Upgrading your iPhone
 

Anyone done it?

My wife has a 3G and I'd like to upgrade her to a 3GS. Unfortunately she doesn't qualify for an upgrade yet. So they want 'full' price for the phone. Something like $350 - $450.

No.

Way.

I effing hate communications companies and apple.

I feel your pain...

I have a nice $50 Nokia that works fine...

Gadget boy inside me wants a Driod...

In a contract no can do...

WTF I want to give you MORE MONEY for a fancy new phone!

What kind of business is that?

Isn't the new iPhone right around the corner? Wait till it's release and the 3GS prices might drop.

Yes, next iPhone coming this month most likely, definitely do not buy a 3GS for full price now.

Yeah, it's a birthday present. She wants the video feature - I also do not want to commit to a contract to be honest. When the new one comes out - I may just look at that one instead but I'm a cheap dude. She's been working with a refurbished 8GB 3G for almost 2 years now. She should be good for an upgrade soon...but that means new contract...

Also, I was in the Apple store in my neighborhood today and looked at the iPad. Man - that thing is cool as all get out. There was a line out the door of people wanting to buy.

I hate Apple.

In the meantime for .99 she can buy the Qik Video Pro app. It works on the 3G and takes video. It's a bit choppy--not bad-- and well worth a buck. Yes it's spelled Qik.

Get her a T-Mobile HTC HD2 :D

I think it's only going to get more confusing with the new rate data rate plans, maybe an opportunity to save but now you'll have to start watching data usage and there is now the tendency to not do something that you did w/o thinking before.

Interesting, I just had a great idea for an application...

We have the unlimited and would likely be grandfathered so I'm not worried about the data plan. Our highest usage is at home on wifi.

Think WallyMart is dropping the price to $99 to clear em out before the iPhone 4 comes out.

You can only get that price with activation of a line. Otherwise - regular price.

Woot had refurb 16GB 3GS phones for $479 during the woot off. I guess this wasn't a good price.

Seems quite possible that T's exclusive on the iPhone may not last that much longer. Another reason not to sign or extend any contract.

You'll have to wait until 2012
Report: iPhone exclusive to AT&T until 2012 - FierceWireless

FREAKING AWESOME!

Well - cool at least! Wife is pleased so far - we'll see how the app holds up catching a few good kid videos. I love doing that with my 3GS. :D

New phone to be introduced next week.

Funny talking to a friend yesterday he was telling me about some insurance you could buy for three years and no questions asked replacement, so people would smash their phones on the ground the last day of warranty and get a new one....

Upgrade her to a Blackberry and get away from the Iphone crap. More and more of my friends have had them for a couple of months and are now selling them and going back to a 'berry.

the insurance..
it covers little to nothing...
BTDT..times 3.....
decided to leave before I hit the beotch..
as for their service..
I prefer sitting in a dentist chair..

Rika

Joe in some business settings the berry is better... For most of us though... The iPhone is superior... Trust me... I've had both....

Sidney,

Our main problem with the unit is that if you need either WiFi or Bluetooth, it drains the battery in half the normal time. Typical frigging Apple product that they do not have removeable batteries so you are screwed if you do not have access to a charger.

Friend of mine almost got stranded in the desert because his wonderful Iphone went into roaming mode and drained the battery in an hour. He barely noticed it and called for help before it shut down. Another friend was over here last weekend and begging me to use my car's 12v accy outlet to charge his Iphone. His rental car did not have a 12v outlet and he had been away from home for a day and the phone was shutting down.

I have a handful of batteries and while I rarely need them, if the power level gets low I just pop the back off and stick a new fresh battery in the BB. Works good. Why is Apple always playing games with almost everything they sell and not allowing users to replace batteries?! Sorry, not for me!

I agree the iPhone's battery life is not good. But people who are really bothered by this and can't find a solution are not trying.

There are many external battery packs (also called battery extenders) for the iPhone. They are typically 1800 mAH (compared to the iPhone internal battery roughly 1100 mAH) and cost $40-50. These will usually 2X to 3X your iPhone's "battery life". Juice is one brand.

Missing the point here. You should not have to buy anything extra to get the phone to last a whole days useage.

My favorite is the P-Flip. you can get it at Amazon for $50. http://www.amazon.com/DEXIM-DCA132-Foldable-Power-IPhone/dp/B002Q8ZNTC/ref=pd_sim_e_1

Joe my phone lasts a whole day...

Oh and hows that web browsing on the BB? Mediocre at best..... While you may hate the hardware.... You gotta admit that the GUI is tenfold better....

Sid, I "browse the web" on a computer, not my cell phone.

Just wait a few more months and let the battery get a bit old and tired. Then when you are heading for a plug-in every 3-4 hours, remember this thread.

We've had blackberries, in fact I have both.

I cannot accurately express how much I dislike blackberries. You are correct about the iphone battery life but I can life with that far easier than using a blackberry.

My phone is almost a year old...

My 'issue' with iPhone was mostly appeased when a 3.1.3 jailbreak arrived. No more iTunes app store and I can change the UI theme to whatever I prefer. Stick that in your AZZZ Apple.

I can't complain about the iPhone battery - with WiFi it goes ~ 2 days - less if I am really active with network apps. I travel quite a bit and have always had a car charger for my mobile phone so I have never had to beg.

Its funny how iPhone bashers come out on any thread the mentions them.

I like my iphone, don't care what the bashers say!

Walmart just announced they are going to be selling the iphone for $97. I don't know if that is only to new AT&T customers but try that. They are trying to get rid of old stock before new model comes out.

Think that's just the 3G, not the newer model.

I believe it is the 3GS actually - but it requires new service.

My 2-year old 3G just got me through 7.5 hrs of HEAVY use last week on one charge.

Funny how that happens. You should have heard my copilot griping for two weeks about his Iphone. Finally took it back and got a 'berry.

Never mind, have fun you guys and hope the battery life keeps getting better and better! :)

Hey Joe - To each their own. Like I said - I have been using blackberries for years - probably as long as they have existed. I haven't gotten a hold of one of the latest generation of phones but my experience with them so far has been so bad that I would never pay my own money for one.

If they wanted to let me test drive one - I would at least look at it.

I am interested in looking at a droid phone but so far all the subjects I have seen have been form factors that I don't like.

I like the iPhone - it is nice. What you mention about the battery is true - I am lucky to get a day of heavy use out of it and I have been stranded by it when I forgot my charger while travelling. But it has had consistent battery life throughout the year or so I have had it. It is a high quality battery and I know how to replace it for very little money. The blackberry batteries on the other hand are crap and simply do not last 6 months without needing replacement (this has been the case with every BB I have owned). The only saving grace of the BB is that I don't need a tool to open it up.

Additionally - with the cost of a current generation bb vs the iphone - (comparable devices) I don't think I would be saving any money in this instance.

I really hate how cell phone company's 'subsidize' the cost of the phone to get you on a contract but I guess that is what works for them.

Just as funny as when someone posts about needing a computer and the PC bashers come out in force.

SmileWavy

I heart my Nokia :p

I don't need or get web browsing on a cell phone... WTF browsing the web with a tiny cell phone screen?

But hey if that floats your boat... cool for you... I just don't need it.