My introduction to the iphone 5s

If you don't already know, I have always had a cheapie flip phone (other than that one smartphone that was given to me (that I used as a dumb phone) but I don't count it because the person who gave it to me filled it with gay sex pictures that he and his friends took of themselves and I got rid of it immediately after finding them). I've always LIKED using a cheapie flip phone.

Well, work gave me the option to get a fancy paid-for phone. I couldn't look past the $20 savings we'd get without my plan on there, so I bit. I took delivery of a new iphone 5s two days ago.

I'll keep this updated so you guys can see the damage.

So far I have been unimpressed. It took a very long time to set up, and the keyboard is not that easy to use. My colleague showed me something called "swipe" which makes typing far easier. I can't get it, because his phone is a Samsung. Boohoo.

The battery life is abysmal. I charged it yesterday around this time, and the battery died before my alarm was supposed to wake me up.

It's bulky with the Otterbox thingie, and doesn't fit well inside of my pocket.

The good? Well, the built in GPM is sweet. I will use the QR reader when shopping. I can use Skype when traveling with the family, and it's great for quickly checking work E-mail/chats while away.

It's got some cool engineer-y apps like iengineer and maxansi, and I like those too.

It's charging (again) now. I am happy it's not in my pocket.

I have tried out iphones but always came back to android. Much more user friendly. except for the nexus phone I had. that thing was awesome, it had an issue and they couldnt immediately get me another one so back to android I went

tuna55 wrote: ...(other than that one smartphone that was given to me (that I used as a dumb phone) but I don't count it because the person who gave it to me filled it with gay sex pictures that he and his friends took of themselves and I got rid of it immediately after finding them). ...

Okay, yeah, it looks like you skipped a big chunk of potential story here. We're all familiar with the "battery life of the iPhone5 part of the narrative," but it sounds like the most fascinating part of the tale lies elsewhere.

JG Pasterjak wrote:

tuna55 wrote: ...(other than that one smartphone that was given to me (that I used as a dumb phone) but I don't count it because the person who gave it to me filled it with gay sex pictures that he and his friends took of themselves and I got rid of it immediately after finding them). ...

Okay, yeah, it looks like you skipped a big chunk of potential story here. We're all familiar with the "battery life of the iPhone5 part of the narrative," but it sounds like the most fascinating part of the tale lies elsewhere.

I try to forget that part of the story. Let's just say that this guy and his friends liked to play Twister. Naked.

tuna55 wrote: I try to forget that part of the story. Let's just say that this guy and his friends liked to play Twister. Naked.

Are you implying that this isn't normal?

Smartphones are a different beast than flip phones - don't think of it as a phone, but as a mini computer that you carry everywhere. I use the web browser, email, messaging, navigation, video and social media apps on my iPhone throughout the day, every day.

You can reduce the screen brightness and turn off bluetooth for longer charge life, but get in the habit of putting your iPhone on the charger every night.

I hate the otterbox cases. They're great if you're clumsy or hand your phone to small children, but doubling the bulk of a device you carry in your pocket makes no sense to me.

tuna55 wrote: The battery life is abysmal. I charged it yesterday around this time, and the battery died before my alarm was supposed to wake me up.

Charge it every night.

On the gay sex pics, you know you can delete them right? Or was it a sanitary issue with the phone involved in some of the photos? ;-)

(okay, I just grossed myself out a little)

Case free FTW - Can't stand any extra bulky crap in my pocket. That said, if battery life is a big deal, there is some kind of add-on battery that also acts sort of as a case. Don't know details, but a coworker has one. Also - turning off the antennas you aren't using helps a ton. Don't use the bluetooth unless you really are. Turn off the GPS unless you're navigating. Turn off the wifi unless you're actively surfing on wifi. Etc.

But yes - get used to plugging it in every night. The era of a week of battery life are long gone.

Batty life is just a smart phone thing. My MotoX can't make it a full day on a charge, but I tend to play podcasts while driving and walking.

