Compilation of Dozens of Reasons Not To Get An iPhone - Tech Stuff

Ho houm, another screen only with no buttons cell phone.

I've had those for years, starting with the first Samsung Palm Pilot PDA phone. One of the biggest problems with them is no buttons to dial your cell phone while you are driving. (Yes, I know, the nanny government is making that against the law, but give me a break, I know where the buttons are by feel, I don't need to look to dial if I got some buttons.) The other problem is that they are usually difficult to see in direct sunlight.

I've decided to wait out the iPhone craze, so I've been following all the various "Reasons Not To Get An iPhone" articles. And also keeping an eye out for new [Mini PCs and Micro PCs).

First my reasons to not get an iphone

Here's the list I came up with from a few reviews I read. Many more items below when I got into the different reviews.

I've already got too long of a contract with Sprint, with two phone lines and a USB EVDO modem
I don't want to switch to AT&T and be on the hook for two years with them
I already have a PPC-6700 Windows Smartphone
I rarely use the PDA features of my smart phone, since I do carry at least two laptops (and sometimes three) almost everywhere.
I've also got the "Mits - Mobile Intelligent Terminal" Sprint Samsun Portable Digital Quad Band Phone SCH-i830 for GSM use when I travel. Does the iPhone take a simcard from any carrier? Oh, that's right, it's locked to AT&T, so of course it doesn't.
I've already got smart phones with wifi, although I don't remember which ones since I would just pull out a laptop to surf any available wifi.
I've already got a Sprint USB modem to give me the phone as modem feature that the iPod doesn't provide
I usually carry a 10 megapixel Canon G5 camera, with optical zoom, and flash, that the iPod doesn't provide. I'm not too amused by toy 1 or 2 megapixel cameras unless the camera is almost the size of a pack of gum.
If I find the time to do some mobile programming, I want to do it with Windows .NET compact framework to leverage all the years I've spent writing for .NET. (I tried learning Palm to program the palm pilot smart phone, and it was too laborious.]
Can't read PDF files on the iPhone
I already have a backpack pouch full of various MP3 & MP4 players, including the Samsung with the really cool hifi speakers built in.
Sealed battery, no hicapacity battery add-ons
I already bought an Apple product, the Quicktake 100 Digital Camera that could take all of 12 pictures. Oh wait, that was last century, maybe I need to buy a token Apple product this century. Oh yeah, I did end up with an iPod somehow, it was on a clearance sale, but at least that takes care of this century too.
I want to save my money for one of the new Mini PCs and Micro PCs, although an HP TX1000 has handled enough day to day programming tasks from my trusty Libretto U105 (with a newly replaced keyboard, which still does all my email, and that I have 5 batteries for a combined life of 18 hours!), that I can't figure out why I need a third machine....
iPhone doesn't play on-hold music for my callers
iPhone won't run any of the scads of cell phone applications I've already bought from Handango (and that I rarely run on my current phone).

What They Said About Why You Should Not Buy An iPhone - Summary

Screen keypad doesn't work with gloves
High price for phone (no price break in return for the two year contract)
High price of AT&T contract ($2000 over two years for 450 mins a month)
1. Not possible to use the phone with any other carriers
2. No sim cards other than AT&T work in the phone
3. AT&T charging $175 termination fee
4. No one knows how much data transfer is allowed with the AT&T plan
iPod features don't work without AT&T activation
No 3G support
No phone as modem
No chat client
No other instant messaging client (only text messaging)
No zoom in the camera
No flash in the camera
No slingbox client
Not enough storage space
No word document editing
no excel spreadsheet editing
No Windows media player
No built in todo list
No built in memos
No built in games
No built in voice recording
No voice dialing
No stylus input for text
No slideout keyboard
No video output to TV
No over the air appointments
No over the air software updates (wait, maybe this is an advantage!)
Can't connect a blue tooth keyboard
No bluetooth wireless connection to laptop
Can't sync with corporate email systems
Battery life
No VoIP
Third party apps will only be allowed within the Safari browser
Media can only be transfered from computer, not over wifi or cellular
Safari (Crapfari) instead of Firefox or IE
Safari browser bugs lose pages
Safari web browsing is painfully slow, page must be entirely loaded to scroll or zoom
Can't run flash programs
No java
iTunes lock-in (what about buying from Sony music?)
Screen visibility in the sunlight
Screen smudges from greasy fingers
Scratches too easy
No GPS
Editing photo contacts crashes the phone
Google maps with traffic information crashes when scrolling
iPod crashes after resyncing
Proximity sensor has bugs that cause the screen to flash
Caps lock doesn't lock
Calculator buttons are messed up when used during a phone call
No self replacement of used battery
No aftermarket higher capacity batteries
Touch screen may not work in rain or mist

The Details about What They Said About Reasons Not To Buy An iPhone

I typed in my google query, reasons not to buy an iphone" and found over 3,000,000 results! Over 3 million reasons not to buy an iPhone? Wow! Amazing what a missing quotation mark can do....

