Comments on: Stopping by the woods with an iPhone

On Road Trip 2009, Daniel Terdiman has a phone conversation that stays active from the forest to a hotel, and through shifts from wired headset to Bluetooth car integration and back.

[monkeyfun14]

"And why is it amazing? I mean, after all, it's just several systems doing what they're supposed to, right? Well, that's just it. In my past experience, I would never have predicted that this phone call could continue, from when I first dialed it to when I got to my room, without losing the signal at least once or probably twice."


When your amazed that you can make a phone call without your signal dropping once you know your network sucks.

And also no offense to iPhone users but why does it seem like all cnet cares about this thing. I mean now were down to reporting everyday experiences that someone with any phone has... Sorry but its getting a bit out of hand.

[sanjayb]

One of the few times I agree with monkeyfun14. Iphone hype does get a little bit too much. And yes I do own an iPhone.

I didn't even bother reading the whole article.

[ausernamenoonehaschosen]

Obviously the signal was only one factor. It was how several technical systems worked together seamlessly. Teh ability to hold signal, switch to different headsets, have the Q7 recognize and properly route the bluetooth signal, etc. It seems easy, but it is very complex. I think his point is good luck doing this with most other phones and technologies out there.

[ausernamenoonehaschosen]

Obviously the signal was only one factor. It was how several technical systems worked together seamlessly. Teh ability to hold signal, switch to different headsets, have the Q7 recognize and properly route the bluetooth signal, etc. It seems easy, but it is very complex. I think his point is good luck doing this with most other phones and technologies out there.

[ausernamenoonehaschosen]

Darn comment system. On another note, Monkeyfun, do you have it set so that CNET emails you anytime an article about the iPhone is posted, you are always the first post??? Just love trolling, huh?

[ryankask]

phones don't belong in nature except for emergencies. i know this is part of a media tour but enjoy the woods and leave the electronics at home!

[vikinzer]

I'm inclined to agree. As popular as the iPhone is, if this is amazing then something is very very wrong. The iPhone is not a particularly amazing piece of tech anymore. I own a first gen iPhone I got second hand off a friend with way too much disposable income and an inclination for upgrading things that work perfectly anyway. It's nifty, but I'd rather have an Android, and if I had the money and they were supported by ATT I would.

The only reason the iPhone is so popular is that the data plan is only 20 bucks, which is way less than the data plan for any other smart phone on ATT, something that I keep waiting for someone to call anti-trust violation on, and because it was the first to the party on the whole touch screen only interface thing. Nifty, but not revolutionary anymore, so let's move on already.

[cwclifford]

I agree - a phone call is a phone call. I once called the in-laws while snowshoeing to plan dinner for when they were done gambling at the Tahoe casino nearby. Woo hoo.

Having the Android powered phone is just as "nifty" and I can only imagine it's because you think open-source, anti-trust, non-megacorporate services are better?

[OS11]

No, the data plan is $30... which is basically the same as any other AT&T smartphone. The iphone is popular since it's well engineered, has great voice quality on the 3G S and has tons of functionality.

[jumpjetta]

iPhone 2G data plan = $20 + 200 SMS messages
iPhone 3G data plan = $30 + 0 SMS messages

I'm sticking with my iPhone 2G as long as it holds out.

[ebernet]

@jumpjetta
The ability to access the web over 3g while on the phone with someone is worth the $15 a month to me.

[terminalblue]

my Motorola Q did the same thing two years ago. Why has this "road trip" turned into a commercial for Apple products. (thats not a question, btw)

[edwhittle--2008]

That and Utah is just plain awesome!

[Cheese McBeese]

At&t has bad coverage in San Francisco - we get it. It's all we hear about from iPhone using bloggers who all seem to live there. Where I live, at&t network coverage is fantastic - never had a problem. All carriers have good cities and bad cities, especially at&t and Verizon. It depends on geography, age of infrastructure, and a few other factors.

Verizon would likely have the iPhone contract with Apple except they made a HUGE strategic blunder by picking CDMA when the rest of the world (except South Korea and a few regions in China) was going with GSM.

[Splashes]

Actually, Verizon had first refusal on the iPhone, and refused it!

http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2007/01/verizon_turned_/

Hard to understand why Apple made the offer, given Verizon's CDMA tech. Yes, it's true that Verizon's call quality and reliability is superior, but if Apple had done that deal, they would have had to produce two models -- one for USA and another for the rest of the world. So there were significant disadvantages with both carriers.

Given all the whining about AT&T, I wonder if Apple regrets that the deal worked out this way. I'm pretty certain Verizon regrets it.

[jaxstephens]

I totally agree. I've been on AT&T in Utah for the past five years, and the coverage is great. I rarely if ever drop calls, and I almost always have a 3G signal. I think it all just depends on where you're at. That's why I hate when everyone just universally says AT&T sucks. Well yes, maybe it does--in some places, but not in others.

[Cheese McBeese]

Clarification: I didn't intend to suggest that at&t was a good carrier. I was just venting because of the endless whining about at&t's network from bloggers who all seem to live in San Francisco. In fact, I think all of the operators suck equally.

Verizon may have better coverage in some cities - but it's CDMA! Who wants that nonsense? I LIKE being able to take my phone with me when I travel.

