Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, iPhone
EDGE and 3G and tripping down memory lane
My relationship with my iPhone hasn't been an easy one. On the one hand, it's an absolutely brilliant platform -- I just love programming for it. On the other hand it's a money hole. To keep it legit, I'm forking over a wad of cash each month to AT&T and from there on to Apple (not to mention the $99/year new iPhone play tax). One of my biggest decisions on that end involved giving up my data plan. Leaving the $20/month data plan behind as my "optional extra" has saved me $240 over the course of the year.
Read on for more about the iPhone and EDGE and my 3G service dilemma.
Since moving to WiFi-only for data, I've occasionally had doubts. There were times on trips that I longed for some kind of connectivity when WiFi gave out. The iPhone's WiFi antenna and reception isn't the best. When I'd be sitting at a meeting, everyone else with their MacBooks open and sucking down the WiFi where my poor iPhone refused to go above 1 WiFi bar-curve or keep a solid connection, I would think: This is what EDGE is for. Or even: This is what laptops are for.
So I was really excited to go back to my EDGE lifestyle for a few weeks after I bought the unlimited data package on my daughter's cellphone plan. I could use the iPhone while commuting, while waiting, while at the pediatrician, or at the grocery store.
But as soon as I started actually using WiFi again, it hit me like a ton of bricks. Wow, this still stinks. Using the iPhone over EDGE is painful. When you're used to WiFi responses, the whole EDGE thing seems like a bad joke. Sure you can use it "anywhere" (for large metropolitan values of "anywhere") but it's not very good. There's no comparison between a full-sized Internet connection and a tiny baby-sized EDGE make-do. The real connection wins out every time.
This is why I'm really looking forward to 3G. We're talking real internet. Real speed, real throughput, real data. Yes, it's not going to magically transform my iPhone into a laptop but it offers the possibility of non-dreadful Internet connections anywhere (again, for large metropolitan values of "anywhere").
Would I pay $20/month for 3G? Would I pay more? I'm not sure. I'd probably go the hacktivate routine (if it's still possible with the iPhone 2) and use the current Pay As You Go AT&T unlimited data plan feature pack. The plan is already 3G-compatible, so it should port well to the new iPhone assuming that hacktivation can be done. And, with PAYG, I can add it only when I'm traveling. That's a really nice option for those of us who aren't out of WiFi range all that often.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
ishcabittle said 1:14PM on 5-30-2008
when you've rocked the EDGE connection from day one of your iphone experience, there are certain tricks that make things faster. nearly every news/text based site can be funneled through google to strip out the ads, graphics, etc. tuaw takes about two minutes (or more) to load when you hit the straight page, but push it through google:
http://www.google.com/gwt/n?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.tuaw.com
and you get a very fast and EDGE friendly page. that same URL minus the www.tuaw.com:
http://www.google.com/gwt/n?u=http%3A%2F%2F
is then ready for whatever URL you throw at it. i will admit that it's a little ironic to use the best mobile browser with the hacked up versions of your favorite sites, but hey, at least the option is there.
Reply
Gilbert Tang said 1:23PM on 5-30-2008
Very, very clever.
robert said 9:27PM on 5-30-2008
Nice. Already put this in my iphone!
sng said 1:33PM on 5-30-2008
Erica,
Time to call the waaabulance? I mean why all the bitching and moaning it's not like your phone isn't jailbroken and it's not like unlocking it isn't trivial. So do you just jump through all these hoops rather than using your provider of choice to be able to annoy folks with public whining? What's the point?
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Jeff said 1:36PM on 5-30-2008
I agree with sng. We all have high phone bills whether with an iphone or not. The convenience of data makes it worth it. Brilliance isn't free. Never will be.
sng said 1:41PM on 5-30-2008
Yeah, being able to read my feeds while waiting in the pub for my friends or load up another golden age Sci Fi book to read before getting on a flight is worth every single cent for the data plan. As to speed. Use optimized sites. They load and run quickly and look better on the screen.
