price.

I am more excited about the release of Leopard in October so I will wait and see how it all washes out. If by than the good news outweighs the bad, than I will be buying an iPhone. Just hope my current cell phone holds out that long.

The Iphone is NOT, NOT, NOT, NOT, NOT going to EVEN THE SLIGHTEST BIT DURABLE!!!! THE SCREEN IS GOING TO BE WAY, WAY, WAY, WAY TOO BREAKABLE!!!! I saw a review of an iPhone iTester that had THIS to say:

http://reviews.cnet.com/smart-phones/apple-iphone-4gb/4864-6452_7-32180293.html?ctype=msgid&messageSiteID=7&messageID=2447889&cval=2447889&tag=uolst

The NEXTEL PHONES can take any abuse you could EVER throw at them! I've heard rumors from teenagers who have thrown their NEXTEL PHONES around for the sheer fun of it!!! If you want a phone that can withstand brick walls, submersion and car tires, these are a great set of phones for you to look at. BTW, check out the $500 price differences!

-Tom

I barely have time to use my conventional cell. Just seems like too many bells and whistles. Must be for the techie that has to have the latest in toys.

Look.. I'm sure the i-phone is great.. just like the i-pod is great.. at least I hear it is.. but I've never bought one of those either.. Fact is, there is other technology out there to do what the i-pod does and for a whole lot less money and the same will be true of the i-phone. My Palm Treo 650 with an 4Gb card does everything a similarly appointed i-pod does for a fraction of the cost. Oh and did I mention it makes phone calls too? Which brings us to the i-phone.. Are there really people out there who want to watch videos on 3 inch screens? Clearly they have better eyes than I. Again, my Treo can play movies too.. but ..um.. why? I can watch a bigscreen at home, my laptop on the plane.. I can't think of any scenario where I am just dying to watch a video on a phone. Wi-Fi capable.. okay cool.. but other phones have had this for years.. I guess I'm a scrooge about shameless hype and this thing has been about as overhyped as any product I can think of. Truth be told I'm probably a backlash non-buyer because I so resent the immense effort expended trying to program people into "needing" these things.

I like to the way it looks and I think I would enjoy it's many features.
But these four reasons stop me from buying one.

1. AT&T Requires a two year contract
2. Only one service provider
3. Cost
4. Needs a SD/Micro-card slot for additional storage

As if people don't have enough distractions to get them in trouble. Now one more. As I said to my husband after first seeing the commercial, If my tv with a nice 27" screen has nothing on it to watch, how could the phone? And with that screen, I'd definately go blind.

I wish I could find a mobile phone that I can just make telephone calls and the ever so often text messages.

I don't need to take pictures, videos, listen to music or watch TV. Especially while I am driving.

If iPhone gets 13% of all the cell phone market, that is pretty significant. Beware...HELL has indeed frozen over!!...hehe

In all seriousness, if it works out...great, if it doesn't...oh well. I got my ATT 8125, and it does what I need for it to do. Mainly make phone calls, copy my contacts and appointments and lightly surf the web.

As a card carrying misanthrope, my opinion is anything of which the general public, specially the media, is enamored is probably crap. I admit I have been proven wrong a couple of times -- I recently bought an 8-gig iPod Nano and it is nice -- but I've saved myself a lot of money and time over the years abiding by the above rule.

The toy will be overpriced, I understand there is a monthly fee for the honor of owning said toy and it probably won't work well out here in flyover country. (Cingular lies about their great coverage out here in West Texas and eastern New Mexico.)

As things now stand, I will not buy one.

Not with AT&T.
Not without 4G or 3G service.
Not for $600.