It's been a long,
leak-filled wait, but Apple finally took the wraps off its 3G iPhone. Thinner edges, full plastic back, flush headphone jack, and the
iPhone 2.0 firmware -- Apple's taking a lot of the criticisms to heart from the first time around. Obviously 3G is at the forefront, but they're also making sure it's available all over internationally, works with enterprises, runs 3rd party apps... and does it all for cheaper. Apple claims its 3G speeds trounce the competition, with pageloads 36% faster than the N95 and Treo 750 -- and of course it completely trounces the old EDGE data. Battery life isn't getting put out to pasture though, with 300 hours of standby, 8-10 hours of 2G talk, 5 hours of 3G talk, 7 hours of video and 24 hours of audio. GPS is also a go. Apple is using A-GPS, which supplements regular satellite GPS data with info from cellular towers. WiFi data is also worked into the mix, which should give users a pretty solid lock on where the heck they are on this planet. Unfortunately, there's no front-facing cam, which syncs with what we were hearing, but is still a little disappointing. Apple hopes to launch in 70 countries this year. 8GB is available for $199, 16GB for $299 -- and the 16GB comes in white. Both pricepoints require a contract. Apple will be hitting the
22 biggest markets, including the US, on July 11th.
Other tidbits:
- It's a teensy bit thicker.
- A SIM ejector comes in the box, at last.
- There's no dock included, just a USB power adapter.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
RC @ Jun 9th 2008 3:03PM
Didn't jobbers mention 6 markets launching today? Any mention of which countries?
NoLimitz80 @ Jun 9th 2008 3:08PM
No he did not.
Jose Paez @ Jun 9th 2008 6:06PM
Imagine how stupid soo many people who have bid hundreds on an iphone on ebay must feel now. Saw some auctions going up to five hundred or more.
lakersin2025 @ Jun 9th 2008 3:07PM
Damn. If the Thunder or Bold on Verizon are not that great I may have to jump ship.
OziD @ Jun 9th 2008 3:09PM
Sucks they are doing such great things with the games and battery life.
Making everyone else look bad. I was stoked about the HTC Touch Pro, but now my excitement about them is completely deflated.
Robert Squyres @ Jun 9th 2008 3:13PM
Still no Video!!
Still no MMS!
Same 2mp camera!
youngcalihottie @ Jun 9th 2008 3:20PM
http://www.engadget.com/2008/06/09/ebay-typepad-others-showcase-iphone-apps-at-wwdc/
that link says "allowing users to upload footage"
maybe they mean video?
pNoyz3Ro @ Jun 9th 2008 3:15PM
I am more excited about the BOLD, all thats new is 3G.
That just benefits AT&T users, what about us other ones.
Yes, they want us to jump ship, but c'mon.
Anyways, come here BOLD!
youngcalihottie @ Jun 9th 2008 3:20PM
i still have so many questions!
they didnt specifically say no front-facing camera. so does it or not?
even if it doesnt, will it at least have video share? and what are the three things in the front of it on the "specs" sheet then?
does it have copy and paste?
does it freakin have MMS?
whats going to happen with ipod touch prices?
is $199/$299 with contract or without? if with, then what is precontract price?
what are the buttons on the side for?
oh ya, and did i mention?... I WANT VIDEO SHARE! :P
youngcalihottie @ Jun 11th 2008 5:48AM
btw, i posted the above before EM added some of those details to the article.
Nick @ Jun 9th 2008 3:21PM
i can't believe there's still no MMS. This is ridiculous that there can be this much technology in one device yet it lacks one of the most basic functions in pretty much all cell phones. That is the one thing holding me back from buying the iPhone.
snowenloe @ Jun 9th 2008 7:03PM
I hear you! No MMS, no Stereo Bluetooth, no copy and paste, no voice command, no video recording, and no camera improvements? Still no user replaceable battery? Give me a 5MP camera please! The vast majority of cellphone users do not have spartphones so the "send your pictures via email and that replaces MMS" argument is null and void. Besides, I like sending pictures of cool shit.
No serious business user would ever want to type on that touchscreen. There is no way that they will even put a dent into RIM's marketshare, not as long as there is no dedicated keyboard. At least give me a slider touchscreen keypad! That would solve the problem of Chinese/Japanese/Middle Eastern text. Whatever language symbols you needed would just be an OTA upgrade away.
As far as the cons of this new device, man is it beautiful. I love the ease of use and the browser is second to none. Geo-tagging is bad-ass, and the price is oh so nice.
Almost the perfect device...
silver surfer @ Jun 11th 2008 5:30AM
MMS for iPhone
http://www.tuaw.com/2007/12/07/iphone-mms-application-released/
dave @ Jun 9th 2008 3:24PM
still no MMS..wtf??!
no mms @ Jun 9th 2008 3:49PM
can someone MMS music file from iphone ?
if iphone has MMS function.. maybe stevie is scared people will start
sharing music files from iphone
Brad @ Jun 9th 2008 3:25PM
So, does it even have REAL GPS? I.e. if you are NOT in range of a cell tower OR WiFi, can it find your position???? Or is this just fake, virtualized GPS that doesn't even use satellite data?
