I finally got my eagerly awaited iPhone 3G yesterday morning and I was disappointed to say the least. At first glance it looked super-slick, luxurious and seemed to be exactly what I was looking for, but looks can be deceiving as the new apple iPhone proved not all it was cracked up to be.
Now, don’t get me wrong, Apple’s iPhone is truly unique and does more things than my laptop can do. The super-cool touch screen is absolutely amazing, music and video-playback couldn’t be any better, GPS Satellite Navigation incase you find yourself lost in the middle of no where, and high-speed super-duper Internet access are just some of its market-leading features.
After a brief look around the iPhone’s applications I noticed that there wasn’t a camcorder…Hmm. Why the hell f’in not? Apple “master of the universe and all things great” haven’t implemented a camcorder? Something’s not right… The Iphone is one of the world’s most eagerly awaited phones and it doesn’t even have something which basic phones have these days.
Personally I think the lack of a default camcorder is so that Apple can make more money by selling the camcorder to consumers separately via the iPhone App Center.
Not only is there a non-existent camcorder which most $30 phones have these days, the actual camera itself is a measly 2 mega-pixels. COME ON! What is that all about? Couldn’t Apple “master of the universe and all things great” have thought about that a little bit better? Why on earth is there only 2mp on a phone which has been eagerly awaited by millions across the world for months on end? It’s a bit ridiculous, don’t-cha think?
Apple should have thought about the features mentioned above in more depth because that’s exactly why I am not going to be using the iPhone any more. Hopefully Apple will fix this issue by Christmas and start offering a 5 mega-pixel version with a camcorder on by default. I guess it’s my own fault for not reading a review.
Comments in regards to this article are greatly appreciated; I would absolutely love to know your views on this subject.
July 12th, 2008 at 5:43 pm
I actually could care less about the camera or camcorder, though video recording can be implemented in a software upgrade, and I’ve no doubt that it’s on Apple’s list of things to do, but it’s just not a high priority for most people. (It’s already an free app for jailbroken 1st gen phones.)
As for an improved camera, it’s not purely a matter of megapixels. In the camera market, the marketing spin of megapixels has gotten so far ahead of other parts of the camera, that photos are getting noisier and noisier. So if you understand anything about photography and lenses, improving the camera will mean adding components that will make the iPhone thicker (or if they can turn things around in some innovative fashion, then just bigger). Apple seems to have settled on this pocketable size form factor, and they’re going to resist going bigger and thicker; rather, I’m sure they’re looking at making it smaller and thinner.
Finally, the camera issue is something you could’ve known before you bought it. They were commented on in reviews in the NYT, WSJ, and USAToday, and have been debated all over the web since June 9th.
July 12th, 2008 at 6:35 pm
Seems like trolling for hits - no one made you buy it - what about doing some basic research before you buy? You just sound stupid in a post like this.
July 12th, 2008 at 6:57 pm
I think it’s funny that you’d drop that much coin on something and not know the feature set beforehand.
July 12th, 2008 at 9:29 pm
I fail to understand why you regret buying the iPhone. Fact is anybody who has read any reviews about the iPhone or Apple’s information page knows about the iPhone’s camera limitations. You should have as well. It isn’t like Apple is hiding these details. Moreover, similar phones have the same mega pixels specifications. For instance, both the Blackberry bold and Sprint Instinct.
If you are such a camera buff, you should have a dedicated camera anyway as most camera phone’s camera aren’t that great.
July 13th, 2008 at 12:01 am
“After a brief look around the iPhone’s applications I noticed that there wasn’t a camcorder…Hmm. Why the hell f’in not? Apple “master of the universe and all things great” haven’t implemented a camcorder? Something’s not right… The Iphone is one of the world’s most eagerly awaited phones and it doesn’t even have something which basic phones have these days.”
You bought an iPhone assuming it will have video recording capability? You should return it. Then learn to be an informed shopper the next time around. Your post and complaint is just plain silly.
July 13th, 2008 at 12:53 am
Hmm - Michael,
Here is my point of view on your concerns regarding Apple’s iPhone:
1) Having checked the phones tech specs you knew it had a 2MP camera and no video recording app that comes with the phone by itself.
2) Apple has never said to you they are the ‘masters of of the universe and … trallala’ (you so nicely repeated yourself on mentioning.
3) You obviously seem to like anything else but THAT simple fact.
