New iPhone 3G Announced - Price? $199!

[Guest alvin002]

Finally! the biggest Apple rumor of this year has come to an end taking the shape of reality...

It includes a built-in GPS, dramatically improved audio, solid metal buttons, insanely long battery life, normal headphone jack, and web browsing is 36% faster than any other 3G phone.

Some more info on an article

http://www.freshbite.info/fnews_1213059699_10157.htm

[Guest chucky.egg]

Yawn

I don't know why, but this thing has no appeal for me whatsoever.

Perhaps it's because, in my head, it's not a smartphone - you can't add to it's functionality. Is that actually the case though? I don't know, and to date have never bothered to find out.

I've used the 2G one briefly, and the interface is (in most respects) very nice, but it's just "nothing much" IMO

Flame me at will, I can take it.

[Guest furby]

Yawn

I don't know why, but this thing has no appeal for me whatsoever.

Perhaps it's because, in my head, it's not a smartphone - you can't add to it's functionality. Is that actually the case though? I don't know, and to date have never bothered to find out.

I've used the 2G one briefly, and the interface is (in most respects) very nice, but it's just "nothing much" IMO

Flame me at will, I can take it.

I don't hink that was flamebait. I've been a winmo user for the last 10 years and just felt like it was a bit clunky so now have an iPhone. What do you mean by not a smartphone? I hear people say that a lot so it's a genuine question.

Previously you had to Jailbreak your phone to add functionality but in July the app store comes out and you can add whatever functionality/programs developers decide to make. Also, proper exchange support comes out in July (although it works pretty well now for me).

I think it's interesting that in the UK they will be out on Pay as You Go, people have any guesses what that will cost?

[Guest chucky.egg]

What do you mean by not a smartphone?

My impression is, and I may well be wrong, that you can't just buy a new bit of software for it. Say I want an FTP client, for example, can I buy one and install it?

Perhaps that's coming in July, but am I right in saying that today you can't do it? If so, what's the Jailbreak for? is it SIM unlocking?

I've seen a couple of screen-shots of the Exchange stuff, and it looks fine (has the obvious settings you'd expect). I'd say that was a crucial thing - in my last job I ruled the iPhone out because it wouldn't sync with Exchange.

I know I'm a WM user, but the iPhone just does nothing for me - I'd buy a Nokia S60 before I even thought of an iPhone. Not sure why really. I do tend to avoid anything that I consider over-hyped (such as the iPhone, Spiderman movies, politics etc)

[Guest Boinng]

Last year I flat out ignored the Iphone, it was massively overexpensive and "closed", lacking too many features which couldn't (at that time) be added.

Things have moved on since then - they're opening up to developers, have added a couple of must-have's (like GPS, 3G and Exchange support), and the price is coming right down too. This time I'll seriously think about it, depending on what (if anything) Vodafone offer me when my kaiser contract is up in the Autumn, although the move to O2 does put me off quite a bit.

If they dropped the exclusivity altogether and Apple were freely selling these on any network, I think they'd really start flying.

[Guest El Boyo]

Played around with the 2g version and compared to wm6 thought it was naff, but seeing the look of wm7 jumping on the iphone band wagon, the new could be a very good buy. The $199 is the contract price so think about the monthly rate but o2 are putting it on Pay As You Go, which will cost about more but no montly bill so yeppy for someone like me.

[Guest furby]

My impression is, and I may well be wrong, that you can't just buy a new bit of software for it. Say I want an FTP client, for example, can I buy one and install it?

Perhaps that's coming in July, but am I right in saying that today you can't do it? If so, what's the Jailbreak for? is it SIM unlocking?

Correct. Until the App Store opens you can't officially buy software for it. Jailbreaking allows you to install any software you want, like app unlocking a winmo phone.

I don't use my Windows phone heavily for work so personally it's comparable. When the 2.0 firmware comes out I think there will be little to choose from between the 2. Apart from Safari which blows away pocket IE, which seem insulting in comparison

[Guest hagie92]

yeah, that $199.99 price is awesome...but what about that extra $10 just for the DATA? $30 bucks...over 2-year's time, that adds to a whopping $720 bucks, JUST FOR DATA! Add in the price of your actual plan, and were talkin THOUSANDS here. But hey, I still may get one. :D

-hagie92

[Guest scott2eyes]

I'm really surprised that this hasn't got a lot more interest from you guys.

