iPhone switchers: Blodget in, Arrington out
Henry Blodget. Photo: SAI
This has been busy season for celebrity iPhone switching — and I'm not talking about Britney, Ashton or Branjelina. No, these are tech celebrities, the kind of people who tend to dominate Techmeme's list of the most-influential pundits and bloggers.
Om Malik, the New Delhi-born founder and executive editor of GigaOm (No. 17 on the Techmeme Leaderboard), kicked things off back in February when he announced that he was giving up his beloved iPhone. It wasn't Apple's (AAPL) fault, he wrote in My Big iPhone Break-Up. "I love my iPhone. But AT&T's (T) network has failed me." After AT&T dropped him twice during a single phone interview he said "enough is enough" and switched within minutes to T-Mobile (DT) and a Blackberry Curve 8900.
Two weeks ago, Henry Blodget went the other way. In How I Ended My Affair With BlackBerry And Eloped With The iPhone the former high-profile tech analyst and founder of Silicon Alley Insider (Techmeme No. 30) described the breakup in almost embarrassing detail, including the confession that it involved setting foot in an Apple store for the very first time. "It's like entering another world," he wrote — a revelation that sent the newly revived Fake Steve Jobs into paroxisms of disbelief:
"Wait a minute. You've never been in an Apple store before? … I need to sit down. Okay. Deep breath. You know what? Suddenly all of those dumbass stock picks (a strong buy on Excite@Home?) make sense to me. Dude, you know what? They did the right thing when they tossed you off the Street for life." (link)
On Friday, Michael Arrington, founder of Techcrunch (Techmeme No. 1), made his confession. "I have loved the iPhone," he wrote, echoing Malik and Blodget's emotion-laden metaphors, "but now I am quitting the iPhone."
"I was there in January 2007 when it was announced and I bought the first iPhone as soon as it was available. I happily bought the iPhone 3G a year later. I’ve proudly yelled “I Am A Member Of The Cult Of iPhone.” I’ve been an unabashed cheerleader for the device to all who’ll listen. And I’ve scoffed at developers who said they’d abandon the platform." (link)
What pushed Arrington over the edge was the issue that dominated tech headlines for much of this week: Apple's decision to deny Google Voice's entry into the iPhone App Store. Arrington had been looking forward to using Google's (GOOG) feature-packed call management system without changing his phone number or having to be tied to a particular cellphone carrier. Apparently Apple and AT&T decided they couldn't allow that to happen, and they pulled the plug on all Google Voice-enabled apps.
What's Arrington going to use instead? An Android myTouch 3G for telephony and an iPod touch for testing apps. "And Apple," he concludes, "if you ever decide to put the hammer down on AT&T and do the right thing for your loyal users, I’ll consider switching back."
Om Malik said T-Mobile better coverage than ATT? L.M.A.O. on that one… T-Mobile isn't even a real carrier and they have the worst coverage of all. He must have had his palms greased, no sane person would make such a statement.
Arrington is a blowhard lawyer looking to make a buck.
Both Malik and Arrington should look to Blodget as a role model for a real journalistic perspective.
I could not help but notice all the comments about the short battery life of the iPhone. I recently ran across a a company called 3GPower2.com that markets a 1900 MaH external battery that allows you access to power on the go without any tangled wires.3GPower2's battery recharges your phone in about 2.5 hours. You can even your use your iPhone while the recharging occurs. The battery is good for 1000 recharges and can hold a charge for up 6 months. Folks who have tested the samples say it's great when your stuck in an airport without access to a plug in charger. The external battery will be available August 15, 2009.
Child please! These are all new technologies. It will take some time to work out all the kinks. From network robustness and coverage to the uneven App store approval process and treatment of developers. It's only technology people. Don't get your pressure up. 
Stay with any Device, Carrier, or Operating System long enough and you'll eventually hate it. All have some issues and someone will feel the need to get on a soap box to show people how smart they are by pointing out the obvious..
I live on Staten Island and have never had issues with dropped calls. I travel for work on a daily basis throughout the boroughs as well as Nassau County. I guess I'm lucky. No carrier is perfect especially Verizon who nickel and dimes you to death with their excessive fees. As to battery life, you have to know how to manage your power. Turn off BT and WIFI when not in use. Dim the screen and you will be very surprised how much improvement you'll see. I have 74% left and I took it off charge at 8AM. It is now 2:38PM so I am sitting pretty good. If you're that concerned about draining your battery buy an auxilliary direct connect 1900MA battery for $6.79!!! I did and it works great. To me there is nothing better than the iPhone now. Just my $0.02.