I don't really see anything much in your comments that is anti iphone, more 'I'm not used to what a smart phone can do' issues. HAving been a devote of all things Steve Jobs for years I finally have an Android and love it. The spousal unit still has an iPhone 4s and having played with my phone will be staying with Apple next go around.

I plug mine in wherever I am. I have cords just about everywhere. I won't use anything but an iPhone.

I have an Otterbox slim case, with just a silicone cradle (for impact absorption) held in place by a polycarb shell (for toughness). It's not the combat-ready version (which we got for DD#1, who really needs it). I've been carrying it in my pocket with no problem for years. All told it adds less than 3/16" to the phone in any dimension.

I get 2 days battery life out of mine, no problem, and I am a relatively heavy text and data user. I do turn it off overnight when I'm not near it. Dim the screen a little, turn off bluetooth if you're not using it, and turn off location services for most apps. Google "maximize iPhone battery life" and you'll find dozens of techniques.

I've got the 5s as a work phone. My first cell phone. I share the OP comments. Has some uses, but it ain't great!

Golly

First off, I am not trying to start an argument over iphones.

As far as turning things off:

I want to step into the car and have the bluetooth mesh with the car and be ready to get a phone call with a touch of the button on the steering wheel. I don't want to downgrade my level of technology because I have a fancier phone!

The otterbox case is definitely because I have four young children. It's also because my employer bought it for me. There is a slimmer option, but it looks decidedly less robust.

I found out today that you have to turn apps off. This is unlike windows 8.1, so I turned a bunch of them off. Perhaps that will help. It may be a mini computer, but my Asus Transformer has a 13 hour battery life. It seems I can barley get that out of a mostly unused iphone.

dculberson wrote:

tuna55 wrote: The battery life is abysmal. I charged it yesterday around this time, and the battery died before my alarm was supposed to wake me up.

Charge it every night. On the gay sex pics, you know you can delete them right? Or was it a sanitary issue with the phone involved in some of the photos? ;-) (okay, I just grossed myself out a little)

Did you want me to send them to you?

trucke wrote: I've got the 5s as a work phone. My first cell phone.

As someone who has carried a cell phone every day for nearly 20 years, I'm still trying to fathom this statement.

tuna55 wrote: I want to step into the car and have the bluetooth mesh with the car and be ready to get a phone call with a touch of the button on the steering wheel. I don't want to downgrade my level of technology because I have a fancier phone! The otterbox case is definitely because I have four young children. It's also because my employer bought it for me. There is a slimmer option, but it looks decidedly less robust. I found out today that you have to turn apps off. This is unlike windows 8.1, so I turned a bunch of them off. Perhaps that will help. It may be a mini computer, but my Asus Transformer has a 13 hour battery life. It seems I can barley get that out of a mostly unused iphone.

Switching the bluetooth radio on/off is a one second operation. Closing apps really doesn't do anything for battery life; screen time and screen brightness are the big drainers.

Can't get 13 hours of life out of the phone? Unless the screen is on that entire time, it sounds like there may be an actual battery issue.

nderwater wrote:

tuna55 wrote: I want to step into the car and have the bluetooth mesh with the car and be ready to get a phone call with a touch of the button on the steering wheel. I don't want to downgrade my level of technology because I have a fancier phone! The otterbox case is definitely because I have four young children. It's also because my employer bought it for me. There is a slimmer option, but it looks decidedly less robust. I found out today that you have to turn apps off. This is unlike windows 8.1, so I turned a bunch of them off. Perhaps that will help. It may be a mini computer, but my Asus Transformer has a 13 hour battery life. It seems I can barley get that out of a mostly unused iphone.

Switching the bluetooth radio on/off is a one second operation. Closing apps really doesn't do anything for battery life; screen time and screen brightness are the big drainers. Can't get 13 hours of life out of the phone? Unless the screen is on that entire time, it sounds like there may be an actual battery issue.

I know that it's one second, but why should I have to reduce functionality compared to ye' ole flippie? Plus, I don't carry it out, so out of the pocket, turn it on, sign in, click the icon thingie, lock the screen, slide back in pocket. nah.

