A Farewell to iPhones forever

[mooshubob]

Come then, sir. We shall embark upon this beautiful voyage together as comrades and compatriots. Let all who stand in the way of progress and openness shiver and quake!

 

[aquaboy1976]

The age of the iphone ruling the market is over. I hope they keep making strong competetive products, thats what makes the market grow.

I wholeheartedly agree! Competition is what keeps them making better products!

 

[caliskimmer]

Come then, sir. We shall embark upon this beautiful voyage together as comrades and compatriots. Let all who stand in the way of progress and openness shiver and quake!

Indeed!

 

[caliskimmer]

Man, I've never seen a crowd like this over here! I think we all owe a big thanks to Phil who brought more people to us.

 

[abhishekduggal]

Interesting rating upgrade on cNET's review of the Samsung Epic 4G

Editors' note, August 18, 2010: "Upon further analysis, we have upgraded the rating of the Samsung Epic 4G to 8.7"

This has got me even more excited!!!

 

[maven1975]

The Epic is and iPhone 4 spec wise. But my friend, be ready for App store shock! If you like games, its slim picken's. See you at the store tomorrow!

 

[redforty]

YES

Moving on from iphone 3gs as well. Fed up with At&t.
I like the look of the Epic. Black and glossy w/ TI-esque QWERTY.
Now bring on the frozen dessert sammy..

 

[pablo.station]

wanted an iphone at one point, never got one. Couldn't bring myself to drink the kool aid. I want the epic.

 

[SharonW]

Cali, I wholeheartedly agree with your sentiments. I, too, was enthralled by the iPhones for the longest time. My journey began as an impressionable teenager, buying the original iPhone 2G for the whopping $600 it first retailed at (what can I say? It was the coolest device I had ever seen). It was quite literally perfect - I remember the night I got it quite vividly, buying off of a really nice man from Craigslist, with the full box + original gift bag.

Sadly, my tryst was not to last. I was relaxing, poolside, at a friends BBQ when my classmate pushed me into the pool as a harmless (or so I thought) prank. When I emerged, cursing jovially, I immediately felt the cold embrace of adrenaline strike my chest - my precious iPhone was in my pocket!!!! The horror.

I attempted everything - hairdrying it, putting it in a bag of rice, etc., to no avail. Fortunately, I had rich friends, and the one who pushed me in shared in my remorse (although I must say to a much lesser degree), and gave me $200 so that I may replace it. But how could I replace perfection? Is it virtuous to even think it possible to do so? So, with heart (and hat) in hand, I proceeded to the Apple Store, and purchased the iPhone 3G - and my passion was reignited! Such rapture! My original iPhone had emerged through the fires of Perdition; reborn, as a phoenix blazing on AT&T's (then) fast 3G network.

Our joy, too, was long and prosperous. Jailbreaks, dates, parties, Prom, Graduation, Freshman year of college, my 3G served me faithfully, without complaint or punishment - but it was not to be! My own ambition, nay!, greed for greater speed, greater glory, greater camera options drove me to encourage my mother to upgrade to the 3G, so that I may snatch her newborn away, replacing it with my dignified, esteemed, "vintage" model.

The universe, of course, sought its unstoppable revenge - karma. Scarcely two months passed before my phone began dying irreparably. Fearing my jailbreak had unleashed some heretofore unknown virus upon my child, I trawled the interweb for any signs of hope, any spark, or glimmer of salvation. DFU mode, recovery mode, full restore, restore without SIM card, everything was tried - and utterly failed. So, again, heart (and hat) in hand, I proceeded to the Apple Store, where those stalwart defenders of justice (most improperly named "Geniuses") threw my child into the great maw of the stock room, diagnosing its affliction as "hardware defect". Oh how a parent never wishes to hear those words uttered.

But rejoice, good friends, as my child was replaced - nay!, cloned and given back to me, healthier than ever before, until the present.

We are in troubled times, good sirs and madames. Troubled times indeed. There is relentless persecution of all that is good, and just, and those that originally encouraged us to "think different" are now spell- and grammar-checking that to "think differently"!

Yes, I do refer to Master Jobs and the remainder of his ilk. Do they think themselves gods, to control us so? Or merely the invisible pupper-masters, silently controlling the strings - encouraging us to dance this way, then that? No, I will not stand for this, not as long as I hold breath in my body, and money in my wallet enough to switch.

For there truly are greener pastures just across the double rainbows.