11 reasons not to buy an iPhone
- Reasons
  - High price
  - No sim cards other than AT&T wireless
  - Virtual keyboard doesn't work with gloves
  - No memos
  - No voice recording
  - No games
  - No capacity for video output to a TV (like an iPod, but no other cell phone has this either)
  - No over the air appointments
  - No over the air software updates
  - No IM, only text messaging
  - No IM
  - No flash or zoom in the camera
- Also mentions
  - David Pogue's Often asked iPhone questions
13 Reasons Not To Buy An iPhone
- Harry McCracken's List Harry quit PC World when his anti-Apple piece was censored
  - Lack of 3G
  - Inability to act as a modem for a laptop (Ed. note: That is getting more common, the newer sprint phones are locking this down)
  - No built in chat client
  - No slingbox client
  - Lack of adequate storage space
  - Inability to edit office documents
  - No built in todo list
  - Contract requirements with AT&T
  - No tactile feedback from screen virtual keys
- Ed. Note - Sounds like he ought to have a laptop instead....
- McCraken prefered the AT&T 8525.
Gina Hughes, The Techie Diva, refuses to get an iPhone
- Comparable 3G phones (Treo 750) only cost $199 with two year contracts.
- 80GB ipods cost the same as this 8GB iPhone
- AT&T can't explain about switching carriers
- Apple website says that iPod features don't work without AT&T activation!
- Never get a first generation gadget!
- Not worth the long lines!
- Can't sync with corporate email systems
Brett Arends 5 reasons not to buy an iphone - "Apple is the only publicly traded religion"
- Reasons
  - AT&T required for phone calls - No VoIP, no 3G
    - According to the Wall Street Journal, Steve jobs doesn't think VoIP is a breakthrough technology, but maybe someone will make VoIP run in the browser.
  - $2000 cost over 2 years, minimum charge $59.99 per month
  - No network choice
  - Only third party apps allowed will have to work in the Safari browser
    - So much for using any kind of open-platform development
  - Downloads can only happen from your computer, not over cellular or over wifi!
- But it's tethered to an old-fashioned business model that is afraid of freedom.

Fox News Ten Reasons Not To Buy an iPhone

iPhone blather, and iPhone hype
too expensive
Tiny storage
- Ed. note: This is hilarious. The article says "Come off it, Steve. The minimum data storage for the $499 iPhone should have been 500 GB at the very least, with the top of the line model having at least 800 GB or preferably 1 terabyte." Imagine a Maxtor MyBook tethered to the back of your phone!
Stlylish and Stupid
Stuck with AT&T
Edge and Not 3G
Two year contract and $175 termination fee
No keyboard

Crapfari Instead of Firefox

Yep, this entire column was nothing more than a self-serving ruse at giving myself the best chance possible to snag an iPhone on opening day.

Yes ... I must have one ... and I will have one! No matter who or what gets in my way! Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeessssss ... .the precioooooooous will be ouuuuuuursssssssssss!

Editor's Note

I happily missed iDay already.....

100 reasons not to buy an iPhone
- Who knows how much data you get with the $59.99 plan
- No flash
- No java
- No iChat
- iTunes Lock-in
- No keyboard
- Screen may be hard to see in the daylight
- No office
- No real applications
- Smudges from greasy fingers
- Gets scratched too easy when carried in a pocket with coins and keys
- No games
- No song sharing
- Don't like shiny
- No mirror
- No yahoo maps
- I already have a phone
- I already have an ipod
- Sealed battery
- Too big
- Already have t-mobile
  Editors note
  
  He gave up at 34 reasons! I win!
5 reasons not to buy an iPhone
- iPhone has been dubbed the "Jesus phone". iPhone is no where near as pefect
- Reasons - 68 software bugs found by Applehound!
  - Safari loses pages easily
  - Painfully slow web browsing
iPhone v1.0 Bug List
5 reasons not to buy an iphone
10 reasons not to buy an iphone
- Battery life is max 8 hours as a phone, probably less when other features are in use
- Slow AT&T
- Difficult to type
- No corporate email
- non removeable batteries
- High price
- Few applications
- Not tested
- May be hard to get at the start (that didn't pan out, the iPhone scalpers lost big time on trying to buy iPhones to resell)
- Need to switch to AT&T

Swivel Preview of Reasons not to buy an iphone

Reasons to not purchase iPhone	Percentage
Won't change carrier	30
Need more info on product	23
Current contract runs longer	21
Don't think carrier is reliable	8
Not enough features	2
Other	19

Didn't read yet:

More reasons not to buy an iPhone

More iPhone Stuff

Apple iPod touch 8 GB (1st Generation)

$199.99(USD)

iPod touch has always been an amazing iPod. With great new applications, now iPod touch is even better. Watch a movie you rented from iTunes. View rich HTML email with graphics and photos displayed inline. Open PDF, Microsoft Word, and Microsoft Excel attachments. With Maps, find your location and get directions from there. See where you are on a map, a satellite image, or a combination of both. Make Web Clips for your Home screen so you can visit your favorite websites in just one tap. Fill up to nine Home screen pages with Web Clips and arrange them however you like. Browse YouTube videos, follow your stocks, check the weather, and take notes. With the new iPod touch, tap into even more.

Glide through albums with the iPod touch's amazing Cover Flow technology. View iPod touch dimensions.

Browse the Web with the included Safari browser. Or fire up a YouTube video and enjoy the show.

The iPod touch responds to your movements; turn it sideways and your video is presented in widescreen mode.

Incredibly thin at just 8 millimeters.

The mail application lets you view rich HTML email with graphics and photos displayed inline, as well as PDF, Microsoft Word, and Microsoft Excel attachments.

Rearrange the icons on your Home screen. Even change the Dock.

Mark specific locations, find the best route between them, and search for points of interest along the way with Maps.

Music, Movies, and More
Flick through album covers and find your music. Download and watch your favorite movies, rentals, TV shows, and more from the iTunes Store. Tap into thousands of photos. All using incredible multi-touch technology on a beautiful 3.5-inch display.

Music
If a picture says a thousand words, think of what all the album art in your collection might say. With Cover Flow on iPod touch, flick through your music to find the album you want to hear. When you do, just tap the cover to flip it over and display a track list. Another tap starts the music. Even view the lyrics while you're listening to the track.

Video
The 3.5-inch display gives you video like you've never seen on a portable device. Watch your favorite movie or rental from the iTunes Store. Catch up on TV shows anywhere. Enjoy video podcasts. Play music videos. All using multi-touch technology. With a tap, bring up onscreen controls to play/pause and view by chapter. Turn your iPod touch to switch between widescreen or full screen.

