translate our iPhone 3 G review .
With the iPhone 3 grand ’s button just days away , it ’s time to revisit the agitate questions refer to Apple ’s next - generation sound . We still do n’t love everything about this forthcoming iPhone 3G — and believably wo n’t until we ’ve picked one up on Friday morning — we do know more than we did immediately after Steve Jobs preview the iPhone 3 G at last month ’s Worldwide Developers Conference .
Since that metre , AT&T has confirmed information about the iPhone military service plans , while Apple has offered aguided circuit of the iPhone 3G. Combined with more information we ’ve gleaned from here and there , we ’re quick to take a fresh look at what you’re able to expect when the unexampled iPhone arrives on July 11 .
AT&T’s 3G coverage map shows the areas where you’ll find fast data speeds.
What does the “3G” in the name mean?
If you ’re familiar with iPod designation conventions , the terminus 3 G might make you believe that Apple is releasing its third propagation of iPhone . No , you did n’t sleep through an iPhone product introduction—3 GB in this subject stands for third - generation mobile technology . It ’s a wide - region wireless technology that allows for much faster data transmission than the EDGE web used by AT&T with the iPhone right now .
How much faster is it than the current iPhone?
AT&T say that the iPhone 3 G will havetypical download speeds as high as 1.4Mbpsversus average dataspeeds between 75Kbps and 135Kbps on its sharpness internet . During Steve Jobs ’s tonic , it took 21 seconds to load a artwork - heavy entanglement Thomas Nelson Page using 3 G versus 59 arcsecond on EDGE . likewise , an eastward - chain armor attachment acquire 5 seconds over 3 G and 18 minute on EDGE .
Of naturally , Macworldcontributor Glenn Fleishman pointed out in his 3 gigabyte template last month that compare 2 G and 3 G web browser app and e - mail fond regard loading time is n’t the most revealing practice session . The most important thing to know about 3 G is that data transfer speeds will likely be fast than what iPhone veterans are used to — and more important , that there ’s room for 3 G to grow .
Is 3G available everywhere? What happens when I don’t have 3G coverage in my area?
AT&T ’s 3 g-force internet onlycovers most major metropolitan areas . The companionship say 3 gram service is currently available in 280 U.S. metropolitan areas , and the company plans to extend 3 g-force serve in nearly 350 metro areas by the oddment of 2008 . If you ’re in an expanse without 3 G coverage , your iPhone will instead get its data over the slower EDGE connection ( which has much encompassing accessibility ) .
So that’s all there is to 3G?
Well , there is one other feature tied into the plus of 3 universal gravitational constant , and it figures to be quite a handy one — thanks to the addition of 3 G connectivity , you’re able to have headphone conversations and surf the phone on the mobile web — for example , you’re able to get a restaurant ’s location without possess to cling up on your friend when you ’re render to decide where to go for lunch . With the 2 G connectivity on the original iPhone , you could blab on the speech sound via EDGE and surfboard the Web via W - Fi , but you could n’t do both at the same time on bound .
Are there any physical changes between the iPhone 3G and the current model?
A few . As draw in our hired hand - on aspect at the iPhone 3 GB , the back is now plastic ( sinister on the 8 GB model , black or white on the 16 GB model ) and the volume buttons on the leftover side of the phone are now silver metallic element .
The headphone port on the top of the machine is now affluent with the iPhone ’s body , not recessed like the jack on the current framework . That intend you if you have a favorite brace of headphones , you ’ll no longer take aheadphone adapterto make them work with the iPhone .
One other iPhone 3 gibibyte blueprint musical note : The handset ’s sharpness are thin and more curved than in the previous adaptation . That helps hide the fact that in the midsection , this theoretical account is a fiddling thicker than the original . Of course , the new earphone also weighs a little less than the current model , though we ’re talking a tenth of an troy ounce . If you notice that difference , a career in weights and measures awaits you .
I was able to activate my old iPhone via iTunes. I’ll still be able to do that, right?
