iPhone Named 'Worst in the World' - For What It's Worth - Comcast.net Finance

If you don't currently own an iPhone, forget everything you've heard about how wonderful it is. Well, maybe not everything. But according to CNET UK's Flora Graham, the iPhone has a collection of dirty little secrets that tend to get overshadowed in the mainstream media and the high-school cafeteria (probably because you look 10 times cooler if you're holding one regardless).

Most of these inconvenient truths are far-from-secret to those who actually own Apple Corp.'s deified device. But as CNNMoney's Philip Elmer DeWitt reported earlier this week, Graham's scathing review brings many of them to light -- all just five months after she named it the "world's best touchscreen phone."

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The British Are Coming

Among Graham's remarks reported by DeWitt at CNNMoney.com:

"Say what? Call quality on the iPhone is pathetic, and it's mostly because of the tiny speaker. It has to be aligned with your ear canal with the accuracy of a laser-guided ninja doing cataract surgery, or else the volume cuts down to nothing as the sound waves bounce uselessly around your ear shells."

Bollocks. That's rough. In fairness, though she calls the iPhone "rubbish" when it comes to making calls, Graham suggests that just about all of the glowing praise heaped on the device from all corners of the earth still seems warranted. From DeWitt's article at CNNMoney.com, "Brit Blog Names iPhone 'World's Worst'":

"The iPhone sucks — so what? If the iPhone is inaudible, unconnected, on fire and out of battery, why is the thing so popular? The fact is, although the iPhone is the worst phone in the world, it's the best handheld computer there is."

So why the change of heart at CNET UK? Your guess is as good as ours.

In This Corner...

But one thing we do know is that the timing couldn't be better if you take Graham's words to heart. That's because across the pond in the U.S., America's leading cell carrier Verizon Wireless introduced its latest attempt to dent rival carrier AT&T's growing iPhone-fueled momentum with this morning's 12:00 a.m. launch of its Motorola Droid.

The chances that the Droid will steal significant thunder from the colossus that is the iPhone are charting somewhere between slim and none… with slim having just left town. That said, amid the backdrop of Graham's CNET UK piece that called clear attention to the fact that Steve Jobs' creation is far from infallible, users certainly have reasons to give the Droid some consideration.

Some reviews echo that sentiment. A quick sampling:

• "First Look: Droid Not an iPhone Killer, but Still Pretty Cool" -- Matt Hamblen, Computerworld.com


• "Review: Motorola's Droid Is a Serious Smart Phone" -- Rachel Metz, Associated Press


• "Review: Motorola's Smart Droid" -- Walter S. Mossberg, The Wall Street Journal Online


• "Motorola's Droid Review: It's the Best on Verizon" -- Mark Milian, Los Angeles Times

There's Always a Catch

But before you rush out to your local Verizon store to snag the Droid -- consider this: The carrier plans to alter its service agreement, effective November 15. The bottom line, as reported by Christian Zibreg at Geek.com ("The Droid Tax: Verizon Doubles Early Termination Fee to $350"): Beware the nasty $350 early termination fee.

We fully recognize the need for early termination fees. After all, those charges exist as a means for subsidizing the devices we all carry. Without them, there'd be no new "free" or $99 handsets for most of us every 24 months or so.

But Verizon's approach and timing (there's that word again) seem especially heavy-handed. The carrier's plans to close a potential loophole for those looking to flip their hardware on eBay for a quick profit could end up having real consequences for its otherwise loyal customers. And that's far from cool…

What do you think of the ongoing cellphone wars? Is the iPhone overrated… or is it truly the best thing since sliced bread? Share your thoughts.

-- The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.

Message Edited by Anthony_Catalano on 11-12-2009 02:54 PM