So, AT&T Wireless service has been TERRIBLE for the last 3 weeks or more. Now it seems there is a total outage. So, I'm without a phone for the moment. Sorry! You can get a hold of me other ways though. Comment here, on Facebook, or email.
It has been a week since I got my iPhone 4, so I thought I would share my thoughts about it.
In the last week, there have been numerous reports of problems with the iPhone 4. Yellow spots on the screen, loss of cellular service if you hold it the wrong way, and easily broken screens when dropped. The broken screen issue has always been a problem since Apple decided to use glass instead of plastic, but it just seems to me that this iPhone is more fragile and susceptible to broken screens than the others.
There is another problem that I ran into yesterday. It seems that the proximity sensor (which detects when you have the phone to your ear while making calls) doesn't work as well as it did. I was on a call the other day and was holding the phone to my ear with my shoulder, I ended up hanging up a couple of times and managed to put it on speaker phone and push several of the other keys while trying to talk.
I'm sure the proximity sensor problem can be fixed with the next software update, and possibly the loss of cellular signal. The yellow spots on the screen have been reported to go away after a while, but the broken screens will always be an issue I suppose.
I haven't had the yellow spot problem, and I haven't had the loss of cell service....unless I physically try to hold it in the way that causes it to drop signal.
I was excited about today though. The local AT&T store had their first shipment of iPhone 4's in stock today. I was ready for somebody else in Elk City to get one, so I could check out the FaceTime video calls. Finally, after a week of waiting, Chris Gordon called me using FaceTime. My phone rang like it would normally, but as it was ringing, the background on my phone changed to video....just happened to be the ceiling fan in my office at home.
Quality of video and audio was great. We didn't have any lag at all. I even went out in the backyard and was walking around without loss of quality. FaceTime video chat is only available if you have a WiFi connection, but hopefully in the near future, AT&T's network will get better, and it will be available if you have a 3G connection as well.
And on that note, 3G will be coming to Elk City soon. I have heard by the end of next month, but I wouldn't hold my breath.
So, iPhone 4 tips: Get a case. It will solve the loss of signal issue, and protect the phone from shattered screens. I don't have one yet for my phone, but as soon as I get something worth talking about, you will find it here.
The screen quality is amazing, there are some new iPhone 4 games & Apps that are awesome, and well, it is just another great phone, even with the issues it has. But, there has always been issues with the iPhone, no this, no that....slowly but surely it is getting better and better.
iPhone 4 pre-orders started last week on the 15th. It was a day of several failed attempts at getting my order to go through. Apple & AT&T's servers were so jam packed with so many people trying to order the new iPhone, that it was virtually impossible to do online. A friend of mine even went to the AT&T store here, and they were not able to process an order there either.
Surprisingly, almost 600,000 pre-orders made it through on the first day. That was enough for AT&T to sell out of what iPhone 4's they had available for launch day (June 24th).
I got my order in with Apple at 9PM on the 15th, apparently before Apple suspended pre-orders. Wasn't expecting to get it on the 24th, but got a order confirmation saying delivery on the 24th. So, I was a little excited. Then, Apple sent me an email saying delivery had been moved to the 23rd, now I was a little more excited.
My iPhone 4 came in today after lunch. I asked the FedEx delivery guy if he had delivered more boxes like this today, and he said none. The local AT&T store pushed back their iPhone 4 launch until next Tuesday because they hadn't gotten their allotment of iPhone's yet. I went down there, and they were kind of surprised I had one already.
Between the iOS 4 update that came out Monday, and the new iPhone today, there has been a lot of things to check out. Still finding new features and new apps to take advantage of the new features.
Just need somebody else to have an iPhone 4, so I can test out the FaceTime Video Chat.
I got a copy of iOS 4 for the iPhone a week early. It is the new Operating System update that will come out on the 24th when the new iPhone 4 comes out.
I have been playing around with it this morning and so far, I like it. There are tons of new features built in, and performance seems to be quicker too. I guess I will have to compare the speed performance with the iPhone 4 when I actually have one in my hands.
I'll point out some of the over 100 new features.
Talked to a friend at the local AT&T. Here is what he had to say.
They have advised us that it will happen this year. They do not want to over-promise and under-deliver. However, this is the first I have seen about it happening that soon. I hope this is correct. Either way it will be here this year.
That’s right! The title says it all. 3G will soon be in Western Oklahoma. I promise you this is not a rumor. A friend of mine works for AT&T and told me first hand that this is happening. And it is happening now. Elk City will be the first. They are turning on and testing circuits in the area now. It will hopefully be up and running for customer in that area by the end of May. If not, it will be in June.
Next on the list is Clinton. Work orders are coming in for technicians now to begin preparing for it. Clinton is not scheduled until probably about August. Then Weatherford will follow. AT&T recently built a new tower on the Southwestern campus in preparation for it. The idea behind this expansion is to eventually get 3G coverage all the way along I-40 from border to border.
If you have an iPhone or a Blackberry or some other internet enabled phone on AT&T service, it is about to get a whole lot better for us in this area.
The Office 2010 suite, which Microsoft will release to business customers tomorrow and to consumers in early June, will include the ability to create, edit, view and share files online using the company's SkyDrive website. In fact, you won't even need to buy the program to use the online tools; Microsoft will make the majority of Office functionality available for free to anyone -- whether they've bought the new suite or not.Interesting to see how this compares to Google Docs.