Photos
iPod touch holds up to 20,000 photos you sync via iTunes. Flick to scroll through thumbnails. Tap to view full screen. Rotate for landscape format. Or perform some sleight of hand by opening two fingers to zoom in. You can even play slideshows, complete with music and transitions. Set any photo as your wallpaper to personalize your iPod touch . . . with a touch.

iTunes Wi-Fi Music Store
With iPod touch, discover new music anywhere. Its built-in wireless capability gives you access to the iTunes Wi-Fi Music Store, where you can buy songs with a tap. Browse New Releases, What's Hot, Genres, and Top 10 songs. Or find exactly what you're looking for with a quick search. Tap a song to preview it, tap Buy to purchase it. Even redeem your iTunes gift cards and gift certificates. All from anywhere you happen to be.

Starbucks Music
You walk into a Starbucks. Order your latte. While you wait, you hear a song wafting from the loudspeakers. You love it. So you get out your iPod touch and buy it over Wi-Fi. Just like that. The iTunes Wi-Fi Music Store on iPod touch tells you what's playing in select Starbucks and lets you buy it along with other featured Starbucks content. So you can sip, shop, and listen.

Home Screen
Make the iPod touch Home screen your own. Change what's in the Dock. Rearrange the icons. And make room for even more. You can add up to eight Home screen pages and fill them with Web Clips.

Internet
Surf the web. Send email. Get directions and find your location with Maps. Check stocks, weather, and more. iPod touch is not just an amazing iPod. It's the Internet in your pocket.

Safari
iPod touch is the only iPod with wireless access to the web. Safari is built in, so you see websites the way they were designed to be seen. Search the web using the touchscreen keyboard. Zoom in and out by tapping the multi-touch display. Switch between portrait or landscape view, depending on how you hold your iPod touch. Sync your bookmarks. Better yet, add them to your Home screen. iPod touch can automatically create a Web Clip on your Home screen from any of your favorite websites. So just one tap takes you directly there.

YouTube
Got a bit of a YouTube addiction? iPod touch feeds it from anywhere with a special YouTube player built right in. Watch featured videos, check out the most viewed, search for something specific, then bookmark your favorites for future reference. It's all the fun of YouTube--pocket-size.

Mail
iPod touch is the first iPod with Mail. And it's the best email you've ever seen on a handheld device. This mail application lets you view rich HTML email with graphics and photos displayed inline, as well as PDF, Microsoft Word, and Microsoft Excel attachments.

Maps
Get directions and check traffic with Google Maps. Even find yourself, wherever you are. Using some local Wi-Fi networks (if Wi-Fi is turned on), iPod touch finds your approximate location and gives directions from there. Mark specific locations, find the best route between them, and search for points of interest along the way. With a hybrid map and satellite view, you can see major street names on top of satellite images.

Widgets
Widgets are small, incredibly handy applications you can use every day. Three of the most useful widgets now live front and center on your Home screen:

Weather
Get a five-day weather forecast, including highs and lows, for cities around the world. Save your favorite locations so you can check the weather anytime.

Notes
Take notes, make a to-do list, or jot down a reminder using the easy-to-use touch keypad. Then save or email them.

Stocks
Check your stocks and track the market over one day, one week, one month, three months, six months, one year, or two years.

High Technology
iPod touch features the same revolutionary interface as iPhone, the most advanced software ever engineered, and state-of-the-art technology. With the multi-touch display, you can control everything using only your fingers. If you rotate your iPod touch from portrait to landscape, the accelerometer automatically changes the way the content is displayed. And with wireless technology, you can connect to the Internet from any Wi-Fi network, anywhere you are.

Multi-touch
iPod touch features the same revolutionary interface as iPhone. Built to take full advantage of the large 3.5-inch display, the multi-touch interface lets you control everything using only your fingers. So you can glide through albums with Cover Flow, flick through photos and enlarge them with a pinch, or zoom in and out on a section of a web page. And iPod touch features a touchscreen QWERTY keyboard perfect for browsing the web in Safari, getting directions on a map, searching for videos on YouTube, finding music on the iTunes Wi-Fi Music Store, or adding new contacts.

Ambient Light Sensor
The iPod touch display has an ambient light sensor that automatically adjusts brightness to suit the ambient light in your surroundings. The result? A better experience for you and battery-saving efficiency for iPod touch.

Wireless
Connect to the Internet anywhere there's a Wi-Fi network. Send email from a coffee shop. Surf the web at the airport. Browse, buy, and download music from the iTunes Wi-Fi Music Store at select Starbucks locations or other wireless hot spots in your area. iPod touch finds wireless networks and connects you to the Internet.

Accelerometer
An accelerometer detects when you rotate iPod touch from portrait to landscape, then automatically changes the contents of the display, so you immediately see the entire width of a web page, your music in Cover Flow, or a photo in its proper aspect ratio.

Read Kindle Books on the iPod touch

Read Kindle books on your iPod touch.

No Kindle required.
Get the best reading experience available on your iPhone or iPod touch.
No Kindle required.
Access your Kindle books even if you don't have your Kindle with you.
Automatically synchronizes your last page read between devices with Amazon Whispersync.
Adjust the text size, add bookmarks, and view the annotations you created on your Kindle.
Don't have a Kindle? Get yours here.

Shop for Books on the Kindle Store on Your iPod touch

Buy a book from the Kindle Store, optimized for Safari, on your iPod touch or iPhone and get it auto-delivered wirelessly.
Search and browse more than 275,000 books, including more than 107 of 112 New York Times bestsellers.
Find New York Times bestsellers and new releases for $9.99, unless marked otherwise.
Get free book samples; read the first chapter for free before you decide to buy.
Books you purchase also can be read on a Kindle.
Kindle newspapers, magazines, and blogs are not currently available on the iPod touch or iPhone.

What's in the Box
8 GB iPod touch, earphones, USB 2.0 cable, dock adapter, polishing cloth, stand, quick start guide.

Apple Iphone PDA Premium Reusable LCD Screen Protector with Lint Cleaning Cloth

$9.99(USD)

Apple iPhone Body Screen LCD Protector Film Guard Sold By TopDeals888

Apple iPhone 3G Stylus Pen (Silver)

$20.00(USD)

Excellent accessory for your iPhone 3G or Ipod Touch. Lightweight stylus allows for smooth damage-free navigation across touchscreen!

