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[gblues]

It's funny how tech savy people on here are. I've never had a smartphone before and you all act like I'm buying some prehistoric stone tablet. Apple products hold up well. Really well. For basic web browsing, email, photos and what have you, this phone is more than ideal for me. I was able to buy everything I needed cheaply from eBay. It's amazing.

No, it's just that you decided to buy the worst-designed model in the entire iPhone line.

As long as you put some kind of case on it, you should avoid the worst issues. But you're not going to get most of the popular apps, because they've all been updated to require iOS 8, which doesn't work on the iPhone 4. For that reason alone, a 4S would have been a better deal.

But, if it works for what you need, and you got a good deal, that's all that matters right?

 

[bms2993]

No, it's just that you decided to buy the worst-designed model in the entire iPhone line.

As long as you put some kind of case on it, you should avoid the worst issues. But you're not going to get most of the popular apps, because they've all been updated to require iOS 8, which doesn't work on the iPhone 4. For that reason alone, a 4S would have been a better deal.

But, if it works for what you need, and you got a good deal, that's all that matters right?

I saw a friend's iPhone 4 the other day. I don't think it's poorly designed at all. Also, I don't use apps other than default apps.

 

[super-famicom]

I saw a friend's iPhone 4 the other day. I don't think it's poorly designed at all. Also, I don't use apps other than default apps.

I believe gblues was referring to "Antennagate".

The name Apple founder Steve Jobs gave to the controversy over the iPhone 4's antenna after initial users complained of dropped calls and Consumer Reports would not recommend it. Normally, antennas are inside the phone and insulated from the user's hand. In order to make more room inside, the iPhone 4's antennas are fashioned into the metal rim around the unit. However, touching the rim where two antennas meet may significantly interfere with the signal. Some antenna engineers derided the design, saying human hands and antennas should never touch, while others praised its innovative architecture for saving space inside. See iPhone 4.

 

[bms2993]

I believe gblues was referring to "Antennagate".

This is particularly a non-issue for me. I won't be using a case, but it's just where you hold it. I'm careful with my devices. You see, the beauty of having a device this old is that it is relatively cheap and I won't have to even bother with cases anymore. I can enjoy the phone for what it is. It's beautiful. Well crafted. Art.

 

[Garou]

4. Cheaper and has the coolest looking design on the planet. Going to downgrade the device to iOS 4.0.2 and enjoy the simplicity and debloated nature of the old iPhones. :')

You realize that you cannot simply downgrade an iPhone, the only way would be through a tethered downgrade which is the worst possible option for a mobile phone.
Also you would open yourself to just about any major security hole of the last 5 years (Heartbleed, etc.)

 

[bms2993]

You realize that you cannot simply downgrade an iPhone, the only way would be through a tethered downgrade which is the worst possible option for a mobile phone.
Also you would open yourself to just about any major security hole of the last 5 years (Heartbleed, etc.)

I am aware of the tethered geekgrade option and that's probably what I will try first. The phone I have from eBay has 5.0 on it so I'll backup my SHSH blobs if I ever want to back to it. Then I'll try that firmware. Security holes are a threat, but there are always security holes. Even in today's products.

 

[QualityPixel]

4. Cheaper and has the coolest looking design on the planet. Going to downgrade the device to iOS 4.0.2 and enjoy the simplicity and debloated nature of the old iPhones. :')

Umm.... I don't think it's possible to downgrade. Unless you know some trick you'll be stuck with the version on the phone or the latest version available (7.1.2)

Edit: NM. Good luck. (you'll want the latest version of IOS IMO)

 

[Zee-Row]

I'm curious to see the Gaf thread on the first gen iphone.

 

[bms2993]

Umm.... I don't think it's possible to downgrade. Unless you know some trick you'll be stuck with the version on the phone or the latest version available (7.1.2)

Edit: NM. Good luck. (you'll want the latest version of IOS IMO)

Ah, but then iPhone 4 crawls with iOS 7. I'll take my chances with a 4.X firmware. My mind is made up. Apple added a bunch of junk to the later iOS versions that I just don't care for.

EDIT: But then again... if my phone dies.... ugh. Yeah this is probably a terrible idea.

 

[Garou]

Ah, but then iPhone 4 crawls with iOS 7. I'll take my chances with a 4.X firmware. My mind is made up. Apple added a bunch of junk to the later iOS versions that I just don't care for.

iOS 7.1 restored performance back to tolerable levels for iPhone 4 & iPad 3.

 

[bms2993]

So let's look at the pros and cons of downgrading to a firmware version in the range of 4.X:

Pros:

• Bloat apps like newsstand, game center, reminders and more are removed.
• Faster and lighter operating system with the beautiful skephemorphism left in tact.
• It's not iOS 7.