It's not a coincidence that "iPhone 2.0" was released at a developers conference; it's developers that they are targeting most of all with this. (Have Microsoft ever given a Windows Mobile SDK a live demo in a keynote speech?)

Sure, the price cut, 3G and GPS are going to appeal to a lot of consumers. But it's the Apps Store that's going to set it apart from the other mobile platforms and, most likely, do for the iPhone what iTunes Music Store has done for the iPod (ie. lock everyone in so they can't move to another platform.)

[Guest jimbouk]

I am probably going to switch to O2... get an Iphone 2 for free and pay £45 a month for everything I need.

With proper activesync the iphone will do fine.

(But I will be taking my laptop with me just in case)

[Guest Shuflie]

yeah, that $199.99 price is awesome...but what about that extra $10 just for the DATA? $30 bucks...over 2-year's time, that adds to a whopping $720 bucks, JUST FOR DATA! Add in the price of your actual plan, and were talkin THOUSANDS here. But hey, I still may get one. :D

-hagie92

That's something you need to take up with AT&T, the jump to 3G in the UK is not an additional extra as standard, do AT&T charge extra for 3G (as opposed to EDGE) data plans with other phones?

EDIT: Just read an article on Macworld which would seem to suggest that all 3G phones on AT&T get hit for $30 a month, so there goes the justification for that complaint. Why would they give out data plans on a iPhone that are better than for their other 3G phones?

EDIT2: Just verifying on the AT&T website that other phones do actually have the $30 a month charge and it would appear that they do, looking at the tilt package and deals page it would appear that you can't even buy one without the data plan! Seems to be a strange way of doing business, coming from a country that will allow you to pay for GPRS/3G data on an as you use it basis if you don't think you'll need very much.

Edited June 23, 2008 by Shuflie

[Guest myblackjack2.com]

at $200 the iphone is pretty hard to ignore .. with the SDK being released there are going to be a ton of great apps coming out (for pay, i know -- i cant speak to the non-apple approved development scene, ala jailbreak, etc). For its size, capabilities and price point, its going to be hard to find a WinMo phone that can go head to head with it .. especially since Safari on the iphone blows any WinMo browser ive tried (pocket ie, opera, deepfish) out of the water (i havent gotten my skyfire beta yet) .. its only real cons are the lack of a tactile qwerty keyboard, and getting tied to at&t's craptastic iphone plans.

this is coming from a WinMo Smartphone fan (that loves his qwerty keyboard!)

[Guest paholman]

I bought an iphone in January for £269, I didn't activate it on any o2 contract, and used the free tool to unlock, activate and jailbreak it. Once it's jailbroken (4 minutes with the unlock tool) it more or less open to do what you like to.

I've been using it ever since on O2 Simplicity for free minutes and data plan, and on Orange PAYG when abroad, so am not tied to any expensive contract.

I only use my O2 XDA for GPS and navigation, and since using the phone, the touchscreen on the XDA that requires pressure is just awful, in my opinion.

What I like about the iphone:-

• The O/S - never crashes or needed to reboot from any software issues
  
• SMS stored as a conversation
  
• Web Browsing - Multiple pages, zoom in, swipe to scroll, tap or pinch to zoom
  
• Email
  
• BBC iPlayer (works flawlessly over wifi)
  
• Music Player
  
• iTunes - Access to iTunes Store on the go
  
• The interface - swipe to view photos, contacts, scroll etc which works brilliantly
  
• Movie Player - awesome on the large screen
  
• You Tube - Stream only but excellent
  
• Google Maps
  
• TV out - I can play music or movies on a big screen, portable video player
  
• Ease of use - Everything is so easy and straightforward to use
  
• Decent Battery Life
  
• It syncs to my PC using ITunes flawlessly and everytime
  
• Also syncs with Outlook 2003 and higher for contacts and calendar
  
  • MMS - Yes it is available for the iphone (SwirlyMMS)
    
  • Video Recorder - that too
    
  • Yahtzee (5 dice)
    
  • iSolitaire - Card Game
    
  • mxTube - Download and save any YouTube videos
    
  • Navizon - Better virtual GPS Location detector in the UK than GoogleMaps built in version
    
  • Mobile Chat - Instant Messenger
    
  • Raging Thunder - Controlled by tilting device
    
  • SNES Emulator
    
  • NES Emulator
    

  What I don't like:-

  [*]Standard OK camera, no flash

  [*]No Flash Player

  [*]Most decent games won't be playable - the on screen keypad is ok, but it's hard to use as you only feel glass beneath your fingers, making any game hard to control or play

  [*]Internet outside a wifi hotspot is too slow

  [*]iTunes only works on Wifi

  [*]YouTube outside a wifi hotspot is too slow

  [*]No GPS or navigation software

  [*]Fingerprints - constantly cleaning the device

  [*]Slippery casing, so easy to fall through your hands and drop when removing it from a pocket

  Obviously the requirements of other users differs from mine, so I've no doubt missed a load of other points. i.e exchange support etc.

