Loading ...Well since the current vote tally is 38-28 in favor of non-review editorials , I suppose now is as good a time as any to start spewing nonsense…
So I was just over at TechCrunch reading about today’s iPhone 3G S announcement and I also soaked in everything I could from Apple’s site update. Here’s what you wanna know:
- U.S. release date: June 19
- Non-U.S. release date ~July 7
- Apps will run twice as fast
- 3 MP camera with autofocus!
- Video shooting & editing, currently only available on jailbreak apps
- Upload videos directly to YouTube or MobileMe
- Voice control similar to the “SYNC” system you see advertised in Ford car commercials, ie: “call the VD clinic” or “play a song by Wham!”
- Multimedia messaging (OS 3.0)
- Cut/copy/paste (OS 3.0)
- Built-in compass with map integration
- Improved battery life giving 9 hours of web surfing on WiFi vs. the current 6 hours
- 16 GB iPhone = $199
- 32 GB iPhone = $299
The article doesn’t say anything about contract requirements, but you can bet your broke ass that a two year contract is part of the deal. But hey, if you’re super poor like me you can now get the current iPhone 3G for $99! Yeah, you’re gonna run into another contract there as well. $99 is for the 8 GB model, and 16 GB will cost $149, or so I was just told less than a minute ago on the phone by some dude at a local AT&T store.
I don’t know about the rest of y’all, but the things I’m most excited about are the camera improvements and the processor speed. It’s no secret that I’m constantly taking stupid pics of my dog and if I can summon up enough cash to upgrade my iPhone I’ll soon be littering YouTube with equally stupid videos. I think, for a lot of people, putting videos on YouTube is a chore because there’s usually a hardware connection required somewhere along the way… either move the video from camera to computer, or at the very least connect the video device to something with an internet connection. I’m sure this direct-to-YouTube thing will have a few snags in it, but at least in theory it should open up a whole new world of mobile video for the previously uninitiated masses.
The processor speed is also a huge deal because it could mean an entirely new generation of games that just don’t work on the current iPhone. Take, for example, Dark Hill which Swain just reviewed. Could true first-person-shooters finally become viable on the iPhone 3G S? I guess we’ll find out soon! nabil chatbi must be frothing at the mouth.
Here’s the TechCrunch article. Below is Apple’s 15-minute guided tour plus some images and screen grabs.
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- Autofocus defaults to center of frame, tap elsewhere to focus on different things
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- Shoot video in landscape or portrait mode! My digital camera can't do this and it angers me greatly
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- Edit videos right on your iPhone... it better have star-wipe or else
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- Compass. I guess they're trying to capture the ever-elusive Boy Scout demographic
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- Maps will now reorient to your direction so that left is always left and right is always right
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- I'll bet you a dollar they stole, I mean borrowed, the voice memo app from Voxie
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- Search your iPhone! Yeah, it's more computer than phone... always has been
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- Yay, cut/copy/paste
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- Play Tiffany! Play Debbie Gibson! Play Spice Girls!
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- I'm gonna send the filthiest text messages ever
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on Jun 8th, 2009 at 6:46 pm
That sumbitch is MINE when it hits!
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on Jun 8th, 2009 at 9:19 pm
Personally I was expecting more from apple… This 3G s seems like a rushed cop out. Where is iChat? Where is the front camera for voice chats? I was expect next level type ish… I really wanted to say I was gonna wait in line for this, but honestly.. I can’t say its THAT tempting. Especially given the current economy. It just doesn’t make sense. I can jailbreak and get nearly all if not all of these upgrades. Yes it will load things faster, but is the loading of programs where things are lacking? I want some 4G action something way faster with data connections. I sure hope that this is just a half release like an iPhone 2.5 Gen. Cause if this is the next generation of iPhone I am kind of upset.
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on Jun 8th, 2009 at 9:47 pm
Apple is in business to make money so I expect this type of ‘hardware refresh’ cycle to continue for a long time until a truly ‘next-gen’ iPhone comes out (kind of ironic considering even the iPhone 1st gen isn’t exactly ‘old junk’ yet). For me the price of the 3GS is right and the features address the most important shortcomings of the original design…works for me.
