Fewer things are hotter right now than Apple’s iPhone. Many people consider the iPhone to be the best smartphone on the market right now. Smartphones are mobile phones that are built with computer-like capabilities. For instance, iPhones can be used to surf the internet, download and listen to music, and play games, just to name a few of their many applications.
The iPhone is popular because it’s the top-of-the-line smartphone, and there’s very little it can’t do at this point. Other than standard phone calls and text messaging, it can also be used for visual voicemail, or email, where you can record a video of yourself, and send it to someone. When it’s needed, a virtual keyboard is available.
Another of the iPhone’s best features is its media capabilities. Apple incorporated its iPod technology into the iPhone so that it can be used to store and play music or videos. It’s also fully capable of web browsing using Wi-Fi internet. iPhone users can email, surf the web, and even download music anywhere in the world as long as there’s an internet connection.
So far, there have been three generations of iPhones. The first generation iPhone was released on June 29, 2007 after nearly four years of development. Apple CEO Steve Jobs had been hinting for several years and there was even a phone released in 2001 that was a combination of phone and iPod, but Jobs was unhappy with it so development was continued until 2007 when the iPhone was released. Originally, it was only available on the AT&T network. The second-generation iPhone 3G debuted on September 6, 2008. The most recent version, the iPhone 3GS, was released on June 19, 2009. Each generation featured higher data speeds.
As of the second quarter of 2009, over 21 million iPhones have been sold. There are three models available – an 8 GB model, a 16 GB model, and a 36 GB model. Prices start around $99 for the 3G, without a phone plan.
The iPod has a touch screen that has three sensors – a proximity sensor to determine when it’s brought near the head for a call; an ambient light sensor to detect brightness so the iPhone knows to dim itself to save battery power, and an accelerometer that detects which direction the phone is pointing to so it can adjust the picture on the screen accordingly. It also has a built-in picture and video camera that’s comparable to some digital cameras on the market.
Like the iPod, the iPhone is designed to interact with Apple’s iTunes music software. Music purchased from iTunes can be transferred onto the iPhone and stored. Other than music, the iPhone’s Apps offer a whole world of possibilities. Apps, short for applications, are programs designed to run on the iPhone. There are literally apps for everything – there are game apps, Twitter apps, drawing apps, and even map apps. While some apps are free, some come with a premium.
Reviews of the iPhone have been overwhelmingly favorable. As a result of its wide range of capabilities, everyone from a high school student to a CEO can find a use for them. While most people enjoy the iPhone’s advanced capacities, it is not perfect. Some of the more common complaints are directed at the iPhone’s reception, battery life, internet speeds, and inability to work on MS Office documents. However, it’s still one of the most revolutionary products to come out in recent years.
- The iPhone
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- Gizmodo iPhone Review
- Engadget Review
- BrightHand Review
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