Q&A with iPhone Switcher Klaus Lovgreen of AME Info

Q: When you very first opened the box and saw the iPhone in the flesh, what did you think?
A: It was a typical Apple experience – every little detail was carefully looked into and un-boxing an Apple product is always something special – but admittedly the iPhone was really special. The box was a lot smaller than I anticipated.

Q: When you first switched it on and touched it, how did you think/feel?
A: It was really amazing – it felt like touching the future – the most impressive thing is really that it works just like Steve demoed it – it reacts instantly and the coverflow works as advertised.

Q: How was it when you started using it? How easy or difficult was it?
A: Since you can’t really use any of the features unless it is activated (there are a number of different ways to activate with or without AT&T) – I took the AT&T route as I wanted to be able to upgrade and did not want to depend on hacks at this early stage. There is a cost associated with it and you can’t roam so you cannot use the iPhone as a phone outside the US at the moment. Once it is activated you can use all the features except the phone bit (including EDGE of course) and it is amazingly intuitive and easy to use.

Q: What impressed you most?
A: How well the whole thing is integrated – the Google Maps app really stands out though – a lot more impressive that I had ever imagined. The GUI is really well done – I mean when was the last time you actually had fun and thoroughly enjoyed setting an alarm or playing with a stopwatch?

Q: What things worked better than expected?
A: The “keyboard” – if you follow the advice from Apple to just go on and type even if you hit the wrong keys from time to time – the iPhone actually gets it right in most cases. It takes a bit of training but within a week or so – I am certainly able to type faster than on any other mobile I have ever used.

Q: What was less good than expected or disappointing? (and be honest!)
A: That they locked it (so hard) to AT&T – although I understand the reasoning behind it – but I still think it should be a choice. To some extent it is also a bit disappointing that Flash is not supported and that YouYube video is a very small selection – but I expect that to be dealt with in due time. Finally that the 3.5 mm jack does not work with most iPod compatible headsets and a converter is hence required – such a converter should have been delivered with the iPhone in my view to ensure compatibility.

Q: How much do you use it now, and what for?
A: At least 1 to 2 hours a day in total – I browse the web, read news (Google Reader is amazing on iPhone), answer e-mails, audio books, audio/video podcasts and listen to music. It has actually helped me to get more mobile within my home so I don’t have to sit at in front of my screen all the time. (I do have to be connected all the time though – it is in the blood).

Q: When it’s possible to use it as a phone, to what extent do you see it replacing your current mobile entirely (given that it’s quite a bit bigger than a lot of high end slimline phones)? Or do you see it more as a PDA replacement/ultra portable mobile computer/web tablet?
A: It all depends on the work you have to do – for web browsing and communication it is more than adequate in my view and I am not usually packing a laptop so for me the iPhone is a great solution – in fact this is the first mobile device I actually use at home / where I have access to bigger screen etc.

Q: Any words of advice to others thinking of getting one?
A: It is hard to have an iPhone and not be able to actually use it as a phone to be honest – so unless you are a real gadget or Apple geek – I’d wait until there is an unlock or it is being offered in your country.

Q: Anything else?
A: Can’t wait for Leopard as I suspect even tighter integration with iPhone.

by Istara