[Update: This article was written when the original iPhone was first released. See my new post: 25 things STILL wrong with the iPhone.]
I love my iPhone, but it does lack some important features and functionality. That’s why I’ve put together this list of 25 fixes Apple should make to the iPhone.
Apple, if you read this, please consider these suggestions the next time you issue an iPhone update.
25 things wrong with the iPhone:
1. Can’t copy & paste text.
2. Except for the first and last SMS messages in a session, iPhone text messages lack timestamps.
3. iPhone’s Safari browser does not support Java or Flash, so you can’t watch videos (except for YouTube ones) or see parts of certain websites.
4. The on-screen keyboard can’t be used in landscape mode in applications other than Safari.
5. Vibrate mode for incoming text messages is weak.
6. Incoming text messages appear word-for-word on the screen upon receiving them, which may be a privacy issue for some. (Update: Here’s a sort of solution.)
7. No Undo function for when you’ve accidentally erased or mistyped text.
8. Scroll bars don’t appear in some text fields in the browser, and there are no arrow keys to maneuver through text.
9. Can’t save usernames and passwords in Safari.
10. The YouTube app does not allow you to view or post comments on videos.
11. Can’t download or save Word documents, PDF files, or any other file for that matter. Why not add a My Documents folder?
12. No spell check feature for web forms.
13. Can’t send more than one image in an email.
14. Except for in the Camera Roll, photos can’t be edited or removed directly from the iPhone. You have to edit them on your computer and then re-sync them.
15. The iPhone lacks a Find function for sorting through contacts, e-mails, calendar appointments, notes, etc.
16. Can’t update your Facebook status via iPhone’s Safari browser. Facebook is a fast-growing social network, so iPhone should support it. (Update: Facebook now has an iPhone version of the site, located at iphone.facebook.com)
17. No mass edit feature for handling calendar items, notes and e-mails.
18. Can’t search within web pages in the browser.
19. Its 3-day, expensive battery replacement plan.
20. Can’t highlight text.
21. Limited ringtones. Can’t set songs as ringtones. (Update: Apple now lets you convert some songs into ringtones via iTunes for $0.99 each.)
22. Difficult to rewind and fast-forward through long audio and video files (like audiobooks and TV shows or movies).
23. No AIM or iChat application.
24. One too many steps to dial a contact. (Update: In a software update, Apple added a feature that lets you double tap the home button to access your Favorites list of contacts.)
25. Because it is recessed, the headphone jack is incompatible with non-Apple headphones. Griffin’s headphone adapter can solve this problem.
Leave a comment and let me know what I should add to this list. For a full breakdown of the iPhone and its features (there are in fact things RIGHT with the iPhone!), check out my iPhone review.
*Bonus* – MORE things wrong with the iPhone
Here are a few more things wrong with the iPhone, as readers have pointed out in the comments below.
26. iPhone’s camera is archaic (no zoom, poor image stabilization, poor quality in low-lit areas).
27. No speed dial or voice dial functionality.
28. Cannot add attachments to emails.
29. Can’t use iPhone as a hard drive storage device, unlike the iPod.
30. Can’t change the sound notifications for email, voicemail, etc.
31. Can’t delete individual entries from the recent calls list without deleting them all, a potential privacy issue.
32. No 3G data speeds. EDGE is slow at times.
33. Cannot send photos via text messages.
34. Cannot send mass text messages. (Update: Apple added mass text messaging to the iPhone via firmware update 1.1.3)
35. iPhone lacks a video camera. (See my article on why mobile video is important)
36. No tasks or To-Do widgets.
37. No support for games.
38. Can’t disable auto-correct on the keyboard. Every time it makes a suggestion you don’t want, you have to tap X to cancel it, which can slow down typing a lot.
39. iPhone’s calculator lacks a backspace, so you have to clear the entire process if you accidentally touch an unintended digit.
What else? Leave a comment below & let us know.
Don’t forget to read my iPhone review for a more balanced look at the iPhone.
[ Update: Take a look at my more recent article, 25 things STILL wrong with the iPhone, about what's lacking in iPhone 2.0 ]
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This story is surely old but here are some other problems with iPhones.
•You can’t send messages with text, a picture, & a
sound. U can send a text with a picture or a text with a sound. Otherwise u have 2 do it indivisually.
•If someone sends u a ringtone u can’t use it. All u can do is listen 2 it. U have 2 sync EVERYTHING. THAT SUCKS!
