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What does the iPhone 4 have to do with productivity?  For me, quite a bit.

The iPhone 4 serves as my: Internet access, phone, camera, notepad, email, text messaging, GPS, video game, eBook reader, iPod, and more.

It is my one device.  I can do almost everything I need to do from it.

Recently, I upgraded from my 3GS to the new 4.  After using the phone for a week, I thought I would share my impressions.

The “5 Things I Like About the iPhone 4″

1. Screen – Many people have said that their favorite new feature is the screen.  (Apple has named it their Retina Display.)  Whatever you want to call it, there is no denying that is sharp. It is the clearest display I have ever seen on a mobile device.  When I am doing something as simple as a writing a text message, I do a double-take as to just how clear the text is.  You really cannot see the pixels.

2. Battery Life – The battery life is much improved over the earlier iPhones.  I am getting 30-40% more time than I was on my 3GS.  Previously, I would have to re-charge by mid-afternoon.  Now, I get all the way through the workday without having to plug in.

3. Camera – iPhone 4 sports a 5MP camera with LED flash.  It is my favorite upgrade.  I cannot stop taking pictures.  Below, see the dragonfly picture I captured.  (Click through for the detail.)  The HD video is amazing, too.

4. Folders – This feature is part of the iOS4 upgrade, so you can get it on your 3GS/3G.  Folders are great because now you can sort/store your apps in groups.  It greatly reduces clutter onscreen and lets you get to apps quickly.  See below for a screen capture of my TMNinja folder where I keep my blog related apps.

5. FaceTime – The shining star of the new features is the FaceTime video calling.  It just works.  No setup.  One button.  You don’t even have to make a call first.  I tested it with my friend Ken, and the video/audio quality was great.  It was interesting how natural it felt to talk face-to-face.  Video chat, like Skype, has been around for some time but this takes it to a new level of ease and simplicity.  You have to be on a wi-fi connection, but I still predict it will see some heavy usage.

You may notice that I did not mention the new “Unified Email Inbox” or “Multi-tasking.”  Many people seemed to be clamoring for these two features, but they don’t really do much for me.  I don’t like to see work and personal email in one inbox.  The multi-tasking is nice, but it doesn’t really change the way I use the phone.  After all, you can only be doing one task at once.

Did you upgrade to the iPhone 4? What are your favorite features? Share below.

Related Posts:

iPhone iOS 4 – Productivity Quick Look

How the iPad Replaced My Laptop in 30 Days