I Know, You Are Shocked, But There is a New iPhone! [Archive]

View Full Version : I Know, You Are Shocked, But There is a New iPhone!

Jeff Campbell

06-09-2009, 04:30 PM

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://smokingapples.com/iphone/apple-announces-the-iphone-3gs/' target='_blank'>http://smokingapples.com/iphone/app...the-iphone-3gs/</a> </div>"After the most number of rumours I've ever seen about any Apple product, Apple finally showed up at WWDC with a new iPhone that looks exactly the same as the previous one. The iPhone 3G S, where the S stands for Speed. Perhaps it's not all that bad as there are some more features under the hood, and new software features enabled by this new speed."<img src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com/resizer/thumbs/size/600/at/auto/1244558977.usr105634.jpg" />I don't think anyone was surprised by the announcement of the new <a href="http://www.apple.com/iphone/iphone-3g-s/" target="_blank">iPhone 3G S</a> after the plethora of stories that were in the mix in the months leading up to WWDC '09. Now that it has been officially announced, just what do you get for your money? Speaking of money, lets start with pricing. Thankfully they bumped up the storage in the new iPhone 3G S to 16GB and 32GB, so for $199.00 USD you get 16GB and if you want to go a bit higher, they have the 32GB version for $299.00 USD. The older version of the iPhone 3G 8GB is now $99.00, that is if you can find one in stock. <MORE />Along with the storage bump, they also improved the graphics and processor speeds, although they haven't released specifics yet. The speed at which everything works on the iPhone 3G S is supposed to basically double, from loading web pages to opening up applications to improved gaming performance. I'm very happy about this, one of the annoyances I've had with my current iPhone is the delay at times in being able to use applications. Nothing consistent, just random delays. I'm hoping this upgrade will take care of that!  They have also included a new camera, bumping up the equipment to a <a href="http://www.apple.com/iphone/iphone-3g-s/photos.html" target="_blank">3 mega-pixel camera</a>. While this isn't a huge improvement over the current 2 mega-pixel, they also added in the <a href="http://www.apple.com/iphone/iphone-3g-s/video-recording.html" target="_blank">video capability</a> to sweeten the pot a little. Not HD mind you, just VGA. But you will be able to edit and upload your 30fps VGA to YouTube, MobileMe or send it via MMS (if your carrier is supporting it via MMS, something that AT&T currently does not, but that is for another post!).They have also added a <a href="http://www.apple.com/iphone/iphone-3g-s/maps-compass.html" target="_blank">digital compass</a> to help with mapping and GPS applications, and thrown in <a href="http://www.apple.com/iphone/iphone-3g-s/voice-control.html" target="_blank">Voice Control</a> so that we can finally voice dial. The coolest part of Voice Control is that it will also control your music, so you can just tell your iPhone what music or playlist you want to play. This is also going to have the Nike+ support for you athletes out there. Oh and last but not least they have improved the battery life. On 2G you will have 12 hours of talk time,  5 hours on 3G, and 300 hours standby time. If you are watching video, you'll have about 10 hours, or if you prefer listen to 30 hours of audio. If you are surfing on WiFi, you'll have about 9 hours of playtime.All in all, I think it was a pretty good upgrade to the iPhone. I hear though that there may be some problems in current 3G customers upgrading to for the low prices above, and that some of the features in the 3.0 OS may not be functional with AT&T, but more on that later. How about you, what do you think of the upgraded iPhone 3G S? Anyone going to jump right in on June 19th and pick one up?

Islanti

06-09-2009, 04:35 PM

I've had and liked the iPod Touch 2G for a few months now. I'm planning to pick up the 32GB iPhone 3GS next week for myself and my wife.

crimsonsky

06-09-2009, 04:40 PM

As interesting as the new iPhones are, they don't offer enough in hardware for me to be willing to pay the prices for them. BUT the drop of the 8GB iPhone 3G was finally enough to get me off the sidelines and buy one! I'll have my 1st iPhone in my hot hands tomorrow.

This is the me the biggest thing about the iPhones. Getting people like me, who have been on the fence, into the fold. There is no other phone at the price of the 8GB 3G iPhone that matches it for features. I have to believe that Apple will sell a TON of these 8 GB models. I see the day coming when the iPhone will be the "one phone to rule them all." That is, if AT&T doesn't ruin it. Palm and RIM have to be very concerned about this.

Add the iPhone OS 3 to the iPhone 3G and you have most of everything. The only thing I'll really miss from not getting an iPhone 3GS is the voice dialing, but that is not something I use much even on my Blackberry.

I needed a compelling reason to be willing to pay the ETF to T-Mobile to move to an iPhone. The $99 iPhone 3G was it.