  I sit on the fence when it comes to the perfect device. I don't mind if it's Apple or Windows Mobile now, provided it's a device that caters for most of everything I listed above. I tried the Nokia N95-8GB black, but didn't like Symbian at all.

  I've moved away from non-touchscreen devices now, as surfing the web on a smartphone is like surfing the web on a PC without a mouse :D

  The iphone 3G v Touch Diamond are the current devices that cater for most of all my needs (as long as TomTom are allowed to release their iphone version).

  Although the Touch Diamond only has 4GB of storage compared to the 16GB iphone 3G.

  Apple AppStore should provide a lot of software currently lacking, and Adobe is nearly there with Flash support.

  I'm still waiting to see how smooth the interface on the Diamond is with the latest Production ROM as previous clips showed it was nowhere near the smoothness of my iphone.

  The only thing missing from these two devices for me, are a decent camera + flash or DVD quality video recording, something which Nokia, Samsung, Motorola and Sony Eriksson seemed to have been able to do for a while now.

  What I can say is, Apple are keen to improve their device and have a lot of worldwide coverage and support from 3rd party developers or companies wanting a part of it's success with their innovative add-ons.

  HTC are the only ones improving the Windows Mobile devices at the moment, Microsoft haven't really improved anything between versions 5 and 6 of Windows Mobile.

  Both devices benefit from 3rd party applications and add-ons to improve their appeal, which is why iPhone 3G and HTC Touch Diamond are the winners and only contenders for my next device. It will be after July 11th, when the new Iphone, AppStore, tariffs and prices are revealed, that I would be making my decision.

  EDIT: Reading this back seems to indicate I'm biassed toward the iPhone 3G, but I'll still wait for some decent reviews of both devices before I commit myself

Edited June 24, 2008 by paholman

[Guest Helix]

What I don't like:-

• Standard OK camera, no flash
  
• No Flash Player
  
• Most decent games won't be playable - the on screen keypad is ok, but it's hard to use as you only feel glass beneath your fingers, making any game hard to control or play
  
• Internet outside a wifi hotspot is too slow
  
• iTunes only works on Wifi
  
• YouTube outside a wifi hotspot is too slow
  
• No GPS or navigation software
  
• Fingerprints - constantly cleaning the device
  
• Slippery casing, so easy to fall through your hands and drop when removing it from a pocket
  

Reading this, its apparent that most of the above are features which have been addressed in the new 3G iPhone. Alongwith, don't forget, active sync/push email.

I sit on the fence when it comes to the perfect device. I don't mind if it's Apple or Windows Mobile now, provided it's a device that caters for most of everything I listed above. I tried the Nokia N95-8GB black, but didn't like Symbian at all.

Being a HTC TyTn II user for nearly a year now (owning the device from first relase) my belief in having an open mind to non-WM devices has grown stronger. Ever since the flaws of HTC to implement a decent camera in the early SPV Smartphones (E200/C500 etc) have I held this opinion. The present day situation see's HTC struggling to provide decent video acceleration in their current devices.

It appears somewhat that many of the Modaco 'fan club' do not share this open minded view of the competition. Yes, I believe the first iPhone was behind the times with its lack of 3G and GPS. But it now looks like Apple have listened to their critics.

However I believe Apple did not make the best business decision in choosing to 'tie' the phone to certain operators (eg O2 in the UK). Apple had the power to allow the device to be purchased like any other Apple device (eg ipod) from a high street store, allowing users to insert their own sim card. Mobile phone operators would then have to adapt their tarrifs to accomodate more no-frills, sim-only packages. Which is how I would prefer to deal with phone operators. The pricing for mobile services would be a lot more clearer (without uncessary hidden costs like a free games console etc) and therefore allow greater competition between rival companies.