“And Apple,” he concludes, “if you ever decide to put the hammer down on AT&T and do the right thing for your loyal users, I’ll consider switching back.”
This reminds me SO MUCH of people that swear they'll vote Republican if the Democrats fail to pass a "public option".
It's called "cutting off your nose to spite your face".
The iphone is either a phone or the best pda ever. It cannot be both simply because if you use it as a phone, you will want a excellent battery life. If you are using the apps its because you need it for the apps that you are interested on your work or entertainment. It cannot do both at the same time very well. As I have said before, if Sony's psp has a touchscreen like a pre or iphone, then iphone is toast in wifi internet and games. What will be left is the rest of the apps not mentioned.
The Blodget article is nothing more than flame bait. He's stirring the fanboy pot and getting lots of hits for his effort.
Among his beefs with the iPhone:
He couldn't find the CD in the box.
His tech "guru" couldn't figure out how to set up imap with Gmail.
He hasn't had time to visit the app store.
This is a joke. He has time to write multiple stories but he doesn't have time to review the product? Would he write a couple reviews about a car without sitting in it?
Reading the posts is amusing – he's clearly trying to annoy the Apple fan base. It's equally amusing to see iPhone-lovers enthusiastically begging him to visit the App Store. You'll love it Henry, try it !
The guy clearly has an agenda, or else he's insane. Apparently he worked in tech at some point, but his ability to report it is gone if this was a serious effort.
If nothing else, it's a strange read.
I switched from a moto to an iPhone and am loving it. boy I wish I could switch to the 3Gs!!
3G reception up here in canada is superb (Vancouver)…never drops basically.
I think Arrington actually said he was going to use Android until Google Voice for Palm Pre was released.
As Arrington is about to release a tablet do you think he does not have a vested interest in moving away from Apple stuff? His posts recently have been VERY anti Apple. Just saying.
Wouldn't be easier to change the carrier? Unlock the phone! My iPhone works perfectly with America Movil in Lima. It's At&ts fault.
hey,,everyone that is down on ATTs coverage…get over it…the truth is Verizon or anyone else network wouldnt do much better under 3G…Bottom line is ATT wasnt ready for all this load on there 3G network…over load..they are fixing the problem..People are getting on my nerves with bashing ATT. if you want a yesterdays phone on GSM network ,,then quit crying and go back to verizon or sprint…At least ATT was the first provider to have 3G to make the iphone work…quit crying everyone.
Arrington has the hammer right on the head.
Android is the only mobile OS that has any hope for a positive future from a consumer perspective at this time.
Apple needs to pull their head from their hind end.
Hey There,
I'm a currently disgruntled previous iPhone enthusiast. The Google voice situation leaves me bothered, but here is what's really bugging me… some reasons I called ATT customer service today, and sent emails to the service help line a couple weeks ago…. I just looked at my bill and I'm getting at least a %60 dropped call rate — all over NYC. At home its really bad, for both me and my boyfriend who also uses an iPhone. Supposedly I have full bars and a solid 3G network here, despite the dropped calls. I often have 2, 3, 4 even 5 dropped calls in a row. This is REALLY REALLY annoying and makes it impossible to work. I have enjoyed my iPhone, but unless this problem clears up I'm abandoning it and going back to Blackberry/T Mobile as soon as my contract expires. My boyfriend may anti-up and ditch his contract even earlier. I'm going to continue to call customer service and post comments where I can. ATT keeps telling me to contact Apple and Apple keeps sending me back to ATT. This is not ok. As frustrating as these service calls and postings are to make the pressure will encourage ATT/Apple to deal with the certain, undeniable, totally maddening problem. The thing is, if it doesn't change, we will ditch the iPhone, and we'll tell our friends we did, and they will tell their friends and just like love and excitement spread like wildfire when the iPhone came on the scene (I being one of the enthusiasts) rejection will spread as well.
Everyone comments on IPHONE apps and the LOUSY AT & T service. All true enough, however the biggest problem is the PATHETIC battery life. If you spend any time using the actual phone, besides the constant dropped calls, you find your battery is dead in no time. The IPHONE is a great idea that is just no good as a phone. Sorry.
What's stupid is that Google Voice still works perfectly with the iPhone. You can still set up GV to send calls to the iPhone when calls are made to the GV number, and the GV website lets you access all functionality. GV can send your voicemail transcripts any email account (for me they come to gmail on my iPhone.
The only thing Apple blocked was a native App to manage GoogleVoice. Arrington is completely incorrect to suggest that Google Voice cannot work with the phone. He's just trying to get publicity.