4) I got my first iPhone just about 5 days ago - a resold 1st gen one … and I tell you what: you must be on crack trying to find that ONE thing you could write something about and people like me (shame on me) fall for such useless post.
5) There’s always a nice N95 … please send the ‘useless’ iPhone to my postal address - I got a whole family waiting for theirs
BTW: did you know that a camcorder is an entirely different piece of hardware. Maybe check apple.com/finalcut for a suitable device for your needs … or again: at least the ‘few’ Apple supports.
Loving my iPhone - an Apple fanboy!! WhooWhoo … and whooooshsh ..
July 13th, 2008 at 2:00 am
Sorry, not much sympathy here. I don’t own an iphone, don’t expect to buy one and yet even I knew they don’t do video and only have a 2MP camera. Did you read _any_ articles about the thing at all before buying it?
July 13th, 2008 at 3:50 am
Terrin, I do have a separate camera but I really just wanted it all in-built. I hope apple fix this issue as I really do like the phone otherwise.
July 13th, 2008 at 8:01 am
Send the iPhone my way if you are so disgusted with it.
July 13th, 2008 at 9:33 am
There is already third party software available that enables video recording on the iPhone.
2 megapixels is 1900 x 1200 resolution which is fantastic for the tiny lens that slim phones have. The photos we’ve taken with our new iPhone are far better than we were expecting after all the bad press.
Have you seen just how much thicker those couple of 5 megapixel-equipped camera phones are in order to fit a decent optical lens setup to try and do justice to the higher resolution? The N95 is twice as thick as the iPhone with non-touchscreen that is half the size. Personally I’d much rather have my slim yet big-screen iPhone fit in my pocket rather than compromise just to be able to salve tech-envy.
-Mart
July 13th, 2008 at 9:34 am
If you’re that unhappy with it, you might want to trade it for one of these,
http://www.bestsnippets.com/post/35141055/techno-gadgets
July 13th, 2008 at 10:32 am
“master of the universe and all things great”
Huh?
Apple is a consumer electronics company who want to make a dent in the universe, not master it.
July 13th, 2008 at 11:42 am
Every device represents a compromise considering a number of conflicting factors including size, weight, cost, memory usage, operational complexity, power consumption, time to market, etc. While its true that some other phones can record video and/or hi-res still pictures, what other compromises do they make? If those phones were so great, why didn’t you buy one of them?
Despite its limited feature set, the iPhone does seem to satisfy a lot of people’s needs.
You act as though Apple withheld its camera limitations in order to trick you into buying an iPhone. Face it. The specs have been posted on Apple’s website for months. The iPhone’s pro’s and cons have been endlessly discussed in webcasts, articles and blogs. Where were you?
I’m sorry the iPhone isn’t working out for you, but you need to grow up, learn how to shop, and stop blaming Apple for your carelessness.
July 13th, 2008 at 2:52 pm
Can’t you just jailbreak the thing? That would give you access to all the apps you could possibly want…
July 13th, 2008 at 3:55 pm
Personally, I think you’re just trying to catch some heavy-duty visits by writing an iPhone article. There’s nothing you can say to convince me that you didn’t know there was no camcorder option available.
And I’m sorry, but I’ve looked through a ton of cameras available from Alltel and found not a single phone that had more than 2MP camera. Most had 1.3 or 1.4 mega pixels.
What the heck are you thinking? Did you actually buy a phone to start a photography career? LOLZ!
July 13th, 2008 at 4:11 pm
You’re just an idiot… Please, sell your iPhone and anything else you own from Apple. Please, never ever purchase or use an Apple product again.
July 13th, 2008 at 4:15 pm
What?
You learned this after you bought it?
Dumb.
The camera on the iPhone isn’t suppose to replace your camera - nor do I ever want it to do that. It’s only there so that if you forget your camera, you can still take important pictures. Plus, for the size, it’s a great option to have.
Dumbest post ever. Sorry man.
July 14th, 2008 at 6:12 am
I really hope your post was a joke (given the “enough humor to…) appellation; because it really makes you sound, well, dumb. A couple of hundred bucks may not be serious coin anymore, but an adult generally at reads a spec sheet before opening his wallet.
For a view of the other side of the issue, I have two good reasons NOT to want either camera or camcorder functions. No matter WHAT specs they have, they’re worthless to me; I’m a professional photographer and none of these devices is worth even looking at. Worse, the inclusion of any kind of camera prevents me from taking a phone into secure areas at customer sites.
So for at least some of us, the biggest problem of the iPhone camera is that it has one.