Buying an iPhone… what else do I need?
Straight out of the box the iPhone 4S comes with a USB docking cord, an AC power adaptor, and earbuds. The USB cord allows you to connect your iPhone to a computer to sync, backup and recharge the battery, but it also plugs in to the AC adaptor to recharge your phone if you are away from a computer.
I am relatively careful with my equipment-I have never broken a phone or wore it out before it was out of contract so I have decided to not get insurance for my phone. But the iPhone, while being known to be a durable phone, is made of glass and will shatter if abused hard enough. I think adding a good case and screen protector is a reasonable hedge against damage and hopefully it will pay off. For that reason I would buy a protective case and transparent screen protector for it. The screen protector is just a thin plastic sheet appliqué that lays on top of your original screen. The Apple glass display is very tough and durable, but accidents do happen. If somebody accidentally wipes greasy or sticky fingers on your screen protector, you can wash it off. If it doesn’t come off easily, remove the screen protector and apply a new one. At a couple of bucks apiece they are cheap insurance. If you are rough on your equipment you may want to get a case and screen protector and get insurance to boot.
A good case will wrap the body of your phone in a soft shock absorbing material to cushion any bumps, jolt and drops that it might be subjected to no matter what direction the impact comes from. Keep in mind that you need the camera, power and headphone ports, and buttons clear from the case body, but the more the case surrounds them, the more protection they have. Also look for a case that extends above the glass display of the phone so if the phone falls on its face, the case will protect that side of the phone as well. So far I have been extremely pleased with my Speck Products Hard Candy Shell case. It doesn’t add much bulk or weight to the phone but definitely protects the phone. I like that the case is less slippery so the phone is more secure in my grasp, but the hard shell allows the phone to slip in and out of my pocket easily. I have heard good things about the Magpul iPhone case which is available for $10, and many other cases can be found for under $35.
I don’t know about you, but I use my phone when I am traveling away from my computer, which means a car auxiliary power adaptor is mandatory. But, you cannot buy just any adaptor for the iPhone. No, Apple makes sure that you have to buy Apple approved products by requiring a 2 volt signal across the USB data channels before it will charge the iPhone. For you non-technical types, it means make sure all your charging devices say they are specifically made for your iPhone. Yes, those cheap Android USB chargers look like they will charge your iPhone, but no, they probably won’t (without doing some hardware hacking that I am not going to get into.) I also like having a spare USB docking cord and AC power adaptor for travel, and yes, those need to be Apple compliant, too. You can find these items for under $20 for all three if you shop around.
The last item I would definitely recommend for the iPhone is a set of quality headphones. The earbuds that come with the iPhone are ok for talking, but they aren’t real comfortable and are lousy for sound isolation and listening to music. I use the Apple earbuds in the car (one earbud in, the other one out so I can hear what is going on in my surroundings), but this is a temporary measure. I expect to get a Bluetooth wireless headset in the future, but I need to learn more about them first. If anyone has any recommendations or suggestions on features to look for, I am all ears. Depending on your comfort levels, quality in-the-ear earbuds can block out the rest of the world and provide exquisite listening bliss or you might prefer over-the-ear headphones. Both styles are now available with the Apple 3 button microphone that allows you to answers calls and turn the volume up and down using controls on the headphones themselves instead of the phone. But, be careful when using headphones as you will block outside noises and will not be nearly as aware of your surroundings. Prices range from $10 to more than $500. In-the-ear buds are very popular as they are small and easy to transport, but they can be fragile, so if you buy a pair, compare warranties before you buy.
If you wish to silence your iPhone notification noises at night and still allow the phone ringer to ring through easily, I would recommend buying a cheap pair of 3.5mm ear buds or a 3.5mm extension cord and trim the male jack end off to put in the phone at night. Make sure the wire insulation around the jack is small enough to fit the earphone hole in your case. After getting your phone and all its associated hardware you are finally ready to turn it on and get started. And naturally you are going to want to look at Apps…
I am relatively careful with my equipment-I have never broken a phone or wore it out before it was out of contract so I have decided to not get insurance for my phone. But the iPhone, while being known to be a durable phone, is made of glass and will shatter if abused hard enough. I think adding a good case and screen protector is a reasonable hedge against damage and hopefully it will pay off. For that reason I would buy a protective case and transparent screen protector for it. The screen protector is just a thin plastic sheet appliqué that lays on top of your original screen. The Apple glass display is very tough and durable, but accidents do happen. If somebody accidentally wipes greasy or sticky fingers on your screen protector, you can wash it off. If it doesn’t come off easily, remove the screen protector and apply a new one. At a couple of bucks apiece they are cheap insurance. If you are rough on your equipment you may want to get a case and screen protector and get insurance to boot.
A good case will wrap the body of your phone in a soft shock absorbing material to cushion any bumps, jolt and drops that it might be subjected to no matter what direction the impact comes from. Keep in mind that you need the camera, power and headphone ports, and buttons clear from the case body, but the more the case surrounds them, the more protection they have. Also look for a case that extends above the glass display of the phone so if the phone falls on its face, the case will protect that side of the phone as well. So far I have been extremely pleased with my Speck Products Hard Candy Shell case. It doesn’t add much bulk or weight to the phone but definitely protects the phone. I like that the case is less slippery so the phone is more secure in my grasp, but the hard shell allows the phone to slip in and out of my pocket easily. I have heard good things about the Magpul iPhone case which is available for $10, and many other cases can be found for under $35.
I don’t know about you, but I use my phone when I am traveling away from my computer, which means a car auxiliary power adaptor is mandatory. But, you cannot buy just any adaptor for the iPhone. No, Apple makes sure that you have to buy Apple approved products by requiring a 2 volt signal across the USB data channels before it will charge the iPhone. For you non-technical types, it means make sure all your charging devices say they are specifically made for your iPhone. Yes, those cheap Android USB chargers look like they will charge your iPhone, but no, they probably won’t (without doing some hardware hacking that I am not going to get into.) I also like having a spare USB docking cord and AC power adaptor for travel, and yes, those need to be Apple compliant, too. You can find these items for under $20 for all three if you shop around.
The last item I would definitely recommend for the iPhone is a set of quality headphones. The earbuds that come with the iPhone are ok for talking, but they aren’t real comfortable and are lousy for sound isolation and listening to music. I use the Apple earbuds in the car (one earbud in, the other one out so I can hear what is going on in my surroundings), but this is a temporary measure. I expect to get a Bluetooth wireless headset in the future, but I need to learn more about them first. If anyone has any recommendations or suggestions on features to look for, I am all ears. Depending on your comfort levels, quality in-the-ear earbuds can block out the rest of the world and provide exquisite listening bliss or you might prefer over-the-ear headphones. Both styles are now available with the Apple 3 button microphone that allows you to answers calls and turn the volume up and down using controls on the headphones themselves instead of the phone. But, be careful when using headphones as you will block outside noises and will not be nearly as aware of your surroundings. Prices range from $10 to more than $500. In-the-ear buds are very popular as they are small and easy to transport, but they can be fragile, so if you buy a pair, compare warranties before you buy.
If you wish to silence your iPhone notification noises at night and still allow the phone ringer to ring through easily, I would recommend buying a cheap pair of 3.5mm ear buds or a 3.5mm extension cord and trim the male jack end off to put in the phone at night. Make sure the wire insulation around the jack is small enough to fit the earphone hole in your case. After getting your phone and all its associated hardware you are finally ready to turn it on and get started. And naturally you are going to want to look at Apps…