I have a cover letter I should be writing now, but instead I'll putz around and write a review of life with my Sciphone i68 iPhone iClone cellular phone (now that's a mouthful).
The i68 is the same size as an Apple iPhone 3G, and the iPhone case I bought for my iClone fits it perfectly. The i68 isn't an exact replica of the iPhone, but its very close in appearance. What about performance? Again, its fair to call it a “close relative” rather than a carbon copy.
And it probably isn't fair to expect it to be a carbon copy. The software and processors are different.
The display and the icons are very similar; some appear to be identical. The Calendar icon shows a different date number than the iPhone, but the colors and design are identical. There are three screens worth of icons on the phone. You scroll from one page to the next by using your finger or the included stylus and dragging it from right to left, much as you would turn the page of a book. A row of three tiny dots at the bottom part of the icon screen give you a visual indicator which of the three screens you are viewing if you forget.
But how does it work?
My cell phone account does not have a data plan included with it — yet — so I can't vouch for the web browser and its ability to display web pages. The iClone is not a 3G phone, so its Web speed is slower. The truth is that in the sticks where I live, you won't find 3G access that readily available anyway.
I have used many of the phone's other functions, including use as regular cell phone, texting, MP3s, recording audio, camera, video recorder, e-Book, FM radio receiver, movie player, calculator and world clock. Because the phone is Java compatible, you can download a variety of games and applications that will run on the phone. Because my wife is constantly pouring over real estate ads, I added a mortgage calculator to my iClone.
The calendar function is still my sore point with the phone. Having seen how well it is implemented in the iPhone (not perfect, but still well done), I was disappointed with the clunkiness of the iClone Calendar. Yeah, its a calendar, and yeah, I can input my appointments, but its neither intuitive nor a simple task. But I don't whine about it anymore, I've gotten over the disappointment. And besides, the calendar works better than the one in my old Nokia or Motorola phones.
I decided to check in on adding a data plan to my cell service in order to get the full benefit of the phone. Huh? Can't do that?? WTF???
My cell phone carrier — Cellular One — was swallowed up by AT&T, and there's no modifying these Cellular One plans. Our contract expired late last year, and they insist that we “upgrade” to one of the AT&T plans, which offer 20 percent fewer minutes than we get now at a price thats $20 more a month. Hmmm … more for less? But that's the only way I can get a data plan to use my hip and stylish iClone.
So I did a little research on their wireless plans, and by accident I found myself pricing an iPhone with the Family plan. The price for the basic wireless service is the same for the same number of minutes; the difference is that they tack on the iPhone data plan, which is $30 more a month — roughly the same price they add to their standard cell plan if you add data to that.
So if we “upgrade” to AT&T, the price per month to use my iClone is basically the same as it would be for an iPhone (I would have to shell out the bucks for the phone, of course).
If you're a fellow ham, then you probably already know the decision I've reached: It's time to buy the real deal iPhone. Talking my wife into this has proven to be more difficult than it was when I bought either than IC-756PROIII or the Yaesu FT-2000 w/DMU. I don't know what it is, but when I bring the topic up she immediately must see “WASTE OF MONEY” on her radar screen. I think I need to change my tactics … I need to price the 16GB iPhone (at $299) and then tell her how much money I saved by buying the 8GB model — a cool $100! And of course, I'll buy the 16GB model anyway and hide the receipt!
She insists there are some thing she has to have before this happens. The first is a new dishwasher, the second is a new stove. Since I can't exactly sneak new phones in the house, I'm going to have to engage in some high-level diplomacy to find some wiggle room. Or a deal — dishwasher first, then new phones? Deal or no deal??
Or maybe I can convince her that she can save $1000 by not buying those appliances right now? Talk about savings! Somehow I don't think THAT'S going to fly, but you gotta do what you gotta do. Wish me luck!