Study Examines iPhone User Interface Among Early Adopters

Television coverage showing Apple iPhone's 'Cover Flow' feature left no doubt this feature would wow users. User Centric, a Chicago-based researcher, confirms this among several key strengths participants outlined in a recent study, including:

• Visual Voicemail feature is intuitive and useful
• Text entry was much easier on iPhone's touchscreen keyboard compared to standard multi-tap text entry
• Horizontal typing was preferred over vertical
• 'Cover Flow' navigation was a very engaging feature
• Making an outgoing call with iPhone was easy
• Receiving a phone call while listening to music was seamless
• Pausing a song for incoming calls was very smooth.
• Saving caller's numbers into an address book and then making a call to them very straightforward.

iPhone Weak in Key Areas

• Participants uniformly found SMS and email difficult. Forced vertical keyboard use and the lack of visibility for editing the middle of a word or sentence was frustrating.
• Google Maps more difficult to use on iPhone than appears in ads.
  
• Participants were often frustrated with their Web browsing experience, especially lack of Flash and Java capabilities.
• Finally, participants were both surprised and annoyed to discover horizontal text entry available only in Safari.

The base sample of participants did not include any females in this initial study, first of six planned.

State Farm Insures iPhones for Illinois Residents

An Illinoistimes.com article claims State Farm is insuring Apple iPhones for $33 a year. However, a search for "iPhone" on the StateFarm.com returned no results for both public and secure content.

Jeff Bricker, a State Farm agent based in Springfield, Ill, was quoted in the article. Bricker's contact information is here.

Update: Jeff Bricker confirmed State Farm does provide this insurance for Illinois residents.

Mr. Hamilton:
It is correct that State Farm will insure the Apple iphone under a personal articles policy (for Illinois residents - I cannot speak to out of state residents). Assuming a value of $499 for the phone, our rate would be $32.50 annually with no deductible. This policy would cover multiple perils including but not limited to fire, theft, and mysterious disappearance.

Jeff Bricker, Agent
State Farm Insurance
4525 Wabash Avenue, Suite 1
(At Yellowstone Shopping Mall)
Springfield, Illinois 62711
217/698-2900 (B)
217/698-2999 (F)

RedEyeChicago.com's Scott Kleinberg Launches Blog Using iPhone

RedEye Chicago, a sibling tabloid to Chicago Tribune published six days a week, has it's own resident iPhone blogger, Scott Kleinberg. Another iPhone blogger, right? Wrong. How many iPhone bloggers can you name who's input device is the phone itself? Very few I would imagine.

3-4 Finger Taps Per Second?

How does Kleinberg author multi-paragraph blogs spanning several hundred words? I'm guessing he can finger ballet 3-4 taps per second. It's possible.

More importantly, all Chicagoans now have a mainstream print media outlet where we can post questions, confessions, gripes and successful iPhone user experiences. Kleinberg is a Tribune senior news editor so you're not talking to an intern fresh from Medill's Journalism factory.

Log on, Post and get Lucky

Here's the URL for Kleinberg's conversations: http://RedEyeChicago.com/iphoneblog. Check it out. Who knows, maybe he will give a lucky reader his "smart" phone now that it's collecting dust since he's converted to iPhone.

Kleinberg is getting married soon so there's no need to give him an iPhone as a wedding present. But if you ask him nicely in a barrage of comments to his blog, maybe he will convince the bosses to let him giveaway a freebie iPhone to ChicagoRedEye.com online and print readers like they did recently at Geeksugar.

Swarovski Crystal Apple iPhone Nets $600 on eBay

An Apple iPhone 4GB model with CrystalIcing.com bling added in the image of praying hands sold for 600 dollars on eBay. Over 3000 Tiny SS7 Swarovski Crystals were affixed by hand to the iPhone. The company is known for icing Paris Hilton's famous Sidekick.

[Photo: Crystal Icing, eBay]

Video: iPhone of The Sexes

Interesting video from Ilana Donna an East Village resident who works at Associated Press and produces a new video blog called Downtown Diary. The Revver.com post tallied over 12,150 views so far.

Safeware May Insure iPhone

Safeware.com, an insurer specializing in laptops and computer electronics, is considering whether to announce coverage for iPhone according to online reports. I've been a Safeware customer for several years with both an Apple desktop and laptop policy by the firm.

Laptop insurance is especially a good idea when traveling globally and Safeware provides this type of coverage. If you want to inquire further here's their email: service@safeware.com.

Knitted iPhone Saves Child $600

How cool is it to have a mom knit your iPhone and save 600 dollars. The casing is washable and you don't need insurance. Better yet, you can't break it when it drops. No need to clear the glass cover either. Wonderful. Is this on eBay yet?

Check out daddytypes.com for details and instructions.

iPhone Battery FAQ Answers Key Questions

Apple posted a frequently asked questions page on battery replacement which answers the following questions:

1. What is the iPhone Battery Replacement Program?
2. How much does it cost to participate in the program?
• $85.95 per unit
3. Will the data on my iPhone be preserved?
• No
  
4. How long will service take?
• Normal service three days

AppleCare Service phone is available at an additional cost.

Geeksugar iPhone Giveaway Draws 4100 Entries

Geeksugar.com, where "geek is chic," will hold a drawing in just a few hours for a free Apple iPhone (8GB model). There's still time left to register and win. All you need to do is post a comment to enter, but be sure to register first.

Good luck.

Updated: The Geeksugar.com winner is HellooQueen. Congratulations!