The iPhone is a good phone but it lacks little things that simple phones (not even smart phones) have.
This story is surely old but here are some other problems with iPhones.
•You can’t send messages with text, a picture, & a
sound. U can send a text with a picture or a text with a sound. Otherwise u have 2 do it indivisually.
•If someone sends u a ringtone u can’t use it. All u can do is listen 2 it. U have 2 sync EVERYTHING. THAT SUCKS!
The iPhone is a good phone but it lacks little things that simple phones (not even smart phones) have.
Hey about umm… 60% of these things you CAN do! I’d change the whole thing. Just a tip :\
Can’t bluetooth except for a headset.
Hi my partner is deaf was told iphone yes have vibration on the phone,but realise it very weak vibration,is there any way make the vibration a bit stronger,should be aware they are many deaf people iam sure are intersting in this iphone,but poor service with vibration is very poor.would you consider loking in any way to improve the service for deaf people
Acaully many of those things are able to do idk if u have iPhone 3g or 3GS I have 3GS and many things are capable
1.Copy and paste txt. Hold finger down and it should come up woth select. Select all.paste.
2-6 true
7. Shake the iPhone and it should say “undo text” u hit yes or cancel
8-9 true
10 yes u can
11 true
12 yes there is
13 yes u can. Go to pictures press the bottom left corner and u click on as many of u want click “copy” go to ur email click new message and hold finger down to paste
14 yes u can hold down the top lining above photo in full view and it show say trim. (for vids)
15 it has contacts notes voice memo and calender plus multiple alarms what else do u want? Auto teliniquises folders!
16 yes u can, both by safari and apps
17 true in a way
18-20 ? Kinda .. Weird
21 sync iPhone in and put songs u like into ringtones section
22 no it isn’t u just hold the finger down and it also can fastfoward if u click ff
23-25 true
26 there is a zoom app for camera there is also a night vision and more advanced cameras u can download and use
27-29 true
30 yes u can in settings- general or sounds
31 true
32 oh I have 3GS very fast
33 yes u can click the camera button
34 yes u can
35 3GS has a vid camera ans camera 3G has
no vid camera
36-37 apps for that
38 in settings- general or messages (txt)
39 hold ur finger down and scroll across to get to where u want abd delete
(all from Iphone 3GS)
This article needs to be removed!
I was going to buy iphone but when i read this article, it changed my mind. But anyways i finally got over it and bought and iPhone and im pretty sure it can handle nearly everything written on this article.
Sad that so many comments are fanboyish in that they unquestioningly support Apple instead of their peers, the consumers. Apple (or any company) won’t know or be pushed to improve their product if the customers don’t give them strong feedback.
Think about it.
Jebus, what a moaner. Buy a different phone then.
wow, outdated. compare iphone 3gs with the latest update and you will see what’s the big fuss is all about. the 3gs pretty much covered all the flaws you listed. see if you can come up with a new flaw, but once again, you can ALWAYS come up with at least one if you want to.
This person must definitely have the old generation. Because everything they listed i can do with my 3GS. EVERYTHING. and u don’t have to pay for ringtones.. lol.. and i voice dial as well.. it gets better than voice dial. u can even tell your phone to play a certain song that you want to hear. or if you cant remember who sings it, all you have to do is say who sings this song? and it will tell you.. You seriously need to update your phone
This story was written almost 3 years ago
I’ve got the 3GS now. Sorry for the confusion.
I pluged my iphone into itunes restored the settings, took the plug out and now i have the itunes background stuck on my iphone. Can only make emergeny calls. Can you help?
I’m not going to lie. I love revisiting these gloating dismissals of the iPhone, especially in light of it’s runaway success, the continual upgrades and the success of the App Store.
Basically, tech wankers of all stripes and loyalties simply could not get past their idiotic laundry lists of MUST HAVE features long enough to realize that the reason they cared so much about their laundry list of features was because up until the release of the iPhone, the smartphone *experience* was COMPLETE AND UTTER GARBAGE!
Millions are still buying it, in spite of all the wrongs.
There seems to be no other smart phones being scrutinized till this extent.
Pin-pointing the flaws may be easy but overall experience counts.
ipod touch is alot better except that it cant call
No numeric key pad for texting.. allowing T9 predictive texting. Would make it possible to text with one hand quickly. Surely a simple update for Apple.
