Skip navigation

 Login or Register | Member Centre

Go ahead, drop $400 on the 'Jesus phone'

PETER SCOWEN

From Wednesday's Globe and Mail

Latest comment posted at 10:39 PM EDT 30/04/08

Surf the Web, listen to music, play Solitaire – there's not much you can't do ...Read the full article

This conversation is closed

  1. Expert Eel from OttaPettaOshawawawawa, Canada writes: Rogers has a long way to go before it matches the free data providers given to iPhone users in the United States and elsewhere. I don't browse the Internet over the Edge network, not only because it's slow but because, at its current rates, Rogers would charge me $75 simply to load The Globe and Mail's home page. If someone e-mailed me a five-megabyte attachment and I opened it on the Edge network, Rogers would bill me $250 for the privilege.

    but it's great, do it, Peter did ... and now he has a fancy phone that costs a fortune to use.

    Great!

    I'll just kep my desktop close to my bed if I want to surf the net or play solitaire and save a bundle!
  2. John Deriso from Edmonton, Canada writes: At the end of the day it's just a telephone. Aside from being able to make and receive phone calls, I don't know what makes it a 'Jesus' phone.
  3. Rob L from Vancouver, Canada writes: There are plenty of smart phones on the market. North America is so far behind in cell phone technology and availability. The only thing the iphone has over other smartphones is the nifty touch screen, does it make it a 'Jesus' phone? It can't even do 3G. There are plenty of better smart phones available in Europe and Asia. Also the blackberry from RIM is just as good if not better. The hype on the iphone is stupid. The iMac and iPod are good products, but the iPhone has yet to prove itself.
  4. Rollo Tomasi from Pass Buck, Belgium writes: The Blackberry is a business tool, the iphone is a gadget/toy. See the difference? My cell does all these things too, or would if I paid the subscription fees for internet.
  5. M Cardinal from Ottawa, Canada writes: Let's remember that this will be a giant money grab for Rogers. By making the announcement and witholding details, Rogers is making sure that the feeding frenzy will be high when the iPhone is released. Normally sane people will drop tons of money just to have this gadget, and will demonstrate completely to Rogers that a fool and their money is soon parted.

    The smart thing to do would be to avoid the purchase until Rogers falls in line with reasonably priced packages.

    I upgraded to HDTV this year, and my cable bill went from $45 to $115. While I wouldn't wince so much, it also came with zero customer service, faulty equipment and frankly not as much HD content on HD channels. Did I mention zero customer service?

    Anyone who pays hundreds of dollars for monthly data with Rogers will be setting the bar for all users and continue to send a message to Rogers that high prices and really bad service is acceptable business in Canada.

    I want an iPhone as well so I can get rid of carrying 2 devices, but I won't keep feeding the shark that bites.
  6. Johnny Canuck from Canada writes: It's more than a Blackberry. I chucked my BB in the trash and switched to iPhone. Got one for my wife and assistant. Not a business tool? That's funny.
  7. Buddy Rich from Toronto, Canada writes: And good luck with the Rogers service...
  8. Pepper Gee from Toronto, Canada writes: Isn't calling it a 'Jesus phone' sacreligious? If you referred to other revered dieties in this manner you would have problems. Why the disrespect to Christians?
  9. B I from Toronto, Canada writes: Pepper Gee from Toronto, Canada writes: Isn't calling it a 'Jesus phone' sacreligious? If you referred to other revered dieties in this manner you would have problems. Why the disrespect to Christians?

    I don't think Jesus would really mind. It's a nice phone. Besides, this phone can do way more than Jesus or any other Jewish, Christian or Muslim prophet did to advance the cause of technology so really if anyone should be upset by the comparison it's Steve Jobs.

    Peter Scowen surfed the internet from his bed. Did Jesus? Did Moses? Did Mohammed (Peace be Upon Him)? I don't think so.
  10. G Sears from Canada, Canada writes: I'll wait for the new Blackberry, thank you. Business people need to be able to type messages to clients quickly, with proper spelling and punctuation. If you get an iPhone user to talk honestly, they'll admit the iPhone is clunky when it comes to email.
  11. Pepper Gee from Toronto, Canada writes: BI - I made my point - you just didn't get it.
  12. John K from Canada writes: G Sears
    I'm an iPhone user and I'll talk honestly. I admit that it is not at all clunky with email or text messages. Sure it was at first. My Blackberry 8700r was clunky too when I first started using it. Now 6 months later, in comparison, my 8700r is clunky and annoying in having to do anything relative to the iPhone.
  13. red marabunta from Barbados writes: A Jesus phone I thought was a device to make a call to heaven, and I thought that would be a very expensive long distance call, unless you lived in Barbados then it would be a local call.
  14. Jeffrey Charles from Toronto, Canada writes: I have heard there are issues with cutting and pasting. That is a KEY function when sending numbers and info in emails and texts on the Blackberry and what is making me wait. That and the edge network fees are quite scary.

