Not that *I* do, of course (cough, cough), but I’ve noticed that browsing on the iPhone to be a fairly awesome mobile experience, where, of course, I can literally surf anywhere, and surf real webpages, not the mobile optimized crap that often passes as a “web experience”.
Yesterday, for example, I found myself on my couch surfing on my iPhone (via Safari) while watching TV, while my computer was sitting about 5 feet away from me. I could have gotten up to use my computer, but the problem is that its facing away from the TV.
Yes, aside from the thought “jeebus, WHEN did you get so colossal lazy?”, the other thought that also popped into my mind was that the browser in the iPhone was perfectly acceptable for recreational surfing. And it allowed me to surf while doing all kinds of things, including watching TV, without hauling out my laptop *and* a TV tray *and* its electric plug.
(having a baby meant getting rid of that TV tray, as its an object with a high center of gravity, and a high risk of damaging small fleshy things, which would put me at a higher risk of getting personally damaged by my wife)
So, its no surprise when I heard that the iPhone, as a means browse the internet, has actually *doubled* its share of the browsing pie. This isn’t merely mobile browsing, but *all* browsing. Now, the actual numbers are a lot more humble than what I thought, at about 0.3%, but given the kind of positive experiences I’ve been having I’m not at all surprised.
I do wonder if and when Apple grants people the ability to use the iPhone as a tethering device for laptops, how it might change the uptake for the iPhone as a browsing experience. Not that its currently being allowed in the States, but apparently, in just another month its coming to Canada. Tell you what: when it does come, I’ll try it and let you know. ;)
September 1st, 2008 at 11:02 pm | Permalink
[...] Original post by Tony Hung [...]
September 1st, 2008 at 11:04 pm | Permalink
As the father of a newborn I’m loving the iPhone because now I can surf one handed while rocking my baby to sleep with the other :-)
September 1st, 2008 at 11:06 pm | Permalink
@Darren: niiiiice. ;)
September 1st, 2008 at 11:17 pm | Permalink
Darren is absolutely right. I use the iPhone all the time when rocking a baby to sleep or resting one on my chest. With two kids, even this can get challenging, though. As for using the iPhone (or iPod Touch) in the restroom, let’s just say it doesn’t make sense to put a laptop in your pocket.
September 1st, 2008 at 11:22 pm | Permalink
@Louis — on a completely different, but somewhat related anecdote, I have had the misfortunate of dropping my hospital pager into the toilet twice. Mostly because they hang on my belt, and have slid right off after its become unbuckled.
The reason for this “TMI” moment is that I encourage everyone with a dataphone to not make the same expensive mistake by keeping a close eye on it ;)
September 1st, 2008 at 11:27 pm | Permalink
glad to know it’s not just me Tony! for a bit of casual Web browsing, i’m all over the iPod Touch (in my case - no iPhone just yet) which gives me the basic Web experience i’m looking for while not asking me to leave the sofa. perhaps immobile browsing would be more apt?
Ed
September 2nd, 2008 at 1:16 am | Permalink
I use my iPhone all the time when I’m too lazy to go to the next room and look up something on my computer.
And I use it on the throne a lot too. But mostly for “shwittering” … :-)
September 2nd, 2008 at 12:25 pm | Permalink
@Darren - don’t forget about being able to take a quick pic of the funny things that kid is going to do and send it out to your peeps!
September 2nd, 2008 at 12:33 pm | Permalink
I second/third/fourth the using-iPhone while-rocking/feeding/soothing baby thing. Works a treat.
(works great on the throne too.)
September 3rd, 2008 at 12:15 am | Permalink
I just got my Iphone 3G a few days ago and don’t know how I lived without it! :-) I had a Helio Ocean before this and thought I had a great phone with a great service. That is only until I got my Iphone though. Wow!
I guess I can’t rock my 15 year old and 13 year old BUT I’ve got a new one (with my new wife of the past 7 years) coming in November so I guess I’ll be rocking him then!!
Oh, and as Jordan said above, it is pretty good for “shwittering” … :-)