SlashGear Japan
The folks over at Consumer Report reported that iPhone 3GS took the top spot in smartphone ratings with strong performance in every category except for voice quality – an area many phone struggles with. Of course there are other smartphones-ranking pretty close to the iPhone 3GS, including the Palm Pre.
Hands down, the iPhone 3GS best others when it comes to its superior display, multimedia, navigation, and web browsing and battery life. Unfortunately, Consumer Report favors the Pre, Storm, and other BlackBerry smartphones for messaging. They also compared the iPhone OS to webOS; and found that the “deck-of-cards” handling of multiple apps is a superior multitasker over the iPhone.
The article didn’t go into the iPhone’s endless list of third-party apps, the fact that iPhone’s display is made of glass (literally scratch-resistance) etc. Try taking a key to the iPhone’s display and then do the same to the Palm Pre. Guess what? I personally prefer soft-virtual keyboard to physical keys – there’s just less pressure on my fingers for heavy messaging sessions. Plus, the tiny keys on the Palm Pre can be a challenge to use if you’ve got fat fingers. Recording video is another major feature lacking on the Palm Pre. Apple has made it so easy to record and share that – well even a caveman can do it. Make sure to check out SlashGear’s full review of the iPhone 3GS and Palm Pre. iPhone 3GS Review / Palm Pre Review
Anyway, if you subscribe to Consumer Report, make sure to read it, and if nothing else it’s worth checking out their article. [Thanks Natalie]
8 Responses to “iPhone 3GS is kicking butt and taking names”
thecolor July 4, 2009
This is so sad… I can’t believe consumer reports a publication that’s suppose to be trusted would post something so inaccurate. The fact that “marketing” has made the iThings most known, but certainly not the best in features, and hardware is sad.
You talk about something enough (good or bad) and it will stick… but it by no means is “the best”, just what you remember when someone asks you a question. Oie, sad. Sad indeed.
-1dingbow July 5, 2009
@the color. It is sad… because of you. Let us contact Consumer Report back to have them issue and apology on their findings, so you don’t have to be upset anymore.
To use your own words, you think if you bitch about the iPhone enough, “it will stick”. Dude, it’s such a lame excuse for being jealous and not being able to afford an iPhone. LOL. Damn, right I’m a fanboy (recent convert). LOL.
-3thecolor July 5, 2009
@ding bow I think I’m confused about your assumption, I own all three. I’m a tech freak and typically buy the newest/latest to test things out and do comparisons.
If you have a direct connection to CR, then your offer is great. However, as you assumed I am to poor to own any iThings, I’ll just assume you too do not have the necessary contacts to make the changes or add comments. ;)
Silly game. common.
I love my Apple stuff, but comparisons are comparisons and marketing is marketing. apples and oranges.
Sorry for offending you or anyone else with similar assumptions and thoughts.
+2eat July 5, 2009
@thecolor you have a point, the fanboy might be fanning his face right now.
iphone has too include both GSM & CDMA to take on the world….the service providers will be happy, so will the customers.
Have a good one!
+1dingbow July 5, 2009
@color: my bad if I offended you, but I still don’t understand your point. Are you saying that Apple’s “iThings” are good because of only “marketing”?
Neutralthecolor July 5, 2009
no no @dingbow you’re fine. I think Apple’s products are great, but the iPhone being the “best” is a bit over.
I can’t honestly call any device that has a 3mp camera (to start) “the best”.
The fact that Apple’s marketing decides to release little things, bit by bit, forcing people to pay for a device over and over ’cause of their “following” /popularity is not right, ’specially in this economy. It would be so much more kosher if they’d release an honest device that competes with the highest quality.
They can place the high end camera, GPS, BT 2.0, copy and paste and multiple other features in the first version (like many other devices already have) and people can pay for “real” improvements, not tiny enhancements.
Know what I mean?
+2LaughingJohn July 6, 2009
“strong performance in every category except for voice quality – an area many phone struggles with”.
What? Apart from one possibly faulty Samsung phone I’ve never owned a mobile with a problem with voice quality. Surely quality of calls is pretty important in a phone?
“Unfortunately, Consumer Report favors the Pre, Storm, and other BlackBerry smartphones for messaging.”
I think the word “Unfortunately” may be suggesting a little bias here? Why is it unfortunate? Can you please try and get some objectivity in these articles or at least declare your position (”I am an Apple fan and my opinion is …”).
You’re not helping those of us trying to make an informed judgement on which phone to spend our hard earned on.
+1dingbow July 6, 2009
@color: I think CR is just saying that it’s the “best” of what is out there at the time of it’s research. CR has always ranked it’s findings, maybe a better way to say it is that the iPhone came out on “top”.
Being new to whole Apple fanboy thing after my first Phone 3GS purchase, my wife also bought an iMac for the home (we can’t use them at work), I can strongly can say that it was Apple’s easy user interface, less worrisome OS that sold us. We thought it was all hype until we spent some time with an iMac while on vacation at a friend’s home last spring. I’m not an idiot on a PC but getting around a Mac environment for the first time was a breeze. Also, after using a Blackberry for a few years, I just assumed that it was just the way smartphones typically operated… archaic and confusing. Well, the iPhone shed a new light on that theory.
My question maybe, if the iphone is so lacking, why have the masses flocked to it? My assumtion would be they’d rather have it easy to use, than having a lot of functions that are difficult to use or figure out.
I guess I can’t answer your question of why Apple likes to incrementally push out products. Someone did say they didn’t implement copy and paste until they could find a better way to intuitively make it user friendly. They suceeded. Good Day.
Neutral