I got my iPhone 4 last week, but I wanted to hold off writing about it until I’d had some time to actually use it. Since last week I’ve spent a fair amount of time using the new features and I took my iPhone 4 on a long hike up Mount Monadnock in New Hampshire. Before I tell you the ten reasons why I love my iPhone 4, let me tell you how it performed on my hike.
Up Mount Monadnock
Mount Monadnock is a mountain in south-western New Hampshire. It’s one of the most hiked mountains in the world. At its peak it’s more than 3,000 feet high. I decided on a lark to head up Monadnock and I took my iPhone 4 with me.
I know a lot of people have been complaining about reception problems with the iPhone 4, and I know a lot of people hate AT&T in general. Well I have to say that I was surprised and pleased while hiking up Monadnock with my iPhone 4. For the most part, I had a pretty good signal on my iPhone 4. I was able to send pics to Facebook, check email and even load web pages in Safari.
The real challenge for me wasn’t getting an AT&T network signal, it was not being nervous while taking photos and video. I am somewhat uncomfortable with heights, so I was a bit jittery while using my iPhone 4. Once I got high enough up the mountain to have a nice view, I also found myself somewhat woozy from staring at the view. If you have any issues with heights, you know what I mean.
I also did not have the bumper for my iPhone 4 so I had to hold it very carefully so it didn’t slip through my sweaty fingers. Can you imagine what it would have felt like if I’d dropped it and it careened down the side of the mountain?
I was trying to be so careful that, for the most part, I forgot that I could tilt my iPhone on its side to take videos and pics that way. So most of my pics and video are vertical and not horizontal. Oops! 
Overall, my iPhone 4 worked great for me during my hike though. You can check out some of those pics and video in my MobileMe Gallery.
Hiking up Mount Monadnock.
My climb up Monadnock aside, here are the ten reasons why I love my iPhone 4.
#10 Compass
I love the fact that there’s a compass built into my iPhone now. What a great addition for those who might want to go hiking and engage in other outdoor activities. I played with mine on my hike up Mount Monadnock and it seemed to work quite well. I am not sure I would want to rely on it alone, in place of a real compass, but I am still glad that it’s available.
The iPhone 4's built-in compass app.
#9 Two Cameras
The addition of a front-facing camera to the iPhone 4 has made a big difference in the overall experience. Facetime is an obvious use for it, but I am also looking forward to using it when Skype for iPhone is updated too.
Frankly, I was always disappointed with the iPhone’s lack of a camera in the front. It seems like it should have had one right from the very beginning. Apple’s decision not to include a camera in the front never made any sense to me. Therefore, I am very glad that it has finally been included in iPhone 4.
One slightly amusing situation I encountered with the iPhone 4’s camera happened while hiking up Monadnock. A hawk was flying near me and I went to get a video of it, but my iPhone 4 had the front camera on and I had to switch it. While trying to switch it, I fell over as I was not standing on the best footing at the time.
It was pretty funny, looking back at it. I managed to get a few photos and a video of the hawk eventually, but those first few seconds were quite chaotic as I tried to figure out why the camera was pointing at me instead of the hawk as he flew over me.
#8 Multitasking
I’ve never been one of the folks that really cared much about multitasking on my iPhone. I am not sure if it is just how I tended to use it or what, but it just has not been a huge priority for me. I was pleased to note that in iOS 4, Apple seems to have done a good first pass at it. In addition, they did it in a way that seems to minimize the drain on the iPhone’s battery.
Click the home button twice to switch between apps.
#7 Home Screen Wallpaper
I love being able to add my own wallpaper to my home screen. It really brightens it up considerably compared to what my old iPhone 3G used to look like. I hated not being able to customize the way my home screen looked on that old phone; it’s quite nice now to be able to use a photo of my parrot Bilbo as my wallpaper.
I love the ability to choose my own home screen wallpaper.
#6 Retina Display
I read many ebooks on my iPhone, and most of my reading is done while I’m walking on a treadmill at the gym. When I first heard about the “retina display” feature, I sort of wrote it off to some cheesy marketing by Apple. It sounds so pretentious, doesn’t it? It’s exactly something that a marketing droid hyped on caffeine would come up with for his or her boss in the marketing department.
However, you know what? The Retina Display really is quite sharp, and it makes a big difference when reading on the iPhone 4. It’s quickly becoming one of my favorite things about the iPhone 4. Once you get used to it, it’s hard to imagine using an older iPhone or another phone with a lesser screen.
The text in my ebook looks great, even blown up with a huge font.