Beginning iPhone Development: Exploring the iPhone SDK
Dave Mark

$39.99(USD)

Are you a programmer looking for a new challenge? Does the thought of building your very own iPhone app make your heart race and your pulse quicken? If so, then Beginning iPhone Development is just the book for you.

Assuming only a minimal working knowledge of Objective-C, and written in a friendly, easy-to-follow style, Beginning iPhone Development offers a complete soup-to-nuts course in iPhone and iPod Touch programming.

The book starts with the basics, walking you through the process of downloading and installing Apple's free iPhone SDK, then stepping you though the creation of your first simple iPhone application. You'll move on from there, mastering all the iPhone interface elements that you've come to know and love, such as buttons, switches, pickers, toolbars, sliders, etc.

You'll master a variety of design patterns, from the simplest single view to complex hierarchical drill-downs. You'll master the art of table-building and learn how to save your data using the iPhone file system. You'll also learn how to save and retrieve your data using SQLite, iPhone's built-in database management system.

You'll learn how to draw using Quartz 2D and OpenGL ES. You'll add MultiTouch Gestural Support (pinches and swipes) to your applications, and work with the Camera, Photo Library, and Accelerometer. You'll master application preferences, learn how to localize your apps into other languages, and so much more.

Apple's iPhone SDK, this book, and your imagination are all you'll need to start building your very own best-selling iPhone applications.

You can discover more about this book, download source code, and find support forums at the book's companion site: www.iphonedevbook.com

Reviews

"People ask me again and again about how to get started in iPhone development, but I never had a very good answer for them until now. Dave and Jeff's book starts at the beginning in clear English, making sure you understand the fundamentals with many large illustrations. From there, they progress into key concepts such as the MVC pattern and ImageBuilder fundamentals. Additionally, I find myself flipping back to it as a reference guide—the plethora of code samples make it a must-have."

—Steve Demeter, Creator of "Trism" and owner of Demiforce LLC

"Beginning iPhone Development delivers a clear picture of the entire development process from registering as an iPhone developer through creation of complete applications. There is a wealth of examples illustrating each feature of the iPhone. The authors did an excellent job of demonstrating "best practice" coding methodology throughout the book. You would be hard pressed to find a better guide to creating software for the iPhone."

—Aaron Basil, iDev2.com

"Dave Mark has always been the king of Mac programming authors, and now he's proven to be the reigning king for books on iPhone development!

"Beginning iPhone Development is the definitive guide for iPhone development, and anyone aspiring to develop for the iPhone should get this invaluable reference."

—Brian Greenstone, President & CEO, Pangea Software, Inc.

"Jeff and Dave have done an exceptional job exploring the iPhone SDK. This book is far and away the single best resource for iPhone SDK development. Developers will latch on to this book and find it useful as they create the next great iPhone application. If you're a developer with an interest in this amazing new platform, this is a must buy."

—Chris Stewart, Founder, iPhoneDevSDK.com

"If you're planning on coding for the iPhone, start here. Dave and Jeff know their stuff and also know how to explain it. I was amazed how much stuff they cover, from Hello World through analyzing user gestures. Not only do they cover the fun stuff like playing with the camera, they cover real-world development issues like localization. I learned a huge amount from them"

—Mark Dalrymple, Co-founder, CocoaHeads, and Principal Author, Advanced Mac OS X Programming

"Starting with an overview of the technology, how to approach the device, the authors lead us straight into the heart of iPhone development. As you progress, you'll learn more about various layout engines and view managers, as well as the more meaty topics like accelerometer and GPS APIs. This book is a must-have for anyone interested in getting started quickly and efficiently with iPhone development!"

—Chris Pelsor, Manager, Tarantell:Hybrid

"All in all I was very surprised and pleased with the book. I've had the fortune of reading many technical books, and few do a great job of walking someone through the basics without making them feel like a dolt. It felt like every time I was stuck or unsure there was a tip, hint or paragraph which explained what was going on."

—Cory Foy, at Slashdot.org

Summary of Contents

Welcome to the Jungle
Appeasing the Tiki Gods
Handling Basic Interaction
More User Interface Fun
Autorotation and Autosizing
Multiview Applications
Tab Bars and Pickers
Introduction to Table Views
Navigation Controllers and Table Views
Application Settings and User Defaults
Basic Data Persistence
Drawing with Quartz and OpenGL
Taps, Touches, and Gestures
Where Am I? Finding Your Way with Core Location
Whee!
iPhone Camera and Photo Library
Application Localization
Where to Next?

About the Apress Beginning Series

The Beginning series from Apress is the right choice to get the information you need to land that crucial entry–level job. These books will teach you a standard and important technology from the ground up because they are explicitly designed to take you from “novice to professional.” You’ll start your journey by seeing what you need to know—but without needless theory and filler. You’ll build your skill set by learning how to put together real–world projects step by step. So whether your goal is your next career challenge or a new learning opportunity, the Beginning series from Apress will take you there—it is your trusted guide through unfamiliar territory!

Apple iPhone 3G Textured Leather Horizontal Carrying Case with Fixed Belt Clip and Belt Loop

$39.95(USD)

Apple iPhone 3G Textured Leather Horizontal Carrying Case with Fixed Belt Clip and Belt Loop

LG Venus VX8800 Phone, Black (Verizon Wireless)

$349.99(USD)

The sophisticated and stunning LG Venus slider phone offers a unique combination of touchscreen and tactile keypads in a compact form factor with a stylish mirror finish. The phone features dual external screens, with the bottom screen incorporating interactive touch navigation, and the top slides open to reveal a standard numeric keypad. The Venus gives you access to V CAST Video--Verizon Wireless' multimedia service with news, sports and entertainment video clips, 3D games and more--as well as V CAST Music, which offers access to more than 2.4 million songs that can be purchased and downloaded over-the-air. Other features include a 2-megapixel camera/camcorder, MicroSD memory expansion, Bluetooth connectivity for headsets and stereo music streaming, multi-format digital music player, and optional GPS turn-by-turn navigation services. It operates on Verizon's 850/1900 CDMA frequencies, and offers fast connectivity through Verizon's EV-DO data network.

