The Iphone 4 Need-to-know Guide

By Author: Lucy Carter
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Since its much anticipated release in the UK on the 24th June this year, the iPhone 4 has been in hot demand as the trendiest mobile phone to own.

The following guide will let you get to grips with Apple's latest offering and help you find the best deal possible if you choose to buy one.

Changes and Improvements

The iPhone 4's major difference compared to its predecessors is that it has a new operating system, called iOS4. This brings a wealth of fresh functionalities, such as being able to organise your applications into folders and generally having a more seamless experience when multitasking.

In terms of looks, the iPhone 4 has done away with the curved plastic of earlier models. It now has a more squared shape with stainless steel shell and thinner glass to produce a sleek, urban-chic appearance.

Another notable change to the latest iPhone offering is a vastly improved camera. It offers five-megapixel performance; front facing camera for video calling, rear camera for photos and video, LED flash and a longer-lasting battery. The screen itself has an impressively sharp resolution that ...
... users describe as making website text look almost like the printed word.

Finding the Best Deal

While you'll generally get a free handset with mobile phone contracts, the iPhone 4 will still set you back a fair amount even though the price is subsidised in part by network providers. The good news is that O2 no longer holds sole retail rights, which means there are now some good offers available on the marketplace through other providers. As with shopping around for anything, the most crucial thing to consider is your usage habits, so you can find a deal that matches your needs.

Contract deals

When comparing the offerings of different providers, an important consideration is contract length - if you're the type who has to have the latest new gadgets, the 18 month or 24 month contracts offered by most will see you tied down when the next iPhone is released.

Although you will naturally spend a great deal of time surfing the web or using internet based applications on the iPhone 4, the fact is that even with reasonably heavy use, most people won't exceed more than 500MB of data per month. It's a good idea to make sure this amount of surfing is covered fully or at least to a large extent in your free monthly data allowance.

SIM-only deals

A SIM-only package will set you back in terms of paying full price for the iPhone handset, but you will save in the long run on tariffs because an unlocked mobile will allow you to join any network that offers the best deal. You'll also have the flexibility of being able to snap up the next release of iPhone as soon as it arrives without worrying about being bound to a contract.

Network providers are increasingly looking at offering the iPhone 4 direct to customers on SIM-only packages, but currently high demand has resulted in shortages of stock, so although it can be a three week wait, the Apple Store is still the best way to get your hands on an unlocked handset.

Problems and Solutions

The Death Grip

This term has become infamous with iPhone 4 users. What it means is that when people connect the left-hand and bottom pieces of the antenna with their hands by holding the phone, the result is dropped calls because the signal gets masked. Poor to varying reception has been an issue even before the iPhone 4 was officially released to the public. Apple has responded by saying that apart from learning to hold your phone in a different way, the only sure solution to rectify this problem is to buy a bumper case, and currently if you place your iPhone 4 order before the 30th September they will give you a free one.

Screen Discolouration

Some iPhone 4 owners have reported yellow blotches or bands at the edges of their screen. This has been attributed by some as caused by the bonding agent used in manufacture not being cured due to the rush to get the product on the market. The good news is that users generally report this problem disappears after a few days.

Rear Camera Glitches

The two complaints by some iPhone 4 users regarding the rear camera are that the virtual shutter when taking a photo is jammed shut and that indoor shots can come out poorly because the automatic balancer interprets white sheets as yellow. As yet these issues have not been given a remedy by Apple, but a firmware update release is expected to fix or improve the problem.

Fragile Glass

While Apple has advertised their glass screens as "chemically strengthened to be 20 times stiffer and 30 times harder than plastic", users have reported the glass breaking or cracking fairly easily. The obvious fix for this issue is to ensure your mobile has a wrap around case to prevent damage if it falls and a screen protector to avoid chipping.

Conclusion

While the iPhone 4 has received some negative feedback on the above glitches, it is still an ultra stylish trend setter with exciting features that has people queuing up to buy. All in all, the most important factor when buying this Apple superstar is to shop around for a deal that suits both your budget and your needs.
Peter Williams is a mobile phone consultant and iPhone 4 retailer.