(11 votes, average: 3.27 out of 5)
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For a very in-depth review of the iPhone 4, be sure to read the one at Ars Technica.
http://arstechnica.com/apple/reviews/2010/06/iphone-4.ars
I’ve got to know, how do you manage to read while you’re on the treadmill? I always find it to be a hassle between the jostling and the holding and all that.
I don’t run, I just walk Kiwi. I don’t have the knees to be able to run. So for me it’s easier to read. I really like it too. Before I even know it, my walk on the treadmill is over. Ebooks are awesome to pass the time away while letting my legs get some exercise.
Since you disabled comments on your ad/ad blocker post, I will post here. I have adblock installed in safari. It is never turned on, unless i’m in the dark depths of the internet. I do however have a flashblocker turned on 24/7. The reason I have this is because it sucks bandwidth and completely slows down my computer. As a mac user and blogger, I’m sure you know this is a huge problem. As it turns out all your ads are blocked, as they are all flash. All six of them. I don’t read your blog, but I just wanted to point out the distinction.
Just a quick note. Compass where available in 3GS too. :-)
Hi Anders,
Yeah, I didn’t realize that the compass was available in the 3GS too. I went from the 3G to the iPhone 4, so I skipped the 3GS. But thanks for the heads up.
Hi Jim,
If you, in the map application, click on the “locate me” button in the lower lefter corner, to center the map on you. Then you can click it again to make the map orientate itself to the direction, where you are looking. That is a very nice use of the compass.
Thanks, Anders. I’ll try that.
I just got my iPhone 4 today, and I love it!
Nice review! I agree with most things. I also upgraded from an iPhone 3G to an iPhone 4. I guess most people are doing that, as 3Gs owners are in some contract, while 3G owners are finished or in the end of contracts. I myself are living in sweden, but bought my iPhone 4 from UK where they are unlocked and contract-free.
I am positive that the iPhone 4 is the best and easiest cellular produced to this date, and I am sure Steve and Apple will keep surprise us in a positive way, when they present the next iPhone or Mac.
http://nastyswap.se/
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I have always been pro Nokia and PC oriented, dismissing everything Apple. I have always preferred Creative or Sansa MP3 over ipods. Well, 3 days ago I won an ipod Touch 4G in a raffle at work. Boy oh boy, I have to admit I am loving this thing. Its stable, fast, agile and fun fun to use. I can imagine iPhone 4 being a blast! Yes, its not as open a system as Symbian or Android but maybe thats what keeps it organized and looking and performing great. The only thing keeping me from getting an iphone is the camera (photography is my hobby) and although the iphone 4G camera is very decent no one can’t beat the 12MP in Nokias N8. Also the lack of FM radio which I use a lot. Those are the reasons I chose the Nokia N8 over iphone, despite Symbian being extremely boring. If Apple decides to keep improving the camera and adds FM radio I am there in a second.
Here is the story how i indulged in apple, as two weeks after I got the phone (to start the day) I sat on the porch clean and It was dropped By FN. I just chipped in his corner. So I never took the lead I thought I was twisted, well thought of as S. Jobs said he did not use it and how strong this iPhone and I took it to the Apple and they replaced the phone for free.
iPhone Spy
I upgraded from my old 3G, also! My iPhone 4 is wonderful! I never let go of it.
I got my iPhone 4 for christmas last year and been using it almost non-stop 24/7 ever since. I had the first generation iPhone (the very first one that ever came out) before that and it ran the iOS 3 and it had started to get really sluggish and slow so I was really looking forward to replace it with a better phone.
I too had a video camera app installed on my old iPhone but the video quality sucked and didn’t flow naturally at all. The HD video quality on iPhone 4 is amazing, so is the photo camera quality. I love the front facing camera, very nice for taking self protraits. I haven’t tried Facetime or Skype with it yet but the idea of that is really awesome, so I’m definitely trying that out soon. I love being able to organize my apps in folders, it really prevents you from having a cluttered homescreen with page after page of apps. Definitely a feature I felt was lacking on my old iPhone.
And I also love being able to multitask and switch between apps when I use the phone. When I’m reading something on f.ex. Safari or on the iBook, I can go and check my mail and then I can go back my previous reading, picking right up where I left off. Pure genius. And the Retina display really is amazing, especially on text and pictures. It’s the best quality I’ve ever seen on a cell phone display.
I too love the wallpaper feature, I change mine all the time. It really makes the home screen brighter and more lively. iPhone 4 is hands down the best cell phone I’ve ever had and it’s a huge step up from my previous iPhone, it’s day and night!
Soon, you’ll have to make a review about “Why I love my iPhone 5″ :)