The LG Venus offers an innovative dual screen design, with the lower screen offering tactile touchscreen navigation. The leathery back adds an excellent grip.

Verizon Service Options
With support for the EV-DO high-speed data standard, you'll enjoy fast access to the Internet and Verizon's multimedia services (additional charges applicable), with average download speeds ranging from 400 to 700 Kbps and peak rates up to 2 Mbps. (Learn more about where EV-DO coverage is offered.) The V Cast Music service enables you to download songs instantly to your phone, or purchase music through your PC and transfer the files to your phone. If purchased from your phone, you'll receive two copies of the song: a Windows Media Audio Pro Plus format at 64Kbps stereo is sent to your phone, and a Windows Media Audio 9 format at 160Kbps stereo is sent to your account in the V CAST Music online store for downloading to your PC. V Cast Music offers nearly 2 million songs, with more being added all the time.

With the V Cast Video service, you can stream or download video clips to your phone from a variety of news, entertainment, sports, and weather channels, including CNN, ABC News, E!, CBS Sports, The Weather Channel, and VH1.

Getting on the Internet is easy using Verizon's Mobile Web 2.0 package, which allows you to read and send e-mails, exchange instant messages and view your favorite web content on your phone. Verizon's Get It Now wireless download service is also fully compatible with this phone. This pay-per-download service features application downloads, games and productivity tools. You can also personalize your handset with ringtone downloads using the Get It Now service.

With this GPS-enabled phone, you'll be able to access Verizon's VZ Navigator service (additional charges applicable) for voice-prompted turn-by-turn directions, heads-up alerts, local search of nearly 14 million points of interest in the US (such as landmarks, restaurants and ATMs), and detailed color maps.

Phone Features

Nicely compact, the LG Venus measures just 0.62 inches thin and weighs a svelte 3.79 ounces.

The face of the Venus slider includes two LCD screens, with the top 2-inch screen providing a 240 x 320-pixel QVGA resolution and support for 262K colors. The lower screen (1.49 inches, 176 x 240 pixels) displays touch-sensitive navigation controls with different layouts depending on the application you're accessing--such as changing from standard soft key layout to music controls when the digital audio player is activated. LG has incorporated haptics technology--an interface that creates tactile feedback--that provides vibrating feedback in response to your finger taps when using the touchscreen. The Venus offers gently curved corners and a faux-leather covering on the back that provides a luxurious feel in the hand as well as added grip.

It has a 64 MB internal memory, and it's expandable via optional MicroSD memory cards with support for up to 8 GB of storage. The digital audio player is compatible with MP3, WMA, and AAC/AAC+ music files, and you can multitask with other phone functions while continuing to play music. Other music playback functions include a variety of equalizer presets, shuffle and repeat mode, and an airplane mode that turns off the cell phone's receiver for continued playback while on a flight.

This phone also provides Bluetooth version 1.2 wireless connectivity with the A2DP Bluetooth profile, which enables you to stream music to compatible Bluetooth stereo headphones or speakers. (Note that the airplane mode doesn't shut off the Bluetooth connectivity, so you can still listen to music using wireless headphones.) It also includes profiles for communication headset, handsfree car kits, dial-up networking, audio/video remote control, phone book access, serial port/object push for vCard, and basic imaging for sending/printing non-protected images to a compatible device.

The 2.0-megapixel camera can capture still images in four resolutions (1600 x 1200, 1280 x 960, 640 x 480, and 320 x 240 pixels) and video in two settings (VGA 320 x 240 and QCIF 176 x 144). Other camera features include a 2x zoom, white balance settings, a variety of color effects, night mode, self timer, and three shutter sounds (with silent option). Video recording is limited to either 30 seconds for sending via MMS or up to an hour for saving to memory card.

The Venus provides storage for up to 1000 contact entries, with up to 5 numbers, two email addresses per entry, and Picture ID. Support is built in for text messaging and mobile IM. When used in combination with the phone's built-in still and video camera, MMS opens up a whole new world of messaging fun. Other features include:

Tools: Calendar, notepad, calculator, alarm clock, stopwatch, world clock, and EZ tip calculator
Speed Dial (95 entries + 4 pre-programmed for voicemail, #BAL, #MIN, #PMT)
USB connectivity to your PC for file transfer as well as charging
One-touch speakerphone
Speaker-independent voice commands
21 included ringtones and compatibility with real-music ringtones
Voice recording up to 1 hour or 5 minutes during phone call
Video player compatible with WMV, MP4, 3GP, 3G2 formats
Hearing Aid Compatibility Rating: M3

Vital Statistics
The LG Venus weighs 3.79 ounces and measures 4 x 2 x 0.62 inches. Its 800 mAh lithium-ion battery is rated at up to 4 hours of talk time, and up to 480 hours of digital standby time. It runs on the CDMA 800/1900 frequencies as well as Verizon's EV-DO data network.

Smoke Premium Apple iPhone 3G Silicone Skin Case + Full Screen LCD Protector 5 Color Options In Stock now

$29.95(USD)

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iPhone: The Missing Manual: Covers the iPhone 3G
David Pogue

$24.99(USD)

The new iPhone 3G is here, and New York Times tech columnist David Pogue is on top of it with a thoroughly updated edition of iPhone: The Missing Manual. With its faster downloads, touch-screen iPod, and best-ever mobile Web browser, the new affordable iPhone is packed with possibilities. But without an objective guide like this one, you'll never unlock all it can do for you. In this new edition, there are new chapters on the App Store, with special troubleshooting and sycning issues with iTunes; Apple's new MobileMe service, and what it means to the iPhone; and Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync compatibility. Each custom designed page in iPhone: The Missing Manual helps you accomplish specific tasks with complete step-by-step instructions for everything from scheduling to web browsing to watching videos. You'll learn how to: Use the iPhone as a phone -- get a guided tour of 3G's phone features and learn how much time you can save with things like Visual Voicemail, contact searching, and more Figure out what 3G means and how it affects battery life, internet speed, and even phone call audio quality. Treat the iPhone as an iPod -- listen to music, upload and view photos, and fill the iPhone with TV shows and movies Take the iPhone online -- learn how to get online, use email, browse the Web, and use the GPS Go beyond the iPhone -- discover how to use iPhone with iTunes, sync it with your calendar, and learn about The App Store where you can pick from hundreds of iPhone-friendly programs Teeming with high-quality color graphics and filled with humor, tips, tricks, and surprises, iPhone: The Missing Manual quickly teaches you how to set up, accessorize, and troubleshoot your iPhone. Instead offumbling around, take advantage of this device with the manual that should have been in the box. It's your call.