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Consumer #545464 reply on June 8th, 2009 10:47 pm:
Well before you say its a great deal…
If you are “a valued AT&T customer,” AT&T offers an “early iPhone upgrade with a new 2-yr commitment and an $18 upgrade fee.” The price? $399.00 for the 16GB iPhone 3G S and $499.00 for the 32GB iPhone 3G S.
It gets worse: For non-qualified upgrade customers, including existing AT&T customers who want to upgrade from another phone or replace an iPhone 3G, the price with a new two-year agreement is $499 (8GB), $599 (16GB), or $699 (32GB).
399 and 499 is abusive and 499, 599, and 699 is rape. ALSO the data plan is now $30 a month ten dollars more than before..
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PL reply on June 9th, 2009 10:18 am:
What is consider as “non-qualified upgrade”?
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Michael (Admin) reply on June 9th, 2009 10:31 am:
I believe that refers to how close you are to the end of your existing contract. If you’re about to complete your existing contract, then you’re “qualified” to upgrade your phone. If you’re a month or more away from contract end, then you’re not qualified.
Personally I think it’s a shitty way to do business, but that’s the way it is.
PL reply on June 9th, 2009 11:51 am:
So, actually, there are 3 pricing schema:
For 32G:
$299 for new or end of contract
$499 for 6 months to end of contract
$699 for buying a new brand one
on Jun 8th, 2009 at 10:43 pm
My limited imagination thinks this new iPhone sounds pretty cool but I kind of have to agree with both of you… Apple could probably make the iPhone smell like chicken if they really tried, but unfortunately planned obsolescence is what makes the tech world go round
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Consumer #545464 reply on June 8th, 2009 10:53 pm:
I get a regular scheduled upgrade October 19.. then i will be able to get the 32gb for 299. which is fair to me. but 499 for the 32gb.. no thanks. I’m just gonna wait till October to upgrade which by then it will probably be $100 cheaper and possibly a larger model or color or something might be released then too. Also the AT&T network bugs that ALWAYS happen the first 1-6 months after release should be taken care of too.
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on Jun 10th, 2009 at 1:51 pm
Compare this to the PC video card market which also follows an ‘incremental hardware refresh’ model. They always charge full price and rarely is there ever a rebate or discount for turning in your old card; been that way for YEARS.
I can’t really blame AT&T for not wanting to eat the cost of these phones again but hey, they’re the ones that set the freaking precedent in the first place by allowing everyone (not just new customers) to get the 3G at the subsidized price!
Apple stands to gain the most from moving a ton of 3G S hardware so makes the most sense for them to offer a turn-in program but anything like that just seems extremely unlikely. Best bet is to get it for the $399+18 deal and try to get $200 or more for your old phone on eBay or wait for the 1 year contract anniversary when you can get the subsidized price. Anyone want my 3G for around ~200?? =)
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Michael (Admin) reply on June 11th, 2009 1:29 pm:
I called AT&T yesterday to try and get the scoop on what does and does not constitute an “early” (read: expensive) upgrade and I was told that you have to be 18 mos. into your 2 yr contract to get the subsidized pricing. Well I guess that’s better than having to wait until the 24th month!
What this means is that there’ll probably be a big run on 3G S in December when all the gotta-have-it-now iPhone 3G contracts become 18 months old… assuming the lady I talked to was giving me correct info, that is. I find it hard to trust anyone I talk to in an AT&T call center anymore after asking the same question to some other guy who said “we don’t know, you have to call Apple”. Pfffft!! Ok genius, I’ll do that. Groan.
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on Sep 1st, 2009 at 9:51 am
Just love the new 32gb iPhone. Ultimate gadget for me. Nice post.
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on Sep 1st, 2009 at 11:09 am
Just love the new 32gb iPhone. Ultimate gadget for me. Nice post. Thanks.
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Michael (Admin) reply on September 1st, 2009 11:42 am:
Uh, ok “iphone fan”, you’ve posted your URL… no need to do it twice! :/
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