Question : Problem: iPhone - general questions

THis information is probably easily found elsewhere but I dont have the time to search for it - hopefully someone can answer these quick questions for me from personal experience.

1. Can the iphone by sync'd with Outlook using Active Sync?  I'm used to have having an HTC/XDA smart phone where all my outlook contacts, tasks, calander etc would be synced with my pda phone.  Can iphone do the same in the same format?

2. Can you wirelessly sync?

3. For those in the UK, if you have purchased the phone from The Carphone Warehouse, can you still view all your itemised calls on the O2 web site and check for free minutes?  I have always used and bought from O2 online in the past and am used to this ability to check calls

4. Is it true that iphone cannot play mp3 files and HAS to be converted into its own proprietary format via itunes?

5. Does unlocking the phone really damage the handset when it comes to doing a patch upgrade? I know they say it voids the warranty but does anyone actually know of phones not working after an update of an unlocked phone? How easy is it to get it working again?

6. When will software from private developers start appearing on iphone?

7. Is the 8gb model "generally" sufficient? It doesnt seem like much

8. I understand that you cannot take video clips - sounds naff given that most phones now can.  Is this a hardware deficient or software deficient - does anyone think a simple patch upgrade might create this ability to take videos?

9. Anyone know of any rumours of a new iphone release with GPS or 3G?

Thanks.

Answer : Problem: iPhone - general questions

1. No.  There is a buzz about using ActiveSync for Exchange integration when software v2 comes out later this year.

2. Nope.

3. Don't know... not in UK.

4. Not converted into another format, still an .mp3 file, but iTunes has its own cataloging system that changes the file names.

5. Some of the earlier jailbreaking apps bricked phones from time to time, but most of the current ones are pretty sophisticated and you can back out of most changes (keep older .ipsw files on hand for this reason).  Check out http://www.ziphone.org/.

6. Soon.  Probably within a few months.

7. Sufficient for what?  A song is ~5MB and a 2 hr movie can be ~600MB.  Quality:size is pretty straightforward.  Depends on what you plan to put on it.  I have a 8GB and keep around 1000 songs and a dozen 1/2 hr. TV shows on it no problem.

8. I think I've seen some apps out there that can do it via a hack.  The device can capture images and sound, so it seems reasonable that it could happen via an Apple-supported upgrade.

9. Of course GPS and 3G will eventually be in some future model of iPhone, but anyone that gives you a date is full of it.  It's all speculative for now.