Apple iPod touch 16 GB (2nd Generation) LATEST MODEL

$299.99(USD)

The iPod touch has always been an amazing iPod. And with its groundbreaking technologies--including a Multi-Touch screen, the accelerometer, and 3D graphics--and access to hundreds of games, iPod touch puts an amazing gaming experience in the palm of your hand. It comes in 8 GB, 16 GB, and 32 GB models with new volume controls and a built-in speaker. Play hours of music. Create a Genius Playlist of songs that go great together. Watch a movie. Surf the web. View rich HTML email. Find your location and get directions with Google Maps. Browse YouTube videos. And shop the App Store for games and applications.

Millions of songs, thousands of videos, hundreds of games. Click to enlarge.

Music
Music on iPod touch not only sounds amazing, it looks amazing, too.

Touch Your Music
Remember what it felt like to flip through your CD or record collection? Cover Flow brings that feeling back. Just turn iPod touch on its side and flick through your music to find the album you want to hear. Tap the cover to flip it over and display a track list. Tap again to start the music. Even view the lyrics while you're listening.

A Musical Genius
Say you're listening to a song you really like and want to hear other tracks that go great with it. The new Genius feature finds the songs in your library that go great together and makes a Genius Playlist for you. You can listen to the playlist right away, save it for later, or even refresh it and give it another go. Count on Genius to create a mix you wouldn't have thought of yourself.

Fill It Up
Fill up your iPod touch with audio and video from your iTunes library. All you have to do is choose the playlists, videos, and other content you want to sync, and iTunes does the rest.

The iPod touch feels even better in your hand, thanks to the stunningly thin, contoured enclosure made of polished stainless steel.

Just turn iPod touch on its side and flick through your music to find the album you want to hear. Click to enlarge.

Carry hours of video with you, and watch it on a crisp, clear 3.5-inch widescreen color display.

Movies and TV Shows
Movies and TV shows have never looked this good on a portable device.

Everything's a Must-see
Carry hours of video with you, and watch it on a crisp, clear 3.5-inch widescreen color display. Need ideas? From Hollywood blockbusters to independent favorites, there's something for everyone at the iTunes Store. Download and watch movies with a few clicks. Prefer TV shows? Buy a single episode or an entire season's worth all at once.

In Control
While watching your video, tap the display to bring up the onscreen controls. You can play/pause, view by chapter, and adjust the volume. You also can use the new volume controls on the left side of iPod touch. Want to switch between widescreen and full screen? Simply tap the display twice.

Sync and Go
Need some entertainment for your next flight or road trip? With iTunes on your Mac or PC, you can sit at your computer and choose the movies and TV shows you want to sync to your iPod touch.

Games
With its groundbreaking technologies, iPod touch puts an amazing gaming experience in the palm of your hand.

Get in the Game
Developers all over the world are creating exciting games unlike anything you've ever seen on an iPod or mobile device. Many games come alive with stunning 3D graphics and immerse you in the action with the advanced technologies in iPod touch. There's even a built-in speaker, so you can hear all the action.

Fingertip Control
Many games for iPod touch use Multi-Touch to give you precise, fingertip control over game elements. Use your finger to drag your pieces around the board in chess or dice games. Or pinch to enlarge or shrink your view, rotate your character left or right, or just tap to make a selection.

Tilt, Turn, and Go
The built-in accelerometer actually responds to your movements, so you can tilt and turn your iPod touch to control the action. It's perfect for racing games--where your entire iPod touch acts as a steering wheel--and for tap-and-tilt games like Super Monkey Ball, in which your character rolls to your movements.

The App Store
Even if games aren't your thing, there's an iPod touch application for you. Thousands of applications in almost every category--entertainment, social networking, sports, photography, reference, and travel--are a tap away at the App Store.

Developers all over the world are creating exciting games unlike anything you've ever seen on an iPod or mobile device. Click to enlarge.

The built-in wireless capability in iPod touch gives you access to the iTunes Wi-Fi Music Store, where you can choose from millions of songs with a tap.

iPod touch features Safari, the most advanced web browser ever on a portable device.

iTunes Wi-Fi Music Store
Discover new music anywhere.

Buy on the Fly
The built-in wireless capability in iPod touch gives you access to the iTunes Wi-Fi Music Store, where you can choose from millions of songs with a tap. Browse New Releases, What's Hot, and Genres. Take a look at Top Songs and Top Albums. Or find exactly what you're looking for with a quick search. Play a 30-second preview of any song, then tap once to buy it. Your music starts downloading instantly, and you can keep tabs on its progress by tapping the Downloads button.

Sync it Back
When you connect iPod touch to your computer, the music you bought on-the-go syncs to your iTunes library. If you've partially downloaded a song to iPod touch, your computer completes the download automatically.

iPod touch at Starbucks
If you have an iPod touch, an iPhone, or a computer with the latest version of iTunes, you get free Wi-Fi access to the iTunes Store and to Starbucks' Now Playing content. Stroll into a participating Starbucks, and you're connected automatically.

Home Screen
Get instant access to whatever you need on your iPod touch.

Customize Your Home Screen
Arrange the icons on your Home screen any way you want. Even move them to another Home screen. Create up to nine Home screens for quick access to the games and applications you download from the App Store and to your Safari Web Clips.