I'll time battery life today.

nderwater wrote:

trucke wrote: I've got the 5s as a work phone. My first cell phone.

As someone who has carried a cell phone every day for nearly 20 years, I'm still trying to fathom this statement.

I didn't get my first phone until 2005 or so.

tuna55 wrote: Golly First off, I am not trying to start an argument over iphones.

But you did, how do you feel about this. you should be ashamed

I'll second the mini computer comment. Here are a few things that you might appreciate:

1) You can still have good protection from drops with a slimmer case. I'm a huge fan of Magpul's offerings, which has the added bonus of gunporn in your pocket. https://store.magpul.com/category/125

2) I charge the phone at night on my nightstand, where it is my alarm clock (I don't have a real clock there anymore). Setting up Do Not Disturb automatically from 11-5 keeps the phone from bugging you for anything but that alarm (or people repeatedly calling you due to emergencies).

3) Smartphones make password managers actually useful day to day. It's nice when you're away from your home PC and still have your bank password in your pocket (encrypted, naturally), especially when that password is forj87$PentA42!.

nderwater wrote:

trucke wrote: I've got the 5s as a work phone. My first cell phone.

As someone who has carried a cell phone every day for nearly 20 years, I'm still trying to fathom this statement.

I've still, to this date, have never owned a cell phone. And I still have no desire to.

kylini wrote: I'll second the mini computer comment. Here are a few things that you might appreciate: 1) You can still have good protection from drops with a slimmer case. I'm a huge fan of Magpul's offerings, which has the added bonus of gunporn in your pocket. https://store.magpul.com/category/125

That is cool. It is difficult to tell the differences between the offerings. Which one of them has a screen protector?

I feel your pain tuna. I'm one of the old fashioned dinasours that has a flip phone. I resisted smart phones for years, but finally my wife convinced me to try one about 6 months ago. I don't remember what it was, but I know it wasn't an iPhone. I had it less than 2 weeks and was ready to throw it in the nearest body of water I could find...i.e. toilet. Hated it. The fact that I had to charge the damn thing every day was all I needed to get frustrated with it. My flip phone will go most of the week without needing a charge. So the smartphone was returned and I got another flip phone.

I realize all the things a smartphone is capable of, but they don't entice me enough to make it worth it. For me, my phone is just that...a phone.

The only thing that's making me consider trying again at some point is my recent move from the Philly area to Atlanta. Back home, I always listened to sports radio. Sports radio in the ATL sucks..big time. I miss my Philly radio. Would love to be able to listen in my 60-90 minute each way commute, and I need a smart phone to do that.

Check out the Waze navigation app if you haven't already. Saves my bacon on my commute every day.

You don't have to sign in to turn on/off wifi/bluetooth/airdrop, etc. Click the button and swipe up.

The issue is that the entire time that wifi and bluetooth are on, it will be using processing power to try and look for and connect with anything it finds, not too mention powering up the antennae. Annoying, but that's life with a modern smartphone.

I use this case as the otterbox was annoying:

http://www.amazon.com/iFrogz-IP5-TREADZ-Treadz-Cover-iPhone/dp/B009LIJNVE/ref=pd_sim_sbs_cps_2?ie=UTF8&refRID=044R4HGAZPPFB1JE7WDD

Otterbox does have a slimmer version and there are other HD protection style cases available (Mil-spec, CF, etc.)

Lots of tips online to improve security/privacy and battery life of the iPhone (some may already be implemented by your company).

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/09/iphone-5-battery-life_n_1948534.html

http://ios.wonderhowto.com/how-to/ios-7-tips/

My iPhone 5 just died (baseband chip may have failed) so I'm rocking my old 3G and well, it SUCKS, but I can at least make/receive calls and texts again. Using any apps requires a lot of patience, but it works, mostly. Google+ and other Google website sign-ins do not work on this phone, so that's mildly annoying when trying access docs and pics, but email works since it doesn't go through Safari.

Now that you have an i5S, check out the panoramic picture option in the camera. Pretty cool feature, IMO. Video is pretty decent quality as well.