Robert Squyres @ Jun 9th 2008 3:29PM
I am sure that it is real GPS.
carcomptoy @ Jun 9th 2008 3:36PM
A-GPS is GPS with an enhancement. The A stands for assisted, using the location that the cell towers give so as to narrow the boundaries that GPS is using so that it's faster.
Achilles @ Jun 9th 2008 3:41PM
no MMS. MobileMe is new to the phone, I guess? No video. Am I missing something? The only new thing is 3G. That's a great improvement but the only one. At least the price is at $199.00 for starters (8GB). And it got a little thicker???? What gives??
Big A @ Jun 9th 2008 3:41PM
Verizon Game over Can you hear me lol!!! Can you hear me??? Game over holy @%#T% it's time for me to get my camping gear ready 200$ are you kidding me lol!!! it's over
Kyle @ Jun 9th 2008 3:42PM
What about A2DP???????? What is the point of a music phone if I still cant stream my music to my bluetooth car stereo or bluetooth headphones.....
Do I have to wait for iPhone 3?
Fuck you Apple
Frankie @ Jun 9th 2008 4:13PM
lol
I felt the sincerity in that statement, I feel you! lol
Chris B. @ Jun 9th 2008 3:43PM
Didn't buy into the iPhone the first time, no 3G, no go. This one looks like I might get one. 7/11?!? My birthday! Mom? Guess what I want?
roach @ Jun 9th 2008 3:44PM
The MMS argument drives me EFFING NUTS!!!!
Can't you send it through email???
also what is that important to send right away? I get so sick of people sending me pics they find funny... but aren't....
"Oh my gosh, look what I found on the edge of the road. lol. "
gleek @ Jun 9th 2008 4:42PM
roach, i know tons of people that use MMS all the time including my husband and i. when he travels we're able to send photos back and forth of us, the kid, anything and it helps us keep in touch. i simply could not buy the iphone without it! i've been using it for almost 4 years now and not a day goes by where i don't send a pic to my husband or he sends one to me. sorry but it IS necessary.
and no i can't send it via email. sometimes there is no computer nearby.
i'm so disappointed that the iphone 3G doesn't have MMS. i was waiting for today to buy a new phone. looks like i'm going blackberry now.. and i seriously LOVE apple :(
Jeff @ Jun 9th 2008 5:29PM
But with the iphone you DO have email. AND you CAN send to a cellphone. It's MMS with an extra step or 2. Take the pic, save it, open email (or web email) - attach & send.
Yes, I know straight up MMS would be nice - but this definitely is a viable option. The email capabilities do allow you to MMS by sending to a phone instead of email.
roach @ Jun 10th 2008 3:10PM
Thanks Jeff, that was exactly my point. You can send messages (with pics) to a broader scope of people by using email (on the iPhone). This way, people without cell phones OR MMS capabilities (there are PLENTY of phones out there without it) can see the pics.
elgee02 @ Jun 9th 2008 3:44PM
Does anyone know is this thing finally has A2DP? Please for the love of God tell me it has A2DP!!!
Nikko @ Jun 9th 2008 3:54PM
Hello there! I'm an Italian guy... i'm REALLY upset... Where's the upgraded Camera with the flash led? The 3G front camera? The new design??
It's so bad! Samsung i900 Omnia sucks! Right? :D
neil @ Jun 9th 2008 4:11PM
does anyone know if i can buy the phone for the contract price, and stick my old iphone's SIM card in? will the new iphone still work without me having to resign a contract?
Gregg W. Smith @ Jun 9th 2008 4:21PM
Wow, big let down. The pricing once again is good but makes us 1gen users feel like crap but since my office and home currently don't have 3G coverage what's the pull for me? Not a damn thing. As a investor in Apple and AT&T I am pretty pissed off that there will be a full month of no sales as well. To me it appears that Steve simply wanted the spot light before releasing it to the FCC. Ego before sales is down right stupid. Anyone else notice that Steve also looked a lot thinner? After the news that his previous health issues weren't revealed I wonder if more info is being withheld? I certainly hope he is okay.
Shaun @ Jun 9th 2008 4:32PM
Its am impressive upgrade but no MMS is a real let down.
All UK phones have this feature - and it is used regularly. There is still a lot of phones that do not do email - and most that do, dont do push email so this is not the solution.
t-pain @ Jun 9th 2008 4:35PM
RIM needs to start releasing more details on the Thunder to keep their people from switching to this thing.
Aquen @ Jun 9th 2008 4:42PM
This better not be a contract extension for current iPhone owners...but rather a replacement contract.
Jake @ Jun 9th 2008 9:37PM
I do to, not that it is really going to stop me from getting the Jesus Phone v.2
Jeff @ Jun 9th 2008 4:43PM
OMG - Winers!
It's 3G, GPS, 1/2 the price of the current, offers push email now, the mobileme features, rocking game features....