    With the Apple Developer conference coming up in June, you can be sure of 2 things.

    1) An iPhone product update/upgrade
    2) Apple stock price continuing to climb
  15. Mike Quinlan from Gatineau QC, Canada writes: Why not just call it the holy grail of phones in your lead. Jesus shouldnt be a adjective or a descriptive, particularly in these sensitive times where to use Mohammed's name the same way would provoke a riot somewhere
  16. JLynn Stapleton from Fredericton, Canada writes: Until providers such as Rogers, Bell Mobility, Telus and others have more competition, the data plans aren't going to be going down much. Certainly nothing like the unlimited data plans in the US (as low as $30 for unlimited data in some areas). Unless further pressure is placed on them to do so. While the telecommunications industry is responding it's been incredibly slow and not without complaint and rebuttal.

    I have a Palm Treo, which I quite love as it has lots of wonderful features, but I don't access the internet much on it because of exorbitant data usage fees for small amounts of data. Unless you've got an unlimited income or someone else is footing the bill, majority of folks with smartphones are still going to pay an arm and leg for small amounts of data usage.
  17. * Lozange from Toronto, Canada writes: I'm a Mac person, but my Motorola A1200 has been doing all that for a few years already, and has more memory than the Blackberry for sure and possibly the iPhone too, with the various memory cards I can put in. I can type AND handwrite on my screen, no keyboard.
    Rogers is useless. I just fought them off for overbilling me 3500 minutes over two plans they never implemented right. They probably do it on purpose for the Edge connection to be slow. I wouldn't put it past them. I see it as the redneck's revenge on the urban masses.
  18. * Lozange from Toronto, Canada writes: Erratum: It doesn't call up heaven : )
    (yet)
  19. Jason S from Toronto, Canada writes: Rogers has a $7 unlimited data plan available now. Just call them up and say you have a Razor phone. Sure the downloads are not as fast as over WiFi, but it's only $7. I added a $230 text plan too since I found myself texting a lot more when I got the iPhone. Best thing ever.
  20. * Lozange from Canada writes:
    On Rogers $7 data plan, the fine print says:

    *Available as an add-on to your wireless voice plan. A $6.95 monthly system access fee (non-government fee), a monthly 50ยข 911 Emergency Access Fee (non-government fee) and a one time $35 activation fee apply in addition to the monthly service fees. Local airtime over the allotted monthly minutes in the plan, long distance and roaming charges, any additional service options selected and applicable taxes are extra and are also billed monthly.
  21. Ben Harsevoort from Canada writes: It's offensive to have this phone referred to as the 'Jesus' phone. Don't be so disrespectful.
  22. John K from Canada writes: The whole Jesus phone thing hasn't really been made up by the G&M. If you google Jesus phone i'm pretty sure that the results will all redirect to some article about the iPhone. It was the 'blogsphere' or whatever it's called - bloggers - that dubbed it the Jesus phone. I doubt there's any intention to disrespect religion.
  23. Tim Cares from Canada writes: * Lozange from Canada writes:
    On Rogers $7 data plan, the fine print says:....

    I don't think that all applies to the data plan.
  24. clar 989 from the shwa, Canada writes: ya, let's stop disrespecting Jesus before Ben Harsevoort straps a bomb to himself and goes downtown.

    aside from that, the iphone is pretty sick, i played around with it in the apple store while i was in glasgow. there are a few things about the phone that a lot of people are overlooking when comparing it to the blackberry and others. First the ipod function (yes other phones are also mp3 players but nothing like the iphone). Second, the iphoto, anyone who has seen how you can scroll through photos on the iphone will understand, huge screen and the pictures are as visibly perfect as Jesus. Thrid, all the widgets you can put on the main screen, any useful application is one touch away and not available on other phones. Lastly, lets be honest, all the people that say surfing the web on their Razor are kidding themselves, i surf the web on mine and it's nothing like what you can do with this phone.

