iOS built-in applications

Continuing on with my experiment with using an iPhone without adding applications, I look at how it feels to type on an iPhone into the notes application. I'm also using the maps to plan a trip to an event, and seeing what entertainment options I have available, and I've used some web sites in the Mobile Safari browser.

My first real gripe with the iPhone; the game centre has no games. I was quite disappointed not to find chess in there as there is a chess piece on the logo for the game centre. I can't quite figure out what this is for to be honest, it's a little confusing and very misleading. I probably should have read the details in the application carefully, but then again I shouldn't have to when it's for games. It looks like I'll have to entertain myself with either music supplied via the iPod function, or by watching videos from YouTube.

The maps are nice and crisp and clear, with good directions from London to my destination although it’s not difficult as it’s all motorway. I’ve always liked the mapping on the iPhone, it’s simple and obvious to use.

The built in keyboard is so much quicker to type on than the Android keyboard, but is built in so there is no option to replace it like there is in Android. How you feel about this depends on your attitude to tinkering with software and adding extra extensions. Personally I find it difficult to gauge whether they will work reliably so I tend not to bother – if the phone designers couldn’t get it right it’s highly unlikely that there will be a good third party input method that follows the keyboard idiom. Sure, there are swipey type things for other phones where the finger moves around to spell words without leaving the screen but they have a reputation for having a steep learning curve. I like the iOS keys are good although it would be better if there was a full stop on the main keyboard.

The display is very bright and clear owing to the ‘retina’ display (a term I feel is just marketing nonsense, but effective nevertheless), so it’s good to view short clips which is something I’ve not really done before on a portable device. Ultimately, it feels like the 3GS but with a sharper screen and no rounded corners. When I first got that handset, I loaded it up with tons of apps straightaway. I’m having a different experience with this, and I’m surprised how well it’s working. Oddly enough, I think I prefer the lower resolution screen, the high resolution feels unnatural somehow.

The area I expect an app-free iPhone to do better than the competition in is web applications. As far as I can tell the major online services like Facebook, Twitter, Google and so on have made their sites work beautifully on the iPhone. Using Twitter is quite pleasant, even if it constantly asks me to install the app. Google Mail is rather good as is Facebook, and when bookmarked to the home screen they have nice shiny icons so they look like native apps too.

Am I missing the App Store? No yet.