iPhone 5 first week

I have moved up the "smart/super phone" food chain, to what is arguably the top. I started this race with a Nokia N97, which was not even a "clever phone". I obtained a second hand Samsung Galaxy S to replace the N97. I actually quite liked the experience that it provided, though I couldn't "legally" update the OS on it. Now with the iPhone 5 in my hands for the last week, I'm impressed with some things, and not so much with others.

First off, the phone feels great in my hand. I originally thought the box shape would be uncomfortable, though it is quite nice. I have larger hands than some people, and my thumb not only reaches all the screen, but also the buttons on the opposite side. I admit I was a bit disappointed with the screen size only increasing to 4", also disappointed that it wasn't a standard 720p (1280x720) resolution opting for 1136x640 instead. I am slowly getting over these disappointments as I get used to the device.

iOS 6 preforms better on the iPhone than on the iPad 2, which is as promised with the increase in RAM and CPU power. Even with many apps "open", switching between them and opening more apps has been very seamless. The on screen keyboard in iOS is better than the one in Android 2.3 that my Galaxy S has, though neither match my work BlackBerry's hardware keyboard for accuracy with my particular thumbs. Coming from the Galaxy S, I find myself trying to push the back and menu buttons that were on either side of the "home" button in the hardware. Autocorrect has been an annoyance off and on, especially with slang terms or txt specific spellings. Just when I think I've trained it, the next time I type it autocorrects to something completely wrong.

I'm not sure if it is because in my area there is no LTE coverage yet, but Siri seems slow to respond, and every once in a while it feels like playing the telephone game with MicroSoft Bob. iMessage and FaceTime work very well, and the "HD" FaceTime camera looks great. I haven't fully explored the camera yet, but the few test shots, videos and panoramas I took are starting to rival the basic shots I take with my Canon T1i.

The GPS seems to be a bit off as well, showing me as across the street from where I am in most cases, and once showing me a good 5 minute drive across the river from where I was. My girl tells me that where she lives, the GPS is spot on, so I think this might have something to do with why people have issues with the Apple Maps program.  I was hoping I could use the geofencing features to do things like turn the WiFi off and on when I leave/get home. To date I haven't found out how to do that.

What can I say about iTunes that hasn't already been complained about more eloquently somewhere else? I'm disappointed that in this "post PC era" I still have to connect to to the computer and use iTunes to transfer my non iTunes store bought music, audiobooks, etc to the device. (I know there are various iTunes alternatives out there, but that still defeats the "post PC era" rhetoric) There is supposed to be a new iTunes "in October", so Apple has 10 days left to release, and hopefully this will help.

The inability to mount the device as a USB mass storage and drag/drop things, not (as of yet) being able to go even to a gas station or dollar store and pick up a spare charge cord , and having to be in OS X to develop are my only major complaints.

Overall I'm very happy with the iPhone, granted I haven't had access to the major competition. There are enough things right with the phone that I am looking forward to the next 3 years or so with the device.