Now throughout all of this ordeal, notice, friends, that I never place any blame upon my sweet, sweet iChildren - for, why should we cast down the children if the parents are responsible for the madness? Nay, we shall not encourage castes in this world. My devices have served me with the utmost honor, respect, and obedience, even when I used them to research those that will replace them (this is not to say, however, that if Master Jobs had the power to stop them from doing so, he would not).

So, fair iPhones, I must bid you adieu. I shall miss your utter simplicity, as well as the amazing customization you offered me after I broke you free from your walled garden. Think not that you are being replaced - nothing could be further from the truth. Know that you are afforded the privilege of retiring with your dignity, and my love for you, intact. I fear that if I must hold on to you any longer, Master Jobs' tightening fingers of control, coupled with AT&T's mediocre-at-best service, I will grow to utterly resent, and, I shudder to think, hate you.

Enjoy the pastures in your idyllic meadows, I shall call upon you, especially when I require an unlocked phone in my travels. Until then, au revoir, and sleep well.

Oh, my dear Lord Mooshubob, thou dost don the nomen of my recently departed Shih-Tsu, minus the bob. That in and of itself, would charm me, but for the addition of thine eloquence without sacrifice of former allegiances, I am laid low and bow before you.

Thou is most deserving of the esteemed Androidcentral's Epic giveaway without regards to intent. Perhaps you shall be so blessed.

I sit here with heavy heart as the once magnificent gift I thought I bestowed upon my son as his birthright for navigating and conquering the post-secondary education system was snubbed by the mighty Samsung as unworthy of the blessings of Sir Froyo. That I dared impart a Moment unto my son was I duly chastened. No longer shall the world of updates be his. I feel I have failed him as a mother. Woe unto me.

May your new Samsung Epic serve you bravely and with fortitude and curses upon the shield and house of Jobs and his walled and moated castle for he has cast aside former allegiances not merely for coin, but for vanity as one who would even challenge god.

 

[mooshubob]

Lady Sharon, your praise heartens and honors me. There is, however, no cause to lay low or bow to me; rise, and we shall recognize each other as equals in the Eden that is Android.

Do not fear and resent your choices as a mother - you made a most noble gesture that was cruelly tarnished and twisted by mighty Samsung. All is not lost, however! I am quite sure your son appreciated his birthright when it was given to him, and has fostered and incubated a newfound respect for the technologically 'epic' world in which we live. That, in and of itself, is much more than any parent could hope to achieve.

Fear not, fair maiden. The house of Jobs is indeed tending toward its eventual demise. As more and more open their eyes to the wanton rape of all that is open and pure, benevolent Google shall harbor and receive them!

And so shall our world come to experience harmony...all this I have foreseen.

 

[caliskimmer]

wanted an iphone at one point, never got one. Couldn't bring myself to drink the kool aid. I want the epic.

The kool aid sucked anyways. The after taste was REAL bad. Decided to get another drink and I can taste the sweet, colorful goodness in every drink! lol

 

[erickzig]

This is so fascinating to me! I work in a company that is *very* Apple friendly and everyone has iPhones (literally). When I mentioned that I was considering an Android phone people gasped (also literally). The only person I know here that has an Android phone quit, if that tells you anything.

I can't wait to get this and do tons of testing against my current 3G the my friend's iPhone 4 to see if I want to keep it. I was going to go with the 4 but I hate AT&T and Apple's tight control of the Apps...

I actually went to the local Sprint store yesterday (they sold out in 4 hours. I have mine ordered on Amazon) to play with one and it seems pretty cool. Awesome keyboard and the thing is so light but it does feel pretty cheap. The internet connection was super-slow too but I am hoping that was just the 3G service in the store. It loaded the few sites just as slow as my 3G, which worried me. We'll see when I get it on Friday or Tuesday.

 

[lorcha]

Wait, I thought Samsung already killed the iPhone with the Instinct! What happened?

 

[Mofus]

I had iPhones for years and foolishly thought that the other carriers needed to get it to survive. AT&T was horrible and I couldn't wait for the day when Verizon would get the illustrious iPhone. But, when the Evo came out I couldn't wait any longer to leave AT&T and made the move. The best (phone) move I've ever made.

Now, I believe AT&T can keep their pact with Jobs because the other carriers don't need the iPhone. The Android OS has turned the tide and some day will dominate the market. I think the iPhone served it's purpose to spur this Android explosion, and without it we wouldn't have our b!tchen phones, but Jobs' strangle hold on the device will ultimately be it's demise. Oh, it will never die, or go away, but I don't think it will maintain it's place on the top of the heap for much longer.

Sprint is awesome by the way. Very happy with their coverage.