I spent most of the weekend salivating at the thought of getting an iPhone 3G. They certainly are in hot demand worldwide. I was at the newly-opened Horseshoe Casino – Southern Indiana over the weekend and immediately headed for the Barenaked Ladies concert (the band, not actual bare naked ladies). They were playing as part of an Outdoor Summer Concert Series and I couldn’t pass up the chance. Midway through the show, this ragtag bunch of 1990s Canadian rockers started talking about the new iPhone 3G, with lead singer Steven Page asking Ed Robertson if he was able to use the iPhone to fly his plane. Despite all of the goodwill that exists with the new iPhone 3G even in mainstream acts like the Barenaked Ladies, a bevy of problems have popped up.
Mac enthusiasts who rushed out on Friday to grab the latest series of the iPhone have found themselves to be sorely disappointed at the capabilities of their new purchase. For example, AppleInsider.com notes, “instantaneous data sync only occurs whenever a change is made from either the MobileMe web interface or a portable device such as the iPhone or iPod touch.” When contacts, e-mails, and addresses are updated in reverse, from a Mac to one of the handheld devices, the update is not instantaneous. For example, if I were to update my sister’s phone number on my Macbook, the change would not be immediately reflected on my iPhone and iPod. If I were to change the same phone number on the iPhone, the Macbook would reflect the alteration instantaneously.
Apparently, the problem surrounds Mac’s Sync Services, which update data once every 15 minutes and not anytime a change is made. AppleInsider.com notes that a manual sync should do the trick. However, that seems more like a thorn in your side than a real solution to this problem. I’m reminded of having to sync my iPod every time I change a set list, add a song, or remove a podcast. Though the process doesn’t take very long, it’s still another step that you’re forced to make.
The Washington Post cited a number of other issues surrounding MobileMe that have left loyal Mac users wondering when the next time Gateway is having a sale. They included users being locked out of their accounts and erratic synchronization issues. However, the Post cites the genius behind MobileMe. It’s inherent that the initial kinks will be worked out. Long-term, the article notes, it’s “a whole lot harder to walk away from as a customer when you have one service managing your information on your PC, Mac, phone and TV.” There you have it. Apple has you sucked in. All of your contacts, e-mails, and personal information are stashed away in your Apple products.
Finally, as MacPoker.net reported in our most recent Mac article, the iPhone 3G has been purported to have issues maintaining battery life. After all, sucking down high-speed wireless while you’re driving home using the 3G’s navigational system is taxing on its power station. On its website, Apple offers up a few tips to keep your iPhone 3G running as long as possible. They include limiting your use of the GPS feature and other programs that take advantage of the iPhone’s mapping capabilities, limiting the number of e-mail accounts you access mail for as well as push to other devices, and diminishing your iPhone’s brightness, just like you would do for a laptop.
We’ll continue to keep you in the know on the latest news from the iPhone world.