An AT&T spokesperson told us that the activating cognitive operation for the iPhone 3 GiB will be different from the original iPhone . Users will need to activate the phone in an Apple or AT&T computer storage , a operation which should take about 15 mo on average . Activation via iTunes will not be potential with the iPhone 3G. Because of that , you will not be able to buy an iPhone through the vane land site of either AT&T or Apple .
So how will in-store activation work?
We wo n’t have a definitive answer on this until Friday . ( And rest assured thatMacworldplans on dispatching several editors to cover on their in - store activation experience . ) But Apple has render some reading of what to expect courtesy of aninformational pagedescribing , in possibility , how the activating physical process will act upon if you plan on getting your iPhone 3 G from an Apple Store .
Orange shirt - wearing concierge at the Apple Store will lead shoppers to an “ iPhone alcove . ” Once there , another Apple Store employee will help you make up one’s mind between an 8 GB and 16 GB model , review coverage maps , select a rate plan , and activate your earpiece .
Speaking of rate plans, will the iPhone 3G’s data plan from AT&T remain the same as the current iPhone’s plan?
No . We get laid back in June that AT&T ’s newfangled 3 G data point plan would cost an extra $ 10 or month , give or take . AT&T confirm as much last week , when it announced the official detail of its assorted rate plans . For $ 70 per month , you get 450 Anytime minute and 5,000 Night & Weekend minutes ; $ 90 per calendar month gets you 900 Anytime minutes and unlimited Nights & Weekends ; $ 110 per calendar month will include 1,350 Anytime Minutes , and Unlimited Nights & Weekend ; and Unlimited Anytime minute cost $ 130 per calendar month . All program include unlimited data , Visual Voicemail , Rollover minute , and unlimited Mobile to Mobile bit .
An AT&T Family Talk Plan , featuring two lines and 700 share Anytime Minutes costs $ 130 per month ; you’re able to get up to 6,000 minutes for $ 360 per month . you could add up to three extra iPhones for $ 40 per argumentation . An unlimited Family Talk Plan cost $ 260 per month , though each additional line be $ 130 .
The bottom line is , over the liveliness of a two - year contract , you ’ll nose up paying more for the “ cheap ” iPhone 3Gs than you did for the original fashion model . And that ’s before we even get into texting charges .
Apple offers a sneak peak at the App Store in its guided tour of the iPhone 3G.
But I thought texting was included with the iPhone coverage.
Not any more . For 200 SMS substance a month , you ’ll have to devote another $ 5 . Monthly charges stick out to $ 15 for 1,500 messages and $ 20 for limitless texting . ( sept Talk programme can sum up unlimited texting for $ 30 per calendar month . ) If you opt to pay as you go for SMS content , count on being charged 20 cents each time you send someone a text message .
What if I don’t live in an area with 3G coverage?
Sorry to say , you ’ll make up the increase fee for monthly data because you ’re activate it on a 3G - up to phone . There ’s no indication from Apple or AT&T that you could choose to demote your iPhone to EDGE connectivity for a shrink cost .
That’s what AT&T is offering. What about in other markets?
If you live outside the U.S. , where AT&T remains the exclusive service supplier for the iPhone , you might require to check with the carrier in your market . Unlike last year , where the iPhone debut in the U.S. first and then gradually rolled out to a handful of other countries , Apple is design a ball-shaped splash for the iPhone 3G. On July 11 , the iPhone 3 G blend on sale in21 countrieson four continent . ( Originally , Apple planned to found in 22 countries , but cellular provider Orange announced earlier this calendar month that the iPhone 3 G ’s debut in France would be delayed until July 17 . ) after this yr , that number will swell to more than 70 countries .
We ’ve done our good to stay on top of the iPhone program options usable in the iPhone ’s fresh markets . Here ’s what we ’ve collect thus far :
That ’s just a fond list , of course , but it should give you a flavor of the various rate plans available around the globe .
Now that the iPhone is so inexpensive, why would I pay more for an iPod touch?
It ’s true that iPod touch modality models offering the same depot capacitance as the iPhone 3 G offerings cost $ 100 more . ( Not to mention that a picture - up to 8 GB iPod nano costs the same as an 8 GB iPhone ) . But there are sight of cause why someone might want to opt for a trace over a Modern iPhone .
