New 3G iPhone: A Look at 3G, AppStore, GPS Maps and Calculator

At around 11:30 a.m. on June 9, 2008, Apple CEO Steve Jobs announced the release of the second generation iPhone, or the iPhone 3G, on July 11 for the United States.

First off, this phone in design is similar to the original iPhone. The new iPhone is shorter, wider and thicker.

The differences are that the new phone is available with black and white backs covers. Also the back of the iPhone 3G has a curve. The size specs: 115.5 mm - Height, 62.1 mm - Width, and 12.3 mm - Depth. The old iPhone, on the other hand: 127mm - Height, 60.9mm - Wide, and 11.6mm - Depth.

The major announcement dealing with the iPhone is the 8GB model will be available for only $199 and the 16GB for only $299. This is very surprising because the current iPhone came out at $399 and $599. This price point alone will make many users want to buy and iPhone. This will cause a problem dealing with availability. Many users will buy the phone right away and the number of phones will drop. Casual users will have to wait a few weeks after July 11 to buy their phone, but this happens with just about every new thing.

3G

3G offers faster browsing abilities than EDGE. According to Apple it is 2.4 times faster over a 3G connection than EDGE. This means greater productivity. You can surf faster and get more done. Also 3G is not a hotspot thing, but like EGDE it is everywhere. 3G allows you to talk and browse the web at faster rates. The way its antennas are designed provides longer battery life. This, being an integrated part of the phone, will not be seen in any software updates for the current iPhone.

The new AppStore

AppStore is very similar to the iTunes Mobile Music Store that is found on the current iPhone, but instead of selling music it will, as its name implies, sell applications to run on the iPhone. According to Apple there are already a variety of applications available to buy. But one major thing about this is that there is a very high change that Apple will introduce this to current generation iPhone in the upcoming version 2.0 software update.

The new GPS integrated maps

Yes the rumors are true; Apple will introduce their new phone with GPS capabilities. This works similarly to the "Locate Me" button, but it provides real time and precise locations as to where you are. Once you pres the "Locate Me" button, the map will keep zooming in and you will see you, a blue dot, moving around. This is one of the best software related updates to the iPhone3G. There is an integrated GPS chip in the new iPhone, so first generation iPhone users should not expect to see this in a software update.

The calculator

The new iPhone will include a calculator will more features. In portrait mode the calculator resembles the little blue TI calculators we all used. Turn it into landscape mode and the iPhone turns into a scientific calculator. This calculator is set up like the Windows scientific calculator. This to should be included in the new 2.0 firmware that will be available to all iPhone.

Other Info

The iPhone 3G will only have a 2 megapixel camera like its predecessor.

There is a new parental lock ability the can stop applications from showing like the AppStore and Safari.

Apple claims that the new phone is more battery efficient.

Also the new iPhone has a volume limiter found on current iPods. (also most likely in the new firmware)

If you do not already own an iPhone, you should go and buy this new iPhone3G.

Sources

http://www.apple.com/iphone/specs.html (New iPhone info)

http://news.cnet.com/8301-13579_3-9960064-37.html (WWDC)

http://www.mobilewhack.com/handset/apple_iphone.html (Current iPhone info)