iPhone FAQ : Basics
- What is iPhone?
- iPhone is a cellular phone created by Apple. iPhone combines an iPod music/video player, a cell phone, and an internet web and email client into one device. iPhone is intended to compete in the "smartphone" market. Two models will be sold for $499 (with 4 GB of storage) or $599 (for 8 GB of storage).
- How many songs/videos can iPhone hold?
- There are two iPhone models, one with 4 GB of storage and one with 8 GB of storage. Some of the iPhone's storage is used for its operating system, so not all of this space is available to store songs and videos. About 300 MB is used by the OS, and our 8 GB model had 7.24 GB of free space before it was set up by iTunes.
- What OS does it run?
- iPhone runs a version of OS X, similar to the desktop Mac OS X operating system.
- Is it a Mac? Can it run Mac programs?
- No. iPhone lacks many of the programmers' interfaces required to create a Mac program, and has a radically different user interface from a desktop Mac.
- Does it use an Intel processor?
- Disassembly photos indicate iPhone uses an ARM-type processor with just 1 Gigabit (125 MBytes) of RAM, complementing the 4GB or 8GB of flash memory. (ARM processors feature very low power consumption and were used in Apple's Newton MessagePad, iPods (other than the Shuffle) and many current cell phones.)
- Can I run other programs on iPhone?
- No. Only the programs supplied by Apple for iPhone can run. Some developers are creating web-based applications that will run in iPhone's web browser.
- Are there games for iPhone like there are for iPods?
- No.
- How bright is the screen? Is it viewable in sunlight?
- iPhone adjusts its brightness for ambient conditions. We found it usable in direct sunlight, although videos and photos appeared washed out.
- Does it sync with my Mac/PC?
- Yes, iTunes provides synchronization services for Safari bookmarks on Mac or PC, Internet Explorer bookmarks on PC, Mac Mail/Outlook/Outlook Express email accounts, iTunes music and video, Mac Address Book and Outlook contacts, and photos from iPhoto or a PC folder.
- Can it sync wirelessly?
- No, it must be docked like an iPod to sync.
- What is the color and material of the back of the iPhone? In some pics it looks white, in others it looks matte silver with a shiny Apple logo. What is it?
- The back of iPhone is satin-finish metal, except for the bottom fifth, which is black plastic. The antennas are located behind this black panel, similar to the Motorola RAZR's innovative antenna design.
- What comes in the box?
- iPhone, Stereo Headset, Dock, Dock Connector to USB Cable, USB Power Adapter, Documentation, Cleaning/polishing cloth