    i would love to be getting one, but as everyone has been talking about, i'm not a millionaire so affording to operate one at this time is not desirable.
  25. S K from Edmonton, Canada writes: Jason S:

    Enjoy your bill when you realize that the 7 dollar plan isn't for anything but a few select phones on Rogers (Razr2, K850i are two of them I think). Rogers knows what phone you are using through IMEI filtering. Surf the internet all you want, but don't cry to them when you get a $1000 phone bill.
  26. C C from Canada writes: My ideal jesus phone would turn water into wine. Apple has a long way to go before they can meet my 'jesus phone' needs.
  27. Doktor David from London, Canada writes: The only question to ask yourself is: does owning this phone make my life any better or worse? And, quite frankly, surfing, emailing, texting, et al while in bed wastes the two things a bed is (very) good for. Personally I'm not going to buy one - too expensive, too proprietary, too arrogant (the phone? the users? the service provider?)... not enough to motivate me to take up the cause and allow Steve/Ted to bathe in tubs made out of gold. False prophets, indeed...
  28. m m from Mississauga, Canada writes: Rogers - I'd rather burn my money then buy anything from them. Much less pain.
  29. SusieQ 321 from NoWhereVille, Canada writes: as a person with both a BB curve their latest and greatest and and iphone (I work in the US so much easier to carry two phones than pay rogers 1k a month in billable charges) I prefer the iphone!!! it has a few downfalls camera doesn't zoom, can't copy and paste and no voice recognition for hands free dialing but it is much more fun to surf the net on that a bb ever was!!!
  30. NotASpoiledAthelete - from Canada writes: I don't own an iPhone but I do own it's poor cousin - the Touch, and let me tell you - I wouldn't consider that shape comfortable for a phone.
    Yes - surfing on the web is 'cool' and all, but the keyboard is very touchy and I find myself deleting and re-keying quite a bit...I think the tactile sense of touching an actual keyboard button can't be replaced...just my two cents.

    I'd prefer to have the phone technology in Japan where you can buy train tickets with your phone...now THAT is useful.
  31. F/A josquin from van, Canada writes:

    I'll wait til they become the norm----thanks
  32. P Martin from St. John's, Canada writes: I would probably get one, and switch from Aliant, if the dataplan was a ripoff. A friend of mine in the US has an iphone and tells me how amazing it is...but he can not understand how I would pay so much if I had it here.
  33. The Wight from Canada writes: It's a secular world, people, and while the declining number of religious folks in Canada are bound to get noisier as they fade into that good night, we are no longer at the point where references to religion are automatically sacrosanct.

    That's a GOOD thing. If we ever want to have a decent discussion about religion, it has to be treated like every other topic.

    Besides, you carpers are missing the point. The iPhone is being compared to Jesus in a satirical manner. The entire point of the comparison is that the phone DOESN'T measure up to Jesus and iPhone fanatics are being mocked for their seemingly unreasonable faith in the product.
  34. Hornsworth Portswiler from adanac, Canada writes: I don't think the iPhone is very interesting, except as an influence on the market. I really like smartphones, and like the idea of an all and one device. I ended up with the Nokia N95. It has a very good camera, unlike 99% of other devices which are useless in this function. Not only is it fun for picture taking, it's also very useful as a memory jog - want to remember something? Just take a pic of it, the 5mpix camera with Carl Zeiss lens is more than clear enough to make it worthwhile (look up n95 pics on flickr). The n95 also takes add-on memory (though 4gb is enough for my general media needs), has a user-replaceable battery, GPS, and a lot of other functions that make it nice. Mind, the n95 is far from perfect, it really needs the versatility of a touch screen and a slide keyboard would have been nicer than the numeric and multimedia keys. But I just don't understand why the media focuses so much on the iPhone, and also treats features such as the camera as checklist features when there are vast quality differences.

    As for data plans, I managed to talk Fido into giving me three months of unlimited for $13/month.
  35. Alex Kitz from Canada writes: - 'It isn't even 3G'

    Well, it will be when Rogers rolls out their 3G technology in June. Coincidentally at the same time Apple will release their new 3G phone.

