)I got mine on opening day and love it! I came from the Android world after having a Droid for over 3 years. I had been holding off for over a year to upgrade waiting for whatever new Motorola that I felt would be good for me - which was the Razr MaxxHD. With rumors almost 6 months prior to release I kept waiting and waiting - never really considering Apple, even though I'm an Apple diehard owning Macs since 1984. Just never thought the iPhones were as good as an Android phone.
Well, two days prior to the iPhone5 release day - I dropped my Droid (which I had done a multitude of times before with no issues) and it must have hit just right - the screen went blank even though it showed no cracks. So, with the Razr MaxxHD still on the horizon - I went to my local VZW store to see what they had for immediate offering. That was the Friday release day for the iPhone5. Without much interest in it and assuming no stock given all the news hype about long lines and pre orders already showing delays - I did not go into the store with any thoughts of an Apple phone. But then.... I saw it. Thin, sleek, gorgeous screen, a high quality solid feel and FAST! I was sold! They had 840 in stock that day - only one customer in the store at 10:30 am and that was me. Don't know what was up with all the news hype - but I sure felt bad for all those standing and sleeping in long lines up in NYC. Because they were readily available in both colors and whatever memory you wanted. I went with a Black 64 gig model.
Here I am a month later and pretty much a very happy camper. Yea - I miss many things about the Droid that was not available on the Apple (though I'm slowly learning some apps do cover the difference well) and every day learning new. I love the camera (though indoor shots still fall way short of my expectations). Outdoor photos and video are way superior to the Droid camera. The screen is just the ultimate - brilliant colors, sharp as a whip and blazingly fast graphics.
I'm just starting to like the way Contacts work - it was a learning curve to adjust coming from the Droid. I'm not saying one is better or worse - I was just more used to the Droid, and I did/do have well over 1,000 contacts (mostly clients and subcontractors for my custom woodworking business). I miss not being able to send individual contacts to voicemail (favorites grouping does not work for individuals for short term blocking). But overall - it did seamlessly bring in my entire collection of contacts from Google with no mishaps.
Most of the Android apps I used I find are also available for the Apple - so that's nice, as well as finding some that were not out there (so far) for the Droid.
Battery life is at the least comparable - but since I'm never far from either office desk or one of several vehicle chargers that is not nor has been an issue for me. Well, it DID hurt to have to buy several cables at $19.00 per cable! Note: I don't like having to carry a cable with me everywhere I go, so I purchased one for the office and three for each of the vehicles I normally drive (work and pleasure). The original cable is kept on my home desk. I do LOVE the lightning connector way much better than the microUSB on my Droid. It has a much more solid feel and nice to be inserted without worrying about which side is up or down.
Still looking around for a case - I did buy the the "combo" case and holster that the VZW store had (pretty much the only one available on opening day. I also bought a 3-pak of the screen protectors but have a few bubbles when installing the initial one. Since, I've ordered and received the Zagg HD screen protector, but have not installed it yet. Still waiting to see which cover I'll going to switch to as more and more become available. I don't like the VZW combo because it has no protection for the front (top and bottom) bezel. I know that's where the antenna is located, so I'm assuming VZW did not want to cover it for some reason? Others do cover it and I've heard no reports that it diminishes reception (think antennagate as in the 4).
Siri blows me away! For most verbal commands "she" (I've named my girl Cindy) responds immediately and almost always correctly. I tell her to dial "home", "office", etc. and Cindy is immediately dialing correctly. I ask her for the NY Giants schedule or score from the last game and she has the answer to me almost before I finish asking the question. I ask her how the weather will be this afternoon and her response is better than my Channel Five Fox weather report! How about the latest Mit Romney joke? She's got me rolling on the floor in seconds! And I love that when I thank her she comes back with a "my pleasure" or words to that effect! So personable that I almost feel like I'm cheating on my wife with our ongoing relationship..
I will say that sometimes Siri is a bit off or confused. I think this is mostly when background noise levels are too high and she perhaps misinterprets my question. Other than that - I can't fault Siri, at least not on my phone.
Maps is another HUGE plus for me. Very apprehensive at first given all the negative press I've read. But I beg to differ. In my area (central NJ up through NYC) Maps has been flawless for me to date. I've used it on many occasions to find customers locations and without fail I've been directed turn by turn right to their door without mishap. If I miss a turn - Maps instantly adjusts and takes me forward without trying to make me go back and repeat the original turn it wanted (which is my experience with Google maps for the most part). I love the turn by turn. I am a bit disappointed in satellite view - that leaves a lot to the imagination. Blurry when enlarged and out of date. I keep my 25' boat in my back yard now - it still shows it on the side of my driveway where it has not been for six months or more. My driveway is shown as gravel - I had asphalt installed a year ago September! So yes - Maps needs some updating, but so far the streets and addresses in my area are up to date and work stellar for me.
One thing that does disappoint me a lot is the way it syncs with my computer. When I plugged my Droid in - it appeared on my desktop as an external drive. And also opened iPhoto immediately and asked if I wanted to import the latest photos and videos taken since my last connection. But the iPhone5, though it does the same with iPhoto, only appears through my iTunes application. I don't see it on my desktop as a drive so that I can drag, copy and paste files, pics, etc. like I could with the Droid. Unless I'm missing something this is a big disappointment to me. The Droid had a microSD card and I had tons of files, etc. stored there and from that I could do my dragging, copying, etc. If anyone is aware of a way to do this on the iPhone5 - please let me know!
One bad thing about me switching to the Apple. I am active on other forums, and on one in particular (unrelated to smartphones) I did get into a "bruha" with another member with whom I had been friendly with for a couple of years. He is a diehard Android user and HATES Apple. Okay - I also was an Android fan, but when I posted a few comments about how I was coming around with the Apple and beginning to like it as well or more as my Droid - he went off the deep end, and ultimately quit the forums due to our exchanges. His last comment was calling me an Apple fanboy - which I'm not. Yes - I'm beginning to enjoy my iPhone a lot, but I've no disdain nor harboring any hatred for the Android world which I believe is in many ways superior to Apple iOS6. They are both great systems, in some ways very much alike as much as very much different. Apple does keep a tighter rein on their product, it is more difficult (I believe) to customize the phone than you can with an Android phone - especially when rooting and installing custom roms. I know many jailbreak their iPhones with no issues - but I've also heard many brick them at the same time. I'm not advocating either - but I do wish to say I have no regrets purchasing this iPhone5 despite the fact I entered that VZW store a month ago without the slightest idea I'd be walking out with anything but another Android phone. And I do miss my buddy and hope someday he'll return to our forums where we can let this "love/hate" relationship with Apple/Android thing go away. I'm very upset that it did cost me a friend - for me a phone is just a tool and it's hard to comprehend that a person could let it jeopardize a friendship over it. Sigh...
So, that's my story and I'm sticking to it! Good or bad!
