Tuesday, September 8, 2009

The one thing iPhone users want that Apple can't give

The Apple iPhone is one of the most savviest smartphones available right now on the market today, not just because it is so slick and sexy-slim, but also because of many things it can do with help from the abundant apps offered in App Store.

This fact has been backed up by O2, the wireless carrier who has an exclusive right to sell the iPhone in UK, a spokeperson said (via TG Daily): "The iPhone is our fastest selling handset ever and has been a phenomenal success for our business. Customer demand for both the iPhone 3G and iPhone 3G[S] has been outstanding."

Apple also has been improving, and still doing it, the iPhone "experience" with the new iPhone OS 3.0 software update, giving users many new features of what they've been asking for since the first gen. Like for examples are the 'cut&paste' feature, MMS, tethering, etc. But there's one thing that Apple still can't give...

According to a recent report from Strategy Analytics, called "Retaining and Attracting New Customers: Profiling the Apple iPhone User," iPhone users are demanding for better battery life. The report was made to project what iPhone users like and dislike, so it can be used to know what kind of improvements the users want in a new model.

"iPhone owners use more features on a regular basis than non-iPhone owners, with two-thirds browsing the Web and sending personal e-mails daily -- features which will considerably drain battery life," according to Paul Brown, Senior User Experience Analyst at Strategy Analytics (via PC World).

On its Technical Specifications page, Apple is stating that the iPhone 3G[S] battery has longer life than previous models:

  • Talk time: Up to 12 hours on 2G, and up to 5 hours on 3G
  • Standby time: Up to 300 hours
  • Internet use: Up to 5 hours on 3G, and up to 9 hours on Wi-Fi
  • Video playback: Up to 10 hours
  • Audio playback: Up to 30 hours
Those are what Apple is claiming, but in real life that isn't all come true. iPhone users are complaining how the battery is drained too fast for a single day charge, one user called 'aart12' said: "My iPhone usage is hardly more that my use with other phones, but it barely lasts 9 hours from full charge. I have even experimented with not using the phone at all, turning off wifi, and push, and even then the full charge only lasts 10 to 11 hours. THAT is ridiculous."

Although other users are taking the battery life issue with more logical reasoning, 'tregan01' said: "The argument for a longer battery life on the iPhone is relative. If you used it as a phone, like it is, the battery life is fine and will last you all day. If, however, you're like myself and I assume most iPhone users, and use it to continuously check email, connect to the Internet, etc, then you're using the iPhone more like a portable computer, and the battery is comparable to that of any standard laptop."

Battery life has always become an issue for mobile users, because while the technology and software are keep improving rapidly from time to time, engineers haven't been able (yet) to pack more cells into smaller containers to create a long lasting battery life. Palm PrÄ“™ users also have similar problem with battery life, especially since Palm's latest smartphone packs smaller battery size than in the iPhone 3G[S].

It is safe to say that the argument of having longer battery life in any smartphones nowadays is impossible, since we're transitioning from mobile phone to smartphone and to smaller-more-portable laptop. With more features thrown into a smartphone, it's becoming a netbook-alike even when it is already capable of taking you to surf the web with desktop experience, close but not the same.

But if you do prefer more 'dumb-er'* iPhone in exchange for better battery life, then that's probably what you're getting these days... ;-p

* Note: please forgive the pun of using this word several times on my posts, it is un-intended and the word seems to be picking up the pace lately on the net..

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