    - 'It can't be used for business'

    This has got to come from one of those guys who absolutely refuses to buy a new pair of underwear even when the previous pair has become more of a loin cloth. I know you find change hard, get used to it though, you'll be seeing even more of it in the future. The iPhone may be difficult to type on initially, but honestly, how long does it actually take you to master something like this!? Most iPhone users say, 'about a week or two.'

    - 'Until providers such as Rogers, Bell Mobility, Telus and others have more competition, the data plans aren't going to be going down much.'

    Uh, actually Bell already released their unlimited data plan for their touch screen technology, it runs around $17 a month I think. So actually the competition is there - the problem is that the iPhone is going to make people blind too the cost, which IS too bad, because if people rejected the Rogers plan, we would see a decrease in data cost. Bell has shown it's possible.
  36. d lefcoe from urbania, Canada writes: A touch screen, fun at first, inevitably loses its shine and becomes awkward and less efficient than 'real' keys. The i-phone becomes a bit tiresome (altho' what phone doesn't).
  37. Swifty J from Mtl, Canada writes: I don't think it's reasonable to assume that Rogers' data plans will remain as they are when the iPhone launches.

    This announcement was almost certainly delayed so long largely because Apple insisted on data plans that wouldn't make the iPhone prohibitively expensive to use as intended. Web/email access are such a big part of the overall experience, there's no way they'd launch it if users were going to get dinged hundreds of dollars for loading a web page whenever they're out of WiFi range. (Unlockers take their chances on that score, and I'm sure most of them know exactly what they're in for.)

    Full disclosure: I'm a confirmed Mac fanboy but I won't be getting an iPhone for at least another 18 months, if ever. I'm happy with a phone that's mostly just a phone -- and that's rugged enough to survive being dropped by clumsy old me now and then.
  38. Hugh Draper from Vancouver, Canada writes:
    I hope it's lightning proof.
  39. The Blind Man Is King from Burlytown, Canada writes: Bottom line: If you don't think it's worth the money, don't buy it and shut up. There's no point trying to dissuade the people who do want it.

    I'm sure, as we're all very keen consumers by now, everyone has at least one vice that they'll kick in extra bucks for above the 'no name' version. Whether it be fancy cars, high-end shoes, quality sunglasses or brand-name peanut butter ... we all like to splurge on one thing or another. To those that are willing and able to drop $400 on an iPhone and the plan that goes with it: kudos to you on knowing what you want and going for it.

    What good is all that hard-earned money if you can't spend it on something fun?
  40. Brooke Ferris from Canada writes: This writer has too much time on his hands......playing games and texting in bed!!!!!....please...get a life!
  41. Will Partridge from Delhi, Canada writes: I don't care what this phone can do, if it means I have to renew a relationship of any kind with Rogers, it's not something I'm ever going to own.
  42. john wardle from Canada writes: Rogers is a terrible company staffed by horrible people.
  43. Client 9 from Toronto, Canada writes: What century are we in people? The reviewer makes Canada out to be some 3rd world nation whose thoughts opinions and believes have been filtered by Big Brother! 'Check out this NEW gadget available to you really soon!'

    My god/jesus/moham/oprah! I had an iPhone in June 2000-SEVEN people! Reviews have swarmed the internet for 1 YEAR plus! Feel like I'm living in Cuba!

    Here's the real scoop though- and this from a guy who lined up on 5th Avenue last year to buy it-

    It just doesn't hold up compared to a blackberry. If you are used to your blackberry then this device will come up short in every way accept the music player. Even there the curve's media player is very competent. I got ultra bored with the iPhone after 1 week and sold it to some kid for $800. Haven't looked back. The thing I couldn't stand the most was the phone- total crap. And the iPod froze a bunch of times on me too, couldn't believe it. It also was severely limited in its functions with no way to add anything new. All the things the writer lists can be done on any smart phone built after 2006. The guy is a relic obviously and is clueless.

    fyi- I use it probably 75% business, 25% personal, run my own business, use Microsoft Exchange and have downloaded more music online than porn.