For starters , peradventure you ’re still under contract bridge with another cellular mail carrier and do n’t need to pay up the other termination fee . You may not have any enjoyment for the phone capability , either because your employer already provide you with a mobile phone or because you just do n’t apply one . At any rate , an iPhone will cost you $ 70 a month minimum in overhaul bearing from AT&T. Over the life of a two - year contract , that bestow up to much more than the touch ’s gamey price tag . So do n’t expect the securities industry for the iPod speck to dry up in the face of humble iPhone price .
Can I upgrade my current iPhone to use 3G?
No . Using the 3 gigabyte internet requires novel internal hardware that the current iPhone just does n’t have . If you want 3 G , you ’ll need to buy a new speech sound . The same goes for GPS .
How can I pass along my old iPhone? I want to keep the number I have.
AT&T support to us that you may extend along your old iPhone to someone else , who can then touch off it via iTunes as before . ( You ’ll find the full details on how to do so in thisPDF on hand your original iPhone off to someone else . ) And you ’ll be able to move your bit to a young iPhone during activating .
Is the built-in camera the same? Does it have the same specs as the original? Can it now shoot video?
For anyone who ’s take a grainy , blue - character photo with an iPhone , the sorry news is you could expect more of the same . The iPhone 3 G has the same two - megapixel tv camera as the original telephone , which is not regretful in brightly light environments . Since there ’s no build - in flashbulb , the tv camera does n’t do well without adequate luminosity .
As for telecasting , Apple has made no quotation of such a feature , not even in the guided tour video recording we link to earlier in this article . While that does n’t necessarily stand for we ’re not in for a surprisal on July 11 — unannounced feature article are discovered all the time in Apple products — telecasting capability with the build - in photographic camera seem like something the caller might have observe by this time . We were sceptical in June about its chances to appear , and we ’re even more skeptical now .
The iPhone ’s GPS receiving system will tolerate for one added bonus , however — since the sound knows precisely where you are , it will be able to geotag picture , embedding the location where you took them in look-alike ’ metadata .
Steve Jobs claimed that the iPhone 3G has better audio. What does that mean?
We wo n’t be intimate until we find out it for ourselves — Apple does n’t seem to have any information available about the audio that would indicate any improvement . But the reviewers favorable enough to get an early tone at the iPhone 3 G have confirmed Apple ’s claims . In theNew York Times , David Pogue saysthat audio tone “ has taken a gigantic tone forward . ”Walt Mossberg ’s reviewsays much the same thing about the audio .
Since the iPhone 3G has built-in GPS, will I be able to use it for driving directions like I do with my portable GPS now?
It ’s true that the iPhone has a GPS chip that lets it precisely figure out your location . But unlike portable GPS building block , the iPhone has no map information loaded on it , so it requires a constant data connection to offer Google Maps coverage . Also , there are no voice directions to help you get around , so you ’ll need a cobalt - pilot program to take off the turn to figure out if you ’re on the right route .
Obviously , this is an orbit that Apple is leaving undefended to third - political party developer . To that end , GPS vendor TomTom has announced it has aniPhone - compatible variation of its software nearly quick , so someone is stepping up to fill one of the most obvious needs .
So how do the iPhone 3G’s GPS features work?
In the Maps program , there ’s now a tracking icon in the lower left turning point . Tap it , and the GPS technology built into the phone zeroes in on your positioning — a blue pulsing push will look on the mathematical function , and it will move as you do . This should testify to be particularly helpful for searching for business , restaurants , and locations . And if you depend up directions with GPS tracking enabled , the iPhone will place your current location as your starting period .
Now sometimes , you ’re not going to be capable to pick up a GPS signal . In that case , the iPhone will use Wi - Fi and cellular tower information to pinpoint your location .
Is battery life better on the iPhone 3G?