Fritzly

06-09-2009, 04:46 PM

No thanks; I have a G3 bought in Europe thus Sim Free, I will update the software to the new build and this will be it.
Granted if I did not already have one I would consider it but as it is I see not enough improvements to justify the cost.

Also I am not sure we will have to wait one year to see a "real" new iPhone.... my bet is between December and January.

Jason Dunn

06-09-2009, 04:53 PM

This is the me the biggest thing about the iPhones. Getting people like me, who have been on the fence, into the fold. There is no other phone at the price of the 8GB 3G iPhone that matches it for features...I needed a compelling reason to be willing to pay the ETF to T-Mobile to move to an iPhone. The $99 iPhone 3G was it.

So here's something I'm curious about: what's the monthly difference in cost between your T-Mobile phone plan and the iPhone monthly plan? The reason I ask is that the iPhone is known for having one of the more expensive rate plans (voice + data + text) in the industry...and that's the real cost, not saving $100 on the initial price tag. So I'm curious where the pricing comes out for you - if you're spending about the same per month to move to the iPhone, more, or maybe less...

Jason Dunn

06-09-2009, 04:56 PM

Also I am not sure we will have to wait one year to see a "real" new iPhone.... my bet is between December and January.

What do you think Apple is going to do? Change the form factor? Release a model with a keyboard? Once Apple comes up with a design, and it's usually a fairly "iconic" design, they milk that design for years and years. Look at the iPod Classic for instance, or even Macbooks, iMacs, etc. I'd be very surprised to see Apple come up with a different form factor for the iPhone anytime soon - it would be an admission that they didn't have the "perfect" device right from the start...

That's my 2 cents on the topic at any rate. :)

ptyork

06-09-2009, 05:30 PM

What do you think Apple is going to do? Change the form factor? Release a model with a keyboard? Once Apple comes up with a design, and it's usually a fairly "iconic" design, they milk that design for years and years. Look at the iPod Classic for instance, or even Macbooks, iMacs, etc. I'd be very surprised to see Apple come up with a different form factor for the iPhone anytime soon - it would be an admission that they didn't have the "perfect" device right from the start...

There's still quite a bit of room to innovate around their current basic design. AMOLED, front facing camera, a couple more hard buttons, headphone jack on top where it frakking belongs, etc. I doubt we'll see a major shift from tablet, though.

By far the biggest news was the price drop for the 3G, though as you say, the data and messaging plan still makes it quite expensive. Especially compared to T-Mo or Sprint. I don't know how many folks are going to jump from feature phone to 3G when they realize suddenly that checking their email and Facebook on the go is going to cost them $30 per month PER PHONE. And that doesn't include text messaging ($20 or $30 for single or family unlimited) or any other fluff like navigation or mobile TV. Folks really need to digest the true cost of these devices before jumping.

I'm personally glad the WWDC was such a complete shrug. I was waiting around to see if there were going to be any super surprises (like AMOLED or multitasking to take advantage of the rumored faster hardware). It solidified my decision NOT to get an iPhone. I'm getting a Pre (two actually) tomorrow, unless I chicken out. I don't love Sprint, but it's inexpensive and I love AT&T less, so there's no loss there. I just think the Pre has the most potential to be an amazingly useful device.

crimsonsky

06-09-2009, 05:57 PM

So here's something I'm curious about: what's the monthly difference in cost between your T-Mobile phone plan and the iPhone monthly plan? The reason I ask is that the iPhone is known for having one of the more expensive rate plans (voice + data + text) in the industry...and that's the real cost, not saving $100 on the initial price tag. So I'm curious where the pricing comes out for you - if you're spending about the same per month to move to the iPhone, more, or maybe less...

That was a sticky point for me, as I'm going to be paying $20/month more for less than I had with T-Mobile. I'm not a huge phone user or texter and it's seldom that I hit 300 minutes a month text or more than 50 texts (my son is the only person I text and we've been using Twitter more than texts). So from this point of view, T-Mobile was a better deal (1000 family minutes, unlimited data and 400 texts vs. the 550 family minutes, unlimited data and 200 texts I get with AT&T). If this had been the only concern, I would have stayed with T-Mobile.

BUT, T-Mobile's phone selection is pathetic. The G1 has never even been considered - no apps I need available. The Windows Mobile selections aren't all that great either. What made me decide to go with the iPhone was the App Store. So much of what I use on WM is available in the App Store (UltraLinugua, WordBook, NetNewWire, Evernote, eReader, Olive Tree Bible Reader to name a few) and Pocket Bible is coming to the App Store eventually. So I get a beautiful phone with the apps I want and the versatility I want for $99.