Cons:

• Have to use a computer to boot up the phone every time it restarts using redsn0w.
• Open to security vulnerabilities.

 

[Garou]

So let's look at the pros and cons of downgrading to a firmware version in the range of 4.X:

Pros:

• Bloat apps like newsstand, game center, reminders and more are removed.
• Faster and lighter operating system with the beautiful skephemorphism left in tact.
• It's not iOS 7.

Cons:

• Have to use a computer to boot up the phone every time it restarts using redsn0w.
• Open to security vulnerabilities.

Even if you just use stock apps, the Google Maps and YouTube apps for iOS 7 or higher are light years beyond the old stock-stuff. And features like reading-view in Safari and many other useful things weren't there back then.
I would go to 7.1.2 and be done with it.

 

[bms2993]

Even if you just use stock apps, the Google Maps and YouTube apps for iOS 7 or higher are light years beyond the old stock-stuff. And features like reading-view in Safari and many other useful things weren't there back then.
I would go to 7.1.2 and be done with it.

Well, luckily, I do have a choice. I'll have to make the decision on my own I suppose.

 

[SmackCrackleNPop]

Seems like you'll know what to do to switch between the two and then settle with which one you prefer. Should be fine.

Sincerely hope you enjoy it, I'll never have that wow feeling again from a smartphone.

Um, Field Runners? That's a fun game.

 

[bms2993]

I'm actually switching to AT&T for the 1 GB a month plan. Should be $50+tax but is more than enough for me. I hope AT&T stores still are able to activate these devices.

 

[SmackCrackleNPop]

As long as it wasn't locked from being activated you should be good!

 

[QualityPixel]

I'm actually switching to AT&T for the 1 GB a month plan. Should be $50+tax but is more than enough for me. I hope AT&T stores still are able to activate these devices.

Just got to a ATT store and tell them you have an iPhone 4 and they'll just give you a sim that works.

 

[Link]

I'm curious to see the Gaf thread on the first gen iphone.

Enjoy.

 

[sixteen-bit]

Have you guys heard about this AntennaGate thing going around?

i think that was solved by buying a case

The bigger problem was that home button degrading over time. In the accessibility options there's a setting to enable a virtual home button on the screen, and lots of folks used that instead of the physical button because it was so unreliable.

 

[bms2993]

I also personally hate the trend of having larger smartphones. It's just silly how large they are getting these days. I'd much rather have the smaller size of the iPhone 4 anyway.


Would me using an iPhone 4 in public have me judged? :$

 

[MercuryLS]

yep best phone apple has ever made.

I'm looking forward to the Galaxy S6, it's like the spiritual successor of the iPhone 4 from a design perspective. Love the glass sandwich with a metal band.

 

[MercuryLS]

I'm curious to see the Gaf thread on the first gen iphone.

I remember the announcement thread where people were freaking about the price. There was one person that wanted one but he couldn't afford it, later on in the thread he posted how his Windows Mobile phone had a theme released for it that made it look like the iPhone and gloated how he didn't have to buy one now. It was pretty funny at the time.

 

[ecurbj]

The iPhone 4 was my first iPhone. I was with Verizon so I had to wait till the iPhone 4 annoucement. Best iPhone ever in my opinion. I miss the troublesome back glass

 

[hohoXD123]

Oh please. The iPhone 4 isn't THAT old. Some people that's all we can afford.

How much was it? There are some excellent budget android phones which are a significant step up from the iphone 4. Still an awesome phone regardless, even if it did become slow as hell towards the end.

 

[bms2993]

How much was it? There are some excellent budget android phones which are a significant step up from the iphone 4. Still an awesome phone regardless, even if it did become slow as hell towards the end.

$119 for the 16 GB GSM phone. This phone is able to downgrade to an earlier firmware so I'm happy to have it running on the firmware it originally came with for fast speeds!

http://www.ebay.com/itm/151564052832?_trksid=p2060353.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

 

[Auron_Kale]

Ah, but then iPhone 4 crawls with iOS 7. I'll take my chances with a 4.X firmware. My mind is made up. Apple added a bunch of junk to the later iOS versions that I just don't care for.

EDIT: But then again... if my phone dies.... ugh. Yeah this is probably a terrible idea.

After I backed up my 4S' photos onto my computer, I did a complete wipe of the phone and jumped to iOS 8.

Still need to update it to 8.2 on it, but as a clean install, the 4S runs pretty well with 8.

Personally, I'd have opted for a 4S over a vanilla 4, but still, best of luck with the phone. The 4/4S is still my favorite version of the iPhone - the all glass is so classic.

 

[bms2993]

I wanted to live in the year 2010.

 

[SmackCrackleNPop]

I wanted to live in the year 2010.

At least people are over antenna-gate. Used to have friends ask me about holding it wrong. Now they ask to try to bend my iPhone 6 lol.