Go Home
No matter where you are on iPod touch, you can press the Home button to return to the Home screen. You can go back to what you were doing at any time.

Add Apps, Web Clips, and More
Whenever you download an application from the App Store, a new icon appears on your Home screen. And if you check the same websites every day, just create Web Clips and you can access the sites directly from your Home screen with a single tap. Not happy with how they're organized? Reorder them any way you want by dragging them around the screen.

Safari
iPod touch features Safari, the most advanced web browser ever on a portable device.

Browse Anywhere
The iPod touch is the only iPod with 802.11b/g wireless access to the web. Whenever you're connected via Wi-Fi, you can access your favorite websites to read news, check scores, pay bills, and go shopping.

Search and Find
iPod touch syncs your bookmarks from your PC or Mac, so you can access favorite sites quickly. It has Google and Yahoo! search built in, so it's easy to find what you're looking for on the web.

Zoom with a View
Get a closer look at any web page by zooming in and out with a tap or a pinch of the Multi-Touch display. View websites in portrait or landscape. Rotate iPod touch 90 degrees and the website rotates, too.

Clip it.
If you check a website frequently--a favorite newspaper, blog, or sports site--why not create a Home screen icon for it? Make Web Clips with Safari, and your favorite sites are always just a tap away.

Email on iPod touch looks and works just like email on your computer.

When you're connected via Wi-Fi, you can get directions, find local businesses, and check traffic with Maps.

Mail
Email on iPod touch looks and works just like email on your computer.

See it All
iPod touch supports rich HTML email, so images and photos appear alongside text. And you see email attachments in their original formats, not stripped-down versions. Rotate, zoom, and pan in more than a dozen standard file and image formats, including PDF; Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint; and iWork.

Access it All
Access your email from popular providers--including MobileMe, Microsoft Exchange, Yahoo! Mail, Google Gmail, and AOL--and most industry-standard IMAP and POP mail systems.

Send Fast
iPod touch recognizes email addresses in different applications. If you run across an email address on a web page or a map listing, for example, just tap it; iPod touch opens a new message and addresses it for you.

Type Smart
With its built-in dictionary, the intelligent iPod touch keyboard predicts and suggests words as you type, making it fast and easy to write email.

Maps
When you're connected via Wi-Fi, you can get directions, find local businesses, and check traffic.

Find Yourself
iPod touch finds your location using known Wi-Fi hotspots. It also finds points of interest by keyword: Search for "coffee" and iPod touch shows you every cafe nearby.

Get Directions
Just type in an address and get directions from wherever you are. View a list of turn-by-turn directions, or see a highlighted map route. You also can mark specific locations and find the best route between them.

Enjoy the View
Just like Google Maps on your computer, Maps on iPod touch lets you switch between views of Google map data, satellite images, and a hybrid of both. Multi-Touch makes the difference. Tap to zoom, pan, and change your view on the move.

See Traffic
Maps on iPod touch shows you live traffic information, indicating traffic speed along your route in easy-to-read green, red, and yellow highlights.

Love to watch the latest YouTube videos? iPod touch gives you all the fun of the web's best videos--pocket-size.

iPod touch uses iTunes to sync photos you have in iPhoto on a Mac or Adobe Photoshop Elements and Adobe Photoshop Album on a PC.

Keep your schedule at your fingertips with iPod touch.

Build your contacts list on your Mac with Address Book or on your PC with Microsoft Outlook, then sync everything to your iPod touch using iTunes.

YouTube
Love to watch the latest YouTube videos? iPod touch gives you all the fun of the web's best videos--pocket-size.

Share from Anywhere
Email your favorite videos to your favorite people. Tap "Share" on any YouTube video detail page, and iPod touch creates an email with the video link already in it.

Watch What You Want
Explore Featured, Most Viewed, Most Recent, and Top Rated videos. Or search for the video you want with a keyword search. Once you find what you're looking for, bookmark it to watch later.

Photos
Carry up to 25,000 of your favorite photos everywhere.

Share Photos
Show thousands of photos from the palm of your hand. Flick to scroll through thumbnails. Tap to view full screen. Rotate to see a photo in landscape. Pinch to zoom in or out. Play slideshows, complete with music and transitions. Email a photo to a friend, set it as your wallpaper, or share it in a MobileMe Gallery.

Save Photos
If you receive a great image in an email, save it to your photo library on iPod touch. Once there, it acts just like any other photo. You can set it as your wallpaper, share it on the web, or pass it on.

Sync Photos
iPod touch uses iTunes to sync photos you have in iPhoto on a Mac or Adobe Photoshop Elements and Adobe Photoshop Album on a PC. Just choose which photos or albums to sync to your iPod touch, then you can look at them--and share them--anywhere you go.

Calendar
With iPod touch, it's easy to make plans and stay on schedule.

Add Events
Keep your schedule at your fingertips with iPod touch. Add events to your calendar. Set a custom alert. Write a note or two. Manage multiple color-coded calendars. And do it all with just a few taps.

Stay in Sync
Connect iPod touch to your computer, and the events that you've created on-the-go automatically sync to Microsoft Outlook on a PC or iCal on a Mac. And all the events you've added on your computer sync to iPod touch.

Three Ways to View
iPod touch gives you three ways to view your calendars. List view shows you all your appointments in the coming days as a comprehensive list, which you can scroll up and down. Day view displays one day's worth of appointments visually. And Month view offers an at-a-glance look at an entire month.

Contacts
Put names, email addresses, phone numbers, and more at your fingertips.

Make Contact
Build your contacts list on your Mac with Address Book or on your PC with Microsoft Outlook, then sync everything to your iPod touch using iTunes. You also can add contact information directly to your iPod touch from maps, web pages, and email. Next time you sync, your computer is updated, too.

Search Contacts
If you have a lot of contacts, a quick search shows you a list of matching names. Or you can scroll up and down your entire list to find the right contact. Want to send them an email? Just tap an email address and the Mail application opens automatically.