    All said, if the 3G works better for me, I'll line up for that one too. I am a big early adopter after all.
  44. Duane Freemantle from writes: It is great that people realize that it is just a phone. Yes, it is well known that it has the iPod feature. For some it is not compelling to spend $400 on a product to be tied to a specific provide in order to get complete product support of the warranty period. It is quite disrespectful to call it a 'Jesus phone', since it has nothing to do with Christianity.
  45. anderson Stevenson from Canada writes: What a pathetic article. Is the Globe now soliciting advertising funds for writing crap like this posing as journalism. The fact is Apple sucks , and is dependant on lemming like followers for its success, very sad.
  46. Bert Fegg from Canada writes: I'll keep my landline and spend the difference on food. Thanks

    FEGG
  47. John Stanton from The Iphone is amazing, Canada writes: How can people comment on something they have never used? The iphone is not a business tool? - I am a corporate sales professional and my Doctor has one. The iphone is a toy? - Are you kidding me? I use it for my calendar, looking up business quotes, opening excel and word attachments in seconds, listening to music, business audio books, the calculator and SMS. Every single feature is accessible with 1 click. Yes it's very expensive. You're not going to get one for FREE with a plan and you're probably going to have to shell out $600.00 to buy one. I don't see the big deal though, I paid $300.00 for my IPOD when it first came out, so I didn't mind paying $300.00 more for a perfect device. It's so small that you never know it's in your pocket; also you can't compare it to the HTC TOUCH. The HTC has a soft touch screen and it's made of plastic. The Iphone has an aluminum case and a solid glass touch screen. You can't say anything bad about the phone because you would be full of it. It's the best phone on the market. 5 years ahead of its time. If you can't afford it, then get a better job, but don't knock a product because it's out of your budget. I love my iphone so much that I bought one for my little brother!!!
  48. clar 989 from the shwa, Canada writes: anderson stevenson - i enjoy the freezing that my microsoft windows does every so often and the the 5 min wait for it to boot up when i turn it on. Try a mac computer and actually try to learn to work it, you would never go back, i never will
  49. Hornsworth Portswiler from adanac, Canada writes: John Stanton, it's good in some ways, not so good in others. You can do every thing you mentioned with any other phone out there, often for less money or with better individual features. I had a SE P800 that could do all these things in 2002. The iPhone is riding a wave of hype.
  50. Hornsworth Portswiler from adanac, Canada writes: clar 989 from the shwa, if you do any multitasking at all you must be very familiar with the spinning wait cursor. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spinningwaitcursor . I've used Windows, Linux and Mac OS extensively. Recent versions of each all freeze up or reboot a few times a year, more if there is a problematic driver. But I never suffered such frustration when I was running several programs at a time and constantly having to wait on the spinning wait cursor.
  51. Logo Pogo from United States writes: Anyone who says that the Iphone is better then a proper Blackberry for a enterprise business device. Probably, doesn't need either one. I have both and deficiencies of the Iphone are glaring apparent if you have to use the device as a proper business device.

    No true push email, cumbersome size/form factor, no tactile feedback to type without looking at the screen, can't wirelessy sync MS Outlook calender or tasks, bad power management/battery life compared similar priced business smart phones... etc.. etc...

    Apple could remedy these deficiencies but until then its nothing then a neat prosumer device.
  52. Flinton Rice from Toronto, Canada writes: 'but mine can do conference calls' - is this guy serious. Now the iPhone is getting credit for cell-based conference calls. 'And I can block my number..'

    Is this guy serious? I have never seen such a clueless 'early adopter'. And I think that describing a phone as a 'Jesus phone' might be a bit blasphemous.

    Yes, I'll take your review for what it is - $h!t. Another clueless Mac knob..... I know why you use a Mac - because you're too retarded to use anything else.
  53. Rabid Senses from Good gawd, a latte-swilling Westerner, Canada writes:

    Jesus phone

    Mohammed phone

    Buddha phone

    Zeus phone

    Confucius Phone

    Great God Pan Phone

    . . .

    There. Now what we are all right offended to some extend perhaps we can get on with discussing the merits of the iPhone in relation to price offering and in consideration of the opening up of the marketplace that will happen in May.

    In the meantime, I hope Apple trademarks the names of all of the above with the distinct plan to sell them with these monikers.
  54. Cowtown boy from Calgary, Canada writes: Other than the touch screen, what does this have that a new blackberry doesn't have. I can expand the memory in the blackberry as well. And since it's not on Rogers's It also has 3G capabilities for browsing and email.
  55. alexv to from Toronto, Canada writes: Okay, so the Sony W810 can do:
    - GMail (there is a pretty slick GMail client for it),
    - Google Calendar (web),
    - Google Maps.
    - there's also a Rogers e-mail client for Yahoo, AOL and Hotmail.
    - it plays music (from a 4 to 8GB memory stick).
    - the Opera browser v4 can render full web pages (non-mobile formatting) and allows you to zoom in and read the Globe and Mail on the go - not very speedy though..
    - it has a camera too (crappy).
    - it got dropped a few times and it didn't die yet (no one talks about what a drop may fo to that big touch screen). So, are we talking functionality here or fad ?

