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Apple announces iPhone 3G, available 11th July
Author: Tim SmalleyPublished: 10th June 2008
As expected, Steve Jobs announced the iPhone 3G during his WWDC keynote speech at the Moscone Center in San Francisco.
The worst kept secret about the second generation iPhone is its 3G capabilities - customers have been asking for faster mobile data connections, because EDGE just doesn't cut it in this day and age. The device still supports EDGE along with GPRS and WiFi of course, and it automatically switches between these connections to obtain the fastest-possible download speeds.
In addition, Apple has integrated GPS and the device has been re-sculpted with a tapered back and thinner edges. The buttons are now solid metal, but the back cover is now shiny plastic and reportedly picks up fingerprints just as well as the screen - we think that's a bit of a step backwards, in all honesty, even though it'll probably won't be quite as slippery to hold as the first-gen iPhone.
And, speaking of the screen, Jobs said that it's exactly the same as the one used in the current iPhone, meaning a 3.5in diagonal and a 480 x 320 resolution - some see this as a bad thing, but I'm not particularly bothered at this time.
Apple has listened to complaints from customers about the headphone jack, and Jobs was pleased to reveal that the new headphone connector is flush. The device is slightly bigger than the existing iPhone - it measures 115.5 x 62.1 x 12.3mm versus the original's 115 x 61 x 11.6mm dimensions, but weight has been cut by two grams.
Battery life has improved with the iPhone 3G - there's now 300 hours of standby, 10 hours of 2G calls, five hours of 3G calls, while video and audio playback are rated to seven and 24 hours respectively.
There are downsides though: the storage capacity remains unchanged with 8GB and 16GB models available, while the camera is still the same two megapixel one in the first-gen phone - it seems that there is no flash, no autofocus and no video recording either because Apple hasn't mentioned them. And there is no front facing camera for 3G video calling either.
The iPhone 3G will be rolled out to 22 countries on 11th July and then to over 70 countries later in the year. The countries where the iPhone 3G will be available on the 11th July include the UK and US, along with Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.
O2 retains exclusivity in the UK and it will be selling the 8GB version for £99 on either £30 or £35 tariffs, while it'll be free on either the £45 or £75 per month tariffs. Meanwhile, the 16GB version will ship for £159 on the £30 and £35 tariffs, £59 on the £45 tariff and for free on the £75 tariff. The optimal package appears to be the £35 per month tariff, where you'll get 600 UK minutes, 500 UK texts, unlimited data in the UK and unlimited WiFi via The Cloud and BT Openzone hotspots, while you'll also get reduced roaming rates for when you're travelling.
While the iPhone 3G isn't a massive upgrade over the existing iPhone, what it has done is open it up to a broader market place - at £99, I'm sorely tempted to get one, even though I've already got an unlocked first-generation iPhone. What do you think about Apple's announcement? Share your thoughts in the forums.
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Comments (28)Stats: 0.032 seconds
£99?
Thats an incredible price.
Wasn't the last generation iPhone like £200-300?
Wow, definately sounds like a bargain for what you're getting. I might have to pick one up.
If Apple included that option, then it'd be even nicer of them. Seems stupid to lock the main wallpaper, not that that's stopped them so far..
Will I be upgrading? Of Course. :)
Faster downloads, reasonable upgrade price (which could get even better if this turns out to be correct - http://forums.bit-tech.net/showpost.php?p=1750760&postcount=47), GPS (with TomTom application coming soon) - I'll be queueing up again on July 11th.
At least the weather will be better than the last time. :D
Biggest disappointment with yesterday's news - no improvements to the cruddy camera, which is worse than the one on my ancient Sony Ericsson T610. They might as well not have bothered including it.
Don't get me wrong, I love the styling, but the iPhone to me was an overpriced iPod Touch with third rate phone functionality tacked on. Now it's a reasonably priced hybrid iPod Touch / mid-range phone. Still nothing to get excited about. The interface works great for the Touch, but I find it a pig to use the onscreen k/b, so texting/e-mailing with an iPhone would be out of the question for me - give me a good ol' physical keypad with T9 and I'm happy.
they just moved some of the initial cost onto the contract instead, it doesn't actually work out any cheaper at all
Unless someone figures out how to unlock them, then that's a bargin :D
I bet O2 make you sign up in store though to put a stop to this jailbreaking.
2MP is a joke
The resolution is fine. It's the terrible sensor, lens, and (lack of) focusing mechanism that's a joke. 2mp is more than enough for the web and I've only one time ever seen someone print off a cell phone pic.
Once the 3G coverage in Boston creeps a little further north, then I'm in. I've already got a GPS and a first-gen iPhone, and will be getting the app store regardless. $200 more to combine the two just doesn't make sense, especially with what sounds like an additional $10 monthly tariff for the 3G data plan (presumably I can't stick with my current 2.5G-only data even though that's all that's available here).
£35 a month isn't really a lot of money even if it is for 2 years ( glad im not an original buyer mind you ) ( already pay above this in monthly fees due to been heavy user due to work items)
£135 start up cost ( free if your a heavy user) Which is in the might buy and use market price for most people.
Id rather they got rid of the camera, If i want to take photos ill use a digital camera.
Even 5mp is half of what any decent digital camera will give you in terms of quality. 8gb is borderline space for most people though.
If your parents already pay your phone bill, Id be shocked to see many young peoples bills below £40 a month. My younger sister uses 3000 texts a month ( how can anyone txt so much )
So if they save up the start up cost they can get one
Thats a lot of money. But the free unlimited data (which is web and email on the fly) thrown in makes it bearable. I know vodafone charges me a ton per MB just to use the web currently (so I dont).
I hate 18 month contracts though. I signed up to one on Vodafone for my Nokia E65, and it has ages left to run... plus the phone looks dated now.
As tempting as it looks... I just cant seem to be able to justify the cost of the contract.
Im sure the Pay as you go price will be astronomical. My guess is £499
http://www.o2.co.uk/iphone/paymonthly
wonder if apple website will sell it like that though
And its being touted as an MP3 player too? Its only got 16GB of space on it!
yas of course
my N95 8Gb is still better then this "newer" appel thingy :D