Blaktornado said 2:18PM on 5-30-2008
In ways I like to see some real opinions on these things, sometimes.
Plus it makes bloggers more humans.
Not too often, of course, but every now and then it's alright. Just to get an honest opinion of the products, rather than one that's being paid for by the developer.
sng said 2:31PM on 5-30-2008
Yeah, but she's done slight variations on this theme over and over again. The first few times sure. But now it's just gotten old.
maybesew said 3:02PM on 5-30-2008
A summation of Erica's articles the last few months:
1) Wwwwaaaaahhhhhhh! I don't talk in my iPhone.
2) Wwwwaaaaahhhhhhh! I don't use edge with my iPhone.
3) Wwwwaaaaahhhhhhh! Goods and services cost money.
4) Hey Guys did you see at&t is selling refurbished iPhones?
5) Hey Guys did you see at&t is selling refurbished iPhones again?
Phil said 3:30PM on 5-30-2008
You guys are so lame. Get off Erica's back and get a life.
michas_pi said 3:47PM on 5-30-2008
@maybesew:
That was hilarious. Please continue.
len said 4:16PM on 5-30-2008
Why is the whining about whining always much whinier than the initial whining?
Erica has done more for the development community than you chumps have, so she earns the right to bitch about AT&T. When your opinion matters, maybe you'll get to write for a popular blog.
Harbinger said 6:35PM on 5-30-2008
What bugs me is this idea that you're not responsible for the funding of the infrastructure. You want an always-on data connection, you're going to have to pay for it. The billions of dollars invested building the system aren't coming out of thin air. I'm not trying to sound like AT&T is hurting for cash but come on, engineering and implementation cost them money too.
Complaining that you'd like that always-on data connection for breakneck speeds so you can interface with the internet on your multi-touch platform but not wanting to pay for it seems naive. How much headache has the phone saved you thus far? Maps? Mobile Email? Getting to your online content from a handheld web browser? Videos on the Go? And you're one of the biggest proponents of the platform. What are you willing to spend for that? Goes both ways lady.
jbell said 2:42PM on 5-30-2008
Is there a way with the current iphone (without hacking or unlocking) to use it without the $20/mo. data plan? I was under the impression that you signed a contract to use this plan as long as you are under contract?
Can people speak to this?
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Trimalchio said 1:55PM on 5-30-2008
Personally I've got no gripes with EDGE, its fast enough for when you're using it to get a certain specific thing done while you're out and about. I mostly use it when I'm out doing something else so those page load times are usually filled with me taking care of real life. I regularly turn off WiFi while I'm on my college campus (which is blanketed about 85% with wifi) just because edge is less painful to use while walking than logging in to the wifi every time i switch AP. Its great for email and IM through meebo and such, as well as reading little things or important info you just need on the go. 3G will be great but I will most likely not turn it on except in rare situations of me actually using the iphone as a regular browsing device.
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Andrew Rush said 3:01PM on 5-30-2008
"I regularly turn off WiFi while I'm on my college campus (which is blanketed about 85% with wifi) just because edge is less painful to use while walking than logging in to the wifi every time i switch AP."
If you have a jailbroken iPhone you should check out the Devicescape program. I had the same problem on my campus as well. I tried using the VPN option for a while, which made it so I didn't have to log in, but I would always have to turn the VPN on and off. With Devicescape, it automatically connects and sends your login info to the WiFi. You never have to worry about it again!
gm said 1:57PM on 5-30-2008
Another meaningless article by Erica. Why does tuaw keep letting her write this garbage?
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Jason said 2:05PM on 5-30-2008
I bet the person who held a gun to your head and forced you to read the article thought it was worth reading...
Pete said 2:43PM on 5-30-2008
@jason
why can't he/she comment on a story he/she doesn't like? is he not allowed to voice his opinion?
i'm in the same boat. isn't this like the 3rd time we've gone over this.
mentalsticks said 2:52PM on 5-30-2008
@Jason: so that's it: love it or shut up?
Exactly what Galilei did, to name just one person.