Believe me, I sat on the fence forever, constantly fashing myself about whether to get an iPhone or not. But at $99 and taking the above into consideration, it was a hard deal to turn down. Paying an extra $20/month won't be fun and the ETF definitely is bitter, but in the end, I think I'll be more satisfied. Also, remember that I am a major Mac user and 3rd party synchronisation tools for non-Apple devices are shaky at best. I've used the Missing Sync for both WM and Blackberry and wasn't really satisfied with either, but it is the best that can be done. With the iPhone, synch issues become non-existent and with the extra features that OS 3 will bring plus iDisk access, well things just look all that much better.

Jason Dunn

06-09-2009, 06:17 PM

What made me decide to go with the iPhone was the App Store. So much of what I use on WM is available in the App Store (UltraLinugua, WordBook, NetNewWire, Evernote, eReader, Olive Tree Bible Reader to name a few) and Pocket Bible is coming to the App Store eventually. So I get a beautiful phone with the apps I want and the versatility I want for $99.

Did you consider getting an iPod Touch instead? Seems like that might have given you what you wanted from an application/sync perspective, and saved you $240/year in added fees (not counting your ETF).

crimsonsky

06-09-2009, 06:54 PM

Did you consider getting an iPod Touch instead? Seems like that might have given you what you wanted from an application/sync perspective, and saved you $240/year in added fees (not counting your ETF).

Already have a Touch and been using it to death as an iPhone without the phone! Evernote was the driver here. I use Evernote a LOT and want to be able to access my notes when outside of WiFi coverage. I really wish EN would allow full storage on mobile devices, like they do with their desktop clients. On the iPhone, you can save "favourites" but it's not the same as having your full database available offline. Same thing with my Twitter client, texting, etc. The Touch is great when you have WiFi coverage, not so much when you don't.

You can't imagine the battles I've had with myself over buying an iPhone, especially since I have a Touch. But in the end, I decided the benefits were worth it. It'll be here tomorrow and we'll see after a week if I'm going to kick myself or be grinning ear-to-ear!

Jason Dunn

06-09-2009, 07:04 PM

Already have a Touch and been using it to death as an iPhone without the phone...It'll be here tomorrow and we'll see after a week if I'm going to kick myself or be grinning ear-to-ear!

Ah, I see - well, here's hoping you're more grins than kicks. :D

dequardo

06-09-2009, 07:28 PM

Evernote was the driver here. I use Evernote a LOT and want to be able to access my notes when outside of WiFi coverage. I really wish EN would allow full storage on mobile devices

OS 3.0 will allow for native Notes syncing with iTunes.

crimsonsky

06-09-2009, 09:38 PM

OS 3.0 will allow for native Notes syncing with iTunes.

I know, but OS X notes - be they sticky notes or the notes in Mail don't hold a candle to what Evernote can do.

gmontielh

06-09-2009, 10:33 PM

As much as I would love to upgrade my two iPhones (me and the wife), ATT puts a premium of $200 on each iPhone if you buy before you are eligible to upgrade. That sadly puts the brakes on my purchase to 4 month after launch. First time I see ATT doing this to their iPhone clients and I believe this will put also the brakes on the initial purchases as most people in these economic times will probably wait until they are eligible rather pay up front. But with us Apple crowd you never know.

For the time being, unless ATT changes its new marketing scheme for current iPhone users, I will be upgrading the system and wait. Pity...

Jeff Campbell

06-09-2009, 10:40 PM

gmontielh

06-09-2009, 10:47 PM

Since AT&T allowed me to upgrade to 3G at the discount a year after buying a 2G, I was curious when my discount would kick in on this one so i went to Apple (https://buyiphone.apple.com/WebObjects/IPACustomer.woa/) and checked.

According to this I can upgrade in about 45 days, right at the year mark from when I purchased the 3G. However on the 2nd iphone, done in the same way, and purchased at the same time, it says I have to wait until 2010 for the upgrade price. weird.

Indeed... worse is that my wife has my former 2G so no purchase was done and she will be eligible same time as I am according to the Apple Store.

I wonder if Apple is going to stand for lost sales on this one and how ATT is going to handle several thousands (and understatement? of their iPhone customers with this eligibility thing. Verizon must be smiling with this situation...

Fritzly

06-10-2009, 12:28 AM

Phillip Dyson

06-10-2009, 08:03 PM

Allow apps like Pocket Informant to sync with the built-in Calendar.... finally!

Does that mean that tasks are coming to the iPhone? Will they sync with Exchange?

Jason Dunn

06-10-2009, 09:11 PM

Also keep in mind that WM 6.5 might be available for the end of the year so a new iPhone release could steal the show from WM.

What am I missing here? Apple announces a new iPhone basically once a year, correct? They just announced the new phone, and the new OS. Why would anyone think that they'd have something newer than that coming out within the next six months? :confused: