I should have known something was fishy when there was a long line in front of the Apple Store at Garden State Plaza yesterday. After all, it's not like today's the first day for a new product. The new iPhone G3 launched in July. The Air was months ago. I came with some stuff to return and had decided to upgrade my iPhone to the new G3 -- mainly because I was sick and tired of having to use an adapter in order to connect a headset to the new iPhone. Well, it turns out the line outside the store was an iPhone line, and once you got into it, an employee came up to you with a mobile device to "qualify" for purchase of an iPhone. Qualify? As in getting a mortgage? Well, almost as complicated. You have to buy (or extend) your AT&T phone plan now in the Apple store before they give you the box, and they want the last four digits of your social security, a photo ID, a credit card and your first-born child.
All the while you're doing this, you're looking at a dazzling oversized iPhone display. All the Apple magic is right there in front of you (think Moses, Promised Land) and yet you're in some high-tech version of the Division of Motor Vehicles, waiting to get the thumbs up from some 26-year-old functionary.
Finally my turn came, and the transaction was completed. They got the telephone part of the device working in the store, but said I'd have to sync all my data when I got home. Ever since then, it's been a nightmare. I won't go into the details because, frankly, it makes my semi-circular canals go all wonky. Let's just say that when you see this screen about six times in a row, and when you've restored your iPhone endlessly and it still prompts you to restore it again, you really want to blaspheme the Church of Apple.
Tom Biro, my go-to man on stuff like this, just called and gave me another way to try to get back my new iPhone to its virgin state. According to the device, this will take two hours. All I can say is: Mr. Jobs, my rabbi, my priest, my Pope, why have you led me into this data desert? All I want is email, internet, phone service, my calendar and address book, a camera and dozens of amusing applications at the touch of my fingertips. Is that asking so much?
UPDATE: Tom's advice worked. Back in iPhone heaven.
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Comments (22)
Good luck with that 3G. I'm sticking with the original. I've been hearing nightmare stories about the plastic on the new 3G cracking, AT&T's subpar 3G coverage, problems with 3G reception, not to mention the insanely low battery life. I'll wait until the next generation comes out to work out the problems with the 3G. Never noticed the earphone jack compatibility problems either. I use my iPod for listening to music.
Steve Jobs is the God of the Flim-Flam and his iPhone flock are the ultimate gadget-sheep, beating out even PS3 fans who pay through the nose for a system that priortizes pretty games over quality ones.
I do love me some Pixar, though!
Spoken like a true man that can't afford either one!
Don't forget that you can sell your original iPhone on ebay. I sold one and made a small profit from what I originally paid. AND the new one is half the price of the orginal..... thanks Steve.
Oh by the way, you can avoid the lines by buying one at an ATT store. It will take about a week, though, for the store to receive it.
My guy is a gadget-sheep. Technology is our other woman. When he got his new iphone he spent close to an hour showing off all the features. Now when he travels for work he gets no reception and when he calls me from Clifton the background static is horrible, and he can't get pictures unless they are sent to his email. I miss his old phone!
An AT&T store is definitely the way to go. I tried the Apple Store in Short Hills last month and went from there directly to AT&T. Ordered my phone and picked it up a week later. Once it's working, it is really worth it.
I've been reading Baristanet with it every morning on the train. The GPS is pretty cool too.
But the best part for those of us who are 40 is that readers are not required for most basic functions. Everything is actually big enough to see.
Anybody who purchases these pieces of crap really needs to check themselves. Seriously, its a phone. Yet you wait in line like in a amusement park to purchase something to make you feel cool. News for you: IT WILL BE OBSOLETE IN 3 MONTHS. ITS NOT COOL AND NEVER WILL BE. You have to wait in line again to waste your money and life. Go on a vacation and do something useful with the money.
I've heard mixed reviews on the phone itself (more good than bad, though), but the service stories are just more typical AT&T nightmares.
The reason why you have to get the phone activated in store? AT&T and their paranoid fear that everyone & their mother will just hack the phone to work with a better carrier. The crappy reception? AT&T's always lackluster service outside of the immediate NYC area. Spotty 3G coverage? Surprise! AT&T took the same attitude towards that as they did towards the phone service.
Personally, my wife is glad that the iPhone is still an AT&T exclusive: It keeps me from buying one.
Now if only the long lines at the Apple Store would go away so I can shop for Mac accessories in peace.
jrippity, i needed a new phone anyway. it's a heck of a lot less obsolete than the crappy razor i had. getting email on it makes it easier for me to get away from my laptop.
Well Mike -- I couldn't get Europe with Verizon. So far the service has been pretty good.
Didn't some teenager figure out a way to hack the iPhone so that you're not locked in to AT&T?
Anyhoo, no phone is worth standing on line for 3 hours.
@dannyboo: Spoken like a spoiled brat who defines himself by his toys. Insecure much?
Jersey,
And I find myself on the NC coast and in the PA & NY mountains more than I think I'd ever find myself in Europe (never been... just don't see the appeal). Back when we were dating, my wife's AT&T phone never worked there while my Verizon phone has always had perfect reception.
I guess we each like coverage where we use our phones.
All this account signup mumbojumbo is ATT's faults. Its certainly not in the interest of Apple to slow down the buying experience.
I liked the old buying experience (orig. iPhone) better where you could activate at home at your leisure.
@bloomfieldguy: You remind me of this kid I once knew who, in reaction to the girl he was infatuated with rejecting him, instantly labeled her a slut and not worthy of his time.
I end up purchasing the DARE, i was researching some cell phones and a friend gave me this link for a reference.
I found some good stuff@ http://SeeMyBlog.tk
The iphone seems to be the phone from hell. I have a few friends with iphones, and they have had nothing but problems with the phone and bad service.
Mike - I had problems years ago too at the beach and switched to Verizon. Now that AT&T is really Cingular it seems to be working fine. It was a concern I had too, but if you want an iPhone you don't have to let that stop you.
@dannyboo: Sorry, you got the wrong guy for that particular stereotype. My mother raised me better than that.
Once again I am reminded of Douglas Adams' succinct & wise observations on techonology (which explain why I do not own an iPhone of any generation):
1. Anything that is in the world when you're born is normal and ordinary and is just a natural part of the way the world works.
2. Anything that's invented between when you're fifteen and thirty-five is new and exciting and revolutionary and you can probably get a career in it.
3. Anything invented after you're thirty-five is against the natural order of things.
- from The Salmon Of Doubt
Douglas Adams was a personal friend (I still miss him) and I can tell you that he was a big gadget guy (truly).
Also FYI -- I am across the pond now and the iPhone (the old one) is just grand
(everything works). I think you can update the new software of the old iPhone (my husband did for his phone and mine). Also, for me it's not about the phone so much as the Internet -- it's just great!
When O when will the Steve Jobs Disciples learn their Emperor has no clothes? That built in obsolescence is not a new media business model but the second oldest rip off in the book. That good looking stuff that doesn't work as promised is the oldest rip off in the book. That being pro-Apple isn't being anti-establishment it's being iGullible.
I've had 3G on my great looking and fully functioning Razr2 for more than half a year before iPhoney finally got it.
Fat chance. P.T. Barnum observed tat there's a sucker born every minute. Unbelievable.