    Also, how long is the battery going to last on a device that uses such a big screen display like the iphone ?
  56. Was Canadian from New York, United States writes: If Blackberry wasn't Canadian and IPhone American (both made in China, but that's a small detail...), there would probably be less IPhone bashing by people who don't actually own one or are bitter because they can't afford one.
    Why oh why does every single discussion board on Globeandmail.com have to turn in to a hate-fest?
    'Canadian Economy Rattled' - bash America's incompetent fiscal policies
    'Feds Cut Interest Rates' - bash over-consuming Americans
    It's tiresome.
  57. Logo Pogo from United States writes: 'Was Canadian from New York, United States writes: If Blackberry wasn't Canadian and IPhone American (both made in China, but that's a small detail...), there would probably be less IPhone bashing by people who don't actually own one or are bitter because they can't afford one. '

    It could be that its just another over hyped apple product. Don't get me wrong the Iphone is a neat gadget and phone but its not a competitor to Blackberry handsets for business use. It just doesn't have the proper functionality of what RIM or Nokia is offering in that segment.
  58. Benjamin Smith from Canada writes: Bell's HTC Touch with $7 UNLIMITED DATA are not impressed.
  59. Angry West Coast Canuck from Canada writes: Many people seem to have made up their minds before actually trying one. Others seem to think that their requirements are everyones requirements.

    I have a list of requirements for an all-in-one device. The only one to meet that list is the iPhone. Not Treo. Not Blackberry. Not HTC. So for me, the iPhone will be the phone I get.

    For others? Some will make a similar list and get the phone that best meets their needs. Others, like many of the posters above, will continue to tout their choice as the only choice, much like those who tout their religion as the 'only' choice. Maybe that's why it's a Jesus phone? It certainly seems to bring out the religious nutter in many people.
  60. Hornsworth Portswiler from adanac, Canada writes: Angry West Coast Canuck, I'd love to see your list.

    1. Is made by Apple
  61. M Kwad from Calgary, Canada writes: It's equal parts the network and the phone. If Rogers comes out with their version of an (overpriced) unlimited pkg similar to what AT&T did in the States it will hopefully shine another spotlight on our horrible mobile providers.
  62. Bob Fugger from Victoria, BC, Canada writes: They should call it the Vishnu phone, as it is as multi-faceted as Vishnu is multi-limbed.
  63. Jim B from Montreal, Canada writes: After 3 ipods dying in less than 1 year, and Apple not interested in offering support (unless I pay 50 bucks, or 'make an appointment' at an Apple store an hour away), I'm so through with Apple. And god forbid you say anything negative about that company - just watch the backlash from its community (cult).
  64. J. Ball from Canada writes: I am appalled by the blatant idiocy of Rogers/Apple in alienating the Christian market by using the name 'Jesus phone' for the iPhone. This is extremely offensive and blasphemous. Just proves that money can't buy good talent. Better rethink some of your marketing 'talent'.
  65. Client 9 from Big, Canada writes: Chill out J. Ball. All religions are just storybook fantasy long since proven obsolete in the modern era. Just be spiritual, respect all mankind and do no harm to others.
  66. Sean L. from Toronto, Canada writes: 'If someone e-mailed me a five-megabyte attachment and I opened it on the Edge network, Rogers would bill me $250 for the privilege.'

    So you don't 'really' have internet access in any practical real world sense, unless you are some saudi oil shiek or your company pays your bills (for three months until they fire you for abusing your expense account).

    So its just another mp3/camera-phone....

    Where's jesus?
  67. Sean L. from Toronto, Canada writes: J. Ball, maybe you should call for a jihad
  68. Fred Smith from Canada writes: Jim B from Montreal : 3 ipods broken in 1 year ? Are you throwing them against the wall ? If any company had a track record with products not working in the time frame you suggest they surely would not be a company anymore. I've owned an Ipod since 2004 with no problems at all. Of course I don't throw it against a wall. As far as I know they have a warranty that lasts a year so all three of your Ipods should have been replaced. Unless you're abusing them.
  69. J S from Toronto, Canada writes: Another really expensive gadget I never want to own. Why is it called the Jesus phone? Does it turn water into wine? Heal the sick?
  70. Bert Russell Paradox, BC from Canada writes:
    Why don't they call it the 'Jewish phone'?
  71. Jeff S from Canada writes: I agree with the people above.

