iDifficulties: outlining the few hiccups and difficulties in using the iPhone 7

The recent launch of the iPhone 7 has garnered a lot of attention for its slew of new features, and for the missing 3.5 mm jack.

An iPhone is a high quality phone with a great camera. There are many people and reviews out there which tell you why you need to buy it- reasons right from aesthetics to quality and attention to detail.

However, there are quite a few hiccups and practical difficulties in using this device- some well-known, and some less known. This article is about those irritants which Apple will hopefully take note of:

 iMessage reliability in areas of unreliable internet: iMessage on the surface is a very simple and easy to use app. It theoretically scores over WhatsApp because the convenience of using a single app for both rich multimedia messaging, and basic SMS.

However, it is not very reliable. If the recipient of the message has his/her net turned off, or is in an area with a poor data network, the message doesn't get delivered. Moreover there is no way to ask iMessage to send as a normal message immediately, because the message has already been sent from one end- it just hasn't been delivered yet.

Incompatibility with other devices: Transferring an attachment to a (Windows/Linux) laptop from an iPhone when there is no data connection, and no cables is a near impossible task. Such scenarios are not uncommon- for example when one is in a flight.

 Customer service in India: In India, Apple’s customer service is outsourced to third party agencies like PCH. This would mean that one may not expect the same standards of service as in countries like the US.

 App store is limiting: The Apple app store might boast of the largest number of apps. However, most apps are commercial apps for the masses. It lacks niche apps which will never have a vast audience (for eg- Netmon). This is because of the way the revenue sharing agreements of the stores are structured- Apple demands an annual fee, while Google demands only a one-time fee from registered developers. An annual fee discourages apps which have a very niche target segment.

Restrictions: The multiple restrictions on software and hardware are quite well known. These restrictions somehow seem quite inconsistent with Apple’s stated ideology. Apple came into being by claiming that its products were truly 'personal' and original. It abhorred competitors like IBM in its famous 1984 Superbowl commercial for being a control freak which brainwashed the masses into accepting their version and worldview. Ironically, Apple seems to be doing exactly the same with its restrictions, and lack of personalisation,

Lack of an FM radio: This is important enough to be part of a separate subheading. Especially because the iPhone (like a lot of other high end flagships) already has the FM radio chipset bundled in. For example, the iPhone 6 has the Murata 339S0228 chip which has the FM functionality. It is just that these are unfortunately disabled.

Apart from the obvious advantages of understanding local culture, being light on battery life (uses one sixth the battery used by an internet streaming service), and being free, the humble FM radio has one crucial advantage: It is a reliable means of communication during a natural disaster. The FM radio, for example, played a key role in conveying information during the recent Chennai floods.

Hopefully (though not likely), these irritants would be taken care of in the next iteration of their phone.

By Akhil Sai Valluri. The article was originally published on his personal blog.