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Fuzzy Logic 3G iPhone 2.0 launches! Really disappointing or really cool?
Fuzzy Logic 3G iPhone 2.0 launches! Really disappointing or really cool? | 3G iPhone 2.0 launches! Really disappointing or really cool? |
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| by Alex Zaharov-Reutt | |
| Tuesday, 10 June 2008 | |
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Page 1 of 6   
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To start with, it’s not called the 3G iPhone. It’s called the iPhone 3G. The keynote spoke of developers and developing apps first before getting to the juicy iPhone 3G news – but I’ll start with Steve Jobs talking about the iPhone and follow with my version of the developer part of WWDC afterwards. So, what’s the short version of what’s in, and what’s out? What’s in is GPS, 3G for much faster browsing of the web and downloading, thinner edges, flush headphone jack, half price, more battery life despite 3G, will be available in 70 countries, tons of new software through the App Store, black and white colours, 3.5-inch screen, 2 megapixel camera, 8GB or 16GB. The back is entirely plastic now. See photos are further down this page (page 1). But all those pre-iPhone 3G launch pics were fake... So, what’s missing? No video calling, no 32GB storage, no other colours, no AD2P on the Bluetooth, no mention of using the iPhone as a wireless modem, no mention of connecting the iPhone 3G to a Bluetooth keyboard, no copy and paste, no 3.2 or 5 megapixel camera, no front camera, no flash. No removable battery. No haptic feedback (a vibrating feeling when you touch onscreen buttons, probably to save battery life) and no mention of MMS. Obviously these features will come in the NEXT iPhone, which means everyone will probably now be wondering when the third version of the iPhone will arrive – probably the same time next year. UPDATE: Click HERE to see my 'wish list/demands' for the next iPhone, the iPhone 3.0, probably due in 2009! There’s also “Mobile Me” at www.me.com for full synching of email, calendar and more – like ‘Exchange’ for the rest of us – between iPhone, PC and Mac, replacing .Mac at US $99 per year or A family pack (4 member accounts) with 40GB of storage costs US $149 or AUD $159 per year. Actually, a press release has just come through from Apple with updated pricing for MobileMe in Australia. I queried Apple's Austalian spokesperson on the discrepancy and it turns out the local Apple Australia website was wrong and the prices are being updated now. MobileMe for individuals is AUD $119 with 20GB of storage, while family pack for 4 users is AUD $179 with 40GB of storage. Additional storage can be purchased. Visit http://www.apple.com/au/mobileme/pricing/ for details. Fantastic Web 2.0 type app which looks like a desktop app in your browser, a fantastic “in the cloud” service. You don’t need to get it to enjoy the iPhone 3G but it’s very cool nevertheless – more detail on page 6. The iPhone 2.0 software lets you download and view (but not edit) iWork and MS Office documents attachments on the iPhone - Pages, Numbers, Keynote, Word, Excel and Powerpoint. Images in emails can be saved and added to your photo gallery. The 8GB iPhone will cost US $199, the 16GB iPhone will cost US $299 – and Jobs says the prices will be capped around the world to match the US pricing, which is awesome! So, the iPhone now gets much cheaper and much more affordable, which is totally incredible, and certainly makes up for the missing features. The iPhone launches in 22 countries worldwide on July 11, and then rolls out over the next few months to 70 countries. The Australian Apple store still only lists Optus and Vodafone as iPhone retailers – no mention of Three or Telstra as yet. Neither the Optus nor Vodafone stores list the price as yet, but surely the prices will be less than AUD $50 more than the US prices. No mention of voice and data plans either – these surprises are yet to come. The specifications from the Apple Store are as follows: Screen size 3.5 inches (diagonal), screen resolution 480 by 320 pixels (163 ppi), input method Multi-Touch, storage 8GB and 16GB. The cellular frequencies are as follows: cellular UMTS/HSDPA (850, 1900, 2100 MHz), GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz). Wireless data Wi-Fi (802.11b/g), Bluetooth 2.0 + EDR, GPS Assisted-GPS, camera 2.0 megapixels. Battery Talk time is up to 5 hours on 3G, up to 10 hours on 2G. Standby time is up to 300 hours. Internet use: up to 5 hours on 3G, up to 6 hours on Wi-Fi. Video playback: Up to 7 hours, audio playback: Up to 24 hours Dimensions 4.5 by 2.4 by 0.48 inches are (115.5 by 62.1 by 12.3 mm). Weight is 4.7 ounces (133 grams) The keynote video should be available later today at Apple’s website - and I’ll be watching it! Photos are at the Apple Store too - in the US, Australia and Apple stores all over the world. It looks very, very similar to the existing iPhone. But here are the photos anyway:  The Black iPhone 3G - front and back. Courtesy Apple.com  The White iPhone 3G - front and back. Courtesy Apple.com So, what did Steve Jobs say on stage? Given some of the missing features, get read for Steve Jobs' famous "reality distorion field!". Please read on to page 2!! |
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