    It is blasphemous and insulting to be referring to the iPhone as the Jesus Phone.

    If it were any other way the Globe would have a HRC come down on them.

    I will not be getting the iPhone.
  72. REV eighteenseventeen from Canada writes: Got Jesus through prayer. Will stick to my tin cans and string for a phone(Fido good plan).
  73. Zaheer Merali from Toronto, Canada writes: iPhone data plan - Sean, someone may have mentioned this already in the comments, although I couldn't find anything on a quick scan.
    Rogers has a 1Gb data plan for about $65/mth that you can use on the iPhone - it's not cheap by any means, but it's better than their exorbitant 'pay as you go' data plan and allows for a fairly healthy dose of web surfing, mapping, etc while on the go. Given the speed of the EDGE network, I think you'd run out of days in the month before you hit the 1Gb cap! :-)
  74. Geriatric Personage from St. Stephen, Canada writes: To 'run' an iphone in Canada will cost about 300% more than in Europe and about 200% more than a US based subscription. Enough said?
  75. Jerry Slim from Montreal, Canada writes: MY HTC With Bell DOES EVERYTHING YOUR IPHONE DO and BETTER! :)

    Though it may not be as cool..but at a fraction of the price...it's GREEEAT!
    - No raised keyboards, predictive text,
    - SURFING THE WEB IN BED WHILE LISTENING TO MUSIC, TEXTING FRIENDS, CHECKING E-MAIL AND PLAYING SOLITAIRE
    - Excellent battery life like your iPhone

    Check it yout! Best of all...for $7/mth from bell, UNLIMITED SURFING....fast network. On the 20 th floor in downtown, I still get a great signal and download speed!

    I have something your iPhone doesnt have...my phone is so much cheaper!

    hahahah
  76. bruce desjardins from Windsor, Canada writes: I've tried an unlocked iPhone, and found it to be extremely intuitive, a slick interface, with a clear screen for my declining reading-glass-dependent eyes.
    My wife got a Blackberry Pearl which I cannot see without the cheaters, and she detests the thing, and takes a photo every time she grabs it from her purse. Who could love something like that. She wants to trade phones with me for my simpler clamshell phone, but I don't relish having to study the manual just to figure how to enter a contact.
    The iphone works the way we think, not the other way around, and developers have been turned loose to come up with innovative software for it. My next phone, for sure.
  77. Flinton Rice from Toronto, Canada writes: Bruce - when you say that the iPhone works the way 'we' think - are you implying that you and I think alike?

    Not true Bruce, I know how to enter a contact in any phone you give me. Its right up there with being able to tie any shoe that I put on my foot. If you have problems entering a contact in a cheap phone, then I would suggest foregoing the iPhone in favour of reversing that labotamy.
  78. The Wight from Canada writes: bruce desjardins:

    'The iphone works the way we think, not the other way around, and developers have been turned loose to come up with innovative software for it. My next phone, for sure.'

    Well, I sure don't think like Apple, then.

    Non-replaceable battery? Fixed amount of storage? Proprietary file formats? Multi-smear interface? No thanks.
  79. Marcus Leja from Calgary, Canada writes: I'm waiting for this thing to be properly called the Mohammed Phone, with a properly embedded image of He Who Shall Not Be Depicted on the back.
  80. Michael Feighney from Toronto, Canada writes: Listen to you people. How up tight can some of you get? The iPhone was being called by some the 'Jesus phone' becuase of all of the hype, as if it could walk on water. Get a life people!!!
  81. Sask Langer from Canada writes: * Lozange from Toronto, Canada writes: I'm a Mac person, but my Motorola A1200 has been doing all that for a few years already, and has more memory than the Blackberry for sure and possibly the iPhone too, with the various memory cards I can put in. I can type AND handwrite on my screen, no keyboard.