And you're STILL NOT HAPPY?!?
Wow.
It's like you will never be happy. The thing is a year old. Look at all the massive improvements they've already made. I wonder what you were saying about the iPod when IT first came out.
Geesh.
I just went with AT&T, wanted an iPhone but could not justify the cost. Bought a Q instead. Now - after seeing this... I'm ready to move to iPhone!
Loving what I saw today!!!
Gregg W. Smith @ Jun 9th 2008 4:48PM
Except for 3G and GPS (I don't have 3G coverage anyway) all the changes are software related and will be available as a upgrade on my 1rst gen iPhone. So I get all the features except slower and no GPS for twice the money! Freaking yeah! Plus the rumor is that the 3G plan will cost more and possibly force current users to begin a new contract.
southasianpanda @ Jun 9th 2008 4:44PM
Whats the point in having a high end phone if it cant do something that a $20 nokia can do? The lack of MMS is appalling. It seems like alot of what they did in the Iphone 3g was in order to play catch-up with RIMM i.e. push email, 3rd party apps etc. Aside from GPS and 3G they did not add too much to this phone and is therefore inferior to the Bold.
Im a mac user and would love to have an iPhone but it is still lacking in many areas that just dont really make it viable compared to other options.
jex @ Jun 9th 2008 4:47PM
because it can ALSO do alot that that $20 phone CAN'T do... the glass is half full, think positive thoughts! lol
wezgray @ Jun 9th 2008 5:01PM
What shocks me is that no one here (or in this article) has posted that there is yet another $10 additional charges even on top of the usual fee's iPhone users are used to paying with v.1..... that adds up to $240 over the life of a contract.... so that $300 16gb is really going to cost you $540.... I think I will stick with my Mogul... even though Windows Mobile sucks...
WInston Smith @ Jun 9th 2008 5:40PM
WOOHOO! 3G! Nokia released it's first 3G phone in 2003.
evangelistwithiphone @ Jun 9th 2008 5:56PM
don't like it ????don't buy it
Tired of all the crying babies here
I will get that 3G. But I just feel a lil bit stupid cuz I bought my current 16GB almost 2 monte ago at apple.com
HOpefully they gonna do sumthing about us
Bobbo @ Jun 9th 2008 6:58PM
How about getting a real phone, Like the Samsung Instinct that Sprint is getting ready to release. It has EVDO Rev-A, MMS, Video, Navigation, live TV, radio, and full html web browser. Plus, Sprint has unlimited plan for 99 bucks with unlimited minutes, text and data. AT&T can't touch that. All of you that want the possibility of getting laid because of your trendy phone, get an iphone. if you want a phone that works well, is fast and easy to use, and does what you need, go get an Instinct.
ChrisMc @ Jun 9th 2008 7:16PM
So what about NON-Exchange Enterprise users?
Not all enterprises use MS Exchange...you'know...
What about working with them?
lfields123 @ Jun 9th 2008 7:19PM
The one thing the iphone has over every other phone is its marketing team. No mms and still no real camera. n95 and n82 have (for some time now) 5mp camera with flash, 3g, gps and wifi. But yet people are fawning over this phone?
Dylan @ Jun 9th 2008 10:54PM
Unlocking is not going to happen. No one is going to pay the contract price, unlock it, and sell it for under $1000. I think im sticking to my current iphone and just hope that the apps will do it justice.
Phillip J Fry @ Jun 9th 2008 10:55PM
Most disappointing for me is no upgrade to VGA rez =(
As indicated by all the comments it's always impossible for any given product to fully satisfy you so given that, this second incarnation is very good.
I really love the new design as I wasn't sure if they could keep up the good looks but they have.
Honestly, I personally will be waiting to see the Blackberry Thunder, Android offerings and possibly the Xperia X1 (sept Ericsson? c'mon) before killing hard earned cash.
JunkJugget @ Jun 10th 2008 12:07AM
So does this mean that we'll now have to read post after post about a phone that makes up a very small percentage of actual cell phone sales, for the next year or so????
Honestly, I hate this friggen phone! The O/S is amazing, but after that . . . big friggen deal! No MMS, NO A2DP . . . 2 items I HAVE to have! Even basic phones now have A2DP! Really!
I guess that maybe if there weren't 1000000000000 threads or posts about this handset, I'd be excited. But really! It's just one phone in millions. Why the hype over it? I can think of a boat load of phones that do more then this P.O.S, yet there's more time devoted to it then the Iraq war.
So . . . sigh . . . I guess it's another year of "Jesus phone this" and "Jesus phone that." But hey, maybe that's just me.
Myke @ Jun 10th 2008 12:24AM
U know, I got really excited, AT FIRST! Then I realised that it doesnt have MMS. I guess I go w/ the Vu. Apple, you almost had me at $199!!!
LOL
MJZimmer88 @ Jun 10th 2008 12:13PM
These pictures are totally photoshopped.
*Snicker snicker*
Where can I buy one of those Steve Jobs action figures from the GPS picture?