It ’s unclear if the iPhone 3 G ’s battery is dissimilar from the one in the original iPhone . Apple says the iPhone 3 G should get up to 5 hours talk clock time on 3 yard and up to 10 hour on 2 G ; up to 300 hours of standby time ; up to 5 minute of Internet usage on 3 G and up to 6 hours on Wi - Fi ; up to 7 hours of video recording playback ; and up to 24 hours of audio playback . You ’ll be able to switch between 3 G and 2 G to save assault and battery life .
The original iPhone was betray for up to 8 hours of talking metre ; up to 250 hours of understudy ; up to 6 hours of Internet use ; and the same audio and television playback times as the iPhone 3G. However , Daring Fireball ’s John Gruber reports thatthe battery life of original iPhones will be improved by the iPhone 2.0 computer software update .
Do I need to buy an iPhone 3G to install third-party apps on my iPhone?
No , the iPhone 2.0 update , which will allow third - party computer software , will be free for current iPhone users in early July ; the update come pre - installed on the iPhone 3G. ( If you ’ve got an iPod touch modality , you could upgrade to the 2.0 software as well , but it will cost you $ 9.95 — Apple charges a fee for the signature because of the way it accounts for the equipment . )
The update iPhone software program may be detached , but that does n’t imply you wo n’t have to pay for single programs . Some developers are offer apps for free ; others charge a fee , with $ 9.99 ostensibly a common monetary value for premium applications based on what we saw at WWDC .
So how will the App Store work?
We ’ll be able to answer this one more definitively when the computer memory opens for business , but Apple ’s video enlistment of the iPhone 3 G provide some clues .
First , there ’s now an App Store icon on the iPhone ’s home screen ( located next to the iTunes Wi - Fi Store image by default , though you may continue to customise what icons appear where on the screen ) . Once inside the App Store , the icon on the bottom of the CRT screen let you access featured software , hunt for programs by class , and consider the 25 most popular apps . ( These options are very similar to what you ’ll regain in the iTunes Wi - Fi Store . ) A fourth button lets you check your current program to see if new version are uncommitted .
choose a program from the App Store takes you to a projection screen with a verbal description of the app , a screenshot , and any reviews . intercept the price of the app ( or the Free ikon , if the programme is available for free ) , and a Buy Now push button appears ; tap that to download the app . ( Apple says you may be prompted to typecast in your iTunes news report password . )
Once you corrupt an app , its icon will appear on your dwelling house screenland , along with a advance measure showing the condition of the download . you may download apps over the wireless cellular meshwork , though Apple say that larger apps may require you to download via Wi - Fi .
Any other changes I should expect with this iPhone?
Well , the iPhone 2.0 software — which is uncommitted for current iPhones as well as preinstalled on the new 3 G models — will introduce some new capableness .
Some of these , like the ability to blue-pencil multiple e - mails at once , have already been well - publicized . ( Though Apple demonstrates how this will work in its iPhone 3 gee video : In the Mail app , tap edit and dress circle will seem next to each e - mail . rap the round for each message you need to select — you’re able to then tap a button to edit those subject matter or move them into another folder . ) Other unexampled iPhone 2.0 features you may have already heard about include a fast - input signal Japanese keyboard , handwriting quality recognition for simplified and traditional Chinese , and multicolored calendar point . ( That last feature is related to Apple ’s shortly - to - launching MobileMe service , which will sync calendars between your iPhone and computer . )
A change in the 2.0 software program that you might not have heard about is the refined Airplane Mode setting . As before , you may interchange the sound in and out of Airplane Mode with the touch of a finger . But now , if you happen to be on a flight that offers Wi - Fi connectivity , you ’ll be able to twist Wi - Fi back on without turn on the phone ’s cellular radio .
Do I need anything special to use the iPhone’s Exchange/ActiveSync functionality?
Yes , AT&T told us that those corporate e - ring armor feature are intended for business users , which we took to mean you ’ll ask to pay the redundant $ 15 a month for the incarnate data plan over the unconstipated data programme . Consumers have the option of getting similar functionality using Apple ’s MobileMe .
Updated at 12:50 p.m. PT to clarify a musical passage on occupy headphone calls while surfing the Web with the 3 gibibyte iPhone and to add information on iPhone plans in Italy .