    You can't be a mac person. You admitted there is a product that is equal or better to an apple equivalent. No mac person would ever admit anything like that. They would be foaming at the mouth to run down and buy an iphone (remember, the data plan is irrelevant when there's mac products on the line) and look down their noses at a windows user on the way out and on the way back.
  82. s l from vancity, Canada writes: Don't worry, you can all be reasonably sure that Apple/Steve Jobs bullied Rogers into offering iPhone specific plans that will include unlimited or nearly-unlimited data, as well as what'll turn out to be a ton of voice minutes. Apple insists on unlimited data for the iPhone (except in Ireland, 1 gig plans) as it's the only way that the device can be both fully useable, as well as affordable.

    Remember: Rogers had/has no leverage at all in negotiating with Apple. At worst, the pent-up Canadian demand for iPhones can be supplied through grey market distributors, Apple could easily supply fully unlocked phones through Apple Stores, or just bide their time and wait for a new GSM carrier to come to Canada, which, coincidentally, will happen thanks to the upcoming spectrum auction reserved for newcomers to the market. Rogers needs the iPhone and Apple. Apple, however, does not in any way, shape, or form need Rogers.

    As for the device itself, it is hands down the best phone on the market as of this moment. Period. Does that mean it's perfect? Not by a long shot. Apple put together an extremely impressive phone, and its minor shortcomings should be addressed with the upcoming model revision. OS X is light years ahead of WinMo in useability, interface, stability, and pretty much everything else. Safari is the easiest to use, best mobile browser on the market. And when you pick an iPhone up, it feels substantial and well designed. 3G data would be nice, so would a few minor tweaks and true push email (Exchange support is confirmed), perhaps combined with some haptic feedback. Yes, HTC makes some nice devices. Yes, RIM's phones are the industry standard and provide the best, easiest, email interface. Yet somehow, both of those companies just got trumped by Apple, and now they're playing catch up.

    And about that Touch ... Nice stylus. I thought those died at the same time as Palm Pilots...
  83. s l from vancity, Canada writes: 'J. Ball from Canada writes: I am appalled by the blatant idiocy of Rogers/Apple in alienating the Christian market by using the name 'Jesus phone' for the iPhone. This is extremely offensive and blasphemous. Just proves that money can't buy good talent. Better rethink some of your marketing 'talent'.'

    Congratulations on making yourself look foolish. The tech community nicknamed it the Jesus Phone due to hype, expectations, and so on, and has been referring to the iPhone as the 'jesus phone' since it was first rumoured to be coming out. It has nothing at all to do with Apple or Rogers or any 'marketing talent', by which I assume you mean 'advertising/PR talent'.

    And what's the big deal with nicknaming a phone after a common Mexican name anyways?
  84. The Wight from Canada writes: s l:

    'And about that Touch ... Nice stylus. I thought those died at the same time as Palm Pilots... '

    I'll take a stylus in a microsecond over a pure touch interface. Seen the iPod Touch when it has been on display in a store? You can barely read the display with all the fingerprints and smears. Touch interfaces definitely fit in the 'theory is better than the reality' category for me.
  85. Tony Chau from Markham, Canada writes: I like the technological aspect of the iphone. I do not like the aggressive billings of Rogers. So I would have to find ways to cut the usage, cut the useless, cut the data access while still enjoying the coming iphone. Free wifi is the way to go, US, Canada and the world. What is the use of EDGE, burning hard earned money?
  86. Chris Fields from Canada writes: '...it displays real Web pages, not the text-based versions shrunk down for use on regular cellphones and BlackBerrys.'

    Uh, why would you want to download the entire 'real' page? In Canada you will have to sell your first born everytime you do, just to cover the cost of the download.

    I suppose though that if you are foolish enough to get sucked into the marketing hype of the iphone in the first place, you don't mind throwing money out the window just so you can see 5% of a web page on a cell phone screen.
  87. Yourname 2 from Canada writes: The new Nokia has two cameras. FINALLY TWO CAMERAS!!!
    People are wasting their money on this lousy mono-camera junk.

Comments are closed

Thanks for your interest in commenting on this article, however we are no longer accepting submissions. If you would like, you may send a letter to the editor.

Report an abusive comment to our editorial staff

close

Alert us about this comment

Please let us know if this reader’s comment breaks the editor's rules and is obscene, abusive, threatening, unlawful, harassing, defamatory, profane or racially offensive by selecting the appropriate option to describe the problem.

Do not use this to complain about comments that don’t break the rules, for example those comments that you disagree with or contain spelling errors or multiple postings.