At&t may have the iPhone, but they're doing their best to strangle it and generate a lot of bad will. No MMS, no tethering... ***?? And why lock it to your network if your network is overflowing? Why not sell it unlocked and let people run it using your competitors networks while you continue to collect the exorbitant monthly contract fee? Let those whiners in SF use T-Mobile for awhile and see how they like it. And then I could also use a prepaid local sim card when traveling!

[cvaldes1831]

Basically, you received a level of cellular service quality that the Japanese have taken for granted about ten years ago. All of this would work fine in Europe as well. The truly amazing thing is the ongoing poor value of U.S. cellular networks in general.

[bonesbautista]

+1!

[monkeyfun14]

Don't judge all US cellular networks based on the performance of one network.

Please realize UK and Japan are a fraction of the size of the United States meaning they have no excuse for not having total coverage.

[cvaldes1831]

Yes, but that doesn't give the U.S. carriers any excuse of not providing rock-solid service in major metropolitan areas.

I don't expect the reception at Furnace Creek in Death Valley to be the same as Shinjuku station, but the reception in lower Manhattan or SF should be. (And no, there is no cellular reception at Furnace Creek.)

[OS11]

well, that's not the entire story. the primary reason Japan and Europe appear ahead is they have very tiny coverage areas, and small populations... so it's not exactly hard to cover an island like Japan or the fairly small land mass that is considered Europe... but when you get into the vast spaces of the US, it's far more difficult. The other reason is our Government should have put their foot down and said "xxxx" will be the STANDARD... just like they do with roads and other infrastructure. So couple them together and you have competing radio standards, plus lots and lots of land to cover, thus it appears worse than it is...

[Maarek Stele]

My Motorola V710 (the first Bluetooth phone ever released) did that. What's so special about your iphone?

[Cheese McBeese]

Ummm... didn't Ericsson bring bluetooth to market?

[hockeymass]

Yeah, I'm not sure why I should be impressed...my Curve and my Ford Focus can do this too?

[terminalblue]

talk about journalist integrity. the title of this article was change because?

where are the editors when you need them?

[kalel130]

Everyone wouldn't be making such a fuss if he had used something like the Pre. They'd be like, "Duh, yeah dat's great!!!"

[Chrisnonstop]

It never ends, the same old song and dance from all you super geek chumps. I've had a cell phone longer than any two of you ankle biters put together. I've had my fair share of dropped calls throughout the years on multiple carriers and on different phones. You know what I do when that happens? I press redial. Something all you momma's boys cry about having to do. Spoiled. So yea, I've been around the block, been there, done that. To me, all the cell carriers are the same. They all drop calls, they're all going to nickle and dime you, and they all claim to have the next greatest thing. For me, the most important thing is having the biggest screen on the smallest device that's as easy to use as possible. Right now, it's the iphone. If I had eyes of a hawk, and a crappy job that required that I do spreadsheets on the go, then I wouldn't want an iphone, I'd go with something more business orientated. That's the problem here. You people are always comparing apples to oranges. The iphone fills a specific nook. It's not the answer to everything. But for a guy like me, it's pretty damn good. So all you little sissy whiners out there can cool it with your, "My first motorola did that 5 years ago...", blah blah blah. Great, stick with it, but I guarantee if I was using your motorola I'd have taken my 12 gauge to it by now. So it's time to man up and hit the "redial" button. Seriously, how long are your phone conversations anyway? Dagnabit, hogwarsh! Don't bother responding to this just hope that it soaks in. I won't be back to check for responses. Crazy kids.

[hockeymass]

Typical geezer rambling.

[bigfatscott]

"I drove the European eco-friendly but powerful SUV up to the pristine forest, and then used my iPhone to stream NPR while I communed with nature and got some photos with my classic digital Canon point-and-shoot." Flippin' geeze, dude. I know the sight is paid for by advertising purchased by the makers of the products you review, but the fact that all of these tidbits were included in a story about your cell reception and auto-integration make you look like such a tool. I mean, Surely the NPR statement is superflous. I
kind of surprised you didn't sense the need to tone it down a bit, and just put "some tunes" or the more detached "audio content." I wouldn't really hold where someone works and lives against them, but referencing your previous experiences outside of San Francisco doesn't really help matters here. Don't get me wrong, the very same tidbits could very accurately describe some of my own experiences, but I can pretty much guarantee you I wouldn't include them in a story about my cell reception. Such superfluous information makes it seem like lessor a story about the cell reception and effortless capability of Bluetooth technology and more of a story about just which products and services you choose to consume from whom more generally. It smacks of the sort of self-deffinition through branding that makes me want to smash my face against a brickwall. (The Bluetooth integration does sound awesome though, and since I have had basically zero problems with reception on the iPhone I'm using to read and comment on this article, the odds of my purchasing a Q7 or similarly equipped vehicle from Audi or another manufacterer have been increased.)

[rnot1]

I'm simply amazed you had signal and your call didn't drop. Try that here in CA and I'll be impressed.

[5ithspawn]

Love Ogden!

[ColonelKlink]

Regular long-distance driver. Try traveling a bit further north (or south) on I-15. Once out of the 'greater' Ogden/SLC area the GSM signal becomes intermittent/non-existent. In contrast to a CDMA phone (Verizon) which still allows a call.