Organized by Groups
If you keep your contacts organized into groups--such as co-workers, friends, family, and so on--iPod touch will, too. And iPod touch can hold more than just names, email addresses, and phone numbers. You also can track birthdays, websites, nicknames, and notes.

Stocks, Weather, and Notes
Stay on top of it all.

Check Stocks
Stocks on iPod touch shows you performance information for any stock you choose. When you want more details about a stock's performance, tap the Y! for instant access to Yahoo! Finance.

Get Weather
Check worldwide weather at home or away. Add the cities you want, then flick back and forth to get six-day forecasts for each. Tap the Y! to open a Yahoo! city guide that shows you what's happening, rain or shine.

Take Notes
Forget the pen and paper. Use Notes on iPod touch to write yourself a quick note and keep important information on hand. There's even a built-in email function that lets you send notes to yourself or others.

Calculator
iPod touch's calculator helps you settle the restaurant bill or keep track of your budget.

Calculate Simply
When you tap the Calculator icon, iPod touch shows you a simple application with addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, and memory functions. Use it just as you would a pocket calculator.

Calculate Scientifically
Your simple calculator doubles as a sophisticated scientific calculator. Just rotate it to landscape to access dozens of functions for solving complex science and math problems.

iPod touch now includes built-in Nike + iPod support.

Nike + iPod
Get the most out of your workout.

Tune Your Run
iPod touch now includes built-in Nike + iPod support. Just slip the Nike + iPod Sensor (available separately) into your Nike+ shoe and start your run. The sensor communicates wirelessly with your iPod touch, tracking your time, distance, and calories burned. It even gives you voice feedback on your progress.

Tune Your Cardio Workout
This feature also works with new cardio equipment available in many fitness centers. Just look for treadmills, ellipticals, stair steppers, and stationary bikes that are Nike + iPod compatible.

Sync with Nikeplus.com
When you get back to your computer, sync your iPod touch via iTunes and transfer your exercise data to nikeplus.com, where you can track your workouts, set goals, and challenge friends.

Multi-Touch
iPod touch features the same revolutionary interface as iPhone.

Glide, Flick, Pinch
Built to take full advantage of the large 3.5-inch display, the Multi-Touch touchscreen interface lets you control everything using only your fingers. So you can glide through albums with Cover Flow, flick through photos and enlarge them with a pinch, zoom in and out on a section of a web page, and control game elements precisely.

How it Works
The Multi-Touch display layers a protective shield over a capacitive panel that senses your touch using electrical fields. It then transmits that information to the LCD screen below it. iPod touch software enables the flick, tap, and pinch.

Type with the Touchscreen Keyboard
iPod touch features an intelligent touchscreen keyboard perfect for browsing the web in Safari, getting directions on a map, searching for videos on YouTube, finding music on the iTunes Wi-Fi Music Store, or adding new contacts. It analyzes keystrokes to suggest words as you type and correct spelling errors automatically. And because it's software based, it changes its keys to support typing in multiple languages.

iPod touch locates nearby wireless hotspots, including protected networks.

Accelerometer
iPod touch responds to motion using a built-in accelerometer.

Responds to Movement
iPod touch detects when you rotate it from portrait to landscape, then automatically changes the contents of the display. So you immediately see the entire width of a web page, view a photo in its proper aspect ratio, or control a game using only your movements.

How it Works
The accelerometer inside iPod touch uses three elements: a silicon mass, a set of silicon springs, and an electrical current. The silicon springs measure the position of the silicon mass using the electrical current. Rotating iPod touch causes a fluctuation in the electrical current passing through the silicon springs. The accelerometer registers these fluctuations and tells iPod touch to adjust the display accordingly.

Perfect for Gaming
Accelerometer technology really shines when you play games because it immerses you in the action. It's perfect for racing games--where your entire iPod touch acts as a steering wheel--and for tap-and-tilt games like Super Monkey Ball, in which your character responds to your every movement.

Wireless
Connect iPod touch to the Internet anywhere there's a wireless network.

Connect Automatically
iPod touch locates nearby wireless hotspots, including protected networks. If you've never used a particular network, it asks you to enter a password the first time, and it remembers the password from then on. So the next time you're within range, it connects automatically.

Surf's Up
Now you can send email from a coffee shop. Surf the web at the airport. Shop for games from your couch. Browse, buy, and download music from the iTunes Wi-Fi Music Store at select Starbucks locations or other wireless hotspots in your area.

Read Kindle Books on the iPod touch

Read Kindle books on your iPod touch.

No Kindle required.
Get the best reading experience available on your iPhone or iPod touch.
No Kindle required.
Access your Kindle books even if you don't have your Kindle with you.
Automatically synchronizes your last page read between devices with Amazon Whispersync.
Adjust the text size, add bookmarks, and view the annotations you created on your Kindle.
Don't have a Kindle? Get yours here.

Shop for Books on the Kindle Store on Your iPod touch

Buy a book from the Kindle Store, optimized for Safari, on your iPod touch or iPhone and get it auto-delivered wirelessly.
Search and browse more than 275,000 books, including more than 107 of 112 New York Times bestsellers.
Find New York Times bestsellers and new releases for $9.99, unless marked otherwise.
Get free book samples; read the first chapter for free before you decide to buy.
Books you purchase also can be read on a Kindle.
Kindle newspapers, magazines, and blogs are not currently available on the iPod touch or iPhone.

What's in the Box
iPod touch 16 GB, earphones, USB 2.0 cable, dock adapter, polishing cloth, quick start guide

Car Charger for Apple 3G iPhone, Black

$0.00(USD)

Power your phone with a car charger that allows using your iPhone on the road while charging it from your vehicle's lighter jack. Compact design and retractable coil cord are made for easy storage. Built-in charging circuitry protects your car against back-flow current and your iPhone from excessive electrical loads. Charger fits both standard and auxiliary car power outlets. Type: generic/aftermarket Black high-impact plastic. LED power indicator. Fits into any 12V accessory outlet or car lighter jack. Accessory only, device is not included. Compatible with: iPhone 3G