Do seem to sacrifice a lot of basic functionality to have an iPhone
I was going to buy an iphone but im not anymore cuz people are saying how the iphone is great but my old razor did a lot more than this iphone like forward texts and getting mms texts i will stick with my sidekick 2008 or im getting the samsung behold which is a touch screen and can get mms texts and all that other good stuff the iphone cant do…what a bummer..just because the iphone looks nice doesnt mean its the greatest i dont understand why people are making such a fuss over it when it cant do much 25 things is alot compared to 5 or 10…dont buy the iphone…lol
No VIDEO RECORDING!
plz any1 tel dat is there no solution for the bluetooth problem of iphone ? ? any software that could work for its bluetooth for sharing photos, songs etc ? ? plz help bcoz m just going 2 buy an iphone after 2 days
Now surely the lack of instant messaging can be solved through the browser? Wouldn’t some of the various browser based instant messaging services work with it?
I didn’t know that the iphone was that bad. I knew that it wasn’t an easy phone, but i didn’t know it was that hard to use an ipone!!!
I have just recently been given an iPhone for Christmas (oh, alright I ordered it and my husband wrapped it) having had a pleasant few months experience with an iPod Touch. Contacts, calendar events etc are all important to me and that works fine.
I was therefore amazed to find that the iPhone doesn’t have the ability to retain some sort of visual notification on the screen (albeit dimmed) to show that a call has been missed or a text received. Every other mobile phone I’ve had has this functionality and I didn’t even think about it but presumed it would be on the iPhone – beacon to technology that it is. What a shame. It’s a pain for me because (as a woman) I don’t carry my iPhone around with me in a shirt or trouser pocket but often have it in my bag or on my desk, so after an hour’s meeting I’d much prefer to glance at my phone rather than have to click it every time to check for missed texts or calls. SO frustrating. Please add this to the list.
Thanks.
So the ipod touch is technically better? Am I rong?
just to say, you can have songs as ringtones/alarms without payin or jailbreaking;
http://www.ehow.com/how_216046.....-free.html
that sai, I’m dissapointed too…
Iphone has no reminder that you missed a call.
If you walk out of the room for 3 min, and miss a call, you will never hear a beep to remind you.
hey, can i add one more???? and i think it’s THE most important, even though you guys seems to have forgotten about it: U CAN’T CONNECT A2DP BLUETOOTH HEADSET TO IT!!!!!!!!!!!!
I can’t use the google maps screen well. Every time I touch the screen to move it onto my view field, it wants to reload it. When I’m looking for geocaches, I can bring up the google map, but any touching of the map to slide another part into view it reloads itself, rather than just show me the part not in view.
how do i delete a single call from my iphone
All I would like to be able to do
considering i brought the phone for the e-mail ,is to be able to save a file somewhere on the phone.
I get a few PDF Files that i need to save
Hopefully apple will be able to change this in the near future!!!
you guys aren’t too quick, eh? the 3G updated all of this :/
Can put photo as “screensaver” not background…
Guys, good Job as regards the comments. Its like Apple made this phone for only Americans. i am a Nigerian and i want to get it. The phone (iphone 2.0) is so scarce that the sellers treat it like gold! Moreover, no retail shops here! No where to Unlock! Guys, i need to know if i should continue with my decision of buying this piece. I am disappointed it cannot support pdf files and some other applications. please is there any other phone better than the iphone?
Does anyone know how to insert a phone number into a text message from your contacts list? I can’t find a way, it seems ridiculous to have to write down a number from your list then manually type in the number to send it to someone via text.
My Iphone 3G would be perfect if I lived in 2001! Unfortunately, I don’t, this is 2008! Apple iPhone 3G is completely & utterly useless for 2008 and the iTunes software, that the iPhone cannot operate without, … is absolute garbage! Both designed by money hungry, screw you for even cent scumbags without any itegrity! Let’s all watch Apple Inc. go down the corporate drain, just like we are now watching with Microsoft because of Vista! Will these morons ever start listening to their customers instead of just watching their market shares? Just like the complete & utter failure of Vista, eventually once the all the hype is over, most iPhone 3G users will realise they have been totally ripped off, not just with iPhone 3G but with the sheer & utter uselessness of iTunes!
- Birthday’s will not appear in calender!
- Can’t search contactlist for nickname
In response to Mi$$ DD: My phone has been cranky ever since it fell on a concrete floor. My sure-fire cure is to plug it in to a charger, then power it completely off and on again. So far, this process has been successful in resotring its sanity for at least a few days.