Geek & Mild by Sean Sperte

June 30, 2007 iPhone Software Quirks

For the sake of argument, and posterity, I’m going to keep a running list of the iPhone’s quirks which could potentially be fixed by software updates:

  • No widescreen in SMS or Mail apps
  • No MMS app
  • Camera shutter is sluggish
  • Passwords are immediately masked on input — making it hard to ensure accuracy
  • No spam filtering, as reported by John Gruber [possibly fixed, 070807]
  • No Exchange Server support (beyond using the IMAP protocol)
  • No To-Do’s [added 070701]
  • No Chat/IM [added 070701]
  • No voice activation/dialing [added 070701]
  • No custom ringtones [added 070701] Sort of fixed
  • Camera doesn’t record video [added 070701]
  • Takes too many steps to make a call [added 070701]
  • No multiple-SMS recipiants [added 070702] Fixed
  • No cut/paste [added 070704]
  • Notes do not sync [added 070704]
  • Cannot delete multiple emails at once [added 070706]
  • Cannot send a contact’s information via text (or no “Send Contact” option) [added 070707]
  • Cannot save images/files received via email [added 070727]
  • Launching SMS app is sluggish [added 070929]

[Disclaimer: While perhaps critical in nature, this list is not a knock on the iPhone or Apple. If I were to compile a similar list for any other mobile phone on the market, it’d likely push into the hundreds. So don’t go there on me.]

Comments

Agreed. There are a few things that <strike>are quirky</strike> I don’t understand. I hope to see them changed in the future. Nevertheless, it’s like you said earlier, I just took a leap about 10 years ahead buy purchasing this phone.

I’ve found myself on countless occasions simply turning the phone on just to look at the screen. I can’t help myself. I think there’s still a little disbelief mixed with an unawareness that this phone really will change my life.

My wife even <strike>jokingly</strike> said after I got the phone, “You’re even sexier now that you have that phone.”

Word. I agree.

Dustin
June 30, 2007

When I learned about no voice dialing, I went into a depression. I can’t seem to pull myself out. Of course I haven’t yet laid eyes or fingers on the thing. That might bring me out, but for now, I am grieving.

Mom
July 2, 2007

If you type a number in well you’re talking to somebody it will be gone when you hang up. Hence there doesn’t seem to be an easy way to save numbers that someone gives you over the phone.

The easiest solution would be an “add contact” button during a phone call, and next easiest would be “notes” during a phone call, which you could then turn into a contact (can Notes turn some a note into a contact?).

You should probably rename no custom ringtones to “custom ringtones only if you pay Apple through the nose, and you still only get a weak selection”.

Keller
September 27, 2007

You need to add that you can’t use it with gloves on. I’m in Michigan and it’s just starting to get cold and I’ve found that I can’t unlock my phone with gloves on. It won’t slide the slider or if it’s already onlocked, won’t act like it’s received any input on any buttons (except the actual button button). Makes it a pain to answer the phone while I’m outside.

Cathy
November 9, 2007

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